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ocal law firm Taylor Fordyce has since its start in 2010 always aimed to provide a first class legal service to its range of clients from private individuals and small businesses to large enterprises, developers, government institutions, international corporations and investors. In 2012 expansion took the form of a merger with PJS Law a specialist litigation and dispute resolution practice, with Paul Smith an experienced civil and commercial lawyer at the head of the team. This strengthened the firm’s ability to deliver quality legal services to all clients. Two further developments are now taking place and directors Peter Taylor and Rory Fordyce are delighted to announce the arrival of Pamela Burt to lead and develop the Private Client team and the arrival of Michael Dyer to set S O L I C I TO R S up and establish a Matrimonial and Family law team to handle the growing demand for expertise in complex and varied issues arising from divorce and separation with, where practical, the use of Mediation and the Collaborative process to help couples and their children move on with their lives. The directors say that these two exciting initiatives recognise a clear and growing demand for a personalised service in Private Client and Matrimonial and Family law and they believe they have found two excellent lawyers to join them to meet this demand. They say there is clear evidence that we are moving out of the longest recession recovery period our economy has experienced and that the recovering commercial and property industries and consequential increase in work for the firm in these sectors needs to be matched by the development and growth of the firm’s Private Client and Divorce and Family law teams in order to meet the demand for new work. They say having Pamela and Michael to lead these two teams sets the scene perfectly to take the firm’s growth to another stage in a short period of time. Michael Dyer
Pamela Burt
Taylor Fordyce are pleased to announce the appointment of solicitor Michael Dyer, as Family Law Consultant to set up, promote and run our new Family Department from our offices in Winchester and Sunningdale.
We are also pleased to announce the appointment of solicitor Pamela Burt, to head and develop our Private Client departments at our offices in Winchester and Sunningdale.
Directors Peter Taylor and Rory Fordyce see the development of a Family Law department as a natural addition to the firm’s existing company commercial, commercial property, litigation, employment, residential conveyancing and general private client work. Michael has a wealth of legal experience specialising in Family Law and has an impressive depth of understanding, knowledge and skills to help guide and support clients through the difficult and emotional times of separation and divorce. His range of experience includes business and commercial transactions, civil litigation and private client all of which provide a broad base from which to secure beneficial outcomes for clients. For many years he was partner and Head of the Family Team in a large and established Southampton based firm of solicitors and is an accredited specialist with Resolution, in advocacy and financial remedy, and is also a Collaboratively trained lawyer and a Resolution trained Family Mediator qualified to undertake MIAMS (Mediation and Information Meetings). Michael is a specialist in most aspects of Family Law including divorce, separation, pre and post nuptial settlements, financial remedy, domestic abuse, cohabitation and children’s issues. He brings his strong belief in the skilful resolution of disputes by negotiation and agreement, particularly where children are involved, but accepts that when that fails hard hitting litigation must follow through the Court. He now looks forward to the challenge of building a new department to service the needs of the local community and surrounding villages.
Directors Peter Taylor and Rory Fordyce see the expansion of their Private Client department as complementary to the firm’s existing specialisms in company commercial, commercial property, litigation, employment and residential conveyancing. Pamela is a very experienced solicitor and is a fully qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and of Solicitors for the Elderly. She has spent several years as Head of the Private Client team at an established firm of solicitors in the New Forest where, apart from overseeing the department as a whole, she handled the more complex Wills, estate administration and relevant tax issues. She has significant experience of attending to the financial affairs of elderly people having been on the Receivers Panel of the Court of Protection before its restructuring. She developed the elderly client department at her last firm and has a particular concern for the protection of the vulnerable. She is keen to ensure that care and nursing home funding issues are fully explored and all available support obtained and has had some success in reclaiming inappropriately paid nursing home fees from the relevant authorities. She brings with her a wealth of experience and looks forward to enhancing the increasingly comprehensive and successful service Taylor Fordyce now offers to its clients. In her free time Pamela takes an active role in the local community, is a member of a local gym, supports the vulnerable overseas and enjoys gardening, riding, sailing and spending as much time as possible with her expanding family.
He is married with 2 grown up children and when not working enjoys foreign travel, reading, equestrianism and golf. www.taylorfordyce.co.uk • email: enquiries@taylorfordyce.co.uk 1 & 2, City Business Centre, Hyde Street, Winchester SO23 7TA Tel: 01962 841041 61 Chobham Road, Sunningdale, Berkshire SL5 0DT Tel: 01344 637960
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Local Students Dazzle the West End!
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ighteen young performers from Stagecoach Fareham and Hedge End took to the stage at one of London’s most prestigious venues, Her Majesty’s Theatre, as part of an exciting programme of song, dance and musical theatre on Sunday 24th November. The local students, aged between 10 and 18 joined an amazing cast of 300 Stagecoach students from all over the UK in the performing arts spectacular. The Stagecoach Fareham and Hedge End performers wowed the appreciate
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audiences with their rendition of ‘Newsies’. Principal of Stagecoach Fareham and Hedge End, Lisa Medhurst, told The Informer; “The student’s did a fantastic job on the stage and their performances were very professional and no one looked out of place on such a grand stage. They all had a great time meeting and performing with students from other Stagecoach schools, no doubt making many new friends and memories.” The performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre was one of the highlights of the Stagecoach calendar
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as it celebrated its 25th anniversary. Stagecoach Fareham and Hedge End is part of a network of more than 600 part-time theatre arts schools worldwide. Early stages classes are available for children aged 4 to 6 and main school classes take place for 6 to 18 year olds and are designed to build confidence and develop communication skills through performance. For more information or to enrol your child at Stagecoach Fareham or Hedge End, please visit the website www.stagecoach.co.uk/fareham or call 02380 465006.
Computer Know How! RansomWare - Fraudsters are spamming millions of people with emails that appear to be from banks and other financial institutions that carry ransomware.
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ne of the major fraudulent company’s is called Cryptolocker and the National Crime Agency (NCA) says the emails from this particular company have been sent to millions of people, but appear to be targeting small and medium businesses in particular. According to reports there have been over 7000 successful attacks of Cryptolocker ransomware made to Action Fraud in the six months from April to September 2013. The emails they send typically carry malicious files that disguise themselves as correspondence (e.g. details of a suspicious transaction or invoices for payment). The emails actually carry ransomware that targets Windows
computers (Mac computers are not affected). If you open one of these files it will encrypt (making the file unusable to anyone without a decryption code) your personal data such as; photos, music and documents. It also has the potential to affect other computers and devices like NAS drives that lie on the same network. Once the files have been encrypted the computer will display a screen with a countdown timer and a demand for the payment of £500 or more for the decryption key. However they say that if the payment isn’t paid within that time period the files could potentially be lost forever. Nevertheless the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit says you should never send the payment of a ransom to criminals. There is never any guarantee that they would honour the payments in any event and follow out the request they promise. RansomWare prevention advice • Do not to click or download unsolicited email attachments. • Update your Antivirus software and operating systems regularly. • Back up all your important files daily and store them off your network. • If a computer becomes infected it should be disconnected from the network, and brought to Hypersonic IT immediately. For more information on this and other computer security topics please visit: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk Don’t forget that you can always contact Hypersonic IT for free impartial advice. Just give them a call for hardware and software support, tuition, web design, data retrieval, commercial and home networking, all with an efficient and friendly service. Call Wayne or Lewis at Hypersonic IT 01489 582666. Email:wayne@hypersonic.co.uk
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Enjoy the benefits of wonderfully soft water this Winter
by having a Kinetico Water Softener installed in your home
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ARK SMITH, the water expert behind Southampton based company Advanced Water Softeners, is delighted to be celebrating his tenth anniversary as your local water treatment expert. To celebrate this milestone Mark is offering an amazing £150 off a new Kinetico 2020C water softener, for all orders placed during the month of January. Remember Advanced Water Softeners is the only authorised Kinetico dealer for Southampton, Winchester, Fareham and surrounding areas. “In this area, the water is incredibly hard and limescale can be a huge issue, so a water softener is an essential appliance”, commented Mark. As well as getting rid of limescale, you could benefit from a greener home, reduced time spent cleaning and savings of up to £400 per year on your household bills. It can also mean increased life expectancy of dishwashers, washing machines and any other water using appliances. A softener can also alleviate the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. Commenting on his success over the last 10 years, Mark said “At Advanced Water Softeners we pride ourselves on our complete service from initial phone call, through to site survey, installation and aftercare. I am really looking forward to celebrating the next 10 years in business and working alongside such a high quality and trusted water softener brand such as Kinetico.” For questions about hard water and the benefits a water softener can bring to your life and home contact Mark, your local water treatment expert on 01489 798868 or visit the website at www.kinetico.co.uk
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he car’s the star
The ‘flying’ Ford Anglia from ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’
The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is on a mission searching for new vehicles to join its popular On Screen Cars exhibition. If you own or know of a vehicle that has starred in a television programme or film and you would like to see it displayed alongside other car stars in the exhibition, then Beaulieu wants to hear from you!
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ll vehicles which have been ‘on screen’ are welcome to be put forward for consideration, from TV cop cars, to children’s favourites. Any new vehicles added to the exhibition will be joining a famous cast of vehicles from a number of different television shows and films. The family of Harry Potter star, Rupert Grint, have loaned the Harry Potter ‘flying’ Ford Anglia for the display, which was used during the making of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.In the film, the enchanted flying car is stolen a number of times by Ron Weasley, on one occasion to rescue his friend Harry Potter from the Dursleys’ house, and on another to return to Hogwarts after the gate to Platform 9¾ is sealed by house elf Dobby.
Another TV favourite on display is Del Boy’s beloved Trotter Van. Possibly the nation’s most famous three-wheel vehicle, this Regal van (mistakenly referred to as a Robin) featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses. It was the sole transport for the Trotter family of Del, Rodney, Grandad and Uncle Albert, until Del Boy later went ‘upmarket’ and purchased a Capri Ghia. On Screen Cars can be seen as part of a visit to the whole Beaulieu attraction, which also includes the National Motor Museum, World of Top Gear, Beaulieu Abbey, and Palace House and gardens. Visit www.beaulieu.co.uk for further information. Mr Bean’s Mini
In real life, the car’s history has been almost as exciting! In 2005 the car was stolen, but was later recovered after being dumped by the thieves, probably due to the media interest surrounding it. The Grint family bought it after this incident and loaned it to Beaulieu for display.
To put a vehicle forward for consideration, please contact the PR Department, either by emailing pr@beaulieu.co.uk or calling 01590 614603
Sharing the spotlight with the Anglia is TV favourite, Mr Bean’s lime green mini. This particular car was used in the character’s third series and made its first television appearance on 1st January 1991. Del Boy’s car.
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January Sales
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Victorian splendour With its lawns sloping down towards Southampton Water it was an ideal location for a hospital during the Crimean War. The injured were offloaded from a jetty out into the water or arrived via the rail link that was built from Southampton. The Royal Victory Country Park has gone from repair of the infirm to recreation for families.
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hen it was built it was Britain’s largest military hospital, over a quarter of a mile long, with 138 wards, and contained around 1000 beds. It’s most famous nurse was Florence Nightingale, who actually tried to get the plans for the building changed because she felt the architecture was too old fashioned. What a vision it must have been as the ships made their way toward Southampton and this imposing façade drifted into view amongst the trees. Some ships landed at the purpose built jetty but others had to head for the deep-water port of the city to unload their wounded who were then transported by train back to the hospital that eventually had its own station built. Of course it does still have its own station but now it is of the miniature variety and the tiny trains are ridden for fun around the gardens. All that remains of the monumental main building is the chapel that is still open to the public, the tower of which is still a landmark for sailors out on Southampton Water. The chapel is now a museum, displaying the hospital’s history with some fascinating artefacts, photos and memorabilia. During Christmas last month all the display material was pushed aside and the hall, with its curved ceiling, was turned into an ice rink. It was a chill day for my last visit but the skies were clear and blue and while there may not have been families and ice cream vendors there were still plenty of well wrapped people and their dogs wandering around the lawns and footpaths. It was during the Crimean War (1854 – 56) that the need for a new hospital became evident because the army did not have any purpose built hospitals to treat their injured. Netley was chosen because of its proximity to the port and hospital ships could be sent there from all over the British Empire. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone on 19th May 1856 and the first patient was admitted in 1863. Queen Victoria visited the hospital some 20 or so times during her life, many times sailing across the Solent from Osborne House, her home on the Isle of Wight. During her regular visits she awarded Victoria Crosses to three patients recovering at Netley. Even in fiction the hospital has been inspirational as Sherlock Holmes’ trusty sidekick, Dr Watson was written as having trained there on the opening page of ‘A Study In Scarlet’, the first of Conan Doyle’s books on the super sleuth. A pier was constructed in 1865 but because it was too short for most of the ships a railway line was built some 35 years later from Netley station to the hospital. This allowed hospital trains to come direct from
Southampton with the injured from the Boer War (1899 – 1902), a busy time for the hospital. In WW1 the hospital was expanded to almost 2000 beds with the addition of a hutted hospital and during that conflict 20,000 were treated in the main hospital with another 30,000 in the hutted part. In 1917 the young Noel Coward entertained the troops and wartime poet Wilfred Owen was treated for shell shock there.
The Main Building was quarter of a mile long. 30,000,000 bricks were used in the building of the hospital and 3,000,000 cubic feet of stone. It housed 1,000 beds Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone on 19 May 1856. The Hospital was completed in 1863 at a cost of £350,000 (£24 million today).
www3.hants.gov.uk/rvcp
In 1944 American forces took over the hospital to prepare for D-Day and some 68,000 casualties were treated before the Americans left. Among those treated there were over 10,000 Germans who were then sent on to POW camps elsewhere in England. Not all patients survived and near to the hospital, through Cemetery Wood, is the Netley Military Cemetery that was opened in 1864. It contains the graves of patients and staff of which there are over 700 from WW1 and a further 37 from WW2. It closed in 1978. Following the Second World War the main building fell into disrepair and gradually became derelict from the mid fifties and then in 1963 a fire damaged a huge section of the main building until in 1966 it was finally demolished leaving only the chapel that still remains today. People from all walks of life now visit the park and use its open spaces for leisure activities and in its day it treated friend and foe equally. Even Hitler’s henchman Rudolph Hess was treated there when he flew into England shortly before the end of the war. The poignant ending though is that when the chapel lay damaged and fallen in peacetime it was forgotten, eventually to be laid to waste by fire and demolition. How many who play and picnic on the 220-acre site realise the history that surrounds them.
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Education
From internship to industry Finding careers in the creative industries has never been harder, with short unpaid internships becoming increasingly common place; so with that in mind Eastleigh Borough Council have decided to take the lead with a new initiative.
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ith student debt increasing, many young artists cannot afford the cost of living and commuting to gain unpaid experience in big cities and so Eastleigh Borough Council’s Culture Department has decided to tackle this issue by implementing year-long paid internships across the Borough’s existing creative teams. Cheryl Butler is Head of Culture for the Council and she told The Informer; “We know from the huge number of applications we receive for our positions how difficult it is to get a job without relevant experience, and this led to the plan to restructure the Council’s entry level positions by offering paid internships as a means to help young people progress in the creative industries. “Rather than limiting young creative people to administrational work, these internships are designed to progress their careers as they work on real creative projects with the support of experienced professionals”. Two of The Point’s former Dance Interns have gone on to complete teacher training at the prestigious Royal School of Dance, whilst another now works at the world famous Rambert Dance
Company in London. The Point’s Drama Development Intern Lisa Williamson is the latest to move on to a new position in the industry and will shortly be starting her new role as Creative Learning Facilitator at Dundee Rep Theatre. She told The Informer; “There simply aren’t enough entry level arts jobs out there. There is no way I would have moved onto a job like this without the experience I’ve gained through this internship.” Cheryl hopes that through leading by example, Eastleigh Borough Council will set a trend for other local bodies in the area to aid passionate young people into careers within the arts.
Post Office sorting room but now is the latest addition to the growing portfolio of creative hubs in Eastleigh as it now houses 16 creative enterprises.
Once known simply for its railway heritage, Eastleigh is now widely-recognised as a cultural and creative hub, especially with its theatres and arts projects as well as the forward thinking of The Sorting Office, which was indeed once the
www.eastleigh.gov.uk/sport-leisureand-culture
Festive fun for Senior Citizens
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he Gregg School welcomed over eighty Senior Citizens to Townhill Park House at the beginning of December. The purpose of their visit wasn’t to master Maths or study Science though - they were there to enjoy an afternoon of seasonal celebrations. With Head Boy Nicholas dressed as Santa, and Head Girl Emma a very festive fairy, the School’s annual Seniors’ Party was a resounding success. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous buffet meal, bingo games, entertainment from the School Wind Band and participated enthusiastically in singing carols. As one guest put it: “We felt we were in a different world – the students were so polite, the food was beautiful and we had a wonderful time – thank you!” For further information about The Gregg School, please visit the website: www.gregg.southampton.sch.uk
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Motoring
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Winter reserves by Jill Edmunds, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Wildlife and the Mismaze at St Catherine’s Hill by Brian Shorter
It’s good to get outside in winter and our countryside has a lot to offer. On the Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves there is always great wildlife to enjoy and some also have unusual historical features which add interest to a winter walk.
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he Trust’s oldest reserve is Farlington Marshes, an internationally important site for migrant wildfowl where thousands of brent geese can be seen feeding on the grass, together with teal, pintail, shoveler and wigeon. Birds of prey such as peregrine, merlin, marsh harrier and shorteared owls can be seen here in winter. Keyhaven and Pennington Marshes (near Milford on Sea) were once used for salt production but the land is now grazed and is another good place to see brent geese and waders such as dunlin, grey plover and black-tailed godwit. Winnall Moors, Winchester, are old water meadows which play a vital role in helping to absorb water and protect the city from floods. In winter, flocks of brightly coloured siskin feed on seeds from alders and wildfowl also visit. Nearby St Catherine’s Hill has remains dating back to the Bronze Age (pits), the Iron Age (ramparts) Saxon boundaries and a Norman chapel, which gave the hill its name. In Medieval times, trackways, known as Dongas were made by animals and carts, plague pits were dug, and later a turf maze was cut. Broughton Down is a reserve near to Stockbridge with splendid views over the Test Valley and plenty of evidence that the land has
been used by man for centuries. There is a Bronze Age round barrow, known locally as the Plum Pudding, an ancient droveway, 19th century plantations, and species-rich, chalk grassland as a result of many years of grazing. Swanwick Lakes is an old clay pit site and therefore almost entirely a man-made landscape, with brick paths, bases of buildings and remains of an old conveyor belt indicating its past industry. The lakes, which are flooded clay pits, are now surrounded by woodland and meadow and are home to a variety of animals and birds. Testwood Lakes near Totton, were originally gravel pits and during the winter attract wildfowl such as teal, mallard and wigeon together with flocks of lapwing. Recent archaeological finds have shown that this was an important Bronze Age site. The remains of three bridges, built about 1550BC have been discovered, together with a cleat from a sea-going boat, a bronze rapier and a spearhead. Blashford Lakes near Ringwood has also been developed from flooded gravel pits. The lakes support a large number of overwintering wildfowl such as goldeneye and goosander together with internationally important numbers of gadwall. In the surrounding wood and grassland roe deer, badgers and foxes may be spotted.
Full details of all the Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves can be found at www.hiwwt.org.uk
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Your essential guide to all the local news and events in your community
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust events JANUARY
Tue 7 Swanwick Lakes Wildlife Tots - Diamonds in the Snow 10.30am-12noon or 1-2.30pm Mole thinks he has found a magic diamond. It appears from nowhere and then disappears altogether. Find out what happens next at our regular session of stories and activities for accompanied pre-school children. Booking essential. For further details and to book, please contact Dawn Preston or Jess Daish-Miller on 01489 570240 or e-mail SwanwickLakes@ hwt.org.uk. Please bring outdoor clothing and wellies. Suggested donation £3 per child. Thu 9 Blow Away the Cobwebs - a Guided Walk 10.30am-12noon Join staff at Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve for a short guided walk looking for signs of life during the winter months. What a perfect way to recover from the festive season! Booking essential. For further details and to book, please contact Dawn Preston or Jess Daish-Miller on 01489 570240 or e-mail SwanwickLakes@hwt.org.uk. Please bring warm, outdoor clothing and sturdy shoes or boots. Suggested donation £3 per person. Mon 13 From Source to Sea: A Journey Down a Chalk River 7.30pm Graham Roberts, the Trust’s otter expert, will give an illustrated talk of a journey from the source of the River Itchen to the estuary, covering all aspects of its ecology and wildlife. To be held at Holy Trinity Church Hall, West Street, Fareham PO16 0EL. For further details please contact Peter Adams on 01329 287653 or e-mail peteradams1@live.co.uk. Parking is available in Trinity Street or Western Road car parks. Suggested donation £2. Sun 26 Make a Bird Feeder 10am-12noon Come along to Swanwick Lakes and find out how to help provide food and nesting materials for your garden birds. Drop in any time during the session. For further details, please contact Dawn Preston or Jess Daish-Miller on 01489 570240 or e-mail SwanwickLakes@hwt.org.uk. Suggested donation £3 per child. For details of all their events, check out www.hiwwt.org.uk
Great music at Botley Market Hall
Botley Market Hall is gaining a reputation for promoting wonderful live entertainment, and this reputation is enhanced by a great musical evening to be held on Saturday 25th January, at 7pm, when the acclaimed local choir, VOX POP, will be performing an evening of popular chart and vintage songs guaranteed to warm your heart and help give a lift to the new year. They have performed across the South of England. Tickets £10 from 01489 781155 or 01489 782183.
The League of Friends of Queen Alexandra Hospital
The New Year sees the return of three local artists to the League of Friends Art Gallery in the Coffee Shop on B level at the hospital in Cosham. As well as Wallington artists June Cousins and Michale Taylor there will be a display by Sue Harvey. Workshops are held in the Coffee Shop at 4pm on the second Wednesday each month and are open to all members of staff and volunteers of the hospital. Local artists are welcome to exhibit in the gallery for a moderate fee. Please telephone Anne Parmiter on 02392 387284 for more information. More voluntees are always needed in the League. Please contact Jan Spear 02392 286797
Youth Theatre
Budding young actors from around Hedge End will be treading the boards this March as part of a national festival. The Berry Youth Theatre has been chosen to take part in the National Theatre’s project Connections. This is a youth theatre festival that gives young people the opportunity to stage a brand new play. Each year the National Theatre commissions a line-up of the most influential British playwrights for the festival and The Berry Youth Theatre are very excited to be performing Matt Hartley’s gripping new play Horizon. Horizon is at The Berry Theatre, Hedge End from Friday March 7 to Sunday March 9.
Nominate your local heroes
Fareham Borough Council is seeking nominations for kind hearted youngsters and adults for the 2014 Citizen of Honour and Young Citizen of Honour Awards. The closing date for nominations is Friday 31 January. Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Seán Woodward, said: “The Citizen of Honour awards are a celebration of Fareham’s unsung heroes. Those who have made a real difference to the community. I’d encourage people to nominate someone they think deserves this fantastic recognition”. Nomination forms and further information can be found at: www.fareham.gov.uk/citizenawards.
Warsash Horticultural Society
Their first group meeting of 2014 will take place on Wednesday 29th January in the Bartholomew Room of the Victory Hall starting at 7.30 pm. Following a short A.G.M. the talk/presentation will be given by Mike Read on “The Wildlife of a Working Forest” - the New Forest. Visitors are most welcome at all meetings. Please contact Glenda Edmondson (01489 573755) for further information.
Warsash local History Society
The first group meeting of 2014 will take place on Wednesday 5th February. The Speaker will be local Warsash resident, Barrington Daubeny, whose presentation is entitled “The Corporation of Trinity House 1514/2014 (500th anniversary)”. The Committee look forward to seeing members again at the start of a new year . They meet in the Bartholomew Room of the Victory Hall and visitors are most welcome at all our meetings. Please contact Glenda Edmondson (01489 573755) for further information.
If you have a local event let us know at editorial@solentlife.co.uk informergroup.co.uk
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What’s On
Artificial Things
Artificial Things is brand new from Stopgap Dance Company touring throughout this year and as part of that tour will be visiting The Point in Eastleigh, following a series of successful European dates back in the Autumn, where they received standing ovations.
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topgap Dance Company are renowned for their distinctive work with both disabled and non-disabled dancers, performing together as a collective and creating extraordinary and powerful results. Weaving beauty with destruction, Artificial Things casts a magnifying glass over our attempts to live with one another. Both bold and accessible, the piece delves deeply into what it means for people to co-exist. Artificial Things features acclaimed disabled dancer David Toole, best known for his definitive role in DV8 Physical Theatre’s multiaward winning film The Cost of Living as well as his prominent solo in 2012’s Paralympics Opening Ceremony. David is joined by another highly regarded disabled dancer Laura Jones, who was an assistant choreographer and dance captain for the ceremony. Artificial Things is the debut production for Stopgap Dance Company’s new Artistic Director
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Lucy Bennett. Lucy visualises dance through a cinematic spectrum, allowing audiences to observe the nuances of individual dancers and become absorbed in the remarkable dynamics that their interactions create. The starting point of Lucy’s devising process is the personal experience that each dancer brings with them. Their stories give Stopgap Dance Company’s work true originality and a human quality.
Goran Djurovi re-imagined by Anna Jones from Curious Space. Lucy Bennett encountered this artist by chance when visiting an old mental institute in Ghent, which has been turned into an art gallery for ‘outsider’ artists. Djurovic’s work explores his fascination of man and his relationships and the suffering caused by dominance.
Lucy Bennett recently told The Informer; “We’re very excited about performing Artificial Things as we spent most of 2013 working on this dance piece, and this has made it rich in texture and deeply moving. Our dancers are truly exceptional in this production, and they are very much looking forward to enthralling audiences”.
Chahine Yavrovan’s striking but disquieting lighting enhances the interplay between light and shade, with strong highlights juxtaposed by deep colours. Artificial Things is accompanied by scores from Christopher Benstead, Jim Pinchen and Andy Higgs. Yoshifumi Inao, former Artistic Director of Batsheva Dance Company, is the guest choreographer for the opening scene.
As well as David Toole and Laura Jones, Artificial Things features Chris Pavia, David Willdridge and Amy Butler. Design was inspired by a series of strange and intense paintings by Serbian artist
The UK Premiere of this amazing dance show is on 5th Feb at The Point, Eastleigh www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk
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What’s On
Bursfest 2014
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ursledon Music Festival 2014 will see some of Hampshire’s finest live bands playing to raise money for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Service. They will be rolling out the Festival to provide a week of live music. Three of their lovely pubs will host bands: Monday 3rd February at the The Fox and Hounds, Thursday 6th February The Vine and Friday 7th February The Linden Tree. On Saturday 8th The Bursledon Village Hall will once again host the main event from 12 noon to 11.30 pm. See the website for great line-up www.thebigbursfest.btck.co.uk. Food and drink provided by The Vine, their local pub. Tickets £10 or Family £18 online from 1st January or from Ron May mob: 0754372729
Take your group on a tailor-made tour
with Coliseum Coaches
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hen choosing Coliseum Coaches as your travel provider you can rest assured that your group will be receiving a first class service which provides comfort, flexibility and a truly personal service.
Glee for grown-ups
S
INGING IS GOOD FOR YOU! It’s medically proven: you live happier, healthier and longer. Opening your mouth and belting out your favourite song feels amazing. When you’re doing it as part of a group it’s a million times better. At Glee Club UK they sing great songs, laugh a lot and have a brilliant time! Watch the taster video on their website to see for yourself what they get up to during a typical, friendly and informal session, or look them up on Facebook. Even better still, go to a session…your first visit is totally free! Once you become a member, it costs just £60 for an eleven week term, with a monthly payment option. It’s time for just being YOU and a fantastic way to de-stress. Here is what their members are saying: “I looked for ages to find an adult singing group like this. I didn’t want classical or serious, just to sing for myself and have fun.” “I can’t imagine life without Glee and the wonderful new friends I have made.” So what are you waiting for? No need to book - just turn up! Contact Liz on 07821 163498 or visit gleeclubuk.com for details.
As members of the Guild of British Coach Operators and holders of the Confederation of Passenger Transport’s Coach Marque, awarded for the high quality service throughout the business, they pride themselves on providing a quality coach hire service at a cost effective price. So whether you are organising a day excursion, short break or holiday for your club, society or group of friends, entrust your booking with Coliseum Coaches. They can provide a tailor made tour just for you and your members, arranging ferry crossings, entrance tickets and tour guides. They’ll take care of all your travel requirements, transporting you in comfort and style so you can enjoy making the most of your excursion. Call them today on 023 8047 2377 or visit www.coliseumcoaches.co.uk to find out how they can assist you and your group. They look forward to welcoming your group on board soon!
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Park gate pap
Local faces in The Informer
Pre-Christmas events at Whiteley retail park became colourful with the arrival of the King John’s Morris Men from Southampton and the chapel at The Royal Victoria Country Park became a seasonal and cheerful ice skating rink where families enjoyed a break from shopping and wrapping presents.
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aparazzi St Margaret Mary Catholic Church Christmas Bazaar
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