Life in Petersfield - Jan/Feb 2007

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Your local community lifestyle magazine

Innovation

Petersfield firm discovers inventive health cures

Charity Fashion

More than ÂŁ9,000 raised for cancer fund

Super Trooper

Enjoy a great night to remember in Froxfield

Business, People, Trevel, Property, Gardening, Arts Profile and Diary Directory

Contents

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Contents

Inside Life in Petersfield this issue ...

Personal View My life in books, by Tim O'Kelly

2 4

Innovation Local firm Medaro Medical finds inventive health cures

8

Business Tracing the stories of Littlejohn, Rother Valley Organics, Britannia Reeves, Bluebird Care, U2Tyres

12

Welcome

New Arrivals Welcome to Arblaster & Clark, and Hackman and Potter On the move JSW Restaurant and Owens Cycles Petersfield Past Architecture through the ages,

by Kenneth Hick Gardening Winter tips, by Christopher Rawlings Travel Local people name their best and worst holiday destinations

20 21 22 24

Arts Profile Winton Players, by Eileen Riddiford

26 28 29 30 32 34

Young Arts Poet laureate returns to TPS; Young people's festival

36

Social Charitable fashion show Letters Congratulations to Life in Petersfield Eating Out The Trooper Inn, Froxfield Healthy Eating Reviving recipes for the New Year

Music Preview of Petersfield Music Festival in March,

by Diana Collins Arts Diary Local events in January and February 2007

37 38

Property Prospects for the local market in 2007,

by Nick Keith

39

My Sporting Diary Life of leading cycling time triallist Ben Instone Classified Directory Competition Results and pictures from the photographic competition Win Voucher prizes from Owens Cycles Useful contact numbers

44 45 46 47 48

Editor: Nick Keith Sub-editors: Geraldine Onslow, Lucy Coates and Cat Jarman Creative director: Andy Burke Art director: Karen Holloway Advertising manager: Sally Puddick Marketing executive: Clare Rees Marketing & production director: Gareth Gammon Publisher: Anthony Parson Contributors: Lucy Coates, Diana Collins, Tim O'Kelly, Kenneth Hick, Christopher Rawlings, Eileen Riddiford.

Photography: Chris Warren and Anthony Willoughby Designed & produced by: www.navigate-design.com

LIFE MAGAZINES LIMITED 22 High Street, Petersfield, GU32 3JL Tel: 01730 235669 www.lifemags.co.uk email: info@lifemags.co.uk

1

Editor’s View

Welcome appy New Year to all our readers. These are exciting times and

H

2007 promises to be a thrilling year for your life in Petersfield

and for this magazine.

Thank you for giving Life in Petersfield such a warm reception after the first issue. The vast majority of readers have responded positively to their new community magazine, and a few of your complimentary comments are recorded on the Letters page (29).

You have also given us plenty of ideas for people and places, businesses and topics to include in future editions.

That will help to fulfil our stated intention that you the reader will drive the content of Life in Petersfield; you will become the eyes, ears and inspiration for what appears. So please tell us about your passions, and your likes and dislikes about what goes on in the area - what dismays you as well as what delights you.

The first issue literally flew off the shelves at distribution points from Waitrose to village shops and stores. Now we have allocated distribution points where you will find Life in Petersfield if it is not delivered through your door. See the distribution points below.

In the second issue, we offer: the story of One Tree Books, which has just celebrated its 12th birthday; a tale of innovation from Medaro, who win awards for their healthy inventions; and business profiles of local concerns such as Littlejohn, Britannia Reeves, and Rother Valley Organics, who provide solutions in bathrooms, storage and food to their customers both locally and nationally. In the burgeoning arts section there is a profile of the Winton Players, the first in a news series on local organisations. Have a look at the pick of the pictures that you submitted for the photographic competition.

While Life in Petersfield has made a promising start, we want you to judge the magazine on its performance over this year and beyond. That's where you come into the picture again, and we look forward to working in partnership with you.

So we wish you all a peaceful and prosperous 2007, whether you live in Petersfield, Liss, Rogate, East Meon or Buriton, or any of the distinctive villages and outlying areas north, south, east or west.

Nick Keith Editor nick@lifemags.co.uk life in PETERSFIELD : MARCH - APRIL 2007,

Cover image: ‘Life in Petersfield’ by Phillippe Puget, our competition winner (see page 47)

Distribution While we deliver Life in Petersfield to selected homes in the area, you will find copies at the following locations: Waitrose, Petersfield Life Magazines, 22 High Street, Petersfield The Co-op, Moggs Mead, Petersfield Heathside Stores, Durford Road, Petersfield The Taro Centre, Penns Road, Petersfield Rake Stores Rogate Village Stores Southdowns Hotel Harting Stores Buriton Stores Magic Box Newsagents, Clanfield East Meon Stores Langrish House Hotel Great Oak Hotel Froxfield Stores Grange Farm Shop, Empshott Selborne Post Office Stores Greatham Post Office Stores Liss Forest Stores Tesco Express, Liss

deadline for copy 2 February 2007 Have your copy of Life In Petersfield posted to you.

To ensure that you receive a copy of your local lifestyle magazine, we recommend that you join our mailing list. A HAVE YOU got a suitable photograph for a future cover of

subscription for one year costs £9 per annum (for p&p) and it

this magazine, Life in Petersfield? Please continue to send in

will save you any disappointment.

your photographs for consideration. Remember that people

Please send a cheque (payable to Life Magazines Ltd) with your

are important in a cover image and the best photographs tell

name, phone number and postal address to Life Magazines,

a story about the place or the community.

32 High Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3JL. Life Magazines will not share your details with any other company.

2

Editor’s View

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

PREMIER KITCHENS An excellent range of traditional and contemporary English kitchens. The complete kitchen design service including installation, project management, all building work, electrics, tiling and flooring.

We are a local family business and always endeavour to serve you with honesty, politeness and excellent standards of workmanship To discuss your kitchen requirements call Petersfield 01730 710028

3

Profile

Back Row (l to r): Tim O’Kelly, Sally Jay, Caroline Freedman Front (l to r): Judy Entress, Anna Stoker, Hilary Mee

My life in books Tim O’Kelly recounts his working life in the publishing business, with the last 12 years as owner of One Tree Books in Lavant Street, Petersfield n 1986 I left university with a

I

booksellers

lot of ideas about what I

who knew far

didn’t want to do but absolutely

more than

no idea what career path to

me, to stock

follow. A chance meeting with

my titles

an old acquaintance drew me

rather than

into publishing and I started as

those of the

a sales rep with Heinemann

opposition.

and Secker.

I had just about got to

persuade the literary editors in

Lodge to the shy but delightful

publishers sold everything from

grips with this, when I was

Fleet Street to review our

Louis de Bernieres.

Jackie Collins and Wilbur Smith

moved to publicity. The aim was

books. I also had to take

to George Orwell and Gunther

to try and get the maximum

reclusive authors to literary

I could do the job when I was

Grass. My job was to carry

exposure for our authors on

events they had absolutely no

moved once more to the sales

around a big bag of books and

the tiniest of budgets. This was

desire to attend – ranging from

department. After a year stuck

to try and encourage

mainly achieved by trying to

the formidably clever David

behind a desk the

In those days these venerable

4

Again I was beginning to think

life

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Profile

5

Profile

Judy Entress, who runs the cafe at One Tree Books

Major expansion To celebrate 12 years of successful trading, One Tree Books in Lavant Street has undergone a major new expansion.

Designed by interior specialist Jenny Waterhouse, the ground floor has been transformed, with a much wider selling area and a completely redesigned coffee bar which now has a much lighter, more modern feel.

To house the ever-

life

In November 1994 I set up

• No 1 Ladies Detective Agency

expanding range of books, there is now a

opportunity came up to

One Tree Books in what used to

transfer to our New Zealand

be Kingdom’s hardware store –

• Atonement by Ian McEwen

first floor sales area as

office. Here I was a bigger fish

the name comes from a place

• Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

well. Here can be found

in a small pond, and I got the

in New Zealand.

• Star Of the Sea by Joseph

chance to try my hand at

The last 12 years have been a

by Alexander McCall Smith

O’Connor

reference, travel, sport, poetry and history,

everything from importing the

mixture of hard work and great

• Life of Pi by Yann Martell

books and designing book

fun. In 2005 One Tree Books

• The Curious Incident Of the

along with the box-office

jackets to dressing up as Spot

was shortlisted for the

which sells tickets for

The Dog in a downtown

Independent Bookshop of the

Auckland shopping centre – in

Year Award. In 2001 I was a

fact everything apart from

judge for the Whitbread Prize

actually writing the books.

for Fiction.

Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon • The Kite Runner by Khaled Husseini • The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown • And the most popular of them all ... Harry Potter.

Highlights included getting

I have lived in the Petersfield

hopelessly lost with Bill Bryson

area off and on for the last 40

in the back of beyond (and

years and made a lot of friends

there is plenty of “beyond” in

in the town. While the trading

NZ) and creating a radio

environment for an

advertising campaign with

independent retailer in the 21st

Douglas Adams. I also went to

century is tough, I intend to be

the Frankfurt book fair to sell

selling books in Petersfield for

foreign rights on some of our

some time yet.

I returned in 1993 to work for

Classical music CDs and sheet music of all kinds is now available as well.

General fiction and children's books are still

In a future article, Tim O’Kelly will explain his views on what makes books sell

downstairs in the main

life

coffee and cake. Local

shop, and as well as the traditional flapjack, cook Judy Entress, now

NZ books, a task which I conspicuously failed to pull off.

most local events.

Novels to treasure

serves light lunches,

During my time as a bookseller

soup and sandwiches.

Macmillan, looking after their

there have been some novels

UK book sales and came back

that have really captured the

to the Petersfield area where I

imagination and sold in vast

had grown up. At the time I

quantities – here are a few:

had two small children and, as

• Birdsong by Sebastain Faulks

Contact: One Tree

my job expanded, I was

• Captain Correlli’s Mandolin

Books, 7 Lavant

spending less and less time at

• High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

bookshop in Petersfield closed,

• Cold Mountain by Charles

6

9.00 - 5.30.

by Louis de Bernieres

home. So, when the Page One I felt it was time for a change.

Shop opening hours are

Frazier

Street, Petersfield.

01730 261199 Jenny Mort, designer of the new look at One Tree Books.

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Profile

7

Innovation

Peak performing partnership An inventive Petersfield-based partnership is winning national hearts and headlines with a series of groundbreaking and award-winning health remedies. nnovators Liz Paul and Colin Kemp, who are based at Antrobus House in College Street, are looking for £350,000 investment in their latest creation, a new test for meningitis. The patent is pending on the new test which involves a portable electronic device to mimic the established ‘tumbler test’.

Liz Paul first realized the extent of the problem of diagnosis when her young niece contracted the disease.

According to Department of Health data, meningitis is the disease most feared by parents as 56% of all sufferers are aged under 10, and 12% are aged between 16 and 24.

There are two types of meningitis – viral and bacterial – and the disease kills 400 babies a year in the UK. The symptoms include a high temperature and rashes on the arms, legs and tummies, but these can be overlooked, even by doctors. And the existing test is ‘hit and miss’.

One way to detect meningitis is by pressing a glass tumbler over a rash, but research shows that fewer than half the people using this method can identify the symptoms. So Liz and Colin set out on protracted research with medical experts and focus groups. “The challenge for us and the product designers is that the test has to work 100%,” says Colin.

“The £350,000 investment we need is partly to finish development and partly to take

I

Innovators in Petersfield: Colin Kemp and Liz Paul

Medaro Products: Scentuelle for women and SFM for men

8

it to market. Ideally we will launch in Autumn 2007, because meningitis is seasonal.

But that will depend on everything being right.”

Liz is the daughter of Yorkshire and England cricketer Bob Appleyard, and she has based her business career on persistence and perspicacity.

When she was six, her younger brother died of leukemia, and later she worked for a children’s cancer charity. After school she studied catering and hotel management at Leeds Polytechnic and then ran her own restaurant and catering business for 20 years.

It was the catering trade that provided the path to the first of Liz Paul’s successful ideas, when she noticed that people making the food developed an aversion to smell. As a selfconfessed ‘chocaholic’, she reckoned that there must be a way to suppress appetite by using smells in aversion therapy. She sought out a leading UK expert in aroma, and found Dr. George Dodd, a Scottish biochemist at Warwick University. He is the leading researcher in smells, and helped to develop a patch to control craving.

Colin Kemp, who lives in Havant, joined forces with Liz in 2001. Long before, in the Eighties, he had launched his own invention,

life

Dissent stretches the mind I agree I disagree

We should send you our prospectus.

Dunannie (age 3–8), Dunhurst (age 8–13), Bedales (age 13–18) Tel: 01730 300100. admissions@Bedales.org.uk. www.bedales.org.uk

Head, hand, heart What makes a good education? Traditional knowledge about traditional subjects, handed down by the teachers, according to Chris Woodhead, the former Chief Inspector of Schools, who spoke to an invited audience at Bedales recently.

His audience was never likely to agree. Bedales was founded - eight years before Queen Victoria died - precisely because such views appeared old-fashioned even then.

Of course schools should expand the intellect, claimed J H Badley, Bedales' founder, but they should also develop their students' practical skills and spiritual awareness. His motto was brief but ambitious: Head, Hand, Heart.

The school has just reaffirmed its commitment to practical work by launching a new course that is taken alongside GCSE. Peter Coates, Head of Outdoor Work, explains: “Students on the Bedales assessed outdoor work course may find themselves cutting the joints for a timber-frame building, dipping our herd of Jacob sheep or making a wrought-iron sculpture in our forge. They can also work on conserving the natural environment of our 120-acre estate or set up a small business based on a traditional craft.” The Weald & Downland Museum acts as an objective external assessor, ensuring that the course and the marking scheme remain rigorous.

Outdoor work has helped to shape the whole landscape at Bedales. Early in the last century, students levelled the ground for sports pitches. They have constructed Bedales' famous wood-frame barns, including the bakehouse where students make bread in wood-fired ovens at 6.30 every Thursday morning. And they have dug the lake on which, every year, they race hand-made coracles.

No wonder 12-hour days - even for day students - are common at Bedales. Developing head, hand and heart is a full-time job.

One of the barns constructed by Bedales students as part of their outdoor work.

Making Christmas puddings in the bakehouse at Bedales.

Innovation

Bob Appleyard, Liz Paul’s father, is currently President of Yorkshire Cricket Club. He played nine Test matches for England and was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1952 life a thermometer used on the forehead called Fever Scan.

Then he heard about Liz’s crave control invention and offered to help market the product. Next they moved into the sexual health market after Colin had returned from a meeting on erectile dysfunction in Australia where he learned that 25% of women suffered from problems with orgasm.

They saw the challenge, and the opportunity, and approached Dr. Alan Riley at the University of Central Lancashire, a professor of

10

sexual medicine. He confirmed the extent of the problem – and they realised that there was a big gap in the market, particularly for those women who wanted help with their sexual problems but were too shy to ask.

Too many women don’t know where to go for help, or how to communicate with their partner. They are troubled by taboos and embarrassment – or too selfless to do anything about their own problems.

They research their products exhaustively, and it took nearly two years to produce Scentuelle, a non-transdermal patch to boost libido.

Vielle, a clitoral stimulator, was the first sexual aid for women to be sold in Boots’ 1200 pharmacies in the UK and Europe. Scentuelle is only available online, from www.scentuelle.com.

The partnership’s latest venture in sexual health is SFM, a scientific aroma formulation for men who have lost sexual desire and suffer from a low sex drive. SFM was developed after American research revealed that 20% of men have low sex drive.

SFM is made in the US especially for men, and uses the most advanced patch technology. It mimics the effects of dopamine, which researchers have identified as one of the keys to desire.

The impact of SFM is cumulative and may take three weeks to have an effect. A user study has shown that 65% of men report increased sexual desire after daily use of the SFM patch.

Liz and Colin have won a collection of awards through Vielle and SFM and their other

products: Liz was British Female Inventor of the Year in 2003, and the partnership has just won double gold for innovation in October 2006 at the British Inventors Show.

They have recently rebranded their business as Medaro (short for ‘medical aromas’) Medical in 2006. The ideas and the products from this innovative team are sure to continue. life

Contact: Colin Kemp, Medaro Medical Ltd, Antrobus House, 18 College Street, Petersfield, GU31 4AD. Tel: 01730 235543. email: ckemp@medaromedical.com

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Ingoldsby House 22 High Street Petersfield Hampshire GU32 3JL t: 01730 264799 f: 01730 264913 • Conveyancing • Personal Injury • Wills & Probate • Employment • Commercial • Crime • Military Law • Immigration/Asylum • Notaries Public Free initial consultation • LSC (Legal Aid) Franchised – Quality Assurance • Emergency appointments available • Storage of Deeds and Wills • Written costs estimates available • “No Win No Fee” arrangements Offices also at: Gosport: 023 9251 2030 North End: 023 9266 0261 Southsea: 023 9282 8661 Waterlooville: 023 9225 1257 Wickham: 01329 833249 www.biscoes-law.co.uk

11

Business

Pearl and Bill Gosneyh. Photograph by Anthony Willoughby

Littlejohn Bathrooms

A big name in bathrooms n 15 years Bill and Pearl

Littlejohn service are:

had to do a bit of everything to

field in the UK, selling mainly to

Gosney have put Littlejohn on

•

Their unique one-stop shop

start with, including selling,

Britain and Germany. In 1998

the Petersfield and international

in supplying and installing

which I don’t particularly enjoy,”

they were Bathroom Retailer of

map as one of the premier

high quality bathrooms –

she says. “But I trust Bill and

the Year.

businesses in the area. They

having bought a bathroom,

believe in his judgement. We

have achieved that through

customers don’t have to go

have always done things

sell into the upper market –

in search of a fitter

together, so running a business

alongside BMW and Audi. We

Their unwavering focus on

worked well for us.”

deliver whatever the customer

I

sheer hard work, outstanding customer relations, and a dedicated staff.

They created the company in

•

what the customer wants.

Pearl, who was working in

The name Littlejohn was

“We have always wanted to

wants even if that means hard

prompted by a chance

work. We pride ourselves on our

November 1991 when the

pricing control at Gammon and

conversation between Bill and

integrity and customer service,”

bathroom and kitchen part of

Smith, requested redundancy

an old friend. At that time his

says Bill.

Gammon and Smith had to

from her boss Alan Ray

son Simon was seeking a place

close during a recession. Bill,

(featured in the local history

at Nottingham Trent University;

and very loyal – we have an

who was a director of that

article of this magazine in the

the friend made a passing

extremely low turnover of

division, believed that there was

launch issue).

remark linking Simon with

employees.” He recalls the early

Robin Hood; and Bill seized on

days when he was doing

a niche in the market for

“I am a practical man, having

“Our staff of 23 are terrific

supplying and fitting high

trained as an engineer,” says

the name Little John (‘a small

bathroom surveys and then

quality bathrooms.

Bill. “And Pearl is good with

toilet’).

delivering and fitting units. At

“For many years people had

figures, a stickler for financial

They marketed their new

the same time Pearl used to

become used to having fitted

detail. I always thought the

service to local people, including

amaze the delivery drivers by

kitchens and we were simply

business would work.”

contacts in the Round Table and

helping them heave bathroom

Rotary Club. Their pioneering

units upstairs to the company

the civil service, Pearl found the

efforts have put them among

show room.

new venture a challenge. “We

the top 10 companies in their

offering them fitted bathrooms,” he explains.

The all-important values in the

12

With previous experience in

life

Business

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

life

That original showroom on the Amey Industrial Estate, leased from a kitchen company next

Bureau, and Littlejohn often contribute to community and charitable causes.

The family commitment to

door, was built by Bill with help

people – both customers and

from Simon and a friend before

staff – ensures that the

they went up to university. Now

Littlejohn service and

Littlejohn has taken over both

reputation will continue to stand

floors – indeed the whole

tall and straight, just like Robin

building – as it has gone from

of Locksley’s legendary

strength to strength.

companion – Little John. life

The Gosneys like people, love life and take pride in their job.

Their hobbies include travel,

Contact: Littlejohn,

food and wine (especially Italy).

Amey Industrial Estate,

They have two children – Simon,

Frenchmans Road, Petersfield.

the technical director and

Tel: 01730 231050.

future boss of Littlejohn, and

Email: Sales@littlejohn.co.uk.

their recently married daughter

Web: www.littlejohn.co.uk

Sarah, who works in catering management – and two grandchildren.

Bill and Pearl, who are strongly committed to the Petersfield area, play an active part in the community. Bill is a Trustee of the Citizens’ Advice

If you want your business featured in Life in Petersfield, please contact us at 01730 235669

Inside the Littlejohn showroom

13

Business

Shon (left) and Simon Sprackling with some cows on the Downs

suffer from the same endemic

on “clover-rich herbage” in the

diseases and problems as other

hills during the summer and

farms. We have fewer visits

“lush river-bottom pasture” in

from the vet and spend far less

the winter months. Their diet

on vets’ bills; we only assist in

includes wild plants and herbs,

the birth of one in a hundred

with no artificial fertilisers,

calves, and we have a high

synthetic pesticides, growth-

health status (in the top 5% of

promoting hormones or routine

farms in the UK).”

antibiotics.

Their Aberdeen Angus beef enjoy seasonal organic grazing

Travelling is kept to a minimum and the Spracklings

Rother Valley Organics

The answer lies in the soil A

s you drive along the

concerns,” says Shon, who is

beautiful road which leads

40 and the younger of the two

from Petersfield to Chichester

brothers by four years, “but this

via South Harting and the

is a wonderful, natural livestock

Downs your thoughts may turn

system. We have positive

to the ownership and

feedback all the time and we

management of the land. Two

are growing month on month.”

brothers, Simon and Shon

Most of the 2500 acres they

Sprackling, farm some of this

farm are tenanted, stretching

wonderful landscape.

from Blackdown and Haslemere

Based in Nyewood, near

through Rogate, Harting, and

Rogate, they are the third

the Chilgrove Valley to

generation in the family to farm.

Chichester and Thorney Island.

They went organic seven years

Their grazing land is either

ago and in early 2004 they

(SSSCI) Site of Special Scientific

launched Rother Valley

Interest) or an ESA

Organics with a completely

(Environmentally Sensitive

organic process from “pasture

Area).

to plate”, including an on-site butchery.

“I went into it with some

14

“The system really works because we have every variety of soil and landscape. We don’t

Shon Sprackling

Business

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

The Folly Downstairs

Wine Shop College Street, Petersfield Tel:

01730 264816

Offers a wide range of beautiful wines including:

Shon Sprackling in Rother Valley’s meat cutting room

use a local organic abattoir. One

by post, directly to customers’

of their latest trials is to match

doors and from the farm

two Sussex bulls to their

butcher’s shop. They keep

Aberdeen Angus herd: “you

trying to spread the word as

should get vigour from the

they develop their products and

hybrid”.

their brand.

They cooperate with other

It’s too soon to tell whether

local farms to bring organic

either of Simon’s two sons or

meat to market, with lamb from

Shon’s three daughters will

the Goodwood Estate and pork

continue the family farming

from Childhay in Hampshire.

tradition. But life and the land

Simon says that “Hampshire is

around Sandilands Farm is in

by far the most advanced

good hands. “This is a really

county for food”, and they take

exciting time,” says Shon.

their best practice knowledge to

life

other parts of the UK through an NFU discussion group.

Since going organic the staff

Contact: Rother Valley

Folly House Dry - Australian Folly House - Sauvignon-Chilean Folly House Rose - Aimery French Folly House Red - Australian£3.80 Folly House Merlot - Chilean Folly House Roija - Spanish Fleurie les Bellaudes Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Suavignon House Champagne Cattier Cloudy Bay, Pelorus

£3.80 £4.45 £4.45 £4.45 £5.20 £7.30 £7.95 £14.90 £15.75

The Folly Wine & Ale House (downstairs) has been a wine bar since 1997, & from 2005 incorporated the Wine Shop, which not only offers a great selection of wines, but also beers, spirits and flavoured beverages.

Free delivery for orders over £100 (10 mile radius) www.follyoffthevine.co.uk

Organics, Sandilands Farm,

has increased. Instead of a

Rogate, Petersfield, GU31

couple of tractor drivers

5HU. Tel:01730 821062.

working on 1500 acres, they

email:

now employ, in addition to

sales@rothervalleyorganics.com.

those, 3 butchers, a herdsman,

Web:

2 ancillary staff and 2 people in

www.rothervalleyorganics.com

the office, all of which are full time (and they are looking to

If you have a food, farming,

train an apprentice butcher).

or countryside tale to tell,

With other business activities,

please contact Life in

such as waste recycling, they

Petersfield, 01730 235669.

are kept busy. They sell online,

email: info@lifemags.co.uk

15

Business

Britannia Reeves of Hampshire

Moving and storing with the times ere’s a long-established

The company passed first to

H

Jack’s son Robert (Bob), and

is arguably the town’s oldest,

then his grandsons Andrew and

that has built its reputation on

Michael (now the chairman). His

removals and storage.

great grandchildren Darren and

Petersfield business, which

Who does the Queen call

Emma are the fourth

when she needs to store some

generation of Reeves to be

furniture after a fire at Windsor

involved (although only as

Castle? Where does the

shareholders).

National Trust turn for storage

Today the MD is Andy

Andy Shotbolt and Steve Massey

after a fire at Uppark? What if

Shotbolt, who represents the

Reeves pride themselves on

like this mobile self-store,

you want to clear a room while

fourth generation of his own

their guarantee that they only

because they find it much

you are decorating?

family in the removals business

use their own staff, with no

easier,” Andy explains.

and joined Reeves four years

casual or freelance labour in

questions is Britannia Reeves,

ago. “I remember driving with

their workforce of 21 full-timers.

large and growing need and

who are based on The

my grandfather in a removal

They have loyal and committed

industry for packing – and

Causeway in Petersfield.

van from the age of 11,” he says

employees – people like their

packaging – in boxes and

Originally the business was

with a wry smile.

sales manager Steve Massey,

protective materials. Reeves

who is 44 and has worked for

have already provided archive

the company for 28 years.

storage for Petersfield Museum

The answer to all these

established in Chertsey by John

A major recent development

Simply Pack aims to fulfil a

(Jack) Reeves in 1895 when

for Reeves has been their

they traded in secondhand

participation in a cooperative of

“I have never ceased to be

furniture.

43 family removals and storage

amazed that for the sake of

service to local community

businesses under the overall

relatively small sums of money

projects such as the Christmas

undertake removals and, later,

Britannia brand. This provides

people allow a group of strange

lights, Petersfield Youth

storage – the two core parts of

savings in terms of central

casual workers to browse

Theatre scenery and Save The

its business today. But in 1906

marketing and databases, as

through their effects,” says

Children.

Jack Reeves was diagnosed

well as great buying power and

Andy, “and then they are

with TB and told by the doctors

a massive presence in the

surprised when possessions do

into the international, national

to “get out of town” (for health

market, especially when

not arrive where they are

and local community scene of

reasons). He headed south-west

international shipping is

supposed to go.”

removals and storage. life

and settled in Petersfield, first

involved. Two years ago Reeves

in Rushes Road (later in Sussex

acquired another local removal

Reeves’ business is growing.

Contact: Andy Shotbolt,

Road).

business, Warrens of Alton.

They have developed two

Britannia Reeves, 140 The

innovative offerings: Simply

Causeway, Petersfield.

Store and Simply Pack.

Tel: 01730 262288. Email:

The company soon started to

– and they give a free storage

So Britannia Reeves fit neatly

Storage is another area where

Simply Store involves the

andy@reeves-removals.co.uk

relatively new idea of ‘mobile self-storage’. Whereas previously customers wanting self-storage had to take their items to storage depots, now

Is Britannia Reeves really

Mobile Storage Units (MSUs©)

the oldest business in the

are delivered to homes (or

area? If you know

businesses), the customers

differently, please contact

store their possessions, and

Life in Petersfield.

Tel: 01730 235669.

Email: info@lifemags.co.uk

Reeves take the units to their storage site. “Our customers

16

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Business

17

Business

The Bluebird Care team (back l to r): David Ewamu (IT specialist), Simon Dalziel (Franchise Director), Paul Tarsey (Director).

Front (l to r): Frankie Bradrick (Staff co-ordinator), Karen Rubra (Supervisor), Lisa Tarsey (Director)

his own parents have entered their 80s, and so he understands, first hand, the agonies over care that many families suffer.

The Bluebird team is recruited locally, so they have local knowledge. They are policechecked and then carefully trained to work to the highest possible standards.

Bluebird offer: care visits of 15 minutes or more, morning and evening if necessary; help with personal care; housekeeping; and full live-in care if required.

They are usually busy after Christmas, when people have spent more time than usual with their elderly and realise the need for care.

Since June 2006, Bluebird has extended its offering through franchises, with Simon Dalziel as franchise director. So far they have four franchise outlets – 2 in the Midlands, 1 in London and 1 in Cheshire, with more to come in the New Year.

They plan to establish more than 15 new offices in 2007 to spread their values to a wider market.

“With the increasing need for care, there is a danger of standards falling. We know that people want high professional

First class service

standards and firms which they

Bluebird Care

delivering the same high

can trust. We will continue to focus our franchise efforts on quality service we provide to some 100 customers in the Petersfield area.” life Bluebird Care, 35 Lavant

ome is where the heart is,

H

and assistance to carry on their

after our customers as

Street, Petersfield.

they say. It is certainly

life as normally as possible

individuals.

Tel: 01730 262578.

true that, as people get older,

from the comfort of their own

the prospect of sacrificing their

home.

home for residential care may

“We like dealing with people

“We ask what customers want

care@bluebirdcare.co.uk.

services we can deliver for

Web: www.bluebirdcare.co.uk

become increasingly

in their own homes, allowing

them. We see ourselves as

unattractive.

them to have a sense of

problem solvers and service

security and well-being,” says

providers.”

Petersfield-based Bluebird

With a background in sales

Care is privately owned and has

director Paul Tarsey, whose

a personal approach. The

partner in Bluebird Care is his

and customer service, Paul has

company bases its service

wife Lisa.

worked in domiciliary care for

around customers’ needs, allowing people who need care

18

“We are very customer focused and we aim to look

email:

to achieve – rather than what

16 years. He says that his priorities have changed since

If you want your business featured in Life in Petersfield, please contact us at 01730 235669

Business

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

East Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

Making Business easier O

ne of the great things that

Hampshire Chamber of

people say about

Commerce has put together a

belonging to the Chamber is

panel of media representatives.

that they get access to a whole

Love them or not they are

range of help. In a recent

ready to take your questions!

On 7 March you have a

survey of members we found that many of them benefit from

chance to meet with Michael

both the formal and informal

Mates MP and Cllr Ferris

help available.

Cowper, leader of East Hants Council. Do you have a question for your MP? Or

One call to the Chamber can

perhaps there is a burning

help with: • Market information

you need to know where to

when speaking in public. We

issue which you would like to

• Database sourcing

access fast, concise, reliable

saw a range of presenters with

quiz the leader of East Hants

• Business Research – sourcing

information that will keep you

different levels of experience

District Council about. Be part

suppliers, monitoring

ahead of the game, then make

that proved we can all improve

of our audience at East Hants

competition, credit checks

contact with the Chamber.

these key business and social

Chamber’s Question Time. life

• Access to selected trade journals

We had a fantastic meeting at the Folly Wine Bar in Petersfield

skills.

Our next event on 7 February

recently. The beautiful buffet

gives you access to the media.

lunch was accompanied by

“What do you think of the

For more information on what

talking to other members who

presentations by Toastmasters

Media?” “What do you think of

the Chamber can do for you,

have expert knowledge or who

International.

their methods?” “Is there

contact Andrew Gordon on

anything that they should be

02392 591671 or visit

doing which they’re not?” East

www.ehcci.co.uk

Also there is huge value in

have relevant experience about a topic of importance to you. If

The meeting was full of tips about being more effective

2U Tyres

Motoring Forward ncreasing business has

I

from a site on the Causeway for

meant a move within

16 years. Michael Widgery of

Petersfield for 2U Tyres.

MW will become a director of

After an extensive search 2U Tyres have found a new home at the former Southdown Bus

Shaun Clark and Adrian Brown

2U, bringing with him great experience in the motor trade.

“The new site will enable us to

workshop on Station Road,

increase the range of products

Petersfield.

and services we can offer to

and then returning to this area

our customers,” says Adrian.

to set up on his own.

“2U Tyres may be a new name

A former assistant to Adrian

“It has taken a long time to find a new site,” says Adrian.

“We have been keen to locate

in town, but the employees

“These will include MOTs, and

have a combined experience of

servicing for cars and motor

for 12 years, Shaun Clark

in the Petersfield area because

over 100 years within the

cycles.”

originally worked for Dragon

we want to support the local

industry,” says Adrian Brown,

Adrian’s father originally set

Tyres in Petersfield and

community and offer future

who established the business

up a tyre business in Petersfield

eventually became centre

employment.”

three years ago.

in the Sixties and that was

manager for ATS Fareham. He

taken over by ATS Euromaster.

rejoined Adrian at 2U Tyres in

from College Street, 2U Tyres is

Adrian worked for ATS

July 2004. They have recruited

Contact: 2U Tyres,

acquiring another business –

Petersfield for 18 years before

from ATS a company auditor

Station Road, Petersfield,

MW Motors, which has traded

joining their Birmingham office

and a motor cycle technician.

01730 233399

At the same time as the move

19

New Arrivals

Arblaster & Clarke

Tim Clarke and Lynette Arblaster

Leading wine tours firm moves in T

he family-run firm of

from 1985 to 1987, and jokes; “I

Arblaster & Clarke Wine

had to leave Meon Villas

Tours has acquired prime

because I wanted the job of my

Petersfield premises at Cedar

immediate boss. How ironic I

Court, College Street, from PLC

should now be buying the

First Choice Holidays. This

building in order to be able to

move coincides with the

work in my former employer’s

businesses: “We passionately

including: inexpensive

company’s 20th anniversary.

office! It is a fascinating twist in

believe in the importance of

weekends to Champagne; the

Founded in 1987 by Lynette

affairs for a small private

small business to the local

exotic vineyards of the New

Arblaster & Tim Clarke, the

company to be buying from

economy, so sincerely hope we

World; opera & wine holidays in

business has gone from

such a well-recognised PLC as

can play a part in Petersfield’s

Italy; wine cruises, and also

strength to strength and

First Choice.”

continued business expansion

corporate hospitality tours.

and regeneration,” she says.

For information, call 01730

become one of the world’s

She appealed to local staff to

leading specialists in wine and

apply for jobs as Arblaster &

The exclusive operator for The

263111. View the new 2007

gourmet holidays.

Clarke expands, and suggested

Sunday Times Wine Club, Arblaster & Clarke offer winerelated holidays to 19 countries

brochure at:

Lynette Arblaster worked in the same Meon Villas offices

that their large office space could accommodate other small

http://www.winetours.co.uk/ac -download-goto.htm

Hackman & Potter

Potter along A

new shop specialising in a

and chests of drawers to

wide variety of products

wardrobes, cabinets and beds,

for the home has opened in

all of which are hand-finished.

Petersfield. Hackman and

He also offers a bespoke design

Potter is the joint venture of

service, where individual items

Michael Hackman (Selborne)

can be made to order in a

and Rachael Potter (Petersfield)

specific style, colour or size.

and sells Scandinavian-inspired

Rachael specialises in

hand-painted furniture and

products that are soft, warm

luxury interior gifts and home-

and inspiring. The shop is the

ware.

head office for Eclection, a

Rachael noted that the

Petersfield-based mail order

story of how they both ended

business she started a year

up going into business together

ago, whose rapid success has

was “a long one” but it seems

meant the need for new

they were destined to meet - as

premises.

the man whom Michael asked

A passionate supporter of

Michael Hackman and Racheal Potter

to build his barn is Rachael’s

traditional British skills and

methods are both responsible

generations,” she says.

father and Michael’s wife was

crafts, Rachael places high

and environmental:

Hackman and Potter is at 2

Rachael’s homeopath.

importance on using British

“Our organic cotton bed-linen

Dragon Street, Petersfield,

designers and producers

comes from India and Peru and

and opens Monday to

includes a range of pieces for

whenever possible. Where items

supports the sustainable and

Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

the living room, bedroom and

are imported, Rachael takes

safe farming methods that have

Tel: 01730 268565. Web:

bathroom, from chairs, tables

care to ensure that production

been used there for

www.hackman-potter.co.uk

Michael’s furniture collection

20

Business Moves and Arrivals

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Owens Cycles have moved premisies from Lavant Street to: Stoner Hill Road Steep Petersfield Tel: 01730 260446

JSW Restaurant has moved to: 20 Dragon Street Petersfield, GU31 4JJ Open Tuesday to Saturday, 12.00-2.30pm 7.00-10.30pm

Zen 2 Pan Asian Restaurant has arrived at: 14 Dragon Street Petersfield GU 31 4JJ Tel: 01730 231295 Open Monday to Saturday, 12.00-2.30pm 5.30pm-10.30pm

See Competition, page 47

The world’s favourite designer vinyl flooring, AMTICO is beautiful, hard-wearing, non-allergenic and gentle underfoot. It is ideal for conservatories, kitchens, bathrooms - any room in fact, and for whatever size or shape of floor you’re creating.

Choose from a range of over 200 stunning designs, including stripwoods, marble, stone, tiles, even metal.

Waterlooville Carpets are expert installers of AMTICO. We’ll help you select the style that’s exactly right for you, then our installers will fit it perfectly into your home.

We also offer 0%, 12 month interest free credit to make your new AMTICO floor even more affordable. We’re proud to offer all our customers a complete professional service from selection to expert fitting, it’s how we guarantee that your chosen flooring is always a pleasure to come home to.

Discover the possibilities. Call into our showroom soon.

31, The Square, Petersfield, Hants. Tel: 01730 262223/267381 fax 01730 267394 Email:sales@waterloovillecarpets.fsnet.co.uk www.waterloovillecarpets.co.uk

a pleasure to come home to...

21

Local History

Local Architecture of Interest Kenneth Hick reveals what Petersfield has looked like through the ages.

The Great Roundhouse

make sure that the gas holder

firemen from their homes and

was riding high thus providing

places of work by the bell,

the best pressure for cooking

which was fitted to the

the Christmas turkey, bringing

chimney-stack of a building

cheer to all.

opposite Woolworth’s in the

Just up from Tesco’s car park, near the Police Station, stands

From here, it was a short walk

Joliffe Court. This site has an

to the Square which has seen

interesting history as it was

many changes throughout the

bought by a Staffordshire

years. Perhaps the most

family called Joliffe along with

dramatic began with a cholera

the right to send two members

outbreak in Chelsea in 1863, as

to parliament.

this had drawn the whole

In 1720, William Joliffe had etersfield is very lucky in

be discerned as a public

Petersfield House built there.

having Butser Ancient

footpath.

He had the vestiges of the

P

High Street.

country’s attention to the need for better drainage and water supplies.

Excavated in 1908 by pupils

tanyards and old mills moved

Mr Bazelgette’s pattern of

fascinating discoveries have

from Bedales School, the villa,

out of his view by sealing off

London water treatment and

been made about life in pre-

or more correctly, farm, was

what is now Hylton Road and

sewage disposal provided an

Roman Britain.

Farm close at hand. Here many

built immediately to the north

creating a gentle sloping

excellent example for all to

The great roundhouse was

of the track from Winchester to

garden down to the stream.

follow. Two 96.5m-deep

built using information from

Sussex at Stroud to the west of

He then had a clear view

artesian bores were drilled at Sheet to provide a source of

the excavation that took place

Petersfield. It was a brick and

down to his inherited Home

on Cowdown at Longbridge

timber construction, with farm

Farm at the Grange, now home

potable water, and a reservoir

Deverel in Wiltshire. The

and bath-house buildings

to the Grange Surgery. This

was built at the highest spot

excavation gave positive clues

arranged around a courtyard.

garden became the site for the

nearest the water pumps. This

local school and was later

was at the top of Reservoir Lane.

about the construction of the

Tesco’s car park was once the

building, and the archaeologists

Petersfield gas-works. All that

developed into dwellings called

reconstructed it from the

is left of them is a regulator

Joliffe Court.

logical interpretation of that

valve in a compound next to

information.

The Local Joint Sanitary

The public toilets opposite

Board then laid foul sewers to

the pathway into Hylton Road.

Review and Phase Eight on St.

take water to the lowest point

Bert (Shirty) Passingham, who

Peter’s Road once housed the

of the town. This was into the

at Stroud (‘stroud’ means an

worked at the gas-works, was

Petersfield fire brigade, formed

River Rother at the far end of

area of brambles and stunted

always proud that on Christmas

in 1890.

Durford Road. They are still in

A Roman farmstead was built

trees on marshy ground) beside

morning he was at the gas-

an east-west track that can still

works very early in order to

22

A request for the fire brigade would entail calling all the

place today, naturally with updated improvements.

Local History

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

the Drill Hall and living quarters

the replacement of major

concreted after much

were added for the Sergeant

timbers, which has considerably

discussion. This enabled the

Major and his family. They

extended the life of this

market site to be washed after

formed the backbone of cultural

lovely building. life

the cattle market every

life and were extremely

Wednesday and was part of the

versatile. It was used as a venue

Excerpted from Kenneth

country-wide drive to improve

for Petersfield Music Festival, as

Hick‘s “Petersfield: A History

was behind the building

the health of the nation.

barracks in the First World War,

& Celebrations”, s published in

now occupied by the estate

as a garage in the Second World

2005 by the Francis Frith

Square stood Castle House -

War, and as a Post Office

Collection

where the Post Office and HSBC

Telecommuni-cations centre for

www.francisfrith.co.uk

now stand. There have been

the external engineering

many tales connected with it.

vehicles. Finally, it was sold for

Court on the High Street

There is a rumour that Queen

residential redevelopment and

• The Petersfield Laundry – one

Elizabeth I stayed there and

resumed its historical title of

that tunnels radiate out from

The Maltings.

The Market Square was

On the West side of the

Castle House, one to St. Peter’s

•

to be the oldest building in

street to No. 1 The Square.

Petersfield. It was built in Tudor

When the railways came to

times, and is oak timber-framed

Petersfield, The Station Hotel

with unusually close centres. As

was built on the site now

one would expect the first floor

occupied by retirement flats. It

jetties out over the ground floor.

provided the ideal commercial

The most interesting feature is

hotel for salesmen or

that instead of being in the

commercial travellers wanting

usual brick or clunch, the infill

to cover the area around the

panels (noggins) are carried

town.

over in knapped flints. Over the years fires have necessitated

Petersfield Workhouse – still in Love Lane: converted into affordable housing ‘Rookes Meadow’

• The Telephone Exchange –

agents Your Move • The Old Post Office – was erected in 1892 on a site now occupied by Dolphin

of the first industries set up in Petersfield. Built in 1905 on Frenchman’s Road, it still

No. 1, The Square is considered

Church, and another across the

The Maltings were known as

Fact File:

functions today. Another laundry was built at the end of Sandringham Road but

This series about historic Petersfield will continue with articles about the development of the local economy and trade, buildings and shops.

If you have any friends, acquaintances or relatives, or know of people who have helped make the town what it is today, please contact Life in Petersfield, your community magazine.

ceased to function in 1919.

• The Post Office – as it is now on the Square opened on 14 February 1928 • Pince’s School – demolished in 1898, it had been built in the reign of Queen Anne and was situated on the Market Square.

,

23

Gardening Gather your leaves for recycling; get good secateurs for pruning

Five top tips for winter

By Christopher Rawlings

Here are some suggestions for success in the garden during this Winter period. felt it was time to try and

dormant and will tolerate a good

4) Feed the

spread some of my knowledge

prune.

lawn

I

to others outside of my garden

So remove all old foliage from

Lawns

centre at Hilliers in Liss. I have

your herbaceous perennials and

benefit

lived and worked the

make sure you label them as you

from a

horticultural dream for some 15

might dig them up by mistake!

good feed at this time of year so

died down for the winter but be

Then start to prune and tidy

use an all-in-one moss feed and

careful not to break the labels

business. My early beginnings

your shrubs. It is worth investing

weed. If you have a large area

off and lose them.

were working as a trainee at a

in a pruning and training book as

there are bulk bags of feed

You can use many different

years and seen both sides of this

small nursery and attending

lots of plants requirements are

available and spreaders for

types of mulch on the garden. I

Hadlow College in Kent and now

different. Good secateurs are

application. Spreaders are great

personally like to use well rotted

I manage a busy garden centre.

essential and good gloves for

as they help make sure you are

manure and my own mix of

So here goes ‌

those prickly candidates.

not overdosing, but this can still

composted leaves and prunings

1) Recycle

3) Mind the mower

happen, so good planning is

from the previous year, then

I always try to recycle as much

Lawn mowers are often laying

essential! You can use old canes

lightly fork in the mixture taking

as I can in the garden. If you

idle at this time of year, so get

to mark out the lawn so that you

care not to disturb your labels

have any leaves left on the lawn

the mower booked in for a

get straight lines – this will stop

and the plants that are under the

rake them up and put them in

service to make sure it is in

the problem of overlap and over-

ground!

black bags place in a corner of

prime condition for the onset of

application of the feed. If you

the garden for 12- 18 months –

spring and summer season. Try

only have a small area to cover

useful to you as they have to me!

rather than in a collection bag to

to go to the shed or garage

you can also get small packs of

If there any other queries that

be picked up by your local

every two to three weeks and

feed that have an applicator

you need help with over the

authority. They will break down

start the mower as this will get

included.

following months then feel free

to a nice compost to be used on

oil round the engine and keep it

5) Mulch the borders

to contact the Editor, Life in

the garden when needed.

in good order.

Mulching is a good thing to do at

Petersfield. I will be more than

this time of year. So, after you

happy to answer any questions you have. life

2) Prune

If it is a ride-on mower you will

I hope these tips have been as

When the leaves are off the trees

want to take it for a short drive

have cleared the beds and

it is always a good time to prune

as this will keep moving parts

borders, you can apply your

your shrubs and trees and to tidy

free like the brakes and linkages.

mulch at about 3-4 inches thick

Christopher Rawlings

your herbaceous perennials.

Also it will keep the battery

all around the base of your

Garden Centre Manager,

topped up with power so it will

shrubs and over the top of the

Hilliers, Liss

not let you down in the spring.

herbaceous perennials that have

Tel: 01730 892196

When the leaves are off it means that the plants are

24

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Keeping you on track

Moving home | Wills, probate & tax planning | Divorce & family | Your business | Litigation & accident claims | Employment law Walltree Court, St. Peter’s Road, Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 3HT Tel: 01730 268211 Knockhundred Row, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 9DQ Tel: 01730 816711 www.macdonaldoates.co.uk

25

Travel

Your first, worst and favourite holidays Jessica Moon talks to people in Petersfield about their first holiday, their favourite holiday and their holiday nightmares…

warmth and then putting

Worst holiday: Bulgaria – it just

blankets over the top for

wasn’t very nice – even the

something soft to lie on. Nice

wallpaper in the aeroplane put

and warm but prone to bugs!

him off the place.

Favourite holiday: The Grand Canyon complete with a helicopter ride over it and then touring around the “cowboy states”.

Worst holiday: Turkey, because Name: Rob Hay

there was a disco in the room

Name: Tristan Luckham

right above ours!

Occupation: Second hand

Occupation: Car sales executive.

record dealer at Music Station.

First holiday: caravanning in

First holiday: Italy, aged 12.

Scotland with his parents.

Favourite holiday: hiking across

Favourite holiday: Bembridge

the South of France.

on the Isle of Wight.

Worst holiday: Tunisia – this

Worst holiday: France – “the

Name: Tim Gray

was only awful because he had

weather was bad so I was ill on

Occupation: Manager of Foggy’s.

to pay for and charter a new

the ferry and the worst bit

First holiday: Guernsey as his

flight home because his partner

about it is that I should still be

parents wanted to check his

did not want to stay any longer.

there now but I was forced to

ears would be alright on the

come home!”

plane journey.

Favourite holiday: Florida with Name: Peter Dunn

his partner.

Occupation: Chef in the

Worst holiday: Rhodes – the

Petersfield Market van on a

hotel had got his booking all

Wednesday.

wrong and so he ended up

Favourite holiday: Taking the

having to share a double bed

children to Florida when they

with his sister!

were little – it was not all roses as they hired a car and began to run out of petrol so Peter took his family on a ‘short cut’ Name: Wendy Haggerty

and got lost. In order to turn

Name: Alison Love

Occupation: Retired

the car around, Peter reversed

Occupation: Owner of Craft Box.

First holiday: Camping in Devon

into a ditch. It took a lot of time

First holiday: In a cottage with

in those old ridge tents without

and much petrol to get it out,

her family but her first without

sleeping bags and, instead,

but it was all right in the end.

them was in Ibiza.

having to lay down straw for

26

Favourite holiday: Driving

Travel

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

around Scotland with her friend

she hopes to share with her

Favourite holiday: Ibiza – about

Charles – despite crashing her

husband in the future.

30 years ago when there were

car in the middle of nowhere so

Worst holiday: Boating on the

only about 3 hotels on the

they were left stranded. They

canals as the weather was

island and not one single club.

had “no money, no car and no

awful; their boat was boarded

nothing” and were forced to

by a load of drunk men whilst

camp on a golf course for

they were going down in a lock;

which they got into a lot of

and the little girl who was with

trouble.

them fell off and knocked her teeth out. So they had to run alongside the boat trying to find a dentist as quickly as possible…

Name: Sarah Heighes Occupation: Manager of J&M Sports.

First holiday: Israel.

Favourite holiday: Greece, Name: Jayne Riley

despite there being a torrential

Occupation: Proprietor of

storm when she was on a boat

Wear2Dance.

trip.

First holiday: Isle of Wight Hi-

Worst holiday: camping in

Di-Hi holiday camp.

Name: Nigel Stanley

Favourite holiday: 6 months in

Occupation: Shopkeeper of

Australia was absolutely life

Petersfield Motor Supplies

changing and an experience

First holiday: Newquay.

Devon (it was wet!). life

Independent Financial Advisers Why choose us?

We offer a professional, relaxed family atmosphere and are committed to the health & happiness of your pet

Advice on: protection products pensions investment options portfolio design IHT planning

free initial consultation Cedar Court, 5 College Street, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 4AE Telephone 01730 710415 Nick Kesley 07710 305197 nick@baggette.co.uk Situated in Dragon Street (behind the Bear Museum) Consulting Times: Monday to Friday 8.00-11.00 am & 2.00-6.30 pm Tel: 01730 262101 For appointments, advice or enquiries.

Also 24 hour emergency service.

John Atkins 07885 190508 john@baggette.co.uk Baggette & Company Financial Management is an Appointed Representative of Kilminster Financial Management Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority Registered in England & Wales. Reg.No. 2564423

Specialist advice for corporate and personal clients

27

Social

Sisters doing it for themselves: Sarah, Beccy and Tiffany

Charity fundraising at Farnham More than £9,000 was raised for the Midhurst Macmillian Service in December at a fashion show staged by The Twenty Fashion Group at Farnham Castle.

T

he Twenty business is owned by sisters Tiffany Lewis and Sarah Dixon, who lost their mother four years ago to cancer. They

said it was important, particularly for this reason, to raise the funds for this service.

The show was a great success with 160 people attending a champagne reception followed by a catwalk show using models from Storm Agency. Beautiful collections from Marc Jacobs, Missoni, Jenny Packham and Temperley Resort Collections were on show along with many others.

Auction prizes were donated including an evening gown from Alice Temperley, Spa Breaks from The Four Seasons Hotel and a beautiful bag and filofax from Annya Hindmarch. All the guests left with bags full of fashion goodies.

Fashion show helpers (l to r): Bebe and Hermione Ross, Freya Hartley, Olivia Hills, and Harriet Davies.

Front: Georgia Dixon (Sarah's daughter).

Sarah and Tiffany said that “it had taken months of careful preparation to ensure the success of the event”. Delighted to raise the much-needed money, they want to say a big thank you to all their clients who supported the event.

Many local businesses helped: including Waitrose with the drinks; Bonica with the flowers; Ugly Cars of Petworth for transporting the models; Rachael Ballard from The Beauty Studio for the makeup; photographers Derek Russell Stoneham, and, from London, Joshua Baker and Alison Wallis; Clarendon Design and Build for help with car parking; and Farnham Castle provided a fabulous venue for a great occasion.

Twenty opened their Farnham Branch earlier in 2006, adding to the stores in Petersfield and Petworth.

Classy clothes on the catwalk

28

Letters

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Letters

to the Editor

Congratulations on Life in Petersfield Your Life in Petersfield is a triumph. Congratulations. It is so generous of you to give Langrish House such a profile. The post has been full of old ladies whose relatives used to work here at the turn of the 20th century and during the Great War. Extraordinary. You are certainly being read and clearly well distributed.

Nigel Talbot-Ponsonby Langrish House

R E V I E W

May I congratulate all those involved in the production and distribution of Life in Petersfield. It is a high quality magazine that is very likely to be well read by many. Petersfield is well served by both individuals and groups who work hard for our community. Life in Petersfield will increase the awareness of those who are supporting our Town and making it such a pleasant place in which to live and work. Congratulations!

Bob Ayer Mayor of Petersfield Life in Petersfield is nicely written, well produced and glossy – full of interesting information. It is a great publication all round.

Long may it reign.

Mary Allen Great magazine! Lots of friends have been calling as a result and it is most definitely one we would be delighted to be associated with.

Ethna Mathews The Studio, The Petersfield School

Having had so many of our clients comment on your magazine, encouraged us to commend you on producing such a fantastic magazine for Petersfield. It is impossible to fault the quality of the publication: it is well presented, full of information and inviting to the reader. We will look forward to the next issue.

Sue Johnson Sue Johnson Interiors

I would just like to say what a welcome addition the ‘Life in Petersfield’ magazine is. Having lived in Petersfield for the past 8 years I thought that it captured the spirit of the town perfectly and provided a range of interesting articles on local history, culture, and future plans. In addition, the business section reflected very well the thriving community of local businesses that exist and, as somebody starting up a new business in Petersfield, it has provided me with a number of valuable contacts.

A quality magazine in all respects - I look forward to reading future editions .

Neil Casson, Energy Footprint Ltd

Thank you Thank you to those who supported ‘Away In A Barn’ in December. The evening was held in a traditional barn, with live music by young people from the local area. It raised money for Cecily’s Fund – which pays for the education of children orphaned by AIDS in Zambia. The fund was set up in memory of Cecily Eastwood who tragically died in a car accident in Zambia on her gap year. Many of the performers went to the same school as Cecil.

Our thanks go to: Peter from Hog-Roast.com (based in Liphook) for organising the delicious hog roast we enjoyed at a special charity rate; to Dave Greenman, for plates and glasses; to Outdoor Work Department, Sara Browne, Peter and Sylvia Coates and Lynne Edleston; and finally to all those who supported this magical evening as audience members.

Edward Browne (co-producer) The Old Vicarage, Steep

Parking in Petersfield Sir, Parking in Petersfield is always difficult. Can an area opposite Rams Walk be designated with a 2 hour limit? Angled parking would also help, as carriageways could be reduced in width and this would allow another row of cars to park. I do not believe that parking at Penns Place should be charged because it would reduce the number of people who use the sports centre which is expensive enough without adding a parking fee.

Bearing in mind that 50% of Petersfield trade comes from the villages around – it is easier to park in Clanfield and Waterlooville.

HAIRDRESSERS 2 ST PETERS ROAD, PETERSFIELD TEL:

01730 260346

www.review-hair.com

Peter Street The Hyde, East Meon

29

Eating Out

Inn of Sixth Happiness – or Seventh Heaven

You will find a treat in store at the Trooper Inn, Froxfield, because it is truly serendipitous, with good food, a great atmosphere and outstanding courtesy. You feel cosseted and valued in a way which few other British inns can match.

T

he husband and wife team

day in Life in Petersfield) had its

no English when she first came

enhanced, but these days the

of Hassan and Sarah Matini

first twist when Hassan, the

to the Inn to wash dishes.

Trooper relies on a more

Naturally the Matinis are

dependable electricity supply!

(pictured below) own and run

sleeping partner who lived in the

the Trooper. Their story sounds

flat above the inn, bought out

delighted that Stoner Hill has

like a scene from Love Actually

his partners and turned pub

recently reopened after being

rescued from closure and

(which might be called Pub

manager. Then his wife Sarah

closed for seven months

conversion by the support of

In the mid 90s the Inn was

Actually), because Hassan

gave up her job in a London law

because of a landslip. Hassan – “I

the villagers, who objected to

tripped into the world of

firm and became the chef (with a

come from Persia” – and Sarah

losing their inn to a housing

catering accidentally 12 years

little help from a friend).

are getting back into the full

development. That’s when

swing of running their very

Hassan took over and embarked

special inn.

on the regeneration. In the

ago when he was looking for

In recent years, the Trooper

somewhere to live and ended up

has developed the flat where

buying the Trooper in

Hassan once lived into eight

partnership with two brothers.

stylish hotel rooms, and Sarah

to the beginning of the 17th

built an enviable reputation.

Their complex tale (which

has handed over her chef’s hat

century, and since then it has

Hassan and Sarah believe in

deserves its own chapter one

to Elia, a Portuguese who spoke

had a chequered history. Once a

offering customers the utmost

busy staging post on the former

courtesy and consideration.

The Inn is believed to date back

main road to London, and used

30

When my wife and I last dined

by local hunting parties, the

there we enjoyed delicious fig,

Trooper was probably used as a

feta cheese and parma ham

recruiting centre for troops in

starters, in a mustard and

the First World War – although it

honey dressing; followed by

is not known whether this is the

free range chicken with

inspiration for the name.

coriander in a vegetable broth

More recently – and before

Hassan and Sarah Matini

years since, the Trooper has

(for her) and Elia’s special

Hassan took over – 'the Pub at

vegetable lasagne (for me). We

the Top of the Hill' drifted into

finished with pruned and

decline. Because of unreliable

armagnac tart – the

electricity supply it gained the

scrumptious puddings are

nickname 'the Pub with the

prepared by Sarah Potter, the

Candles'.

sister of Rachael who has

The candlelit tradition has been

recently opened Hackman and

Eating Out

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Potter in Dragon Street (see

opens for lunch Tues - Sat from

page 18). With a glass of

12pm - 2pm and on Sun from

sauvignon and pinot grigio,

12pm - 2.30pm. The bar opens

followed by half a bottle of

in the evening at 5pm and

Sancerre we felt well fed, well

evening meals are served Tues -

watered and well looked after

Thur from 6pm - 9pm and on

for £60.

Fri & Sat from 6pm - 9.30pm.

Contact: The Trooper Inn,

Opening hours: The hotel is

Froxfield, GU32 1BD.

open all year round (with a

Tel: 01730 827293.

reduced service on Christmas

Web: www.trooperinn.com

Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s

life

Day). The bar and restaurant

Oliver Gordon

A reader recommends …

I would like to recommend THE JOLLY DROVER pub at the top of Hillbrow, Liss. They do a very wide range of dishes on their menu.

The Jolly Drover

When you arrive at the Jolly Drover (pictured above) there is a very cosy seating area with deep sofas beside the fire. It is possible to book a table for 20 (the most we have tried) and everybody has an individual choice from a normal menu on arrival – no need to decide two or three months in advance what you fancy eating from a limited menu. By some miracle the whole party gets served at the same time, and all hot.

They don't take cards, which isn't a problem if you know about it before you leave home, and they don't slosh alcohol into every dish (I can't take it even cooked, since surgery). Enough dishes do contain alcohol if you are happy with that. life Barbara Hague

If you want to recommend a pub or restaurant, please contact us at Life in Petersfield, 01730 235669. Email: info@lifemags.co.uk

31

Healthy eating

• •

• •

Menus for healthy living Natalie and Jack, from The Kitchen in Petersfield, suggest some straightforward, interesting and health- conscious dishes for you to try in the New Year...

Menu 1 Prawn, crab and avocado stack • Peel and slice two freshly cooked king prawns • Put in mixing bowl and add fresh white crab meat, half sliced avocado, and 3 pink grapefruit segments • Add dressing: olive oil, sea salt and pepper, lemon juice and a pinch of sugar • Mix all together on a plate, serve cold Cod and vegetable papillotte • Take some foil and curl up the sides like a bowl • Place the fillet inside, with 3 or 4 sliced new potatoes (must be sliced, or partcooked) and a sliced carrot • Add marinade: splash of white wine, sea salt and black pepper, fresh parsley, the juice of a whole lemon juice, sliced garlic clove and cover with water (you may add some chilli for extra kick) • Crinkle the sides together to close the foil

32

•

Place papillotte on oven tray and leave in oven at gas mark 6 for 20mins

Baked figs • Halve 2 figs • Place on oven tray, drizzle with honey and leave in oven for 5 minutes at gas mark 6 • Place on plate and garnish with fromage frais Menu 2 Smoked chicken, vine ripe cherry tomatoes and rocket salad • In a mixing bowl, put half chicken breast sliced, 5 or 6 halved tomatoes, and rocket leaves • Add dressing: sea salt, black pepper, spoon of balsamic vinegar and drizzle of olive oil • Mix all together and serve cold Char-grilled / roast chicken • Char-grill or roast a breast of chicken • Boil some green beans and broccoli

Ratatouille: Sweat off an onion and some garlic with some sea salt and black pepper; Add a diced courgette, red pepper and aubergine, leave on stove until soft; Add a tin of chopped tomatos, stir and let cook 5 more minutes Slice the breast of chicken and place on plate Add your vegetable, and garnish with some of your ratatouille

Champagne and raspberry jelly (for 6 people) • Bring to the boil 200ml of water and 200gms of sugar • Add 250ml champagne • Dissolve 4 leafs of gelatine in some cold water. Then add to water, champagne and sugar mixture • Cover the bottom of your loaf tin, or a big cake tin, with the raspberries • Pour in mixture, and put in fridge to set (up to 3 hours) • Use hot water to de-mould and serve with low fat crème fraiche and a sprig of mint Menu 3 Mussels provençale • In a big pot put: fresh raw mussels (400gms) with 2 chopped shallots, sea salt and pepper, chopped fresh parsley, tin of chopped tomatoes, fresh basil and a sliced clove of garlic • Put on stove, on full, cover and leave not more than 5 minutes (ready when mussels have opened up) • Serve as it is on a big plate • Avoid eating mussels which have not opened up, as they may be bad.

Pork tenderloin (for 4 people) • Roast the pork with a drizzle of honey for 20 mins, gas mark 8 • Add the wedges of a whole apple mixed with some grain mustard, for the last 10 mins of the cooking

•

Sweet potato mash: peel and dice the potato, place in dish with some water at the bottom and a sliced clove of garlic; cover with cling film and place in microwave on full for 5 mins. Remove, mash with a fork, add some seasoning Take the pork out, slice and place on plate with the apple and mash

Poached pear in mulled wine • Put half a bottle of regular red wine in a saucepan, with a mulled wine bouquet garni • Drop in the whole pear, with the stork popping out, bring to the boil • Put the lid on and remove from the heat (the steam will continue to cook it until cool) • Take the pear out, place on a plate and garnish with a scoop of ice cream for the wicked ones…

Contact: The Kitchen, 2 The Square, Petersfield.

01730 260006

Recipes are for one person unless otherwise stated.

The Kitchen

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Health

33

Arts

Look behind you!

By Eileen Riddiford There are many local arts groups in the Petersfield area. We hope to do a profile on most of them to encourage people to get involved and let them know what is out there. Our first profile is on the Winton Players who celebrate their 60th anniversary this year. inton Players is a busy and friendly ‘Amdram society’ which puts on three major productions each year, in Spring, Autumn and a ‘Christmas’ production – usually a pantomime in January. They have staged over 150 productions since 1947 when they were formed. These have kept the group in the forefront of amateur drama groups in the South. Whether performing strong and powerful dramas or lightning fast comedies, the group has forged a reputation for professionalism, albeit within an amateur framework. It is recognised and praised not just for excellent acting but for imaginative and authentic sets, costumes and strong production values. Several of the group’s productions have won a NODA award (NODA being the National Operatic and Dramatic Association) including a recent production of Neil Simon’s

W

Rumours.

“With almost 100 members, and three major productions each year, we always welcome new people who would like to be involved.

“Of course it may not be acting that you would like to do – we have many members who are involved in set design, painting and construction, stage crew and management, costume design and making, lighting, sound, properties, prompting and administration,“ says Gerry Elmer (Chairman).

History of Winton Players: In 1946 Miss Joan Sare came to Petersfield as a Probation Officer. She was asked to direct a nativity play that Christmas by Miss Dixon, the YMCA warden at Winton House in Petersfield High Street. Miss Sare had trained at the Central School of Drama and was therefore well qualified to undertake the project. Her

production was so successful that she went on to direct a number of one-act plays, thus initiating “Winton Players” in 1947. The group continued to rehearse at Winton House. Her production of Campbell of Kilmore was entered in the 1948 Petersfield Drama Festival and won the coveted Banner Award.

This success was followed by many others until the Festival ceased in 1971.

In 1958 Winton Players purchased a group of buildings at Sheet, thus providing themselves with a headquarters affectionately known as “The Hut”. This has been developed over the years to provide a heated rehearsal area, scenery and props store, wardrobe, kitchen and toilets.

Forthcoming productions: Dick Whiittington: Winton Players are hard at work on their forthcoming pantomime

From top left clockwise: Jackie Howlett; Ian Dollery; Caroline Davis; Emma Fisher; Gemma Ainslie; Phillips Humpreys; Norman Miller; John Mill; Gerry Elmer.

34

Dick Whittington, to be staged at the Petersfield Festival Hall this month. Written and directed by local man Norman Miller, the pantomime is sure to provide a wonderful family entertainment to chase away the mid-January blues.

The plot (oh yes there is one): Young master Whittington fights against the odds (and a few nasty rats) to become the first Lord Mayor of London with the help of his special friend Korky the Cat. Meanwhile, a delightfully dopey dame called Delia devises delicious culinary concoctions such as herring and custard for Alderman Fitzwarren and his lovely daughter Alice. All the

Meet the Committee: Gerry Elmer - Chairman John Mill – Vice-Chairman Norman Miller – Hon. Treasurer Caroline Davis – Secretary Eileen Riddiford - Publicity

Arts

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Cinderella

colourful characters find themselves on an exotic island after a spectacular shipwreck where they encounter some very strange inhabitants!

Evening Performances: 12, 13, 19 & 20 January at 7.30pm Matinée Performances: Saturday 13, Sunday 14 and Saturday 20 at 2.00pm.

Tickets: on sale at the Petersfield Tourist Information Centre (Tel: 01730 268829) Adults £8, Under 18’s £6.

The Turn of the Screw: Winton Players are also happy to announce that their forthcoming spring production will be Ken Whimore’s adaptation of Henry James’ chilling novella The Turn of the Screw. It will be directed

by Penny Young, who has much

Peter Pan

experience working with the Winton Players and directed Gaslight for the group in 2004 The plot: A ghostly tale of innocence and evil guaranteed to send a chill down the spine.

Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Dates: April 19, 20 and 21.

Tickets: Kay Peters on 01730 263812

How to get involved: Wherever your interest lies - on stage or behind, we welcome new members. Every production relies on the invaluable support of a team behind stage and ‘front of house’ to make it happen and be successful. We also maintain an active calendar of social activities throughout the year so if you would like to join us, we would like to see you!

Why not get in touch?

Meet some Members: Sheila Bowler is possibly the longest standing member of the Winton Players and only has happy memories of her times spent treading the boards (she now only supports them through watching all their shows). Sheila reminisced, “I have been in the Winton Players for many years now. We used to build our lives around rehearsals. There was a real sense of comradeship and we had great social lives.”

Ian Dollery (Alderman Fitzwarren) “It’s as much fun in rehearsal as it is to watch!”

Gemma Ainslie (Chorus) “My favourite thing about Winton Players is the people – everyone is really nice.”

Jackie Howlett (Chorus) “It has a real family feel about it – lots of laughs during rehearsals and one always comes away having made new friends.”

Phillip Humphreys (Dame Delia) “It’s a very liberating experience to dress up and not get a second glance – since my mother put me in a dress I haven’t looked back!”

Emma Fisher (Chorus) “This is my fourth pantomime – I always come back because it’s really fun performing on stage.”

Caroline Davis, Secretary, 01730 264367 or sec@wintonplayers.org.uk Eileen Riddiford, Publicity Manager, 01730 827497 or eileen@riddifordhome.demon.co.uk.

Previous Productions:, Lucretia Borgia’s Little Party, Living Room, Pride & Prejudice, When We Are Married, The lake, Tovarich, Busman’s Honeymoon, A Hundred years Old, On Monday Next, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Saloon Bar, The River Line, The Noble Spaniard, Power Without Glory, The Kingdom Of God, Fools Rush In, Captain Carvallo, A Spell of Virtue, Summer and Smoke, My Three Angels, Haul for the Shore, The Living Room, Caught Napping, The Chalk Garden, The Shop at Sly Corner, Blithe Spirit, The Wind Of Heaven, Hotel Paradiso, The Crucible, The Importance of Being Earnest, Waters Of The Moon, Semi Detached, The Cherry Orchard, The Happiest Days of your Life , Someone Waiting, An Italian Straw Hat, Toad of Toad Hall, The Queen and the Rebels, The Tinderbox, Goodnight Mrs Puffin, Five Fingers Exercise, The Wizard of Oz, Crime on Goat Island, Dinner with the Family, Listen to the Wind, The Servant of Two Masters, The Wings of the Dove, Pinocchio, Night Must Fall, The Fire Raisers, A Christmas Carol, Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime, Thark, Peter Pan, Where Angels Fear to Tread, Little Boxes, Owl & the Pussycat, The School for Scandal, A Murder has been Arranged, Alice in Wonderland, How the Other Half Loves, Ring

Around the Moon, Toad of Toad Hall, Spring & Port Wine, Devil May Care, The Genie & The Golden Key, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Present Laughter, The Snow Queen, The Public Eye, Black Comedy, Billy Liar, Jack & The Beanstalk, A Voyage Round My Father, Quality Street, Dick Whittington, Table manners, Waiting in the Wings, Cinderella, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Loyalties, Aladdin, South Sea Bubble, Abigail’s Party, Pinocchio, The Hollow, Outside Edge, Robinson Crusoe, Hay Fever, Plaza Suite, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, The Heiress, Absent Friends, Ali Baba, The Farmer’s Wife, Confusions, Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, Larkrise, Lady Windemere’s Fan, Mother Goose, Cause Celebre, Celebrations, Babes In The Wood, Happy Event, Pack Of Lies, Puss In Boots, Blithe Spirit, Autumn Manoeuvres, The Sleeping Beauty, Relatively Speaking, Signarelle, Sinbad The Sailor, Arsenic and Old Lace, All My Sons, Peter Pan, Bedroom Farce, The Chalk Garden, Aladdin & His Really Useful Lamp, An Ideal Husband, Absurd Person Singular, Little Red Riding Hood, Dancing at Lughnasa, When We Are Married, Jack & The Beanstalk, 84 Charing Cross Road, California Suite, Cinderella, Dear Octopus, Tale of Two Cities, Goldilocks & The Three Bears, Steel Magnolias, Hobson’s Choice, Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs, The Noble Spaniard, The Winslow Boy, Mother Goose, See How They Run, Touch of Danger, Robinson Crusoe, Stepping Out, The Importance of being Earnest, Puss In Boots, The Cherry Orchard, Tom Jones, Sleeping Beauty, Rebecca, Move Over Mrs Markham, Aladdin & His Really Useful Lamp, Lend Me A Tenor, Gaslight, Peter Pan, Rumours, Intent To Murder , Cinderella, Ten Times Table, Party Piece.

If you would like your local group to present their profile – why not jot down a few notes about it and get in touch with Life In Petersfield?

Contact us at 01730 235669 email: info@lifemags.co.uk

35

Arts

Alive to poetry at TPS Andrew Motion, the Poet Laureate, returned to The Petersfield School in November to host an evening of poetry.

Nigel Poole, the head teacher, told the invited audience at the TPS Studio that Andrew had succeeded in his aim of “demystifying the role of poetry” and bringing it “into the realms of everyday life”.

I

n the first half of the evening

visited I can’t think of one

the students from years 10 &

which has responded more

11, who had taken part in

eagerly than this one... the level

workshop in October, read their

of commitment, the level of

finished work (advance copies

expertise, the level of interest

of which had been sent to

in formal questions really was

Andrew).

astounding.”

After the interval Andrew

Community Arts Manager of

published book In the Blood

the Studio, who organised both

and talked about the time he

events, said that this was an

first “came alive“ to poetry. He

intimate yet inspirational

also read poems from a new

evening – a direct example of

manuscript which will be

the arts transforming a

published next year.

community activity. The

Andrew, who visits a school a

Andrew Motion and his TPS Poets

Ethna Mathews, the

read from his recently

students’ work will be compiled

week on average in term times,

into a publication at a later

said of his visit: ”It was an

date, along with a CD recording

extraordinary time I spent with

of their poetry. Andrew Motion

them. Of all the schools I have

has agreed to write a foreword.

Festival for the young A group from Sheet Church have staged Petersfield’s first Festival for Young People. This Exhibition of Art & Craft at the Festival Hall aimed to bridge the generation gap by showing work by the young alongside exhibits by older people, in ages ranging from 4 to 94.

T

he success of the festival

the theme of ‘Peace’ by other

building. An ATC information

although the town has a long

was immediately apparent

pupils, was positively heart-

stand presented examples of

tradition in the public

to 200 or more visitors who

rending.

how youthful enthusiasms can

performance of music and

be channelled into worthwhile

drama. End of term exhibitions

activities outside the arts.

in schools are seen mainly by

attended the free one-day

Inside the Festival Hall was

event in October. A professional

sheer magic, with 170 exhibits:

exhibition would have been

textiles (including some

proud of the high standard of

beautiful quilts), sculpture,

two years ago – Roger Parkes,

work and skill by young and old,

ceramics, woodwork, paintings,

Chairman, Nigel Wills,

of their uninhibited use of

furniture, clothing, calligraphy,

Treasurer, Daphne Clark, Alex

pattern for the future, and that

colour and space, and of the

and much more. Overhead

Levitt and Peter Nicholson –

some of the established arts

wide range of subjects. It was a

were fantastical flying objects

wanted to connect the

organisations provide practical

true coming together across

created in woven withies

generations and to foster a

help. Congratulations and

the years.

covered in tissue.

The organising group set up

parents and a few civic dignitaries.

Let us hope that this sets the

better understanding and

thanks to all concerned in this

A craft display by the

Exhibitors included local

respect between them. They

brave enterprise. life

youngest pupils of Sheet

schools and organisations –

launched the festival after a

Primary School – skeletons by

TPS, Bedales, Ditcham Park

couple of small projects and

the youngest, a pottery village

School, The Embroiderers’

also against the odds (such as

Roy Kersley

‘Petersfield Tomorrow’,

Guild, Junior Embroiderers – as

lack of funding).

Tel: 01730 264083

beautiful little glazed plaques

well as individuals such as

and some model Temples by 10

Simon Blumlein, with his model

lacks a mechanism for young

year olds – filled the foyer. A

Swiss railways, and Tony

people to show publicly what

panel of handwritten poems on

Sanders, with model boat

they can do in arts and crafts,

36

They believe that Petersfield

E-mail: roykersley@aol.co

Arts

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Petersfield Musical Festival 2007

Paul Spicer

The Petersfield Musical Festival, which celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2006, is an established annual event. The week-long festival next year, from 9 to 17 March, includes performers of all ages from Petersfield and the surrounding area. Professional and amateur musicians join together at the Festival Hall to make a combined community activity both sociable and entertaining. Diana Collins reports. ehearsals are well in hand and invitations even now are being issued to friends, relations and music enthusiasts to join the audiences in the Festival Hall, as well as in the Festival Bar, local restaurants and homes before and afterwards.

The 2007 Festival will have a tinge of sadness, following the death in August of Michael Hurd, composer and musician.

He supported the Petersfield Musical Festival, both as its Chairman and later President for over 30 years.

Many of Michael’s compositions have been performed at the Festival and with other music groups in Petersfield. The opening concert of the Festival on Friday 9 March will be a tribute to Michael Hurd and his music.

Paul Spicer, a choral conductor of national repute, directs two large choral concerts on successive Saturdays. The choirs are composed of the singers of Choral Societies in Petersfield, Rogate, Alton, Fernhurst, and Denmead.

R

Michael Hurd

Monday and Wednesday evenings are youth concerts, bringing to our stage the stars of tomorrow from schools in and around the town.

Thursday’s concert is a performance by The Petersfield Orchestra. The Celebrity Concert on Friday 16 March will feature the great veteran traditional jazz man, Kenny Ball and his Band.

The complete programme is shown (left). Tickets are available from One Tree Books, Lavant Street, Petersfield. life More information is available from Diana Collins, 01730 261638, and the website: www.petersfieldmf.plus.com

Petersfield Antiques Fair 9-11 February (see Arts Diary page 38) Antiques spanning five centuries go on display and for sale at this popular event. It attracts connoisseurs, collectors, and 43 leading antique dealers, showing more than 10,000 individual pieces at prices from less than £20 to more than £10,000. You will find fine Georgian and Victorian furniture, Victorian oil paintings and watercolours, fine silver and jewellery, clocks, barometers, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and all kinds of rare and unusual collectors’ items. All exhibits strictly vetted for quality and authenticity.

Open to the public every day. Admission: £4.00.

Organised by: Caroline Penman, Penman Fairs, Widdicombe, Bedford Place, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 1LWU. Telephone: 0870 350 2442. Website: www.penman-fairs.co.uk

37

Arts Diary

Arts Diary Saturday 6 January Twelfth Night Concert Opera South Venue: Georgian House Hotel, Haslemere Time: 6.00pm Book Tickets: 01730 817547 Friday 12 January Dick Whittington by Norman Miller The Winton Players Pantomime Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Time: 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 268829 Saturday 13 January Dick Whittington by Norman Miller The Winton Players Pantomime Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Time: 2.00pm and 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 268829 Sunday 14 January The Elixir of Love (L’Elisir d’Amore)

by Donizetti Opera South: introductory talk by Tom Higgins, Director of Music Venue: Capron House, North Street, Midhurst Time: 2.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 817547 Dick Whittington by Norman Miller The Winton Players Pantomime Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Time: 2pm Book Tickets: 01730 268829 Tuesday 16 January Anton Chekhov performed by Michael Pennington Venue: Bedales Olivier Theatre Time: 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 711511 Friday 19 January Dick Whittington by Norman Miller The Winton Players Pantomime Please see Friday 12 January Saturday 20 January Beethoven, Poulenc, Elgar and Laillet The Louisa Denby Trio – bassoon, oboe and piano Venue: St. Peter’s Church Time: 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 260213

organist: Thomas Trotter Venue: St Lawrence Parish Church, Alton, Hampshire GU34 2BW Time: 8pm Harry Beckett Quintet Trumpet/flugelhorn, alto/soprano sax, piano, bass, drums Venue: Bedales Olivier Theatre Time: 8.00pm Book Tickets: 01730 711511 Saturday 27 January Southern Pro Musica – Mozart Southern Orchestral Concert Society Conductor: Jonathon Willcocks Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Time: 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 261199 Wednesday 31 January Children’s Concert Southern Orchestral Concert Society Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Time: 10.45am Book Tickets: SOLD OUT Friday 2 February Jazz With Dinner Venue: Georgian House Hotel, High Street, Haslemere GU27 2JY Time: 8.00pm Book Tickets: 01428 656644 The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew by Robert Bolt Dunhurst Groups’ Play Venue: Bedales Olivier Theatre Time: 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 711511 Saturday 3 February The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew by Robert Bolt Dunhurst Groups’ Play Venue: Bedales Olivier Theatre Time: 2.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 711511 Monday 5 February Churchers College Lunchtime Recital Venue: St. Peters Church Time: 1.00pm Admission free

Dick Whittington by Norman Miller The Winton Players Pantomime Please see Saturday 13 January

Friday 9 February Petersfield Antiques Fair Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Time: 10.30am-6.00pm Telephone: 0870 350 2442.

Website: www.penman-fairs.co.uk

Tuesday 23 January Alton Organist Society Organ Concert Alton Organist Society Starring international concert

Saturday 10 February Petersfield Antiques Fair Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Time: 10.30am-6.00pm Please see Friday 9 February

38

Arts Diary

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Sunday 11 February Petersfield Antiques Fair Venue: Petersfield Festival Hall Time: 10.30am-5.00pm Please see Friday 9 February Tuesday 20 February The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti Opera South and Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Tom Higgins Venue: Haslemere Hall, Bridge Road, Haslemere GU27 2AS Time: 7.00pm Book tickets: 01428 642161 Wednesday 21 February The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti Venue: Haslemere Hall Time: 7.30pm Please see Tuesday 20 February Friday 23 February The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti Venue: Haslemere Hall Time: 7.30pm Please see Tuesday 20 February Saturday 24 February The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti Venue: Haslemere Hall Time: 5.30pm Please see Tuesday 20 February Tuesday 27 February Black Atlas inspired by George MacDonald Fraser’s novel Black Ajax London Shakespeare Workout Venue: Bedales Olivier Theatre Time: 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 711511 Wednesday 28 February Optomistic Futurism a talk by Richard Seymour Venue: Bedales Olivier Theatre Time: 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 711511 Wednesday 1 March – 23 March (closed Sundays and Sat 17)

Head/Hand/Heart 3 Optomisi Futurism Presented by Paul Martin Design Company Venue: Bedales Gallery Time: 2.00-5.00 (Mon-Fri), 10-1 (Sat) Saturday 3 March Verdi Requiem H.M.S. Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Conductor: Darrell Davidson Venue: Haslemere Hall, Bridge Road, Haslemere, GU27 2AS Book Tickets: 01428 642161 Sunday 4 March Youth Dance Platform Local and county dance groups perform Venue: Bedales Olivier Theatre Time: 7.00pm Book Tickets: 01730 711511 Tuesday 6 March Schubert Notturno D897, Dvorák Piano Trio in F minor op. 65, Beethoven Piano Trio in B flat op.

97 (‘Archduke’) Rosamunde Trio piano, violin, cello Venue: Bedales Olivier Theatre Time: 7.30pm Book Tickets: 01730 711511 Friday 9 March – Saturday 17 March Petersfield Musical Festival 2007 Celebrity Concert: Friday 16th – great veteran, traditional jazzman Kenny Ball and his Band Choral Concerts conducted by Paul Spicer: Saturday 10 and Saturday 17 The Petersfield Orchestra: Thursday 15 Youth Concerts: Monday 12 and Wednesday 14 Book Tickets: 01730 261638 Details on page 37.

If you would like your arts event featured here, please e-mail the details to: info@lifemags.co.uk FAO Lucy Coates

Life

Relate offer more than you think…

When work, love or family relationships get you down what do you do?

1. Ignore your problems

2. Run away or

3. Put up with it

Relate hold sessions in Petersfield hospital on a Wednesday evening, or you can come to the centre in Portsmouth (open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 9pm, and all day Saturday).

Just one session talking to a counsellor may make a difference. They will not tell you what to do, but will help you find the right solution for the issues you are dealing with. Problems may include communication, depression, stress, alcohol/drug dependency, loss of a relationship, inability to form a relationship, domestic abuse etc.

Relate see couples (married and cohabiting), individuals, same sex couples … anyone with a relationship issue. Contact Relate and see if they can help.

Tel/text/fax: 023 9282 7026 relate@relateportsmouth.org.uk / www.relateportsmouth.org.uk

39

Local Property

Downlands Cottage - Cubitt & West

Happy New Year in prospect Agents reflect on the market in 2006 and look forward to a brave new year. Nick Keith reports 21 Marden Way - Cubitt & West

M

2006, from £285,000 in 2005.

tend to sell house in the

demand for houses with four

The firm is re-branding the

£250,000 to £750,000 range.

bedrooms and more in the

2006, with the right balance of

image of its 40 branches with

But people are not necessarily

area.”

supply and demand. Now they

new bright green shop fronts

aware that we deal with every

wait to see what this year

and a fresh logo. Part of Arun

part of the market.”

brings and they seem quietly

Estates, which claims to be the

optimistic, as long as there are

largest independent agency in

from in the Petersfield property

very long. In December, Cubitt &

no economic surprises and

the South East, Cubitt & West

market? Some say that buyers

West took instructions on a 5/6-

interest rates remain steady.

has a bold mission statement –

come mainly from London, but

bedroom house in Stoner Hill,

to be the number one agent in

Cubitt & West statistics show

Steep. Within nine days the

the coming year with

every town. “This estate agency

that their buyers come from

house was under offer with

confidence. “It has been a really

is run by property people and

within a 25-mile radius of where

three sealed bids for over the

good year for us – a record

not by accountants,” says

they already live.

asking price of nearly

breaking one,” says Robert

Robert McLaughlin.

report an excellent year in

Cubitt & West looks forward to

McLaughlin, the branch

“We have a reputation for

Where do the buyers come

“Petersfield is changing with more young people with

manager in Petersfield. Average

operating in the middle to upper

families looking for homes here,

prices crept up, to £288,000 in

end of the market – that we

and there is a high level of

Those types of houses are in shorter supply and do not usually stay on the market for

£500,000.

Last year they sold a series of

Life

40

▼

ost local estate agents

Local Property

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Simply load it and we’ll store it!

We offer the easiest, most convenient and best value way to store your effects whether you are clearing a room for decorating or having building work carried out, de-cluttering your home to make it more attractive for sale, or maybe just reclaiming the garage for the car.

Whatever the reason, Long or short

term, home or business. SIMPLY store is the answer.

Quality Assured Family Business Established 1895 Removals Domestic Professional trained full time uniformed staff Full packing service Overseas All overseas destinations by air & sea Maximum protection for all your effects Single items/Part loads/Full container loads Storage Containerised & Document Purpose Built Facility Call now for a

We Deliver

You Load

We Store

We deliver an attractive, all weather mobile storage unit to your home or business, you load it and we will store it for you at our secure, modern storage facility. Simple.

free no obligation quotation, literature or professional advice call

Tel: 01730 262158 www.reeves-removals.co.uk

We Collect

01730 262288 now for more info

www.simplystore.co.uk 140 The Causeway, Petersfield, Hampshire GU31 4LL

Self Store At Your Door

41

Local Property

life

interest rates to rise in 2007,

modern four-bedroom houses

they are still at a historical low

close together in a row in

and should not have a negative

Marden Way, on the popular

impact on the market.

Herne Farm development, for

He also believes that the

between £350,000 and

property market will not be

£425,000, while a detached

unduly affected by the

house in the same street

Government’s new Home

fetched £550,000. At the

Information Pack, which is due

upper end, a grade II listed

for introduction in June 2007

house in Bell Hill went for

under an EU directive. Trials

£650,000, and a large property

have recently started in various

needing modernisation in Hill

areas, and it is now a question

Brow for over £700,00

of ‘wait and see’.

Prices do not preclude first

“There is a big demand for

time buyers, especially with

family houses with privacy and

financial help from parents and

a garden, and prices in that part

grandparents. “Many of them

of the market will inevitably be

benefit from what we call first

strong. Petersfield remains a

and second line inheritances,”

town for buyers with

Robert McLaughlin explains.

aspirations, he adds. “But there

So a studio flat in Charles

is a huge jump in price from a

Street near the station fetches

three-bedroom semi for around

around £100,000; two-bedroom

£350,000 to a four-bed family

flats in Chapel Street for around

house in a good location, which

£160,000; a modern terrace

will cost £650,000 or more. So

house with three bedrooms

many families are extending

near the leisure centre for

into the roof.”

£195,000. Older cottages fetch

The firm, with its great

more – about £250,000 for a

tradition and outstanding local

cottage in The Spain, or an

knowledge, specialises in the

Edwardian cottage in Station

middle market, particularly

Road, West Meon.

interesting houses. Typical

One of Robert McLaughlin’s

properties have included a two-

proudest achievements for

bedroomed thatched cottage in

Cubitt & West in 2006 was the

East Meon dating from the 17th

firm’s sponsorship of Petersfield

century. Once the village

Infant School, including blanket

garage, the cottage has plenty

promotion of their December

of period features and a pretty

Christmas Fair, which raised

garden buts needs some

over £4,000. The sponsorship

modernising. Over in Liphook,

continues in 2007.

within walking distance of the

One of the oldest businesses

town centre, a three-bedroom

in the town, Jacobs & Hunt, was

detached house with a long

founded as W P Jacobs in 1895.

garden made £335,000.

It was a combined auctioneer

Up in Hill Brow they have sold

and estate agent. They later

a large ‘contemporary’ house –

moved to their current offices in

built for the owner in the 60s –

Lavant Street near the station.

with 4/5 bedrooms and an

Chris Jacobs, the third

attractive garden for £625,000.

generation of the founding family, retired seven years ago.

“Petersfield has great schools

Cheaper in Bordon Moving to the edge of the

– we are spoilt for choice,” says

Petersfield area, buyers on a

James Dodds, at Jacobs & Hunt.

tighter budget will not find

“And great shops, with the

better value than Bordon and

recent arrival of Fat Face, Laura

Whitehill. Chapplins opened in

Ashley and now Marks &

1996 and now has five offices –

Spencer.” Although he expects

in Bordon, Waterlooville, Havant,

42

White Cottage - Jacobs & Hunt

Cosham, and Fareham. One of

bedroom flat in Whitehill for

the founding partners, Willam

£105,000; a two-bedroom

Newell says that the local area

modern terraced house in

is concentrated round Bordon,

Lindford and an extended three

Whitehill and Lindford. He

bedroom semi in Bordon, both

reports steady sales in 2006,

for around £180,000.

and is looking for more

At a higher price level, you

property in 2007. He expects

can expect to pay some

interest rates will “creep up”

£290,000 for a four-bedroom

and he too doubts whether the

house in popular development

Home Information Pack will

in Canada Way.

impact the market too severely.

The area has recently acquired

Chapplins,

a Tesco, and there are good

9 High Street, Bordon,

shopping opportunities in

01420 487079.

Farnham, Petersfield and Haslemere. This is a good

Cubitt & West,

location for first-time buyers,

High Street, Petersfield,

with one-bedroom flats starting

01730 262931.

at £95,000 and three-bedroom semis at around £180,000.

Chapplins’ portfolio of sales has included: a first floor one-

Jacobs & Hunt, 26 Lavant Street, Petersfield, 01730 262744

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Local Property

43

My Sporting Diary

Trials of a top cyclist The first thing you notice about BEN INSTONE is his height. At 6 ft 7 in tall, Ben has been called “the giant of British Cycling”. One of the UK’s top time triallists, he won 27 of the 29 regional events he contested in 2006.

He also won a bronze medal in the National 50 Mile Championship and was a member of the winning team, a3crg.

He holds at least 13 course records, mainly in the South District where he does most of his racing.

Ben Instone

After his training ride, Ben

this time he continued to cycle

bikes the six miles from his

for pleasure but stayed away

home to work in Petersfield, a

from racing. His return to

journey which takes him about

racing in 2003 came when his

20 minutes. He specialises in

partner decided to take up time

25 and 50 mile trials – with

trialling as triathlon training. So

best times of 48 mins 48 secs,

far his injury shows no sign of

and 1 hour 41 mins. “At 25 miles

reappearing.

I average just over 30mph and

In 2007, Ben is hoping for an

at 50 miles that drops to

even better season. His main

between 29 and 30 mph,” he

rival will be Michael Hutchinson,

says. His 25-mile time is the

the only man who has captured

fastest time set this year in the

the national 10-, 25-, 50-, 100-

UK.

mile and 12-hour championships

For two years Ben has trained

in one year (2005). “Time

with Dr. Auriel Forrester, of

trialling is a hard sport

Scientific Coaching, who has

because it puts such pressure

represented Great Britain in

on you both physically and

road racing and is a former UCI

mentally. It’s a competition

World Masters Pursuit

between you and the clock.

gentle giant, Ben runs Bike

A

foot of the South Downs. After

Champion. She is also the

Competitors start at one-

Doc, just off the High

work he has to cycle home, of

current hour record holder in

minute intervals, and there’s no

Street, Petersfield (behind Bath

course.

the women’s 40 plus age

one around to pace you. For

category. Fomerly the Head of

that reason it’s known as the race of truth.”

Travel). “Cycling takes up most

Although the sport requires

of my time, and when I am not

no special diet, Ben eats a

Sport Science at the University

on my bike I am resting.”

great deal and spends most of

of Luton, she is now a full-time

his time ‘grazing’. Water is vital,

cycling and triathlon coach.

He spends more time training

Since spring 2006 Ben has

Ben’s team, a3crg, is always looking for new members, especially younger riders. “A lot

in the winter months, between

and he tries to drink at least 1

November and March, which is

1/2 litres of water per hour

been using an SRM power

of cyclists are initially put off

off-season for time trialling. In

while riding. This is often mixed

meter, which allows him to train

by what they see as poor

winter training takes up to four

with an energy supplement. On

and monitor his progress much

performance. This is usually

hours of his time on a single

top of this he consumes about

more accurately. In a time trial

because they don’t know how

day, whereas in summer that

5 litres of water during the rest

the cyclist aims to keep power

to pace themselves when riding

reduces to between 45 and 90

of the day.

as constant as possible, while

against the clock, not because

speed and cadence vary

they are unfit. Also, time

minutes because of competitive

Time trialling has become a

commitments. He normally has

highly technical and

according to the terrain. If

trialling lacks some of the ‘pose

one rest day per week.

computerised sport. Ben’s

power is constant, heart rate

value’ of other cycling

titanium racing bike is equipped

will drift upwards slowly.

disciplines. However, the good

His mornings are spent

The SRM allows Ben to

thing about time trialling is that

cycling and resting, and his

with the latest £2300 SRM

afternoons at Bike Doc (part of

power measuring cranks, along

monitor his progress in training

it’s a very safe and friendly

the ‘resting’ period). Ben’s day

with an aerodynamic solid

and racing with great accuracy.

sport.” life

starts with breakfast at 9am,

carbon rear wheel that retails

He emails the stats from his

usually two or three bowls of

for over £1000. His Litespeed

training stints to his coach and

cereal or porridge, and then he

Blade frame alone costs £2500.

she analyses the complex data

goes out training on one of his

Ben admits with a smile that

so that she can optimise his

bikes. Ben’s partner Kaaren

you can get a decent car for

training programme.

May is a former triathlete who

less than his bike is worth: “I

also cycles competitively;

have always ridden a bike, don’t

cycling at the age of 25, Ben

GU32 3HX

between them they have some

own a car and have just started

was forced to take a four-year

Tel: 01730 266554

10 bikes at their home at the

learning to drive.”

break with a bad back. During

Email: ben@bikedoc.co.uk

44

Having taken up time trial

Bike Doc 15 High Street, Petersfield

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Classified Directory

RAKE CAR SALES 4X4 SPECIALISTS WE STOCK A WIDE RANGE OF QUALITY 4X4 CARS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES WE STRIVE TO GO THAT EXTRA MILE TO MAKE BUYING CARS A MORE FRIENDLY AND ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS. Rake Service Station, London Road, Rake, Hampshire GU33 7JH

Tel: 01730 265754 / 07747 111116 www.rakecarsales.co.uk

45

Competition results

WINNER’s MESSAGE: I'm French, aged 43 and live in Calais. Keen on photography since I was 11, I did a lot of different things but the photography is a passion. I would like to make a living of it. I spent five months in England this year to learn your language.

During my stay, I met a nice lady who invited me to visit Hampshire. She works in Petersfield. The last week of April 2006, she took me for one day to explore your town. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of your peaceful town. This photograph has been taken with a digital camera Canon 350D and a lens 28-70 f2.8 L. Philippe Puget

And the winner is...

Philippe Puget, from Calais, wins the prize for the best photograph of 'Life in Petersfield'. His winning photo (above) tells a story and evokes a strong emotion. We like the voyeuristic approach, with strong colours, a striking image, and a composition which is asking for a caption story about the imaginary conversation between the two characters. You want to keep looking at the image to discover what was going on, although it wasn't 'busy'.

Overall we had a good quality of entries and it's clear that people love the town. The Lake seemed to feature in a great number of 'views' and some of the images were lovely but did not really represent 'life' (more still life!). Top marks to you all for showing us new views of the town. Here are a handful of commended entries.

Tina Bolton and Nick Keith, Judges

David Monger

Adam Collier Mark Formby

Andrew Stormont

46

Susanne Weber

Eleaner Hoofer... ‘Leaf in Petersfield’

Competition

ISSUE 2 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007

Life cycles Having set up 16 years ago, OWENS CYCLES have moved from Petersfield to Steep. Here’s the company’s story

Are there secondhand bikes for sale?

Yes. Bikes are taken in part exchange for new bikes.

When did Owens Cycles start?

Owens Cycles started in 1990 in Liss, where founder Owen Pattinson born, brought up and lived, They moved to Lavant Street, Petersfield, in 1995 as most customers came from Petersfield.

Why did Owens move from Lavant Street?

More and more customers are buying on-line rather than from shops. Hence a high street retail outlet is not so important as the emphasis is on service.. In the new premises in Steep he still maintains a showroom but more importantly, he has a large parts and servicing complex.

What was the inspiration?

Owen had previously worked for D S Cycles in Haslemere and saw an opportunity to develop his own business.

Is Owen himself a competitive cyclist?

At 39, Owen still enjoys taking part in Mountain Biking and Cyclocross events.

Most expensive bike in the shop?

The most expensive bike in stock costs around the £4,000 mark but some bikes cost £7,000 or more.

How many types of bike?

10 different brands.

Have bikes changed in the time Owens has operated?

Yes. When Owens started most bikes were 3-speed (Sturmey Archer) ladies and gents models, made of steel. Nowadays aluminium bikes are the trend – especially mountain bikes fitted with shock absorbers, low gearing systems and powerful brakes.

Many models even have disk braking systems.

What is the most popular type of bike?

Mountain bikes.

What servicing does Owens offer?

Complete servicing facilities.

Most popular gizmos for cyclists?

Bike computers that tell you speed, distance travelled, etc.

How many staff?

Four, plus Owen.

Tips for looking after your bike?

Keep it clean!

3 road safety hints for cyclists?

Avoid busy roads. Don’t ride too close to the edge. Wear a helmet.

Anything different on offer in Owens other branch in Four Marks?

In Steep, the emphasis is on mountain bikes, but in Four Marks road bikes are more popular.

Owens Cycles: Open 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday.

Stoner Hill Road, Steep, Petersfield. 01730 260446 2 Oak Green Parade, Four Marks. 01420 563922.

Competition Win cycling vouchers Answer 3 simple questions about Owens Cycles, and two winners will be selected by draw from the correct answers.

First Prize £100 voucher from Owens Cycles Second Prize £50 voucher from Owens Cycles The questions 1) What are bikes often made of these days?

2) What is the cost of the most expensive bike at Owens Cycles?

3) What is the most important part of Owens’ new showroom in Steep?

Terms and Conditions • Entries must be received by 31 January 2007 • The winner will be decided by a draw and announced in the March-April edition of Life in Petersfield • The Editor’s decision is final • Employees of Life Magazines and Owens Cycles are not allowed to submit entries.

Send your answers to: Life Magazines Ltd Cycle Competition Email to: info@lifemags.co.uk Life in Petersfield 22 High Street, Petersfield GU 32 3JL

47

Useful Numbers

Leisure

Useful Directory of Petersfield & District Emergency Numbers

Council Numbers

Fire: Hampshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters: 023 8062 4000

East Hampshire District Council: 01730 266551 Petersfield Town Council: 01730 264182

Health: Petersfield Hospital: 01730 263221 The Grange Surgery: 01730 267722 The Swan Surgery: 01730 264546 Police: Hampshire Police general enquiry number: 0845 045 4545

Accredited Bed and Breakfasts in Petersfield Border Cottage, 4 Heath Road, £35-£60: 01730 263179 Downsview, 58 Heath Road, £26-£32: 01730 264171 Heath Farmhouse, Sussex Road, £25-£30: 01730 264709 Pipers Bungalow, 1 Oaklands Road, £28-£35: 01730 262131 80, Rushes Road, £25-£30: 01730 261638 The Holt, 60 Heath Road, £25£30: 01730 262836 1 The Spain, Sheep Street, £28-£40: 01730 263261

48

Helplines, Support Groups & Charities Childline: 0800 1111 Citizens’ Advice Bureau: 01730 264887 Community First East Hampshire: 01730 710017 Electricity Emergency: 0845 770 8090 Environment Agency: 08708 506506 Gas Emergency: 0800 111 999 Natural England (formerly Countryside Agency): 020 7932 5800 Relate: 02392 827026 Samaritans: 08457 909090 South Downs Association of Disabled People & Shopmobility Services: 01730 710474 Southern Water: 0845 278 0845 The Salvation Army (local branch): 01730 262820 Tourist Information Office: 01730 268829 Winton House Centre (centre for Hospital Cars & Age Concern): 01730 266046

Local walks info: www.hants.gov.uk/walking; www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southd owns Petersfield Library: 01730 263451 Petersfield Museum: 01730 262601 Petersfield Rugby Football Club: 01730 269744/265072 Petersfield Swimming Pool: 01730 265143 Petersfield Town Football Club: 01730 233416 Petersfield Town Juniors Football Club: 07703 002676 Steep Lawn Tennis Club: 01730 264999 Taro Leisure Centre: 01730 263996 Walk to Health: 01730 262792

Places of Worship Petersfield Methodist Church, Station Road (Methodist): 01730 233862 Petersfield Christian Fellowship (all denominations welcome): 01730 231400 Petersfield Methodist Church: 01730 233862 Contact: John Pine 01730 300072 St Lawrence’s R.C Church, Station Road (Roman Catholic): 01730 262290 St Peter’s Church, The Square (Church of England): 01730 260213

Sheet County Primary School: 01730 263310 Steep Primary School: 01730 263988 West Meon C.E. Primary School: 01730 829213 Secondary: Bedales School: 01730 300100 Churcher’s College: 01730 263033 The Petersfield School: 01730 263119

Travel Numbers General: Public transport information line: 0870 6082608 www.traveline.org.uk Airports: Bournemouth Airport: 01202 364000 Gatwick Airport: 08700 002 468 Heathrow Airport: 08700 000 123 London City Airport: 0207 646 0000 Luton Airport: 01582 405 100 Southampton Airport: 08700 400 009 Stansted Airport: 0870 000 0303 Buses: National Express: 08705 808080 Stagecoach Coastline: 01903 237661

Schools Primary: Buriton County Primary School: 01730 263526 Ditcham Park School: 01730 825659 Dunannie (Bedales Pre-Prep School): 01730 300400 Dunhurst (Bedales Junior School): 01730 300200 East Meon C of E Controlled Infant School: 01730 823218 Froxfield C of E Infant School: 01730 827251 Herne Junior School: 01730 263746 Langrish School: 01730 263883 Petersfield Infant School: 01730 263048

Ferries: Brittany Ferries: 0870 536 0360 P & O Stena Line: 0870 600 0600 Trains: Eurostar: 0870 518 6186 National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950 South West Trains: 0845 600 0650 If you would like to display the phone number of a local group, business or society, please e-mail it to: info@lifemags.co.uk FAO Lucy Coates