Monday 29 January 2024
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“I SUSPECT OUR CONCERNS VANISH INTO A HUGE SPREADSHEET.” “I’ve never set up a campaign before. I’m just a man in the street. But I feel passionately about this. The NHS want to shut down Winchester’s A&E department. That would be a disaster.” The row over A&E continues… a special report begins on page 2 >>>
When political differences are united page 30
Our Ballet specials continue with costume restoration page 26-27
Film Preview: One Love!
page 18
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
The words on our front cover are the words of Philip Glassborow, who’s backing a petition to force the NHS in Hampshire to rethink its plans for the RHCH in Winchester to close its A&E department in Winchester and replace it with an Urgent Treatment Centre. A new hospital would be created off junction 7 of the M3, adding at least 22 minutes to the journey time for an ambulance from Winchester. “We desperately need an A&E for Winchester, and for the surrounding towns and villages. Virtually all my family, at one time or another, have been treated in Winchester’s A&E. This includes our elderly relatives, our children, our grandchildren, and indeed ourselves, along with so many friends and acquaintances. “It seems totally bizarre to close down this much-needed department and to replace it with an Urgent Treatment Centre, staffed by GPs. “I have nothing but admiration for our hardworking and hard-pressed GPs. But the whole idea of an A&E is to deal with – the clue is in the name – accidents and emergencies. Urgent medical challenges which may be well beyond the range of a general practitioner.” Philip is now urging the public to take part in the listening debates or online consultations, and respond to the NHS plans before they close on 17 March. One of those meetings was last Tuesday, at the Weeke Community Centre, which Philip attended: “Tuesday was interesting - unexpectedly for a Tuesday afternoon in Weeke Community Centre, it was packed and indeed oversubscribed. Some people were on a waiting list, some turned up not knowing they had to pre-register, some turned up hoping to get in... several were turned away. We were seated at round tables. The ‘listening events’ consist of a long succession of slides showing facts and figures, presented by key executives for the local NHS. They all give very compelling reasons for building a new hospital in Basingstoke or Dummer, and for having different specialities at the two hospitals - Winchester and Basingstoke. Then there is a very limited Q&A before breakout sessions where each table is joined by a facilitator to listen to concerns. They are presenting three “options” - all of which involve closing Winchester’s A&E and downgrading our maternity provision. I thanked them all for the wonderful care we receive in this area. Wholeheartedly. And I asked if there is any scenario in which Winchester’s A&E can be retained. They said they are listening to the public in these consultations. But it’s pretty clear that they will NOT even consider retaining our A&E. Unless we make such a noise that they have to listen. The whole process is carefully designed - not really to listen but simply to present the plans they have already decided on. The breakout sessions keep most questions contained within the individual tables. The facilitator then feeds them back into the consultation. And I suspect that our concerns then vanish into a huge spreadsheet somewhere. And who knows what happens to our concerns then?”
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
News From Cheriton Players and the read-through for Wyrd Sisters. Cheriton Village Hall, 24 January 2024. Report by Jan Conway
Around 20 people came to the first read-through for Cheriton Players’ spring production of Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters, Sisters , adapted by Stephen Briggs from Pratchett’s Discworld® novel of the same name, which is being directed by Jane Wilde. However, you don’t have to be an ardent Pratchett fan to enjoy this very funny play, with plot elements inspired by Shakespeare’s three witches and murderous king and queen of Macbeth , with a good chunk of Hamlet’s usurper king thrown in, not to speak of H G Wells-like time-travel! It was a very enjoyable evening. I laughed all the way through the reading, and I’ve never even picked up a Terry Pratchett novel! When Duke Felmet murders King Verence and takes over Lancre on the Discworld® three witches are tasked with protecting the king’s baby son, Tomjon: Granny Weatherwax (intolerant, self opinionated, powerful), Nanny Ogg (down to earth, common) and Magrat Garlick (innocent, naive, slightly hippy). In the time-travelling plot we encounter a wicked duke and duchess, the ghost of the murdered king, dim soldiers, strolling players plus a land in peril. And who stands between the Kingdom and destruction? Our three witches. “When shall we three meet again?” Well, if you’re reading this on the day of publication of the newspaper, that will be tonight (Monday 29 January) at the auditions evening from 7.30 in Cheriton Village Hall!
Even if you couldn’t
make it to the read-through, everyone is welcome at the auditions this evening. We are really short of men to play
TICKETS LAST FOR O N E Y EA R !
A SHORT M DRIVE FRO R E T S E H WINC
some of the bigger male roles, so if you fancy having a go, please come along tonight. As well as roles for performers onstage, backstage crew are needed too, so please either come along tonight or contact thecheritonplayers@gmail.com. Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters is in Cheriton Village Hall from 23rd – 27th April 2024 inclusive. Tickets will be on sale from 1st February and early booking is encouraged.
V I S I T T H E H A M P S H I R E C O T TA G E WHERE JANE AUSTEN LIVED AND W ROT E H E R B E LOV E D N OV E L S Book tickets at www.janeaustens.house
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01962 853344
Happy New Year from Pearsons!
Last year was un unpredictable market, even for the usually very resilient Winchester market. We are pleased to notice much better levels of interest across the board even this early in 2024. Buyer confidence started to stabilise in November and December 2023 and has surged in the first weeks of the year. With interest rates holding, mortgage lenders being more competitive and stable with their products and vendors that have waiting now coming to market, we anticipate a fruitful ‘bounce-back’ year. If you are considering moving over the next year or simply interested in the price of your property – please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you. In the meantime, have a lovely festive season!
Testimonials “We moved to Pearsons 6 months into attempting to sell with hopes of better success. We were not disappointed. Sam and his team provided a genuinely insightful and professional service.” “I have moved several times over the years and this is by far, the best experience I have had. I was kept informed throughout the selling process what was happening; where things needed to be expedited they did what was required to make things happen. My faith in Estate Agents has been restored, I have and would recommend Pearsons to anyone wishing to sell their house.” “Pearsons give a personal, kind, friendly service which simply can't be under-estimated when buying and selling houses. They listen and treat you as an individual. I'd really recommend them.”
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Hear it at 5pm | 7pm | 10pm Online * Smart Speaker “Alexa play Winchester Today”
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Fun For The Family – Young And Old! The Theatre Royal in Winchester has a whole host of family shows to enjoy… here’s an idea of what’s happening. The Circus of Horrors Cabaret of Curiosities, Tuesday 06 February, 7.30pm Friend (The One with Gunther), Friday 09 February, 7.30pm The Amazing Bubble Man, Sunday 11 February, 2pm Buffy Revamped, Tuesday 20 February, 7.30pm Houdini’s Great Escape, Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 February, various times Zog and the Flying Doctors, Friday 08 – Sun 10 March, various times Science Museum: The Live Stage Show, Sunday 17 March, 1.30pm The Gruffalo’s Child, Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 March, various times Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, Tuesday 02 – Wednesday 03 April, various times Dear Zoo, Saturday 06 – Sunday 07 April, various times The Singing Mermaid, Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 April, various times Cillian O’Connor: My Magic World, Tuesday 30 July, 7pm
Call the Box Office on 01962 840440 or see the website at theatreroyalwinchester.co.uk
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Don’t miss out! You can receive an email reminder through Mail Chimp every week of when the latest edition of the newspaper is ready, and the link for where you can find it. But the only way you can do this is to opt in and tell us.
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“Please don’t send the new A&E to Basingstoke”
email to:
Talk about getting your question in to someone at the highest level. Whatever you made of this video shown by Sky News of the moment the Prime Minister went on walkabout in Winchester’s High Street
news@winchestertoday.co.uk
last Friday, there was one moment that tallied with other points incoming to Winchester Today… why does this growing city have to give up its facilities? Yes, we all know the RHCH building is not modern, but there’s an A&E right here, right now in Romsey Road. With this in mind, we posed three direct questions over safety and the Basingstoke mindset to HHFT. Go to Page 32
HHFT answer our questions over A&E page 32
and say and state which email address we can use. Your email address will not be used for
A Dame of the ballet on the magic of Sleeping Beauty page 20 - 22
It STILL isn’t payday!
page 19
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Visitors Leave It Late Winchester City 1 Didcot Town 2 Tuesday 23 January 2024
Didcot Town came from behind to win 2-1 away at Winchester City on Tuesday night, writes Matt Richbell. Manager, Craig Davis, made several changes following Saturday’s loss at Walton & Hersham. Ryan Pryce started in goal with Luke Cairney making do with a place on the bench. Ollie Griggs started at right back in place of Josh McCormick, whilst Tommy Wright also returned in attack, as did Simba Mlambo. With Storm Jocelyn wreaking havoc around the UK, wind and rain did take its toll on the City Ground, with several fences coming down in the build-up to the game, and Image: Josh Barrett
sand having to be applied to the wet areas of the pitch to get the game on. Danny King had City’s first shot on goal on 14 minutes,
Playing The Music From Your Life… here’s a guide to your radio listening this week on Winchester Today:
but Bedwell made the save. Shortly before the half hour
Monday to Friday 0900-1300 Kevin Gover, including the Golden Hour at 0900.
first-half reached its conclusion, Tommy Wright came
Monday 29 January 1975
Shortly after the restart, the deadlock was broken.
Tuesday 30: January 1984
Tommy Wright supplied Trevor Caborn and his effort
Wednesday 31: January 1988
mark, Olly Balmer whipped in a free-kick which was headed goalwards by Pip Nolan. Nolan’s header reached Mlambo, but he couldn’t keep his effort down. As the close, but the striker saw his shot well saved.
went into the back of the net.
Thursday 1: February1977
As the second-half wore on, Didcot grew into the game
Friday 2: February 1987
and on 77 minutes, the visitors equalised, when Carnell
1300: The Lunchtime Express
headed home from a corner.
1400: Tony Simon 1700: Jon Gripton, including ‘The Big Book of Birthdays’.
Both sides tried for a late winner, but it was the visitors who stole the three points in the second minute of
1900: Jess Garner with his Mighty Fine Tunes.
stoppage time. Harvey Fox scored his first Didcot goal to
2100: The Golden Hour
make it seven points out of nine for the visitors in their
2200: The No Sleeping Zone! While others send you to sleep, we do exactly the opposite!
last three games.
Saturday 3 includes Jon Gripton’s Party Zone at 1700 Sunday 4 includes Chrissie Pollard at 1000, and ArtsPlus at 1700.
Find us on TuneIn or your smart speaker.
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
It’s Back! Very Soon!
SAT 17 & SUN 18 FEB
01256 844244 | anvilarts.org.uk © Tom Fletcher. Who’s in Your Book series published by Puffin Books Ltd
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Easy ways to advertise with Winchester Today! If you would like to advertise with us, we have kept it very simple for you. There are two ways: Online Only and Full Online Only: Only £35 / month. This gives you a 1/4 page ad in the online newspaper every Monday. No minimum spend, advertise when you like ahead of a campaign. And, like our friends at BA, now and then we’ll upgrade you to a full page! Full: £95 / month. You get a full page ad in the online Full newspaper every week and daily coverage on the radio station, with the radio coverage exactly to your choice. You can have traditional radio adverts across the day or choose to be associated with a show, like ‘Playmakers’ have done on Jon Gripton’s show every evening. ‘A World of Furniture’ is associated with Kevin’s show every morning. ‘Pearsons’ support our Saturday radio programmes. ‘Sarker World of Dance’ supports our Saturday Night Party.
Ring 01962 458452 and speak to Kevin
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Please Support Our Advertisers and Supporters! Without them, we simply would not be here. All our arts supporters allow us to see their shows and report back so that YOU can make your own mind up! Many thanks to: A World Of Furniture, Chandler’s Ford Pearsons Estate Agents, Southgate Street Mayflower, Southampton
Sarker Danceworks Theatre Royal, Winchester Chesil Theatre MAST Southampton Jane Austen’s House The Anvil, Basingstoke Cheriton Players (left)
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Film Preview: Bob Marley: One Love What can be said about the genius that is Bob Marley that hasn’t already been said a million times over? BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity - and still continues to do so more than 40 years after he left us. On the big screen for the first time, discover Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music. Produced in partnership with the Marley family and starring Kingsley Ben-Adir as the legendary musician and Lashana Lynch as his wife Rita. The reallife Rita has helped produce the film, along with
IMAGE: Kinsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley.
son Ziggy and Brad Pitt. Released 14 February 2024.
Image credit: Chiabella James
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
CHESIL YOUTH THEATRE TAKE TO THE BOARDS IN AN EXCITING DOUBLE BILL
Image credit: Peter Bateson Chesil’s junior section aged 8 to 12 years have been hard at work to show off their skills in early February, starting with a new play, Mr Churchill’s Chocolate by Nell Thomson, described as “an explosive adventure”. Set in 1943 in a peaceful rural village, the local children and evacuees from London are having difficulty coming to terms with one another. Then they notice something unusual falling from the sky and their suspicions are aroused. There is also the question of the three odd strangers in the hamlet purporting to be birdwatchers. Can the children learn the truth, as well as learning to live together? The senior group’s director Nicky Hubbard has just come from producing a sold out run of Noel Coward’s Private Lives at the Chesil Theatre. Nonetheless, she has found time to adapt Aristophanes’ classic Greek comedy Lysistrata to suit 13 to 17-year-olds. The women of Athens are tired of being left at home coping with their domestic situations whilst their husbands insist on waging war. How can the women unite to bring all this to an end? Will their menfolk listen? Lysistrata has a plan which will certainly demonstrate “girl power” at its most successful. Chesil Theatre Winchester’s active youth groups will be presenting their annual production on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th February 2024 at 7.30pm. 7.30pm. Tickets are now available from www.chesiltheatre.org.uk www.chesiltheatre.org.uk..
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Review: I SHOULD BE SO LUCKY Mayflower Theatre 23 January 2024 Review by Mark Ponsford
Plucky and thoroughly adorable central character responds to personal anguish by setting off on a high-spirited holiday of self discovery with a group of friends, to the accompaniment of jukebox hits from a specific source. (& Juliet, anyone?) I Should Be So Lucky, the show in question, is a full-on romp (at moments, almost literally), big on heart, high on camp, and filled with bona fide hits from the Stock Aitken Waterman stable. As the show’s title might lead you to believe, the collated score is, to say the least, something of a Kylie-fest, to the extent that this eternally radiant artiste appears, on film, as herself, delivering a sequence of empowering platitudes (and even an occasional hint of Shakespeare) as a benevolent Spirit of the Mirror. Abandoned by Nathan at the Altar, and with the Honeymoon booked and paid for, Ella and her Gang head off to Turkey, where the lighting and settings are even brighter, and some of the costumes are practically sprayed on. There’s actually rather more to the plot than might first appear, with some understandable conflicts of interest along the way, and although we know, deep down, that there’s going to be a Happy Ending no matter what, there are still enough moments to keep everyone on their toes. The songs are cleverly integrated within Debbie Isitt’s Book, peppered with cracking laughs and one-liners, and if some of the humour has all the subtlety of a cheerfully vulgar sledgehammer, it nevertheless fits right in here, and certainly didn’t seem to faze Tuesday night’s audience. This is a show that knows its audience, knows exactly what it’s doing, and does it splendidly from start to finish.
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Among a large, hugely appealing company, Lucie-Mae Sumner is an adorable Ella, charismatic West End Leading Man Matthew Croke turns out to be a surprisingly sympathetic Love Interest, and Jamie Chapman’s hilarious Spencer makes one wonder what Alan Bennett might have been like as a Hotel Manager. (The answer: Delightful.) It’s probably not an altogether “perfect” show – the lapses into seriousness towards the end feel somewhat sudden and forced, the high-energy Final Mix (as with so many Final Mixes) practically bludgeons you to your feet, and I can’t have been the only one who still wanted to kick the exasperating Nathan the length of Commercial Road – but to borrow from another show, none of that matters. “It does what a musical is supposed to do: it takes you to another world”. And the candy-coloured world created here, where the Heart is a frequent (and sometimes subtle) design motif, is the perfect sunny escape from the January Blues. Lucky, lucky, lucky indeed.
FRI 02 FEB
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arts
Monday 29 January 2024
REVIEW Private Lives – Chesil Theatre 23 January 2024 REVIEW: David Cradduck
Continuing their 2023/24 season, Chesil Theatre is well into their run of Noël Coward’s Private Lives and there is no doubt that our local theatre company is very much back on top with this Coward ‘comedy of manners’ whose themes resonate as loudly today as they did nearly 100 years ago when written and first performed. Private Lives is very much a favourite in the Coward collection, with major revivals at least every 15 years and some famous names in the casts, starting with Coward himself in the original 1930 production opposite Gertrude Lawrence, supported by Lawrence Olivier and subsequently Richard Burton/Liz Taylor, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Matthew Macfadyen and Lindsay Duncan. The term ’comedy of manners’ means, in this context, poking satirical fun at the sexual and class-driven antics of the idle rich in the 1920s (even though it was written just after the Wall Street Crash and at a time of impending financial turmoil, the effects had yet to reach European shores and this play is firmly rooted in the ‘flippant flapper’ era). The plot is not complex: divorced couple Elyot and Amanda are, rather coincidentally, both on their honeymoon in France with their new partners, Sibyl and Victor respectively, soaking in the heady atmosphere and preparing cocktails to enjoy on their adjoining hotel balconies when Elyot and Amanda come face to face (the first act could be subtitled ‘Unfortunate Coincidences with Unfortunate Consequences’). Despite their acrimonious divorce, the estranged couple immediately set about rekindling
Image: Malcolm Brown
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Monday 29 January 2024
the tempestuous and passionate love/hate relationship they had previously. They sneak off to Paris for a spot of extra curricula activity, eventually to be followed by their respective jilted other halves and sparks fly left, right and centre from thereon in. The play is fast-paced for its time, the comedy acerbic and razor sharp, the many duologues pithy and poignant, as only the likes of Coward and Oscar Wilde could pen. The second act could be described as tame by today’s standards but at the time nearly didn’t make it onto the stage as it was rather too risqué for the era; not because it displayed a couple cavorting around a Paris flat in their PJs, flitting between passionate cuddles and full-on domestic violence, but because the couple were unmarried. So in some respects things have changed enormously – this was an era when women were only just beginning to gain anything remotely resembling equal rights and divorce was only just becoming acceptable – but others, like infidelity, misogyny and gender stereotyping are as relevant today as they were then. The play is necessarily wordy, a bit repetitive and some scenes long and some complex so only a quartet of actors with solid stage experience could handle such roles and get away with it. No worries in that quarter at all – Alec Walters in the role of Elyot flits between charming toff and wife beater with alarming skill; The other main protagonist, ex-wife (‘can’t live with her, can’t live without her’) feisty Amanda is accurately portrayed by Helen Milton-Symes. Amanda’s occasional bitchiness, ability to lie (badly) and flip-flop between loving and hating Elyot, is a walk in the park for this talented actress. Supporting them are Hannah Ley as younger and less world-wise Sibyl and Steve Clark as good old-fashioned Victor. Both of them complement their parts, each other and the other two in the cast. As a team, and individually, they are formidable and there are absolutely no weak links or dropped lines; this is a well drilled and rehearsed masterclass
Image: Malcolm Brown
in acting and a pat on the back for Nicky Hubbard making her directorial debut of a full length production. The relationship between the four characters is interesting. Whilst Elyot and Amanda are emotionally volatile and socially sophisticated rebels who selfishly follow their own desires whatever, the audience is meant to have empathy with them. The new partners, Sibyl and Victor, are deliberately written as conservative, sentimental, two-dimensional and unimaginative foils. The fifth member of the original cast – Louise, a French maid in a show-stealing cameo – is absent from this production and some elements of the ‘fight’ scene have been scaled back too, to suit the intimate confines of the Chesil stage. It would be easy to read too much into the ‘hidden meanings’ of the play – many have tried – because in reality there aren’t that many. It is a satirical social comment on the ‘modernist/progressive’ attitudes of the time, as expressed and displayed by those who could afford to do so. But its dark and somewhat sinister side rankles and makes us feel uncomfortable to this day – however passionate a relationship, we inherently know that violence has no place in it. So even though the plot is simple, the characters and the chemistry between them are not. We should not, though, forget that this is entertainment, it is comedy and it is full of brilliant one-liners. It is a clever, witty and entertaining piece that endures the test of time.
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Monday 29 January 2024
Image: Malcolm Brown No show at Chesil is without its attention to detail and Private Lives is no exception: Peter Liddiard’s set is simplistic and uncluttered – the opening scene of the moonlit hotel balconies contrasts beautifully with the ambience of Parisian love nest after the interval (and a very unobtrusive scene change) – but has enough authentic props like wind-up gramophone, silver coffee service and cut glass brandy glasses to give the feeling of reality. Costumes are, naturally, spot on for the period and Sibyl’s wig deserves special mention because it looks so natural and perfect for the era. Tony Lawther’s subtle but effective lighting in the opening scene (I love the way the moonlight dims occasionally to indicate a cloud passing over) is complemented by the warmth of the Paris flat in Act 2 and the bright sunlight streaming in from the ‘fourth wall’ the next morning. One or two spotlights pick out patterns on the wall and even spotlight the old-fashioned loudspeaker nestled on high in the auditorium through which we hear the live music being casually but beautifully played and sung by ‘B Natural’ in the interval. There are even themed cocktails available at the bar – The ‘Noël Coward’ (alcoholic) and ‘The Sibyl’ (non-alcoholic). Lovely touches to add to a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Next up for Chesil are two youth productions on 8th and 9th February, then it’s the TakeTen Writing Festival 24th and 25th February, a favourite of mine. More details about those show and the rest of the 2024 season can be found at www.chesiltheatre.org.uk or follow them on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
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Monday 29 January 2024
Ballet – The Art Of Restoration
If you’re going along to see Birmingham Royal Ballet’s ‘The Sleeping Beauty’, we have no doubt that your breath will be taken away by the stunning costumes on display. The fact remains that the costumes cannot survive forever without loving care and attention – which is where the ‘Big Give’ comes in, so that the actors and dancers can enjoy the costumes many years into the future. Money raised through the Big Give is helping BRB to restore the wonderful costumes of Sir Peter Wright’s beautiful production of The Sleeping Beauty – a jewel in the crown of Birmingham Royal Ballet’s repertoire it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and costumes are in urgent need of repair and restoration. •
Money was raised through the Big Give Christmas Challenge, a match-funding campaign to help charities.
•
The official figure through The Big Give is £60,000 which surpassed expectations.
•
Sir Peter Wright’s production for Birmingham Royal Ballet, with designs by Philip Prowse is one of Birmingham
Royal Ballet’s biggest productions in terms of costumes and wigs. •
The money raised will restore 200 smaller items: (BRB Costume Dept is currently busy working behind the scenes on this):
•
Tiaras, headdresses, hats, masks and props;
•
Sections of beading and embellishment;
•
Button, zips, clasps and lacework;
•
Necklets and ruffs.
•
A skilled costume technician takes approximately 3 hours to restore one area of damage on these costume items;
•
The work will ensure the production can be enjoyed by audiences for the next 40 years.
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Monday 29 January 2024
The Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Carlos Acosta, had this to say about the generosity shown: “We are so grateful for every donation made to our Big Give Christmas Challenge this year, helping us surpass our target raising an incredible £61,000! “This support will enable us to repair and remake tutus, cloaks, tunics, headdresses, masks and so much more ensuring this production can inspire, dazzle and delight audiences well into the future. “We are very grateful to our match funders: Charles Glanville, The Howard Victor Skan Charitable Trust and The Reed Foundation.”
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Monday 29 January 2024
If you missed our special interview with BRB Ambassador Darcey Bussell, just go to last Monday’s issue from 22 January!
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Stunning Hampshire Countryside To Feature In New Sky Arts Series Semi-finalists of Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Year can be seen painting the stunning scenery of Buckler’s Hard when the episode is broadcast on Wednesday 21st February. News of who made the semi-finals has been kept under wraps until the programme, hosted by presenter Stephen Mangan, is aired during its 9th series. Crowds of onlookers visited the picturesque village on the banks of the Beaulieu River in July to watch filming of the show in the summer sunshine – and may be able to catch a glimpse of themselves in the final edit. Eight heat winners and the best wildcard artist were tasked with capturing the beauty of Buckler’s Hard, as well as its rich maritime history, to win their place in the final and a chance to be crowned Landscape Artist of the Year. The final winner will be awarded a £10,000 commission from the Science Museum, to create a work inspired by Orkney and its pioneering sustainable energy. Sky Arts Director Phil Edgar-Jones said: “It’s always a joy to watch our beautiful country captured, but the brilliant artists who take part in Landscape Artist of the Year – and watching them all create their work – has to be one of the most relaxing, life affirming and all-round lovely TV experiences you can have. It’s a dose of mental medicine and all for free on Sky Arts.” Buckler’s Hard was chosen as one of the key filming destinations, alongside some of the UK’s most remarkable locations. It is not the first time that Buckler’s Hard has been chosen as a TV backdrop, after recently returning to its 18th century roots for the BBC and Disney FX adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, starring Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham.
30 winchestertoday.co.uk winchestertoday.co.uk
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
When political opposites attract – for the benefit of us all Sometimes, political divides can actually come together for positive benefits, as happened last week between our MP Steve Brine and the leader of Winchester City Council’s Martin Tod. Steve welcomed Martin as he appeared before Steve’s Health Select Committee in his role as Chief Executive of Men’s Health Forum. Martin was giving evidence alongside Prostate Cancer UK and others as part of a major men’s health inquiry. Here’s Martin’s report on the day for Winchester Today. Men’s health in Britain is not in great shape. Life expectancy is falling. Too many men are dying too young – in many cases from avoidable causes. The Government has a women’s health strategy – something I strongly support – and I’ve been working with other organisations to argue that, amongst other measures, we also need one for men’s health. So I was really pleased to be able to go along and give evidence to Parliament’s Health & Care Committee. The committee has decided to do a review of men’s health and what the Government should do to improve it. Select Committees are hugely influential. They’re cross-party and so their recommendations carry great weight across the political spectrum. The chair of a select committee is particularly influential in setting the direction of the committee’s work and, in the case of the Health and Care Committee, the chair is Winchester’s MP, Steve Brine. Steve and I have been on opposite sides of the political table in Winchester since at least 2006 and it’s no secret that there’s a lot we disagree on. It doesn’t mean we can’t work together. We both know that there are issues where the MP and Council Leader need to work closely together for the good of our city and our residents, and both of us have always been prepared to do that in a professional way. It would also be a strange world where we disagreed on absolutely everything and the combination of Steve’s work with the Department of Health and on the Health and Care Select Committee and my ten years working for the Men’s Health Forum means that men’s health – particularly improvements to prevention of health problems and primary care – is an area which we’ve fairly frequently discussed together. I’ve given evidence to Parliament before, though not in front of someone I know, but we were both there with a job to do. Steve was chairing the meeting. I was there on behalf of the Men’s Health Forum with colleagues from Prostate Cancer UK, Movember and the Men and Boys Coalition to do our best to answer their questions. It was a thorough meeting and a positive one. I had the feeling that the committee was listening. The committee’s inquiry is a vitally important one. Their final report has the potential to help make a real difference to men’s health across the country. I’m looking forward to reading it. Steve Brine MP said; “Our major men’s health inquiry is something I am really pleased we’re doing as it’s shining a light on many areas of policy which rarely get discussed in Parliament. “Martin has been really helpful and gave valuable evidence to my Select Committee.”
31 winchestertoday.co.uk winchestertoday.co.uk
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
Derby Day Delight Basingstoke Town 0 Winchester City 2 Saturday 27th January 2024 A goal in each half gave Winchester City a deserved 2-0 away at local rivals, Basingstoke Town, writes Matt Richbell. Jamie Barron put City ahead early in the opening period and Trevor Caborn scored the decisive second goal at Winklebury. Harry Nevins made his first start in a City shirt in central defence, alongside Jordan Rose. Elsewhere, Olly Balmer and Trevor Caborn supported Tommy Wright in attack. Craig Davis’ side started brightly and took an early lead to silence the crowd of just under 1,000. Tommy Wright saw his initial effort saved, and Jamie Barron (pictured) tucked home the rebound to the delight of the travelling City fans. Jordan Rose came close to doubling the lead five minutes later, but his header from Barron’s corner was tipped over. Shortly after half-time, Trevor Caborn made it 2-0. The pacy winger fired the ball into the top left corner after his effort was initially blocked. Basingstoke applied pressure to the City goal as the second-half progressed, but the visitors defended resolutely. Ferdinand had several efforts for Basingstoke, but Luke Cairney was more than equal to them. Max Smith came close late on to making it three, but his effort went over the crossbar. City welcome Tiverton Town to the City Ground on Tuesday night as they look to make it back-to-back wins.
32 winchestertoday.co.uk winchestertoday.co.uk
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Monday 29 January 2024 December 2023
DAB+ Radio Update: As you will know, DAB+ broadcasts in Winchester on the small-scale multiplex have been halted temporarily while the licence was transferred to new owners and a new transmitter was built at Flagstaff Stables just a few hundred yards from the old one at Crabwood Farm. Details of the new Winchester coverage, where that transmitter will be, audience and power required have now been put out for consultation by the regulator, OFCOM. The consultation is running throughout January 2024. Hopefully, all services will then be back on once the consultation has finished. Please have a look at the details published on the OFCOM website. In the meantime, Winchester Today’s fantastic programmes continue at TuneIn and via your smart speaker. Ask Alexa: “Alexa, play Winchester Today.”
Project:Alfie150 – supporting the training of young journalists in Winchester since 2012. Our training days for anyone aged 16-25 and interested in a career in media will be open for applications very soon. This is provided through our training team: media professionals determined to pass on their skills to the media professionals of the future. Initially, the details will be released to schools in the Winchester District. Last time, sessions were sold out. Don’t miss out! Contact: Thank you for reading the online version of the Winchester Today newspaper. We publish every Monday morning. If you would like to get in contact with us either for editorial or advertising purposes, please ring 01962 458452. Our email address is news@winchestertoday.co.uk Winchester Today, 47 Southgate Street, Winchester SO23 9EH. Managing Editor: Kevin Gover. Layout Design: Grace Pradhan. Contributors: David Cradduck, Jon Gripton, Helena Gomm, Beccy Conway, Sophia Sample, Tony Simon, Chrissie Pollard, Matt Richbell, Jan Conway, Jack Shaw, Mark Ponsford, Eleanor Marsden, Jess Garner and Rachel Gover