Romsey & District u3a February 22 Newsletter

Romsey & District Learn, Laugh, Live

Newsletter – February 2022 romseyu3a.org.uk General Monthly Meetings

Talks have resumed in Crosfield Hall but we hope you will also be able to join in from your home, via Zoom, at the same time !

Remember to check for updates - visit our website events page.

Meetings start at 10.30 am (ZOOM log-in from 10.15 am).

————————————————— 16 February Roy Norton 50 years in Television Production - Take 2 ————————————————— *30 March* *Change of date and speaker* Andy Skinner Southampton’s Darkest Hour Andy will help us discover the story of Southampton during the 2nd World War. It may bring back memories to those of you who lived in Southampton at this time.

————————————————— 20 April Professor Margaret Cox The Lost Soldiers of Fromelles: Location, Excavation and Identification In 2009, international archaeologists excavated 6 mass graves near the site of the Battle of Fromelles (July 1916). Margaret will describe the project, her role in it and the challenges and outcomes of her work, as archaeological, anthropological and DNA evidence help to identify many of the 250 Commonwealth soldiers who fell behind enemy lines.

————————————————— 18 May ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING followed by Lauren Griffiths - Tools for Self Reliance This Totton charity empowers Africans living in extreme poverty to create their own livelihoods. The tool kits sent out are used in skills training centres, offering trainees a way to begin their own sustainable careers and leave poverty behind.

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Chair’s report WHY HELP YOUR u3a?

As a member of Romsey & District u3a, you have the opportunity to embrace the u3a motto, Learn, laugh, live, and I sincerely hope you are managing all three!

You may have been a member for years, or you may be new to us, but being part of u3a gives you the chance to make new friends, learn new skills, expand your horizons, remain socially active, feel valued and hopefully become a team player.

Over the last two years, many of us have had to take on new ideas and skills to keep our u3a alive and kicking. Before that, we’d never heard of Zoom, yet alone be able to use and manage it. We did, however, believe that it was exceedingly important to find a way to keep connected with you during the periods of lockdown and restricted living. Zoom fitted the bill and was a great asset but not necessarily for everyone. Running alongside the technology was the traditional paper and ink approach so, whilst the majority received emails and joined Zoom events, everyone else was kept in the picture via printed hard-copy bulletins, letters, quizzes and even the odd phone call.

We’ve definitely covered the learn aspect but we’ve also laughed a lot, mostly at ourselves whilst trying to grapple with new techniques, and, as a result, we feel as if we are living!

This has been said before, and I can’t help but emphasise the fact that our u3a does not run itself. It requires members to put something into as well as get something out of their membership. All u3as are run for their members by their members and there is no distinction between the learners and the teachers, the trustees and post-holders and members, or the group leaders and members. We are all just u3a members!

I am sure you can answer the question, What do you get from being part of u3a? but can you tell us what you put in? Maybe you already do, and for this we are grateful, so this doesn’t apply to you, but maybe you don’t.

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Please consider whether you have something to offer. No one needs to be an expert and no one needs to work alone; you just need to have an interest in and a zest for learning, laughing and living! Would you like to join the trustees? Could you help by being part of a refreshments team at our monthly meetings in Crosfield Hall? You may have an interest that we don’t yet cover. Would you consider helping to start up a new interest group or contributing to the running of a group you already belong to?

It is a shame we are losing some of our groups because no one wishes to be the contact person or help keep them going. One such group is Questers. For 18 years, this very popular group has taken its members far and wide, visiting places of varying interest, organised by its small committee who now feel it’s time for new blood to take over. After so many years, I tend to agree that, yes, they’ve certainly done their time! Unfortunately, however, with no one stepping in, we have to say goodbye… unless, of course, you would like to resurrect it!

I can assure you that, although you may be kept busy, the outcome will be rewarding. By networking within the movement, you will feel more connected as well as gaining enjoyment, satisfaction and extra knowledge.

The bottom line is that if too many vacancies are left unfilled, our wonderful u3a will cease to exist. Do we want that to happen? I don’t think so!

Kay Lovell

Newsletter Team Contacts Please send copy for the MAY 2022 newsletter to:

John Saunsbury : 01794 324841 news.copy@romseyu3a.org.uk The deadline is FRIDAY 29 APRIL 2022 but PLEASE send any copy as soon as you have it!

OTHER newsletter queries to: newsletter@romseyu3a.org.uk 3

STANDING ORDER CHANGES MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION INCREASE FOR 2022/2023 The annual membership subscription has remained unchanged for many years. However, due to rising costs, as advised at the last AGM, it is to rise in 2022 for individuals to £15.00 from 1 April 2022. For members who belong to another u3a and pay their Third Age Trust Capitation Fee to them, it will increase to £11.00.

Those who pay by STANDING ORDER should have now received either an email from the Treasurer or been approached, asking them to contact their bank to increase their payment. If anybody has any query regarding changes to their Standing Order payment please contact me at: treasurer@romseyu3a.org.uk .

Thanks, Sheila Prangle Treasurer of Romsey & District u3a

Membership Renewal and AGM We will be contacting members in March about both the renewal procedure, and the AGM. Documents will be either emailed or posted to you, as well as being available on our website.

u3a week

17-26 September 2022 4

News from around the Groups LATIN LITERATURE GROUP Quite simply, we are a small but faithful group of six, which now meets regularly. Together we enjoy reading Latin authors, in particular poets of the Golden Age, having prepared in advance our various contributions.

New members would be most welcome.

Sally Dickens

BOOKWORMS The Bookworms will continue to meet via Zoom until April when we hope to meet in person in the Memorial Park, weather dependant, of course.

The books we have read for the last three months of 2021 are: The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd, A Good Man in Africa by William Boyd and All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Very different genres, which we mostly enjoyed.

Kaye Hannah, group leader

NOVICE ITALIAN GROUP Our relatively small Novice Italian Group is now going ahead after a short Christmas/New Year break. There are four of us in our self-taught group, who meet once a week, and we would welcome new members.

Like many groups, unfortunately, we were unable to meet during lockdown periods and we are now keen to proceed with our meetings with the thought that sometime soon we may be free to visit La Bella Italia and hopefully speak this lovely language like un nativo!

Angela Bogatto

THURSDAY PAINTING In a relaxed atmosphere of chat, and cups of coffee/tea, this friendly group meet every Thursday morning from 10am until 12noon in the Romsey Methodist Church Hall in The Hundred. We dabble in watercolour, pen and wash, acrylic, oil, charcoal, pastels, watercolour pencils, etc. The door is always open - why not pop in and meet us!

Jan Moody

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WINE APPRECIATION Back in December R&D u3a wine group celebrated in style with a selection of six wines and an assortment of finger foods. Some 22 of our 25 members joined together at our new venue, The Abbey Rooms, obviously taking all the precautions we could in our present situation.

We started with a toast of Cremant de Limoux, a sparkling wine produced in the same style as champagne, but it is a lot less expensive.

Then we partnered food with our wines: Pazzia Primitivo, an Italian red; and a Spanish red by the name of The Guv'nor, were served with finger foods of sausage rolls, mini sausages and vegetable tarts, which all went down extremely well.

Profiteroles were accompanied by a very enjoyable dessert wine, Moscatel; and mince pies with an Austrian Gruner Veltliner. To finish there was a Tawny Port and an assortment of cheeses.

Throughout the evening a Christmas themed quiz was interspersed between the eating and drinking. Finally, we had a lucky dip with each member pulling out a name and another a prize, with all members receiving a gift to take home. We usually finish our Christmas evening singing (with actions) The Twelve Days of Christmas, but unfortunately we had run out of time. A vote of thanks was given by all members after a very enjoyable evening.

Derek Morley, Wine Group Coordinator

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CURRENT AFFAIRS GROUP The Current Affairs Group has been meeting for the last two years via Zoom, but we are hoping to get back to meeting in real life in March.

We will be changing our meeting venue and using the small meeting room at the Romsey Methodist Church on The Hundred. The meeting time will be unchanged, at 2:30 pm on the second Tuesday of the month.

The meetings used to last around a couple of hours, with a tea break, though we found that on Zoom an hour was long enough. Traditionally, we do not meet in July and August, and in December we meet in a local restaurant for a Christmas lunch.

A number of members have joined during the pandemic, but we can accommodate a few more. We usually start by discussing the top items on the lunchtime news for the day, but the discussion usually diverges as members raise items of interest to them.

Aelred Derbyshire, Coordinator

POTENTIAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY GROUP I have received some enquiries about an Aerial Photography Group.

The flying of drones has become an achievable skill and it opens up a whole new aspect of the world. Drone flying has received a lot of bad press but it is mainly due to a lack of proper training and compliance with the regulations.

I have been in touch with Romsey Electric Flyers who are a traditional Model Flying Club operating locally. There is scope for a small group to be set up to enjoy the hobby and raise standards. The group could advise on suitable devices and draw up a list of safe flying areas. After the initial cost of the drone the running costs are minimal.

Do you wish to explore a new challenge to stimulate the grey cells in the outdoors with a different perspective on the countryside? Would you be interested in supporting a new Group to learn all about Aerial Photography that would give help, support and training to ensure the safe and compliant operation of drones (small unmanned aircraft).

To find out more, contact: Aerialphotography@romseyin.uk John Broughall

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THE NATIONAL u3a HIGH STREET SURVEY In September 2020 the u3a set up a High Street Survey with the idea of seeing how the pandemic affected the appearance of our town centres.

This was part of the Third Age Trust’s celebration of the u3a’s 40th anniversary. Would the forced closure of our traditional High Street shops change our shopping patterns permanently? What would the High Street look like in the future? Romsey & District u3a decided to take part in this programme, and a small group of surveyors photographed and described the business premises of the town, using standardised forms. In 2021 we repeated the exercise, recording the changes that had been made, and adding these into the database.

The database set up by the u3a will be in place for ten years, available for all u3a members to see. It is in the process of being updated for 2021, and we plan to update it every year, so we can show the changes that happen over the decade.

You can view the survey at u3ahighstreet.co.uk where you can see not only Romsey’s entries, but also those of the other participating u3as, from places as different as Royal Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury and Blackburn.

Between 2020 and 2021 about 8% of the premises surveyed in Romsey had seen changes of use or management, and there have been further changes since then. There were thirteen changes in total; four premises remain empty.

The Market Place saw the largest number of changes, with the opening of the Cocky Anchor micropub, The Exchange café, and Upload Printing, and the closure of Kutchenhaus Kitchens, which has moved to the former Abbey Hotel. Kutchenhaus’ former premises have a planning application for a first-floor change to residential use.

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In The Hundred, Clarks shoe shop said goodbye to Romsey, replaced by Grape Tree. M&Co has halved its floorspace, releasing the other half to Boots Opticians which is now open. Charters Estate Agent moved to the former Romsey Advertiser office, and its former premises are now occupied by Parker Bullen solicitors. Next door Sweeny Barber shop has opened. Can we expect a pie shop soon as a result? Thai Koh has closed and the premises are for sale. The Cornmarket has lost Scarlett’s jewellers, now empty. The vape shop in Dukes Mill is now a community pantry. The vape shop on Bell Street has been taken over by Forest and Cove, which sells handmade goods and promotes crafts.

The High Street has always been a focus of change, and the full effects of the pandemic on the High Street will play out over the next few years.

Will we turn more to online shopping, and leave the High Streets to businesses like cafés, opticians, beauty businesses and other businesses, which we have to visit in person? Is the High Street now a destination, rather than somewhere to shop for essentials? Will independent shops rise again to fill the gaps left by chain stores moving to online selling? We can only watch and wait to see what Romsey will look like in ten years’ time. It may be very different, but that does not mean worse, by any means.

The Romsey part of the survey intends to continue with a small team carrying out annual updates. Nan Keightley has taken on the lead, supported by Shirley Rogers, Jan Askew and Gordon Massie.

Nan Keightley

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Interest Groups News : February 2022 *Questers: It is with great regret that we have to report that this most successful group has had to be folded due to lack of people prepared to step forward to take on key roles on the committee. Most of the previous committee have stepped down after years of hard work and dedication to organising not only trips, but annual Christmas dinners, membership lists, financial arrangements etc. for which we thank them wholeheartedly. They were Brenda Taylor, Liz Holloway, Pam Daniels, Christine Burgess and Val Morris.

However, the good news is that the Short-Day Trips (SDT) committee have kindly offered to absorb into their membership any Questers members wishing to transfer to the group. So far at least 40 have decided to do so. Ken Shorter, who was a member of Questers, will now help to organise trips as part of SDT. *New Theatre Group: the inaugural meeting of this group was held on Zoom on Thursday 6 January, where it was agreed that a low-key approach would be taken to start with, until the COVID situation is sorted out. Anyone wishing to join this group should contact Margaret or Jo (details below). Several people are required to help run the group and they are particularly in need of someone to organise financial matters and someone who can convene meetings of the group by email. Chia Dewis-Hall has kindly offered to coordinate transport.

Meetings will be held on the 2nd Thursday of the month, but not necessarily every month.

*New Table Tennis Group: We are trying to start a new Table Tennis group to play at Abbotswood. There are currently 4 people interested, so we need lots more to form a viable group. The day & time will be decided to suit those who sign up and based on what's available. Please contact Jo or Margaret (see below), if you would like to join in.

For any matters or concerns connected to groups, please do contact your Interest Group Coordinators:

Jo Morgan : 01794 514134 Margaret Marchbank : margaretmarchbank@btinternet.com 10

PICKLEBALL The group continue to play in the sports hall at Mountbatten School each Wednesday from 17:00 – 18:30, which has generally been well attended.

The Thursday afternoon outdoor sessions played on the tennis courts at North Baddesley Sports Centre were suspended in November but, weather and keen members permitting, are now starting up again – you quickly get warm while playing!

The sport appears to be increasing in popularity in this country and if you feel you would like to give it go you are very welcome. All equipment is provided.

If you would like to do a taster session with the indoor group at Mountbatten School, please email Tr i s h a Mer ed i t h to book.

I am no gardener, but saw this and wondered if it might fit in a newsletter corner somewhere. Once there is the smallest glimpse of sunshine Brits attack their gardens, often harming dormant HEDGEHOGS too. (The reference is to 50°F by the way, which is 10°C !!!)

Jan Moody 11

ARCHITECTURE AND LOCAL HISTORY November saw our return to in-person meetings at a new venue, the Wisdom Centre. Our first talk was given by Victoria Burbidge, cocontributor to The Romsey War Memorial Archive. To bring home the reality of war, Victoria structured her talk around one particular local family, the Garlands from the village of Michelmersh. The patriarch of the family was Henry Garland, originally from Somerset. In 1871 he moved to near Romsey and lived at Dunwood Farm. He married Mary and had two sons. When Mary died at the age of 44, Kate appeared on the scene. She and Henry set up home together in a two-up and two-down cottage in Michelmersh and had eleven children, a typical Victorian family. The story featured three of their sons: Albert, Fred and Bob. Albert Henry Garland (Bert) joined the Hampshire Regiment in 1894 and saw service in Africa, Bermuda, Mauritius and India, heady stuff for a lad from Michelmersh. He trained as a marksman which allowed him to wear the crossed rifles badge on his arm. Unfortunately, he forfeited this, although it is not known why. He became re-established as a drummer; drummers were used as runners in battle. Then in 1914 came war. Bert was shipped from India and arrived in Romsey by train. In March 1915 he set off for the ill-fated campaign in Gallipoli, taking part in the Cape Helles landings from a converted collier, the River Clyde.

In the ensuing skirmishes against the Turks, who were firmly entrenched, the 2nd Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment suffered heavy casualties, including Bert who died on 29 April 1915. His name is carved on the Helles Memorial.

Next came Fred who followed his brother into the army. He too joined the Hampshire Regiment around 1912-13. Fred was posted to the 25th Siege Battery at the Royal Garrison Artillery, Fareham where he would have been introduced to the heavy howitzer guns. His battery was shipped to France where in 1916, he took part in the infamous Battle of the Somme. At some point, Fred suffered gunshot wounds to his leg. He was shipped back to England, arriving first at Netley Hospital and then transferred to a hospital in Highfield, Southampton. He died of his wounds on 16 September 1916.

Their parents paid for the bodies of both boys to be buried in Michelmersh cemetery.

In 1917 Robert Henry (Bob) was conscripted into the Royal Marine

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Artillery and posted to Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth. Soon the Spanish flu pandemic was raging; it claimed some 50 million lives worldwide. Gunner Bob unfortunately succumbed, and he died on 28 September 1916, depriving Henry and Kate of two sons in one month of the war. Henry also lost a grandson, killed in Belgium in 1917.

Victoria chose the Garland family because one of Henry and Kate’s daughters is the grandmother of our group member, Jo Morgan. Jo enhanced the meeting by bringing some of the family memorabilia including a drummer’s jacket and cap, various badges, photos of the brothers, group photos in beautiful frames made with fir cones and an embroidered picture relating to the Hampshire Regiment.

We all pondered the randomness of war and its effects on ordinary families. Some other members shared their experiences.

Over the Festive season in December and January, we viewed programmes made by John Betjeman, expounding on his favourite Victorian architects, an absolute delight as was the Christmas fare supplied by Wisdom Centre catering.

We look forward to two talks in the coming months, each featuring aspects of Hampshire.

Shirley Rogers, Group Coordinator

TRAVEL GROUP The Travel Group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 9.30am in the Annexe at the Crosfield Hall for a coffee/tea/chat, with the meeting starting at 10.00am. Members share travel ideas and holiday plans.

Following the January meeting, 6 members booked a Lucketts Coach Holiday to a Warners hotel at Bodelwyddan in North Wales. Lucketts make it easy because they pick you up from your doorstep! Members are also looking into another Lucketts coach trip to Warners Alvaston Hall in Cheshire in April and a tour of the Peak District in July. Various other trips are being investigated including Dover Castle, the Edinburgh Tattoo and day trips to Portsmouth and the Windsor Horse Show. We are not limited to UK Holidays; overseas adventures are planned for later in the year. Everyone is welcome, so do come along and meet us. You may end up on holiday!

Brenda Sennett

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BIRDWATCHING GROUP The November visit to Blashford Lakes near Ringwood was attended by a small but keen group of six. The weather was a cloudy but mild 14°C. Our first stop was at the Tern Hide on Ibsley Water. This lovely refurbished hide is very spacious and has a floor to ceiling window looking out on the water. We spotted a good selection of waterfowl and had fun watching various ducks, geese and grebes fly in and out. Rather a long walk ensued to reach the hides on Ivy Lake as some dangerous branches had been identified over the usual path. It gave us all some exercise (particularly for those carrying their telescopes!) and gave us time to swap notes on recent birding trips we had made. It was rewarding to see plenty of wigeon, gadwall and a kingfisher enjoying the lake. A solitary wader on the far bank was identified, with the aid of one of our group’s telescopes, as a green sandpiper.

In January the group was invited by the Archway Birdwatching Group to their Zoom talk by Rick Goater, an experienced freelance naturalist who has many years’ experience as a bird warden. Rick’s fascinating talk covered many areas, but its focus was on stressing how key people had given their time and patience to help him improve his birding skills. That is what we are all about in the R&D Birdwatching Group as the focus is on sharing sightings and knowledge with each other, whatever our level of expertise. One thing we all have is enthusiasm!

Our next meetings are as follows: Wed 16 March 9:30-12:30 Warsash Local Nature Reserve bordering the River Hamble and the Solent, Bunny Meadows and Hook Spit Fri 15 April 9:30-12:00 Keyhaven Marshes Nature Reserve, sea wall and lagoons Marion Slattery, Group Coordinator 14

GENEALOGY What were your family doing a hundred years ago?

And where did they live? The release in January of data from the 1921 Census of England and Wales provided answers for those with a pressing, or just passing, interest in finding out.

The census was carried out on 19 June 1921 and covered some 8.5 million homes and other institutions, recording 38 million individuals. The information collected filled 30,000 volumes, taking up a mile of shelving.

The data concerning individuals has only now been made available under the 100-year Rule which protects personal information. The census reveals some of the impacts of WW1; there were 1.7 million more women than men; there were 730,000 fatherless children; there were 35% more people in hospital compared to the 1911 census. The 1921 census was the most comprehensive to date, with information including age, place of birth, marital status (divorced could be recorded for the first time), profession and employer.

The census data is available on-line (only) through the UK genealogy company Find My Past (FMP): findmypast.co.uk, a rival to the more widely known US company Ancestry. At this stage only limited information can be accessed free, just enough to be able to see that an individual you are seeking appears in the census. To get more detail requires purchasing the record. That can be an image of the original form, handwritten by the head of household, or a transcript. The original image is strongly recommended, as some significant errors have been found in transcripts. Images cost £3.50 each, with a small discount for FMP subscribers. It is possible that the records may become part of the FMP subscription in due course, as has happened for other record sets previously, but FMP have made no comment on that.

The current data release covers England and Wales only. The Scotland census data is due for release later in 2022. For those with Irish family connections there is a longer wait, since the Ireland Census was delayed until 1926. For all parts of the UK there will then be a very substantial wait until the next release of a census in 2051. That is because the 1931 records were lost in a fire, and there was no census in 1941 due to WW2. Fortunately, the 1939 Register, taken to provide information for the impending war, is already available, albeit that details for living persons under 100 years of age are redacted.

Graham Woodbury

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SHORT DAY TRIPS (1) VISIT TO SALISBURY 25/11/2021 Thirty-nine intrepid trippers visited Salisbury on a lovely sunny, but chilly, day. On arrival we went our separate ways to shop, have a wander or enjoy a leisurely lunch before meeting up at the Cathedral for our guided tour.

For the tour of the Cathedral, we were split into small groups and treated to a bespoke tour. All the tour guides were very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. It is an amazing building with lots of interesting stories covering many different periods throughout history.

One of the guides, historian Sue Allenby, told us about the role of Elias Dereham in the construction of the Cathedral. An interesting fact: the Cathedral is floating only four feet above wet gravel and had to have buttressing supports added not long after it was built. This was due to the fact that it was deviating 29 inches from true under the weight of the spire. We were reassured that it is quite safe now!

By the tomb of William Longespée (1176-1226) there is the preserved body of a rat carrying traces of arsenic found in William’s skull. There had been speculation at the time of William’s death that he had been poisoned!

The Cathedral is surprisingly light and airy inside due to the fact that most of the original stained glass was removed in the 18th century by James Wyatt and, over several periods, the dividing structures between the sacred and secular areas of the Cathedral have been removed and reinstated. Currently you can see from one end of the building through to the other. The original stained glass was replaced with plainer glass that allows more light into the building but, sadly, most of the beautiful old stained glass has been lost forever.

We saw the Cathedral’s copy of Magna Carta but, for me, the most amazing artefact is the modern font designed by William Pye. A description can’t do it justice. It is surprisingly large, has a cruciform shape with four filaments of water spilling out from four corners. The font

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is constructed from bronze and rests on a base of Purbeck stone. The surface of the water in the font reflects the surrounding architecture Salisbury is a lovely medieval city with a beautiful Cathedral and well worth a visit. I think that all our trippers enjoyed their day there.

Gilian Gardiner

(2) SHORT DAY TRIPS JANUARY LUNCH Forty-six of our members attended lunch at Ampfield Golf Club on Thursday 27 January. The weather was kind to us and it was pleasant to look out of the windows to see the sunshine over the golf course. Kay had arranged some teasers to get the lunch off to a relaxed start.

The meal was well presented and service good. Everyone was pleased to be out enjoying the pleasant company and surroundings.

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The Memorial Park, Romsey The park does bring some sadness, with thoughts of time gone by, A carpet of red poppies, the memories never die.

That vision from the trenches where so much blood was shed, For future generations, the years that lie ahead.

Inscribed in stone, such precious names unable to survive,

The warhorse and his rider, forever side by side.

Now we must pause a moment, the courage of our men, That simple phrase which means so much, ‘we shall remember them.’

But down the path a race is on, the sound of tiny feet, Some ride or scoot excitedly, their special pals to meet.

Some of them in wellie boots to splash with great delight, Then they get the giggles as they view a soggy sight.

They reach their destination shouting out as kiddies do, A shy voice from the corner ‘please can I play with you’?

A roundabout, a climbing frame and swings for big and small, There’s so much fun for all of us, this park provides it all.

Behind the glistening copper hedge a vision to be seen, Manicured, perfection, a velvet cloth of green.

The clubhouse and the members, all are clad in white, They play this ancient game of bowls, no squeaky shoes in sight!

The ‘jack’ is sent along its way, then placed upon its spot, A target for the ‘woods’ bowled down, ‘Oh what a splendid shot’!

A gentile and a quiet game, a contest all the same,

To celebrate, to say ‘Hurrah’ that trophy’s ours again!!

Contd...

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A tree which stands majestic pointing upwards to the sky,

A haven and a shelter on which one can rely.

Giving solace and protection, when the mind is ill at ease, To hear the joys of nature, and a gentle, soothing breeze.

The seasons, it must follow, from spring to wintertime, When stripped of all its glory it stands naked yet sublime.

Those biting winds and snowfalls to freeze its aching limbs, To look beyond, embrace a light, the hope this park will bring.

There’re benches to be sat on, for others deep in thought, Or joined by friends and family to gossip, plans to sort.

A cafe when it’s open, to feed the hungry mouths, There’s ice cream for the children and duck food for that crowd!

There’s music from the bandstand, funfairs, games to play, Flowers beds so vibrant, they take ones breath away.

All are timeless visions, memories made to last, Into a new tomorrow, the future, then the past!

Eileen Palmer

ACTION FOR HAPPINESS Friendly February Reach out to connect with others Get back in touch with an old friend you’ve not seen for a while.

Smile at the people you see and brighten their day.

Happier - Kinder - Together 19

Winter Birding photos

by Mike Driscoll

Avocets Godwits

Pintail Curlew

Sanderlings

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