Wickham Parish Magazine May 2012
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Transcript of Wickham Parish Magazine May 2012
1
‘God’s protection!’
‘Many believe - and I believe -
that I have been designated for
this work by God. In spite of
my old age, I do not want to
give it up; I work out of love for
God and I put all my hope in
Him’. Michelangelo
I was reading an article recently
about a fairly aggressive swan
called Tyson! He has become
so protective that a stretch of
Britain’s longest canal has been
designated a prohibited area.
The bird with an eight foot
wingspan has been targeting
rowers, canoeists and walkers
who pass along the river bank.
Kayaker Joe Davies, 20, was
capsized after Tyson battered
him with his wings. Davies
said: ‘He went for me as I was
falling in, which really made
me panic. I’ve been kayaking
on this stretch of canal for five
years. I’d heard the rumours
about Tyson but I’ve never seen
him before. I won’t be going
back.’ Tyson has claimed a
two-mile section of the Grand
Union Canal in Bugbrooke,
Northamptonshire, while he
rears his young.
‘…while he rears his young’ –
this is the bit that struck me.
Because the young often need a
bit of protection – don’t they?
Most parents know this. There
are all sorts of dangers out there
and our young need protecting
sometimes from things out
there and sometimes from
themselves! Whilst children
are children they are learning so
much about the world they live
in. They soak up information
and try out different things to
see what happens – but we
know that with limited
experience of the world, they
are vulnerable to its dangers.
So we, like Tyson, feel a strong
instinct to protect them. This
can be from physical dangers
like crossing the road or not
going too near a cliff edge or it
can be teaching them about the
d a n g e r s o f p o i s o n o u s
substances, chemicals, drugs,
alcohol, approaching strangers
and so on. But I don’t think it
ends there. We as older, and
hopefully wiser(!), members of
society need to be protecting
our children from spiritual
danger too. For those young in
faith are vulnerable to things
that would draw them away
from God and his plans for
their lives. I think this is one
reason why the churches in our
communi t i e s and the i r
children’s and young people’s
groups have such an important
role to play. And we in the
wider community need to
support them with our time and
gifts. However let’s not forget,
our Father in heaven has not
left us alone in this task. He
sent his Son, Jesus, to rescue us
from the dangers of the world
and to protect us. And, ‘…God
exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is
above every name, that at the
name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on
earth and under the earth, and
every tongue acknowledge that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
g l o r y o f G o d t h e
Father’ (Philippians 2:9-11).
After Tyson, what better
protection could we have!
With my love and best wishes
Your friend and rector
Rev. Bruce.
If you’d like to talk to Rev
Bruce or would like to support
the church either in Wickham
or the parish of Shedfield
(which includes Waltham
Chase and Shirrell Heath),
please don’t hesitate to contact
him at
or on 01329 832134.
Jubilee Songs of Praise
St. Nicholas Church
At 6 pm on
Sunday June 3rd
Come and sing Wickham’s
favourite hymns
2
Editorial.
At last the rains came, or as
one local wag, taking refuge
in the bus shelter put it,
‘wettest drought I ever saw!’
With summer just around the
corner, it is now time to start
filling your diary with the
num er ous fo r th c omin g
national and village events.
Our continued thanks to the
Friends of St Nicholas for
their fundraising efforts and
the essential renovations
carried out to our lovely,
ancient Church.
It is encouraging to see a full
Letters page this month. It
suggests an active and
involved community spirit and
a well read magazine. More of
the same please.
The annual Village Church
Fete is scheduled for Saturday
9th June. It is a fun-packed
day with many stalls, eateries
and activities. As always,
donations, contributions and
volunteers and lots of visitors,
are required. Well done the
small army of volunteer
gardeners who have planted
10,000, (yes, 10,000) bulbs in
the embankment opposite the
Church. We will enjoy the
colourful displays of blooms
in the years to come.
W i c k h a m S c a r e c r o w
competition, 12 June, lots of
options to show your
creativity and inventiveness in
this fun packed village event.
Get involved and enjoy the
fun.
Do read the Neighbourhood
Watch submission. It is a most
helpful support group and an
established link between the
c o m m u n i t y a n d t h e
Constabulary. It makes our
lives, homes and village a
little safer.
The year ahead is a
momentous one with the
Diamond Jubilee and the 2012
Olympic Games and many
village events and functions.
Please support these numerous
occasions and gatherings and
make them the success they
deserve.
DB
Although membership is only
in the 40’s we have made 2
contributions to the upkeep of
our church building. The first
was for £1410 to cover re-
pointing and repairs to
exterior stonework; called for
under the 2006 Quinquennial
Inspection and the second for
£1104, the cost of replacing
rusted saddle bars and
repairing the stonework in the
nave north window. A further
£1600 has been earmarked to
cover work highlighted in the
2011 inspection.
We have proved that we are a
worthwhile group and at the
AGM the hope was expressed,
that we could encourage more
Wickham Residents to
become members.
At the AGM John Landaw
was re-elected Chairman, with
Mike Carter Hon. Treasurer
and Heather Oswald Hon
Secretary.
John Landaw
Repaired Window
3
At our April meeting, we
were happy to welcome
Elizabeth Groves as our
speaker, on the topic of God’s
gifts. She began with the two
basic gifts which we all share,
of our life, and God’s love.
She then led us on a
‘treasure hunt’ through the
Bible to discover an amazingly
large list of gifts, including
those of a perfect wife (check
your score against the list in
Proverbs chapter 31) and other
more attainable gifts like that of
hospitality, and the ability to
listen. We also found what the
gifts should be used for, and
how much easier it was to
recognise the gifts in others
than in ourselves. It was a
fascinating and thought-
provoking session.
Our next meeting is on
Tuesday May 8th at 21 Manor
Close, when we look forward to
a return visit from the Reverend
Jim Braisier, who will tell us
more about the History of
Church Vestments.
VS - 11/04/12
NEWS FROM PARK
PLACE
We celebrated Easter here with
the usual joy. The Vigil on
Saturday night, with the
lighting of the Pascal Candle
and the renewing of our
Baptismal vows set the mood
for the celebration of the first
Mass of Easter. The wonder
never diminishes about our
Saviour’s joyful Resurrection
does it?
By the time you read this we
will have had our evening of
Early Music. I hope some of
you managed to come, and I
hope you enjoyed it.
The next event we are planning
is the summer Garden Fete. As
I think I told you before, this
year we are changing the
format. The tickets will be
cheaper, and there will be no
set tea as in the past. We will be
selling refreshments though,
and we have planned some
tasty items for you, also we
hope to have more attractions
and stalls.
Next month I will be able to
give you the full details. Keep
the date of Sunday July 8th free
and come and join us if you
can. It will be fun.
God Bless you all,
Leila.
LENT LUNCHES
Thank you very much to all the
volunteers that I phone every
year and who come along with
delicious home made soups,
bread and cheese for the
lunches. A big thank you to all
who supported the lunches
every week. £100 will be
donated to Churches Together,
£274 to the Bishops Appeal.
So once again, many thanks.
Di Frost
SPRINGTIME IN
THE CHURCHYARD
It’s time to welcome the arrival
of Spring and to get to work
tidying the churchyard, so
please join us in a cheerful
working party for a couple of
hours or so, starting at 10.00am
on Saturday 12th May. Mid-
term refreshments will be
provided, and good company is
assured.
Exciting projects on offer
include scattering weed-
suppressant bark in the Garden
of Remembrance and clearing
scrub along Southwick Road.
There may also be a chance to
help the Brownies plant some
(Continued on page 4)
4
hedging and a Jubilee Royal
Oak which have been awarded
to them by the Woodland
Trust in celebration of this
auspicious year.
Please make a note in your
diaries for Saturday 12th May
at 10.00.
Churchwardens
Registered Charity No. 290874
Meon Valley Day Care Centre
Swanmore
JUMBLE SALE 26TH MAY
All proceeds towards the amenity
fund for The Day Care Centre.
If you have any jumble you would
like to contribute, that would be
greatly appreciated. We are here
Monday, Tuesday, Friday. Or if
you need us to collect please ring
01489 895855.
The doors will open at 10.30am.
50p admission. For sale brick a
brack, clothes, shoes, bags, books,
toys, plants. Refreshments
available.
Please support us on the day.
Swanmore village hall, New Rd,
Swanmore, Southampton. SO32
2PF.
Denise Griffiths
The new Open Sight Meon Valley
Club for visually impaired
residents and their partners is
attracting huge interest. The Club,
which meets monthly in the
Wickham Community Centre, has
organised an exciting calendar of
events for the coming year,
including speakers, entertainment
and outings as well as providing a
social get together.
Club Chair Enid Collier says, ‘I
am delighted with the response
from local people who have joined
the group and am very grateful for
all of the assistance given with
regards to providing vital
transport. The Club still has space
for more Members and would be
pleased to welcome additional
volunteer helpers.’
For details of the Club, call the
Organiser Linda Phear on 01329
286445.
Programme for May 2012
Exercise Class – The Jubilee Hall,
Bishops Waltham. Every Monday
from 10:00 to 11:15. NB: Note
change of venue. There will be no
class on May 7th
Contact: Chee Price 01489
893140.
Tai Chi – The Jubilee Hall - Main
Hall. Every Wednesday from
10:00 to 11:00
There will be no class on May
23rd.
Contact: Sandy Holden on 01489
892136 or Teri Morley on 01489
895119.
Gentlemen’s Pub Lunch. The
Barleycorn, Bishops Waltham.
Thursday May 17th from 12:30 to
14:30
Contact: Terry Wilson on 01489
895706.
Ladies’ Pub Lunch. Monday May
14th 13:00 start.
Contact Sandy Holden on 01489
892136 for venue.
New Age Kurling - Jubilee Hall –
small hall. May 17th from 14:30 to
16:30
Contact: Terry Wilson on 01489
895742.
If you are interested in becoming a
member, please contact the
Chairman, Terry Wilson on 01489
895742 or Ann Joyce, the
Secretary, on 01329 232099
If you know of anyone within
Bishop's Waltham who is isolated
and who would benefit from a
visit from one of our Befrienders,
please call 07530 565248.
If you are interested in becoming
part of the Good Neighbour’s
Support Group, please call 07530
565248.
We are also looking for organisers
for potential Theatre Visits and
Outings.
Web site: http://mvara.btck.co.uk
(Continued from page 3)
5
WICKHAM CHURCH
OF ENGLAND
PRIMARY SCHOOL
On the last day of the Spring Term our
whole school community joined
together for our Easter Service at St
Nicholas’ Church. As has become
tradition in recent years, we began our
service with a procession from our
school hall, through the village to our
Church.
Our school is growing in size and our
children and staff now number over
200. We were delighted to be joined in
Church by our School Governors,
parents, carers and members of the
community. Also importantly, by Rev’d
Bruce Deans who lead our procession
and now supports us in our work as a
church school.
Each class presented information on one
of the many Easter traditions.
We also joined together to sing some of
our favourite Easter songs.
Our Christian Foundation is
important to us and we enjoy the
strong bond we have with our
church.
Wickham Silver
As you know the Wickham Silver
is now on display in the
Westbury Museum in Fareham
and we are proud to have some of
our children’s work included in
the display.
Children from our Year 6 class
have researched historical
information about related topics
and their work is now displayed
with the silver. We would like to
thank Rev’d Elizabeth Groves,
Janet Wildman and Barrie
Marson for including our young
people in this important local
history event and hope that many
of you will have the chance to
visit the museum and read our
children’s research.
Year R visit to Westlands Farm
Our Year R children had a
wonderful time when they visited
Westlands Farm during their
recent lambing season. We
arranged the visit through one of
our parents and the children
enjoyed the fabulous opportunity
to find out lots of information
about the new lambs and get
really close to them too!
Pond Development
We are extremely grateful to Parent
Governor Ashley Wilson and the
Wickham Young Explorers Scout
Group who have worked hard to
refurbish our school pond. We
recently used a Lottery Grant to
purchase a new liner for the pond
and the Scouts have drained, relined
and refilled the pond for us. Each
class has been up to explore the new
pond area and have found lots of
newts and some ducks too!
We will be developing our summer
term class topics to include further
use of the school grounds as we are
keen to promote first hand learning
experiences. We are extremely
fortunate to benefit from wonderful
resources - we have our very own 2.5
acre woodland Conservation Area
with the pond in addition to our large
sports field. During the summer term
we also hope to build an outdoor
classroom to extend our outdoor
learning facilities.
We are extremely excited about our
joint project with Wickham Parish
Council to build a 1200m3 All
Weather Sports Pitch on our side
field. We recently received a cheque
from Sport England to help fund the
project which should be complete
just in time to celebrate the start of
the Olympics!
We enjoy working closely with our
community to provide the very best
possible education for our young
children. Thank you all for your
continuing support of our school.
Maria Ackland
Headteacher
6
CHURCH ROAD,
SHEDFIELD,
SOUTHAMPTON,
HAMPSHIRE, SO32
2HY
TEL: 01329 834848
ad-
min@fairlandsnurseryschool.
co.uk
Another big thank you to Mrs
Jones for taking the time to come
to Fairlands, laden with palm
crosses to talk to the children
about Easter. We would also like
to thank all our children for sing-
ing their hearts out at our spring
concert. We had a fabulous hour’s
entertainment and it was lovely to
see all the two, three and four year
olds taking part.
All the children made Easter bas-
kets filled with chocolate eggs or
bunnies to take home (although
some never got that far!) which
was a great hit with both the chil-
dren and staff. The children had a
surprise visit from the Easter Bun-
nies which they thoroughly en-
joyed.
We still have some tickets availa-
ble for our Quiz Night which is
taking place on Saturday May 19th
in the St John the Baptist Church
Study Centre , Church Road,
Shedfield 7.30pm start. If you
would like to come and join us, to
help raise funds for pre- school
provisions, please see a member of
staff for tickets.
We will be running our Summer
Play Scheme again this year. The
dates for this are July 24th – Au-
gust 31st. (Monday - Friday). This
is available for all children be-
tween the ages of 1-8.
Fairlands Day Nursery is open
between the hours of 8.00am and
6.00pm to all children aged be-
tween 1 and 5 for 50 weeks of the
year excluding Bank Holidays.
If you require any further infor-
mation please don’t hesitate to
contact us on 01329 834848 or
email us at
Jo and Carol
(Managers/ Owners)
OPEN GARDENS
DIRECTORY TAKES ROOT
A national directory of Open
Gardens launched just 18 months
ago has already grown to include
over 500 town and village open
garden events.
Simple to use and with a clever
search facility, and free from the
curse of complex and intrusive
advertising, the site allows people
to find out about Open Gardens
just down the road or indeed
across the country.
This website supports the smaller
event organisers who don't have a
voice - those volunteers who bring
together gardeners and gardens,
plant enthusiasts and hobbyists,
Hosta lovers and Pelargonium
fanciers - the melting pot of
Middle England that is Open
Gardens.
For the humble town or village
Open Gardens organiser, the site
offers a real opportunity to get
much needed publicity. For the
garden visitor, it offers a simple
way to find out about Open
Garden events in their area.
Open Gardens is all about
horticultural espionage. It's about
ideas, planting schemes, sneaky
solutions to difficult garden
problems. It's about taking a peep
at the garden of that house you've
always admired. It's about tea and
cake in the gentle heat of an
English spring or summer. At
times, it's also about rain of
course.
Get your event on board today, or
if you're a visitor, find open
gardens events in your area.
Visit www.opengardens.co.uk.
7
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust has launched its
2012 wildlife photography
competition, in search of the best
wildlife images from the two
counties. The aim of the
competition is to encourage the
residents of Hampshire and the
Island to get out and about and
take photos of the vast amount of
nature and wild places on our
doorsteps.
The competition is completely
free to enter and twelve winners
will feature in the Wildlife Trust’s
2013 wildlife calendar. They will
each win a Swarovski cleaning kit,
with the overall winner also
receiving £150 to spend on
photographic equipment. Prizes
have kindly been provided by
competition sponsors London
Camera Exchange (10 High Street,
Southampton).
New categories for this year
include ‘Under 12s’, to encourage
younger wildlife enthusiasts to
take part, and ‘Weird and
wonderful’, to celebrate the more
unusual side of local wildlife.
“We hope this photography
competition will motivate people
to get out and explore Hampshire
and the Island, from landscape
vistas right down to tiny details,”
says competition organiser Emma
Pereira. “The two counties are
home to a fantastic range of
wildlife so we’re really looking
forward to seeing this year’s
entries!”
Simply upload your JPEG image
to the appropriate page on the
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust Flickr group,
shown in the category list below.
It should be a landscape-oriented
photograph of native wildlife that
fits into one of the following
12 categories:
Insects; Landscape; Birds; Small
mammals; Large mammals;
Marine life;
Fungi and mushrooms; Plant life;
Man and nature; Urban wildlife
Young photographers (under 12);
Weird and wonderful.
Emma Pereira said, “Last year we
had 850 entries of an extremely
high standard which represented
the diversity of our living
landscapes which as a Wildlife
Trust we are passionate about
protecting. From the 12 finalists
Chris Packham chose the ultimate
winning photograph, by Ian
Grainger, which was also featured
on the front cover of the 2012
calendar.”
Entries close 15 August 2012 and
full competition rules are available
at :
http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/
photocomp2012.html
For further information about the
competition, please contact Emma
Pereira at [email protected] or
01489 774412 or the Trust’s
website www.hwt.org.uk
Hampshire & Isle of Wight
Wildlife Trust’s 2013 calendar
will be available for sale from the
beginning of November on the
W ild l i f e Trus t ’ s web s i t e
www.hwt.org.uk. All monies
raised from the sale of the
calendar will go towards the
conservation work of the Wildlife
Trust.
May 2012
Tue 1 FA
Swanwick Toddlers – The Very Hungry
Caterpillar 10.30-12noon or 1-2.30pm
In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a
leaf... Come along to Swanwick Lakes to
meet a famous caterpillar with a very big
appetite. One of our regular events of
stories, crafts and games for pre-school
children. Booking essential contact Dawn
Preston or Jess Daish-Miller on 01489
570240. Suggested donation £3 per child.
Please wear outdoor clothing and wellies.
Sat 12 FA
Post a Poem 10.30am-12noon
Would you like to see your poem in print?
With the help of Pearl Elizabeth Dell
May, Swanwick Lakes Poet in Residence,
we will be collecting your poems in our
Poetry Post Box for all our visitors to
read. Pearl will be at the Study Centre to
encourage you to create seasonal poems
inspired by the wildlife and wild places of
Swanwick Lakes. Contact Dawn Preston
or Jess Daish-Miller on 01489 570240.
Please wear outdoor clothes and sturdy
shoes or boots.
Mon 21 FA
Walk at Swanwick Lakes Nature
Reserve 10am-12noon
Join Geoff Moss for a wild flower and
birdsong stroll. Walking boots or stout
shoes advised. Meet and park at
Swanwick Lakes. Contact Geoff on
01329 663078. Suggested donation £2.
Mon 21 FA
Bats 7.30pm
Join experts from the Hampshire Bat
Group to learn all about these fascinating
creatures. There will be an illustrated talk,
followed by an evening guided walk to
listen for bats at Swanwick Lakes Nature
Reserve. Contact Dawn Preston or Jess
Daish-Miller on 01489 570240. Please
bring a torch, outdoor clothing and
sensible shoes or boots. Booking
essential as places are limited. Suggested
donation £3 per person.
Wed 23 BW
Butterfly Walk 10.30am
A walk on Magdalen Down with Jayne
Chapman, Reserve Officer, to look at the
butterfly species on this wonderful chalk
downland. Why not bring a picnic lunch?
Meet at bottom car park opposite the gates
of Morn Hill Cemetery on the B3404
Alresford Road (Map ref. SU 512 292). For
further details, please contact Jane Gentry
on 01489 890961. Suggested donation
£2.50 per head, children free.
The Daily Commute by Ian Grainger
8
WICKHAM Community Association
Wickham Centre, Mill Lane, Wickham, Hants. PO17 5AL Telephone: 01329 833688 E mail: [email protected] www.wickhamcentre.org.uk April 2012
COMMUNITY AWARDS for
WICKHAM CENTRE and for
PETER LUCAS Presented by the Mayor of
Winchester
WICKHAM CHARITY BEER FESTIVAL –. 14th April
Organisers of the Spring Festival, Dave Martin, Mike Betts and Ash Wilson can be proud of their work. Every one of the 40 barrels of beer were sponsored by local businesses and every pint drawn at the sell-out, ticket only event, goes towards the chosen charities of Trust 2000, Sophies Appeal and Jeans for Genes. Lions laid on an excellent barbecue supper and two local bands provided the entertainment. Visit their web site:- www.wickhambeerfestival.co.uk for information about the next Festival on October 13th
BUILDING THE BUSINESS We are proud to announce that we have appointed a Business Development Officer who will help to build on the charitable work and business of the Association. Angela Riley, pictured above, is joining Glenda and the volun-teers to build the business. Visit our web site www.wickhamcentre.org.uk for more news & events
WICKHAM ART SHOW Thurs 10
th – Sun 13
th May. 10.00 – 4.00 daily
Entry FREE
9
At All Saints Church Botley
10
TO MAKE A SCARECROW
FOR THE WICKHAM SCARECROW COMPETITION
This competition is open to individuals, groups and organisations
All you have to do is build a scarecrow of your own design using
whatever materials you have to hand adding a royal touch.
maximum height 1.5 metres and with a
central pole which can be fixed to a support or stake for
display purposes
There are 3 groups:
1. Made by up to 2 people,
2. Made by up to 6 people and
3. Made by any voluntary organisation (eg Scouts,
school year groups )
Start planning your scarecrow now
Group 1,2 or 3
£1.00 Fee Paid
Contact Name
Contact Telephone Number
Please photocopy this entry form and bring with your Entry Fee of £1.00 to the Fete from 12.30 pm
onwards on 9th June 2012 Judging will take place during the afternoon
11
HOW TO SURVIVE A
HEART ATTACK
WHEN ALONE
Let's say it's 6.15pm and you're
going home, after an unusually
h a r d d a y a t w o r k .
You're really tired, upset and
frustrated.
Suddenly you start experiencing
severe pain in your chest that
starts to drag out into your arm
and up into your jaw You are only
about five miles from the hospital
n e a r e s t y o u r h o m e .
Unfortunately you don't know if
you'll be able to make it that far.
You have been trained in CPR,
but the guy that taught the course
did not tell you how to perform it
on yourself.
Since many people are alone
when they suffer a heart attack,
without help, the person whose
heart is beating improperly and
who begins to feel faint, has only
about 10 seconds left before
losing consciousness.
However, these victims can help
them se lves b y co ugh ing
repeatedly and very vigorously. A
deep breath should be taken
before each cough, and the cough
must be deep and prolonged, as
when producing sputum from
deep inside the chest.
A breath and a cough must be
repeated about every two
seconds without let-up until help
arrives, or until the heart is felt to
be beating normally again.
Deep breaths get oxygen into the
lungs and coughing movements
squeeze the heart and keep the
blood circulating. The squeezing
pressure on the heart also helps it
regain normal rhythm. In this
way, heart attack victims can get
to a hospital. Tell as many other
people as possible about this. It
could save their l ives !!
( email from Fareham Cardiac
Group)
HAMPSHIRE
GENEALOGICAL
SOCIETY
(FAMILY HISTORY)
The Waltham Chase branch of
the Hampshire Genealogical
Society (HGS) meets on the 4th
Tuesday of each month at
Waltham Chase Village Hall
from 7.30pm.
If you are interested in tracing
your family history and meeting
like-minded people, please do
come along to the Group, where
you will receive a warm welcome
and help with your research.
In March the Group held a
Members’ Evening where
members had an opportunity to
tell the group about some
‘skeletons in the cupboard’ or
other interesting anecdotes
gleaned from their own family
research. Many unusual stories
emerged, ranging from wartime
losses and heroics, runaway
marriages and ‘moonlight flits’ .
We also heard tales of crimes
committed which resulted in
transportation in an era where
even the smallest misdemeanour
was severely punished.
Future meetings are as follows;
24 Apr: John Heighes and Gilly
Pitt: The Life and Times of
Parson Woodforde
22 May: Ann Baxandall: The
Gunpowder Plot
26 Jun: Jill Daniels: Titanic -
Destination Disaster
Chris can be contacted on 01489
895462 or at walthamchase@hgs
-online.org.uk for information
about the HGS and the Group
meetings.
We look forward to seeing you.
Chris Pavey
Wa ltha m Chase Group
Organiser
12
After 50 years of continued hard
work, Wickham Laboratories
Ltd, owned and managed by
William B. Cartmell BV.Sc.,
M.R.CV.S., shall be ceasing
operation in Wickham and is
presently relocating to Hoeford
Point, Gosport. As the country
celebrates the Queen’s Golden
Jubilee and the hosting of the
O l y m p i c G a m e s , t h e
l a b o r a t o r i e s , ( p e r h a p s
pertinently), are expanding
through the relocation. Since the
laboratories were formed around
50 years ago, Wickham
Laboratories Ltd has become
one of the UK's leading,
independent contract analytical
laboratories with an exceptional
international reputation.
The Laboratories all started
through the vision of the founder
and still Managing Director,
William B Cartmell. Originally
from Lancashire, Mr. Cartmell
moved to the South of England
and established a veterinary
practice in Wickham in 1954.
Reputation of William's work at
the veterinary practice thrived
and 6 more branches were
established in South East
Hampshire. To complement this
growth in business, a small and
large animal hospital facility was
constructed. As well as offering
t r ea tment s , t he ho sp i t a l
developed diagnosis methods and
so the inception of the
laboratories was an outgrowth of
this veterinary work.
In 1965, Wickham Laboratories
was incorporated as a separate
entity to provide in house
services to the practices and to a
broader section of the animal-
health industry. These facilities
rapidly evolved and services
became conducive to general
UK practitioners, farmers,
animal feed companies and the
poultry industry.
Specific techniques were
developed for on-farm use, such
as pregnancy diagnosis,
providing invaluable, new tools
to the UK's animal husbandry
industry. Wickham Laboratories
also formed a sister company,
SPF Farms Ltd whose work
significantly contributed to the
production of human and
poultry vaccines worldwide. As
the company's skills evolved,
the scope for serving the human
healthcare and food industries
emerged and subsequently
became evermore important.
It was announced in May 2011
that Wickham Laboratories had
purchased a laboratory facility in
Gosport and was to relocate into
the former pharmaceutical
manufactur ing s ite . This
complex, now known as Hoeford
Point, has seen extensive
refurbishment since purchase.
Hoeford Point represents a 50%
increase in floor space over the
Wickham location. Along with
many general refurbishments,
new areas have been built to
bespoke designs and purchases of
major, additional equipment has
taken place. The new complex
features state of the art air
handling and modern lighting
controls to cater for the needs of
the individual laboratories.
The move to Hoeford Point
represents 50 years of growth and
expertise and the company
retains many satisfied customers
who continue to choose
Wickham Labs services because
of the level of professionalism of
employees and the care that is
placed on each and every project.
Integrity, accuracy, attention to
detail and communication have
always been at the centre of
employee's ethics and the
business priorities, which have
substantially been factors to the
development and success of the
company. In these exciting times
the company is looking forward
to continuing to make major
contributions to the Animal, Food
and Pharmaceutical industries.
Both William Cartmell and his
wife, Mrs. Joan Cartmell have an
intense personal commitment to
the laboratories, veterinary
practice and kennels and today,
Wickham Laboratories employs
in the region of 100 staff, making
a significant contribution to the
local economy. Wickham
Laboratories' priority is to
continue to build on the
foundations laid down some 50
years ago and to ensure the
advancement of the company's
growth; focus is on modem
technologies and continued
expansion.
13
Three conservation charities
launch ‘Eyes and Ears’ scheme
to involve local communities in
helping to protect the landscape
of Hampshire
The Hampshire Branch of the
Campaign to Protect Rural
England (CPRE), The Hampshire
Gardens Trust (HGT) and the
Hampshire Buildings Preservation
Trust (HBPT) share a commitment
to protect the historic environment
of Hampshire. Announced today is
a new initiative to work together
in support of this objective.
Following the Localism Act,
which encourages local people to
get involved in development
matters in their local area, the
three organisations will set up an
‘Eyes and Ears’ process. Members
of the public will be encouraged to
email or telephone their concerns
ab o u t any p l anned ne w
developments they hear of which
might threaten the countryside,
h i s t o r i c p a r k s , g a r d e n s ,
community green spaces and
significant buildings. These
reports will then be relayed to the
most appropriate partner so they
can look into the concerns
expressed and take further action
as necessary.
If advance warning of a proposed
development is given to the
conservation charities, they may
be able to work with the
developers to produce plans which
are sympathetic to both the local
environment and of benefit to
loca l comm unit i es . Gi l l y
Drummond, President of the
Hampshire Gardens Trust said:
“Working together and with local
people and local authorities will
be a very effective way of
conserving the county’s precious
places for the benefit of all. We
need everyone to support ‘Eyes
and Ears’.
The ‘Eyes and Ears’ scheme has a
new, dedicated web page at http://
www.cprehampshire.org.uk where
members of the public can report
their concerns. Through this web
page, you can also find further
information on the work and
membership details of the three
charities.
For media enquiries, please
contact:
Keren Burney, Media and
Communications Tel: 01730
894123
Officer, CPRE Hampshire.
Mobile: 07876 780065
Email:
Becky French Tel: 01962
779185
CPRE Hampshire Email:
rg.uk
Administration Officer,
Compege - ideas for competitive
edge,
Mainline Business Centre,
Station Road,
Liss, Hampshire GU33 7AD
MEON VALLEY
Meon Valley U3A’s 2011-2012
very successful, enjoyable and
well attended season of twice
monthly talks on the theme “Here
and There” will come to a close
with the AGM on Tuesday May
1st. This will be, as usual, at
Wickham Community Centre,
Mill Lane, at 2.00pm. The formal
proceedings (which will be quite
short) will be followed by a
presentation on Community
Policing by Barry Towler,
Community Police Officer.
Planning the programme of talks
for the new season (2012-13) is
well under way, on the broad
theme of “Great and Small”; so
fortnightly talks will resume in
September. U3A members will
be sent a copy of the full
programme – and a reminder to
pay their sub! – in July or August.
Meanwhile, most of the small
‘special interest’ groups will
continue to meet through most of
the summer. Members of these
groups generally meet in each
others’ houses, usually monthly.
Current groups’ subjects include:
read ing; poetry; ar t ; art
appreciation; music appreciation;
geology; walking/strolling and
bridge.
As a follow up to two recent very
entertaining, informative and
diverse talks, two summer outings
are being arranged for members:
the first is a coach trip to London
(22nd May) and the second a
guided tour of Whitchurch Silk
Mill (12th June).
Enquiries about the outings, new
membership (or any other U3A
matter) to Secretary, Julia Field on
01489 891353.
14
Countryside
Awards look to the
young – our future
An annual countryside award
scheme, organised by the
Campaign to Protect Rural
England (CPRE) in Hampshire
and sponsored by nature-friendly
farmers, Steve’s Leaves, is now
open for entries. This year a new
entry category has been included
for “Young people”. This is to
encourage more entries from the
County’s young generation.
Entries will be welcomed from
schools, youth groups, scouts,
guides, cubs and brownies, youth
offender programmes, secondary
schools & college projects aimed
at people up to 18 years of age.
The established categories “Rural
Enterprise” and “Voluntary/
Community Sector” have been
retained to allow recognition of
the fine work in these areas.
The awards will be given to
o u t s t a nd i ng ex am p l es o f
environmental projects around
Hampshire that meet the two
organisations’ common goals of a
sustainable, living countryside that
all can value and enjoy.
“Steve’s Leaves”, farmers of the
UK’s tastiest little leaves, became
the first corporate sponsor for the
awards in 2011, and has continued
its commitment in 2012. The
scheme is run in conjunction with
Hampshire and Hampshire
Ambassadors.
The deadline for entry will be 13th
July 2012 and an award ceremony
has been arranged for 28 th
September at Itchen Abbas, near
Winchester.
Mike Rushworth, managing
director of Steve’s Leaves added:
“We are supporting the awards for
a second year running because we
want to celebrate the beauty that is
Hampsh ir e and recogni se
organisations working across the
county in an environmentally
responsible manner, whilst
contributing to the community and
its prosperity.”
Anthony McEwen, director of
CPRE Hampshire said: “We are
very keen to receive entries from
young people and youth group
leaders this year. Young people
are the future guardians of the
countryside and we need to teach
them to love nature and wild
places, so that they will one day
continue to take care of them. I am
looking forward to seeing what
fascinating projects come to light
over the next few months.”
Steve and his team are
dedicated to sustainable and
environmental ly f r iendly
farming. They run the first and
only farms growing fresh
p r o d u c e t o h o l d t h e
Conservation Grade/ Nature
Friendly Farming status. This
type of farming is scientifically
proven to dramatically increase
biodiversity and restore wildlife
t o t h e c o u n t r y s i d e .
Conservation Grade provides a
sustainable means of feeding
the growing population whilst
protecting the environment.
Steve, the man behind Steve’s
Leaves, is known to his friends
as The Leaf Doctor as he holds
a PhD in watercress. He has
always been a pioneer: back in
the ’80s he came up with the
idea of picking young spinach
and eating it raw. At the time,
people thought he was mad but
now baby spinach is seen on
supermarket shelves all around
the country. Since then, Steve
and his expert team of baby leaf
growers keep coming up with
ground-breaking ideas.
Last year’s award winners were
Otterbourne Primary School in
Winchester, British Trust for
Conservation Volunteers on
Hayling Island and Hampshire
Cheeses of Herriard near
Basingstoke.
Further information about
criteria and an entry form can
be found at: http://
www.cprehampshire.org.uk, or
http://www.stevesleaves.co.uk,
or telephone CPRE Hampshire
offices on 01962 779185. The three winners of the Steve’s
L e a v e s / C P R E H a m p s h i r e
Countryside Awards in 2011 were:
-
Otterbourne Primary School in
Winchester - for the outstanding work
it is doing developing its meadow to
benefit children’s learning and for the
way that the natural environment was
embedded into the school curriculum.
British Trust for Conservation
Volunteers - for its teams of
volunteers working to conserve
stretches of endangered coastline and
heath on Hayling Island.
Hampshire Cheeses of Herriard
near Basingstoke - for the quality
of its prize-winning product, its
use of local milk and local labour
and the way it had refurbished a
derelict cattle barn into a modern
hygienic plant.
The following entrant was awarded
'Highly Commended' certificate in
2011:
The village of Soberton - for its
impressive parish plan.
Helen Hatton (left) and Mike Rush-
worth, Steve’s Leaves with Anthony
McEwen and Becky French of CPRE Hampshire
15
Are you or someone you know
caring for someone suffering from memory difficulties? Meon Valley
Carers Group is a voluntary organisation supporting the carers and their families. It provides an
opportunity to mix socially along with their cared for with people in a
similar situation on a regular basis. We encourage contact with the families and can provide valuable
information. If you have any questions or would like information on any services then please come to
our Drop in Office, open Monday
and Thursdays 9am to 1pm.
Towards the end of March everyone whose lives have been touched by dementia let out a sigh of relief as
Mr Cameron announced that he and his government are going to work to improve awareness about dementia.
This new initiative will be coupled with a doubling of the funding for
dementia research. Only time will tell if this increased research ultimately leads to a cure for
Alzheimer disease and other dementias, but for most of us, the real prize will be if dementia
awareness does increase to the extent Mr Cameron plans. This announcement follows a report
issued by the Alzheimer Society highlighting many of the problems
faced by dementia sufferers and their carers, including the isolation and loneliness experienced by many
of them. Becoming a full time carer for a person with dementia means being on a very rapid learning
curve, where hardly a week goes by when some new and unexpected
issues need to be dealt with.
It’s exhausting, but worse than that are the barriers that need
negotiating. Our systems, whether healthcare, financial or social, simply don’t cater for people with
memory problems. We habitually encounter a lack of understanding of
just how memory loss can affect somebody’s life. It’s is incredibly
isolating.
Surrounding this momentous
announcement, the Alzheimer Society ran an awareness campaign using quotes from dementia
sufferers and their carers detailing their own experiences. It has been sad reading, but there was so much
we can identify with. It’s true that there is a tendency for us to become isolated partially through our own
actions, after bad nights we may be too exhausted to venture out, we
catch up on forty winks, hibernating. On bad days, we may feel it’s preferable to stay on home
territory where we can control the environment, so we only embark on outings on the good days.
Unfortunately, visits from friends and family often reduce too, many
people find it daunting to chat with someone with dementia, they don’t know how to deal with repetition,
they feel uncomfortable when that person is unable to relate to the present day, as they are living in
their past or, even more scary, when a family member or old friend doesn’t remember you.
Meon Valley Carers Group was set up to alleviate this isolation and
loneliness, not just via our monthly meetings, pub lunches and outings, but we also help with other support.
We hold information on most aspects of dementia, from the practical issues and financial aspect
to tips on how to improve visits to
someone with dementia.
We are very grateful to the Waltham in Bloom team for agreeing to our request to create hanging baskets for
Red Lion Square in Bishops Waltham. We will be planting up our baskets during our April
meeting, then after a few weeks of nurturing, they will be hung in late
May. It will be exciting to watch them develop over the summer, and hopefully it will help to raise
awareness of our work.
In February, MVCG held a ‘Time for a Cuppa’ event to raise money
for Dementia UK. We reserved a portion of the proceeds to fund a meeting where Barbara Stephens,
the CEO of the charity can make a presentation about their Admiral
Nursing teams to health care
professionals and policy makers here in Hampshire. The meeting is
now scheduled for early May and hopefully the outcome will be that Dementia UK will feel it is worth
building a business plan for a team
here.
Finally, we were delighted to learn
at the end of March that our bid for funding from the People’s Health Trust has been successful. We have
been offered a £5,000 grant in the HealthShape Local Society Lottery
Area. We will not be able to launch our “Meon Valley Art for the Brain” project. The concept is that the
group will be open to dementia sufferers, their carers and also to ex-carers. We already have an
experienced art therapist lined up. She worked with our members
during our January meeting with some fantastic results. We have also had a positive response from our
requests for Volunteers, but we would still welcome anyone else who would be interested in helping
us in this wonderful new project. No experience of art or teaching is necessary, we will provide an
induction and we will provide as
much support as you need.
If you have some free time, particularly Tuesday afternoons, and feel you would like to volunteer
with us, please let us know. We are
a lively group and have lots of fun.
8th May Outing to Fareham
Model Engineers
Group.
22nd May Group Meeting at the Paterson Centre
2pm
12th June Pub Lunch at The Forge, Shedfield
12 noon
26th June Pamper Day by the Princess Royal
Trust at the Paterson Centre
2pm
The Carers Centre for Memory Concerns, at the Paterson Centre, Church Road, Swanmore Mon &
Thurs 9 am - 1pm, Tel: 01489
895444 E-Mail
MEON VALLEY
CARERS GROUP
NEWS
Registered Charity No.
16
Bishops Waltham
Rotary Show
Classic Vehicle
Owners All owners of Classic
Cars, Bikes, military in fact
anything, are invited to display
their pride and joy on;
Saturday 9th June 2012
There will be two options:
Just display it at the Show
Ground in Hamble Springs
( you must arrive before 11.30)
Join in the Fun with a
Motorcade through the village
which precedes the Carnival
Procession. It starts from the
Priory Car Park at the end of
Elizabeth Way then drives
through the town and into the
Showground to join all the fun.
There will be a Prize for the
favourite Vehicle and also
for the WORST vehicle in
show. This means the untidiest
un-restored but Road Legal
exhibit.
Please let us know if you
intend to come or would like
more information on the event.
Pete Yeoman
07710307880 / 01329 832595
Citizens Advice
Bureau
Q. We’ve been on the waiting
list for a council house for ages
and finally have an offer of
somewhere to live. I thought
this would give us security in a
place we could afford, but
someone told me it’s not like
that anymore and they can
make you move after a certain
time. Is this true?
A. If you are a council or a
housing association tenant, you
normally have a tenancy for life.
The rent you pay is also cheaper
than if you were renting privately,
and when you die, you can
normally pass your home to your
spouse or partner and sometimes
to other family members who
were living with you.
This will not be the case for much
longer as the law will soon be
changing for new tenants,
possibly from April this year. The
rights of existing council and
housing association tenants will
not change.
Councils will still have the option
to offer 'lifetime' tenancies to new
tenants, but they will also be able
to offer them a shorter tenancy,
known as a flexible tenancy.
This will be for a minimum of
two years, but in most cases it
will last for five years or more. If
you're given a flexible tenancy for
a fixed period of time, the council
will review your circumstances
before the tenancy comes to an
end to see if you still need council
housing or not.
There are also other changes
planned. If you're homeless
through no fault of your own and
apply to the council to be housed,
it can find you a privately rented
home to live in instead of a
council or housing association
place. If you refuse, the council
won't always have to offer you
another place.
Each council will also have more
control of who they'll accept on
their housing waiting list,
although they'll still have to look
after people who are in most need,
for example, if you're homeless.
For more information about
tenancy’s and other housing
matters contact Winchester
District Citizens Advice Bureau,
at either our
Bishops Waltham office, Well
House, 2 Brook Street, Bishop's
Waltham, SO32 1AX, Tel. No.
01489 896376 Mon/Tues/Wed/
Fri,10- 2pm . Or drop in at
Wickham Community Centre,
Mill Lane, Wickham, Thurs 10.30
- 1.30pm. If this is not
convenient, please note our Thurs
evening appointments only
session (4-7pm).or E-mail:
or
Wi nc he s t e r o f f i c e , T he
Winchester Centre, 68 St George
Street, Winchester SO23 8AH,
Tel. No. 01962 848000 Mon/
Wed/Thurs 10-4pm and Tues/Fri
10-1pm. Or drop in at Alresford
GP Surgery on Mon 1-3 or E-
mail:
or visit the national Citizens
A d v i c e w e b s i t e
www.adviceguide.org.uk
07710307880 / 01329 832595
Email:
17
CURDRIDGE
AMATEUR DRAMA
GROUP
Audiences were treated to a very
different production this spring. Instead of the usual farce or
comedy, they performed ‘A Letter
from the General’ by Maurice
Mcloughlin, a gripping and
emotional play from start to finish. Chris Pond and her team
created a stunning set design that
visually carried everyone to a
Catholic mission station in a far
eastern country in 1950.
The story centres on five nuns
whose existence and way of life is
put under threat by the
Communist regime. It was clear to
those watching that Teresa Pitt, the Director, had superbly trained
her cast. Jenny Barker made a
very benevolent Mother Superior
who kept her composure when
battling against the gruff, embittered, Captain Lee of the
Revolutionary Army, played
brilliantly by Tony Pond.
Jane Barker as Sister Henry and
Liz Plumridge as Sister Lucy made convincing Irish nuns
allowing audiences to respond
instantly to their very different
personalities. Ann Appleby was
an excellent Sister Magdalen,
whose simple faith in her former pupil, now ‘The General’, is
shattered in the final tearful scene
when she tears up his letter.
Lynnette Coombes made her
CADG stage debut as the novice
nun, Sister Bridget, and with her
youthful lack of restraint
developed a rapport with
audiences straight away. Peter
Burkett also made a successful
debut as Mr Stilton, the over-anxious British Consul who not
only has to get the nuns safely
away but has to put up with a
bored and disloyal wife, played by
Carol Plumpton. Carol presented a
vivid picture of a sarcastic and observant woman with a hatred of
the Germans who shot her son in
the back, yet a marked
compassion when refusing to
betray German Father Schiller,
played creditably by Frank
Pagnani, to Captain Lee.
As usual the costume department
came up trumps and backstage
crew, lighting, sound and front of house worked very hard to deliver
yet another successful play.
We will be appearing for the
first time at the Bishops
Waltham Festival on Monday
May 21 at The Jubilee Hall.
Look out for more details on
our website:
www.cadg.hampshire.org.uk
or find us on Facebook.
JOIN THE ANNUAL
CHRISTIAN AID
SPONSORED DEANERY
WALK
SUNDAY 13 MAY 1.30 pm
SOBERTON CHURCH
Support a good cause and
enjoy an afternoon in the
Hampshire countryside!
Much of this year’s walk will
f o l l o w t h e S o b e r t o n
Millennium Trail, giving
walkers the chance to explore
another section of the Meon
Valley. As last year, we will
have the long (10 mile),
medium and family walk (with
quiz), which will allow those
with small children to take part
too!
Join us on the day in time to
make a prompt start at 1.30pm (registration from
1.00). There is plenty of space
for a picnic beforehand, and the
White Lion pub is also nearby
for refreshment.
Please remember to get
sponsorship!
Sponsorship forms are available
at your local church, or from
Robin Boston (01329 832618
and [email protected])
please bring these with you on
the day!
Moneys collected should be
handed in to your Christian Aid
coordinator or treasurer.
Or you can set up your own
sponsorship page on
justgiving.com for: Christian
Aid - Bishop’s Waltham
Deanery walk – or use link
http://tinyurl.com/
bishopswalthamwalk
Christian Aid – fighting
poverty step by step!
18
THE ELECTRIC
BICYCLE
NETWORK IN THE
SOUTH DOWNS
Electric bicycles bring the simple
pleasures of cycling within
everyone’s reach. Its cycling, but
not as we know it. Electric
bicycles dismiss headwinds and flatten hills. The Electric Bicycle
Network (EBN) can introduce
new people to cycling by
providing them with a fantastic
new experience of leisure riding on an electric bicycle.
The EBN is comprised of a
number of local networks each
made up of multiple hire points
(usually accommodation providers and tourist attractions) and charge
points (usually cafes and pubs).
These are interlinked by a network
of scenic cycling routes and trails.
In 2011 successful networks were launched in the Lakes, Peaks and
Devon. See
www.electricbicyclenetwork.com
for further details.
Each network is run by a local “hub” business, usually an
existing cycle hire business. The
Hub run the fleet - they take
delivery of the bikes from the
supplier at the beginning of the
season, build the bikes and deliver them to the Hire Points in time for
the beginning of the tourist season
on 1st April. Hire Points can
either lease or buy the bikes from
the Electric Bike Network and then rent them out to their
customers. Hirers also pay a
Network Fee which covers
maintenance and servicing of the
bikes, basic training, helmets,
track pumps and some marketing
materials.
In 2012 the first network in the South East is being launched, in
the South Downs National Park.
This is an exciting new venture in
sustainable travel and tourism. It
is an excellent location because it
has a good network of quiet roads and trails for cycling, for example
the Shipwrights way.
The scenery is stunning and there
are many potential hire and charge
points in the form of visitor at tract ions, accommodation
pr oviders , count r y pubs ,
restaurants and cafes.
The area is accessible to large populations including from
London, Southampton and
Portsmouth for short leisure
breaks.
Hire Points Quench Cycles
Alice Holt Forest Bucks Horn Oak
GU10 4LS
Tel 01420 520355 www.quenchuk.co.uk
Cyclelife Petersfield
Rear of 40 Dragon Street Petersfield
GU31 4JJ
Tel 01730 266644
www.petersfieldcycles.com
Crank Cycles Ltd
Alton
GU34 1EN Tel 01420 544999
www.crank-cycles.com
Cowdray Farm Shop Easebourne
Midhurst
GU29 0AJ
Tel 01730 812799 www.cowdrayfarmshop.co.uk
Charge Points
Jane Austen’s House Museum Chawton
GU34 1SD
Tel 01420 83262
www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk/index.php
Hinton Ampner National Trust House
Bramdean SO24 0LA
Tel 01962 771305
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner
Rural Life Centre
Old Kiln Museum
Tilford
GU10 2DL www.rurallife.plus.com/rlc/index.html
Izaak Walton Public House
High Street East Meon
GU32 1QA
Tel 01730 823252
www.izaakwalton.biz
Hawkley Inn
Pococks Lane
Hawkley, Nr Liss GU33 6NE
Tel 01730 827205
www.hawkleyinn.co.uk
Stansted Park
Rowlands Castle
PO9 6DX
Tel 02392 412265
www.stanstedpark.co.uk
The White Horse Inn
Priors Dean
GU32 1DA Tel 01420 588387
www.pubwithnoname.co.uk
Swan Hotel 11 West Street
Alresford
SO24 9AD
Tel 01962 732302
www.swanhotelalresford.com
Langrish House Hotel Langrish
Petersfield
GU32 1RN
Tel 01730 266941
www.langrishhouse.co.uk
The Shoe Inn
Exton
SO32 3NT Tel 01489 877526
www.theshoeinn.moonfruit.com
The Harrow
Steep GU32 2DA
Tel 01730 262685
www.harrow-inn.co.uk
The Elsted Inn Elsted Marsh
Nr Midhurst
GU29 0JT
Tel 01730 813662
www.theelstedinn.com
Moonlight Cottage Tea Room and Gar-
dens
Cocking GU29 0HN
Tel. 01730 813336
www.moonlightcottage.co.uk
19
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
Dear Sir,
In response to the letter from Mrs
Patricia Matthews (January Parish
Magazine).
I would like to applaud Mrs
Matthews for standing up and
fighting for the youth of
Wickham. My son has been a Cub,
is now a Scout and soon to be an
Explorer. At the age of fourteen he
could be a very different person to
the one he is now if it hadn't been
for the guidance and support that
Scouting has given him.
The hard work the leaders put into
these groups is not recognised
enough. Why are the children of
the village expected to behave as
good members of the community
when they are constantly passed
over in favour of a more profitable
venture? Please remember that the
future of Wickham belongs in the
hands of these children.
Thank you Mrs Matthews and all
who agree.
Yours,
Mrs Eileen Groves
Waterlooville
Dear Editor
My elderly relatives of the Coker
Family have noted that in the last
2 parish magazines that the
Register of Births, Marriages and
Deaths is not published and they
miss this local news part of the
magazine.
Can the register be included in
future issues please.
Many thanks
Helen Coker
Editors’ Note; There were no
entries to the register in March
or April
Dear editor
A very big thank you to our choir
for their wonderful music over the
Easter weekend. The singing at
Shedfield on Good Friday, when
the joint choirs sang four anthems,
was superb. They also assisted the
congregation with the hymns! I
don’t know how many practices
they had but it was much
appreciated.
On Easter Sunday we were treated
to more lovely singing in a
beautifully flower decorated
church, what a joyous occasion.
Thank you Valerie and your
faithful team of choristers.
P.S. eat your heart out Gareth
Malone!
Ann sharp
A BIG THANK YOU
to the following:
The Co-Operative Wickham
Chesapeake Mill Ltd
Culvert Cottage Consortium
All Time Grates Ltd
Heming & Co
Scats Country Stores
Axis Architecture Ltd
Bay Tree Walk & Warwick Lane
Harringtons
Wickham Dental
Taylor Garnier Estate Agency
Wispers Ltd
Kitchen&Bedroom Transformations
Studio 6
The Old House Hotel
Wickham Square Gallery
Biscoes Solicitors
Fabrique Interiors
FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE PERMANENT TREE-
LIGHT DECORATIONS IN THE
SQUARE!
This will be an important and
exciting all year enhancement of
the atmosphere in the Square for
Villagers, Traders and Visitors
alike
THANK YOU AGAIN!
from Wickham Chamber of Trade,
the Parish Council and the
Residents
Letters to:
John Landaw, 1 Church View
School Road Wickham PO17
5PF.
Please include a postal address
and indicate whether it is to be
published. Publication does not
imply agreement by the editors
with the author’s views
20
MAY 2012 CHURCH DIARY
Tues 1 11:00 Holy Communion at Normandy Court
Sun 6 THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
08:00 Holy Communion 1 John 4.7-21
09:45 Family Service John 15.1-8
18:00 Choral Evensong
Sat 12 Churchyard Working Party
Sun 13 THE SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
08:00 Holy Communion 1 John 5.1-6
09:45 Parish Communion John 15.9-17
13:30 Christian Aid Walk from Soberton Church
Thurs 17 19:30 Ascension Day Deanery Eucharist at St.Peters
Bishops Waltham
Sat 19 LAST DAY FOR COPY FOR JUNE 2012 MAGAZINE
Sun 20 THE SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
08:00 Holy Communion 1 John 5.9-13
09:45 Parish Communion John 17.6-19
Sat 26 13:00 Holy Matrimony: Carl Bucksey/Kathy Fisher
Sun 27 PENTECOST
08:00 Holy Communion Acts 2.1-21
09:45 Joint Benefice Morning Worship John 15.26-27
Informal sharing of bread and wine and 16.4b-15
21
FROM THE REGISTERS
Holy Matrimony
Christopher Haynes/Sarah Horton 31st March 2012
Robert Purdy/Christie Cooper 27th April 2012
RIP
Florence Mary Bradberry 83 years 19th April 2012
Brownies Every Tuesday 4.45pm
Circle Dancing Monday 14th, 28th 7.30pm
Engineers Association Wednesday 16th 7.30pm
History Society Tuesday 1st 7.30pm
Light Rail Association Monday 21st 7.30pm
Lunch Club Every Wednesday 12Noon
Men's Breakfast Club Saturday 5th 8.00am
P.C.C Tuesday 15th, 29th
Spinners & Weavers Every Monday 11.00am
St. Nicholas Art Group Every Friday 2.00pm
St. Nicholas Choir Every Thursday 6.30pm
Wickham Society Tuesday 6th 7.30pm
Wickham Twinning Friday 2nd 7.30pm
Wickham Wives Wednesday 9th 7.30pm
Wykeham Group Thursday 24th 7.30pm
PHOTOS
The photo’s ceremony of innocence
Is iced chocolate cake, sacred delight,
Five candles. There’s no need for priest or incense.
But bright open smiley eyes must shut tight.
Dad will light the candles, the wish be wished.
And “Blow!” Then the ritual cutting of the cake,
Its sacred sharing. All eat. Eucharist.
If only from innocence she’d not awake.
This photo’s displayed, never out of sight,
Kept safe from others deep in grandad’s head:
The frightened ghetto boy, ringed by the might
Of Nazi guns, hands aloft, not yet dead;
The running, naked, napalmed girl, in anguish.
Grandad must shut his eyes and make his wish.
Tony Johnson
Church Room Diary
22
Deanery Eucharist for
Ascension Day
Thursday 17th May 7.30pm
St Peter’s Church Bishop’s Waltham
followed by refreshments
Preacher - Revd Anthony Hulbert formerly Rector of Wickham and Rural Dean of Bishop’s Waltham
Music by combined choirs led by David Burgess
23
Registered Charity No. 299731
LOCAL SUPPORT
GROUP
Two Concerts across the
local area raised over
£1,000!
Thank you to everyone who
supported the famous Hampshire
Guitar Orchestra’s splendid
Concert held on 15 March in
Wickham Church. This raised
£668.91 for The Rowans Hospice.
A huge thank you to all those of
you that helped in any way to
ensure the evening once again was
a great success at Wickham.
In Southwick Church on 30 March
the D-Day Brass Quintet
performed their first public recital
which raised a magnificent sum of
£337.90 for The Rowans Hospice.
Again thank you to everyone from
Wickham and Meon areas who
supported and helped to achieve a
great evening of entertainment.
These two Concerts have raised
£1006.81 which is indeed a
splendid result.
The Rowans Hospice are so
grateful to everyone.
Following a request in an earlier
issue of the Wickham Parish
Magazine we are wondering if any
of you have been able to give any
thoughts towards offering a coffee
morning/afternoon tea, or possibly
loan your garden/premises to hold
a fundraising event, or help us at
other local events planned for
2012 to raise the much needed on
going funds to provide free of
charge care for everyone living
within the local communities?
Please do share any ideas with us
and contact your
Local Support Group ( 023 9238
2433 / 023 92 370647/07940
805431,
or write to Orchard Cottage, 34
W e s t S t r e e t , So u t h w i c k ,
Hampshire, PO17 6EA
Thank you very much for your
support.
24
HAVANT CHAMBER
ORCHESTRA
Conductor Peter Craddock
A Summer Evening on the
Water.
This truly ‘Classical’ classical
concert by Havant Chamber
Orches t r a has an id ea l
programme for a Summer’s
evening! It is at Ferneham Hall,
Osborn Road, Fareham on
Saturday 19 May (7.30pm) and
opens with a Sinfonia by Johann
Christian Bach. He was living in
London and wrote the first of his
set of six Opus 18 Sinfonias for
double orchestra, so HCO will be
‘split in two’ at the beginning of
the evening and then revert to the
‘normal’ layout for the remainder
of the concert. Handel also wrote
his Water Music Suites in
London - for King George the
First to amuse his guests while
sailing up the River Thames - and
the Orchestra will play the 2nd
Suite. It is alternatively known
as ‘The Trumpet Suite’ and will
put HCO’s trumpet section of
Tim Mulkern and Alan Pring in
the spotlight.
Mozart wrote his 17th Piano
Concerto, K 453 for a very
talented young lady and is a fine
example of ‘classical poise’. The
soloist will be a long-standing
friend of the Havant Orchestras
having played his first concerto
with HSO in 1966 while still at
Barton Peveril School in
Eastleigh. Andrew then studied
with Kendall Taylor at the Royal
College of Music, took a 1st at
Queen’s College, Oxford,
became an internationally-known
solo pianist and specialist in
contemporary music and is now a
Fellow and Professor of the
Royal College of Music.
However, he was very happy to
accept an invitation to play one of
his favourite Mozart concertos
with HCO this season.
After the interval, Weber's rarely
heard First Symphony spans the
classical/romantic divide and will
make an exciting finale to the
concert.
The evening will begin at 6.30pm
with a talk by Terry Barfoot
about Mozart and his 17th Piano
Concerto while younger listeners
join their own Upbeat Club.
Tickets cost £18.00; £15.50;
£12.00 and £7.00 with 50%
concessions for Students. Under
19s are admitted at £1.00 a ticket.
Order from the Box Office in
person and by phone 01329
2 3 1 9 4 2 o r a t
www.fernehamhall.co.uk or
purchase at the Door on the night.
Special Note: Havant Symphony
Orchestra’s 50th Anniversary
Concert is on 7 July at Ferneham
Hall - BOOK NOW!!!
The Orchestra’s brochure for next
season will be available from
Ferneham Hall, libraries and on
the website:
www.havantorchestras.hampshire
.org.uk by early July.
Andrew Ball
THE INVITATION OF
CHORAL MUSIC
Today, as Gareth Malone on TV
has shown, singing in a choir and
listening to a choir has become
popular. In Hampshire, everyone
has access to concerts by local
choirs, to be appreciated by
performers and audience alike.
Botley Choral Society has been
involved in this musical feast for
nearly 90 years. On 24 and 25
March they gave their Spring
Concert to enthusiastic audiences
in the churches of Locksheath and
Botley.
This was the ideal programme to
woo newcomers to try a classical
concert. The two works were
short and accessible; Dvorak’s
Mass in D and Bach’s Magnificat.
Dvorák wrote his Mass in D in
1887 and in 1989 it was sung in
Prague Cathedral to mark his
country’s seismic changes and to
(Continued on page 25)
25
celebrate the new non-communist
President Václav Havel. J.S.Bach
wrote his Magnificat in D over
160 years earlier; for him the
massive outpouring of sacred
music was part of his genius – and
his job.
The choir performed both works
very well. David Burgess,
conductor since 1990, brought out
with precision the romantic
tunefulness of the Dvorák and the
sublime mystery of the Bach.
Similarly Mark Dancer on the
organ ably provided the lyricism
of the Dvorák in contrast to the
complexity of the Bach. Members
of the choir stepped in to sing the
soprano solos in place of Julie
Bolton who was unwell. The
other soloists, Melanie Stephenson
(soprano/alt), Thomas Jordon
(alto), Peter Fellows (tenor), and
Philip Stokes (bass/baritone) each
came into their own in the short
Bach arias, singly or together –
local professionals contributing
their gifts to the choral resurgence.
Both works have triumphant
moments and the choir and organ
made the glorious crescendo of
Bach’s final Gloria a fitting climax
to a great concert.
Humphrey Prideaux
Further information from: Lucy
Grafen, Botley Choral Publicity,
0 1 4 8 9 8 9 4 8 9 4 o r
(Continued from page 24)
FASTER BROADBAND
FOR WICKHAM?
Hampshire County Council has
secured funding for improving
broadband speed particularly in
rural areas of Hampshire. The aim
is to ensure 90% of premises in
Hampshire have access to 24Mb/s
(Megabits per second) or faster
broadband and the remaining 10%
have access to a minimum of
2Mb/s by 2015 – this would be a
great improvement for many
residents of Wickham who are
otherwise unlikely to get access to
these speeds if it was left to
commercial market forces alone.
Communities such as Wickham
may well feel left behind when
they see how the majority of the
country benefits from the
economic, social and cultural
advantages that much faster
broadband brings.
The roll out schedule will be based
upon the best use of public funds.
Public demand will be important
in planning the delivery, since this
will help fund the ongoing
investment in the network
infrastructure. Individuals (and
businesses) are encouraged to
register their interest with Hants
CC.
Support so far in Wickham has
been quite low, so we may miss
out on this opportunity. If you feel
that our community would benefit,
p l e a s e r e g i s t e r a t
www.hants.gov.uk/broadband-
signup .
R e g i s t r a t i o n i s N O T a
commitment for you as an
individual to sign up for faster
broadband or to change internet
service provider – it’s gauging
likely demand. If we don’t ask, we
won’t get!
P l e a s e s e e h t t p : / /
www3.hants.gov.uk/broadband for
more information.
Please make other family
members, friends and neighbours
in and around Wickham aware of
what is happening - the more
publicity & registrations, the
greater our chance of securing
faster broadband for Wickham.
ART & PHOTOGRAPHIC
EXHIBITION
10th–13th May 2012
The Woodford Suite at Wickham Centre.
Entries invited from local Artists & Photographers
for display and/or sale.
For details & entry form, please call or email on
01329 833688 or [email protected]
26
Wickham Church and Village Fete is on June 9th
Please help with donations for the various stalls
There will also be music
Children’s activities and face painting, Coconut shy, Ice Creams, Strawberries
Sandwiches, BBQ, Pimms and Beer plus our scarecrow competition
The Bric-a-Brac Stall can only accept items before the Fete and we are willing to collect. Please contact Sue
Pittam (828589) or Viki Pawlyn 832194
Books: Please deliver books to Warwicks Shop (in the yard)
before the Fete.
The Quality Clothes Stall can only accept items before the Fete. Only Ladies’ & Children’s Clothes which are clean
and in good condition please and NO Shoes. Items should be left in the North Transept of St Nicholas Church
any time after 9th May – to keep the church tidy please place in bags under the tables which will be marked for fete
deliveries.
The Auction We are willing to arrange to collect from you, but we can only accept items well before the Fete and,
unfortunately, we are unable to accept electrical items.
Stall Name Tel:
Auction (see below) Nic Holladay 833596
Barrow of Bottles Niki Cartwright 833749
Book Stall See below
Bottle Stall Margaret Gwynn 833180
Bric-a-Brac (see below) Sue Pittam 828589
Cake Stall Sabrina Gwynn 233637
DVDs and CDs Christine Cannadine 513530
Grand Draw Judy Lucas 833655
Jewellery Lynne Cox 02392 230047
Plants & Produce Lucy Carter 832928
Quality Clothes See below
Tea Tent Jane Goulson 833299
Toiletries Di Hemingway-Rice 835463
Tombola Stall Helen Russell 834337
27
THURSDAY CLUB
“I was born in a zoo”. Statistically
there can't be many people who
can make this claim. However,
this is where our speaker, Laura
Beal, started life. Whipsnade to
be precise. In 1928 her Veterinary
father was asked by Sir Peter
Chalmers Mitchell to apply to run
Whipsnade. Sir Peter, who was
Secretary of the Zoological
Society from 1903 – 1935, had
long been anxious to start a zoo
where the animals enjoyed much
more freedom than the currently
accepted way of keeping wild
animals. Ideally he wanted 200
acres (Marwell is 100) about 70
miles from London. Pound Hall
Farm in the Chilterns was found to
be ideal in terms of terrain if not in
amenities; it had no gas or
electricity and only well water. It
comprised 500 acres and was
bought for £13,000.
In 3 years it was ready to acquire
animals. Surprisingly they came
from private estates. Woburn
gave bison, another estate gave a
small herd of camels with their
keeper, Mr. Coles who was as
reluctant to be parted from them as
he was from his pipe smoking.
The estate of Lady Ewell gave
Teddy Major, a fully grown brown
bear plus a £1.000 donation. A
circus gave Whipsnade an
elephant called Dixie, a real prima
donna who loved playing to the
crowd; she came with her keeper,
George. Wolves, snakes, tigers -
all emerged from the English
countryside! Sir Peter's hope was
that animals would now breed in
'captivity'.
In 1931, Whipsnade, much
publicised by the press, opened to
the public. Chaos ensued! The
lanes to the zoo were jammed with
Austin Sevens, bikes and
motorbikes. The lanes were
narrow and when a car broke
down the driver of the car behind
almost started a fight! First
instance of road rage? Buses from
central London were cancelled
from midday onwards because it
was thought people wouldn't have
time to get back.
Laura Beal presented a humorous
account of an interesting and
unusual childhood as well as
making us aware of the
enormously important job (as well
as some of the difficulties) of
looking after and breeding from
endangered species. Whipsnade
has been extremely successful in
this field and has managed to re-
introduce a number of species
back into the wild.
Jane England
WICKHAM WIVES
If ever we were to have a talk with
slides to jog memories of
reminiscences for our members it
was Mrs. Carol Watson‘s
presentation “The River Meon,
from source to the sea”
Carol introduced herself as a local
girl, having been born in
Meonstoke and her parents lived
there for the remainder of their
time.
She was the niece of Jean Hill
who was a founder member of our
group and before the meeting got
underway she was being greeted
and welcomed by several members
recalling their childhood “up the
valley”
The meon flows from a spring that
rises in a pond south of East
Meon, it flows north for a distance
before flowing south through the
centre of the village.
The slides showed much of the
flora and fauna along the route of
the river, and many of the
beautiful flint churches, especially
the East Meon church with a
succession of blooms beginning
with snow drops, crocuses and the
well-known scenic daffodils to ox-
eye daisies later in the year. The
grave of Thomas Lord is in West
Meon graveyard which mentions
that his name is the origin of the
Lord’s cricket ground, dated 1787,
and the infamous Guy Burgess is
also interred there.
Carol’s family connections with
the area enabled her to visit many
beautiful old homes with
delightful gardens along the river,
her pictures worthy to grace any
calendar or chocolate box.
We travelled further along the
Meon as it meandered through the
lush green countryside, recording
its moods looking dark and bleak
against pristine snow along its
banks. Bubbling, sparkling in the
spring sunshine edged with golden
kingcups, wild yellow irises and
buttercups into summer reflections
of autumn foliage in quiet pools
near water mills that had served
local farmers for generations.
(Continued on page 28)
28
BISHOP'S WALTHAM
AND WICKHAM
AFTERNOON
WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
The President welcomed everyone
to the Meeting on 11th April at
the Jubilee Hall. It was nice to
welcome Doreen Manship back
after a short absence. Sadly we
heard that, due to ill health, Doris
Haylett will not be able to come
to future Meetings. We will all
miss her. Business and Correspondence
was dealt with and the President
then introduced the Speakers, Mr David Roger Jones and his
wife Sue, to talk on their visits to
the Oberammergau Passion Plays.
In1633,The Black Death reached
the Village and killed 83 people.
As a result of this, and as a
supplication to God, the first Play
was performed in 1664, in the
churchyard to an audience of 400.
This Play was the "Brain Child"
of the village folk. They took the
story of The Passion of Christ and
staged the Play with all the
village taking part, either as
performers or behind the scenes.
The play lasts for Eight hours,
with a three hour break, and has
been performed every ten years
since outdoors whatever the
weather, give or take a couple
when National events took over.
It is now staged in a purpose built
theatre, holding nearly 5000
people, and around half a million
visit during it's duration of five
months. All profits from the Play
are ploughed back into the
welfare of the village. The talk was riveting and surely
gave some of us the hope to
m a yb e a t t e n d a f u t u r e
performance. Tea and biscuits and a "go home
chat" ended the Meeting just after
4.0p.m. The next Meeting will be on
Wednesday May 9th at Jubilee
Hall, when Resolutions will be
discussed, and votes will be taken
for incoming President, Officers
and Committee. For more information ring Ann on
02380 466687 or Sheila on 01329
833390
Sue and David Roger-Jones
Recreational fishing along this
c h a l k s t r e a m a n d t h e
accompanying fishing lakes
immortalised by Isaac Walton
author of the “Compleat Angler”
in 1683, one of many public
houses named af ter local
celebrities, as is the Thomas Lord
at West Meon. Carol’s final
pictures after passing through
Titchfield were of the National
Nature Reserve at Titchfield
Haven. Now an important resting
place for migrating birds. At low
tide you can see the Meon passing
through the hatches to join the
Solent at Hillhead.
We all spent a wonderful evening
away from traffic and noise, let’s
hope that the demands of the
population today for water and
climatic changes do not cause
irreparable damage to this
beautiful natural asset.
On May 9th Wickham Wives have
been invited to attend the pre-view
of the art and photographic
exhibition in the Woodford Suite
at the community centre at 7.00
PM
Margaret Gwynne
(Continued from page 27)
29
Wickham Cricket Club
Members turned out on 31st March to give the pavilion and changing rooms a
bit of a spring clean. The pictures below show some of the band of helpers,
wielding paint brushes and rollers. The first match of the season on Sunday 22nd
April, is away to Chawton but the next 3 matches are all at home, so we need to make sure
that the facilities are up to scratch after sitting idle for the winter. We are still a little lacking
in furniture for the dressing rooms – if anyone has any chairs, benches or cupboards we
would be very interested. We also need some outdoor picnic furniture. If anyone is able to
help with any of these, please get in touch on the phone number below.
Other news from the past month – we are very pleased to report that we now have an official
club scorer. Carey, who scored for us a lot last season, has just completed the official
HACO/ECBACO Level 1 Cricket Scorers Course at the Rose Bowl in Southampton and is
now the proud owner of a nice set of coloured pens and her own personal scorer’s cushion!
Fixtures for May are as follows:
5 Sat Verwood H 2.00pm HCL
6 Sun Shedfield H 2.00pm Friendly
9 Wed Tichbourne I A 6.00pm Wilde Sports 20/20
12 Sat Totton & Eling II H 2.00pm HCL
13 Sun Durley A 2.00pm Friendly
14 Mon Compton A 6.00pm Tichbourne Cup 1st round
16 Wed Owslebury I H 6.00pm Wilde Sports 20/20
19 Sat Ryde II A 2.00pm HCL
20 Sun Pear Tree H 2.00pm Friendly
23 Wed Scrummagers I A 6.00pm Wilde Sports 20/20
26 Sat Burley H 2.00pm HCL
27 Sun Rowner A 2.00pm Friendly
30 Wed St Cross Symondians I H 6.00pm Wilde Sports 20/20
We are always pleased to be able to welcome new members, of all playing abilities. If you
would like to join the club in any capacity, please give Malc Burt a call on 01329 834398.
Lesley Wilde, Secretary
30
FOLK IN MAY 2012
On Monday 21 May 2012, we
welcome FAIRPORT
CONVENTION back to Forest
Folk, North Boarhunt, starting
8 pm.
Tickets cost £22 each, tel 01329
833625, 023 9226 4288 or email
Fairport Convention celebrates
forty-fifth anniversary in North
Boarhunt
Folkrock legends Fairport
Convention will be celebrating
their forty-fifth anniversary in
North Boarhunt when the band
visits Forest Folk on Monday 21
May.
Formed in 1967's 'summer of
love', Fairport Convention has
been delighting audiences for 45
years making them one of the most
enduring bands to emerge from the
fertile 60s music scene. Hailed as
the originators of British folk-rock
music, the band is still as vibrant
and inventive as ever.
The 2012 anniversary tour will
feature songs from the band's
recent studio album, the critically-
acclaimed Festival Bell. However,
with such a long history the band
has a vast repertoire to draw on so
this year the tour concerts will also
include a selection of favourite
songs and tunes specially chosen
in a poll of the band's fans.
"Forty-five years is a milestone,"
says Simon Nicol who co-founded
the band in 1967, "but we don't
intend to rest on our laurels or
hark back to the past – Fairport is
a band that always looks to the
future. All five of us are looking
forward to getting back on the
road – in fact, we're raring to go –
because our first love is live
performance."
"We’ve played in North Boarhunt
before but we always enjoy
coming back here,“ Mr Nicol
adds. "In fact, Forest Folk is one
of our favourite venues and we
particularly look forward to
playing there again on Monday
evening. This year, the concert
will be rather different – not only
have we got the new material from
Festival Bell but this will be the
first time we’ve invited our
audiences to help us select the
repertoire for a concert tour.”
As well as Simon Nicol on guitar
and lead vocals, Fairport
Convention features Dave Pegg on
bass and backing vocals, Chris
Leslie on fiddle, mandolin,
bouzouki and lead vocals, Ric
Sanders on violin and Gerry
Conway on drums and percussion.
Fairport Convention has won a
c o v e t e d B B C L i f e t i m e
Achievement Award and Radio 2
l i s teners vo ted Fairpor t ’s
groundbreaking album Liege &
Lief 'The Most Influential
Folkrock Album of All Time'.
For tickets, further information
and details of our singarounds and
guest nights, please ring 01329
833625, 023 9226 4288, or just
email [email protected] and
join our emailing list, and we will
keep you regularly updated with
all our news and events.
Charles Gale
Forest Folk
Wednesday 16th May
12.30pm
All Saints’ Church Botley
Lunchtime Concert by
Speranza
Kath Sugden (flute)
Charles Sugden (cello)
Colin Peters (piano)
This is a free concert but
there will be a retiring
collection.
You are welcome to bring
your packed lunch to eat
during the concert.
Folkrock legends Fairport
Convention
31
Another bumper haul for
Naomi House
For 38 consecutive years the
annual Ford Open Sea Angling
competition has attracted hundreds
of fishing enthusiasts to Weston
Shore. The competition takes
place every January and is
organised by the Ford Sports and
Social club in Southampton, with
generous sponsorship from Ford’s
own branch of the Transport and
General Workers Union.
The event is run for charity and
has traditionally supported Naomi
House and Jack’s Place, the
Winchester based hospices which
provide specialist respite care for
children with life-limiting
problems. The Naomi House
organisation needs to raise around
five million pounds annually to
deliver its care service and so we
were delighted that this year, the
combined entry fees, raffle
proceeds plus a donation from the
Lions, allowed us to present the
charity with a cheque for £2,500.
Meon Valley Lions Club has
helped with the event organisation
since 1996 and in that time the
total amount raised has reached
around £35,000. That huge sum of
money is great reward for those
Lions who have endured the early
alarm calls on all those cold, wet,
dark January mornings!
For the statisticians among you,
this year we had 162 adult
competitors and nine juniors, who
between them caught 31 fish. John
Brown was the outright winner
with two fish weighing in at 2lb
11ozs. Mr D.Wilson was second
with Zak Stokes winning the
junior section with a splendid 13oz
flounder.
At the prize-giving, event
organiser Peter Oates and Lions
Joe Kennedy and Andrew Brown
presented the cheque to Naomi
House area representative Mary
Rochford. Expressing her
gratitude to the Ford Sea Angling
Club, Mary commented that she
could think of no other
organisation on the south coast
that had consistently contributed
so much money to the charity,
over such an extended period.
Photograph: L-R Joe Kennedy
(Meon Valley Lions), Peter Oates
(Event organiser), Mary Rochford
(Naomi House representative) and
Andrew Brown (Meon Valley
Lions)
WICKHAM TWINNING
ASSOCIATION
Whilst our big event this year
will be our trip to Villers on the
w e e k - e n d o f 7 t h - 9 t h
September, we have two other
important dates scheduled. First
is our always popular Plant Sale
on Saturday 12th May in the
Square. As usual there will be
an excellent selection of keenly
priced, high quality plants
available. Do come and take a
look. There will be something
for everyone. This will be
followed on July 14th with a
new event. We are organising a
Treasure Hunt open to all. Full
details will be available in the
next edition of the Magazine,
but we guarantee fun for all the
family; definitely a date for
your diaries.
Mike Bennett
32
A big Thank you to all those
members that turned up to help
plant up the cleared railway
embankment opposite the Church.
A total of 10,000 English bluebells,
300 wood anemones and 300
violets being some of what was
planted, the weather was HOT ( so
that was our Summer then! )
Refreshments provided by the
Parish Council were well received.
Thanks to Paul and his team for
leaving us a supply of water for
the new plants.
We can only hope that the plants
and bulbs will have survived the
hot dry conditions that we all
enjoyed; if they have we will all
be treated to a fantastic display
next spring that will bring out
photographers from the wider
area.
AGM
On Tuesday the 10th April we had
our AGM. After a review of the
last years activities we moved onto
renewing positions on committee
and the Officers.
Mike Hollis re stood as Secretary,
as did I as Chair, Rosemary
O’Leary joined as Treasurer, the
remainder of the committee stood
for re election with the exception
of Brian Oswald who bows out
after 5 years as Treasurer. Our
thanks go to Brian for his valued
work and input.
The Society exists to retain the
village character and improve the
environ and amenity of the village
for the village, we are not of any
Political colour, and a warm
welcome awaits new members of
any age to the group.
Chris Hoare 01329 836947
WICKHAM RIFLE
CLUB
END OF THE SEASON
Not every one knows the indoor
shooting season ends at the end of
March, but it does, every year!
For those who want to use them,
open air ranges are more attractive
in the summer but very few people
in Wickham take advantage of this
fact.
So what happened at the end of the
season for Wickham shooters?
Well, the air section continues on
its way, ignoring the seasons while
people come and people go but an
increasing number stay with us.
We have started a second internal
competition but with bank
holidays and other distractions we
are not progressing very fast.
There is a fair amount of interest
among the regular shooters though
and a lot of the pellets are hitting
the nine or ten rings; these are two
very encouraging “happenings”.
In the smal l -bore postal
competition – where the shot cards
are posted away for scoring,
Wickham 'A' team was very
unlucky as they had the highest
aggregate gun score (6716) in their
division of the league but came
second in the division to Box who
scored 6692. Box won nine of
their matches and drew one, so
scored 19 points while Wickham
scored 17 (eight wins and a draw).
The 'B' team came third in their
division, scoring 18 points from
14 matches, Portsmouth City 'C',
who were second, also scored 18
points but had a higher aggregate
of 6186 to Wickham's 6092.
Life has been very hard indeed on
the Wickham 'A' shoulder to
shoulder team as well – they had
the highest aggregate gun score
(5748) in their league yet only
came sixth (out of seven) in the
league table! The winner was
Havant 'A' who had an aggregate
of 5389. I think that is really
tough!
During the summer the air guns
will be operating most Saturday
mornings from 10am until 12 mid-
day and the small-bore rifles every
other Monday evening between
7pm and 9pm from 30th April.
Eric Clifton
33
“IS SEWAGE THE ANSWER ?”
After our April AGM business,
David Roger Jones “lowered the
tone” by taking a surveyor’s
approach to “Wickham - the
defining years” in a thoughtful
and informative talk.
His argument was that both the
Thirteenth Century growth of
Wickham, evidenced in the
Market Charter of 1269, and the
rapid expansion of Wickham after
the 2nd World War depended
primarily on access to water and
to drainage.
In 1269 Wickham, earlier than
many other local settlements,
achieved its Market Charter. This
reflected its changed location to
the western side of the Meon, a
source of water and power for
water mills, but on a raised
“plateau” which kept it clear of
flooding and enabled good
foundations for new buildings and
good drainage.
In the 1950s Wickham underwent
a similar step change in
population and importance - this
time because, as well as a good
water supply, Wickham benefited
from the new sewage farm down
on what is now the Golf Course.
This meant that the major
development to the north and east
of the village centre could take
place.
Maps demonstrate the long
periods of “status quo” and then
rapid change in the village - in
1086 we had 120 residents, in
2001 2621.
David asked if this was another
defining moment? What about the
challenges of an additional 7,500
properties “down the road” north
of Fareham? Has anyone thought
about the water and the sewage?
Will the Wickham Bypass
proposals of the 1970s be
reopened ?
We ended on an optimistic note :
David pointed out that Wickham
had always succeeded as a village
in the past and if we worked
together and argued our corner we
could meet the challenges of the
future.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN
THE SUMMER - can you put this
in a box ?
SUMMER ACTIVITIES :
(these are joint with the Wickham
Society)
Tuesday May 8th: Meon Valley
Alpacas 6.00pm, arrive 5.45
£3.00, tea/coffee 50p
Tuesday July 3rd: Titanic Trail in
Southampton- following on from
our talk on 6th March on “The
Titanic - The Southampton Story”
by Geoff Watts 2.30pm.
Book at our next meeting on
Tuesday May 1st or contact
Barrie Marson on 832313 to book
a place.
JOIN THE SOCIETY
The Wickham History Society is
another example of Wickham as a
busy and vibrant place.
The Society has 47 members. We
welcome new members and are
keeping our membership charge
fixed at £6 for the year in
2012/2013.
Do you have something to say ?
We welcome contributions from
Wickham residents - like
Margaret Edgworth’s contribution
on the Portsmouth Workhouse or
David Roger Jones’s talk.
Come to our next meeting on
Tuesday 1st May at 7.45 pm in
the Wickham Church Room when
the topic will be “Travels in
Middle Egypt”, speaker Mike
Holl is , another Wickham
contributor.
Old Wickham Sweet Shop
34
It has been a couple of months
since my last Article and we have
a had a few things happening
which have caused concerns to
residents and the community as a
whole:-
Fly Tipping has seen an increase
in certain rural locations and we
must all try and help identify
offenders when and where we can
and report sightings to 101. The
Police and local authorities are
trying their best to combat this but
need our help so please if you can
identify vehicles involved that
would help a lot.
Dog Fouling although I must say
95% of Dog owners do collect and
dispose of their doggy deposits
correctly there are the odd few that
don’t so please remind owners you
see not meeting their obligations
to put it in the bins provided or
take it home.
Anti Social Driving this has been
on the increase a little again.. A
few scooters which the Police are
dealing with as well as some
reports of tail gating and menacing
driving attitudes to other road
users who stick to the speed limits
correctly. Please if you see or are a
victim of this type of behaviour
please obtain the registration
numbers of the vehicles concerned
and report to 101. To those that do
drive a little faster than maybe
they should please try and think of
others safety as well as your own
and this will be resolved.
Metal Thefts again this is being
targeted by police as on-going but
some arrests in the area over
recent months have reduced this
quite a bit I am glad to say.
We, the Public, are the eyes and
ears that assist the Police in
keeping our communities safe and
we must continue to work as a
team to crack crime and reduce the
temptation of the few that may be
drawn to commit crime. So please
keep your belongings safe and out
of sight. These simple steps will
help and if the worst happens
report it with as much detail as
possible.
CRIMESTOPPERS
Crimestoppers is an independent
national charity helping to find
criminals and solve crimes.
Members of the public can call
Crimestoppers anonymously to
report crime, or pass on
information relating to crime or
potential crime. The telephone
number is 0800 555 111. There are
specially trained staff who handle
calls around the clock, and will not
ask your name or personal details,
and no one will be able to identify
you.
Alternatively you can pass on
information using their website at
www.crimestoppers-uk.org using
the tab Giving Information. This
website also has regional
info rmat ion, in our case
Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
Crimestoppers reports to the
Police are sanitised so that
references that might identify you
are changed or removed, and you
will not be required to make a
statement to the Police or give
evidence in court. They will
handle your calls with the greatest
care, and initiate appropriate
action. Every sort of crime
including theft, drugs and
domestic violence can be reported,
and there is a cash reward
incentive of up to £1000.
Crimestoppers are involved in
over 20 arrests a day, a murder
every 4 days and the seizure of
illicit drugs worth over £25
million last year. Six actionable
calls are received every day in
Hampshire and Isle of Wight. The
charity is also involved in
campaigns relating to British
criminals and fugitives overseas.
Their website also includes a Most
W a n t e d l i s t i n g s h o w i n g
p h o t o g r a p h s a n d c r i m e
information on particular criminals
both nationwide and local.
As a charity, Crimestoppers are
always looking for both volunteers
to assist in promoting and running
the organisation, and donations.
We have several Events coming
up in our area and these can be
seen on Wickham parish council
and Knowle Village Web sites.
Your support and awareness of
these events which are all put on
for the benefit of the community
will be much appreciated
If you would like fortnightly email
updates on Crime in your area
please email me and I will be
pleased to add you to our Data
base. We also (in case of an
emergency in a specific area) have
a text round so a Mobile number
would be of use as well as your
physical address.
Many thanks and stay safe
Nigel Prior
07810463338
35
May 2012
Pilot Schemes for 20mph Speed
Limits
Although 20mph limits have been
a long standing priority for the
County Council, to date the costs
associated with introducing 20mph
speed limits and zones, has led to
priority being given to locations
where there is a history of
accidents resulting in injury.
Recent changes introduced by the
Department for Transport now
make it possible to potentially
bring in lower cost 20mph speed
restrictions to more residential
areas, with less focus placed on an
area’s accident history. However,
there must be a robust cost-benefit
case for any 20mph limit proposal,
although the reduced limit can
now be considered for residential
roads in cities, towns and villages
where through traffic is low, but
the community supports the move.
The County Council is proposing
to set aside £200,000 to progress a
pilot scheme in five locations.
A-Board Permissions
The County Council is considering
how it could enable local District,
Borough or City Councils to
exercise their authority to agree
requests for placing A-boards on
pavements, where it is appropriate
and safe to do so. The proposed
approach suggests that each
request to place an A-board on the
public highway should be
individually assessed at a local
level, and permission granted,
subject to a range of criteria being
met, eg there being sufficient
footway width available and
ensuring that pedestrians, people
with pushchairs or mobility
scooters are not disadvantaged.
The Council plans to carry out
further work with district
authorities to establish a mutually
agreed approach for the licensing
of A-boards and it is anticipated
that any costs incurred as a result
of granting a licence would be
recovered in a fee, payable by the
applicant.
Better Buses
Transport for South Hampshire
(Hampshire County Council,
Portsmouth and Southampton City
Councils) have secured £4.5
million from the Department for
Transport “Better Bus” £50m
fund. The money will be used to
improve the quality of bus travel
in South Hampshire and will
include: the refurbishment of 150
buses; installation of WiFi and the
provision of “next stop” audio
visual systems on the majority of
buses; a t lea s t 16 new
apprenticeships; LED lighting to
significantly reduce carbon
emissions; communication tags at
bus stops providing up to date bus
timetable information via smart
phones and a smart app for mobile
phones, providing bus information
and customer service training for
bus drivers.
Puppy Sales
Council Trading Standards
Officers are advising people to be
extra cautious when buying
puppies from internet sites and to
make sure they do not part with
any money without being certain
of the animal’s origin. This action
follows Trading Standards being
alerted to four cases last month,
i n v o l v i n g f a m i l i e s f r o m
Hampshire, who inadvertently
bought puppies that had been
illegally imported from Eastern
Europe. The animals are often
sold over the internet from sites
that indicate they are UK
suppliers, but buyers later receive
an unexpected large bill for
quarantine when it is discovered
that the puppies have been
illegally imported and not had
essential vaccinations.
Changes to the contributions
policy for Care Services at Home
Two Carers - At February County
Council it was agreed that
additional funding would be made
available to help offset the cost of
paying for personal care services
for those people who require two
carers to help them live
independently at home. Changes
will be implemented with
immediate effect and include:
The Council paying for and
arranging a hoist or other
equipment to be installed and
funding the cost of a second carer
until this is in place
Providing training and support
for a partner or family member to
become a second carer
Where the need for a second carer
is to meet the health and safety
requirements of the care provider,
the cost of that second carer would
not be chargeable
The Council will be reviewing
s e r v i c e u s e r s ’ f i n a n c i a l
circumstances and will look
closely at specific situations where
(Continued on page 36)
36
two carers are required to ensure
the time in which the two carers
are needed is effective. These
measures will be applied to current
and new service users to ensure
transparency of approach. It has
also been agreed that second carer
costs will be waived in the
financial year 2011-2012, and that
charges will be refunded where
they have already been paid.
Charging for respite care in a
residential establishment
The Council have introduced
changes to their charging policy
for those people who use respite
care in a residential establishment.
From 9th April 2012, charging for
respite services came under the
County’s contributions policy
rather than the separate charging
policy previously used, ensuring a
consistent approach to charging
for services. Many clients who
use respite care in this way will
find they benefit from this being
brought into line with the
contributions policy.
The key principles of the policy
remain the same:
Service users pay according to
their financial means, not
according to the cost of the
services they choose. Therefore
the amount each service user pays
is different and this will not
change.
Service users will never be
asked to pay more than their
maximum weekly contribution for
non-residential services, regardless
of the services they choose.
Service users will only need to
have one type of financial
assessment
Service users will pay a single
regular weekly contribution,
regardless of the total cost of their
services
The Council pays the balance of
the cost of services, which varies
according to the amount of care
used.
All service users will shortly
receive their annual notification
let ter f rom the Financial
Assessment and Benefits team
advising them of their maximum
weekly contribution. At this stage
of the year, people may or may not
have agreed their respite care
needs for the year. This doesn’t
matter – the cost and any
contribution change can be
worked out at any time.
C/Cllr Patricia Stallard
Winchester Southern Parishes
May 2012
(Continued from page 35)
FROM OUR MEMBER
OF PARLIAMENT
Water
Given the amount of rain we have
had over the last week or so, I am
sure that droughts and hosepipe
bans are probably the furthest
things from your minds. Indeed,
you will be forgiven for forgetting
that the last two winters have been
some of the driest on record and
that large parts of the south of
England are currently subject to
stringent restrictions on how they
can use water.
Fortunately for us, no part of the
Meon Valley and very little of
Hampshire is currently subject to
these restrictions. But do not be
fooled, we are not immune to the
problems experienced by people in
Sussex, Surrey, Wiltshire or Kent;
we are just fortunate in having a
greater supply capacity and
slightly different soil composition.
I can tell you that at a recent
meeting with officials from the
Environment Agency, I was given
a stark warning of what the future
will hold for all of us if we do not
solve our water-use issues. A
picture was painted for me of dry
r iver beds, environmental
catastrophe and stringent controls
on how we use water.
Now, let’s be clear, this is not
something you are going to see
this year, next year or probably
even in the next five years. But in
the medium to longer term this is
very much where we are heading
if we do not curb our water use
and improve the viability of our
supply.
(Continued on page 37)
George Hollingbery M.P
37
You may think this alarmist;
especially as the rain falls across
Hampshire. After all, the Meon
Valley is not even yet subject to a
hosepipe ban. But having seen
the figures and looked at the river
flow diagrams, I do not apologise
for giving you the raw facts. One
thing is certain, it is absolutely
clear that unless we make some
real changes to our relationship
with water, we are heading for
some very tough times indeed.
The good news is that we can all
do our bit and make a real
difference. There are ways for
each of us to conserve water. The
Environment Agency website
contains a whole section on how
to conserve water and improve the
efficiency of your water use; this
can be found at the following web-
link: http://bit.ly/HYfVlH
In addition, the Department for the
Environment and Rural Affairs
has listed some real steps we can
all take to lessen our water
footprint: http://bit.ly/HYlC2S
I strongly advise you all to take a
look at these two resources and
see if there are any small changes
you can make to save water.
George Hollingbery
Member of Parliament for Meon
Valley
(Continued from page 36)
WINCHESTER CITY
COUNCILLORS
REPORT
New Civic Year
The Council civic year goes from
the Council Elections on May 3rd
until next May. On May 3rd one
third of the council seats (18) are
up for election including one
Wickham ward seat and by the
time you are probably reading this
there will be a newly (re-) elected
councillor for Wickham and
Knowle for a term of four years.
Angela was re-elected last year as
local councillor.
Annual Mayor Making and
Council AGM
Will be held on May 16th when the
813th Mayor of Winchester and the
new Leader and Cabinet will be
elected. More details next month.
Congratulations to the Mayor of
Winchester’s Award Winners
(see photo)
We nominated The following
Wickham residents for a Mayor’s
Ward for their excellent service to
the community:
Di Frost; Robert Goulson; Chris
Hoare; Sue Leatham .
The Wickham Centre also
received an award for its work for
the community.
Congratulations to them all! The
awards were given at a small
reception in Winchester Guildhall
by the Mayor, Cllr Barry
Lipscombe.
Jubilee celebrations- small
grants available
The City Council’s small grants
programme has opened for
applications, with a deadline of
Friday 4 May to enable decisions
to be made in time for Jubilee
celebrations All the information
and an application form are to be
found at
w w w . w i n c h e s t e r . g o v . u k /
smallgrants
Councillor Surgeries
Our monthly councillor surgeries
will resume after May. Please feel
free to contact us at any time.
Therese Evans and
Angela Clear
In the photo are from left to right:
Chris Hoare, Robert Goulson, Di
Frost and Peter Lucas