JUNE 2019 ISSUE 052
www.winchestertoday.co.uk
WINCHESTER LIB DEMS: ‘REMAIN’ IS STILL OUR FOCUS By KEVIN GOVER News Editor THE Liberal Democrat’s message of ‘Remain’ appears to have struck home in the EU elections in Winchester, taking a 40.4% share of the European Election vote on Thursday 23rd May. That’s a 23.6% increase on last time. Of the rest, Nigel Farage’s Brexit party took 29.1% of the share, despite the party only being in existence for six weeks. The Green Party saw only a slight increase of 0.7%, to come in third with a 12% share. The Conservatives took a 10.2% share of
the vote, coming in 4th place - but more importantly taking a huge hit on the vote share, down 26.8%. UKIP also took a huge hit, down 21.5% of the share to
Most of us locally want to stop Brexit
Big Sleep Out raises £30k page 3
come 7th. Although he was not fortunate to be elected as an MEP himself, Lib Dem spokesman in Winchester, Martin Tod, gave this reaction to Winchester Today: “I’m delighted that we elected three MEPs and also very pleased that the Liberal Democrats topped the poll in Winchester with the highest Lib Dem vote in the whole of the South East. “The message in Winchester is crystal clear - most of us locally want to stop Brexit - and I intend to keep working to make that happen.”
THAT’S THE WAY TO SPIN IT! Ben Scorey, Joseph Scorey, Florence Caine, George Caine, Hannah Caine and Ed Caine are all transfixed by the plate spinning skills of Juggling Jake at the Kings Worthy Church and Village Fete on Bank Holiday Monday. (below) Amanda Hassell takes a few minutes away from running the fete to pose for the camera.
‘...Dagenham’ strikes it big page 12
Hillier wins again at Chelsea page 16
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June 2019
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR As Freya mentions in her column, everyone welcomes a different time of the day. For a lot of us, there’s no doubt that when the sun shines here in the glorious South, everyone smiles. As I’m writing this in Kings Worthy on Wednesday 29th May it’s pouring with rain and just 130c. But only two days ago, Bank Holiday Monday, it was well over 20, the sun shone brightly, and teddy bears parachuted off the roof of St Mary’s. A
new record was set of 11.4 seconds! There were teas, candy floss, Union Jack bunting, Splat The Rat, penalty shootouts - and men of a certain age drooling over a row of MGs. The new Mayor stayed all afternoon and I could swear there were a thousand people on the Village Green. Well, it felt that way. Lots of money was raised for four main charities - St Mary’s, Girlguiding in Kings Worthy, Winchester Hospice and Kings
Worthy Pre-School. But above all, people were happy. You can tell that from our front page. You can tell that from the faces of the Worthy Players below. “Happy? Oh yes, I remember that…” mused Basil Fawlty once. Happy? Yes, I remember too. It was the afternoon of the late May Bank Holiday Monday, when the sun blazed down in Kings Worthy. Kevin Gover
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n EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Kevin Gover kevin@winchestertoday.co.uk n CONTRIBUTORS • David Cradduck • Drew White • Gavin Harris • Rachel Gover • Helena Gomm • John Ellery • Chrissie Pollard • Freya Storey • Eleanor Marsden • Chris Book • Edyth Miles • Richard Horsman • Simon Newman Richard Horsman portrait by Chris Eastham n LAYOUT DESIGN • Jon Heal Winchester Today Media Partner to Winchester Film Festival and Bishop’s Waltham Festival
These happy souls from the Worthy Players were just some of the many enjoying the sights and sounds of the Kings Worthy village fete. L-R- David Woolford, Treive Nicholas, Clare Nicholas and Dave Alderson
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June 2019
A NIGHT OUTDOORS FOR A WORTHY CAUSE TWO hundred and fifty people have shown they care for the homeless by raising a huge £30,000 for Trinity Winchester’s Big Sleep Out. They came together to sleep in cardboard shelters in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral for the night, to raise funds and awareness to help support local homeless people. Trinity’s Chief Executive Sue McKenna, took part: “We have been overwhelmed by the support for Trinity’s Big Sleep Out this year, with 250 attendees it has been our biggest yet! We were worried when it started to rain in the evening, but that was all part of the challenge. Thank you so much to the Cathedral for making us feel so welcome and allowing us to host this vital event in the grounds.” Through corporate sponsorship from Paris Smith, participants raising money and donations throughout the evening, the amount raised is currently just over £30,000, with more money expected over the coming weeks. Peter Taylor is Managing Partner at Paris Smith: It was a great experience and a real eye opener. I was mindful that it was very much a sanitised version of what far too many have to endure day after day, night after night, but for the support which Trinity and other charities so willingly offer. “I was fortunate to go home, get warm, have a shower, rest in my bed and put on clean clothes! No one would choose to live life as a homeless and vulnerable
No one would choose to live life as a homeless person person. There must be tragic and complex stories behind each person. I take my hat off to Trinity for all they do to help those in such need. It was a privilege to be part of the event and I thank Trinity very much for enriching my life as it has done. I found it a profound and humbling night.” The event can still be supported at http:// trinitywinchester.org. uk/donate-here. Every penny will be put back into Trinity’s work providing long term, lifechanging support for around 600 people every year.
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June 2019
Squirt and Squidge
YOU CAN READ PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF FREYA’S BLOG AT SQUIRTANDSQUIDGE.COM
What’s Your Time Of Day?
Freya Storey continues to share her life as a mum-of-two I’M definitely one to experience peaks and troughs throughout my day. My energy levels can sometimes soar, making me frantic and possessed, carrying out tasks with monumental speed and feeling like I am conquering the world. But then, a lull slaps me in my face “You weren’t expecting me were you?!” At this point a sense of panic grips first “but I’m not ready for you ... I’ve got so much more to do.” This then drifts to giving into the lull “Oh, ok just one cup of tea ... this can be done tomorrow”, or if it’s a lull of intent, a more frantic response ensues, along the lines of “I’m too tired to do all this, why am I so tired, I don’t want to feel tired.” Thus ultimately making me feel more tired. I’ve definitely realised I’m NOT a morning person ... you know those people that wake up in the morning, roll out of bed, yell “Morning!”, jump in the shower and just seem fine. I stare at them unknowingly as if they are a different species - how do they do that?! Some of them even go for a run or to the gym, how are they not sick, their body hasn’t even woken up yet. For me, I need a gentle start (very difficult with two small children). I need quiet voices, smiles and easing into the day. Obviously there’s a bit of sarcasm in the above but it honestly is best to
I find the quiet of the night comforting and peaceful, it’s a time when we’re truly alone with no pressures or influences
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give me a wide berth for the first half hour until I’ve had a cuppa - just ask my husband. I’m a night owl and am finding myself staying up later into the eve at the moment as the gorgeous summer evenings begin to gift us with an abundance of beautiful night skies and mesmerising nature song. I love the evenings and cherish them greatly, the children are asleep, safe and content and the night becomes my own again. As the nights are getting lighter, running has recently become one of my favourite pursuits - I find it offers fitness at the same time as getting fresh air and thinking back on the day. I’m not fast but I enjoy plodding and thinking. I’m also enjoying thinking about our outside space, we’re just about to start our ‘garden project’ and though only a small terraced yard, I am getting increasingly excited about the options and ideas we have in fruition. Reading is another pastime I’ve finally begun to delve back into, a couple of pages in bed during the sluggish winter months and I’d be done, but now I’m having to force myself to turn off the light. I find the quiet of the night comforting and peaceful, it’s a time I guess when we’re truly alone with no pressures or influences when we can ‘just be.’
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BUSINESS NEWS Southampton Airport HAMPSHIRE CHAMBER Employee Shortlisted TACKLES SKILLS GAPS WITH INTERNATIONAL TRADE TRAINING For National Award winchestertoday
AN accredited business training scheme designed to tackle some of the UK economy’s most critical skills gaps has seen its first Hampshire delegates graduate. Hosted by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, the Foundation Award in International Trade is assessed by British Chambers of Commerce as part of a national programme to help companies active in overseas markets whether as exporters or importers. As well as improving skills involved in international trade amid the current turmoil surrounding Brexit, the award demonstrates compliance with the requirements of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, the government department primarily responsible for regulating international trade. Graduates are seen as ‘trusted traders’ up to speed with the latest developments in what is a highly dynamic global trading environment. Maureen Frost is Hampshire Chamber Chief Executive: “The Foundation Award in International Trade gives people involved in import and export an ideal opportunity to gain a recognised qualification while learning the processes and procedures they need for their dayto-day role. “International trade is going to play an absolutely central part of boosting growth in the UK and so we are pleased to offer the award as a welcome addition to our training offer.” The training at Hampshire Chamber is done by long-standing provider Business Training UK. Its Managing Director is
Image: Jacqueline Highmore, Hampshire Chamber’s International Trade Manager, left, and Maureen Frost, Hampshire Chamber Chief Executive
Peter Thompson: “From a compliance point of view, the award certainly adds value but more importantly it’s about inculcating skills into British industry that have been lacking compared to other countries because of underinvestment over many years. “It is the nature of the employment market that most new staff will need training but that is especially true for international trading skills. “Trading relationships around the world undergo continual change and so trusted traders need to update their knowledge and skills to reflect that.” One of the first Hampshire delegates
to complete the training is Jacqueline Highmore, Hampshire Chamber’s own International Trade Manager: “I have been working at the Chamber for many years and although involved in international trade on a daily basis I have found this training to be a very worthwhile and enjoyable experience. I have updated my skills and learnt some new ones too on the various workshops.” Training for the award is open to both members and non-members of Hampshire Chamber. For more information, call 01329 242420 or email train@hampshirechamber.co.uk.
Van Store Extension For Hendy HENDY has expanded its commercial vehicle operations in the south with the opening of the Southampton Van Store. The company has opened the Van Store in Chandler’s Ford to offer buyers a wide range of commercial vehicles from a large selection of manufacturers. Chief operating officer Simon Bottomley says he’s delighted to open the dedicated facility which becomes the group’s latest stand-alone commercial vehicle operation: “Vans are a hugely important part of our business and we are pleased to be able to dedicate this whole facility to commercial vehicle sales. “Our customers range from sole traders through to large companies in the area and this facility enables us to meet their varied requirements from small vans to large tipper trucks.”
A Southampton Airport employee who created an innovative new scheme supporting mental health in the workplace has been shortlisted for a national award. The outstanding work of airport duty manager Adrian Cameron has been recognised with a nomination for the British-Irish Airports “Unsung Heroes” Award. Adrian has worked in the airport industry for 31 years and at Southampton Airport for 14 of them. He devised the CARE programme, which seeks to raise awareness amongst all employees of how to recognise when they or others are struggling; how to start conversations about mental health, support each other and where to go to find help: “CARE was initially designed to turn the formal, sterile back-to-work interview into a compassionate, constructive conversation which ensures staff feel supported. “The idea for it came after my own experiences of mental health illness. I thought that if I shared my story with people, others may find it helpful, so I booked 15-minute slots with colleagues, shared a cup of tea and brought broken biscuits with me as a conversation starter – after all, a broken biscuit is still a great biscuit. Luckily, when I spoke to senior management, they gave me their full backing to find solutions and do something about it, and a result CARE was born.” Head of Aerodrome Operations is
We are very lucky to have someone with such passion tackling such a difficult subject Dan Townsend: “People are now talking openly about mental health and Adrian is leading the way in helping us all support and help each other. We are very lucky to have someone with such passion tackling such a difficult subject. People have physical ailments and there are traditional ways of supporting them, but mental health can be hidden and therefore much more challenging. Now I know how to deal with it, I know where to signpost people, it gives us the ability to not be afraid to look after our staff mentally as well as physically.” The winner will be announced during the 4th British-Irish Airports Expo at Olympia on 11th June.
Hounslow Arts Centre presents
THE OLIVIER AWARD WINNING FAMILY MUSICAL
★★★★★
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June 2019
Barton Peveril Student Makes a Splash in America BARTON Peveril Sixth Form College student Emily Martin has won a medal at two separate international Diving competitions, representing Great Britain in the Women’s 10m Synchronised Pairs. The former Hounsdown School pupil and her partner won a bronze medal at the Senior Grand Prix in Calgary in Canada with a score of 240.54. The pair then won a gold medal at the Senior Grand Prix in Mission Viejo in the US with a score of 300.36. Martin won the medals in the Women’s 10m Synchronised event with her partner Phoebe Banks, from Leeds. The competition in Canada was the pair’s first Grand Prix together. Martin also competed in individual events, at both Grand Prix, to gain experience for the future; the Barton Peveril Diver made the Semi-Finals in both competitions: “I was so pleased to come away with two Synchro medals from my first Senior Diving Grand Prix. Diving outdoors in America was challenging but to overcome those challenges and achieve gold with a personal best score was an experience never to be forgotten - it felt amazing! We were so proud to finish ahead of other pairings from top diving nations such as Australia, Mexico and USA. Barton Peveril’s Director of Sport is Luke Hampton, added: “Emily is a very
by Richard Horsman
Counting the cost
Proud: Emily Martin and Phoebe Banks pose with their awards
talented athlete and is proving herself on the international stage. We are very proud of all her successes and cannot wait to see what incredible achievement she makes next!
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I know I’m not the only person to drive for miles to get to a petrol station offering fuel a penny a litre cheaper than the one up the road. It’s human nature. It’s all the same stuff, the logic goes, so this lot are taking advantage of me by charging a fortune. Come on – if you haven’t actually done it, you have at least thought about it. Forget what you burn getting there and back, it’s the principle of the thing. Such habits of economy, once acquired, take a lifetime to overcome. I might possibly have mentioned my Yorkshire upbringing a time or two in this column, and stereotypes aside, it’s probably true to say that seeking good value for money is summat – er, something - that was inculcated in me throughout childhood as one of the core virtues in life, along with only eating fish and chips if they were fried in dripping, and never leaving for Manchester without an umbrella. I know for a fact it’s always an overcoat warmer in the south, and they don’t know they’re born. That said, just for the record, I’ve never owned a whippet, nor have I known anyone who does. As for flat caps, well, they’re all cool and hipster now, so I don’t have to be defensive. Those habits certainly proved their worth on my first ever trip abroad (no, I’m not talking Lancashire here as no visas were involved). Back in the seventies going to France was a real adventure. Now it’s more like a trip to Waitrose, but with better-dressed shoppers. Boo-lunge-a what? Back home, we bought Wonderloaf once a week and stopped eating it when the slice on the end turned green. Findus Crispy Pancakes were a thing. Curry meant Vesta, and it came with bits of carrot and raisins in. My first continental shopping trip, armed with all the confidence of a grade C in O-Level French, was a revelation. Biere 33 was classed as a soft drink. Orangina looked like Kia-Ora, but with bits in, and it actually tasted of orange. My beloved and I took it all in as best we could after 36 hours on a National Express coach from Bradford Interchange. It was another world. With another money. Ah, yes. Try explaining to a millennial how you needed Francs for France, Guilders for Holland and Deutschmarks for Germany. At the end of a fortnight’s interrailing one’s pockets bulged with several pounds weight, not Sterling, of mysterious copper shrapnel, none of which had any residual value. Wafting a plastic card around did no good at all. So we were in an idyllic village, boules courts
under the streetlights, with perfect weather and a tent by a river in an actual vineyard. Crickets sang in the fields rather than fielders singing in the bar at cricket. Until the money ran out. We’d taken about 50 Francs between us in cash, relying on a complex arrangement between the Midland Bank and the Banque National de Paris that let us cash cheques there when we needed more. There’s nothing quite like the confidence of youth. Down to our last ten, we strolled into the village and up to the very locked door of a picturesque bank in the shady square, directly opposite the café where bemused locals looked on, watching unfolding events over their Monacos and pastis. I rattled the door half heartedly, enough to catch the attention of an old chap passing by. I cleared my throat. Madame at my grammar school had prepared me perfectly for this moment of entente cordiale. “Excuse me, monsieur” I said, with the authentic accent of an extra in a sitcom, “at what hour does the bank, this-here, open, if you please?”. He looked at me for a moment, eyes darting back and forth between the closed door and the pallid rosbeef standing in front of him, before replying drily “Thursday”. He walked on, with a spring in his step, towards an urgent appointment with a Lotto ticket and twenty Gauloises. We survived the next 72 hours. We were young, and lived on the fruits of love, half a baguette and about 5 kilos a day of melon – fruit so plentiful the sellers would accept almost anything to be rid of their stock. We survived, and learnt another money saving habit. But to this day I can’t stomach melon.
Avoiding groupthink I knew we were in trouble the day the coach driver waddled over to us at breakfast. We’d taken a last minute deal, tagging along with a local works social club that had booked a coach but were low on numbers, to help them cover costs.
In effect, I want all the benefits of travelling with the group without the disadvantages Charity No. 1106234 Company No. 5244460
Back home, we bought Wonderloaf once a week and stopped eating it when the slice on the end turned green
“It’s called group travel” he said, accusingly. “that means we do things – in a group”. He was genuinely hurt. Our crime had been slipping away from the main party for a couple of hours to do some sightseeing of our own. That was, he made very clear, Not The Done Thing. It’s not that we’re antisocial. We’re just not group-minded. Given the choice of trailing round following a teddy bear on an umbrella carried by a guide, apparently paid by the word, or exploring at our own pace, we’d always choose the latter. At least those nifty radio headsets they use now so guides don’t have to shout give the option of turning it off for a bit of relief. I surrendered to that temptation after 90 minutes. In effect, I want all the benefits of travelling with the group without the disadvantages. I want to be taken door to door instead of driving (and parking) myself. But I don’t need smalltalk over breakfast. In fact it’s wise not to speak to me at all before the third coffee has kicked in. Wanting the benefits of the group, without the hassles of the group. If only there were, y’know, momentous political events unfolding around us at the moment. I could use that as a metaphor …
BULLETIN K ings’ school FANTASTIC RESULTS FOR YEAR 7 AND YEAR 8 GIRLS NETBALL Winchester
occasion as our U12 and U13 A teams fought their way to the semi-finals. Support from the rest of the camp grew in numbers and volume as both teams collided with the opposition to realise victory and saw Kings’ through to the finals. Playing side by side on courts 1 and 2, the mighty U12 team went on to proudly wear silver in a narrow defeat in what can only be described as an outstanding performance from both sides.
Kings’ Storm to Victory at PGL Tournament FIFTY-FIVE very excited Year 7 and Year 8 pupils arrived at school, armed to the teeth with suitcases, sleeping bags, pillows, rucksack and a sense of expectation. Was this a Duke of Edinburgh expedition? A Geography field trip? An adventure to foreign climes? No, this was 6 teams of netballers, all expectantly gathering at the bus depot. Our mission, to play countless other netball teams at Liddington’s vast PGL centre, with hopeful desire to fight our way through a large scale netball tournament, supported and refereed by the England Netball Association. Maybe, just maybe we might even make it to the finals. Clad in our matching burgundy tour
‘Pride’ was the word as our players were presented with their medals
hoodies and feeling fighting fit, all 6 squads went on to play a myriad of teams from across the UK over the next two days. This was a particularly exciting experience for our Year 7 C and D teams, some who were to experience their first taste of competitive matches since starting their secondary school journey.
CALSHOT EXPERIENCE!
PUPIL Support department took a group of pupils to Calshot Activity Centre for a residential trip. This was an opportunity for some of our pupils with physical disabilities and complex needs to participate in adrenaline fuelled activities with their friends. Everyone had a great time and the pupils embraced their own individual risks and challenges.
One pupil writes: Calshot was a really exhilarating experience. Everyone enjoyed themselves and got on really well. We were able to try activities that we never thought possible which was exciting. Some of these included Climbing wall, Ringos and Team swing. The high swing was by far the best as it was thrilling and gave you a pure adrenaline rush!!
All praise to them and their commitment to training each week and the exceptional performances demonstrated during their inaugural tournament. Day one of matches couldn’t have gone any better… or so we thought. Day two of completion was to be an exhilarating yet gut wrenchingly tense
Food Glorious Food!
Meanwhile, tension rose to fever pitch quite literally as the U13’s battled with their opposing team to see a draw at full time. With all 5 teams cheering them on with defining support, our girls had to dig deep both physically and mentally as they went into extra time. Not a nail went unbitten as 5 minutes each way played out in front of the raturous crowds gathered. In the closing minutes of the second half, Kings’ stormed to victory with an 8 – 6 win. Players could not be seen as our supporters swamped the court in a spectacular mass hug as the celebrations started. ‘Pride’ was the word of the day as our players were presented with their gold and silver medals by non-other than England’s senior squad Goal Keeper/Goal Defence, Eboni Usoro-Brow! What better way to finish a spectacular weekend of fun, friendship and fantastic netball.
OUR Food Safari to Normandy was steeped with culinary explorations and delights. We stayed in a chateau, where the meals offered us an insight into regional French cuisine – from frogs’ legs and snails to a selection of local cheeses, on top of every evening’s fine dining. The delicious visits to a regional Saturday market, goats cheese farm, caramel factory and an artisan organic boulangerie were the highlights of the trip, alongside the history of Normandy from Bayeux and Mont St Michel, to some D-Day highlights. It was an excellent way of introducing our students to the variety of French cuisine, as well as soaking up the culture of a country that knows how to eat, drink and relax!
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June 2019
CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF A NATION AT WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL AFTER almost ten years of planning, Winchester Cathedral’s landmark exhibition, Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation, opened on 21 May. This spectacular new exhibition highlights some of the nation’s greatest treasures and reveals Winchester’s pivotal role in shaping early English history. Winchester Cathedral is a living monument to the heritage of England and is one of the most historically significant buildings in Britain. Thanks to a grant of £11.2 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and donations from other generous supporters, a stunning new three-level exhibition space has been created in the Cathedral’s South Transept to enable all visitors to enjoy, discover and appreciate Winchester Cathedral’s remarkable history and heritage. Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation takes visitors on a journey through over 1,000 years of history, from the birth of the English nation to the present day. One of the nation’s greatest treasures, the Winchester Bible, is displayed on the ground floor in A Scribe’s Tale, which tells the incredible story of how and why the Winchester Bible was made. This magnificent manuscript is the largest and finest of all surviving 12th-century English bibles, renowned for its sheer size, rarity and astonishing artistry. Almost certainly commissioned by Henry of Blois, the Bible is an exceptionally luxurious manuscript which impresses even by its size. Measuring nearly two foot by one foot,
Winchester played a unique role in shaping early English history
and now bound in four volumes, it took 250 calf skins to produce it. The entire Bible was copied by a single scribe whilst the exquisite illuminated initials and elaborate decorative schemes were the work of at least five, possibly six, artists. Thanks to this fabulous new exhibition, more people than ever before can now enjoy the splendour of the Winchester Bible, following a five-year project to conserve and rebind its four volumes. On the Mezzanine level, visitors can explore the realities of monastic life at Winchester Cathedral Priory with
a fascinating rolling programme of displays from the Cathedral archives. The Mezzanine also provides access to the remarkable 17th-century Morley Library and its outstanding collection of books, which have remained in their current location for over 400 years. Decoding the Stones is the first of two major exhibitions located on the South Transept Triforium and unlocks the mysteries of the Cathedral, a building which has been created, destroyed and remade over centuries of struggle and Civil War. Winchester Cathedral includes important examples of all architectural styles from the Romanesque (AngloNorman) through the developed Gothic to Renaissance, a testament to its vibrant and often turbulent history. Decoding the Stones tells the story of Winchester Cathedral itself, linking modern restoration works and contemporary craftspeople with their medieval predecessors. Visitors can encounter important characters associated with the Cathedral’s history, including the indomitable William Walker, creating a tangible connection between the past and the present. The Birth of a Nation, the second exhibition on the South Transept Triforium, takes visitors on an intriguing journey of discovery to unearth the secrets concealed within the Cathedral’s unique mortuary chests, believed to contain the remains of pre-Conquest kings and bishops. Winchester played a unique role in shaping early English history and Old Minster, the AngloSaxon Cathedral, lay at the centre of its foundation. This enticing exhibition will continue to evolve over time, deepening our knowledge of the founding kings and queens of England. Meet influential Anglo-Saxon kings in the city from which they ruled and discover the role of Winchester’s Anglo-Saxon and Norman Cathedrals in the birth of our nation as we know it today. Kings and Scribes: The Birth of a Nation has enhanced the experience of all visitors to Winchester Cathedral, enriching their understanding of this ancient building and its intrinsic connection with the history of the English nation. Entry to the exhibition is included with Cathedral admission. Visit the Cathedral website to find out more: winchester-cathedral.org.uk
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June 2019
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A SHAKESPEAREAN CLASSIC WITH A TWIST… New production promises to be inventive – and the most accessible version ever BLUE Apple return to Theatre Royal Winchester with their inventive production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest+, from Thursday 13th – Saturday 15th June. The classic story that saw the Duke of Milan, Prospero, and his baby daughter, Miranda, shipwrecked on a distant island, is given a twist when other characters – that history and literature forgot – end up washed up with them, and ask if they will make a new life on the island or try to get home, and if they stay what will their new society be like. The production is brought to the stage by Winchester-based theatre company, Blue Apple, founded in 2005, which supports performers with learning disabilities, and their show – dubbed maybe the most accessible version you’ll ever see – promises to contain a wit and charm they are known for. Featuring theatre, dance, puppetry and film, this is contemporary reworking of the timeless classic that encourages families, students and lovers of Shakespeare to see the story in a new light. The Tempest+ will be at Theatre Royal Winchester from Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 June. Find out more, or book tickets at www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk, or call the Box Office on 01962 840 440.
DIGGING DEEP FOR AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
CHILDREN at Kings Worthy Primary School have dug deep to raise over £6,000 towards a new outdoor classroom. The facility will extend pupils’ learning in the award-winning Woodland Walk area, which has been added to each year by site manager, Chris Carr. Children were challenged to grow a pound and fundraised individually and in groups, selling cakes, organising sponsored events and selling their own books and toys to help. The fundraising has been boosted with a £3,000 grant from IGas, £1500 from Kings Worthy Parish Council and the proceeds of a quiz night at the King Charles Pub. The project lead is Lynne Keeble, who’s also a Year Five Teacher: “Our outdoor learning space at Kings Worthy Primary is already used regularly by our children, but having a classroom in our woods will
Having a classroom in our woods will allow us to benefit even more from using our grounds allow us to benefit even more from using our grounds in all weathers. “Thanks to the children’s incredible efforts, Chris’s commitment and manpower, and additional support from the pub, Parish Council and IGas, we’ve been able to start construction this month, with a view to installing the classroom later this term.”
arts
12 winchestertoday.co.uk
June 2019
MADE, AND PERFORMED, BEAUTIFULLY David Cradduck enjoys the WMO’s production of this 60s set musical MADE IN DAGENHAM Theatre Royal, Winchester
BRASH and beautifully built – and I’m not referring to the Ford Cortina 1600E, a car I coveted as a young man and which makes a virtual appearance in this amazing musical. No, I reserve those words for the musical Made in Dagenham, the latest in a very long and successful line of shows to come off the Winchester Musicals and Operatic Society’s production line. Inspired by true events in 1968 and the 2010 film of the same name, Made in Dagenham follows the inspiring tale of a brave and feisty group of lady machinists at the Dagenham Ford plant who went on strike, initially for recognition of their being skilled workers but ultimately for equal pay with their male counterparts. Times were very different 50 years ago – despite the fact that women were granted the right to vote 50 years prior to that in 1918 (albeit only over the age of 30) and the second world war necessitating women to do the jobs traditionally reserved for men, attitudes in the 1960s still meant that women earned a good deal less than men, had fewer rights and were generally treated as second class citizens in the workplace. Indeed, before 1975 a woman could be sacked for being pregnant and prior to 1982 it was legal for women to be refused service in a pub. Against a backdrop that we now find difficult to get our heads round (cautionary note: in 2019 there is still some way to go for complete equality in this country), our unlikely heroine Rita, played to absolute perfection by Olivia Conroy, runs the gauntlet of prejudice and hate for becoming the figurehead behind the industrial action that helped shape sex equality in industry. Initially that vitriol came from Ford’s middle management but extended to most of the male workers laid off as a result of the women’s strike. Rita risks losing her marriage and her friends, is despised by the American owners for being a ‘dolly bird troublemaker’, but eventually finds her own voice (and what a voice) by addressing the TUC conference with a speech that would eventually lead to the creation of the Equal Pay Act 1970. To set such a powerful, dramatic but heartwarmingly amusing story to music is not unique – look at Billy Elliot and West Side Story for examples of excellent musicals with equally dark, topical backdrops. But Made in Dagenham is very much its own show and WMOS have bravely tackled a real challenge in bringing it to the stage. On the lighter side there are lovable, coarse, down to earth characters like dippy Clare (a great performance by Millie Clucas) straight-talking Beryl (Gina Thorley) and memorable lines like “Rome wasn’t built in a day – but Dagenham certainly was” or “behind every powerful woman is a man waiting for surgery”. Interestingly the shop floor workers are portrayed with a great deal of reality, as if portraying them as larger than life would be insulting. Contrastingly the ‘influential’ characters of the story such as Harold Wilson (Alan Morgan), Barbara Castle (Katie Hickson), Ford boss Tooley (powerful performance by Peter Barber), and managing director of the plant Mr Hopkins (Martin Humphrey) are written as caricatures, to be poked fun at and ridiculed. The language, as it was at the time and the place, is fairly ripe but never
There is comedy, pathos, anger and plenty of light and shade in this show gratuitous and always in context; a little parental caution is probably not amiss if you are planning on bringing youngsters to see it. The songs, written by David Arnold with lyrics by Richard Thomas are in the most part big, powerful numbers that require big, powerful voices to carry them. Luckily WMOS has an ensemble of principals and supporting actors, singers and dancers who have no problem in doing just that. There are some ballads too, some poignant, but for the most part
the music – accompanied by an unseen and faultless orchestra led by Martin Paterson – is loud and suitably upbeat. There is comedy, there is pathos, anger and plenty of light and shade in this show. The audience loved it at tonight’s performance and quite rightly there was a huge WMOS fan club whooping and cheering from start to finish. Fittingly, the finale ‘Stand Up’ left the
Made in Dagenham is worthy of a big budget and a big stage
audience with no option but to do just that: cheering, clapping and enjoying every minute of it. This is very much an ensemble piece with a large and talented cast but there are standout performances for sure: apart from Olivia Conroy’s amazing performance, which requires a myriad of emotions, highs and lows – laughter, tears and everything in between – Rob Preston’s debut with WMOS as Rita’s husband Eddie is outstanding, made even more impressive when you read that this is his first stage appearance anywhere. Rita’s on stage children are not just cameo roles and both are played well by Cici Liversedge and Alfie StokesGraham. Lorraine Morgan turns in a fine performance as Connie, matched well by Steve Gleed as Monty. The list goes on – there is no weak link, the whole cast has been well prepared and the confidence they show is evident. My companion tonight commented “they must have had a blast rehearsing that”. And she’s not wrong – the cast and crew work together like a well-oiled machine and although it must have been very hard work putting it together, they obviously had loads of fun doing it. The enthusiasm and energy shines through. Lighting, set, costumes and choreography all gel really well, despite one or two very minor technical hitches with crackling mics and a couple of dark spots on stage. Made in Dagenham is worthy of a big budget and a big stage. I have seen professional shows that are put well in the shadows by the calibre of this production. It never ceases to amaze me the seemingly unlimited source of talented and creative performers and crew that come together in Winchester and the surrounding area to put on such high quality entertainment for our enjoyment. Bravo, the real ladies from Dagenham all those years ago and bravo to WMOS for bringing the story to life.
arts
June 2019
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IT’S JUST HIS JOB, FIVE DAYS A WEEK Chris Book finds out why Elton told The Guardian he hasn’t led a PG-13 life
ESSENTIAL
VINYL
ROCKETMAN Dir. Dexter Fletcher
★★★★✩ WITH Bohemian Rhapsody now safely consigned to £13.99 on DVD and Rami Malek’s Oscar statuette covered in a fine layer of dust still taking pride of place in his downstairs loo (I’m led to believe they all keep them in there), our thoughts now turn to the next pop bio with the release of Rocketman - and wow... good things certainly do come in pairs, but, let me warn you now, this film is nothing like the Queen Bio. Rocketman charts the rise and rise of Elton John from when he was a small boy through to the early 1990s when his demons were at their worse and his life was just a total car crash. It very cleverly uses fantasy-flashbacks interspersed with stage performances, from a central theme of him attending an AA meeting and gradually pouring his heart out to his fellow members as he comes out of his shell, to face his past. Particular harrowing are the early scenes with his distant cold father and his sometimes promiscuous mother, which Elton witnessed at first hand and which affected him for the rest of his life. Taron Egerton plays the older Elton to perfection, even though on occasions with a vast array of large framed glasses, he did remind me a little of the comedian, Alan Carr. He has an excellent voice (and he can dance), and if you close your eyes it really could be Elton himself singing in the film. He is surrounded by the finest British acting royalty with standout performances by Richard Madden, Jamie Bell and Gemma Jones (Elton’s Grandmother, Ivy) who I’ve always been a huge fan of ever since she played the starring role in the Duchess of Duke Street back in the 1970s. Madden plays Elton’s manipulative former manager John Reid, who if you believe all you see on screen, used Elton as a cash cow and for his own
NEW MUSIK FROM A TO B Excellent: Taron Egerton excels as Elton
As a spectacle, this film is sensational
Photo: David Appleby © 2018 Paramount Pictures
personal gratification, on the back of that though his performance is superb. Jamie Bell as Elton’s long time songwriter Bernie Taupin portrays with finesse and tenderness, the long-time love and respect they had for each other as one of the finest songwriting partnerships that the British pop industry has ever seen that remains intact to this day. There is no doubt that Elton John had talent that shone from an early age and it shows in this film. My favourite scene is a short one when at the start of his first lesson at the Royal Academy of Music as an eight year old, he puts his rather haughty piano teacher in her place when he demonstrates what a good musical ear he has. He was also one of the best backing pianists in the late 1960s, before he went solo, and there is a great musical clip early on which will delight all Motown fans.
Elton is portrayed as ever the victim in the film, which doesn’t sit too well with me having followed his career from those early days when Radio 1 started playing Crocodile Rock back in 1973 which totally blew me away. I feel a lot of poetic licence has been used so take some of it with a pinch of salt where the truth maybe has been hidden or smoothed over. However as an entertainment spectacle this film is sensational and I loved every minute of it. Be warned it is rated at 15 for a reason, with numerous scenes of drug taking and sex, it is certainly not one for the early teen audience. We have now had Queen and Elton on the big screen… let’s now do Bowie as a finale and stop, and move on then to another genre. In the meantime though, go and see this one, you won’t be disappointed.
West Meon Music Festival Is To The Manor Born THIS year’s West Meon Music is delighted to welcome actor Peter Bowles, who will be the narrator in a rare performance of Richard Strauss’ “Enoch Arden” – a dramatic setting of Tennyson’s 1897 poem. The festival opens on Friday 13th September with a candlelit concert of classical favourites performed by various members of the Primrose Piano Quartet, who founded the event in 2011. The evening includes Beethoven’s renowned “Kreutzer” Sonata for violin and piano and piano trios by Brahms and Schubert. Booking for the festival – now in its ninth year – opens on 1 June with an exciting lineup of great chamber music, masterclasses with talented young musicians, a recital by an award winning young harpist and that evening of ‘Music and Melodrama’ with Peter Bowles – regularly performing on the West End stage but perhaps still remembered by many for his television roles in The Irish RM and To the Manor Born. Saturday morning is devoted to masterclasses for local young musicians (free entry for the audience), with “Rising Star” harpist Gabriella Jones
Many talents: The Primrose Piano Quartet (left), rising star Gabriella Jones and actor Peter Bowles
performing at nearby East Meon church in the afternoon, before Saturday evening’s ‘Music and Melodrama’ when Peter Bowles and the quartet’s pianist, John Thwaites, will be discussing the work and other musical dramas in a preconcert talk. Sunday’s musical treats start with a coffee concert in the morning which include Rebecca Clarke’s famed Viola
Sonata – often described as a jewel in the instrument’s repertoire; followed by a lunchtime showing of the classic Enoch Arden film from 1911, and the afternoon’s “Festival Finale” ends with Brahms’ Piano Quintet Op.34 – generally regarded as “the crown of his chamber music” – when the Primrose will be joined by Jenny Sacha, best known as the first violin of the highly regarded Pavão Quartet.
As in previous years the festival will also be raising funds for the Petersfieldbased Rosemary Foundation which provides a hospice at home service throughout the surrounding areas. Ticket prices for the festival are from £12 to £25 with generous discounts for students, accompanied children and festival passes. Full details can be found at www.westmeonmusic.co.uk.
Released: April 1980 GTO Records I remember as clear as day the moment I took this album under my arm into the radio station I was working for in Brussels in 1984. “Woah” went the Dutch DJ. “Not a single duff track on that one!” He was right. All four singles have stood the test of time, and we just love playing them on Winchester Today’s Internet radio station. Living By Numbers is still played on any good Gold radio station as well as Straight Lines, This World of Water and Sanctuary. But I just adored all the other tracks too. On Islands looks at whether there’s life elsewhere in the Universe (“there must be other worlds, other islands…) and there was a great ending to the album with The Safe Side. Perhaps it’s a bit of a surprise that the album reached only number 35 in the UK Album Chart despite the singles being well known. Even more of a surprise then that the most popular single, Living By Numbers, only reached an unlucky 13 in the Top 40. I remember they were great live too. I had the pleasure of seeing them twice in 1980/81, one at Tiffanys in my home town of Bath, and the other at Melksham Town Hall. There they were on stage, all dressed in white, like four milk bottles. Tony Mansfield was in fine form - he had a great voice, and was backed by solid drumming from Phil Towner (his drumming is the one on Video Killed the Radio Star), bass from Tony Hibbert who later retired from the music industry, and keyboards by Clive Gates. Tony Mansfield did the production and later went on to work with Captain Sensible (including another great favourite of ours, Glad It’s All Over), Mari Wilson and a-ha. The band and this album played a huge part in my 80s life, and I can thoroughly recommend the entire album if synthpop is your scene. Kevin Gover
news
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June 2019
SPARSHOLT STUDENTS DELIGHTED WITH GOLD MORE from our visit to the Chelsea Flower Show - and as you can see from our pictures, the students at Sparsholt were delighted with their Gold medal for the display which show how plants have developed. Charlie Sheppard is a 2nd Year student on the Level 3 Horticulture course and was delighted with their message: “It’s really important to show
the development of the plants over the years and how they’ve changed, for example the pollen in lilies. “I’m delighted with how we’ve managed to get this all together, to see the plants in place - and it’s great for the college to introduce it to people who might want to study there. I didn’t know much about Sparsholt until my parents told me about it. Now I’m at Chelsea!”
I didn’t know much about Sparsholt. Now I’m at Chelsea!
Much-Loved Classic Literary Characters For Your Garden? JAMES Copplestone from Robert James Workshop says people just love his garden bronze statues including the Mad Hatter and Mad March Hare water features: “It’s a bit of a surprise for them to see them for real. It’s a long process to get from clay to the finished castings - probably 20 weeks. We’re about to embark on Beatrix Potter characters as well as those from Watership Down.” Although he now works out of a workshop in Bridport, he’s no stranger to Winchester either: “I was brought up in Twyford and used to work in Shawford. I used to walk along the river, poaching the odd trout… I had a great upbringing as a lad. I drive on the motorway through St Catherine’s Hill and just wish the M3 extension had never been built in that fashion.”
I WAS LUCKY ONE of the gardens at Chelsea marked the anniversary of D-Day. Military nurses based in Catterick helped arrange the garden and accompany the veterans throughout the week. One of the veterans there was Warrant Officer Herbert Turner (pictured third from right). He told me he was lucky. He was a flight engineer flying in a bomber with 20 paratroopers on board over the French coast. He says for him it wasn’t a bad day, knowing for others on the ground it was completely different: “We’re not celebrating 75 years, we’re remembering friends.” The last of his mates on that flight died on Boxing Day 2017. ”I hope young people can carry on remembering into their later life, so that it doesn’t happen again.”
news
June 2019
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What’s On in Winchester and beyond June – July 2019 Thursday 13th June Dina Nayeri: The Ungrateful Refugee Discovery Centre. 7:30pm, £10 Dina Nayeri who will talk about how she fled Iran as an asylum seeker. www.hants.gov.uk/shop/home
You do NOT have to pay to have your event listed here! You can send printed leaflets or brochures to Winchester Today, Suite 123, 80 High Street, Winchester, SO23 9AT, send details by email to news@winchestertoday.co.uk or tweet us the info @winchestertoday All event details listed are correct at time of going to press.
Friday 14th June Meet the Artist: Miriam Escofet
RACHEL GOVER
8.30pm - 10pm
Friday 28th June Arcelia: Pick Up The Pieces Tour
Wednesday 19th June Spice Island Guided Walk
Discovery Centre. 7:30pm. £12, on the door £14. www.hants.gov.uk/shop/home
The Visitor Information Centre, Hard Interchange, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3DT. Starts 10.30am
Sunday 30th June Hampshire Farmers’ Market High Street Winchester
Thursday 20th June Polari Literary Salon
BP Portrait Award 2018 Prize Winner Miriam Escofet in conversation with author and lecturer Carolyn Steel. Discovery Centre. 7.30pm £12 www.hants.gov.uk/shop/home
Part of the Polari Prize tour. Discovery Centre. 7:30pm. £10 in advance, £8 concessions, £12.50 on the door. www.hants.gov.uk/shop/home
Saturday 15th – Sunday 16th June War On The Line
Thursday 20th June Margot Fonteyn Centenary Celebration with Ballet Theatre UK
Mid Hants Railway. This year marking the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. 9.30am - 4.30pm. All day fares: Adult £20 Child (aged 5-16 yrs) £10 Child under 5 yrs FREE - Family (2 Adults & 2 Children) £50
Theatre Royal, Winchester. Tickets £23, Friends £20, U26s £17, Families/Groups (4+) £19, Schools/Groups (8+) £12. Tel: 01962 840440
Saturday 15th June Pirates at Port Solent
Saturday 22nd June Leckford Estate Farmers’ Market
11am - 7pm
Saturday 15th June Backstage Tour Theatre Royal, Winchester. Midday. £8. Tel: 01962 840440
Saturday 15th June Emsworth Farmers’ Market Saturday 15th – Sunday 16th June HMS Sultan Open Day Gosport. 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 18th June Winchester Ghost Tour
COMPILED BY
Dina Nayeri who will talk about how she fled Iran as an asylum seeker. Discovery Centre, Thursday 13th June
Saturday 15th June Simply VW
Sunday 16th June Hampshire Farmers’ Market
Beaulieu National Motor Museum
Southsea
Sunday 16th June Father’s Day!
Sunday 16th June Workshop Open Day
Go on, treat him.
Isle of Wight Steam Railway
Sunday 16th June Pasadena Roof Orchestra Theatre Royal, Winchester. 7pm. Tickets £23, Friends £21, U26s £18, Schools/Groups (8+) £15. Tel: 01962 840440
Winchester Today at War On The Line 2018. This year’s celebration marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Mid Hants Railway, Saturday 15th - Sunday 16th June, open from 9.30am to 4.30pm
Friday 5th – Sunday 7th July Hat Fair 2019 Across Winchester! Tickets FREE. Three days of entertainment featuring theatre, dance and circus events. Friday & Saturday: Throughout Winchester city centre. Sunday Family Day at North Walls Recreation Ground.
Sunday 7th July 57th National Austin 7 Rally Beaulieu National Motor Museum
Sunday 14th July Sense and Sensibility by The Pantaloons
Longstock Farmers Shop, Stockbridge SO20 6EN. 10am - 2pm
The Pantaloons, Avington Park. 2pm and 7pm. Tickets £14.50, U16s £9. Tel: 01962 840440
Sunday 23rd June Simply Land Rover
Sunday 14th July Hampshire Farmers’ Market
Beaulieu National Motor Museum
High Street Winchester
Thursday 27th June Cloudbusting: The Music of Kate Bush
16th July until 20th July West Side Story
Theatre Royal, Winchester. 7.30pm. Tickets £26, Friends £24, U26s £20 Schools/Groups (8+) £15
Perins School, The Grange. 16 July 7pm, 17 July 7pm, 18 July 7pm, 19 July 6pm, 20 July 5.30pm. thegrangefestival.co.uk
the final word
16 winchestertoday.co.uk
June 2019
HAMPSHIRE - AND MORE - AT CHELSEA Report and Images: KEVIN GOVER (except where indicated)
that way.” “We put all the plants together that work well with each other and something for each aspect. We have a white garden. Then there’s a shade garden at the back far corner with all the shade lovers sitting there.” “Then we have a hot sunny borders section too with all these much brighter and hot sunny flowers in the corners at the front.” “Anyone can come and look at this planting combination and take away ideas and replicate it in their own garden.” The team at Hillier were joined by acting royalty in the form of Dame Judi Dench – and all for a special cause. Hillier say that in the late 1960s, Dutch elm disease wiped out almost the entire UK population of elm trees. Following this devastating loss, Hillier partnered with specialist elm breeders in the USA and Europe, resulting in the development of a new disease resistant species, Ulmus ‘New Horizon’. Through a new campaign, ‘Re-elming the British Countryside’, they are now hoping to plant elm stands throughout Great Britain, giving a new generation of nature lovers the chance to see elms once again. They were delighted to launch the campaign at Chelsea together with Dame Judi Dench, who is a passionate advocate for trees. “Our first planting destination is confirmed, with 20 Ulmus ‘New Horizon’ trees due to be planted at the National Memorial Arboretum in autumn.”
WINCHESTER Today is delighted to have been able to attend the Chelsea Flower Show to see experts from Winchester and Hampshire show off their skills… and see Hillier awarded another Gold Medal at Chelsea – their 74th in a row – and offer our congratulations. The team at Winchester Today were at the showground on the Chelsea embankment to view their stunning effort. If you’re lucky enough to have gone, you will be able to appreciate Hillier’s message that all parts of the show garden can be replicated at home. Chris Francis is the retail and wholesale director at Hillier Nursery and thinks this one is the best yet: “The brief we set was very much to keep the traditional Hillier planting, but in a contemporary garden setting. That’s why we’ve introduced the amazing water
If you aim for perfection you probably get far enough for a Gold Medal features and opened it all out a bit. “Normally we put a lot of trees in, but this time we haven’t done that and we’ve just let the plants breathe. I’m absolutely chuffed to bits with what the team has delivered – in the five years that I’ve been leading this, I think this is the best yet.” I asked Chris why he thinks Hillier manages to get a Gold year after year: “We aim for perfection. If you aim for perfection you probably get far enough to achieve a Gold medal. Really it’s about achieving perfection in the plants. We have an amazing team. They produce these plants to show standard and that’s what really delivers a Gold medal.” I also asked Chris what he thinks people will be able to take back home for ideas: “What we do is split it into sections. There are certain squares and rectangles all themed around different conditions. We put all the plants together in such a way that you could take back a small piece and plant your garden in
Delighted: Chris Francis in the award-winning show garden
Advocate: Dame Judi Dench launched the Elm conservation campaign
Image supplied by Hillier