Solent Life Fareham June

solentlife.co.uk JUNE 2011 • ISSUE 47

r Hat e n g i s e a D day out at and a wood d o o G s u o i r o Gl

ladies Fastnet

challenge

strawberries

& tennis your guide to local events

plus… your essential

local business directory

A RT R E V I E W S • I N T E R I O R S • G A R D E NS • H E A LT H & B E AU T Y • CO M P E T I T I O NS • W H AT ’ S O N

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contents

welcome ISSUE 47 • JUNE 2011

FAREHAM EDITION

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PHOTOGRAPH BY AELTC

Welcome to flaming June – The longest day, summer solstice and the start of summer. Did you know that most people think the summer solstice is a day and always occurs on the 21st June?

However, the solstice is in fact a precise moment in an astronomical positioning of the earth in relation to the sun, but that actual moment varies year by year. For example the solstice in 2010 was at 11:28 on 21st June, in 2011 at 17:16 on the 21st and next year it will be 23:09 on 20th.

Over the next few months we will be bringing you exciting coverage of a group of determined ladies who have come together to become the crew of a Gosport based yacht Koru, to enter the gruelling Fastnet race in August.

Solent ‘life’ spotlights Bishop’s Waltham and together with a feature page we bring you the delights of this most charming of country towns.

Strawberries and tennis are seasonal and feature with us in this issue together with Fathers day which is also in the calendar (that’s just a gentle reminder to my kids).

So we continue to offer plenty of variety and heaps of interesting content to keep us as the number one favourite local magazine.

In order to widen our circulation to new readers, we will now be distributing to more areas in Portsmouth, including Old Portsmouth and parts of Gosport.

It just remains for me to say that now that May is out, I dare say its now safe to cast that clout (but keep a brolly handy just in case). Have a great month and enjoy those strawberries while they last.

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42

contactus

in this issue…

Tel… 01489 583800 • Fax… 01489 583803 Online… www.solentlife.co.uk • Email… info@solentlife.co.uk

10… Clocking up the Years • an interesting history

features

Solent Life Magazine WEBB HOUSE, 20 BRIDGE ROAD, PARK GATE, HAMPSHIRE, S031 7GE

theteam

of the Hug family, one of our oldest local jewellers

16… Father and Son Special • past and present coxswains of the Hamble Lifeboat

20… Solent ‘Life’ • meets the characters of the charming Bishop’s Waltham

Editorial

Dave Hill – Managing Editor Tel… 01489 583743 • Email… davehill@solentlife.co.uk David Rose-Massom – Senior Journalist Email… editorial@solentlife.co.uk

30… The Interview • the Store Manager of Fareham’s

Advertising Sales

regulars

new Debenhams

42… Real Adventure • eight ladies who are taking on the real challenge and of the Fastnet Race

Abby Champkin Tel… 01489 583815 Email… abby@solentlife.co.uk

Janet Grimm Tel… 01489 583800 Email… janet@solentlife.co.uk

06… Forest Walk • a heathland walk in the New Forest 12… Coast & Country • we explore the links between

Tina Maggs Tel… 01489 584057 Email… tina@solentlife.co.uk

Barbara Smith Tel… 01489 584010 Email… barbara@solentlife.co.uk

26… Restaurant Review • Bishop’s Waltham’s

Design & Production Design by SolentLife Email… design@solentlife.co.uk • Online… solentlife.co.uk Deadline for advertising copy & editorial for next issue: 17th June 2011

Publisher Published by Living Coast Media. © Copyright Solent Life 2011. All rights reserved. No part of Solent Life Magazine can be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, either wholly or in part without the prior written permission of the publisher. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure all information is correct, the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within.

our region, strawberries and tennis latest oldest restaurant

28… Road Test • experience the Marquis Motorhome 34… Gardening Feature • enjoy June in the garden 36… Interview with the Head • Boundary Oak 41… Back to Nature • Farlington Marshes Wildlife Reserve

46… What’s On Guide • reviews, events, theatre and music coming your way

49… Mindgym • try out our latest puzzles solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

…03

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Welcome to OJ Builders OJ Builders offer a wide range of home improvement services from kitchen fitting to bedrooms, serving customers throughout the Hampshire area.

As a well established company, we provide the very best in refurbishments and decorating, supplying only the best quality products and services. We have been serving the Hampshire area with pride for many years, our success is based on referrals from our great many satisfied customers.

At OJ Builders, our experience, expertise and efficient approach have ensured that we have become an established and trusted name throughout Hampshire with a reputation for courteous, professional service.

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

forestwalk

a stroll in

heathland heaven The United Nations has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests.

It has invited governments, organisations and individuals to do all they can to raise public awareness of the key role of forests and sustainable forest management in building a greener, more equitable and sustainable future. For Solent Life’s small contribution we took a stunning walk in the New Forest in order to appreciate a little more what a wonderful and diverse landscape it is. words & images • david rose-massom

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

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here is the hum of an electric train as it approaches the Beaulieu Road Station but it is so deep in the cutting that although it is heard it is not seen. Between the car park and the railway stand the corrals used for the pony sales following the Drift which takes place each September. This time of year the rustic corrals and sales ring stand empty and abandoned. The Drift is the equivalent of the cowboy’s round-up and it is the time for the commoners to fetch the ponies from across the Forest and check their health.

As the walk began another train whispered by and there was a longing for the belching of steam from an old-fashioned engine and the clackety-clack of the old joinedup railway lines. Throughout the day the railway line would, in fact, be the spine of my journey and the pathway would cross over and under its straight route, but strangely the sound and the whizzing past of the trains did nothing to spoil the enjoyment of the walk.

There are several routes radiating out from around the Beaulieu Road Hotel and its pub, the aptly-named Drift Inn, but for this journey the route began alongside the corrals and wandered down an incline toward the open heathland that makes up most of the New Forest. As the hill dropped away someone had taken the time to make a large smiley face out of small white stones on the grassy slope. It widened the smile that was already on my face.

On reaching the lower pathway I noticed for the first time the surrounding sound of bird song; it was pretty, it was busy and it was coming from all directions. Standing still for a while and just listening I heard a distant mewling cry; it was as if a buzzard was trying to get my attention. Looking up there

was a pair of them circling on the warm thermals, their broad wings silhouetted against a clear and cloudless blue sky.

Suddenly one of them dropped from the sky and in a split second had hit the heath floor; it was in full hunting mode. It would also go hungry as this time it missed its prey, but within seconds it was once again climbing on the thermals and this time there were four of them circling overhead.

The footpath curved away from the heath and passed through a tunnel and under the tracks and out the other side, it opened out into a broad swathe of grassland where ponies and cattle grazed. As a pony approached a cow she lowed for her calf to come a little closer. For its part the calf tucked its head under the pony in search of udders; it was a contest to see who was more shocked, the calf or the pony. Back with mother normal order was restored.

Then across from the wooded area came the sound of my first cuckoo of the year.

In the distance also was the rat, tat, tat of a woodpecker hard at work under the midday sun.

The trek reaches the tree line and through the shade of the trees runs a slow-moving shallow stream and reflected in its waters was the bright blossom of a tree growing on its banks.

Keeping the tree line on the right, a short distance offers a bridge, although the stream is fordable, and this crossing is a lovely shaded spot to stop and listen and take in the surrounding views. In the brackish water under the bridge bog myrtle grows, pretty and delicate flowers in harsh surroundings.

Late spring/early summer is a stunning time in the New Forest as leaf buds burst open and fill the naked branches with fresh, bright green leaf while other trees show off with their bright blossom. Gorse flowers, bright

and clean yellow, fill the landscape and within a few weeks the heather will offer a purple carpet.

Over the bridge and through a stand of fir trees and again the Forest opens out into a mixture of heath and grass; if you want to extend your walk this route should take between three and four hours, then there is a beautiful wooded enclosure here where a diversion can be taken.

I slowly wandered on along the ridge of a hill and back toward my start point. It was at that start I had seen and saluted a lone magpie, always a sign of good luck, and so far my walk had been just glorious, so thank you, Mr Magpie.

Down across the heath and over another stream, where the croak, croak greeting of a hidden amphibian drifted across the water.

There was also the aroma of burnt wood as the path skirted an area where the gorse had been burned away in controlled Forest management.

The New Forest has been a part of my life since early childhood as my parents brought us out to picnic and wander on weekends and holidays as well as summer evenings and I have always appreciated its splendour.

On this bright, warm spring day I walked across heath and grassland and strolled through shaded woodland. I stood under mighty oaks and passed by tall and sentinellike firs and watched in awe as buzzards circled overhead and graced the sky with their presence. I had listened to frogs croak, robins chirp and cuckoos call. A walk does not get much better than that.

And, of course, at SPONSORED BY the end of the exertions there is the Drift Inn just across the road for lunch and a refreshing, much needed, drink! l

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

…07

The 55th Curdridge Country Show 16th July 2011 A warm summer’s day, a peel of wedding bells floating through the air and local children dancing a well rehearsed routine conjures up a traditional English scene. Well the weather can’t Discount on your entry be guaranteed but the Curdridge Country Show on 16th July 2011 can promise the rest and more, fee to the Curdridge Country Show on 16th open from 11am.

July 2011. If you present The Horticultural Show, traditional crafts, this article at the gate. unusual shopping opportunities, delicious local food and ale are all on offer. For animal lovers there are birds of prey, a dog agility display, bee keeping, Shetland pony rides and a menagerie of farm animals.

For the more energetic the climbing wall or bungee trampoline might be more attractive.

See www.curdridgeshow.co.uk for more details.

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01489 574465 | 07745 977960 08…

• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

Port Solent’s first Harvester is proving popular Port Solent’s first Harvester Salad & Grill, which opened last year, is proving very popular with local residents and visitors to the area.

The manager of the Port Solent Harvester, said: “This is a fantastic site for a Harvester in Portsmouth and the warm and inviting atmosphere we’ve created here is proving very popular with local people. We’re looking forward to welcoming many more guests through our doors as the weather gets brighter.” Freshly prepared main courses on Harvester’s Salad & Grill menu start at just £4.99, and that price includes unlimited trips to the famous Harvester Salad Cart. The menu gives guests the option of picking their own grill, sauce and side with 1,575 combinations to choose from, but complete Earlybird meals are also available all day everyday. Calorie information is also now printed on Harvester Port Solent’s menus, for individual dishes including starters, mains, sauces, sides and desserts; enabling customers to choose a meal appropriate to their taste, eating-out occasion or personal calorie preference.

For more information please call Harvester Port Solent on 02392 201012 or visit www.harvester.co.uk

Rooms and role models required!

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Stonham work across Hampshire supporting local people who can help young people gain the skills and confidence to live independently. Many of the young people they place have had tough times in their own families or been brought up in the Care System. They need some stability and support to move forward in their lives and a positive role model.

It is quite possible to combine being a supported lodgings host with working full time.

It is a fantastically worthwhile thing to do as the young people are at a crucial time in their lives in terms of what directions they take.

Most do really well; in some cases literally turning their lives around.

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02392 201012 • www.harvester.co.uk solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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coast&country

a family’s

time

As we reach the longest day of the year it is easy to let thoughts wander along the strange path that is time. Life and time, indicated by the ticking of a clock, move forward, impossible to stop and having movement of their own, so no matter what we do they take direction without us. Some are born somewhere in the middle of a timeline and story that are not of their own making but ones they have inherited, both in the physical and spiritual sense. words & images • david rose-massom

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he Hug family are part of Gosport history and their immigrant ancestors began a legacy that the family still fulfil in ways they could never have dreamed of. “My great-grandfather came here from the Black Forest region of the Swiss/German border area. I think it was around that period that the Welsh mines were in full flow and it was a very affluent time so he moved from Switzerland to Abergavenny.” Brian Hug was sitting in the lounge of the Gosport house he grew up in as he told Solent Life his family’s fascinating story. “Our name comes from the Huguenots and my great-grandfather married a Welsh girl.

“I believe the clock-making skills in Switzerland come from the fact that they were farmers in the summer months and then during the cold winter months they needed something else to sustain them and this is where the watch and clock-making began; it was a sort of double life. Now living in the Portsmouth area, my grandfather would have followed in his father’s footsteps but then moved to find his own fortune and life, if you like, and came here because of the Navy.”

The Hug family was moving into a new hour. “My grandfather was getting contracts from the Navy and when the fleet came in they would take the clocks, barometers and chronographs to him for servicing and repair,” Brian continued, now happily caught up in the lives of his predecessors. “I recall my father used to turn up in an old lorry loaded with those clocks and barometers and lots of technical stuff on board. With him being the young member it would be his lot to get the dirty jobs, and he would have to scrape the battleship grey from the

10…

• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

equipment before it could be serviced. In later years I noticed that one of his thumbs had been worn down and he told me it was because of the constant rubbing-down motion.

“In some small way my family kept the Royal Navy pointing in the right direction with their servicing of the chronometers that helped with the navigation,” he added.

“My grandfather would travel around the town of Gosport and the surrounding area on his push-bike, winding the clocks in all the big houses and in the churches. In many of the houses once the job was done he would be given a glass of sherry, meaning sometimes he would arrive home quite tipsy!

One day as he was finishing winding the clock in Holy Trinity Church down by the waterfront, he stepped back and fell through the trapdoor, injuring himself quite seriously.

Afterwards I recall him working with a ball in his fist trying to get the strength back in his hand.

“Our first shop in Gosport was bought out

by Woolworths so they could build their large store, and we moved to our present location. I find it quite amusing that we have outlived the giant that was Woolworths!”

A moment’s break in the story as Brian reflected for a brief spell. “The business of jewellers was changing back then; opticians began originally from jewellers and that industry came about through their trade.

My father went to Moorfields and trained as a jeweller/optician; that was probably somewhere back in the 1930s.

“My father was one of ten children, many of whom then trained for the family business, the girls in the shop and the boys in the workshop. Then it was Dad’s turn to strike out on his own; this was just after the war.

During the war he had been at Fleetlands

The photograph is of the centenary of the Gosport shop back in 1990, and Brian on the left is with his cousin Nick, who died of cancer in 2006.

servicing the instruments, which probably kept him alive during that terrible time.”

Brian’s father followed his own dream and opened a shop in Leeds and but for a stroke of fate the family name would have still been there. “He was running his business and doing really well when my brother Peter was born; he would have been around 75 now if he had lived. My mother, despite what the doctors said, was convinced Pete had diphtheria – he would have been five then.

After he died my mother could no longer live there; there was also a lot of poverty in the region then. It is difficult nowadays to understand how badly off people were then without the benefit of the welfare state! So they sold up and headed back down here to the south coast.

“My dad took over the Gosport shop with his brother Richard, who had just left the RAF. Together they ran the business for many years and I joined the business in 1970.

“We are now looking at moving the business even further forward; it is running now with my step-children who were perfect for the business. We have the shop in Fareham and now we are looking more seriously at the Internet.” Brian ended by admitting that the family story was far from over.

“It has been a privilege to keep the family business going and the new generation all know their stuff and we have the most knowledgeable staff.”

The lives of the Hug clan may not have run entirely like clockwork but they have moved on and occasionally needed rewinding, but the family and the business just keep ticking. l www.hugthejeweller.com

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…11

coast&country

strawberries

& tennis

Drive down the short hill that leads to Swanwick railway station and you may spot something strange: a steely dull glint coming from the kerb. A quick glance and it is easy to spot that instead of kerbstones marking the barrier between the gutter and footpath it is a long stretch of single railway track. words & images • david rose-massom

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wanwick station was built for one reason – to transport the strawberries grown in Titchfield and along the Hamble Valley up to the London markets.

Such were the numbers of horse-drawn carts that continually arrived to unload the bright red fruits that the kerbside was being worn away by the large wheels, hence the placement of the metal track. Still clearly evident today, this piece of track is a little-known but prevailing legacy of an industry that is now only a tiny fragment of its past glory.

Hampshire strawberries are still considered, quite rightly, the finest of all and this year’s weather conditions have produced the best and sweetest crop for many years.

Come June and the strawberry takes on an extra meaning – it is the arrival of summer.

It is about heatwaves, men in Panama

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

hats and women in their summer frocks, and thanks to a small village in London the consumption of strawberries, and their favourite partner cream, becomes synonymous with one great sporting event. The village, of course, is Wimbledon and the world watches as the All England Lawn Tennis Club holds its annual Championships.

A little known fact is that the strawberry is actually a variety of the rose family known as Fragaria and this plant grows sideways, spreading out runners. After the flowers have pollinated the ends of the stems swell up and redden. Strawberries are therefore not actually a berry but, apart from botanists, few of us seem to care as we bite into the fleshy delicacy.

English strawberries are normally available between May and September, although with the right conditions, modern techniques and newer varieties this can stretch from April, as with this year, right through to October. But there will always be the link between the classic strawberry and tennis thanks to Wimbledon, where during the Championships some 28,000 kilos of strawberries will be consumed and over 7,000 litres of cream will be drizzled over them.

This year Wimbledon 2011 will be the 125th time that the All England Lawn Tennis Club

Tennis is just one sport that brings people together in this modern age. Years ago it was local industry that formed tight-knit communities, and the strawberry growers, workers and their families across the Hamble Valley, Titchfield and beyond did just this and helped shape where we now live.

The names of modern Wimbledon Champions are well-known, as is the list of who is who in the history of the sport: Perry, Laver, Bjorg, McEnroe, Ashe, King, Agassi, Graf and Sampras. However delicious, modern strawberry varieties are less well-known, carrying names such as Elsanta, Driscoll Camarillo, English Rose, Eve’s Delight and Jubilee. While older traditional varieties like Talisman, Joseph Paxton and Sovereign may be less wellknown too, they are more likely to be recognised as pub names around the area.

Will we have a British Champion at Wimbledon this year – who knows?

One thing is certain, however: the Hampshire strawberry will still be in the winner’s circle. l Get involved…

Go to www.altsb.co.uk for details of Alverstoke Tennis, Squash and Badminton Club.

Taste of the past…

For some wonderful images of the old strawberry pickers go to www.hants.gov. uk/rh/evidence/change1.html

PHOTOGRAPH BY AELTC

who are in their seventies. This means that as a club we are welcoming to people and families of all ages; we even have toddler sessions on a Sunday morning. Nobody is excluded and throughout May we held an open month where anyone could come along and we saw many new faces thanks to the event.”

David and his wife Marie, who together run Gosport Tennis Academy, are experienced Grade 4 coaches. This is close to the top level of teaching in the sport. As well as coaching at Alverstoke, they not only go out to schools but encourage and host schools visiting the club.

“We also have two Tennis Assistants who are junior members here at the club and help us teach the very young,” David added.

One bundle of energy and excitement for the club is Steve Wright, who wears garish shorts and, as well as being a member, handles the admin for the club. “The friendliness of the people we have here is something that is helping the growth of our club,” he said. “Anybody who walks through our door is welcome as we are very much a part of the community; tennis is a sport for all.

“We have members of all standards and this makes a club environment where the social side grows with the sport and nobody feels excluded. It is just a great place to be, with just about every sort of person from every sort of background. It is a community here!”

PHOTOGRAPH BY AELTC

will have hosted the Championships since the first tournament in 1877. The only event held that year was the Gentlemen’s Singles, which was won by Spencer Gore from a field of just 22; around 200 spectators paid just one shilling each to watch that final.

The modern game of lawn tennis is believed to have been invented by the wonderfullynamed Major Walter Clapton Wingfield back in 1873 after a boring day in Wales apparently, and he patented the game in 1874. The roots of the game of lawn tennis came from the centuries-old game of royal or court tennis. At one point there were so many courts and players that legislation was necessary to curtail the amount of time everybody was playing.

Just as the strawberry industry has changed, so has the tennis club. No longer considered the élite establishment, instead the tennis club has become a regular member of the community. It has grown to be a haven for families, singles and youngsters, not just a place to get fit through sport but somewhere to fulfil personal challenges and enjoy a good social life.

David Buzzard is Head Tennis Coach at Alverstoke Tennis, Squash and Badminton Club. “We are all working hard to make this a family club, which you can see happening daily as parents play with their kids and the youngsters can also enjoy themselves in a safe environment,” he told Solent Life. “We have a list of eight and unders in the tennis programme and we also have members

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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…15

father’s day

father & son With Father’s Day imminent we felt it would be suitable to celebrate by speaking with a father and his son; then we heard about the perfect candidates: Colin Olden MBE and his son Andy, the retired and current coxswains of the Hamble Lifeboat. words & images • david rose-massom

T

he Hamble Lifeboat was established in 1968 when there were no lifeboat stations in the area and there was an average of ten deaths annually on the River Hamble.

The local people got together and set up their own service.

“It began with a small dory in 1969 and grew to the two boats we have here today.” Andy, the son, and I were sitting at the water’s edge watching a benign Hamble drift by with the myriad of boats that work their way back and forth each day. Dad was in the cramped lifeboat station behind us working on one of his beloved boats. “We have two Halmatic Pacific 32s with twin 360hp diesels to power them and they are driven by water jets rather than propellers.

“They were designed for local conditions and working in shallow water,” Andy continued. “When you realise under the right circumstances a holed yacht can sink in five to ten minutes speed is of the essence. We are one of the busiest stations in the country and we average 100 to 150 rescues each year.”

Andy grew up on the water, just as his father did. “Dad retired from active service just a couple of years ago but is still very active with the Hill Head Coastguard Auxiliary. He

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

joined the crew round about 1976 and my brother and I followed him quite naturally; my brother is now one of the Southampton Harbour Masters. We just grew into the crew and had Dad’s experience handed on. He was a trawlerman out of Hamble and my brother and I crewed for him.

“He was involved with the lifeboat and my joining was a natural thing. At the time I was the first cadet-crew aged sixteen and within a year I was crewing as I was around the boat all the time. Just after turning twenty I became cox as well and have remained so ever since.”

So what is the coxswain’s job? “The crew would say I just drive, but it is my job to assess situations, check casualties and plan what to do next, as well as deciding what other services to call in should they be needed.

“Wives and families have to be very supportive; my wife was part of the crew at one time – our two-year-old put a stop to that – but I did end up marrying one of the crew,” Andy added. “For as long as I can remember I have messed about and worked on the water and it is second nature now.”

Dad is Colin, 64 years old and still fit and young-looking. He is totally relaxed around his beloved boats which each have six months in service before they are pulled out,

stripped down and overhauled by him.

“I grew up on the water and had my first job aged just eleven working on the Dittybox, the fuelling station at Port Hamble, he said.

“I did an apprenticeship as an engineer as well as having a small fishing boat. I built up the fishing business until I had a 36-footer and I fished for close to twenty years.

“I became involved with the lifeboat in the seventies and because I was fishing the river and had the experience I was made cox just a couple of years later,” Colin continued.

“The thought of my lads not getting involved never even entered my head; it was just natural that they would follow me. It can be a tough job. When the Fastnet yachts got into trouble we were one of those called out; the conditions were so bad it took an hour to reach the Beaulieu River when normally it would take just nine minutes!”

Colin built the boats from scratch after just receiving the hull and inflatable sides. So inventive was his build and design of the finished boat that Halmatic took up his design and the RNLI now has boats that he designed. He admits the busy lifestyle keeps him fit and active. He received the MBE in 2005 for services to HM Coastguard and Marine Safety.

“It was absolutely unbelievable,” he said, still in shock ten years on. “I didn’t think I deserved an award and I was amazed that anyone thought I was worth it. I received my award from the Queen and it was fabulous and so awe-inspiring that I recall very little of the day. All I can remember is the Grand Ballroom and going up onto the stage!

Although I have great respect for it the sea has never frightened me but that experience terrified me; I was right out of my depth!

“My joy now is watching the boat go out, doing a great job and coming back safely; it gives me a great sense of achievement.”. l For more information on the Hamble Lifeboat and its crew email hamble. lifeboat@btinternet.com.

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Sunday 19th June 2011 10am to 4pm

Fathers Day Special

Sunday 17th July 2011 10am to 4pm

Victorian Family Fun Day

s for ount Disc use o h e whol

www.theterracottapotshop.co.uk Meet the villagers dressed in historic period costume who will involve you and your children in their daily lives at the start of the English Civil War. We offer you an almost unique educational and entertaining experience not to be missed.

01329 846 186 www.littlewoodham.org.uk Little Woodham Lane, Howe Road, Rowner, Gosport, PO13 8AB

Something for everyone!

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Eastoke Corner (Sea Front), Hayling Island

Tel: 023 9263 7590 Closed Mondays, except School & Bank Holidays

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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Goodwood Racecourse

Glorious Goodwood 26th to 30 t h J ul y

Blackbrook House Blackbrook House was built around 1800, The Georgian house has been lived in by many families over the years, including the Le blanc’s and the Parker’s, it was also rumoured that Lady Hamilton once stayed here.It was Colonel Parker , who in the 1890’s built the Victorian wing onto the Georgian house, because he liked entertaining guests and needed more accommodation, and a bigger kitchen.

In 1912 when motor cars first became popular , the family commissioned a brand new motor garage to be built which included a inspection pit. It still stands today in the grounds, along with a photographic dark room.

ner Hatt a Desig y out a a and a d odwood Glorious Go H

It was in the 1920’s that the house and the whole estate was put on the market by Austen & Wyatt for £14,000.

During the war Blackbrook House was commissioned by the Secretary of State for the war effort.

It was in the late 1940”s that it became a Maternity Home, It became the birth place of many hundreds of babies.Many of these babies still live in the local area (coming soon: Blackbrook Babies Website). Also, after childbirth Mothers went there to convalesce.

Unfortunately it closed as a Maternity Home in 2006.

It was the 3rd Duke of Richmond who in 1802 first brought horseracing to Goodwood. Now more than 200 years later Goodwood is internationally acclaimed as being one of the most beautiful racecourses in the world. Set high on the Sussex Downs, Goodwood is the perfect setting to enjoy top-class racing with friends and family.

It was the 3rd Duke of Richmond who in 1802 first brought horseracing to Goodwood. Now more than 200 years later Goodwood is internationally acclaimed as being one of the most beautiful racecourses in the world. Set high on the Sussex Downs, Goodwood is the perfect setting to enjoy top-class racing with friends and family.

More than 100,000 people flock through the gates during the five-day Festival to enjoy the chic, relaxed and incredibly stylish atmosphere. A quintessentially English event, where champagne and strawberries are in abundance and everyone is dressed in their chicest summer fashions, it has none of the formality of a great occasion but all the glamour. Glorious Goodwood attracts the very best from the international world of horseracing, as well as the crème de la crème of English society.

The opening day of the five-day Festival is dedicated to celebrating Britain’s sporting heroes. Sponsored by bet365, Sporting Greats Day attracts the great and good of the sports world to enjoy the first class racing and hospitality.

This year Chris Tarrant will lead in a team of top celebrities to bat for a special charity cricket match on the historic pitch in front of Goodwood House after the day’s racing. Organised by the Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading charity cricket club founded in 1950 to give children a sporting chance, the match will see a celebrity eleven taking on a team drawn from racing and cricket.

Goodwood is offering one lucky Solent Life reader the chance to win two Richmond Enclosure badges, car park label and the essential Panama hat to the opening day of the Festival.

All you have to do is answer the following question. For which popular TV show is Chris Tarrant most famous?

(A) Total Wipeout (B) Million Pound Drop (C) Who wants to be a millionaire?

To enter, email competition@solentlife.co.uk quoting ‘Goodwood Day & Designer Hat’, with your name, contact details and answer! Alternatively post your entry to Webb House, 20 Bridge Road, Park gate, Hampshire, SO31 7GE. Closing date 30.06.11

To find out more about events at Goodwood Racecourse or to book tickets please call

01243 755055 or visit www.goodwood.com.

T&Cs: Two Richmond Enclosure badges, car park label.

This prize is non-refundable or transferable.

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

In 2009 the new owner, Mr Stephen Press. bought Blackbrook House from the NHS to convert to a luxury Care Home. Mr Press says” it has been a long road to restore the house to its former glory”. The house is now under way to being fully renovated. The grounds have also been restored, including new borders and newly planted trees, including two decease resistant English Elms.

With new electrics, heating and plumbing and fire sprinklers, the house is once again, ready to face the next chapter in Blackbrook’s long and colourful history.

PS if any one has any more history or pictures of Blackbrook please Phone 07974729008

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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solent‘life’

characters of

bishop’s waltham It is said that 80% of the shop owners in Bishops Waltham are women, so Solent Life spent a sunny morning roaming around this charming village seeking out the characters and independent traders. It is friendly village with some amazing shops, as well as some real characters; men as well as women and that was brought home as we strolled past a pavement café, it was the men that were left holding the babies! Visit Bishops Waltham and see for yourselves what a friendly and relaxing place it is to explore. words & images • david rose-massom

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

COUNTRY ATTIC 1/8 Ad (DROP IN)

Country Attic Country Attic is an independent shop selling pre-loved furniture, handcrafted gifts and much more!

All the furniture is refurbished by ourselves with lots of TLC to create one-off individual pieces. We are happy to work with you, try to source what you are looking for, paint the required colour etc.

Our giftware is handcrafted locally and includes gifts from Sew Pretty, cards by Kate Talbot, collectables from Teeny Bears and artisan toiletries from Quintessentially English.

Browsers are very welcome and our resident dog Molly is always pleased to greet you.

Hope to see you soon.

Sally Hayter Physiotherapy

Please call for details: 01489 895297 07798 638441

Bank House Bank Street Bishops Waltham

• Physiotherapy • Acupuncture • Lower Back Pain • Neck Pain • Whiplash

• Sports Injuries • Strains • Sprains & Fractures • Chiropody/Podiatry • Sports Massage

Please note: We are not always in the office but always just a phone call away! www . s h p h y s i o t h e r a p y . com

Butterfly of Bishop’s Waltham Visit Butterfly and view the gorgeous summer collection of European designer clothes whether you are looking for an outfit for Ascot or Goodwood or that special outfit for a wedding. Butterfly is also showcasing its stylish range at the “Fabulously Vintage Tea Party” organised in aid of the Honeypot Charity at Hill Place, Swanmore on 9th June - 2.00-5.30pm and will feature clothing from across their wide range from casual to formal For more information and tickets visit www.fabulouslyvintage.eventbrite.com or contact Andrea Wilcox at andreawilcox.co.uk.

Tel: 02380 890002.

Shoo Hoo 7, Brook Court, Brook Street, Bishop’s Waltham, SO32 1AX Following a highly successful launch of Timberland footwear this spring, Shoo Hoo, the Children’s Footwear & Clothing Specialists, are looking forward to a very busy summer!

Always available in store, our large selection of school footwear in Black, Brown & Navy Blue styles, up to adult size 10, including very narrow & wide styles, suitable for orthotics. Shoo Hoo staff always offer a friendly Specialist Shoe Fitting Service.

Brands Stocked include: Petasil, Superfit, Garvalin, Biomecanics, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Buckle My Shoe, plus school socks & tights. Ricosta arriving this July!!

Fancy Dress available in sizes from 3 months to 12 years. Check out our growing website www.shoo-hoo.com for the complete range we offer.

Tel: 01489 899001 Web: www.shoo-hoo.com

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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locallife

bishop’s waltham It has a ruined palace, a wonderful wildlife stroll across a boardwalk, fine restaurants and cafés, great shopping, a stunning church atop a hill and really friendly inhabitants. Bishop’s Waltham almost seems untouched by time and yet is still a modern, and model, town with a village feel to it. words & images • david rose-massom

A

s it says on its own website by way of introduction, ‘Bishop’s Waltham is a delightful small country town set in the heart of the beautiful Hampshire countryside in the Meon Valley area. The town has a long and distinguished history and now provides a well-balanced mix of old world charm together with a dynamic business and social environment plus an excellent shopping centre with free car parking.’ What more could a visitor need?

Although the area’s history pre-dates the Romans and even has records going back well before the birth of Christ, Bishop’s

Waltham was actually founded in 1136

by Bishop Henri de Blois, brother of King Stephen, and for centuries the palace was an important residence of the powerful Winchester bishops and played host to many royal visitors. It was in the town that Henry V prepared for the Battle of Agincourt and Queen Mary I waited for King Philip to arrive from Spain for their wedding. Under Cromwell’s orders the palace was destroyed in 1644, but the still beautiful remains can be explored and are often visited by keen photographers as fine subject matter.

Today though Bishop’s Waltham is place where visitors can enjoy the day with some great independent traders, a lovely deli, an

old-fashioned sweetshop with rows of jars filled with colourful confections, stunning fashions and plenty else besides. Stop at one of the friendly cafés or fine restaurants for that well-deserved break before following the narrow lane up the hill toward the church with its imposing tower and the peace and quiet of the well-tended graveyard.

Bishop’s Waltham is thriving and friendly; it is fun and has a fascinating history. Add to that some wonderful shopping and great food and there is indeed little more a visitor could wish for. l www.bishopswaltham.net

local events in… bishop’s waltham 11th June

Carnival & Fete

10th July

Hidden Gardens

24th July 10am - 2pm

Hampshire Farmers Market

18th September 10am - 4pm

Italian Market plus Bishop’s Waltham Community Day

23rd October 10am - 2pm

Hampshire Farmers Market

Specialists in all aspects of Fire Safety for industry and commerce from risk assessments, compliance and training to advice, planning and design.

Claylands Rd, Bishop’s Waltham, Southampton, SO32 1BH Tel: 0845 456 5121 • Web: www.firesafesolutions.co.uk

Firesafe Solutions Going Places Firesafe Solution (UK) Ltd, an established national fire safety consultancy based in Southampton is leading the way in bucking the trend in the recession and expanding its workforce and premises.

They have recently moved from their offices in Hedge End to their own premises in Bishops Waltham and have over the last few months recruited three new Consultants and another Administrator.

John Greenbank, Managing Director commented “The company has grown significantly over the last few years and buying our own premises seemed the logical solution for our needs and helps to send a message to our staff and clients that we are here to stay.

I believe our success is down to the high level of expertise and commitment by all our staff. Fire safety in the workplace used to be the poor relation of Health & Safety, not any more”.

If you need assistance with Fire Risk Assessments or liaising with Fire Authorities call on 0845 456 5121 for a free consultation.

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

Acacia Jewellery and Gifts A unique range of Jewellery, Gifts and Interiors from all around the world.

Come and visit one of our shops at: 2 Basing Mews • Bishop’s Waltham • 01489 890763 13 Bell Street • Romsey • 01794 516269 48 Hiltingbury Rd • Chandlers Ford • 02380 269563

Stainers Bakery There has been a bakery on this site since 1912, it was then called Newtown Bakery. Mr Stainer acquired it in approximately 1940, we then took over in 1984 and although we are Mr and Mrs D J & C Blandford we chose to keep the Stainers name.

We supply the shop from here, with freshly baked bread, rolls, savouries, buns, doughnuts, large and small cakes. We also supply numerous wholesale outlets in Portsmouth, Alton, Southampton and Winchester areas. For wholesale enquiries please telephone 01489 892555.

www.acacia-jewellery.co.uk

Acacia Jewellery and Gifts

The shop also has a tea room serving: • Light Lunches • All day Breakfast • Cream Teas • Sandwiches • Baguettes etc All available to eat in or take-away Telephone orders accepted High Street, Bishop’s Waltham TEL: 01489 895331

Established 24 Years Come along and get a warm welcome from Neil and Phil (proprietors) Opening Hours: 7am-6pm Mon-Fri 7am-5.30pm Sat 9am-1pm Sun

We stock a wide range of: l FRUIT l VEGETABLES l PLANTS

l PET FOOD l WHOLE FOODS l AND MUCH MORE

Friendly family run business

FR DE EE L LIV OC ER AL Y

Acacia jewellery and gifts has beautiful and unusual gifts to celebrate at prices you can afford in difficult times. A treasure trove bursting with individual and quirky jewellery and gift ideas they will love. Also lovely accessories for the home, mirrors, vases, wall arts, candles and lots more.

Jewellery from £5 to 100 pounds, to suit everyones budget.

Host a jewellery evening, either in the shop, or your home and earn a generous 20% commission.

Please call 01489 890763 with any questions. Find us at Shop 2, Basing mews, Main car park.

SOLENT PRINTERS At Solent Design Studio we understand that there’s more to printing than ink and paper. We are a family-run business and know how to achieve the right results. We’ve been in business for over 30 years meaning we’ve the experience and latest technology to ensure we fulfil our customer’s requirements quickly and to the highest specifications. But what sets us apart is the quality and range of services we offer. From design, digital printing, litho printing, finishing and delivering the complete job all produced in-house.

It’s one thing reading all about us – it’s another to see us in action.

Visit our office in Bishop’s Waltham and we’ll be happy to discuss your ideas and how we can best achieve them. Call Martin on 01489 892344 or email: martin@solentdesignstudio.co.uk

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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Inspirations Wedding & Celebration Cakes At Inspirations Cakes we provide an unrivalled service second to none.

All cakes are baked in our commercial premises in Bishops Waltham, using the finest ingredients by Sheila Pope, Patisserie Chef and Salon Culinair winner, and her team.

With offices in Fareham and factory in bishops Waltham, we would welcome your enquiries for all aspects of glazing, we manufacture both upvc and aluminium frames including, folding and stacking doors, windows and conservatories. We also fit, replace and stock commercial shop fronts and glass.

Come and visit our dedicated team at our Showroom for a truly exclusive experience.

In short if your enquiry has glass in it Awesome can help.

With 50 cakes in our extensive showroom, and a large portfolio, you can browse at your leisure. We offer a comprehensive consultation service; including tastings of the many varieties of sponges and rich fruit cake. Having established close working relationships with many hotels during our years in the wedding industry, we are the preferred supplier of many hotels.

Wedding and Celebration Cakes

The Professional Cake Company Where Quality Counts Exclusive Designs by Sheila Pope Tel: 01489 896662 / 893883 Email: sheila@inspirationcakes.co.uk Web: www.inspirationscakes.co.uk Unit 5, Claylands Park, Claylands Road, Bishop’s Waltham, SO32 1QD

Local, commercial and domestic glaziers

www.awesomeglazing.com mail: awesomeags@sky.com 01329 287352

At Awesome Architectural Glazing Solutions Ltd, our goal is to deliver a 1st class installation, on time, on budget and to specification.

Our excellent reputation and list of satisfied clients attest to our superior craftsmanship, attention to detail, clear communication, honesty and integrity.

Our company is based on the belief that our customers’ needs are of the utmost importance. Our entire team is committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of our business is from repeat customers and referrals.

The directors of the company have over 50 years experience in the glass and glazing industry, Specialising in folding stacking doors, balustrades, glass floors, conservatories and windows. Including experience with the following bolted systems, Hansen Thermospan, Pilkington Planar and Solaglas sgg Securipoint.

Aluminium ground floor treatments, shop fronts, entrance doors and curtain walling are expertly fitted.

Let’s help you turn your dreams into practical realities!

STUDIO FOUR I have been the owner of Studio Four for the last 4 years.

Previously I was working as a sales representative for 28 years.

The last 16 of which I worked for a company called Caspari who sold Greeting Cards to retailers in the South of England.

I felt I needed a new challenge and was offered the opportunity to take over the business Studio Four in Bishops Waltham.

I was very fortunate to be the new owner of such a reputable shop.

The years of selling to other gift shops like Studio Four gave me the experience I needed to source the right products for all age groups which helped me to grow the business successfully.

At Barrington’s you are always assured of a warm and friendly welcome You can find us at 60 High Street, Bishops Waltham, Hants, SO32 1AB Opening Hours • Mon 10am-5pm • Tues-Fri 9am-5pm • Sat 9am-5pm

Tel: 01489 896600 • Web: www.barringtonsdeli.co.uk

Julia Briden

ST U D I O F OU R WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON A FRIENDLY SERVICE AND GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY COME INSIDE OUR ALADIN’S CAVE AND CHOOSE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF: • GREETINGS CARDS • GIFTS FOR ALL AGES • • CHILDREN’S TOYS INCLUDING ‘JELLY CAT’ • • TOILETRIES INCLUDING ‘CRABTREE & EVELYN’ • • CHINA INCLUDING ‘EMMA BRIDGEWATER’ • • SOCIAL STATIONERY & PAPER NAPKINS INCLUDING NAMES SUCH AS ‘CATH KIDSTON’ •

H 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE OVER £10 H WITH THIS ADVERT H I G H ST R E E T • B I S H O P S WA LT H A M • S 32 1 A B T E L E P H O N E 01 4 8 9 8 93 374

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• Offering a range of quality local, homemade and international fine foods • Extensive takeaway menu. Sandwiches, salads, cakes, beverages • “Café” area to relax and enjoy the atmosphere • Personalised Gift Hampers • Catering to private and corporate functions

• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

Barrington’s Deli Barrington’s Deli offers a warm, friendly environment in which to shop for quality, homemade and local produce. Offering homemade quiches, salads and cakes in addition to 40 local and international cheeses, wines, artisan breads and a range of interesting shelf goods to make cooking and eating an exciting experience. Together with an extensive takeaway menu, Barrington’s also offers a “café” area where one can relax and enjoy coffee, snacks, lunches, etc.

In addition, Barrington’s provides outside catering, hosting both private and corporate events so if you’re looking to impress your guests/clients, then a look at our menus is an absolute must.

en e k Op s a we pm ay -11 7 d 5 pm ● T ake Away s er v i ce avai l abl e ● R eal I nd i an fo o d i n a war m a n d rel axi ng amb i ence ● C ho o s e fro m o ur t rad i t i o nal o r creat i ve mo ut h water i ng d i s h e s ● E xcl us i ve w i ne l i st careful l y s e l e cte d fro m aro und t he gl o b e

The Ultimate Facial and Body Machine is a versatile treatment used to improve skin quality and fight signs of ageing.

Book a OXYjet anti-ageing facial and receive your second OXYjet facial at half price, saving £55… …on production of this advert.

THE P O ALTER WERFUL TO CO NATIVE INJECTSMETIC IONS

Brook Street Bishops Waltham Bank Street, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1AN

Tel: 01489 891791 • 01489 896029

Friends Refined Indian Cuisine Friends is an elegant indian restaurant set in the medieval market town of Bishop’s Waltham.

The modern Indian eatery provides an ideal warm, relaxed atmosphere for a family catch up, romantic meal for two or even a party celebration.

There is a extensive selection of truly sumptuous Indian cuisine on the menu including Chicken, Lamb, Seafood and House Special creative dishes on offer, followed by a delicious choice of deserts.

Friends forgoes pretension; instead offering diners a warm welcome and a friendly atmosphere in which to enjoy some truly sumptuous Indian cuisine.

Come and experience a taste of Indian cuisine at its finest at Friends.

The Hair & Beauty Group

01489 892233 Open Monday to Saturday

Panache The Hair & Beauty Group Panache Beauty & Lingerie Boutique has been established for 14 years in the village, we offer luxury brands with 5* treatments including this months offer – OXYJET a powerful alternative to cosmetic surgery which cleanses as well as plumping up lines and wrinkles. Alternatively we offer CACI a non surgical face lift which shortens and tightens the muscles making the skin appear firmer.

Our facial & body treatments use the famous Decleor products.

Enriched with aromatherapy oils that leave the skin nourished and revived. As well as that we have your every day essentials from waxing, tinting, manicures and pedicures etc.

Now summer is here and our experienced therapist have prepared you why not take a look at our wonderful new swimwear range which has been added to our favourite brands, Prima Donna, Marie-Jo and Lejaby. For more details 01489 892233.

Anvil Tea Rooms & Coffee Shop S ymes Corner • B ank S treet • B is h op ’ s W alt h am Home cooking in Tudor surroundings with traditional service in a friendly atmosphere.

Open everyday 9am - 5pm

Also incorporating JUST IN CASE wine merchants, specialists in fine wines, liqueurs and spirits.

We have plenty of room inside and outside in our Tudor courtyard.

We serve a wide range of fine home cooked food, scrumptious cakes and an extensive selection of teas and real coffees. We also provide an extensive gluten free menu for anyone wishing to avoid wheat in their diet.

Tel 01489 892969 Web www.anviltearooms.co.uk Email justincase@yahoo.co.uk

Apple Crumble & Kitsch Apple Crumble and Kitsch is a new, exciting store opening in the picturesque town of Bishops Waltham.

We offer a wide selection of range cookers and kitchen appliances from Bosch, Delonghi, Kitchenaid, Rangemaster and Smeg for the style conscious cook. We also have coffee makers, fridges, freezers, blenders, mixers, wine coolers and Tassimo drinks machines.

To go with your appliances, we are also displaying a range of high quality cookware and kitchen accessories including goods from Alessi, Joseph Joseph, Le Creuset and Dualit. With products such as kettles, citrus baskets, digital scales, salad bowl sets, knives, kitchen storage, casseroles, saucepans and frying pans.

There will be regular cookery demonstrations to make sure you get the most from your equipment and maybe learn a few new skills.

As it is part of the long established Ron Upfield company you can be confident of a high level of service and quality.

Just In Case Just in case offers a unique atmosphere in which to shop for wines, and a personal, knowledgeable service. With many sought – after wines and spirits, it is worth asking for that rare bottle that you had been hard pushed to locate.

Our wines are carefully chosen to represent the best from all over the world. To the rear of the premises sit the illustrious wine racks and you can make an event of wine browsing with a break for a light snack or even just a coffee in our tearooms.

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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restaurantreview

finefood

Pasta soft and sensuous on the tongue, a sauce that coats every taste bud and the recorded sound of a lazy jazz guitar playing softly in the background as if reflecting the exquisite flavours that were playing in my mouth during that first bite.

Even for a good chef, pasta can go wrong or just slip past us as ordinary but this was a soft pasta that was a perfect ravioli shell for the hand-dived scallop, organic salmon and crab filling. It sat in a delicate and delicious pool of saffron fish velouté and was one of the most delightful starters it had been my privilege to taste. It was decorated with crispy rings of shallot which added a lovely crunch of texture to the smooth dish. Chef Stephen is rightly proud of this starter and is happy to call it his signature dish and I looked up guiltily as I swept up the remains of the sauce with my bread. words & images • david rose-massom

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

S

olent Life for this month’s restaurant review had been invited underground, in the cellar that is The Wine Bar & Bistro in Bishop’s Waltham where they boast ‘Good Eating and Good Drinking since 1617’. Proprietor of The Wine Bar & Bistro Josephine Latouf explained and, no – she has not been there since the start.

“This is the oldest building in England to have continually sold liquor,” she explained.

“The wine shop upstairs which recently closed had been selling wines for 400 years, but I have taken it over and will soon have a reopening with my son running that side of the business.” If the restaurant is anything to go by the new wine shop will be an amazing success and we have already been invited to the opening.

My attention was distracted by a wonderful aroma that was approaching my table, delivered by the charming and friendly Rachel; it was my main course of roast rump and confit shoulder of lamb – the shoulder is a slightly sweeter meat than the rump – served with dauphinoise potatoes, spring carrots and a red wine sauce. I had been tempted by the pan-fried cod supreme served with Parmesan and saffron risotto, but with a seafood starter and lamb being my favourite meat it was no contest.

THE WINE BAR & BISTRO, 6 High Street, Bishop’s Waltham SO32 1AA www.thewinebarandbistro.co.uk The three courses in this revue cost just over £30 – superb value for money.

They say we eat with our eyes first, and the sight of the well-presented dish, along with its glorious aroma, had my mouth watering even before my knife approached the tender meat.

The sauce was rich and slightly sticky, so it coated the mouth, the carrots just crisp and perfect while the dauphinoise was served as a block adding structure to the dish; for one moment I felt it may be on the dry side, but I should have had more faith – the texture was spot on. The visual element was completed by slightly pink, as it should be, lamb slices – a tower of confit of lamb and this rested on a bed of pea purée, a delight to the eyes. Confit is the name given to a meat which has been cooked in its own fat and then covered and preserved in the same fat to prevent it from spoiling. This intensifies the flavour and provides a lovely flaky texture. If I had to be picky, the dish could have done with just another teaspoon of the sauce. I had half a slice of lamb left with nothing to dip it in – tragedy!

The lamb was so tender a spoon would have cut through it and each forkful just melted on the tongue. As I tore the tower of confit of lamb apart it sent up a new surge of delicious aromas and every section of the main course offered something to the dish which was stunning.

spoiled for choice. Chef is obviously very talented and my waitress Rachel was attentive and friendly while the dining room is comfortable and clean and tables are nicely spaced. There are even quieter corners for the more romantic of evenings.

A light and delicate starter followed by a hearty main course and then a rich dessert – the perfect combination. l

Two out of two dishes had been delivered and scored highly – wonderful textures, great aromas, beautiful presentation and great flavours. The chef himself brought out my dessert, a warm dark chocolate fondant with raspberries and a quenelle of calvados crème fraîche. My spoon broke open the chocolate fondant and from it poured divine chocolate, and I believe all the calories also poured from the same hole and escaped. On the sound system now was an easy sax playing and once again its smooth sound suited the smoothness of the dish.

The dessert was as perfect as the rest of the meal. The menu has a wonderful selection of dishes and diners really are

Here at Solent Life since we began this popular series of restaurant reviews we have been pleasantly surprised by the amazing quality of food and service out there. The standard has been incredibly high and the feedback we have had from you the reader is that our assessments of these establishments have been honest and forthright. If you own a restaurant and feel we should tell the Solent Life readership about you then give our team a call and join the list of restaurants adding to their success.

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

…27

roadtest

the

statelymotorhome The next in the Solent Life series of ‘his and hers’ road tests is a complete departure from anything we have done before. No nippy little sporting numbers this month, but instead a motorhome that sleeps six and is over 23 feet long. words • dave hill & janet grimm

W

ith my family having now grown up, my wife and I spend many a weekend touring to explore this amazing country of ours. To fulfil that desire we cover a great many miles and so expect a degree of comfort for the extended time spent driving.

This means that on many occasions accommodation is a problem – in both availability and the unknown quality when you arrive at an unexpected destination.

Like a tortoise with his shell there has often been the temptation of taking that accommodation with us. Camping sadly has little appeal, despite the modern trend toward fairly inexpensive four-bedroomed detached canvas bungalows that adorn the campsites. Another alternative is a caravan but towing also has little interest for me.

So the motorhome is the obvious choice – however, the age old question hangs out there. What do you do when you get there?

With a caravan unhook, lock it up and drive around the countryside at your leisure. But with a motorhome you do have to take it with you unless, of course, you are fortunate enough to have a little Smart car or similar to tow behind – great idea, but there’s that towing word again.

Very clearly the type of holiday will heavily influence choices here. The longer distance, ‘moving-on’ style of holiday without lengthy stays in one location really favours the motorhome approach.

The vehicle Solent Life tested was an Elddis Majestic 180 which is coach-built onto a

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Peugeot 335 chassis. With a 2.2 litre 100bhp HDi turbo diesel engine coupled to a six-speed gearbox, I was impressed with the ease with which it drove. Not at all the ultra-low gearing of a commercial vehicle, but comfortably-spaced gear ratios that offer relaxed driving.

Seats were armchair-like and very comfortable and the high seating position gave an impressive and commanding view of the road ahead.

Bearing in mind that this is originally based upon a commercial vehicle, there are a number of traits that, of course, have that feel to them – pedal positions, steering wheel, and gear lever, which left me waving my arm about looking for it until I got used to the fact that the stubby lever was located directly into the dashboard. I will stress though that none of this is intended to imply a criticism – it’s just different and needs a little familiarisation and that is something that came surprisingly quickly. I became confident driving this motorhome in no time, not only with the controls, but being comfortable with driving something 23 feet long and nearly nine feet wide.

Rear view mirrors were, in fact, brilliant when driving and showed everything behind on both sides as well as kerbs, lane markings etc. The only real weakness I found lies with these mirrors – whilst excellent for driving, the ability to judge distance when parking I found impossible; whether an obstacle was three feet or 300 feet behind was impossible to tell and needed outside guidance when reversing. A rear parking sensor or rear view reversing camera would make an excellent

option.

One assumes that a vehicle of these proportions will have the aerodynamics of a barn and that making reasonable headway on a motorway (at the legal limit) into a headwind would result in fuel consumption that would at best be disappointing. I was surprised to see 30 plus mpg appearing even though my driving style had been not in the best economy mode (why did I keep forgetting to change into a higher gear – that would have helped even more?).

Accommodation for two people was generously adequate with a comfortable seated area to relax in, a galley area with the requisite cooker/oven, sink and refrigerator together with a small adjacent dining area.

Whilst we chose the only weekend with monsoon-like weather to take our jaunt to the New Forest, we decided to relax inside in the warm and dry. With the optional blown air heating system, warmth was available in abundance – a really good option too, especially if you plan to explore the countryside in colder weather.

We chose to use the rear seating area to convert to a double bed. A few minutes of juggling with the seat cushions converted the rear cabin space to our bedroom whilst still leaving the rest of the accommodation available for use. The over cab bed was a ready-made alternative, but at my age and stature that access ladder looked decidedly perilous.

The seat cushions as a mattress for me proved a little on the firm side, so if you

are used to a softer bed I would suggest some sort of air or memory foam mattress topper.

Once the rain stopped we added some extra accommodation by erecting a gazebo next to the door with a table and chairs. With this simple addition the handover to Janet, my testing colleague, was celebrated with a barbecue for us two, Janet and her family of six and our journalist Hagrid, not forgetting Janet’s ubiquitous small horse-sized dog.

So coping with a party of nine in day mode was easy.

In summary then, driving was comfortable and easy especially for a large and unfamiliar vehicle. After a very short time I felt happy to drive all day long. Accommodation for two of us was pleasing and quite adequate with all of the features and equipment really nicely built in. The versatility of this motorhome is great and I could see myself touring the length and breadth of Europe in one of these.

I believe that I am the founder and sole member of a new sorority: that of women motorhome drivers. The male fraternity of drivers, however, has many members and charmingly all these men acknowledge the presence of a fellow motorhomer with a nod or a wave, just before their surprised double take at spotting a woman driving one of these large home from homes. I was initially rather anxious at becoming a part of this macho world but have discovered that this world is friendly and that my anxieties were unfounded.

The Majestic 180 is easy to drive and manoeuvre, even around the tight corners of New Forest villages and lanes, and it also kept a good pace on the motorway without any effort from the engine or driver. Seating in the front and for the four passengers was comfortable and safe with four seatbelts in the seats immediately behind the driver.

Parking was a slightly more exhilarating experience and those of you who know me well will understand why I completely concur with Dave’s point that rear parking sensors would be a welcome extra!

Safely camped in the New Forest, my family took over our weekend accommodation and having moved to a slightly less sloping pitch settled down to enjoy the indoor/outdoor experience. The Majestic offers spacious and comfortable seating accommodation, and despite the driving rain we enjoyed our evening playing cards and quality family time, warm from the efficient heating system, with easy access to a spacious

bathroom and watching all those poor tent-campers huddled over their barbecues and under their umbrellas through our double-glazed windows!

In sleep mode, with two proper adults, four adult-sized teenagers and Bear the dog on board, the accommodation was snug but not impossible as long as you didn’t want to open the fridge or climb up and down from the over-cab bed! As a six-berth the Majestic 180 would be easier if two of the party were small children. We found the beds to be comfortable and easy to assemble and we all slept well, lulled by the rain beating on the roof perhaps! We were quite surprised by the amount of rocking caused by anyone moving in the van – I’m not sure if stabilizing options are available but they would be worth checking out.

As a family we love the outdoor life and have been caravanners and are seasoned campers. As we get older the attraction of camping is beginning to wane somewhat and I long for ‘glamping’ at worst or just plain luxury. The Majestic doesn’t come with butler service (yet) but I could easily be persuaded by the comfort and luxurious facilities afforded by a motorhome such as the Majestic. l

The vehicle tested was an Elddis Majestic 180, £40,840 OTR and was kindly provided

by Marquis Motorhomes.

For more information: Marquis Motorhomes, 01489 860 666 Winchester Road, Lower Upham, SO32 1HA www.marquismotorhomes.co.uk/hampshire

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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theinterview

theinterview It is a sure sign of the poor financial times when 1,900 applicants are considered for just fifty jobs and this is just what the recruitment staff of Fareham’s new Debenhams store had to contend with. But, admits Andrew Birt, the new Store Manager, the task was made even tougher because of the high quality of the applicants. words & images • david rose-massom

W

e had to get that massive number of applicants down to a short list of just 125 for interviews and assessments,” he explained to Solent Life on the day that he welcomed the first of his new team into the store. “The staff members in our store are invaluable and we need them to work across the store, not just to be knowledgeable about one department. It was especially pleasing then when we became aware of the very high standard of applicants.

“One eighteen-year-old was so keen that he had been working in a shop for free in order to gain retail experience before he came to us; that is the sort of person we want working for Debenhams,” he added.

The development path to this store was not without some controversy for Debenhams but it is now about to become a reality and Andy is a little like a small boy at Christmas, sitting by the tree awaiting permission to open his present. “I am confident that our customers are going to really like what we are creating.”

“Fareham is a growing area and there is an existing market; many people do not want to head into the nearby cities such as Southampton and Portsmouth. Not only is driving into those towns a chore but many people prefer to shop within their own community. My view is that we want to engage on a local level with the smaller store concept.”

As Andy speaks, community is a word that keeps cropping up. “I grew up in a small village in Gloucestershire so community is very important to me. I do have family who

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live locally so I know the area quite well and I am trying to capture the essence of the region and the people who live and work here.

“Retail is all about the people, so to watch the new staff begin, as I did today, is very exciting. It sort of makes the fast approaching opening feel like a reality, and I am already impressed with the people we have chosen; after all we, as a company, are only as good as our team.”

If anyone should doubt Andy Birt’s passion and dedication to his career you only need to hear him talk about his eighteen years in retail to understand his commitment. Also, he met his wife in a Debenhams store when they both worked in the Weymouth branch.

“As a company this is not unusual. We often have families work for us at Debenhams, and another aspect we are very proud of is the fact that we have great staff retention. Once with us the majority seem to stay forever.”

When he describes the new store, which will open mid-June, it sounds like an exciting concept. To begin with it is, at 25,000 square feet, about a quarter of the size of the Portsmouth or Southampton stores.

“We will be selling women’s clothing and accessories, lingerie, men’s clothing and accessories and children’s, of course. There will be a health and beauty department with well-known names such as Lancôme, Clarins and Clinique as well.” Andy explained, talking quicker as his own excitement for the challenge ahead grew.

“As a store we will not be defined by the four walls that surround us; we are aiming for multi-channel shopping. There will be five kiosks set up for Internet shopping which means the four walls of the store do

not constrict the stock we carry; we have a whole world of Debenhams products out there. And once the customer has purchased on-line they do not have to wait at home for the product to arrive; it can be delivered in store to be collected when the customer is ready to collect.

“It is mainly traditional department store shopping with the addition of modern Internet shopping. This gives us the ability to fulfil most of our customers’ needs.

“Our new staff quickly bought into this new concept with great enthusiasm, and they have also had their input. One staff member noted that the kiosk terminals were standing points and that it was uncomfortable.

Thanks to him we have now had seats installed and it makes it a much more pleasurable shopping experience.

“By employing local people, rather than shipping in staff from existing stores, there is a natural rapport with the customers. I have already said that our team will have crossstore knowledge. Well, this is even more important when explaining the new concept of the Internet kiosk.”

Andy was keen to point out that being in Fareham is not just about taking money through the tills, although of course that is important as Debenhams’ key reason for being, but as a company and as an individual Andy is keen that the store and the staff will become involved with local events and local charities, as part of being in and working with the community.

As for the new store opening in a tricky financial climate: “There is an element of apprehension about any new store, and in my eighteen years in retail I have worked in most aspects of the business. But there is still a thrill and great excitement to make this succeed as a business and as a part of the community and the town.

“We are bringing something new to enhance the town and in doing so we are also able to bang the drum about Fareham. The town fits us as a family department store that can deliver for the whole community.” l

By employing local people, rather than shipping in staff from existing stores, there is a natural rapport with the customers.

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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a Free no obligation home visit aAny style, Any colour, All made to measure aSave upto 65% on the cost of a new kitchen aFitted in 1 day by our tradesman aSample doors brought to you aWorktops / Sinks / Taps / Appliances

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

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solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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greenfingers

June greenfingers For many gardeners June is the highlight of the year. The garden is at its peak, so enjoy all the pleasures it has to offer. Sunny evenings can be spent making the most of your garden, along with some tending to keep it looking good. words • ann watson

A

s it was a dry spring you might want to introduce some drought-tolerant plants into your garden.

There are several that fit the bill and are available for planting in June. Sedum Xenon has lovely silver-blue foliage that is tinged pink. It turns a vibrant purple-red in June and grows to 12 inches high. It tolerates dry conditions and a chalky soil, so is ideal for the South.

Fragrant lavender and rosemary are both good in dry weather and lastly Callistemon Little John, or bottle brush plant. They all need to be watered-in well and kept watered during their first season until established; after that they should cope with dry spells.

I recommend collecting rainwater, especially as it’s better for your plants than tap water.

A water butt is a good investment and if you have a big garden you could have one next to your house and another beside your shed or garage to make the most of rainfall.

Still on the subject of water, a bird bath or bowls of water are a welcome addition for the wildlife in your garden. It’s great to encourage wildlife, including birds, hedgehogs and frogs, and it’s so easy.

Choosing the right plants will help attract wildlife. Lupins and alstroemeria are a draw for bees, butterflies and other insects.

Butterflies and bees love nectar-rich plants, including the already-mentioned lavender, along with buddleia and hebe. Mixed into

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your borders, these plants give a natural cottage garden effect.

Remember to check the eventual size and spread of plants such as buddleia – also known at the butterfly bush – so they don’t outgrow the space.

Hedges and dense shrubs provide shelter and hiding places for wildlife, along with food if they are berry varieties. With a little thought your garden can become a complete eco system right before your eyes.

We all know the wildlife we don’t want in our garden – slugs, snails and aphids. However, these garden pests are a food source for birds, frogs and toads. Garsons has various protection methods for your plants that won’t interfere with wildlife. These include barrier material like copper tape, traps and coarse grit. Some slug pellets are now based on synthetic chemicals which are wildlife friendly.

Jobs for June include: l Feeding flowering plants weekly with liquid tomato feed and paying special attention to those in containers and hanging baskets. l Keep on top of weeds to stop them taking over.

Let’s hope we have some glorious weather over the coming months. Until next time, happy gardening!

A taste of Hampshire at the Food Fair Come and meet independent local producers at the Garsons Food Fair on 18th June for tastings galore. The Garsons Farm Shop team in Fontley Road, Titchfield, are passionate about sourcing speciality food and drink.

Inspirational outside spaces where once there was just a garden • Garden design & planning • Landscaping • Award winning environmental policy

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Flaming Andy FLAMING ANDY BBQ Chef in conjunction with SAVOURY EXPRESS Let us come and cook your BBQ, to make it a special occasion. Rain or Shine we can cater for all your requirements. Contact Andy on 01329 511528 or 07919 447794 or visit www.savouryexpress.co.uk for more photos and references.

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Open 7 days - Call for opening times

Tel: 01329 841 700 www.ultimatesheds.co.uk solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

education

meet the headmaster “Ask anyone whose school this is and some will say the governors’ or the headmaster’s, but once outside school the children will always refer to it as ‘their’ school and I try to enforce that.” Smart-suited and wearing a subtle Saints Football Club tie, Headmaster Stephen Symonds of Boundary Oak School sat comfortably in the office he has occupied since 2008. “The school council does have a say in the running of the school and to get on the council the children have to apply, be interviewed and work to get the job; it is a life skill and if they do not make it through the selection process then we explain why and encourage them to apply again next year.” words • david rose-massom

I

f it was not for the casual but efficient manner of the school’s headmaster that last statement could well have seemed a little harsh, but the moment Stephen Symonds begins talking about the school and his charges nothing but happiness and contentment shines through.

“Maybe it is necessary to describe the school and its first impression to truly reflect its character. Drive off the busy Wickham Road after leaving Fareham and dipping under the M27 and there, almost hidden among the trees, is a grey turreted gatehouse, a fortress protecting those beyond. Pass through its narrow entrance and the world the other side opens out into lush fields and farmland.

A huge spreading cedar tree dominates a field lined by woodland and at the top of the drive is a wonderfully haphazard building with one part of the main house of Roche Court dating from 1280 while its extensions boast Tudor builders. The school and its collection of outbuildings offer an amazing and welcoming home for education, development and growth. It is a beautiful house in a stunning setting.

The school has 135 students aged three to thirteen and any growth in that number, according to the Headmaster, must be a gentle move forward. “The joy of a smaller school is we get to know the children.” As we walked around the nursery, classrooms and corridors Stephen instantly knew every child in his charge by first name. “I was a primary school teacher before and the skills learned there I have now brought here. All the teachers here have wonderful standards and when you have classes of just sixteen you get to know the children. If there is a common theme here it is that the parents want the very best for their children and so does the school.”

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As he talked of the school his smile broadened and the pride in his expression became even more apparent. “This is not a job – this is a way of life,” he said. “If you want a nine to five existence then this job is not for you; being here is about so much more. My family lives on site, my wife Amanda works closely with me as we have both been house parents and my two sons also attend here. You do not take a job like this without it becoming a way of life for your family.

“What we have here is a nurturing environment. All the staff and everything we do here as individuals have an impact on what happens in the school,” Mr Symonds continued. “I enjoy being a teacher and always wanted to be a school head as there were things I wanted to do within education.”

With a serious world on the other side of the gatehouse is there a danger that children can grow up too quickly? “Helping them become rounded individuals is our aim; something I believe in strongly is that we keep children as children for as long as possible but instil them with confidence.

Many children are desperate to get older and they miss out on childhood. Children should be happy and nobody has the right to make them unhappy.”

Education through application seems to be the way of Boundary Oak School and as we toured the facilities every lesson seemed to be linked with not just finding solutions but the application of those solutions.

The children in their uniforms were smart, apart from the odd twisted tie and shirt tail hanging out which gave them individuality, but all were proud to be in those uniforms.

They were polite and confident and whether working with a team member or let loose on an assignment they all had a solid work

ethic. But the biggest thing that came across was happiness; throughout the whole school there were smiles and happy voices, and not just from the children either!

“The children here thrive within their own abilities and we are always quick to praise.

Praise them for one thing done well and other things drop into place. We find the best in the children and discover what they are good at and work with that,” he said.

“We have enough experience here and see enough different children coming through and we have a real mixture of backgrounds, so we have a broad spectrum of activities both in and outside the curriculum.

Eventually, because of how we do things, the child’s strengths soon show through. It is not just about achieving their best but also about having pride in what they have done.”

Boundary Oak School moved to Roche Court fifty years ago and it exudes solidity and protection, yet it also produces happy well-educated children who have become well-rounded individuals who can move easily on to the next part of their education and growth. The happy faces were not put on because there was a visitor at the school – they were all genuine smiles on people who enjoyed being at the school – and the young pupils were just as happy about being there as well. What better sign could a parent have that their child is in the right place? l

For details of Boundary Oak’s history, curriculum, activities and fees go to www.boundaryoak.co.uk Roche Court, Wickham Road, Fareham PO17 5BL Email: office@boundaryoak.co.uk Tel: 01329 280955

Express your creative side at Fareham College Do you have a passion for the Arts and Creative Media?

Then Fareham College is the place for you.

Offering a wide range of courses at A-level and BTEC there is something to suit your needs within the Arts. The College is equipped with industry standard facilities including a theatre – The Venue – which regularly puts on performances open to the public. Past shows include ‘A Night at the Musicals’ in aid of Help for Heroes and ‘The Producers.’ There is also a photography dark room, Mac suite, media studio, cinema and extensive workshops.

Within Arts and Creative Media you can study IT, Media Mix, Media Production, Media Studies, Film Studies, Photography, Graphics, Drama and Theatre Studies, Musical Theatre and Performing Arts.

These courses are led by trained staff that have all had industry experience at places such as the BBC, the Royal Ballet, Welsh National Ballet, Badger Press and an independent film company.

Staff also include an award-winning filmmaker, self-employed musicians and Media graduates. Together, they provide a variety of methods and showcase talents from a wide range of levels, ensuring students have access to knowledge from those who have experienced it first-hand, can share best practise and advise students on their future careers paths, whatever they may be.

If you want to find out more and explore your creativity, visit our social media pages – Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and Flickr. Call (01329) 815200 or visit www.fareham.ac.uk for more information.

Meoncross School A culture of care and excellence

An independent school for boys and girls aged 2 3/4 to 16

Kindergarten and Infant Open Morning

Saturday 11th June 10 am to 12 noon

For further information, please telephone the Registrar:

01329 662182

Burnt House Lane, Stubbington, Fareham PO14 2EF

enquiries@meoncross.co.uk

www.meoncross.co.uk solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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health&beauty

Garbo’s Hair Garbo’s Hair is one of the leading hairdressing salon groups on the south coast, highly regarded by the industry and clients alike, with three salons in the Portsmouth region. Garbo’s have many accolades behind them including being the finalists in the prestigious Hairdressing Business Awards and finalists in the Loreal Colour Trophy.

Garbo’s are always creating their own haircut and colour collections and have had their work featured in many top fashion magazines including Vogue, as well as cover images on Hair Now and Hairdressers Journal.

Southsea is the group’s flagship salon which has been at the heart of the reinvention of the west end of Albert Road for over fifteen years. The salon itself has an amazing minimalist-look interior and has appeared in many design magazines. In 2005 Garbo’s decided to open a salon in the university quarter of the city and took on the name of The Lab, which caters mainly for the student population and local office workers and is at the cutting edge of fashion with the salon interior often likened to a New York loft space. Garbo’s are just about to relaunch their rebuilt London Road salon after it was demolished a year ago; this salon is at the forefront of the regeneration of the London Road area of the city.

World of Beauty

Billy Smith, co-owner of Garbo’s, has many years of experience behind him having been trained by the legendary Rita Rusk in Scotland and is the salon’s Artistic Director. Jimie Russell, co-owner with Billy, is Technical Advisor and Head Colourist and has sat on the highly-regarded Colour Round Table in London as well as writing columns for consumer hairdressing magazines. Each salon has a Wella Master Colour Expert which equates to a colour degree, so almost anything is possible with that amount of knowledge and expertise.

Bring this with you and receive 15% discount on a single application in our tanning booth (offer ends 31st July 2011).

At Garbo’s they have a simple philosophy: they want you to look great, feel fantastic and be able to maintain and enjoy your style between salon visits. The highly-trained team pride themselves on their consultations, and take the time to ensure that the cut and colour is personally tailored for you. They will always discuss what they are doing and why, and recommend the products that will assist you in maintaining your look.

Garbo’s have been an Exclusive Sebastian Haircare Grand Salon for over fifteen years and are also a Premier Wella stockist. Garbo’s also offer the full range of wedding services in-salon at any of their locations, and can arrange for the salon to open early for you on your wedding day. Alternatively, they also offer an on-location service, with time allocated for the stylist to do as much as possible for you and your bridal party whilst they are with you.

At Garbo’s Hair they also take men’s grooming very seriously. Men’s hairdressing is not just about making hair shorter, it’s about creating the right statement. With so many different techniques available in both cutting and colouring, it really is possible to be as outrageous or as discreet as you wish when deciding on your hair image.

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Serena, Michelle and Kelly invite you all to visit us at our recently re-modeled salon were we will gladly show you around our facilities and explain the services we can expertly perform ranging from a superb “Tan” in our, ST. TROPEZ tanning booth which brings you latest in technology, or maybe you just want a relaxing massage and round it off with a manicure, pedicure or a new set of nails, the choices of treatments are endless.

World of Beauty Established 12 years

Come & visit our newly re-furbished salon! the We now have ez op Tr St st te la Pro Tanning d booth installe

Gift Vouchers Available A full range of beauty and nail treatments available • Minx Nails • China Glaze • Dermalogica • St Tropez • NSI Silk Nail Extensions • NSI Polish Pro Gel Varnish System • NailTek

177 High Street, Lee-On-Solent, PO13 9BX Call 02392 553737 for your appointment with one of our experienced staff - Serena, Michelle or Kelly

Do You Care?

Rethink – Fareham and Gosport run groups for people, suffering from mental health problems, and their carers. The Oasis of Calm sessions provide the opportunity for everyone to experience relaxing therapies, such as; Indian head massage or tai chi in a fun, informal environment. There is also a beauty therapist who will do individual treatments for free.

Our confidential sessions, just for carers, are designed to provide carers with a chance to share their experiences and discover support from fellow carers and professionals. We have found that carers provide the best support and advice for each other. There is no pressure to share anything, you are welcome to come along and listen. All sessions are informal with refreshments.

For any information contact us by e-mail or telephone and we will get back to you.

Titchfield Dental Health welcome Lorraine Gleeson GHSC NHS On Thursday 7th July at 5.30–7pm Lorraine will be hosting an evening at Titchfield Dental Health. Lorraine is qualified with INT and validated by GHSC she will be explaining exactly what hypnosis is and answer any questions you may have.

Are you anxious or nervous about dental treatment? Lorraine will explain how to use self-hypnosis to help you at your dental appointments.

This is a free of charge evening with a free CD to take away. You don’t have to believe it, you only have to use it and enjoy your success. Hypnosis can help reprogram your subconscious mind.

Lorraine has had particular success helping clients with a wide range of phobias and problems from weight loss to migraines.

If you are interested in hearing more about the benefits of hypnotherapy come along to Titchfield Dental Health on Thursday 7th July at 5.30–7pm.

DENTUR

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OPE AFTERNN O Wednesd ON 15th Jun ay e 2–4pm

TENNIS SEASON WILL BE MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE WITHOUT TENNIS ELBOW, WHETHER YOU PLAY OR NOT! Let our Physiotherapists help you on your road to recovery

Get back to feeling happy to step out with your body!

Hypnotherapy explained with Lorraine Gleeson Anxious? Nervous?

Come along Thursday 7th July at 5:30–7pm.

63 Southampton Road, Park Gate, Southampton, Hampshire SO31 6AH

T: 01489 581158 | F: 01489 582220 | E: info@titchfielddental.co.uk

www.titchfielddental.co.uk

PSU G OW T T I N ELB E FI OF RE CE R S H F DV I IDE IT A OV S W N D P R O RT A P

Hypnotherapy can help. This is a free of charge evening to learn about self-hypnosis with a free CD to take away to continue from the evening.

You don’t have to believe it, you only have to use it and enjoy your success!

Coastal Clinics, South Street, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1EL LB Physio, Yew Tree Clinic, Yew Tree Drive, Whiteley, PO15 7LB

T. 023 9250 4403 T. 0845 2411 865

F. 02392 524 424 E. admin@coastalclinics.co.uk

www.coastalclinics.co.uk solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

LB PHYSIO

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Brown Sugar Bakery At Brown Sugar Bakery we provide locals with an alternative to supermarket cakes. With home cooked specials and our shabby-chic interior customers will leave with more than they could have anticipated.

We bake on site, throughout the day. This means that we can always keep our shelves looking fresh, beautiful and decorative!

As well as being a traditional bakery we also offer cupcakes, and bespoke cakes for a Wedding, Birthday or any other special occasion.

The hallmark of our products is natural good taste. We strive for real food produced with interesting flavours and textures

ArundelStreetDental Quality & Service

The Specialist Denture Clinic For people requiring the highest standards of care, craftsmanship and materials A dedicated denture practice with • Specialist Dental Surgeon • Clinical Dental Technician • Dental Technicians all on site!

Extraction of teeth and additions to dentures available the same day Do you need a new denture urgently?

We can usually make you a new one in 24 hours or less Implant retained dentures The predictable solution to most denture problems For a free informal chat about your needs or a copy of our information leaflet, please phone:

02392 829679 272 Arundel Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 1NT • Fax: 02392 864477

www.hurstdental.co.uk 40…

• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

backtonature

events at Farlington Marshes Wildlife Reserve…

Farlington – The Official Tour

Junewildlife June is a busy time at Farlington Marshes Wildlife Reserve. Animals are hurriedly raising their young while the sun shines and food is plentiful. Young birds are about to leave the security of the nest, dragonflies lay eggs in the many ponds and pairs of butterflies dance over the open expanse of grass. words • nikki magee images • hazel burt & alex cruikshank

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any kinds of birds breed on the marsh, most choosing the protection of dense vegetation. Sedge and reed warblers build cup-shaped nests among the reed stems. Whitethroat and linnet nest within the hawthorn and blackthorn hedges. Skylark and lapwing have a different strategy – they choose the open ground, somewhere they can see predators coming. Lapwing chicks will soon be ready to fly having spent the last 5–6 weeks since hatching feeding on insects.

Dragonflies and damselflies are very active now. Nymphs are emerging into the air having spent the last couple of years underwater, with the adults taking to the wing for just a few months. At many ponds and ditches around the reserve the brightly-coloured males will be warding off rivals from their patch while hoping to find a female. If you watch closely you can see pairs in tandem, with the male clasping the female behind the head while she lays her eggs under the surface of the water.

Butterflies tend to seek out the more sheltered areas around the bramble and blackthorn scrub. The blossom of the bramble provides a good nectar source

allowing the thousands of butterflies to refuel. Keep an eye open for the distinctive comma with its ragged orange-coloured wings.

Your local Wildlife Trust The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust works to create a better future for wildlife and wild places in Hampshire and the Island. As the leading local wildlife conservation charity, it looks after 61 wildlife reserves, has 27,000 members and 1,000 volunteers. The Trust manages its own land and advises other landowners how to manage their land with wildlife in mind.

Staff and volunteers also carry out surveys and gather data to monitor how our local wildlife is doing.

Find out more at www.hwt.org.uk.

Join us today… …and enjoy the benefits of being a member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. For more information contact our membership team on 01489 774408. l Unlimited FREE visits to over 55 wildlife reserves in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and 2,500 reserves nationwide l A welcome pack when you join

Sunday 19th June • 1.00pm A leisurely 2½-mile guided walk around the sea wall at Farlington Marshes, looking at the birds and other wildlife on the marsh and in the harbour. A great way to learn about the wildlife/management of the reserve and the history of Langstone Harbour. No need to book.

Parking off the Eastern Road (A27/A2030) roundabout (map ref. SU 685 045). For further details contact Jamie Marsh, Solent Reserves Officer, on 01489 774429.

Suggested donation £1.50.

Can you help?

We need help checking the cattle that roam the marshes.

It is very simple, can be done as part of a walk around the sea wall and you do not need to get too close to the cows. If you can spare a few hours please call Jamie Marsh on 01489 774429.

Farlington Marshes Reserves Team A small team of volunteers meets every Tuesday to carry out practical work on the reserve such as fence repairs, scrub clearance and path maintenance. No previous experience necessary.

For further details about any of the above please call Jamie Marsh on 01489 774429.

Visiting Farlington Marshes Wildlife Reserve Farlington Marshes is 125 hectares of coastal grazing marsh situated south of the A27 between Portsmouth and Havant. The reserve is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust on behalf of its owners Portsmouth City Council.

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Hampshire and Isle of Wight Natural World, the Wildlife Trust’s magazine, delivered to you (or your partner) three times a year The chance to take part in local group and community activities offering you a variety of opportunities to be involved in more than 400 walks, talks and events throughout the two counties Join by direct debit and receive your FREE full colour Local Wildlife Reserve Guide.

Visit www.hwt.org.uk and discover your local Wildlife Trust.

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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adventure

the

Fastnetgirls

THE CREW OF KORU Jannine Stoodley • Director and Chief Instructor of Dream or Two Ltd Debs Hunt • Yachtmaster Instructor Clare Pengelly • Businesswoman Penny Priddy • Dental Hygienist Sara Banks • Senior Compliance Manager Price Waterhouse Cooper Chloe Porteous • IT Manager Vanessa Hogbin • Social Enterprise Consultant Linda Johnson • Acupuncturist

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

“This really is a journey of getting through to 14th August and the Fastnet Race,” said skipper Jannine when three of the crew of Koru, a Beneteaubuilt yacht of just under 37 feet, dropped into the Solent Life offices for a chat. Over the next hour she and two of her team, Rae and Penny, told us of the all-woman challenge to take on the unforgiving Fastnet. words • david rose-massom

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he media is full of heroes and heroines. It seems easy these days for anyone to make a name for themselves, and yet when these slightly-built and very ordinary women began to speak they became anything but ordinary. What makes them special? Well, first it is important to weigh up the size of the challenge that is before them!

The organisers’ own website quotes: ‘The Rolex Fastnet is more than just a race. When the British Isles weather conspires to deliver conditions typical of the time of year it becomes a true test of human endeavour.

It is for this reason that the 608-nautical mile race consistently attracts a large and varied fleet: man and machine set against the elements. The 44th edition, which starts from Cowes on Sunday, 14 August 2011, is no exception. The entry list opened in early January and within ten days was closed. The 300-boat limit reached with record speed.’

The telling part in that quote is the mention of ‘man and machine set against the elements’ – no mention of a crew of eight ordinary working women, all aged between 42 and 59, who are daring to dream and overcome all their fears and discomforts to take on all that the sea and nature can throw at them, and take on the men as well.

If you think that the Fastnet is a nice little cruise down the coast in the company of like-minded souls then just look back at its history, especially to the fateful 1979 race.

The Rolex Fastnet traces its history back to 1925. Held biennially since 1931, except for a break between 1939 and 1947, the race to the Fastnet Rock, off the south-western tip of Ireland and back to Plymouth and lasting four days, is one of yachting’s toughest fixtures.

In 1979 303 boats began the 608-mile race and then the fleet sailed into one of the worst storms to ever hit an offshore yacht race. Fifteen sailors lost their lives and dozens of boats were lost. One survivor reported that within just twenty seconds the wind went from just thirty knots to sixty knots.

Rae, the shore part of the team, speaks in the soft accent of a New Zealander. “The name of the boat is Koru, which is a Maori name meaning new beginnings; it reflects how much heart and passion have gone into this adventure. The hardest thing is for us to actually get together when we each

have our own lives, jobs and families to work round,” she explained.

“The training weekends go back to April and we have all sailed, but there are certain techniques, such as sailing with a spinnaker, that some of the crew have never experienced,” Jannine Stoodley explained.

She is an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and she is the Dream or Two Principal and Chief Instructor, as well as the instigator of Sailing Women. “Sailing Women came about as some women do not feel comfortable on a boat full of men. From there we have now got this crew of eight about to take on the biggest challenge of their lives.

“Some of the crew have only been sailing for a year and some had never even been out of the Solent, although we have got one crew member who has done blue-water sailing.

Entering the Fastnet – it is a dream!” she added.

Crew member Penny explained the process.

“Even before our first race we had to go to the Sea Survival course which is compulsory.” To look at Penny and her tiny stature you would believe that she could not survive a light breeze, but there is a steely grit to her and, as with all the crew, an unwavering determination. “It was a real eye-opener for some of the crew. So we practised safety procedures, we practised sailing with a spinnaker and it brought us all together as a team.”

In some instances that team building causes a problem for an all-woman crew. “Women love to multi-task and so it is hard to get them to stay on their own station on the boat,” Jannine explained. “When a man is given a job on a racing yacht he sticks with his job, but with women it is natural for them to want to go and help other crew members to carry out their tasks.”

On racing yachts the bulkier of the crews who operate the punishing winches are known as gorillas; there are no gorillas on Koru’s crew, so their approach as an allwoman crew has to be tactically different.

What they don’t have in pure muscle and brawn they make up for with a different routine and teamwork. “Basically the crew member on our boat keeps grinding until she is too tired and then someone else will take over; we have a system of helping each other with the harder tasks.”

Penny again: “For the uninitiated there is the problem of where to sleep, of using the head (toilet), of being wet for four days and not being able to wash properly. There are few

facilities on a racing yacht and no luxuries.

For some of the crew the training took them out of sheltered water for the first time.”

Jannine explained that to qualify for the Fastnet each crew must have completed at least 300 miles of offshore racing. “Each warm-up race is an overnighter, and it was nice that in our first race over to France we were not last. On the way back we sailed in winds up to 40 knots and with big seas – that is, a Force 7. It was a wonder after that some crew members did not drop out. But they are all so determined and committed to succeed.

“Throughout the crew there is trust in each other and in the boat; trust has never been an issue,” Jannine continued. “It is not until you get into rough seas you realise, even with the inexperience, that there is that trust.

We came back from that race shattered but just wanted to get back out there again.”

Penny said, “It is not about challenging the men. The challenge for an all-woman crew is different and the challenge for each of the crew is different.”

Jannine said it was about beating the other boats. “We are steady and consistent in our sailing technique; rather than exploding from the start, we work our way through the fleet as a team. Each individual on board has a personal goal as well as the team goal and that is getting through the Fastnet.”

She then explained that the boat is frisky and a handful, and then some crew members also have to overcome the problem of sea-sickness which can be totally debilitating.

Rae will be in charge of the food and fluids.

“Food and fluid intake is a very important issue. We will be sailing in driving winds and rain, four hours on and four hours off, and even those watches will be longer if we encounter rough conditions, and it is a hard thing to realise you just have to keep going so the correct intake of foods and fluid is vital.”

Jannine summed up the determination of her crew. “I cannot see us failing because everyone is so focused and determined.

When a crew member is asked if they want a hot drink they don’t get a choice, they get what’s coming, same as everyone else.

There are no hair-dryers on board and they have no nails left so varnishing them is not a problem! They are not ready yet, but come the Fastnet they will be!”

Over the next three months Solent Life will be following the training, their next qualifying race in mid-June from Cowes, then the big race itself and, hopefully, the crew’s safe and successful arrival in Plymouth. We will talk more with the dental hygienist, the crew member who has to fly in from her banking job in Switzerland and the rest of the all-woman crew about the challenges they face. www.sailingwomen.co.uk www.yachting-school.co.uk

If you have a company or business and want to get some great coverage for your company name and logo then you could be part of this adventure through sponsorship and corporate involvement. Call Solent Life and we will be happy to invite you and the crew of Koru to our offices to discuss how you can promote your name and the cause of eight very determined, brave and adventurous women who are about to take on the challenge of a lifetime.

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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photocomp

picture perfect On a daily basis, images have been arriving at Solent Life via E-mail and it has been a little like Christmas as we tear the wrappings from the internet and open the gifts that have been sent us. These images continue to bring looks of joy and admiration from the whole team. They have also caused much discussion and gentle constructive argument, which is a good thing, about who should win each month as we build our 2012 calendar. words • dave hill

T this months winner...

David Phillipson (top) runner up...

Paul Stone

he winner this month, amidst a magical collection of images, is David Phillipson from Hedge End with his beautiful and moody New Forest Sunrise. It was picked by a majority decision against some strong competition.

A close runner up this month which deserves an honourable mention was Paul Stone’s amazing reflective sky taken on Hayling Island.

Following the Macro feature in last month’s Solent Life from John Dallimore, Branch Manager of London Camera Exchange (Fareham) our sponsors for this competition, we also had some amazing close up work from our readers.

The challenge is on and the time has arrived, to look back over your photographic libraries as over the next few weeks we will need you to send in your autumn and winter images. This is necessary, in order to choose the winners for the later months, to complete the calendar and get it printed ready for the year end.

Keep sending your summer images but search out those colourful autumn shots or those chilly winter scenes.

Just keep the images coming, the standard is high and the judging is great fun.

ANDREW M c Kellar 25 years a healer

Andrew McKellar has been healing for twenty five years, the thousands of testimonials at the sanctuary speak for themselves. As a young child Andrew knew he was born for a special purpose, and today he has become world renowned.

People travel from all around the world to receive treatment from him. Cure after cure is seen at his sanctuary - Arthritis, Back Problems, Skin Disease, Frozen Shoulders, people deemed incurable only given weeks or months to live have been cured through Andrew’s healing gift. The list goes on and on. Medical science is backward when it comes to recognising spiritual healing. Andrew says “the results I see with the sick and suffering, the medical profession can only dream of achieving. Sooner or later they are going to have to accept Spiritual Healing as a forefront health treatment of the future”. One question often asked is are there many gifted healers in the UK, Andrew says. “Beware of anyone calling themselves a healer. Most healers in the UK are not born with the gift and really do little to help”. Sufferers: when seeking out a healer one must seek out a miracle

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healer. Andrew says “there are about five in the UK”. Andrew has appeared on television in both the UK and USA. Here are just a few of the thousands of grateful patients treated by Andrew McKellar: Ken Gibson suffered years with back pain.“Chiropractor treatment was only temporary, I heard about Andrew, wow the man is amazing. My back pain vanished within a few visits, I was also awaiting a carpal tunnel operation. Andrew treated the condition and said I would not need the operation, and yes all pain and stiffness vanished. The operation was cancelled. He even cured a friend of mine of Chronic Bell Palsy”.

Solent Life reader Louise Newton had five spinal operations, but still suffered agonising pain for nine years. On entering Andrew’s sanctuary barely able to walk, after a few treatments all pain had dispersed. “I am pain free living a normal life, I carried on with the treatment just to make sure. I cannot believe, all those operations and continued

• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

suffering, I am so grateful for Andrew McKellars gift”. Andrew says, “even chiropractors have said to their patients, they wish they had my ability in treating spinal conditions”.

a true blessing to work way beyond the boundaries of medial science. Twenty five years a healer and many more years to go and many more thousands of cures to unfold.

Nicki Desky suffered with chronic M.E. “For seven years being only just able to walk, and with great difficulty seeing my future in a wheelchair I managed to reach Andrew’s sanctuary. He transformed my life - I’m back to work full time. This would not have been possible without Andrew’s gift, he also cured my mum of chronic graves disease. My mum thought her life was over, when her doctor said to go and see Andrew - she is now cured.”

Maria White says “I crawled into Andrew’s sanctuary in agony after years of suffering. No doctor could help me - I walked out of the sanctuary upright and pain free. He is a miracle healer.”

The Testimonials go on and on, in their thousands. Andrew says he has no interest in religion, only in helping people become happy and free of suffering. It’s

Healer Andrew Mckellar

Volunteers Wanted for RSPCA Solent Branch Could you spare a few hours for our Animal Shelter?

Would you like to meet new people, make friends and gain new skills whilst making a difference?

Can you man a table/tombola at our events?

Can you sell our goods at car boot sales?

Transport and all stock supplied

Contact Vanessa Eden Fundraising Manager on

01329 666916 07880 926751 Stubbington Ark Animal Shelter 174-176 Ranvilles Lane, Fareham PO14 3EZ

Charity No 205096

Solent Flooring Ltd

Established 21 Years • Fully Insured

CARPETS • VINYLS • LAMINATES • REAL WOOD • CERAMIC TILES ALL SUPPLIED AND PROFESSIONALLY FITTED

SPECIAL OFFER

All prices include fitting, good underlay, disposal of old floor covering, grippers and door bar.

Solent Twist

Approved Retailers & Installers

FREE Home Selection & Estimate Service For a friendly and genuine service with no obligation call: Freephone: 0800 9177 553 Jason: 07770 411734 John: 07812 132087 Fax: 01329 238861

Email: jason@solentflooring.co.uk

Unit 19, Regent Trade Park, Barwell Lane, Gosport PO13 0EQ

10 Year Manufacturer’s Warranty 10 Year Stain Warranty 12 Colours to choose from

Solent Berber

50% Man Made, 50% Wool Natural Looking Carpet

Room Price Examples Including VAT

3m x 4m £156 • 4m x 4m £208 5m x 4m £260 • 6m x 4m £312

WE PAY THE VAT INCREASE FOR YOU solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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Local events across the Solent region.

on guide what’s

Events

The Point, Eastleigh Tel… 02380 652333 Chichester Festival Theatre Tel… 01243 781312 Salisbury Playhouse Tel… 01722 320333 Mayflower Theatre Tel… 02380 711811 Theatre Royal, Winchester Tel… 01962 840440 King’s Theatre, Southsea Tel… 02392 828282 Tower Arts Centre, Winchester Tel… 01962 867986 Ferneham Hall Tel… 01329 231942 Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham Tel… 01329 310600 The Concorde Club Tel… 02380 613989

If you have anything going on, tell us here at Solent Life and we will include it in our feature Tel… 01489 583800 Fax… 01489 583803 Email…

whatson@solentlife.co.uk

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REVIEW SHE LOVES ME • Utterly charming – the only way to describe this witty, romantic musical set in an eastern European perfumery of the 1930s… reviewed • sue brooks

solentlife theatre correspondent

T

he story, based on Parfumerie

by Miklos Laszlo, revolves around Georg and Amalia, two shop workers who are at constant war whilst enjoying a wonderful correspondence with anonymous pen-pals, little knowing that they are writing to each other. If this story sounds familiar it is probably because it has been used as the basis for more than one Hollywood film, notably The Shop Around The Corner from 1940 with James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan and more recently You’ve Got Mail starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

The Minerva Theatre is a perfect venue for this production; small and intimate it gives the audience a real feel of being a part of the story. A beautiful set brings the perfume shop to life and the elegant costumes make one yearn for bygone times.

The main characters are well played by Joe McFadden and Dianne Pilkington. Dianne, as well as having a lovely voice, is able to bring a lovely comic

• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

touch to her romantic role.

The rest of the ensemble are excellently cast with notable performances from Annette McLaughlin as Ilona and Mathew Goodgame as the rakish cad Kodaly, as well as Jack Chissick as the shop owner Mr Maraczek.

The orchestration is superb, weaving its way through the scenes with undertones of Hungarian gypsy violins. The dancing is beautifully executed and I particularly enjoyed the tango dancers in the Café Imperiale.

Praise should be given to Steven Mear who has both directed and choreographed this production, a first for him and done with great effect.

All in all this is a thoroughly enjoyable show and I would highly recommend it for an evening’s entertainment.

For booking information regarding the musical and other productions visit www.cft.org.uk

THE RIO SUMMER BALL The Hat Fair is Britain’s longest-running festival of street theatre and outdoor arts and the streets and venues throughout the city are filled with strange costumed performers, jugglers, acrobats, bands, actors and some strange events that defy description but are none the less enjoyable. Hat Fair offers three funfilled days jam-packed with hundreds of breathtaking performances from many national and international companies, taking place throughout Winchester’s ancient streets. Even in this economically uncertain world, Hat Fair doesn’t charge the audience a penny for any performances. The shows are free to view for all, but you can show your appreciation by putting coins (or notes!) in the artists’ hats after the performance.

Various venues throughout Winchester; the 2011 festival will take place from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July. www. hatfair.co.uk CELEBRATE GOSPORT Celebrate! Gosport is a two-week programme of activities and events designed to celebrate the best that Gosport has to offer. The programme includes key events such as Gosport’s Big Day Out on 12th June, the Sultan Show over the weekend of 18th/19th June and a spectacular Grand Finale showcase of music, dance and fireworks at Stokes Bay on Saturday 25th June.

During the two weeks there will also be themed programmes celebrating Gosport Past and Present, offering fantastic opportunities for residents and visitors to explore the area’s rich heritage and local culture. From walks, talks, exhibitions, food and drink, art, dance, music and sport, there is sure to be something for all ages to enjoy. Various venues and running from 11th to 26th June www. discovergosport.co.uk.

OXFORD STREET CRAFT MARKET Southampton’s Oxford Street traders have launched a stunning new arts and design-led crafts market, set to take place on the fourth Sunday of every month. The market aims to highlight the superb high standard of creative work produced in and around the area. Whether indulging your love of fine art, handmade jewellery,

Theatre & Music Children graphics, sculpture or shabby chic, you’ll be amazed by the selection. Illustrations and textiles, together with vintage clothes and records, will be available to buy direct from the artist or maker. The market will bring a vibrant, creative vibe to the area, making it an ideal day out for all the family. OXFORD STREET, Southampton 10.00 am till 4.00 pm 4th Sunday of each month. www. oxfordstreetsouthampton.co.uk FOURTH KING ALFRED BIKE RIDE Who knew he could ride a bike as well as burn cakes? This is the fourth Hyde900 Wantage to Winchester Bike Ride and it will take place on Sunday 10th July. Entries for the ride are now open. The ride celebrates the historic connection between Wantage, King Alfred the Great’s birthplace, and his final resting place, Winchester. Starting at the statue of King Alfred in Wantage’s Market Place and finishing at the Winchester statue, the 50-mile route will head past the Blowing Stone where Alfred summoned his troops to battle the Vikings.

Following quiet, scenic lanes, the ride passes over the Lambourn Downs and through the Bourne valley. Entering Winchester, riders pass the remains of Hyde Abbey to finish in the Broadway.

The ride is non-competitive.

Directions will be provided and there will be route signs and marshals to keep the riders on track. Transport for bikes from Winchester to the start in Wantage can be arranged.

Entries can be made on-line via the Hyde900 website at www. hyde900.co.uk

OLIVER! It may be almost a year away but this theatre event could well be a sell-out long before the trucks unload the sets onto the Mayflower’s stage. Theatre impresario Cameron Mackintosh recently announced a national tour of the smash hit musical OLIVER!. One reason why tickets will sell so fast is that it will be starring Brian Conley as Fagin. The sensational score of OLIVER! is full of Lionel Bart’s irresistible songs including Food Glorious Food, Consider Yourself, You’ve Got to Pick-aPocket or Two, I’d Do Anything, Oom Pah Pah and As Long As He Needs Me. The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton from 1st to 26th May 2012. www.oliverthemusical.com.

Tickets for Oliver! are on sale from the Box Office telephone 02380 711811, on-line at mayflower.org.uk or in person from the Mayflower ticket south shop in The Marlands, Southampton.

PORTSMOUTH SCHOOLS MUSIC FESTIVAL This annual festival is run by a team of passionate volunteer teachers and due to a successful festival last year the event has been extended to four nights.

The spectacular event involves over 1,500 young people from across Portsmouth. The theme for the infant and junior choirs this year is The Elements and secondary schools will be singing popular film songs.

Other ensembles across the four nights include grammar school junior and senior brass bands, Northern Parade junior bands, Zoo in the Sky band from Priory and dancers from across the secondary schools. Chloe Dixon and Matt Cobb (from the band The Hourglass) have been visiting Mayfield, Springfield and Admiral Lord Nelson schools

and leading Rock School workshops. These children will be performing their own compositions at the festival.

Portsmouth Guildhall, 28th June to 1st July. www.schoolsmusic.org.

Time: 6.30 pm. Tickets: Circle £6, Side Circle £5, Upper Stalls £5, Stalls £4. Children under 5 go free and tickets are only available from the Guildhall on the night, or advance tickets can be ordered through the schools.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING The atmospheric ruins of historic Beaulieu Abbey provide a dramatic setting for Castle Theatre Company’s inspired interpretation of this classic Shakespeare play. Two open-air performances will take place in the ancient grounds of the Abbey, a beautiful summer backdrop to a very British comic war of the wits. Castle Theatre Company offers some of the best student drama in the UK, and this year celebrates its 33rd Summer Shakespeare Tour of castles and manor houses in Britain. Beaulieu’s gardens are open from 6.00 pm for picnics, and the performances will commence at 7.00 pm. In the event of wet weather the performance will be moved under cover. Beaulieu Abbey on 12th and 13th July. Tickets are priced at £12 for adults and £10 for under 18s and concessions, with parking in the Beaulieu attraction arena. Tickets can be purchased in advance on-line at www.beaulieushop.co.uk, by telephone on 01590 612888 or on the gate.

THE OWL AND THE PUSSYCAT It is not often that children’s shows have the adults in the audience laughing out loud, but such was the intelligence and wit of the performers from Hiccup Theatre that this was a treat

for the whole family. The owl in particular was a performance worthy of an Oscar and the grown-ups could not help but smile and laugh at his antics. The trio of performers, discounting the brilliant Piggie who stole the show, with their colourful set, simple story line and music, had the children gripped from first to last, so if you would like to give your child a taste of live theatre this is a great start and a real treat. The Berry Theatre, Hedge End, 11th June. Go to www.theberrytheatre.co.uk or to discover more about the show and the company www. hiccuptheatre.co.uk.

ROARY THE RACING CAR Roary, the number 1 little race car, zooms into Fareham for the very first time this June when he stars in a brand new live stage show especially for the under 10s! It’s the day of the Champion of Champions race at Silver Hatch and Roary is all set to battle it out with Maxi, Cici and all the other cars to win the race and lift the trophy! Farmer Green has created some brand new biofuel to make sure this race is the fastest and greenest ever... but hang on. Flash has his eyes on that fuel for his skateboard and Big Chris seems more interested in baking a pizza and eating doughnuts than in preparing the cars for the race!

Luckily Marsha Marshall is on hand to make sure that everyone will be ready at the track for the big day. Fareham's Ferneham Hall, Sunday 26th June at 1.00 pm and 3.30 pm. Tickets priced £14 (under 16s £12, family of four £46) are available from the box office or by calling the ticket hotline on 01329 231942.

You can also book your tickets on-line through our website www.fernehamhall.co.uk or call 01329 231942.

solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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Business Directory Accountants

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solentlife.co.uk • JUNE 2011 •

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communitynews

june

community news Your essential guide to all the local news and events in your community CAMPER HEAVEN Returning for another year is the largest event in the Marquis Show diary! Customers old and new are invited to join Marquis in the grounds of Paultons Park, Ower, near Romsey, Hampshire SO51 6AL on 10th–12th June 2011 to view one of the largest displays of new and quality pre-owned motorhomes in the South.

Showcased will be new 2011 models from the UK’s top manufacturers including exclusive special editions such as the MercedesBenz and Peugeot County ranges and the distinctive and affordable Majestics.

As well as new models, Marquis will also be displaying a comprehensive range of quality pre-owned motorhomes complete with the industry leading three-year unlimited mileage AutoMarq warranty as standard.

If you’re looking for a fun day out for all the family then a visit to the largest motorhome show in the South is a must! Entry and parking is FREE and Marquis are also able to supply discounted tickets into Paultons Park!

For more information about the Paultons Park Show call the freephone number 0800 026 7777 or visit the website www. marquismotorhomes.co.uk/paultonspark.

MOBILITY FOR THE DISABLED AT NEW FOREST SHOW The New Forest and Hampshire County Show works hard to ensure that the disabled have good access and facilities at the Show.

This includes not only parking safely near to the showground but also having the opportunity to book on-site power chairs and scooters to take them around the showground. There are plenty of parking places for the disabled. However, it has to be stressed that the stewards can only admit those cars with registered disabled stickers clearly displayed (including the correct pass for the occupant) so please do not try to enter this car park if you are not in possession of a valid sticker – you will be refused.

Wheels for Freedom will be at the Show and they specialise in helping the disabled enjoy local shows by providing a range of scooters, power chairs and wheelchairs for

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• JUNE 2011 • solentlife.co.uk

hire on site.

It is vital that anyone wishing to take up this offer books in advance by ringing Wheels of Freedom on 01202 670450 or by going to www.wheelsforfreedom.org.uk and following the Out n’ About link to the New Forest Show. This will help the charity try to ensure that all demands are met.

The New Forest and Hampshire County Show, New Park, Brockenhurst on Tuesday 26th, Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th July. There is a special offer of 20% off all tickets until 11th July so get your tickets now either on-line at www. newforestshow.co.uk or by ringing the credit card hotline on 01590 622409.

EVENTFUL BISHOPS WALTHAM Throughout June this attractive and busy village has events virtually every weekend to keep visitors and residents amused and occupied. As usual with Bishops Waltham, everyone is welcome.

5th June at 11.00 am a Road Race and Fun Run. 11th June from 12.00–5.00 pm the Bishop’s Waltham Carnival and Village Show.

19th June at 10.00 am the Memory Lane Fayres and then every Friday from 9.30– 11.00 am the Country Market at Jubilee Hall.

CHORAL CRESCENDO The Portsmouth Choral Union will be performing their summer concert on Saturday 18th June at 7.30 pm at St Mary’s Church, Portsea, Fratton Road, Portsmouth.

The programme includes Rachmaninov – Vespers (excerpts), Bach – Jesu, Meine Freude and Whitacre – Motets. Tickets are available in advance from Rosemary Kerridge on 02392 822227 or via email rosemary.kerridge@saulet.co.uk and will also be available on the door. Tickets are £12 with concessions available for senior citizens and full-time students. For further information please visit our website www. pcuchoir.org.uk or find us on Facebook.

IF YOU HAVE A LOCAL EVENT You wish to promote then please contact us at info@solentlife.co.uk

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