NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE 033
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“WE’RE ON THE MOOOVE!” An award-winning herd of Jerseys is on its way to Winchester to munch on pastures at Compton. more details on page 3 ➜
Making a difference in Tanzania page 8
By KEVIN GOVER News Editor THE Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has launched a new fundraising effort to try to secure a regular income. ‘Small Change, Big Difference has been designed to provide a steady income to help secure the long-term future of the Charity. Supporters are being asked to make a monthly donation of £8, which is around 26p a day, or just over 1p an hour. The amount is more than double the average £3 a month that most charities ask for, but HIOWAA’s Head of Income Generation, Rachel Leaman, says it will make a big difference to the future of our Air Ambulance: “A regular donation of £8 a month will give us an income we can rely on for a stable future. It currently costs in excess of £9,000 a day to keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives. Rachel told Winchester Today why they had that donation amount in mind: “We arrived at a figure of £8 a month having done extensive research, both of our own data and of the market place in general. We would not have been able to launch such a significant campaign without the ongoing support that we receive from the people, companies and organisations that support us, to whom we are and will always be very grateful. “As HIOWAA looks forward to a second decade of operations, and the Charity continues to evolve pre-hospital care to meet patient demand, daily operating costs will increase. The Charity must therefore continuously look at new
NEW CHALLENGE FOR AIR AMBULANCE Winchester Today’s nominated charity launches new scheme to secure long-term future and innovative ways to raise the money necessary to secure the long-term future of the Air Ambulance.” Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance will be promoting Small Change, Big Difference on social media and in the community with eye-catching
It costs us more than £9,000 a day to keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives
posters and videos featuring the faces of supporters matched to faces of the Charity Critical Care Team. The posters reinforce the Charity strapline; ‘Ordinary People. Extraordinary Care. Supported by You’. Available both day and night, 365 days a year, the Air Ambulance critical care team is called out many times a day to attend to road traffic collisions, sporting accidents, collapses and many other incidents. Highly skilled crews of Doctors, Paramedics and Pilots can be at the scene of an incident within minutes, ready to deliver the same level of care that you would expect from a hospital emergency department. Using an H135, the latest generation of EC135 helicopters, they fly 7 days a week and attend to an average of 2-3 missions per day, many of them life saving. The Air Ambulance can be anywhere within Hampshire in 15 minutes and anywhere within the Isle of Wight within 20 minutes. It can land in areas
the size of a tennis court and on almost any terrain. The charity also operates a critical care team vehicle, crewed by a team of HIOWAA doctors and paramedics, with parallel capability to the Air Ambulance and able to get to the more difficult to reach urban areas. In early 2016, HIOWAA started night Helicopter Emergency Medical Services operations and is now able to undertake emergency missions during the hours of darkness, providing emergency medical support where and when it is needed most. The Ambulance also provides a vital lifeline to the Isle of Wight, bringing the emergency department to critically injured patients and transferring them to specialist hospitals on the mainland when necessary. In the financial year for Oct 2015 - Sept 2016, nearly 21% of total missions were in support of the Isle of Wight. HIOWAA is able to undertake night transfers from the Isle of Wight until 2am.
Rock legend Robert Plant on tour page 13
The gifts that keep on giving page 16
HILTONBURY JERSEYS Fresh Raw Jersey Milk and Cream
Come and see us at Uplands Farm, Winchester Street, Botley, SO30 2AA. Open Daily 7am - 7pm. You’re also very welcome to visit our stall at the Hampshire Farmers’ Market in Winchester. Pasteurised Milk Also Available For Coffee Shops, Farm Shops and Tea Rooms
hiltonburyjerseys.co.uk • hiltonbury_jerseys@btinternet.com • 07977 933470
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November 2017
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the November 2017 edition of Winchester Today. We’re very proud of our centrepage spread in which we highlight the work of Hampshire Scouts and the mission they carried out in Tanzania over the summer. I was a Cub, Scout, Venture Scout and Cub Leader in my time with the organisation - actually, they say you never ‘leave’ - and I’m thrilled with what they managed to achieve there in August. Each Scout Troop has its own ambitions - I remember one of my first ‘adventures’ just after moving up to the Scouts was being packed off to Vaduz in Liechtenstein to stay at an amazing camp especially designed for young people. I even won ‘Best New Camper’ - and didn’t win anything else for another 34 years! I felt very honoured.
ABOUT US winchestertoday est 2012
n EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Kevin Gover kevin@winchestertoday.co.uk n CONTRIBUTORS • David Cradduck • Drew White • Gavin Harris • David Cradduck • Rachel Gover • John Ellery • Chrissie Pollard • Lex Harris • Julia Kimber • Cate Hardy
right here in Winchester - if it doesn’t inspire your children then nothing will!
In the years that followed we went to Austria, Switzerland, France and Scotland. All were amazing visits and I remember each with affection. Please take a look at the story from Hampshire Scouts, including testimonials from young people
New flood plans SINCE our last edition, MP Steve Brine sent us these pictures after having attended the residents drop-in for the potential Outer Winchester Flood Alleviation Scheme: “The floods of Winter 2014 were such a nightmare for parts of Littleton and the Worthies, I think residents are genuinely pleased to see ideas being discussed. “We have, of course, already seen some changes such as work undertaken by the residents themselves in Pitter Close but we now need the County to piece it all together across the three villages. “I was a little underwhelmed by this exhibition to be honest but hope it was a useful exercise in public engagement because whatever is done must command wide support. I think we all should reserve judgement until final plans are published in the spring.”
You may notice in this edition that we are focusing more and more on local firms - and as proof that we welcome them aboard, most of our team have already used them in September and October. Do you know what? … we have actually saved money too, mostly because they operate out of modest premises which is reflected in the final bill. They actually talk to us as well. Please support our advertisers - we just couldn’t be here without them! If you would like to be in our newspaper, especially at Christmas, please call Julia Kimber on the number shown. Kevin Gover
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Award-Winning Pedigree Jersey Herd Heading For Winchester I’M sitting in the kitchen of Oliver Neagle’s farm in Winchester Street in Botley, laughing away, having a lovely cup of tea with him and his wife Julie. The dogs are also on board after having spent the best part of an hour wondering who we were as we ourselves wandered round to see the lush fields and herd of Jerseys. I’m not the only one to admire this setup. People come from all around the country to see Oliver Neagle’s ‘happy’ cows and buy his raw milk… they come from Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset… and soon they will be coming to Winchester as part of an enforced move. Why do they come? Oliver reckons some people have problems with drinking ‘normal’ milk - but some have different reactions with raw milk and swear by it. Oliver’s known farming for his entire life, ensuring the Hiltonbury name keeps going down the family line from his father before him - and even his grandfather before that: “My grandfather started the herd back in 1947 with one cow that he bought off his cousin from Hursley. He was living in Hiltonbury at the time (Chandler’s Ford) - hence the name. They got up to about 60, then when my parents took over in 1976 it went up to about 150. “The whole lot was sold later in 2001 except for my two show cows which I was showing and bought off mum. I rented the dairy at the Longdown Activity farm at Ashurst and then on to here where we’ve built them up again.” The herd at the moment consists of around 120 milking cows, around 250 young followers and a bull that I’m told insists on kicking his pen very loudly in the middle of the night. Because the milk is raw the legislation is very tight with stringent testing. It’s tested officially by the Food Standards Agency every three months, but Oliver wants more safety: “At one stage we were potentially up to two weeks before we might have found out if something was wrong, but that’s all changed. “We also have tests done now every
“Hey, don’t forget me!” Megan the sheepdog gets in on the act.
We pay extra for even further tests… if there’s a problem, we know within 48 hours
Just some of the trophies picked up by the herd - these are from the New Forest Show.
week by the milk buyer, and we pay extra for even further tests - so if there’s a problem, we know within 48 hours. We’re very proud that some of our levels have come back at zero when there’s a margin of 100 on the scale they use.” As I walk into the farmhouse, I notice a huge array of cups, certificates and rosettes. Oliver is very proud of his awards which came from proper breeding and taking lots of care: “We always did the local shows like Romsey, New Forest, Alresford - but I always wanted to go even further. I’ve taken them up to the NEC in Birmingham, Carmarthen, Shepton Mallet. The competition is very fierce though at the big shows, every judge is looking for different things.” Oliver’s on the move to Compton because part of the current premises will
be built over and they’ve never been able to invest anything - and neither have his landlords, Hampshire County Council, because of all of the uncertainty over the 14 years he’s been there. Oliver doesn’t seem to mind too much about the move: “The farm that’s come up is better placed, it’s a bit bigger, we’re going to put a lot of new facilities in, it’s a bit drier up there…” Oliver’s no stranger to the Winchester area either, having been born and brought up in the Chandler’s Ford area and carrying out some of his agricultural training on the Hursley estate. Julie’s often to be seen at the farmers’ market in Winchester, too. Oliver says the milking herd will be the last to make the move, probably in a year’s time: “It’ll be a busy day!” I wish him luck: “We’ll need it!”
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November 2017
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LOCO DREAM MILESTONE THE Watercress Line’s ambitious Heritage Lottery funded-project to restore its flagship steam locomotive, the Merchant Navy class Canadian Pacific to its former glory reached an important milestone this Autumn. For months the Line’s dedicated and specialist staff and volunteers have been working towards putting the locomotive’s frames onto newly-refurbished driving wheels. This has included some tricky and specialist work doing alignment checks, working on the axleboxes, restoring parts needed for the ‘rewheeling’, moving the driving wheels alongside the frames and putting the wheels into the right order. The frames were carefully lifted onto the wheels,
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MAKING CHRISTMAS MEMORIES AT WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL WINCHESTER has undoubtedly become a must-visit destination for all those in search of an authentic Christmas experience, and you’ll find the majestic Winchester Cathedral at the heart of the festivities. Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market is one of the best in Europe, with over 100 chalets and an impressive Ice Rink spectacularly situated in the shadow of Winchester Cathedral. Last year almost 500,000 visitors were attracted to the Christmas Market, travelling from far and wide to soak up the bustling festive atmosphere. Inspired by traditional German Christmas Markets, you’ll be captivated by the sights, sounds and smells of Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market, with tempting seasonal treats and exclusive Christmas gifts. A visit to Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market and Ice Rink should be on everyone’s Christmas to-do list, but visitors from near and far should also take time to explore the magnificent Cathedral itself, one of the finest medieval Cathedrals in Europe. The people of Winchester are understandably proud of their Cathedral, an ancient building which stands at the heart of a city which was once the seat of Anglo-Saxon and Norman power, and Christmas is the perfect time to visit. You will discover almost 1,500
‘We were overawed by the Christmas Tree which seemed to reach to the rafters’ years of history at Winchester Cathedral and the Cathedral’s living heritage is equally evocative, offering visitors an opportunity to embrace treasured Christmas and Christian traditions. This year, to celebrate this rich and vibrant heritage, Winchester Cathedral is encouraging people to share their memories of Christmas at the Cathedral. The campaign has already captured the imagination of Winchester Cathedral’s social media followers, with memories being shared in abundance. Barbara Harrison recalls being ‘overawed by the Christmas Tree which seemed to reach
to the rafters’ whilst Kirsty Robinson exclaims that ‘the service of Nine Lessons and Carols is where my Christmas really starts’. Members of the Cathedral community are also getting involved, including Winchester Cathedral’s team of almost 800 volunteers. Tower guide Ralph Jessop recalls a marriage proposal during a Christmas Twilight Tour, whilst volunteer Mike Vokes has attended the carol service at the Cathedral for nearly seventy years! With a towering Christmas tree and traditional carol services throughout December, Winchester Cathedral really does epitomize the true joy of Christmas. So after a long day of shopping at the Christmas Market or skating on the Ice Rink, visit Winchester Cathedral to make your own treasured memories. You won’t be disappointed! If you would like to share your memories of Christmas at Winchester Cathedral, please contact marketing@ winchester-cathedral.org.uk or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. To plan your visit to Winchester Cathedral’s Christmas Market and Ice Rink, please visit www.winchestercathedral.org.uk/christmas An annual pass to Winchester Cathedral costs just £8, with free entry for under 16s accompanied by a parent or guardian.
CH R ISTM AS M AR KE T AN D ICE R I N K
E XPE R I E N C E T H E J OY O F C H R I STM AS AT WI N C H E ST E R CAT H E D R AL Visit one of the best Christmas Markets in Europe with over 100 traditional chalets, skate on the spectacular covered Ice Rink, and explore Christmas traditions past and present in the majestic Winchester Cathedral.
ICE RINK 20 N OVE M B E R 201 7 – 7 JAN UARY 201 8 Session times: 10am – 9pm (last session starts 8pm) Tickets, including free skate hire: £11.50 adult, £9.50 child aged 8–18, £6.95 child aged 4–7 Other price options available for groups. Book online at www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/ice-rink or call 01962 857 276
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November 2017
Squirt and Squidge The Grandest of Parents
Freya Storey continues to share her life as a mum-of-two I’M in from my first full day back at teaching... there is an air of calm about the place, the dishes are neatly laid out on the side, washed and ready to be put away, the toilet roll is now on the toilet roll holder, not uncomfortably plonked on top and I wonder where the fairies are hiding?! Then the door knocker goes, calmness curtails into a whirlwind of energy as my toddler almost rugby tackles me to the floor with ‘MUMMY!!!’ while a giggling out of control baby desperately seeks to escape the grasp of being held... and then I spot them, smiling, bursting with pride... looking a bit frazzled but all the same holding it beautifully together, two real life fairies (sorry dad). The next half an hour is dominated by toddler recounts of tractors and butterflies, chocolate biscuits and singing while the grandparents catch their breath and try and find out how my day went. The energy levels are high, hearts are full and I feel incredibly lucky! We are extremely fortunate to have both sets of parents close by and both sets helping us with a weekly slot of looking after our children. Without this I LITERALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO - and I am in complete awe of my mummy friends who manage without such support. Financially for one, we wouldn’t be able to cope. We are stretched just paying for the couple of days we already do for both children. At one point during my maternity (just for fun) we forecast our finances if I returned to work full time and we were gobsmacked to find that we would be worse off after the cost of childcare was accounted for - how can
that be right?! Finances aside, to us it has meant far more and continues to do so, from the sleep deprived days of maternity when I had to call and say ‘can you pop over for an hour just so I can sleep’, to the lifeline they offer at the drop of the hat. So, as I mentioned, I returned back to the wonderful world of teaching and yes, as customary, a great big fat curveball was thrown in my direction - sometimes I really do wonder if someone is testing us?! I’d been back two days and luckily it was my day off, our toddler started to become very limpet like - it’s true to say he’s a cuddly boy but this was extreme, he was demanding cuddles every five minutes and that with a newly crawling baby was proving difficult. I sat him down on the sofa and realised he was on fire - I took his temperature - watched the thermometer soar until it finally
beeped at 38.9. I quickly entered ‘toddler temperature 38.9’ into that popular search engine to be confronted with the cold, stark words FEVER, FEVER oh no! Firstly I felt bad, that mum guilt hit, I hadn’t realised quickly enough - so the next hour comprised of snuggles on the sofa with the film of his choice, me making him drink lots of water and basically me fetching him whatever he wanted from the kitchen including a choc ice (apparently to cool him down!) a peeled and sliced apple and a pear which he then hastily rejected after spotting a brown mark on one of the quarters! An hour or so went past and then the panic kicked in… it was about 3pm
Bring Jane Home
We’re On Top Of The World! (Well, Wales anyway…)
Museum asks for help to restore Jane Austen’s home NO doubt by now you will have all seen the new Jane Austen £10 note after it was brought into general circulation in September. Well, Jane Austen’s House Museum is asking you to #BringJaneHome and do something positive by donating your Jane Austen £10 notes to Jane’s Fund - a special project set up to help restore and protect Austen’s precious home following this important bicentenary year. Jane Austen’s House Museum is the house where Jane Austen lived and wrote her six novels and is the most treasured Austen site in the world. It was her home for the last eight years of her life and where she completed all her celebrated
works, sitting at the small walnut writing table, now on display in the Dining Parlour. The Museum say they have made every effort to take great care of Jane’s precious home but time takes its toll and recent surveys have revealed that vital building repairs are required to ensure that the
I took his temperature and watched the thermometer soar…
and I was working the next day, he was supposed to be going to nursery - but what if he was still ill?! There was no way I couldn’t go to work it was my first week back I had a class of children waiting for me and an impression to keep! What can I do... who can I call? The Grandparents - it was time to dial up that lifeline once again... just hearing that voice calmed me, the understanding tone, the promise of snuggles on the sofa with Grandma what better hands could I leave him in. The next morning I left for work with said toddler immediately seeming more chipper to be spending the day with grandma than nursery, he was secure and happy and I entered work feeling calm and fortunate. I have observed over the (almost four years) of having children how it seems to be a different kind of love grandparents offer our children ... it is a calm yet fun love, an all forgiving and understanding love, a ‘this time is so precious’ love. Having just returned from the most magical family holiday with my brother and their children it was so special to see the grandparents in full role - with four grandchildren to share their love with, over two weeks they were in demand! The abundance of love they gave to all the children was priceless, they had their own way of being with each one and I find myself forever learning from them. I end this with immense gratitude in my heart and with immense pride in knowing that such wonderful people will have played such a huge part in our children’s early years THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!
fabric of the Grade 1 Listed house does not deteriorate further. The house is also home to a roosting bat population meaning all work must be planned and approved to conservation standards. You can celebrate Jane Austen’s life and support the restoration of her home by: Visiting Jane Austen’s House Museum and donating your Austen £10 notes or by texting JANE 41 £10 to 70070 to donate £10 via text. (Images: Jane Austen House and Museum)
CONGRATULATIONS to a team of IT experts from Hampshire who have scaled the three highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales in just 29 hours, raising nearly £15,000 for a local cancer charity in the process. Staff from Taylor Made Computer Solutions completed the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of Wessex Cancer Trust. Close to 20 employees climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, battling fatigue and harsh conditions as they climbed – some of which was in darkness.
Joe Jeffers, team member and finance director at Taylor Made, says it was an amazing experience: “It’s one that’s brought us even closer together as a team. It was tough at times, particularly when we were climbing the steep inclines of Scafell Pike with wet feet from crossing a river. “That said, the camaraderie, humour and great team spirit kept us going and we’re so pleased to have completed it. The clouds cleared as we reached the peak of our final mountain – Snowdon – and it was a fantastic moment.”
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HIDDEN POWERS
Roadtest: David Cradduck takes the Scott E-Aspect 920 Mountain Bike for a spin THE very first thing you notice about this new generation of electric bike – apart from the hi-vis decals and smart design of course – is the fact that it doesn’t look like an electric bike. Gone is the rather obvious, chunky battery, replaced by one that is longer, slimmer and integrated into the frame of the bike. Gone too is the large read-out display with all sorts of useful info like speed, distance, trip, odometer, range etc. Instead there is the discreetest of discreet rocker switches which adjusts the power setting, with an even more (gold!) discreet display showing speed (visible when riding), battery condition (barely visible) and power setting (also barely visible). The object of the exercise here has been to make the bike look like an ordinary, well-designed, upmarket mountain bike without the obvious bits and bobs that give away the fact that it is electric. Why, one asks oneself? Is it because e-bikes are thief magnets? Or attract unfavourable attention from purists who still see e-bikes as cheating? Or is it to make the bike a more desirable, designled fashion item? Perhaps a combination of all of these things. I must admit that it does look like it means business but is less likely to attract thieves or scoffers. An article in BikeRadar suggests the future for the road/commuter bike is also heading the same way. So how did this personal update come about? Well, my Scott E-Sub Tour road e-bike, the subject of my first article on the subject, has now clocked up over 1,000 miles in 12 months and has for some while been disp laying a Service display, indicating that it is time to have it checked over. A bicycle service used to be about cleaning and lubricating the chain and gears, the occasional adjustment replacement of brake blocks and cables. Not any more, at least where an e-bike is concerned; it’s about diagnostics and software updates. Rather like new cars, gone are the days of selfservicing (can you even find a spark plug to take out?). Interestingly the cost of servicing is only £35, the same as an ordinary bike; although there is the computer plugin factor, there are less components to maintain. So I booked my Scott into Owens for a service and they kindly lent me a new Scott E-Aspect 920 mountain bike to try out for 24 hours whilst mine was having some TLC. As a side note I am informed that I shall need a new chain and rear set in about 500 miles but that’s normal for any bike. The Test: After a disastrous false start – the battery wasn’t clipped in properly so I did the first half mile or so with no assistance whatsoever – I did the first part of my road/offroad test and recorded it on Strava entitled a ‘Ride of Two Halves’ – the first half being a 10.5 mile on-road, mainly uphill, dash to Owens and the other half being the remaining 16 mile trek back via the Oxdrove Way, a four mile track with a varying surface, some gravel, some grass track, some of it very overgrown. From there, back on road through Old and New Alresford and a short off-road section near home. There is no doubt that this bike packs a powerful punch with the new Brose System 250W motor that delivers power with some real low speed torque. In fact, you have to be careful when you first start off in case the acceleration destabilises you. On road, the big, knobbly tyres really whine and you can
My biggest obstacle was a load of builder’s rubble deliberately dumped on a beautiful track. Why do they do that? feel the drag straightaway, especially when the power is off. Once you hit the grass trails it comes into its own and the bike feels much more at home. If I was buying this bike I would probably change the tyres to hybrids – knobbly on the edges but smoother in the centre of the tyre, to make the on-road sections easier and more pleasurable. I don’t do a huge amount of off-road and whilst we are blessed with loads of trails around here you still have to travel on roads to get to most of them. The other main problem is when the power cuts out rather dramatically at around 16mph. Especially on-road, but even off-road, once you hit that speed the power seems to disappear very quickly and hover between on and off, almost as if the motor can’t make up its mind whether to help you or not. It’s an uncomfortable feeling around that speed when it alternately surges forward, then feels like the brake has been applied. [I am assured that a firmware update will sort this problem.] By comparison, my Scott E-Sub Tour bike runs out of assistance gradually. When the power is on in lower speeds the bike feels very responsive and the Shimano 506 disc brakes are very
You have to be careful when you first start off in case the acceleration destabilises you
effective at stopping you. There are three power settings and off-road I mostly used the middle setting. The bigger capacity battery (500wh rather than my 400wh) ensures a reasonable range, as the motor is used a lot more on a bike like this than a tourer. Gearing comes courtesy of Shimano RD-M7000-SGS Shadow Plus 10 speed rear derailleur set and the Shimano Deore RapidFire Plus shifters do a great job. Surprisingly the front chain sprocket is outside the motor casing and exposed to the elements – perhaps to make cleaning easier. The motor is turned upwards at 45 degrees so that it is in line with the integrated battery, thus making the motor more camouflaged than when it is horizontal. Apart from changing the tyres I would probably go for a more comfortable saddle. The standard razor blade is not too bad but I do like my creature comforts; for the same reason I would personally add some mud splatter guards. But then I am not a real offroader, or serious cyclist, just an old geezer who doesn’t like having to wear too much padding in that department. The discreet display is too small to be of real help with the more detailed information but you can buy a separate, larger display and/or link it remotely to a smartwatch; being a gadget freak that appeals to me, I have to say. If only I had a smartwatch. Presumably it can also be linked to a smartphone if you can mount that on your handlebars. My return journey the next day was a bit shorter but included the same proportion of off-road and those big knobbly tyres and front RockShock forks (which you can lock out from a switch on the handlebars) coped admirably over some very bumpy terrain and tree roots. My biggest obstacle was a load of builder’s rubble deliberately dumped on a beautiful track. Why do they do that? Because they can’t afford to pay to get rid of trade waste that’s why, but that’s another story. And the cost of this two wheeled testosterone-charged velocipede? Well, hiding the camouflaging the battery comes at a price, it seems: the E-Aspect 920 turns in at an eye-watering £2,700, around £400 more than the new version of my Sub-Tour and a grand more than the Orbea Keram MTB 50 I tested last year. The high price tag is probably still the main stumbling block to many people considering an e-bike, although despite that it seems that the market is growing rapidly in the UK and Europe. In fact, Owens are planning a separate sales outlet for their e-bikes and Farnham based E-Bikeshop, one of the largest retailers in the country, estimates that the 2016 growth of e-bike sales in the UK was about 20%. Director Martin Brown says E-bikes are becoming more familiar and understood by the nation. I predict that in the next 18 – 24 months we’ll see a sharp spike similar to that experienced by particular countries on the continent. As for the bikes themselves, it would seem that the future trend is for less obvious, lighter batteries with a greater range, more automatic response of the power when it is needed ie going up hills, a general reduction in weight (the price tag isn’t the only hefty part of an e-bike) and more options/choice of models/types across all sectors whether offroad, true MTB, touring, racing or commuting. I love my Scott e-tourer and won’t be trading it in anytime soon. Of course, I still use my trusty old conventional pedal-powered Claude Butler tourer for my social rides with The Old Spokes (a group of us blokes-of-a-certain-age who go for fortnightly rides and end up at the pub for lunch). But getting further a lot quicker appeals to the old motorbiker in me and riding solo, or in the company of another e-biker has a different but equally satisfying feel. And I can hopefully keep cycling longer into my dotage as a result.
news
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November 2017
Building For Life: Hampshire Scouts Triumph in Tanzania By KEVIN GOVER News Editor YOU may remember the front cover of our August edition (Half a Million Reasons To Smile) where we highlighted how scouts from the county had raised half-a-million pounds and were off for a whole month to pass on their skills - and hopefully develop new ones - in villages in Tanzania. We promised an update, and thanks to Joe Hunter and some fantastic images, we can do just that: “The projects included building a new medical centre, refurbishing three classrooms in a primary school and also redeveloping the Tanzania national scout site. “The new medical centre was for Lupiro, which has a catchment area of 20,000 people. These people can travel up to 12 miles to reach this centre, with the next nearest centre being another five miles away. “We also supported skills workshops and during the expedition refurbished three classrooms in a primary school. The classrooms’ dilapidated roofs were removed, an extra one-and-a-half feet was added to the height, and then a new roof installed, and larger doors and windows were put in, re-rendered and painted. The work not only restored the classrooms, it massively reduces the temperature, making learning and studying much better for the hundreds of pupils who attend the school. “We also helped redevelop the Tanzania national Scout campsite and activity centre, in celebration of their Scouting centenary this year. The work included upgrading water systems,
People can travel up to 12 miles to reach this centre
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November 2017
building new toilet and shower blocks, levelling camping areas, installing solarlighting systems, and building dining shelters. The Tanzania Scouts can now hold national camps and leader-training camps at the campsite. “Then we built a new school in the tribal village of Madabadaba. The village had a tiny shelter where they were trying to educate just 200 out of the 1,000 children of school age. The next nearest school is 12 miles away. This massive project now has eight large classrooms, a library, toilets and various offices, enabling 1,000 children to go to school. “On top of that we built a double accommodation block for the medical centre that Hampshire Scouts built at Iragua in 2015. The accommodation block makes it easier to attract medical staff to work at the centre in this rural location, which then benefits the 20,000 people in the catchment area. “It was also important to supply drugs and other equipment to the medical centre at Iragua, and the medical centre at Itete (Hampshire Scouts built this in 2012). The drugs included painkillers, antibiotics, and malaria treatment.” Wow. Such fantastic achievements in a relatively short space of time. It seems to have had a profound effect on those who went as well. Amiee Mollert is an Adult Volunteer from Winchester: “Creating a real difference to people’s
lives in Tanzania has been a huge personal challenge, and one life-altering experience I will never forget. From life skills, sharing cultures and empowering active citizens, Scouting rocks; we don’t just climb mountains, we move them!” 15-year-old Laura Ellis is a Winchester Scout: “These school summer holidays are going to go down in history, as it’s not everyday you can say you’ve made a massive difference to communities across the globe. The recreational kayaking and snorkelling topped off the end of a eye-opening, but enjoyable month.” Images: Joe Hunter
It’s not every day you can say you’ve made a massive difference to communities
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puzzles
November 2017
news
November 2017
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winchestertoday
Radio Listening Guide Winchester Today Radio News from Winchester and amazing songs - ‘The Music From Your Life’ brought to you by radio professionals right here in Winchester. Find us online via the TuneIn app, or through the ‘Listen Now’ button on our website at winchestertoday.co.uk
MONDAY - FRIDAY 06:00 Breakfast In Winchester. Upbeat songs to get you in the right mood for the day. Local news bulletins on the hour. 09:00 Kevin Gover continues with ‘The Music From Your Life.’ 14:00 John Ellery 22:00 The ‘No Sleeping’ Zone. Other stations want to send you to sleep at this time. Not us!
SATURDAY 06:00 Breakfast in Winchester 10:00 Kevin Gover 13:00 The Great Destinations Radio Show. Keri Jones brings you the atmosphere of countries and places around the world. He’s not just talking about it either. He’s actually there!
SUNDAY 10:00 Chrissie Pollard She loves the music. We love her! 13:00 Kevin Gover with the best of the 60s and 70s 15:00 John Ellery
Kevin Gover
15:00 John Ellery
John Ellery
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12 winchestertoday.co.uk
November 2017
Rural Crime - and How To Help Stop It Boosting your first line of defence By KEVIN GOVER News Editor FOR as long as I have worked in Winchester since 1988, one issue that has come up time and again in interviews is rural crime. We are blessed to be able to live in a beautiful area, but it does come with its problems. The Police and Crime Commissioner’s office here in Winchester says that 75% of Hampshire is classified as rural, and these areas are home to 300,000 people – 21% of the county’s total population. Back in February, newly branded Countryside vehicles were brought into service at the ‘Rural Communities Matter’ Conference at Sparsholt College. Countryside Service staff received training from the Country Watch Team on signs of rural crime to look out for, to help gather intelligence and report incidents. Around 20 Countryside Service vehicles were badged with the Country Watch logo to help give rural policing a more visible presence. Sian is a horse owner in our area: “Theft of tack, rugs and equipment from yards can be a problem in rural areas. Hampshire Horse Watch are often at shows around the county and offer really good advice to deter thieves and will code and mark tack and high value equipment for free. “Be vigilant and lock up securely even if just turning your horse back out on yard. Saddles are often found for sale on facebook sites and tacksales but unless you have receipts and photographic proof that the tack is yours there is a thin chance the police can intervene to
Assume that thieves have access to specialised equipment
Lex in his workshop (above) and security bars on his windows (left) .
retrieve your stolen tack.” One of those who practices what he preaches is Lex Harris. I’m standing in his rural Hampshire workshop. There’s a lot of expensive welding equipment, and consequently there are security bars everywhere, over the doors and windows: “Thieves have been targeting more rural
areas in recent years. It used to be that people could leave their doors unlocked. In my experience this is no longer an option, sadly. “The village I lived in was hit by an organised group who systematically broke into sheds, garages and work vehicles. While they worked their way around they disabled outside security lights and motion sensors to provide themselves with cover. Padlocks were not sufficient.” Lex tells me that he enjoys the process of creating security measures: “I first learned to MIG (Metal Inert Gas) weld on a farm and enjoyed it. I didn’t want to be limited to just mild steel so I learned a process called TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding which lets me work on stainless, aluminium and even copper. “I use security bars and a gate with internal lock on my own workshop. It brings me peace of mind because although nothing is truly impenetrable it would take powerful tools, excessive force and a lot of noise to break in. “The recent advances in portable power tools means that a padlock is no longer enough. With a portable angle grinder or oxy fuel kit it can be cut through in seconds. “My advice would be for people to assume that thieves have access to specialised equipment and take a long hard look at their existing security. Insurance might cover it but you then have the increase in premiums and the knowledge that someone with bad interests has accessed your property. Installing tougher lines of defence is empowering and helps us to win against those that would take what is yours.”
Keeping out the thieves Hampshire’s Crime Prevention Adviser, Sarah Cohen, suggests that by following a few simple tips, you can help protect your rural property against burglaries - and that these basic measures needn’t cost a lot of money: l Place all tools and garden equipment in locked sheds and garages. l Secure more expensive items, such as mowers and bikes, to an anchor point within the shed or garage. l Mark all items with postcode and serial numbers using UV pens or forensic marking kits. Register the details for free on www.immobilise.com l Record the make, model and serial number for each item – this helps us identify stolen property. Take a camera phone picture of vehicle identification number (VIN) plates or product detail stickers. l Take photographs of items such as statues and garden furniture if they are unusual, for easy identification at a later date. l Fit a shed alarm – DIY stores sell them. Do you want an alarm that makes a loud noise to alert you? Or is the outbuilding so remote this would be pointless? Some alarms will send a text to multiple phone numbers and call you as well. Ensure you put up signage that says ‘THIS BUILDING IS ALARMED’. They can be as little as £20.
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CARRYING FIRE ON THE ROAD Robert Plant Returns With November and December Tour HE’S hardly been off the telly and radio in the past few weeks. You may have already seen Robert Plant play songs from his latest album, Carry Fire, on Later or heard him on BBC Radio 6 Music - or on Radio 2. It’s his eleventh solo album and first full-length release since 2014’s acclaimed lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar. It was produced by Robert at Top Cat studio in Box in Wiltshire with additional recordings at Real World and Rockfield studios. As with lullaby and...The Ceaseless Roar, Robert is accompanied by The Sensational Space Shifters: John Baggott on keyboards, moog, loops, percussion, drums, brass arrangement, t’bal, snare drum, slide guitar, piano, electric piano, bendir; Justin Adams on guitar, acoustic guitar, oud, E-bow quartet, percussion, snare drum, tambourine; Dave Smith on bendir, tambourine, djembe, drum kit; Billy Fuller on Bass, Keyboards, Drum programming; and Liam “Skin” Tyson on dobro, guitar, acoustic guitar, pedal steel, twelve-string. Seth Lakeman appeared on three tracks on Carry Fire - and will also
ROBERT PLANT ON TOUR November Thurs 16th Plymouth, Plymouth Pavilions Fri 17th Bristol, Bristol Colston Hall Mon 20th Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Civic Wed 22nd Wales, Llandudno Venue Cymru Fri 24th Newcastle, Newcastle City Hall Sat 25th Liverpool, Liverpool Olympia Mon 27th Glasgow, Glasgow SEC Armadillo Tues 28th Scotland, Perth Concert Hall
play with Robert on the tour: Carry Fire also sees a number of special guests. Chrissie Hynde joins Robert on the duet “Bluebirds Over The Mountain” (written by rockabilly legend Ersel Hickey and later recorded by both Richie Valens and The Beach Boys). Albanian cellist Redi Hasa performs on three tracks, as does the aforementioned Seth Lakeman on viola and fiddle. Robert and the band spent two years on the road together supporting lullaby and...The Ceaseless Roar, their unique sound and vision ultimately evolving into something even more creative and powerful. Robert lived in Texas for a time before returning to England three years ago: “It’s about intention, I respect and relish my past works but each time I feel the lure and incentive to create new work. “I must mix old with new. Consequently, the whole impetus of the band has moved on its axis somewhat, the new sound and different space giving way to exciting and dramatic landscapes of mood, melody and instrumentation”.
Thurs 30th Manchester, Manchester O2 Apollo
December Sat 2nd Northern Ireland, Belfast Ulster Hall Sun 3rd Dublin, Dublin Bord Gais Energy Theatre Weds 6th Sheffield, Sheffield City Hall Fri 8th London, London Royal Albert Hall Mon 11th Portsmouth, Portsmouth Guildhall Tues 12th Birmingham, Birmingham Symphony Hall
Jon pushes the musical boundaries IF you’re a fan of Radio 2, you’ll know all about the progressive folk juggernaut Bellowhead. 250,000 album sales, seven singles playlisted on Radio 2 and hundreds of sold out venues, Bellowhead split in May 2016. Theoretically then, you probably know all about lead singer Jon Boden and you’re already geared up for his ‘Afterglow’ tour which will take in Winchester’s Theatre Royal. Jon grew up in Winchester (ages 2 22) and went to Kings Worthy Primary, Henry Beaufort and Peter Symonds. His music teacher Vicky Finch of Henry Beaufort School says of him: “Jon was in year 8 when I started my teaching career at the Henry Beaufort School. Already a talented guitarist, Jon was a music
teacher’s dream, showing a refreshing interest in a much wider musical diet than the average teenager. “His love of folk music soon became evident. Jon demonstrated this incredible thirst for the genre by teaching himself to play the Northumbrian pipes which he used, amongst several other instruments, in an Irish inspired composition for his GCSE exam. “When he recorded the piece, he multi-tracked every instrument bar the violin; which I played. I think it’s fair to say that Jon later got to grips with the violin as well and the rest, as they say, is history”. Though widely respected as an interpreter and champion of traditional song, as anyone who has heard his solo albums or has seen Jon live will know, his repertoire extends far beyond the boundaries of the folk traditional genre.
JON BODEN
‘...a standout performer of his generation’ The Guardian
Sun 12th November, Theatre Royal Winchester, Jewry St. Winchester, Hants SO23 8SB. Doors: 7.30pm Tickets: £22/£12.00 (concessions) Box Office: 01962 840440
reviews
November 2017
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TOP HATS OFF TO A TWIST ON SHERLOCK Elementary – what a hoot, Watson! (says David Cradduck)
‘theatrical device’ to depict passers-by whilst the two are employed in deep conversation on the street. Such ‘theatrical devices’ are very much an amusing and integral part of the play, the storyline of which could almost have been one of Conan Doyle’s originals if it were not for the fact that Hulse and original story creator David Hastings have woven in some other yarns (no pun intended) such as Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jeckyll and Hyde, the infamous Jack the Ripper/Whitechapel Murders and Sir Walter Scott’s poem from which we remember only one line “Oh! What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”. The
latter is even acted out with lengths of string stretched between two posts by way of a physical representation of Holmes’ problem solving. The 21-venue tour over a matter of a few weeks takes in a variety of venues, many of them village halls. Hence the set and staging area is small – even though there are only three actors they use every inch in this caper – and is therefore not entirely suited to being set in the semi-round of the Salberg; I would not want to have been viewing it from the extreme sides as I would miss too many visual gags and the smoke machine was creating a pea-souper from the off making it a little eye wateringly smokey for those too close. When it comes to another theatre for instance, the whole atmosphere will, I suspect, be rather different and in a village hall it will be different again. Top hats off to the cast and crew who must adapt to the different venues and their facilities and demands. To say that Sherlock Holmes and The Crimson Cobbles is a spoof or pastiche is rather too simplistic. Yes, there are moments when it definitely is: when Watson declares that the footprints in the Crimson Cobbles must surely belong to a giant hound (before he notices the man’s size 10 prints next to them) it is akin to Airplane humour. But there are subtleties and layers in this intriguing production which equally send up the genre, poke fun at our everlasting belief in a fictional character (did you know that the deerstalker owes more to Basil Rathbone’s portrayal of Holmes than Conan Doyle’s and that the author’s geographical knowledge of London was sketchy to say the least?) and yet pay the greatest respect to the original creations. By the time you read this, the play will have also visited Winchester, Newbury and Andover. It was different, interesting, witty, fast paced and a great evening out.
popular hits from the film, co-lyricist Robert Cary replied: “We strive to create the songs that have the energy and catchiness of the 80’s pop, without ever doing a pastiche of any known song or ‘sending up ‘ the era”. Matt Cole surely needs a mention here. Matt choreographed the show with its exhilarating and faultless dance sequences. The boundless energy from all the dancers and cast was powerful and electric. From the very beginning the dancers hit the ground running or should I say cycling as one of the musical numbers in the first act had Alex and her girlfriends Kiki,Tess and Gloria doing a routine on and around 4 bikes. The actors and dancers also took on another role, that of stage hands! The effective towering welded sets and steep staircase were slid into position and then cleverly swung round again by the dancers to create the interiors of Harry’s Bar and Hurley’s work place and office. I did have one gripe with this show and overheard another lady saying the same. The band were too loud and actually wiped out some of the soloists numbers completely. A real shame. One song that didn’t suffer from this was the duet by Alex and Hannah (‘A Million to One’). I did note in the programme that the £3.9m refurbishment appeal of the Mayflower will include moving the orchestra pit further under the stage, so I hope this will benefit future productions. It’s no surprise that Joanne Clifton - who plays welder Alex Owens - is a
professional world champion ballroom dancer, and if you are a Strictly Come Dancing fan you will remember her winning the 2015 Christmas Special with partner Harry Judd. She is a natural at pulling off some high energy faultless dance moves and had a real stage presence. Joanne displayed masses of confidence in her character too. Next to the character of Alex was Nick Hurley (played by Ben Adams) who is the boss of Hurley’s welding company and falls for Alex but finds it’s not easy to win her heart. Ben at 16 became the lead singer of the band A1 and also achieved much success as a song writer and later went on to produce and work with big names such as Craig David, JLS and Alexandra Burke. He pulled off the character of Nick well alternating between Boss of his family company and mingling with his male steel workers with a rousing song called ‘Justice’. I thought the two lead roles complemented each other really well and I liked his curtain call tongue in cheek forward roll! All in all it was a very enjoyable night and the standing ovation from the whole auditorium made it plain to see that this musical is still as powerful today as it was evidently back in 1983. (Don’t despair folks - we’ll get her to see the film as well! - Ed) Missed it? There are plenty more chances around the country right through until next year, including Aylesbury, York, Birmingham and Edinburgh. You can see all the dates and make bookings through our own website, winchestertoday.co.uk
SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CRIMSON COBBLES Salisbury Playhouse, Salberg Studio
‘THE greatest detective who never lived’. So our best known consulting detective, the enigmatic Sherlock Holmes, is described in the programme of this latest reworking of an old theme. Toby Hulse has written a delightfully daft, tongue-in-cheek, amusing yet sincere and atmospheric tribute to our fictitious favourite and his faithful companion Dr John Watson (I always felt that Dr Watson should have been cast as a dog, such is his unswerving loyalty to, and adoration of, the Great Man). The Theatre Chipping Norton is not only a rural theatrical Mecca since 1975, but tours regularly and what better place to commence touring this wonderful Victorian yarn than the atmospheric Salberg Studio at Salisbury Playhouse, a delightful 100+ seater in the semi-round. The drifting smoke swirls mysteriously around the dimly dappled set which transforms through a series of simple devices from Whitechapel to Baker Street to Harley Street and back again. Brick walls fold easily to create bookcases and shelves, minimal but very real props (Dr Watson’s toast and marmalade looks very tasty indeed) are brought on and offstage by the three actors, as is a mobile street lamp and rolling canvas sign depicting the different locations. One is transported back in time to a dimly lit 19th century London and it comes across as truly authentic. As do the main characters of Holmes and Watson, played in suitably melodramatic fashion by Alasdair Buchan and Ben Tolley; when they are in character that is, as these two and their third companion Neal Craig (modestly credited with playing ‘Pretty Much Everyone Else’) often slip into narrative guise. Accompanied by a blue shift in lighting plot and a change in pace and accent, the three explain in well
choreographed detail how the heck that ‘clever Mr Holmes’ came to this, or that, conclusion from such flimsy evidence. Once back into character the storyline continues and the fun continues apace. This is most definitely a comedy but it is without flippancy. At no time would Conan Doyle feel aggrieved at the way his characters are portrayed. Indeed I feel sure that the author, if he were in the audience, would be highly amused and flattered at the gentle way the whole legend is sent up. The fact that Mrs Hudson, for instance, is played so beautifully by a man with a beard and bonnet is hilarious but still weirdly in keeping with how she should be. That same actor has to be very versatile since he also plays numerous other characters in quick succession – Inspector Lestrade, the cheeky Cockney Chappy, the villain, several passers by, often with only a change of hat or accent to do it. There is one hilarious sequence when he appears stage right as one character, disappears stage left and reappears seconds later in another, different, role and hat and keeps this up for at least six circuits whilst Holmes and Watson explain that this is a mere
Mrs Hudson - played so beautifully by a man with a beard and bonnet
What a Feeling! Julia Kimber witnesses a standing ovation at ‘Flashdance - The Musical FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
I have always made it my mission to see as many musical films as possible in my youth and up to now my middle age years but I have to confess that I never saw Flashdance when it hit the screen in 1983. Yes of course I watched the music video with Irene Cara (‘What a Feeling’) along with everybody else marvelling at the Heroine giving it her all in front of the judges - but the rest of the film somehow passed me by. Fast forward 34 years and here I am sitting in the stalls at the beautiful Mayflower theatre watching the inspiring story of an 18 year old welder by day and Flashdancer by night called Alex. She dreams of going to the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy to become a professional dancer. When a romance complicates her ambitions she harnesses it to drive her dream. Not only is the show full of high energy, real welding sparks and back flips but also boasts 26 musical numbers some of which have been especially written for this new production. When asked how easy it was to integrate the new songs alongside the
Exhilarating and faultless dance sequences... the boundless energy from all the dancers and cast was powerful and electric
the final word
16 winchestertoday.co.uk
November 2017
Christmas For The Person Who Has Everything Chances are they may have lost that special something that marks a moment in their life
By VERNON LEPINGWELL HAVE you bought any books or records for Christmas? If in doubt, perhaps Cate Hardy could help you. She’s the manager of the Oxfam shop in Winchester’s Parchment Street and she’s surrounded by numerous books, ancient and modern. Just how many? “I’ll get back to you on that!” But she concedes there are thousands, including tomes in Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish.. art books, biographies, sport and science appear to be always popular: “Children’s books sell incredibly well. And anything by Charles Dickens always sells well at Christmas.” What doesn’t sell well are what Cate calls ‘dated romance’, probably because the modern ones in that category have “moved on a bit and - how shall we say - are a bit more graphic.” You can also add encyclopedias, which have lost popularity because of the internet. Cate clearly loves her job, surrounded (but not at the same time) by an army of volunteers (64 at the last count) whose ages ranges from work experience at 14 to Sonja, a stalwart of 90, who has been
Present help: Cate (above) and her staff oversee a treasure trove of books and rare vinyl (right) .
Photos: Jack Woodcock
Now they enjoy giving and receiving presents which reflect shared values
working at Oxfam in Parchment Street for 28 years. What’s nice about being manager, she says, is that she meets so many lovely people who give donations: “What is so encouraging is that generous customers have the same values as our volunteers.” These donations include a wide variety of musical instruments such as recorders, clarinets, trumpets, flutes and violins. Many volunteers fondly remember a professional musician who gave a wonderful recital on a dusty violin. Sadly, although valuable, it was not a Stradivarius. I ask Cate if people have qualms about buying from a charity shop: “Ten years ago I think perhaps some people thought you were mean. But now they enjoy giving and receiving presents which reflect shared values and help funds for relief work. It’s also exciting to hunt for those rare and out-of-print items that you can’t find brand new any more.” Cate never got back on the number of books
in stock. Clearly she’s still counting. Or perhaps she’s distracted by the eclectic range of LPs and 45s. On the shelves today, Cate found Arctic Monkeys and Captain Beefheart, a selection of 60s classics from Bob Dylan and the Beatles, and rare pressings by Tristram Cary and Peter King. The recorded music is surrounded by what is possibly the best collection of sheet music in Winchester, stored in the sort of well-organised, brightly coloured plastic units that you normally see filled with primary school art equipment – these were donated to the shop over ten years ago and have become an essential resource to many local musicians. Clearly, people are wising up to the amount of vinyl they hand over bearing in mind the recent resurgence. But there are still gems to be found. The shop also has a website, with over 400 rare and high value books such as a £60 copy of ‘Bond on Bond’ signed by Roger Moore. More on oxfam.org.uk