STEEP AND STROUD NEWSLETTER NO 564 SEPTEMBER 2018

FRENCH VISITORS TO THE HARROW INN, STEEP

Recalling his memories of the war the place with such a firm memory time years in our June Issue of the for him, and in due course she and newsletter, Haden Dodd remem- a friend arrived at the Harrow. Dur- bered the Free French servicemen ing the war years the walls of the recuperating in Steep House and bar had been adorned with a mon- their visits to the tage of photo- Harrow, where as a graphs featuring little boy, he intro- local men on active duced them to darts service; that still and they taught him exists and was pro- to swear in French. duced by Claire and Nisa to show their Readers may like to visitors. Incredibly, know that earlier the pictures includ- this summer, shortly ed both her father after Haden’s remi- and his brother, a niscences were pub- poignant reminder lished and quite of an entente cordi- unconnected to al that has survived them, the Harrow some seventy received a visit from a lady who re- years. They had been two of those counted the moving tale of her Free Frenchmen. French father on his deathbed, talk- ing of his time in Steep and the Har- During WWII, Steep House was used row. This period of his life was news as a rest home for the Free French to the family as, like many service- sailors. A Mme Maze was in charge. men, he rarely if ever spoke of his Haden remembers that she was wartime experiences. known as the ‘ex Lord Mayor of Paris’. Many of the Free French After her father’s death, his daugh- were sailors of the French Navy who ter resolved to follow up for herself

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2 could not return home due to the the Free French establishments at Nazi occupation. Their ships were Portsmouth. It is thought that he used to accompany the Atlantic con- also visited Steep House. After voys and returned to British Steep house Michel Se- ports between times at sea. vere (pictured on previous Sometimes sailors came to page) and other Free Steep House after a ship French sailors were trans- had been torpedoed. This ferred to Southbourne, had been the case with the where they built their own lady’s father, Michel Se- barracks. At the end of vere, whose ship had gone WWII he decided to remain down off the coast of New- in the UK and married an foundland. Steep House English girl. It was their was a place to recuper- daughter, Roz, who had ate from such experi- come to find her fa- ences. The sailors were ther’s old haunt: the often seen around Pe- Harrow. tersfield wearing their We hope to look further red, white & blue uni- at the story of the Free forms with a cross of French in one of our Lorraine on their caps coming Steep History or lapels. There are two Free French badges in Group meetings. of these badges in The The Harrow collection: Harrow collection. In Rollo Wicksteed & Fran 1942, General De Gaulle inspected Box [email protected]

25 YEARS AGO? I don’t think we looked like that at the Steep flower show even 25 years ago - may be 50 years ago. (This painting, not of Steep, was done in 1939 by Helen Binyon)

Copyright. The content of the newsletter (excluding the ads) is the copy- right of Steep PCC, unless otherwise indicated. If in doubt, contact the editor.

3 DIARY DATES SUMMER HISTORY TALKS Garden Sunday 2nd September at 6.30 in Details Susan Kuruber 261351 Steep Church, there will be a talk STEEP FILM SOCIETY about Sir William and Lady Kelly of Friday, 21st September - The The Knolls, Steep. Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel STEEP PARISH COUNCIL Pie Society - Drama/History/ Next meeting will be at 7.30 p.m. on Romance. Starring Lily James. Monday, 3rd September in the A writer forms an unexpected small meeting room at Steep Village bond with the residents of Guernsey Hall. Island in the aftermath of World War II, when she decides to write a book STROUD EVENING WI about their experiences. 11 September - Running Faulty Tow- Tickets are £6.00 on the door or ers and cooking for the rich and from One Tree Books. famous; Susan Howe. Doors open at 7.30pm, with the Steep Village Hall at 7.30 p.m. film starting at 8.00pm. (AGM @ Enquiries: Pauline Cook - 263406 7.50pm) Bar and ice-creams for WELCOME CLUB sale Thursday 13th September Tea at TRIVIA QUIZ NIGHT Sybil Venning’s at 2.30pm. Meet at Friends of Steep Church are organis- Steep Village Hall at 2.15pm to car- ing a second Trivia Quiz Night in the share as parking is very limited. Village Hall on Saturday 29 Septem- Thursday 27th September Visit to ber at 7pm to raise funds to con- Applegarth Farm Shop, Grayshott. serve and enhance the church. Meet at Steep Village Hall at As last year, the evening will 2.30pm to car-share. commence at 7.00 pm with a cash Heather Maybury - bar available. The quiz will start at [email protected] & 7.30 pm and a fish & chip supper Judy Thompson - 267362 will be served at about 8.30 pm STROUD AFTERNOON WI Throughout the evening raffle 21 September - Around the World in tickets will be on sale so even if you Story by Fiona Birchall. don’t win the quiz you might win an We meet at 2.15pm at the Physic attractive prize! 4 Youth Theatre are pre- senting Frank Loesser's celebrated musical comedy Guys and Dolls. This sizzling, New York tale of gam- blers, gangsters and nightclub sing- ers – plus one missionary – features some of Broadway’s greatest show- stoppers, including Luck Be a Lady, Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat and My Time of Day. Early booking is advised - tickets Performances: 18-23 September are £15 each and there will be 8 Venue: The Festival Hall, Petersfield tables with 8 people on each ta- Box Office: One Tree Books from ble. Why not make up a table of Friday 24 August your own family and friends? or if Online: ticketsource.co.uk/ you want to come by yourself or with petersfieldyouththeatre others then you will be allocated a www.pyt.org.uk table with like-minded people to share the fun. STEEP HISTORY GROUP To book please phone or email - There will be no meeting this month. Tony Struthers Tel 01730 269533 Fran Box - 266284 or or [email protected] [email protected]

COPY FOR THE OCTOBER NEWSLETTER not later than midday on Wednesday 19th September To David Dobson at Downgate Cottage, , GU32 2BE Or [email protected] and [email protected] FOR STROUD to Jeremy Mitchell at Fairlands, Finchmead Lane, Stroud GU32 3PF or [email protected] - tel 267214

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The following article should have Steep Parish Council undertook to been printed in the last newsletter follow up on all the issues raised via but, sorry to say, I failed to include it their contacts within EHDC, HCC and with the other Parish Council report. S. Water with the help of the County There is lots of information you need and District Councillors and Joe Lait, to see. Celia (copy setter) the local highways engineer. Anoth- STEEP MARSH PARISH COUNCIL er drive around the hamlet will be arranged between Joe Lait and the MEETING Parish Council to point out and high- Steep Parish Council are, once light issues, as this proved helpful again, indebted to Haste Ltd., for and productive when carried out 18 allowing the use of their meeting months ago. room for the annual meeting in Consideration will also be given to Steep Marsh. the installation of bollards at the There were approximately 8 resi- small green where the grass is be- dents of Steep Marsh present as coming eroded by vehicles driving well as Russell Oppenheimer, our onto the land, as well as provision of County Councillor, and Parish Coun- a new noticeboard opposite the cillors, although unfortunately, Nick junction of Pratts Lane as the cur- Drew, our District Councillor was rent one is old and rather dilapi- unable to be present on this occa- dated. sion. However, the result was a live- With regard to footpaths, Steep Par- ly and productive meeting, which ish Council were able to confirm that bought many of the main issues HCC are to investigate and (mainly roads and footpaths) to the (hopefully) carry out repairs to the fore. Shipwrights Way at the very muddy Public comment centred around the patch between Steep Marsh and t fact that Steep Marsh has various he Harrow, and that improvements industrial units within the small are also due to be started at footpath hamlet, whilst also possessing some 22a (Taylor’s Copse) very shortly. of the narrowest rural lanes – the Various on-going items of normal condition of the verges, passing Parish Council business were also places and drainage are therefore discussed and the meeting closed all extremely urgent issues. 7 Oil fired boiler specialists Servicing, Repairs and Installations Central Heating Upgrades Fully Insured & Registered with Oftec 01489 893320 07920 558046 [email protected]

8 with refreshments and the chance over £1150 for local charities The to chat informally. As always, the full Oaks Playscheme and Friends of minutes of all Parish Council Meet- Pool. Humorously enter- ings can be found on-line at tained by our comperes Mike Lin- www.steep-pc.gov.uk nane and David Erskine-Hill, the crowds enjoyed watching the sheep STROUD PARISH COUNCIL jump Becher’s Brook and The Chair The next Stroud Parish Council and frankly I have never seen so meeting will take place on Tuesday many grown men and women move the 4th of September 2018 at so fast, so eager to put their 50p 7.30pm. Meetings are held in Lan- bet on the next race! grish School Hall and parishioners and members of the public are wel- come to attend all meetings. One agenda item allows for 'public com- ment'. STROUD REVELS 2018 Nestled between weeks of glorious hot weather and the only day of heavy rain, we were so lucky to see so many people turn out for the Stroud Revels. With some 360 peo- ple in attendance the busy atmos- phere was marked by playful chil- dren and the joyful screams of sup- port for our speedy four-legged friends racing down the course, chasing our runner, Archie Hill, for their bucket of food! Once again, the Earlier in the afternoon the Revels sheep racing was a huge success got underway way with children’s and farmer and trainer Andrew entertainer (Magic Charlie), the Snow ensured a seamless set of shrieks of laughter could be heard four races seeing winners like Sprint from across the field so one must Sauce and Sheep Thrill take the top assume that they were being enter- spot! Sponsored by local businesses tained! Or perhaps the laughter the sheep racing and tote raised

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10 could have been attributed to the so much fun had by all; a huge inevitable sugar high, so ably pro- thank you to the SARA committee vided by Isla Fanshawe and Ruby for all their hard work in creating Snow who were raising money to such a fantastic village event. sponsor a Snow Leopard. With bags More photographs from the event of colourful sweets and fantastic may be seen on the village website handmade pompom decorations – www.stroudvillage.co.uk the girls far exceeded their target and raised over £150 for the World Angharad Snow – photographs by Wildlife Fund. Although not the usu- Jackie Pullen al addition to the Revels the stall FESTIVAL ON THE FARM 2018 – added great value to the event and just shows what great things you FRIENDS OF LANGRISH POOL can achieve with a little determina- The Friends of Langrish Pool had tion, a ball of wool, paint and a flow- just five weeks to pull together a er pot! rather fantastic fundraiser – The Festival on the Farm! Hosted at A permanent fixture at every event Rothercombe Farm the “save the is Charlie’s Bar, always well sup- pool” committee put on a music ported, and this year was no excep- festival for up to 250 people and tion. As the day moved into night raised £1700 in the process! and the band (Forever Young) got going, it was lovely to see the crowd The event was truly an incredible dancing, talking and draining the achievement and was the result of bar dry! Well fed by Bowtell’s and many individuals pulling together in Old El Paso, revellers clearly en- a very short space of time. A great joyed the evening. The secluded selection of live bands, including an spot at Rothercombe Farm enables acoustic duo Get Ghost, Jellicoe and the children to run free and so they three girl band Violet played out to did…late into the night, fuelled by the crowd on a balmy summer’s Dylan’s ice cream children charged evening and the dancing continued about the field, playing hide and well into the night as the bands seek around the large straw bales retired and dance DJ Pit Pony (aka and kicking the football about until David Mallows) took to the stage! they could see no more. Festival make up, a well-stocked bar A truly fantastic event, so well sup- and food from Burrito Papa meant ported by our local community and the evening had everything a festi-

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New home no: 02392-042547 Mobile (as before): 07908-529318 New E-Mail [email protected]

12 val requires. Camping under the Parish Council spoke at the meeting stars just finished the night perfectly reinforcing the Councils views con- and ensured we had plenty of help- cerning traffic management and ers on hand for the clear up the fol- parking for the Village Hall. The lowing morning! Organisers hope Chairman requested the village hall that the event will become an annu- parking was increased from 13 to al fundraiser for the pool. 20 spaces. Angharad Snow There was much discussion around the village hall. 4 Committee Mem- ROAD, STROUD – bers agreed that 13 parking spaces PLANNING DECISION was insufficient. Planning Application The application was approved sub- SDNP/18/01777/FUL for the erec- ject to the following reviews/ tion of 30 dwellings (including 12 conditions; Affordable Housing Units) and village hall together with car parking, open 1. Parking Management Plan for space and landscaping on land the new development including re- South of The Seven Stars in viewing the need for extra parking Ramsdean Road Stroud was heard spaces at the village hall; by the SDNP Planning Committee on 2. Affordable Housing Manage- the 9th August 2018. ment Plan to review the cost of site The SDNP Planning Officer highlight- maintenance on the development ed concerns that the Parish Council for the Affordable Housing Units; had made regarding traffic manage- and ment and inadequate parking for the 3. Condition to ensure that the Af- village hall. The Officer stated that fordable Housing Units are made HCC had not identified any dangers from the same materials as the rest or concerns with either traffic man- of the development. agement or the scheme and that The Parish Council advises anyone according to the size of the actual requiring Affordable Housing to con- useable meeting room in the hall, tact EHDC Housing Support Officers the village hall had sufficient car- on 01730 234358 or 01730 parking. The Officer recommended 234277 to discuss in confidence a to the Committee, the acceptance of Hampshire Home Choice Applica- the application. tion or to pop in to a drop-in surgery David McKinney Chairman of Stroud 13

Steep to Petersfield Bus Service 71

Enquiries call 01962 846786 Wednesdays and Fridays at : Return Steep, Bedales School 09:35 Petersfield Tesco 12:27 Petersfield Hospital 09:42 Petersfield Square 12:30 Petersfield Railway Station 09:45 Petersfield Railway Station 12:33 Petersfield Square 09:48 Petersfield Hospital 12:35 Petersfield Tesco 09.51 Steep, Bedales School 12:42 See Stroud buses on www.xelabus.info or phone 023 8064 4715

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14 Monday to Friday 9:30 – 12:30, at George Butterworth and Edward the EHDC council offices. Thomas interspersed with readings. This black-tie event, organised in David McKinney conjunction with the Froxfield Village Chairman, Stroud Parish Council Fundraising Committee, will be fol- FROXFIELD CHOIR’S BUSY YEAR lowed by a candlelit reception and AHEAD dinner in the Village Hall. The schools return in September At Christmas we’ll be singing on Sat- and so does Froxfield Choir! Our first urday 1 December at The Gilbert rehearsal is on Thursday 6 Septem- White Museum (time tbc), and at ber at 7.45 pm in Froxfield Village the Carol Service on Sunday Hall. We always welcome new sing- 16 December at 6.30pm. ers to the choir (particularly male For those who like to fill their diaries voices). If you are interested in com- well in advance, Choral evensong ing along to a rehearsal please con- will be on Sunday 10 February 2019 tact us through the website or call (venue tbc), and there will be a the chairman, Sue Clegg, on 01730 spring event on Saturday 6 April 827505.

2018/2019 is going to be a busy 2019. The summer concert will be one for the choir. Our autumn con- on Saturday 15 June 2019 and will cert is on Saturday 10 November in be the gala finale to the village’s St Peter’s, High Cross and, as it is fund-raising year. The repertoire will the eve of Remembrance Sunday include a piece by Alexander L’E- and the centenary of the end of strange - Zimbe! written for an adult WW1, it will be a Remembrance and children’s choir. concert with pieces by Hubert Parry, 15 TO SEE LOCAL PLANNING APPLICATIONS http://planningpublicaccess.southdowns.gov.uk/online-applications For local planning authority put in your postcode.

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ADVERTISING IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND VILLAGE WEBSITE If you would like to advertise please contact Ray Street on 892656 or email [email protected] Village website: www.steepvillage.com 17 CHURCH NEWS

THE STEEP LECTURE Below: Dr Cook, assisted by John Owen, packs away this small piece This has now become an estab- of history which packs a punch way lished summer event in Steep, and above its weight for the journey this year all the ingredients for suc- home. cess were there: superb organisa- tion, fine refreshments in the even- ing sun, a large audience, and an excellent choice of speaker and subject. Dr Jill Cook, curator at the British Museum, told us about the Lampe- dusa Cross, a small and simple wooden cross made from bits of a wrecked boat, a symbol of the terri- ble plight of African refugees who arrive in huge numbers on this out- The retiring collection in aid of All lying Italian island, and the humani- Saints’ was generous, thank you to ty of the people of Lampedusa in all. caring for them. It was a powerful WELCOME story, movingly told. Bishop Christopher announced in July the appointment of Revd Susie Collingridge as Assistant Priest to our benefice. We welcome Susie to the ministry team and our church family - she is already known to many within the benefice through her recent joint officiating with John at services. Susie’s Licensing is to be on Sunday 7 October at 6pm in Steep Church. We have also to thank Joanna The Cross crafted from shipwrecked Farrell and Susie for assisting with wood. 18 services over the summer months, STEEP BARN DANCE whilst John has been on holiday. ON 20TH OCTOBER. More than Do put this date in your diary for a 30 Coun- fun evening, whether you can dance t i e s or not. Proceeds go to All Saints' throughout Church, and please let us know if E n g l a n d you can help by providing a pudding (and more for supper, and prizes for the raffle r e c e n t l y and tombola. Details of contacts, Wales) are tickets etc will follow. involved in the sponsored Ride and FROM THE CHURCH REGISTERS Stride. Cycle, walk, run, ride or drive to raise money for the region's his- Baptism toric churches and chapels of all Ruben Shaw and Kaspar denominations. Participants seek Shaw 8th July sponsorship to visit as many Wedding churches on the yearly list as they Sophie and Michael wish. They plan their own route and Stephanou 30th June set their own speed. Helen Muir-Davies Ride and Stride event on Saturday 8 Church Warden September, with a morning of spon- sored walking and cycling events, with prizes, for all ages and abilities at High Cross, Froxfield. NEW PATHS IN STEEP CHURCH- YARD AND GATES The new paths in the churchyard extension have been installed, the paths in the old churchyard have been resurfaced and the gates lead- ing to/from Hangers Way have been erected. Thank you to Richard Smith and team of workman who braved the hot weather to get this work completed.

19 Parish Communion Services are in modern language Early Sunday Services are from the Book of Common Prayer STEEP - Every Thursday: Silent Prayer 6.30pm; Holy Communion 7pm Choir Practice: Saturdays before Parish Communion 9:30 am Sunday School: During Parish Communion except during school holidays

Vicar: John Owen 264282 [email protected] Lay Pastoral Assistant: Lindsay Clegg, 827505 [email protected] Reader: Caroline Hilton 263460 Churchwarden: Helen Muir-Davies 264039 or mobile 07831 267805 Church website: http://steepfroxfield.com

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