Winchester Today - March 2019

MARCH 2019 ISSUE 049

www.winchestertoday.co.uk

BLUE BADGE CRACKDOWN IN WINCHESTER UNCOVERS WIDESPREAD MISUSE Ten badges withdrawn after investigation

By KEVIN GOVER News Editor A crack down of Blue Badge misuse on the streets of Winchester has resulted in the retention of 10 badges by Hampshire County Council’s Blue Badge enforcement team. Three cases were deemed to be serious enough for further investigation and the other seven were dealt with via formal warnings. People who misuse Blue Badges to access disabled parking areas can face fines of up to £5,000 and a criminal record.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Roy Perry, has personal reasons to be angry: “My twin brother spent the last year of his life confined to a wheelchair and I know just how important a convenient car parking space is for people with disabilities.

“I remember my brother being very taken with a notice in the back of a car in France, where we were on holiday which said words to the effect: “I don’t mind you taking my car park space if you also

This is not a victimless crime take my disability”. People who abuse the system need to think on that.

“This operation with our partners sends out a strong message that Hampshire County Council is committed to stamping out this type of offence.

Blue Badge fraud and misuse is not a victimless crime - the actions of unentitled drivers who break the law and risk a criminal record put disabled residents at a real disadvantage – taking away spaces from those who genuinely rely on the Blue Badge scheme to provide essential support and improve their quality of life.”

GENERATIONS COME TOGETHER

Winchester panto up for award page 2

Pride comes to Hampshire page 4

Smiles and laughter at Winchester care home

THERE were plenty of things to talk about and learn when a Winchester care home hosted a visit by cubs.

More than 20 Tiger cubs from the 6th Winchester Scout Group spent an evening at Colten Care’s Abbotts Barton home.

They split into four groups and interacted with residents, asking questions about their lives. The session ended with the cubs discussing what they had learned from each resident. contined on page 3 ➜

Visitors: 74-year-old Dorothy Catling is delighted to meet cubs from the 6th Winchester on their special interaction evening

Ruby wows the Theatre Royal

page 12

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March 2019

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Well, it seems like only a couple of moments since record-breaking temperatures led some of us to enjoy t-shirt walks around the city or take quick trips down to the beach. This photograph I took of the daffs appearing outside the Cathedral (shown right) was one of the most retweeted that Winchester Today has had so far this year. Seems to have brought a mountain of smiles!

to see the totally different attitude, and from young people to boot.

*****

***** This week I received a beautifully written email from a local young organisation, asking us if we wouldn’t mind becoming a media partner to promote what they do.

They’ve even offered some junior reporters to help us create some stories, which we can incorporate into our Project:Alfie150 scheme which offers top-notch training for 16-25 year olds.

ABOUT US

winchestertoday est 2012

n EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Kevin Gover kevin@winchestertoday.co.uk

In a world where we are bombarded with info, it was a joy to receive. So much is sent by people who expect coverage while offering little or nothing in return. It was so refreshing

Across the centre pages of the newspaper you will see details of the new community radio station for Winchester that’s opening later this month. Rather than starting from scratch, the station is building up from an alreadyestablished team at the RHCH hospital radio site, with a distinct target audience.

I’m delighted to announce that Winchester Today will be providing the local early morning news bulletins from our own established journalism team in the city. Our own internet radio station serves an entirely different audience, so we’re very happy to be involved!

Everyone here wishes them all the luck in getting things up and running.

Kevin Gover

OH YES THEY DID!

Theatre Royal Winchester nominated in The Great British Pantomime Awards

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

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JAMES Barry (lyricist) and Simon Slater, (composer) have been nominated for the Musical Achievement Award in the Great British Pantomime Awards for their musical score of Theatre Royal Winchester’s traditional pantomime, Beauty and the Beast.

The nominations were announced by comedian Al Murray, and the winners will be announced at a spectacular awards ceremony at the New Wimbledon Theatre on Sunday 28 April, hosted by panto veteran Christopher Biggins.

The judging team visited over 200 pantomimes across the country during December and January, visiting in excess of 750 performances. The judging panel included current and retired industry professionals; theatre academics as well as media and communications professionals. The performances were marked against a number of criteria and quality benchmark.

James Barry has written and directed the last 14 consecutive scripts for Theatre Royal Winchester, working with Simon Slater on the last 10 productions. Simon Slater says it’s a thrill and honour to be nominated: “The Theatre Royal Winchester provides a great opportunity to write an original musical score for a pantomime. I really believe that it is an important element that keeps the shows alive and fresh - and of course that affects

the future theatre going audience for the rest of the year.

“James and I have written these pantos for over ten years together so it’s a welcome affirmation of years of panto labour! A big thank you to the Awards organisation, Theatre Royal Winchester and most of all the great audiences of Winchester.”

James says he welcomes the commitment from the theatre: “Over the years Theatre Royal Winchester has always supported and encouraged us, whether it was agreeing to bring back live music to the show a few years back, or last year, when we jointly decided to

Our audiences are captivated at every single performance

use actor/musicians, which made such a different to Beauty and the Beast.

“We also had a fantastic cast this year, who really did us proud. As did our ‘resident panto band’ of Tom Attwood and Joe Pickering who were as fantastic as always.

“I’d like to thank Simon who is not only a brilliant composer, but a top bloke and a true joy to work with. Thanks to the Great British Pantomime Awards for the work they have done in raising the status of the genre and recognising the skill involved in this artform.”

Deryck Newland is Chief Executive of Live Theatre Winchester which runs Theatre Royal Winchester: “Congratulations to James and Simon on this richly deserved nomination. The music and lyrics they create make our gem of a pantomime come to life –from both toe-tapping, ear worming tunes to poignant, heartfelt melodies - our audiences are captivated at every single performance.

“The performance values go from strength to strength each year and to be recognised in these national awards is a great testament to James, Simon and the whole team involved in putting the show together.”

Beauty and the Beast is the most successful pantomime at Theatre Royal Winchester with almost 20,000 watching the extravaganza last Christmas.

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March 2019

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➜ contined from page 1

Michael Tibble is a Colten Companion and organised the visit: “It was a lovely evening and everyone taking part said how much they had enjoyed it.

“This was the second time we’ve organised such a visit and it certainly won’t be the last. It really brought the generations together.”

Nick Morgan is 6th Winchester Tiger Cubs Leader: “The cubs and leaders love our visits to Abbotts Barton. It’s what scouting is all about – fun, adventure and good citizenship.

Everyone taking part said how much they had enjoyed it

“It amazes me how enthusiastically the residents and cubs interact, easily chatting across the generations. We all leave with a great buzz.

“6th Winchester Scouts are currently establishing a new headquarters, just around the corner from Abbotts Barton. We hope to be able to host

Above: 90-year-old John Hird tells the cubs about his many lifetime experiences

more events like this and continue to bridge the generation gap and encourage community gatherings.”

Residents taking part in the ‘Bridging the Generations’ evening ranged in age from the mid-70’s to late 80’s.

The cubs presented a bird table to the Worthy Home home as a thank you gift.

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TAKING PRIDE IN HAMPSHIRE HUNDREDS of people turned out in Winchester for the fifth annual Hampshire Pride parade, which celebrates diversity in the county every February.

For the first time, rolling road closures in Winchester allowed the parade to weave through the city centre in a celebration of LGBT+ inclusivity, solidarity and community.

People travelled from across the region to take part, accompanied by drummers and a samba band to add to the party atmosphere.

Organisers described it as a ‘new era’ for the Parade, where more people than ever before could take part in the annual celebration of diversity.

We’re over the moon with the turnout for the parade

All images by Mike Hall at Amazing Image Company @amazingimageco

March 2019

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March 2019

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Walkies for a good cause

by Richard Horsman

Making heavy weather

AROUND 50 walkers, with and without dogs, will be taking to the fields and lanes around Old Alresford to raise funds for family support charity Home-Start Winchester this March. Nina the Labrador will be returning along with her owners Mel and Paul Bliss of Gay Dog Boarding Kennels who are sponsoring the charity’s annual event.

Paul says it’s their third year of sponsoring the walk: “It’s always a great opportunity to dust off the cobwebs and

Sponsors: Mel and Paul Bliss of Gay Dog Boarding Kennels with Nina the labrador

It’s always a great opportunity to dust off the cobwebs and enjoy a walk in the spring sunshine

enjoy a walk in the spring sunshine.

Dogs are not compulsory - you can even just come for lunch.

“We are very happy to be supporting Home-Start and the work that the charity does with families who are struggling to cope.”

Added support to the day has come from Tesco Express in Andover Road who are providing a selection of cheeses to go with the ploughman’s lunch and which will accompany four home-made soups made by Home-Start volunteers.

The dog walk takes place on Thursday 14th March and starts at Pinglestone House, Old Alresford, arrival is 10.30am and departure 10.45am whatever the weather. There will be two walks of different lengths and there will be a few stiles. A hearty lunch will be ready to welcome the walkers on their return in the 17th century Pinglestone barn, courtesy of Lord and Lady Wakeham.

Tickets at £10 can be booked online with a 70p booking fee at www.ticketsource.co.uk/home-startwinchester-districts or email info@home-startwinchester.org.uk, or by calling 01962 851177.

Meanwhile, here’s a fab pic of early mists and the sunrise in Cheriton taken recently by our friend Simon Newman. Makes you want to get up early!

The weather’s been very strange lately. It all started going wrong when they decided to give storms names. You can understand how it happened. Somewhere deep in the bowels of the Met Office a young, ambitious lad called Darren was fed up to the back teeth with writing “another system of low pressure is approaching from the west, giving rain on the hills, especially in the north, leading to general English greyness, mediocrity, pessimism and disappointment which will persist for the foreseeable future” every day from September through to May. He looked to America with envious eyes.

There, forecasters like him were respected; fast-talking, sharply dressed personalities, stars even, talking of twisters, hurricanes, dustbowls, events of such magnitude in their green-screen world so that “sleet over high ground” just couldn’t measure up.

‘Storm Harvey’ communicates a raw, malevolent primal force. ‘Hurricane Katrina’ is an angry pagan goddess. A deep low sweeping in over the Atlantic is your mum’s auntie in one of her moods. It had to change.

So, to escape the ravages of ‘Storm Erik’, who in the event turned out to be less a vengeful Nordic warrior and more Keith from accounts doing his role-playing thing at the weekend, my significant other and I grabbed a last-minute deal to a Spanish island.

It’s dawned on me how to solve the latest Brexit impasse, by the way. We just need to do swapsies with the Spaniards – they get the Isle of Wight in exchange for Gibraltar. Let’s face it. We wouldn’t miss Newport, and after a few years of global warming it’ll be at least as good as Majorca for cheap cerveza, churros and a very reasonable two-for-one tapas deal on a Thursday night with live guitarist. But without the four-hour flight. And everything that goes with the budget airline experience.

I’m convinced purgatory will be exactly like an airport departure lounge at 5am Ah yes, cheap seats mean an early flight on a Wednesday. If it turns out the Catholics are right, and there really is a purgatory, I’m convinced it will be exactly like an airport departure lounge at 5am. Not hell, as such, and with all basic needs met, just uncomfortable and troubling enough to stop anyone relaxing during the long, long wait for a possible future in paradise.

It’s a fluorescent-lit demi-world where Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Albatross’ has never left the charts. Try dozing, and every seven minutes a cheery ‘bing bong’ will remind you not to leave a bag unattended, or the SAS will descend from the skylights and eliminate your Hot Tuna swimming shorts as a threat to Western capitalism. Stick out a leg, and it’ll be taken off by a passing baggage truck. But these physical discomforts are nothing compared to the mind games.

There comes a point, after circling the departure lounge for the third time, when Stockholm Syndrome kicks in and you start to enjoy filthy coffee at 7 Euros a shot. When you arrive home it’s with thirty quid’s worth of geometric Swiss milk chocolate in a tube you have no recollection of ever purchasing. Erik’s revenge.

Why, Minister?

If the weather’s broken, that’s nothing compared to politics. The one thing the tribes of divided Britain can agree on is that the current crop of top politicians is one of the weakest line-ups for generations. But when you really think about it, who in their right mind would ever stand for public office?

Don’t get me wrong, running the country has always been a tough gig, but there was always some downtime. Now scrutiny is relentless, and those with the necessary skills and determination could pocket much more shuffling financial derivatives around the world, or eating wildlife on a beach in Oz for the amusement of the wider populace.

What’s probably most troubling is the glee with which anyone who puts their head over the parapet is subject to relentless character assassination. Particularly, their youthful indiscretions. I mean, by most standards I’ve had a pretty blameless life. Married 38 years (to the same person), no convictions, usually get around to sorting out the recycling properly; that said, if anyone really started digging they

Who in their right mind would ever stand for public office?

could probably find enough dirt to make life uncomfortable, and some of it could stick.

Worse, it could hurt the people I love.

So what calibre of candidate does come forward? I’m probably being unfair to thousands of public-spirited individuals here who put in countless hours of work to make things better for the rest of us. But frankly, I fear the kind of people who are prepared to put up with the flak in government must be exceptional, and not always in a good way. Not even a Jag and a phalanx of police outriders is worth all that hassle to any normal person.

They may be narcissists, thriving in the constant attention. They might be thick-skinned to rhinoceros levels, certain of their worth regardless of all criticism and maybe, just maybe, devoid of the empathy to appreciate what all the fuss is about. Or they might be second rate, second floor types who can’t contain their glee that they’ve somehow been given the key to the executive washroom and a taxpayer-funded penthouse suite.

As a working reporter I’ll never forget putting a killer question to the newly appointed leader of a small district council. He was a firefighter by trade, a dad of three and a lifelong local resident. “That’s a question for a politician!” he exclaimed, only then realising what he’d said. It wasn’t how he saw himself.

Know what? I think I’d prefer that bloke making tough decisions on my behalf. Or the woman who quietly walked round a meeting of a big city council during an interminable budget setting meeting last week, selling pots of her home-made jam to fellow Members for charity. How either would stand up to 24-hour Twitterstorms or hate campaigns from the tribal extremes I have no idea.

Until then, we’re stuck with what we’ve got. Maybe, just maybe, we should cut them some slack.

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March 2019

Squirt and Squidge Forest Bathing

Freya Storey continues to share her life as a mum-of-two I was a bit of a tom boy when I was growing up. I had a group of friends who lived on my block who were mostly boys and damn good fun to hang out with.

From making go karts and testing them down neighbouring hills, to building dens and climbing trees, I was into physical play and enjoyed being outdoors when playing more than anything.

I had one particular ‘daredevil’ friend who I had some of the BEST times with.

He had a bmx and I had a bike. Okay, not a bmx, a red bike with apple stickers on it and a plastic basket on the front. But when I was riding it and we were out I felt invincible and totally free.

One of our favourite places to go was the local heath which we were fortunate enough to live very close to.

I would follow my friend, trying to keep up, and ultimately copy without fear anything he was doing. This often involved racing at full pelt down muddy hills, navigating hidden tree stumps and then stopping, laughing, looking up and thinking ‘this is marvellous.’

Since childhood, I have carried such a fondness for trees and forests with me, always feeling at ease in such environments and feeling a deeper sense of calm and peace when surrounded by towering canopies.

Since childhood, I have carried such a fondness for trees and forests with me, always feeling at ease in such environments YOU CAN READ PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF FREYA’S BLOG AT SQUIRTANDSQUIDGE.COM

I like the sense of ‘small’ the forest can create, the sense of infinite possibility and freedom. It makes you feel little, yet the world seem so big.

I recently discovered that such healing benefits are a focal part of Japan’s healthcare. They believe strongly in the therapeutic powers of nature and ‘forest bathing’ or ‘shinrin yoku’ giving it its proper name.

As well as helping alleviate stress and encouraging mindfulness, it is believed that trees release organic compounds that support our natural killer cells that are part of our immune systems way of fighting off disease.

Gathering pace during the 1980s in Japan, ‘forest bathing’ is becoming more and more popular in the UK at the moment, with many seeking refuge from the wilderness. Sure it makes sense to go for a walk if you’re feeling ‘wound up’ - that’s just intuition and what many of us have been doing for years. But trying to make that walk, that little bit more special, giving yourself the real time you deserve in the outdoors - that’s when I believe the magic happens.

I’ll certainly be continuing to bathe in the glory of the wilderness as often as I can during 2019 with approaching Spring being such a special time to be out in it.

You never know I may even try bombing it down some hills.

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HOUSE BAKE OFF 2019!

THIS House favourite of The Kings’ School Bake Off 2018-2019 was back in action last week with standards impressively high this year! After a record number of pupils swarmed to the sign up, it was survival of the fittest (or those who queued most respectfully) who earned themselves one of the coveted Bake Off contestant spaces. 12 pairs from each House competed in the two-day sugar filled extravaganza!

A record number of pupils swarmed to the sign-up

KINGS’ WILL

ROCK!

Following the huge success of Oliver!, staff and pupils are very excited following the launch of School of Rock as our 2019 School Production! We have no doubt that the Drama and Music departments have faced some tough decisions after the auditions, as we celebrate the wonderful talent and creativity from our pupils.

School of Rock will be taking place over 4 performances, from the 4th - 6th July, 2019. Watch this space for more information.

First to warm the ovens and grease their tins were mighty Godwin going head to head with Norman house. There were no ‘soggy bottoms’ in this heat with the standard incredibly high..!

Second was the battle between Stuart and Tudor House where it began very serenely for Stuart house in a very organised production of multi colours and sugary spectacle in comparison to their rivals who adopted a more frantic baking style! There were some extremely creative ideas in terms of flavours and decoration between both houses.

In the end it came down to the staff judges who cut up, tasted and scored each cake as bakers were left in anticipation. After a mouth-wateringly difficult deliberation it was Amelie Nolan and Jess Caldwell of Stuart House who scooped the Overall Best Cake top spot with their delicious and superbly presented ‘Oreo Cake’. In second place with the Most Original Idea were Emily Menlove and Libby Barbour of Tudor House with their ‘Kings’ School Shirt and Tie’ chocolate and strawberry cake.

Coming up in joint 3rd place with the Tastiest Cakes were Emma Shedden and Lucy Car of Tudor House with their triple layered coffee and walnut cake as well as a solo effort from Monty Coope of Stuart House with his delectable, gooey chocolate brownies.

BULLETIN IN THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

Recently, 44 intrepid year 10s and 11s flew to Iceland for five days in the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’. They stopped in a fantastic hostel near a lake at Lauvargatn and spent the first evening lounging in hot pools at the Fontana spa. Iceland is breathtakingly wild and beautiful, with glacially fed white rivers, black beaches and stunning waterfalls.

Our walk up the extinct volcano of Stora Dimon was demanding but worth it as we looked out at the braided river below. The highlights of the trip were walking on a glacier, which is unfortunately retreating at an alarming rate and spending the afternoon at the Blue Lagoon which is on many people’s bucket list! The behaviour of pupils was at all times impeccable and I would like to think they enjoyed the trip of a lifetime. Roll on Iceland 2019!

Common Closure Day A Huge Success WINCHESTER Teaching School Alliance (WTSA) ran its fourth annual Common Closure Day with 17 training and development morning events being held at a variety of schools across the city, including Kings’ School.

Sessions that took place ranged from ‘De-escalation Techniques’ for classroom practitioners, led by colleagues from Osborne Special School, to ‘Lunchtimes – Effective Strategies for the Playground’ for Primary lunchtime duty staff.

Delegates from 22 schools participated in a programme that was designed to

provide professional development for those working in a variety of roles in primary and secondary education.

In the afternoon, colleagues from across Winchester came together at Kings’ School to hear guest speaker Chris Sweeney give an entertaining presentation on behaviour management and the view that in schools ‘when the adults change, everything changes’. The entire day was very well received and we look forward to starting to plan for Common Closure Day 2020 in the near future…

Truly local radio especially for the older generation th launches on 24 March Charity, WINCHESTER RADIO which has provided the hospital radio service for patients in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital since 1984, launches its new community radio service for older people on 94.7FM later this month. The charity which is entirely run by a dedicated team of volunteers, giving their time and skills for free, will be broadcasting a variety of music, quizzes, news and features, specifically aimed at those aged 50 and over, living in and around Winchester and the immediately surrounding villages.

It is recognised that the ageing population is growing generally, not just in Winchester. In shifting the emphasis away from just those in hospital, to the wider older population in the city, the charity hopes to promote positive ageing, helping to prevent or slow down some of the issues leading to hospitalisation in the first place, thus reducing the burden on local health and care providers.

“…Patients have often told us they wish they could listen to Winchester Radio when they return home as they like the mix of music we play, and the warm, friendly, family feel the station has.”

Commenting on the new vision for the local radio station, Anna O’Brien, Chairman said: “We are really excited to be bringing a new community radio service on 94.7FM to older people in the area. Patients have often told us they wish they could listen to Winchester Radio when they return home, as they like the mix of music we play, and the warm, friendly, family feel the station has. By providing our listeners both within the hospital, and now the wider community, with a hyper-local radio service, we’ll aim to let them know about all the great activities going on in Winchester they can participate in, discuss issues that matter to them, and signpost them to sources of support should they need it. By providing a truly local grassroots radio service for the older generation, we hope to play our part in supporting them in their physical, mental and social health and wellbeing, helping to reduce loneliness and isolation, and offering something very different to what can be heard on commercial radio stations which tend to target their output at younger audiences”.

Volunteers at Winchester Radio are diverse, aged from 18 to 80+, and all committed to improving the lives of older people and providing them with truly local, fun and engaging radio.

People feel it is a worthwhile cause to commit their time and energy to.

“…Whilst I no longer present a radio show – the skills I learnt speaking to patients on the wards, the confidence I gained while presenting and the healing power of music and entertainment is something I continue to bring to my day-to-day practice."

A number of the station’s alumni now work within the media industry, Scott Mills and Philippa Forrester amongst them. The charity has many with the BBC, ITV, Sky, LBC and other stations. Equally, Winchester Radio has had people who’ve gained skills whilst volunteering that helped them into other jobs, including the medical profession.

GP, Dr. Annabelle Mondon Ballantyne said: “As a doctor now, I look back to my time volunteering with the charity before going to Medical School and recognise how Volunteers David Addis & Annabelle Mondonmuch I gained from Ballantyne presenting a request programme the experience.

Engaging people while they are in hospital as well as providing entertainment is only going to have a positive impact on them and their stay. Whilst I no longer present a radio show – the skills I learnt speaking to patients on the wards, the confidence I gained while presenting and the healing power of music and entertainment is something I continue to bring to my day-to-day practice."

Charity Milestones over the years…

1968 Hospital radio first comes to the RHCH. For the first few years, the service was provided by the Southampton and Winchester Hospital Broadcasting Association.

1984 Winchester Hospital Radio begins broadcasting to patients from a small studio in St Paul’s Hospital.

2015 The charity converts to become Winchester Radio, a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

2016 Winchester Radio receives the good news from Ofcom that its application and business case to provide local radio for older people living in the city and surrounding environs has been successful.

Volunteers celebrate after hearing of 2018 Ofcom notify Winchester Radio that it is Ofcom’s decision to award the licence being given 94.7FM as the frequency to broadcast the new community service.

'Miss Winchester', Kate Horswill attending the original studio opening with the team at St. Paul's Hospital in 1984

1986 The station brings patients live coverage of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the RHCH to officially open Nightingale Wing.

1992 WHR begins broadcasting from its new location on site at the RHCH. Guitar legend Bert Weedon officially opens the new studios.

2000 The national film premiere of Mansfield Park, at The Screen, in Winchester, raises over £3,000 for the charity.

2005 The charity’s 2004 Annual Report and Accounts win in the Charities Online Accounts Awards run by the Charities Aid Foundation and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, resulting in a £5,000 prize. Judges praise “high level of transparency and disclosure in the financial statements.”

2011 The last ever programme from the charity’s home within the Orthodontics building is broadcast, before a move to its present temporary base on level C of Burrell wing of the RHCH.

2019 Winchester Radio is nominated in the National Hospital Radio Awards, this time for its ‘NHS Voices’ interviews as part of special programmes to mark the NHS’s 70th birthday in July 2018. Winners of the awards will be announced at a special ceremony on 30th March in Stoke-on-Trent.

SUPPORT US If you like the sound of Winchester Radio, please consider making a donation to the charity. Despite being run entirely by volunteers, keeping Winchester Radio on air will cost around £15,000 a year. The hospital has allocated the charity permanent larger, fully accessible studio space that meet the charity’s longer-term needs, but Winchester Radio still has to raise over £50,000 to build and equip these new studios.

Simply visit www.winchester.radio and click on “Donate”, or to donate by phone, text RADIO followed by the amount (up to £30) to 70085 – so to donate £20, text RADIO 20 to 70085.

WINCHESTER RADIO launches on Sunday 24th March Tune in on 94.7FM in and around Winchester, or online at www.winchester.radio

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March 2019

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winchestertoday.co.uk 11

A MODERN TAKE ON MARPLE All the essentials are in place for Christie’s classic, watched by Helena Gomm

THE MIRROR CRACK’D Salisbury Playhouse

THE problem with Agatha Christie is that her books have been adapted so many times for film and television that it is very hard not to know whodunnit right from the start – and not knowing is really the point. So it was with some trepidation that I went to Rachel Wagstaff ’s new adaptation of The Mirror Crack’d at Salisbury Playhouse.

However, I went with a friend who, miraculously, had never read the book, seen the film or watched either of the two TV adaptations. As such people may be quite rare, but clearly do exist, I will attempt not to reveal too much about the plot – and certainly not whodunnit.

Suffice to say, like those responsible for all the previous adaptations, Rachel Wagstaff has taken some liberties with the characters and storyline, but all the essentials are there – and more besides.

These days we seem to expect our sleuths to have some kind of back story.

In Midsomer, the modern-day equivalent of St Mary Mead, the detective’s wife and daughter are required to be involved on the fringes of every murder, presumably

estate that has recently been built in the village, to the horror of its more genteel inhabitants, and which is populated, as the wonderful Dolly Bantry (Julia Hills) puts it, by ‘men in tight trousers and girls pushing prams without so much as a wedding ring between them’. The old order is clearly changing. But there are darker concerns too. Society is becoming more violent and less caring, particularly where children are concerned. And Richard Kent’s clever set, an enormous mottled wall with multiple levels behind, which clever lighting periodically renders semi-translucent, enables us to see the memories from a more distant past that haunt Miss Marple’s subconscious, including the execution for cowardice of a shell-shocked First World War soldier – the lost love of her life.

Miss Marple has fallen and sprained her ankle, so she is confined to an armchair for much of the play. Her friend

Even if you do already know whodunnit, this was still a show well worth seeing Sleuthing: Susie Blake’s Marple controls proceedings confined to an armchair for much of the play Images: Helen Murray

because it is felt that a family man will appear more ‘real’ to viewers. However, this has led to them being somewhat ludicrously shoe-horned over the years into a series of unlikely hobbies, from painting to singing to historical re-enactment. Miss Marple is rather different: there is very little in the Christie books about her background – she occasionally acquires the odd nephew when the plot requires one, but we are not told why she never married or what her life was like before she became the deceptively fluffy old dear with a mind as sharp as her knitting needles.

Wagstaff has followed other adapters in attempting to fill in the gaps.

The play opens with a stunning dream sequence in which Susie Blake as Miss Marple dozes in her chair, while the other actors play the people spinning around in her head. Troubling her sleeping mind are contemporary issues, such as ‘The Development’, a council

Dolly and Chief Inspector Craddock, whom she has known since he was a baby, bring her news of the murder of Heather Leigh at a drinks reception given by new arrivals to the village: movie star Marina Gregg and her husband.

The other characters appear to enter the room, either giving their testimony as witnesses or re-enacting the testimony of others. This is very cleverly done and beautifully choreographed, and it gives us the opportunity to see the same event multiple times, from different angles and from different perspectives. It also reveals the fact that people’s memories of the same event will invariably differ – not just because memory can be unreliable for perfectly innocent reasons, but also because it can be distorted by prejudice or deliberate intent.

The play concentrates on relationships as much as events, which seems right for what is perhaps Christie’s most poignant story. The friendship between Dolly Bantry and Jane Marple is touchingly portrayed, though I’m not sure about the scene where Miss Marple gets her friend to empty her commode. Is this supposed to be a calculated test of her friendship?

An indication of their closeness? All it does for me is make me wonder when Miss Marple got the opportunity to fill it, positioned as she is in her living room, barely able to stand up and with people coming in and out unannounced all the time! Some of the characters’ inability to recognise people, often relatives, that they last saw only a few years previously – one of them with a shock of red hair that surely would be an instant giveaway – also stretches the bounds of credibility.

Nevertheless, this is a tale well told.

In contrast to many of Christie’s works, the final denouement does not take place with all the suspects rounded up into one room, long-winded details of the crime expounded, the perpetrator revealed and the police stepping in to make the arrest. By the time Miss Marple gives her explanation, it is almost irrelevant: things have moved on and there is a degree of ambivalence towards what has happened, how we feel about it and what might happen next.

Even if you do already know whodunnit, this was still a show well worth seeing.

reviews

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March 2019

RUBY PRODUCES A GEM OF A SHOW John Ellery finds the evergreen singer in fantastic form RUBY TURNER Theatre Royal Winchester 17 February

A sold-out Theatre Royal here in Winchester gave a warm welcome to the soulful Ruby Turner & her band. It was also an opportunity for me to catch up with a long-time friend in the world of music.

Ruby delighted the audience with a selection of songs through the show from her albums from the 1980s to new songs from today including Soul, Gospel & R&B. It is not often you can go to a concert and at the end of the first half the artist will get a standing ovation. For Ruby and her band that entertained from the off this was the result.

The second half started with just her keyboard player Mark Walker and Ruby singing a song that she rediscovered from her days as an actress in A Streetcar Named Desire. She recently remastered some of the songs from the show that are now available.

In a recent interview with Ruby she mapped out her life from arriving to the UK from Montego Bay in Jamaica moving at the age of nine with her family to Birmingham in 1967. I asked Ruby was there a musical background in her family and she told me that after some time she discovered there was.

Her Grandfather sang the lead in one of Jamaica’s gospel groups.

In the 1980s Ruby sang backing vocals with Culture Club on From Luxury to Heartache and then went on to receive a recording contract from Jive Records.

One of my personal favourite albums is The Motown Songbook where she performed with Motown’s greats including the Four Tops, The Temptations and Jimmy Ruffin.

Ruby Turner also worked as an actress on stage and screen appearing in the film Love Actually. As Ruby mentioned in the show, music & acting is very full on and one had to give way - here she is with the music & her band. But the acting opportunities do still come knocking.

Delightful: Ruby (left) thrilled the crowd and (above) meeting old friend John afterwards

The theatre falls to silence - you can honestly hear a pin drop

Back to the concert and Ruby Turner talked about a song she has been singing from way back that also took her in to the UK Top 20 in 1987. Etta James’ I’d Rather Go Blind. It is difficult to describe unless you were there or have heard Ruby sing this song with so much passion. The theatre falls to silence - you can honestly hear a pin drop. The band stop playing in the last section of the song and it is just Ruby. You have to be there to experience the feeling around the theatre. A recording will never create that moment as a live performance.

The show finished on that song with

the audience on their feet demanding an encore and they got one. The full band returned taking a cheeky selfie from Simon on drums with a vibrant gospel end to the show with everyone on their feet.

After the show as promised Ruby went to the front of house to sign CDs and chat and have a selfie or two. “It was great to catch up with you Ruby come back soon!”

Ruby’s now in Europe for a short tour with Jools Holland & His Rhythm Blues Band. She will be back with her band at the end of March. The rest of the year is touring - with not much time off - with her own band & Jools Holland, who she refers to as her boss and is blessed to have the opportunity to work with him on stage and the making of their own album together Jools & Ruby.

Ruby Turner is on line at rubyturner. com where you can check out the albums & future tour dates.

Bourne’s classic still dazzles Kevin Gover watches the iconic work of the master of post-modern ballet, 24 years on MATTHEW BOURNE’S SWAN LAKE Mayflower Theatre, Southampton

LET’S begin, if I may, at the end.

A packed Mayflower auditorium and a standing ovation impeccably observed by it seemed everyone in the house. As I looked round, it was sustained, warm and universal. What had preceded this ovation was two hours’ joy for everyone in the audience, two hours of intense concentration on the part of the cast and crew.

And when I say intense, boy I mean intense, particularly the male swans… the ‘hissing’, the movement, the interaction.

What makes this even better is that you almost never know who is going to play the part of which character until you turn up, such is the cast rotation to keep things fresh. Manchester City eat your heart out!

On this particular occasion, the part of the Swan was played by Max Westwell and the Prince by Dominic

What had preceded this ovation was two hours’ joy for everyone in the audience

Intense, captivating, bold Image: Johan Persson

North. When the two of them appeared on stage after the finale, hand-in-hand, bathed in white light on the huge stage – well, the place just erupted.

The constant reference to ‘swan’ was not lost on me… ‘Don’t Feed The Swans’ here… the logo on a pack of Swan Vestas there… and even the name of the Swank club began with… well, you catch my drift.

Further amusement came with corgis on wheels, and the fantastic performance-within-a-performance.

Of course, this adaptation has not always drawn smiles. In his programme notes, Matthew Bourne reminisces about the walkouts at the premiere back in 1995 (yes, 24 years ago!) – at the audience and critics being confronted with two males dancing with each other and 14 male dancers playing the swans. But the times, and attitudes have changed.

I loved everything and I’d love to see it again. Sir Matthew has a way of making you feel like that…

arts

March 2019

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FAILING TO CAST A SPELL ESSENTIAL VINYL Critics are saying this one could be fine for 8-12 year olds, but an accompanying adult may struggle a little and find it a bit of a bore. We sent Chris Book along to see why…

THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING Dir. Joe Cornish

★★✩✩✩ YOUNGSTERS going off to Glastonbury on a mission. Nothing new about that these days you may ask, but this film goes on the same journey, although without a mention of Worthy Farm or The Pyramid Stage anywhere to be seen or heard.

Alex Elliot (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) is your typical unassuming senior school first year (Year Seven in new money) schoolboy when by an extraordinary chance he happens to stumble across the mystical sword Excalibur in an old block of concrete on an abandoned building site. Suddenly, he is catapulted into a fantasy world of Arthurian legend, ably assisted by his best friend Bedders (Dean Chaumoo) and initially not so best friends, Lance and Kaye.

A young, and sometimes old, Merlin comes along for the ride, popping up sporadically, and without a magic wand, claps his hands in a weird, noisy and somewhat annoying way to cast his spells.

Their journey lumbers from the start, one minute in the underworld fighting his half-sister Morgana and her army of burning knights, the next in a sepia-type advert for the top tourists’ spots in South West England.

You might not enjoy the film, but you will certainly want to book your holiday when you get home taking in Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Dartmoor and the South West Coastal Path in Cornwall on the way.

Trees, and especially their roots, play a big part in this film which seems to be full of them; I lost count of the times I saw someone being wrapped in various sized tendrils, only to escape their clutches with one sweep of a

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH Released: 29 May 1969 Atlantic Records Unassuming: Louis Ashbourne Serkis as Alex

I’m not quite sure what age group the target audience is

photo: Kerry Brown/©2018 20th Century Fox

trusty blade.

I must admit, like most films these days the CGI is superb. The scene with the trees teaching the four knights to fence is excellent as are the burning knights on horseback charging across Bodmin Moor.

I’m not quite sure what age group the film makers target audience is for this one. It certainly deserves a PG rating as some of the scenes would be very scary for a much younger viewer, but it is way too slow and long to hold the attention of a teenager.

I did like the way throughout the film they explained the story of the legend of King Arthur and there is a very poignant message about bullying. But all in all it is not something I would ever wish to sit through again. I’m afraid this was a halfterm turnip for me if ever there was one.

WINCHESTER FESTIVAL RETURNS IN 2019 Big names set to entertain in July

Broadcaster Andrew Marr will be speaking

ALTHOUGH the full programme will not be announced until the formal launch on Thursday 2 May, the Winchester Festival, alongside announcing the 2019 dates, has released a few tempting teasers of the treats that are in store.

They include Vaughan Williams’ Sea Symphony and Elgar’s Enigma Variations with the Royal Choral Society, a talk by broadcaster and author Andrew Marr, and up-and-coming string players, the Castalian Quartet.

Founded in 1998, the festival has grown into an established weeklong celebration of the arts, featuring music, talks, drama, visual arts and guided walks in venues across the city.

This year the Festival will run from Friday 5 to Saturday 13 July.

Stirring: The Royal Choral Society bring Vaughn Williams and Elgar to the festival

I must admit to having come to this one many, many years too late. I was only 9-years-old after all when it was released. It was not until I really got into the film Woodstock after that was brought to a bigger audience through VHS and DVD releases that I really discovered CSN. But I’m glad I did discover the album, eventually.

Many others I’m sure are in the same boat, in that there’s music out there just waiting to be discovered by them.

You see, this is an album that offers so much more than just the two singles that were released from it - Marrakesh Express and Suite: Judy Blue Eyes. What happened with Woodstock is that somebody working at a genius level used music that was not performed at the concert to illustrate certain moments in the film. Long Time Gone was one of those moments. It appears right at the beginning of the film, where all the crew are meeting on site and the stage begins to be constructed. It works so fantastically. That was the moment I was hooked.

Later in the film we see the band perform songs from the album in what was effectively only their second performance together as a collective. For a group who claimed they were all scared, it wasn’t so bad!

I’ve also grown to love Wooden Ships, and I’m proud that these tracks make such an impact on people when they hear them on our internet radio station.

Finally, there’s the iconic cover.

They didn’t even have a name for the group yet when they all sat on that old battered sofa in front of an abandoned house in the Palm Avenue area of West Hollywood. Left to right they actually are pictured in the reverse order of what they would eventually become. Only Stephen Stills is in the right place, holding his guitar. By the time they had decided on a name and returned to shoot the image in the right order, the place had been demolished. The area is now a car park.

Kevin Gover

news

March 2019

winchestertoday.co.uk 15

What’s On in Winchester and beyond March-April 2019 Friday 15th March – Saturday 16th March A Midsummer Night’s Dream Forest Forge Theatre, Endeavour Park, Ringwood. 7pm – 8pm

Friday 15th March St Patrick’s Celebrations The Gaiety Bar, South Parade Pier, Southsea. 7pm – 0.30am

Saturday 16th March – Sunday 31st March Inspired by Our Cathedral Exhibition by GCSE students from Kings’ School. Winchester Cathedral

Saturday 16th March Falconry Photography Day Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Romsey. 10am – 4pm.

Booking is essential, £86pp with refreshments and lunch

Saturday 16th March Writing Workshop with Claire Fuller Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton.

11am – 4pm

Saturday 16th March Emsworth Farmers’ Market

Thursday 21st March The Pull of the Poles Talk Gilbert White’s House, Field Studies Centre, High Street, Selborne. 6.30pm – 8pm

Friday 22nd March Freddie Mercury Tribute

University of Southampton.

10am – 6pm

Saturday 16th Flavours of the Orient Cookery Class The Kitchen at Chewton Glen, New Milton.

9.30am – 3.30pm. Booking is essential, £175pp

Saturday 23rd March – Sunday 24th March DIY Science: Musical Instruments Winchester Science Centre, Telegraph Way, Winchester. 10am – 5pm

Saturday 6th April – Monday 22nd April Easter Bunny Trail

Saturday 23rd March The Solent Male Voice Choir Spring Concert

Gilbert Whites House, Selborne.

10.30am – 5pm

St Peter’s Church, Bishops Waltham.

7.30pm – 9.30pm

Sunday 7th April Romsey Farmers’ Market Alma Road Car Park

Saturday 23rd March Yehundi Menuhin School Concert

Wednesday 10th April Easter Family Activities

Winchester College, New Hall, College Walk, Winchester. 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Saturday 23rd March Monteverdi Vespers Winchester Cathedral, 9 The Close, Winchester. 7.30pm – 10pm

Sunday 24th March Hampshire Wedding Boot Fair Victoria House, Hamble Lane, Southampton.

11.00am – 3pm.

Thursday 28th March Royal Marines School of Music Concert St Mary’s Church, Fratton Road, Portsmouth.

7.30pm – 9.30pm

Winchester Cathedral, Winchester.

10am – 12pm/1pm - 3pm Inspired: This exhibition by GCSE students from Kings’ School in, and about, Winchester Cathedral. 16-31 March

Sunday 31st March Mothering Sunday Special Service

Saturday 6th April – Sunday 7th April Portsmouth Tattoo Fest

St Mary’s Church, Fratton Road, Portsmouth.

10am – 11am

Pyramids Centre, Clarence Esplanade, Southsea. 10am – 10pm/10am – 8pm

Saturday 16th March Winchester Symphony Orchestra with Joo Yeon Sir

Solent Hotel and Spa, Rookery Avenue, Whitley, Fareham. 6pm – 8pm

Sunday 31st March Winchester Farmers’ Market

Winchester College, New Hall, College Walk, Winchester. 7.30pm

Friday 29th March La Havana Jazz Club

Winchester

Coastguard Studio, 6 Granada Road, Southsea. 7pm – 1am

Friday 29th March Silent Disco

Saturday 16th/23rd/ 30th March Winery Tour and Tasting

Friday 29th March The Chicago Blues Brothers Motown Mission

Jane Austen’s House Museum, Chawton.

6.30pm – 8pm

Hattingley Valley Vineyard, Lower Wield, Alresford. 10.30am – 12pm/2pm – 3.30pm

Guildhall Winchester, The Broadway, Winchester. 7.30pm

Wednesday 3rd April Space Lecture

Sunday 17th March Spring Bulbs Botanical Watercolour Workshop

Saturday 30th March Hampshire Craft and Gift Fair

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield. 10am – 4pm.

Booking is essential, £59pp includes materials and lunch

Sunday 17th March Southsea Farmers’ Market

Lockswood Centre, Locks Heath Shopping Village. 11am – 3pm

Saturday 30th March – Sunday 31st March DIY Science: Electronics Winchester Science Centre, Telegraph Way, Winchester. 10am – 5pm

Palmerston Road, Southsea

Princes Hall, Princes Way, Aldershot.

7.30pm – 9.30pm

Friday 5th April Hampshire v Essex County Championship The Ageas Bowl, West End. 11am – 6.30pm

Mother’s Day at Finkley Down Farm, Andover.

Romsey. 9am – 5.30pm

Wednesday 20th Paint Like Banksy – Paint and Drink Event

Sunday 31st March Mothering Sunday at Winchester Cathedral

Friday 5th April – Sunday 1st September Brickosaurs!

London Brew House, 67-75 London Road, Southampton. 7.30pm - 9.30pm. £27pp

The Close, Winchester.

Marwell Zoo, Thompsons Lane, Winchester

Wednesday 20th Photography Talk

Sunday 31st March Half Price for Mums on Mothering Sunday

Saturday 6th April Great British Spring Clean

Alton Camera Club, Holybourne Village Hall, Church Lane, Alton. 7.30pm – 10pm

Exbury Gardens, Summer Lane, Exbury.

10am – 5.30pm

Royal Oak Passage, Winchester.

8.30pm – 10pm

UNIQUE ASPIRATIONAL LIGHTING

Wednesday 3rd April Walk Right Back

Friday 5th April – Tuesday 23rd April Hoppy Easter at Paultons Park

Tuesday 19th March Winchester Ghost Tour

Eastney Esplanade, Southsea.

10am – 12pm

The Ageas Bowl, West End. 11am – 6.30pm

Friday 12th April Family Bushcraft Cook Your Own Lunch Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield. 1.30pm – 4pm

Saturday 13th April – Monday 22nd April April Day Out With Thomas the Tank Engine The Watercress Line, Station Road, Alresford. 9.30am – 5pm

Saturday 13th April – Sunday 14th April Canoe Easter Egg Hunt with New Forest Activities

Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum, Bashley Cross Road, New Milton.

10am – 4.30pm

Winchester Science Centre, Telegraph Way, Winchester. 4.30pm – 6pm/6.30pm – 8pm

Saturday 30th March – Sunday 31st March Mothers Go Free at Finkley Down Farm

Thursday 11th April – Sunday 14th April Hampshire v Yorkshire County Championship

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield.

9.30am – 3.30pm

Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Jermyns Lane, Ampfield, Romsey. £2.50 per child

Wednesday 3rd April Director’s Evening Talk and Tour

Hartford Woods. 9.30am – 4.30pm

Sunday 14th April Royal Enfield Ride In BMW Club Day

Saturday 30th March – Saturday 22nd April Easter Trail

The Emirates Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. 8.45pm – 12am

Thursday 11th April Holiday Adventure Day with New Forest Activities

Baileys Hard Lane, Beaulieu. 10am – 12pm

High Street, Beaulieu. 11am – 12.30pm

Sunday 31st March Mother’s Day Lunch

RACHEL GOVER

Wednesday 10th April – Thursday 11th April Outdoor Adventure Holiday Club

Sunday 31st March Mother’s Day Paddle to the Pub with New Forest Activities

The Gaiety Bar, South Parade Pier, Southsea. 12pm – 5pm

Winchester Science Centre, Telegraph Way, Winchester.

10am – 5pm

Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth.

10am – 6pm

Beaulieu, National Motor Museum, 10am – 5pm

Thursday 28th March Solent Hotel Wedding Open Days

Saturday 16th March – Sunday 17th March DIY Science: Slime

Saturday 6th April – Sunday 21st April Easter Fun at Emirates Spinnaker Tower

Saturday 6th April – Monday 22nd April Bonnets Galore Easter Holidays

Solent Hotel and Spa, Rookery Avenue, Whiteley, Fareham. 7.30pm – 0.30am

St Peter’s Square, Emsworth

Saturday 16th March Southampton Science and Engineering Festival

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.

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the final word

March 2019

PEREGRINE FALCONS BECOME TV STARS IN WINCHESTER MEMBERS of the public have been able to get up close and personal after Winchester Cathedral installed a new webcam to monitor the movements of its resident Peregrines. They’ve returned to the Cathedral for a third year in a row.

A live link on the Cathedral website now gives us the opportunity to follow the progress of the Peregrines - the webcam is also helping the Hampshire Ornithological Society track their behaviour and enable the public to engage with them without interfering with their vital breeding process.

The Peregrines moved to Winchester Cathedral in 2017 when their home of 6 years, the Police Headquarters on Romsey Road, was demolished.

Following the installation of a raised

It is so good to be able to watch these majestic birds at close range Above: how they looked in 2018 Left: from the live webcam just a few days ago

nesting tray in 2018, three beautiful chicks were reared and stayed around the Cathedral for much of the summer.

Peregrines are very loyal to their nest sites, and the Cathedral staff introduced the webcam so we can all hopefully enjoy our own bit of Birdwatch.

Keith Betton is Chairman of HOS: “It is so good to be able to watch these majestic birds at close range, and to marvel at their ability to fly so fast. They have had a tough time in the past and now it is time to help them. It is great to be working with the Cathedral staff to help these birds.”

Cathedral Virger, Ian James, has taken a keen interest in the birds: “The Virgers wait with eager anticipation for the return of the birds. Once they arrive and start to show interest in the nest site we monitor on a twice-daily basis to observe the nesting habits.

“We note the dates that the female starts to settle down and spend more time on the nest. We are very careful to note the date of the eggs arriving and then pass this information onwards to Hampshire Ornithologists.”

You can monitor the webcam by following the links on the Winchester Cathedral website.

The Virgers wait with eager anticipation for the return of the birds