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WELCOME to the Valley News

Hurrah! You’ve made it Chestnut Horse as a fitting venue for through wild and wet their Saturday morning programme, January. Although coercing some familiar faces to share perhaps like the Eds their love and knowledge of the drinks (currently fuelled by cabinet. chocolate and red wine) Thank you to all our contributors and your resolutions blew away with Storm those who’ve alerted us to things going Brendan. 2020, the beginning of a new on in our community. Remember we decade, can start with big ideas but are all news gatherers and the editorial come February these intentions don’t team is very happy to follow up on any always feel so beautiful….or achievable. ideas you may have, if you are not sure However, this issue is packed with about writing them yourself. For our small things you can do which will next issue we would be delighted with make a big impact. Whether it’s with a any podcast recommendations for a Tesco token to support the valley, new strand being developed. “What’s cricket club , joining New Leaf Green a podcast?” we hear you say. We’ll Living Hub in Alresford or buying a leave that explanation to our Uber coffee to help the homeless, Editor Vernon and next month’s editor Here at Valley News HQ, we’re hoping Verity Coleman. Fi and Lucy to make an impact on News by delivering the News further afield. Chief Editor Vernon Tottle The valentine month of February is all Editors Charlotte Appleby, Verity about spreading the love and sharing Coleman, Tony Gaster, Fiona our community assets. McIntosh, Lucy Wolfe Advertising Jenny Sloan The Eds love Friday morning’s new Distribution Lyn Jones IA&A 07899 922221 restorative yoga class in Easton Village Gilly Greenwood E&MW 779540 Hall with Dionne and her giant purple Treasurer Henry Labram bolsters! In this class we were assured For editorial enquiries, articles, letters or that maximum gain can be achieved comments, please email: [email protected]. from minimum effort. Trust us, we’re For advertising enquiries, please email: all over that one! Therefore forgive us [email protected] for typos and spelling mistakes, we’re Postal address: Itchen Valley News, Hazeldene, focused on the bigger picture. Talking Road, , SO21 1BE of which, this issue is popping with Please send all contributions for March 2020 by Saturday 15 February All material is published in good colour. Fantastic photographs and faith and the Valley News cannot be held responsible creative content appear throughout. for any information given or views expressed; neither Whether it’s the ‘otterly’ brilliant can it be liable for any loss arising from the use of any information or advertisements contained herein. The wildlife feature or Avington’s Georgie Editorial Team reserves the right to refuse or amend Krone de-mystifying the social media articles or advertisements submitted for publication. world. We have such talent in the Printed by Greenhouse Graphics of . valley, it’s no surprise that James Cover photo by Russ Valentine other photos from Martin and Oz Clarke chose the various contributors. 3 live music. What’s On Tickets available from Richard Patrick [email protected]. Thursday 13 February WI Claire Hunt Meeting at Easton Village Hall. Louise Saturday 21 March Annual Valley Brown will be demonstrating Willow Litter Pick Basket Making. Talk starts at 7.15pm Please save the date for a 10am start. and visitors are always made welcome. Volunteers are invited to assemble at Sallie Peake five strategic points to litter pick and Sunday 16 February finish by 11:30 am. Further details can National Garden Scheme be found in the Parish Council report Snowdrop Festival on page 19 and will be publicised in the At The Down House, Itchen Abbas March edition of the Itchen Valley SO21 2LR from 1pm – 4pm. £5 News. Children free. Home-made teas. Patrick Appleby A 3 acre garden laid out in rooms Saturday 21 March Easton & overlooking the Itchen Valley, adjoining Safari Supper . the Pilgrim's Way, with walks to the More details and application form on river. Come and see the snowdrops, page 13 aconites and crocus, plus borders of Terry and Anna McGowan 779350 coloured dogwoods, willow stems and white birches. A garden of structure Valley Happenings with pleached hornbeams, a rope-lined fountain garden and yew lined avenues Carol Singing in Itchen Abbas - plus a pruned and trained vineyard On a clear starry evening we were and a warm tea room. pleased to welcome 23 enthusiastic Pat Beagley singers to our home. No auditions Thursday 27 February Easton were necessary but Gary, a friend from Flower Rota Coffee morning. Winchester, got our voices warmed up Please come along to the annual coffee with some action songs accompanied morning at Steeple Cottage at 10.00 to by his guitar. organise the Flower Rota for 2020- It was a joy to sing carols to old friends 2021. More information on page 10. and to welcome new residents to our Penelope Kellie special village. Friday 28 February Lent Lunch at We are most grateful to all who Princes Mead 1.15pm - 3pm. More donated to our chosen charity this lunches to follow, 6, 13, 20, 27 March year, the Winchester Hospice Appeal, and 3 April. The charity chosen is raising £257. 67. Emmaus Hampshire, a homeless Thank you to everyone who welcomed charity based at Bar End. More us with such warmth and good cheer information can be found on page 9. especially the residents of Little Hayes Stephanie Gretton Lane who gathered at Gill and Chris Friday 6 March Itchen Abbas Quiz Cooper’s beautifully lit house. night at Itchen Abbas Village hall Joan and Rodney Dartnall. starting at 7.30pm. £12.50 per ticket includes supper, Jude’s Ice cream and

4 Save the Dates 2020 & 2021 Christmas Tree thanks from Avington 18 April 2020 Martyr Worthy Plant A big thankyou Sale at Chilland to David and 5 May 2020 Martyr Worthy village Gail Kennedy hall AGM for arranging, 14 May 2020 Upper Itchen Valley decorating and supplying the Society 50th Anniversary Summer electricity(!) Party in the garden of Martyr Worthy for Avington’s Place Christmas 6 June 2020 EastonFest 7.30pm Tree in the 18 June 2020 Sparkling Preview at well. It really is St Mary’s Easton a lovely sight 19-21 June 2020 A Festival Of to welcome you back home as you Gardens & Flowers in Easton and St come into the village over Christmas. This is a long overdue “thank you” as Mary's they have been doing this for years and 23 June 2020 Valley Boules I have taken it for granted that it is just “Triples” - four villages knock-out a part of Christmas that we all get to competition at Easton enjoy. It was only when a couple 1-4 July 2020 Southwood Players walking through the village stopped me open air play at Southwood House. to comment on how lovely it looked Open air theatre at Avington Park: and enquired as to who was responsible that I remembered, it isn’t 19 July 2020 Sherlock Holmes the Christmas Tree Fairy that sorts it 16 August 2020 Twelfth Night out, it’s Gail and David. Well done and 30 August 2020 Easton Fete thank you. 12 September 2020 Itchen Valley Geraldine Kelly (and all of Avington) Flower and Produce Festival You’ve been framed! 19 September 2020 The Building Perhaps no Ball 7pm, at the David Roth Memorial surprise that Cricket Ground, Easton. Village Hall James Martin fundraiser. and wine guru Tuesday 24 November 2020, Oz Clarke Saturday 30 January and Friday 26 chose the Itchen Valley with its February 2021 Martyr Worthy plethora of pubs to feature on the lecture series. popular Saturday morning show on ITV. You may have seen The Chestnut Saturday 5 December Children’s Horse and some local residents on Christmas party Martyr Worthy your television screens over the Christmas period. The Itchen valley is already well known for its media luvvies, now it seems there are more Please send your future event dates faces to add to the list! See if you to [email protected]. recognise some of these ‘expert’ tasters over the page!.. Eds

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Easton WI currently being tested. Fifty volunteers The iconic record breaking Flying work every day from a pool of 480. Scotsman visits Alresford in February. Signal boxes, equipment and Our speaker in January was retired footbridges have been purchased from fireman David Yordel, a volunteer for other stations, including the Harry 41 years with the Mid Hants Railway. Potter Handyside Bridge from Kings The original British Rail line was Cross. opened in October 1865, taking There are two dining carriages catering to markets in , for murder mystery events, experience delivering coal to for the days and other fund raisers through the foundry there and troops from year. The trains and stations also as well as foot passengers. appear in films and TV adverts. The British Railway line to Alton finally The Flying Scotsman will be cutting shut in 1973 (after the Beeching Axe) through the ribbon on the newly and the Mid Hants Railway opened in reopened bridge at Alton. 1977 having raised enough funds to lay Members enjoyed a very interesting the first ten mile track from Alresford talk with lots of amusing anecdotes. to . The main locomotive Our next meeting is on Thursday 13 workshop is at Ropley. Volunteers February at Easton village hall where start early in the day with two teams we’ll be hearing about willow basket walking the track and checking the making. Visitors welcome. engines. A new signalling system is Sallie Peake 7 Tokens of love needed for Easton Currie on the planting, and describe it & Martyr Worthy Cricket Club as still ‘work in progress’. There will Next time also be an opportunity to visit the you’re shopping adjoining sunken garden famous for its in one of the agapanthus with Simon Ffennell. local Tesco Thanks to them all for hosting us. stores, don’t Email invitations will be sent out nearer forget to ask the time to members and we hope that the cashier for as many as possible will come; children a token and head onwards to the clear are welcome to come too. plastic collection boxes near the exit. As we are celebrating the 50th The cricket club is one of three chosen Anniversary there will be no charge but initiatives this quarter to benefit from donations will be invited for drinks. community funding. If you are a member you should Easton & Martyr Worthy Cricket Club receive an invitation by 26 March but if not please let me know on News from the Upper Itchen [email protected] or Valley Society 779632. If you are not yet a member please contact Lucy Collis on The Upper Itchen Valley Society was [email protected] or 779598 to formed in 1970 as the M3 motorway join the Society. was being bulldozed through and Alison Matthews people wanted to “safeguard what is for the UIVS Committee good in the character of the Upper Itchen Valley”. From its beginnings in Bird of the month - Starling managing to ameliorate some of the impact associated with the M3, to its more recent participation in planning appeals, the Society plays an active role in monitoring local planning applications to ensure that development is sympathetic, sustainable and justified. The Society has been involved in a number of projects that enhance the conservation of the Valley as well as organising lectures, walks and Murmurations, involving thousands of summer parties. starlings, peak in February and can be This year will mark the 50th seen in Ibsley, near or a Anniversary of the foundation of the smaller one has been reported at Society and we will be holding a Alresford Pond. Look on Summer Party in the gardens of Martyr starlingsintheuk.co.uk to find other Worthy Place on Thursday 14 May to sites. It’s an impressive natural event! celebrate. The current owners, Murmurations form as birds go to Nicholas & Alison Karran-Smith have roost and offer the birds protection revived the structure of the gardens from predators. The best time to see with help from John Brookes MBE on them is towards dusk. the hard landscaping, and Jemima Elaine Labram 8

9 There will be a Sparkling Preview Budding florists required to Evening on Thursday 18 June at 6.30 join Easton’s Flower-arranging p.m. Can you please let Pauline and I know Team by second week February if you are Another year able to join us on 27 February by has gone by and telephoning 779317 or e-mailing it is time to start [email protected] or thinking about [email protected] the Flower Rota Much looking forward to seeing you for 2020 / Penelope Kellie and Pauline Lund 2021!!! Thank you all on Lady April Rivett-Carnac the Flower Arranging Team Miles and April Rivett- for all your help Carnac lived for many and support to years at Martyr Pauline and myself during the last year. Worthy Manor before moving to Alresford We hope that you are all willing to be and were an integral on the Flower Team for the next year. part of Martyr Worthy We would really welcome some village life. April died newcomers to the rota, so please let us on Boxing Day, and know if you are willing to join the team her funeral was held in or know of anyone who would like to St Swithun’s Martyr join us. It does not matter if you have Worthy on never arranged flowers before - do Wednesday 15 January. There will be a come and join us and have some fun and pick up some tips at the same tribute in next month’s News. time!! Verity Coleman We will be having our Annual Coffee Obituary - Neil Baxter Morning at Steeple Cottage on Thursday 27 February at 10.00 and do Neil was educated at so hope that you can come along so Rutherglen Academy; that we can organise the Flower Rota this was also called for 2020 - 2021. Please bring children Stonelaw Public as there are plenty of toys in the toy School. At one cupboard. If you are unable to come, interview, when Neil but are willing to be on the rota, then was asked about his please let us know dates that would education, he stated he suit you. I can send you a blank rota had a public-school form. education, which is a very different During this meeting Pauline would like thing in Scotland from the one you to update everyone on arrangements receive in . He was offered the for the Flower Festival and Open job. Gardens which is taking place from 19 - Neil has three children – Jim, Karen 21 June from 11.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. and Lorna, and four grandchildren – 10 Matthew, Rory, Amber and Sophie, all on the Planning, Licensing and of whom he was very proud of and Regulation committees. He was Vice- who brought a lot of joy into his life. Chairman of Planning, and the Neil qualified as a physiotherapist at Chairman of Standards Committees. Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1952 and He was also a member of the inaugural was appointed superintendent National Park planning physiotherapist at Arbroath infirmary committee. In the Itchen Valley he will in 1954. He joined the pharmaceutical be remembered for his efforts to industry in 1955 as a sales increase the provision of affordable representative and was appointed sales housing and Baxter Cottages are manager in 1963. A move was planned named after him. to Beirut in 1967, however the six-day war intervened, and Neil caught the last flight out of Beirut. Neil had taken over in Beirut from an American, who had rather talked down to him. The American took a slow boat home to Indianapolis. In the meantime, Neil was without a post and was called for interview to Indianapolis, where he was appointed as an International Sales Manager. A week later when the American arrived in Indianapolis, he was required to report to Neil who He was elected Deputy Mayor of was now his boss. Winchester by his fellow councillors in After various overseas postings, in 2004, even though he was a 1980 he moved back to the UK as the Conservative councillor, and it was a Corporate Affairs Director for the UK Liberal Democratic council. This was and Eire for Lilly International. The role therefore a very personal honour that was originally based in Basingstoke and he received from the members of the he purchased a house in Itchen Abbas council. The same year, his wife in 1981 which he retained when in Margaret died, following a severe 1987 he was transferred to Brussels. stroke, shortly before their golden Neil retired from Eli Lilly in 1993, after wedding anniversary. Neil became a very successful career, as a result of Mayor of Winchester in 2005. which he made friends in many parts of Neil remarried in 2006, to a long- the world. standing friend, Meg Cable, who After Neil’s retirement from Industry, subsequently died in 2010 from he became a Member, and last cancer. A happy, but all too brief Chairman of the Community Health marriage and this death of a second Council for Winchester and Central wife seemed to take a lot of the stuffing Hampshire. He was the CHC’s out of Neil, though it wasn’t apparent representative on Mid Hampshire early on. In June 2016, Neil left his Primary Care Trust, and Winchester home in Itchen Abbas and moved to St and Hospital Trust. In May Catherine’s View, Winchester where 1998, he was elected to the he lived very comfortably until he Winchester City Council, and served passed away this November aged 91. 11

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12 Edited from the tribute by Jim Baxter, home of Theo & Judith Mezger who Neil’s brother, read at the memorial have kindly agreed to welcome us at service on 18 December 2019. the end of the evening. Charlotte Appleby For the event to work, most people need to host a course, although first Easton & Martyr Worthy timers are usually exempt! The Safari Supper Saturday 21 donation price is £25 per head again – this year and at least £12 of this will be March 2020 a donation split between Easton Village Hall and St Mary’s Church. For those This year’s Safari Supper will be held on who cater the reimbursement for each Saturday 21 March. We really hope person will be Starter £3: Main £4: that new arrivals to our villages and Dessert £3: The remaining £3 will go people who have not attended before towards the finale and administration will also join us as it is a great way to costs. get to know your neighbours. Please use the application form below For those who don’t know, the idea of to make your booking either by the Safari Supper is that participants sending a cheque by post, made payable travel from house to house for three to T McGowan, to Wincroft, Easton, separate courses, meeting different Winchester, SO21 1ER or by people at each course. We shall then transferring your payment to Account all meet up together for the grand no. 20631361 Sort code no. 20 97 01 finale at The Farmyard, Easton, the and sending the form by email to EASTON & MARTYR WORTHY SAFARI SUPPER SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2020 If you would like to take part in the Safari Supper please fill in this form and post it to T.McGowan at Wincroft, Easton, Winchester, SO21 1ER or email it to [email protected] Name(s) …………………………………………………………………………………… Addess…………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………… Tel No …………………………………………………………………………… I/We wish to take part and are willing to cater for ………. people (including ourselves) We are prepared to offer one of the following courses: Starter, Main, Dessert or Any course. Please circle as appropriate. I enclose / have transferred my donation of £………....for ………… persons at £25 per head Please indicate your method of payment. I/We accept full legal liability for our actions and absolve the organisers from any responsibility. CLOSING DATE FRIDAY 13 MARCH

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ALRESFORDPILATES Hampshire Rural Management Ltd Small group classes or [email protected] 07730 099611 private sessions ______Estate Maintenance Stump Grinding Close supervision and individual support Hedge cutting Woodland Maintenance Gate Posts and Gates Paddock Topping Further details - www.alresfordpilates.co.uk Hedge & Tree Planting Groundworks Call/text Sally Hogg - 07771 522665 Agricultural, Equestrian & Garden Fencing Email: [email protected] Find us on yell.com 14 [email protected] Yoga for Men Applications close on Friday 13 March and you will receive your route Easton based Alex during the week commencing 15 Mitchell introduces March. the self care kit Terry and Anna McGowan Tel 779350 every man should have. Good News for Abbots It is my strong Worthy! belief and personal experience that yoga has the answers to a lot of the issues that we all face in the modern world - especially for men. Whether dealing with mental stress and anxiety or physical inflexibility and weakness, yoga offers everyone the ultimate self care kit. Sadly many men can feel excluded from yoga classes and often misunderstand the physicality that yoga offers and the physical and mental change it can manifest. Many yoga studios and classes are overwhelmingly female and men can find being surrounded by flexible, fit and experienced women intimidating - Since its inception, the Itchen Valley especially when they first take to the News has been delivered to all the mat. I teach both men only and mixed households in Avington, Easton, Itchen sex classes to encourage more men to Abbas and Martyr Worthy, reflecting start their yoga journey. its original geographical base as the I am hoping to make yoga accessible amalgamation of two Parish magazines. and enjoyable in a fun atmosphere About half of Abbots Worthy currently where men can support and nurture receive the News, and the team has each other in their desire to change now decided to extend blanket and grow without fear of judgement or distribution to Abbots Worthy (with embarrassment. thanks to Vibeke who has volunteered Below, father Jamie Guerrier and son Luke to help with delivery). Residents of report back for the Itchen Valley News Abbots Worthy will be aware that they I have been attending Alex's yoga are part of Kings Worthy Parish, and classes since he first started teaching therefore some of the information in over a year ago. I had no experience of the News relating to the Itchen Valley yoga but was struggling with various Parish and Itchen Valley Parish Council football injuries and general aches and will not apply to them. pains associated with advancing middle The costs of the News are covered by age so thought I would give it a go. I am advertising revenue and occasionally by very pleased that I did as the classes voluntary contributions. have been great and I have really Verity Coleman noticed the difference with my general 15 well being and flexibility. My 16 year Itchen Insight old son has also started coming to the sessions - he is a keen sportsman and This month we shine the spotlight on plays a lot of football but was starting Easton resident Vijay Amarnani who you to have regular injury problems. Since may have seen playing in Easton with he started he has been relatively injury bands such as “The Eastles” and “Banned free and found that his improved from the Village” and “We are Robot” flexibility is benefiting his game. We Name: Vijay both attend the same class together Amarnani and it’s nice to have found an activity Age: Do I we can both enjoy in a non-competitive need to?! and relaxed setting. Occupation: The fact that Alex runs some men only Semi-retired classes makes them a lot more Producer/ Director Years lived in Valley: 18 Years Your life in 1,120 characters: I was born in Bangalore, India, one of five children. My mother was from a Shanghai and my father from northern India. My family came to the UK in the 50s due to my father’s work, and settled in Surrey where I went to school. A normal education, but I found a passion accessible to beginners like myself and for music, and passed on any further my son. I think starting in a mixed class education for a recording contract with would have been more daunting, RCA and a new band. That lasted for a whereas Alex has been excellent in couple of years, and then a friend who creating a relaxed and friendly space was working at London Weekend TV where it doesn't matter how good or (ITV) suggested I apply for a position fit you are, and where you can learn that became available in his and go at your own pace. The other department....luckily they gave it to me! great thing about Alex's classes are that In the following years I worked my way they mean 90 minutes switched off through on numerous programmes from the rest of the world, just focused including The Frost Programme, The on yourself. I would encourage Russel Harty Show, Aquarius, ending up anybody looking for a bit of zen-like on The South Bank Show. I went calm in their busy lives to come along freelance as Channel 4 was just and enjoy the peace and serenity that starting, and produced programmes for these classes bring. them and the other major broadcasters Jamie Guerrier (pictured with son Luke) through various independent and Alex Mitchell were talking to Fiona companies, and also ran my own McIntosh production company....and I’m still dabbling in it! I moved to Easton purely 16

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17 by chance...I knew the area pretty well help Winchester’s homeless. You buy as I had been fishing at Fulling Mill since a voucher for a coffee which is the early 70s, and when I was looking suspended on a string at the right hand for a new home, driving through the village on my way back from fishing one day I saw the ‘For Sale’ sign in the Terrace....the rest as they say is history.. Champagne Moment: Birth of my daughter Kate Surprising Snippet: I have played on records that reached the top 10 both here in the UK and in the USA. Passion: Music, Fishing, Flying and my whippet Flynn! Favourite place in Hampshire: Any spot on the banks of the River Itchen, and the view across the lake to Avington Park House. side of the front of the van under a Best thing about the Valley: slogan “What’s hanging”. Anyone who is Community spirit homeless can then exchange that voucher for a coffee of their choice. Worst thing about the Valley: This (You can also buy a voucher for a cake, will upset a few people...apologies in home made by Abby and her mum.) advance....but it’s cyclists who have no consideration for other road users.... Flat White told me, “The scheme was brilliantly supported in the run up to Favourite Book: Catcher In The Rye Christmas but we now need more locals to by JD Salinger buy a voucher and support our initiative. Finally (as it's February), the most We have a lot of regular homeless people romantic thing you've ever done who come to the van, get their coffee and or favourite love song: Ohhhh, lots chat to other customers who are waiting to of songs but Bonnie Rait’s ‘I can’t make buy their coffee.” This was indeed my you love me’ is a favourite. first experience - I bought a voucher and got chatting to a local homeless Small Change Big Difference man who was getting his coffee with a voucher. He was full of praise for the The Flat Whites scheme, telling me it meant he could coffee van is on the choose the coffee of his choice and corner of the High speak to other local people on an equal Street and Market footing- sharing rather than giving is the Street in idea. Winchester (outside Jigsaw). Owner Flat White is open every day from 9am. Abby, who lives in Please next time you are passing buy a Kings Worthy, voucher for a coffee or cake to help our homeless and support this brilliant introduced the “the hanging coffee” initiative at the end of November to initiative. Sophie Goodall 18 From the Parish Council. raised. In the case of this specific board is it in the best place? Secondly do we For those of us in the age of electronic communication who use the still need these boards? The Parish recycling centres Council has a legal obligation to put please note that it agenda and other official documents up is now necessary on one board within the Parish. The to register your board opposite the Village Hall in car. This can be Itchen Abbas is used for this purpose done by using the which is why one side is kept locked following link:- but the other side and the other four https://www.hants.gov.uk/ boards in the Valley are mainly used for wasteandrecycling/recyclingcentres/ small business advertising and vehicle-registration highlighting other events. Please let us The aim is to charge those living know what you think. outside the County if they use HCC Another change you may see when out recycling depots. Our County walking is about to take place at Couch Councillor Jackie has brought this to Green. The old changing rooms were our attention and written about it in falling apart and went some time ago. her monthly report. Since then use of the playing field by An important date for your diary is the Youth Football Club has Annual Litter Pick in the Valley which grown and safe storage for their will be on Saturday 21 March. As in equipment is needed. To meet that previous years volunteers will assemble present need a container is being at five strategic points for a 10am start. purchased. The recent wet weather The aim is to clear as much ground of conditions make it impossible to place litter as possible and finish by 11:30am, the container on the existing concrete or later for those sturdy stalwarts who pad. It will therefore be sited on the make a full day of it. Further details will north side of the ditch which now be publicised in the March edition of surrounds the car park. Once the the Itchen Valley News and on the weather has improved and the ground Parish Council website. So please dried out it will be moved to its reserve that morning and help us keep designated base. the Valley as pristine as we can. It is Four and a half years ago with a certain good if adults can encourage children degree of controversy three of the bus to join in and it’s a way of making them shelters within the Parish were aware of the problems caused by those replaced, paid for by the South Downs who drop litter. It is a great community National Park with some funding event at the start of spring. coming from the Parish Council as well. Those who live in Martyr Worthy as As the wood has aged the shelters have well as the many who walk round the mellowed and comment is now rarely Valley will have seen that the notice made. However we have now been board by the Village Hall in Church told that one of the remaining shelters Lane has gone. It was a case of taking it is beyond repair and needs to be down before it fell apart. It is now replaced. What design would those stored under cover awaiting quite a bit who use the bus, and possibly those of tlc. Two questions have now been who don’t, like? Designs vary from the 19

20 cheap and nasty (probably not late in the day) that what we talk about appropriate), to the quirky (we have and indeed the approach that we take three of those), to the traditional (we in conversations is really a matter of have two of those), or to the palatial self-discipline, that we can choose not (look on the web for those, they are to be a misery guts, and indeed we can expensive). There is a need to get on choose to be brightness and light to all with this, so if you wish to express an those that we meet. In doing so we opinion as to what you would prefer, can make the world a better place. speak to us without delay. Once the I was particularly struck by going to the new shelter is there it will not be Post Office in WH Smith in changed for some time. Let’s hope we Winchester the other day and meeting still have a bus service. the manager. I suppose it helped that Patrick Appleby. she had a passing resemblance to Audrey Tautou, the star of the 2001 Letter from the Rectory movie Amelie (which is now a stage show in the West End); but what really The word stood out was the cheerful way in that came to which she dealt with each of those me as the ahead of me in the queue: two elderly year turned ladies, one struggling with an anti-virus was program on her computer (who would ‘optimism’: imagine that the Post Office should optimism have to deal with such things) and the both as a other trying to send a small parcel personal abroad. I was so impressed by the aspiration and as a hope for a new upbeat manner in which she spoke to decade! I think most of my family will these two ladies, that I said to her ‘it’s find it a little surprising that I say this. so wonderful to see someone who is After 25 years as a commercial lawyer I so obviously enjoying her job.’ ‘Yes, have been hard-wired to look at the and I have been here 11 years now,’ things that can go wrong, however she replied. It was a delight to meet unlikely. Although I would not see her. On 15 January we said goodbye myself as a curmudgeon, I have spent to Lady April Rivett-Carnac. Even many a lunch or dinner over the years when she had every reason to be at home turning a perfectly enjoyable despondent, she was also someone conversation to news of some who brought light to so many people’s impending disaster or apocalyptic view lives. She often even blessed, with her of the world usually learned from too cheerfulness, those whose company much attention to the news media with she did not find easy. the result that my wife and daughters Of course, we have had a tough three are inclined to say ‘thud’ when I do this years of Brexit uncertainty and many of and resolutely turn to brighter us might be feeling rather gloomy subjects! Quite apart from this sort of about the future. We may have an line of conversation being very boring apocalyptic view as to what will happen (and an indication of creeping old age), to our economy and we could easily it is absolutely not acceptable for a end up blaming the outcome on our priest. I have realized (perhaps rather neighbours and relations and

21 (erstwhile) friends, for the stance that “We’re only going to look at the they took in the EU Referendum. Even puppies, ok? We are NOT going to if we don’t do that, we can go around have one,” I told the children firmly in being despondent to those we meet. the car. But Jesus’ teaching was that we should Yet even as I said it, I confess to feeling love not only our family and friends, an inkling of doubt. By the time we but also our neighbours (in other were sat amongst the squirming mass words everyone we encounter), of one-month old rotund Labrador because whatever their faults, as we puppies, I knew I was on shaky ground. perceive them, they were made in All my determined resilience was fading God’s image. We should love them as to mush. I held one of the fox-red we love ourselves. We should even coloured little girl puppies and she love those we would see as our snuggled contentedly in my arms. That enemies. As Bishop Graham Tomlin was it. I knew that resistance was writes in his new short book Looking futile. That was how Maggie, our fox- Beyond Brexit, Bringing the Country Back red ‘working’ Labrador pet dog came Together this may not be easy, but, into our lives. We collected her when fortunately, love is not about feelings, she was a few weeks older and ready which are less under our control. Love to go to her new home. is a set of actions (including the line we “Well I think you’re mad,” said my take in conversations) which we choose Mum. to take. The feelings come afterwards. “Dogs are a terrible bind,” warned It’s about self-discipline. We need to another. choose to recognize that it is OK for Of course they were right. But it is all our neighbours to have differing worth it. Now, at 18 months old, opinions to us. Maggie is an absolutely integral member Loving takes practice. But as we make of our family. Not only is she the effort to pour the light into our conversations with others, like the Amelie of the Post Office and April Rivett-Carnac, and to be optimistic about the future, our characters will change and, as they do so, the world will open up for us as the exciting and beautiful place that it truly is, and we will appreciate that, for all its faults, it is a world in which we are blessed to live. Alex Pease Itchen Valley Dogs As we continue our strand tracking down the four- legged friends who live in our midst, we meet ‘Maggie’, much loved family pet of the Gloyn family in Easton.

22 herself while we had dinner guests… extremely pretty and could melt hearts with her alert sparkling brown eyes and She pulls on the lead. Our cats waggy tail, but she is also a very good Moomin and Womble were utterly girl. Obedient and loving through and disgusted at her arrival. Thankfully all through. She has endless energy and the animals are now great friends and could run forever. She lives for her the cats even allow Maggie to lick walks and is happiest bounding along them. We are working hard at stopping the Itchen Valley footpaths. She will the lead pulling. The embarrassing return to my side at the whistle and sit dinner party event is a distant memory, perfectly when asked. She is ball best forgotten. obsessed to the point of lunacy and the Waggy Maggie has won us all over, squeaky robin toy she got in her eroded away the ‘no dog on the sofa’ Christmas stocking drove us all potty. rule and become a central member of She greets us like rockstars each and the family. every morning and is ecstatic whenever Charlie Gloyn we come through the door. She loves nothing more than cuddles on the sofa Turning over a ‘New Leaf’ (one battle I lost) and believes herself to be one of the children. Word has reached us of an exciting and very useful green living hub in Alresford. New Leaf offers local information and guidance, encouraging our community to adopt the positive changes needed to tackle climate change, promote sustainability and protect our local environment and We miss her dreadfully when she is not wildlife. with us. She is trusting and loving and New Leaf can advise us on what we downright gorgeous. She pads around can do in our day to day lives to help the house following me like a shadow tackle climate change. The hub will (but not upstairs - one battle I have show you how to get started, and you won). Walkies have uncovered an can use their assessment and checklists entire ‘other dimension’ which I had to help you get on the right track. previously been unaware of. Not only Discover the local resources available do I feel good for getting out and and find out what others within the discovering the beauty of our valley community are doing to support every day, but the camaraderie of sustainability. Visit newleafalresford.org fellow dog owners doing the same has The Editors (with many thanks to Shelley been such a pleasure. Hughes and our city councillors for In the spirit of full and balanced bringing it to our attention!). NB. It’s an disclosure, I admit there have been online facility, not yet a hub you can lows. Like the time she disgraced physically visit! 23 The Practical Gardener The year has turned and new things are springing into life in the garden: snowdrops of course then daffodils, winter pansies, polyanthus and some winter shrubs. Outside my back door, I have a new clematis, flowering now and a haven for bumble bees in January! Sowing has started in the greenhouse. Anybody can grow broad beans, it’s so (sow?) easy. The autumn onions, shallots and garlic are up – just need to put back those disturbed by birds. All the shed and recycle on your own land. remarkably easy to grow. Go on, save Beech hedges look nice but you have the planet, think of the environment leaves for months to clear. and grow your own. We’ve had an awful lot of rain recently. I totally hate clearing up leaves but it’s So it’s a good time to inspect gutters, a job that needs to be done. Leaves gullies and drains, all of which are eventually rot down to produce leaf designed to allow water to flow away. mould, a superb source (sauce?) of But now is also the time to check that organic matter. Recycle and help save rainwater storage is working and the environment. Put the green bag in perhaps buy another butt. Do you have a kitchen windowsill? Well that’s the traditional place for seeds in pots if you don’t have a green house. I have herbs and lettuce started.

24 Mr Tesco sells herbs for £1.50 a pot the obesity crisis and making good our but you can grow the same for almost pledges on the early detection of nothing. And what’s more, nothing is cancer to name three. fresher than you own home-grown Elsewhere, I am determined to keep up herbs. Do it!! the pressure on my school funding Happy Gardening! campaign working with the f40 group Tony Gaster of similarly affected counties and the focus will now turn to helping teachers From Our MP with the significant challenge they face around high needs provision. And I am It is fair to say, committed to shining a very bright light the past few on the funding timebomb sitting months have underneath early years’ provision. I been busier have lots of constituency examples to than usual for get in front of senior Ministers. me. A not Finally, I will be pushing Minister to live entirely up to every one of their green unexpected General Election combined pledges and I will be using every with a (very unexpected) family crisis ounce of my experience to ensure our tested my faith to its core. voice is really heard in Westminster December 12 saw me re-elected for a around the future of the railways. I fourth time – thank you – but just four have already told the Transport days later my father passed away after Secretary that we have run out of a frighteningly short illness. Losing a patience with SWR and I will be calling parent is always difficult but to lose for a franchise review at every both is to find yourself somehow at the opportunity the Commons affords me. end of the line. I’ve never been We clearly cannot carry on like this surrounded by more family, friends and and it’s about much (much) more than constituents but right now remains a an industrial dispute which has very strange place to be. Thank you for obviously long outlived its welcome. your kind messages and prayers; I felt Much more via my website them all. at www.stevebrine.com but please ‘like’ The start of a new Parliament is a time my Page at www.fb.com/ to re-focus and re-energise for MPs SteveBrineMP for and I am no different. I plan to continue more instant updates. my relentless focus on the NHS and Steve Brine will be working closely with the service MP for Winchester & Itchen Valley locally as we look towards the rebuild of the RHCH and securing safe and From our Councillors sustainable services in Winchester for the long-term. Happy New Year! Nationally, I want to work with my Lots to do in 2020 so successors at the Department of we’d better get Health on the prevention agenda I started. In 2019 did much to craft when Public Health there were 18 weeks Minister. Tackling the dangerous of purdah, when no hoodoo around immunisations, facing sniff of a political 25

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26 decision could be yet but I will keep you informed. even thought about, Our next Councillor Surgery is 0930 so we have a lot to -1045 Friday 7 February, at Alresford catch up on. Community Centre, by kind permission The Winchester of the Trustees. Council 5 Year [email protected] 01962 Plan is set for 734167. rogordon- agreement on 15 [email protected] 01962 733219 January, this defines ambitions and focuses on five priority Jackie’s County Corner outcomes which are: Tackling the climate emergency and creating a As I write, the cold greener district, homes for all, vibrant weather hasn’t local economy, living well and finally, arrived with us yet. your services your voice.The next But please check steps include setting some Key the salt material in Performance Indicators to measure the blue grit bins. It how well we are doing. These need to should be soft and be easy to measure and meaningful to dry enough to dig the rate payers, suggestions please. out easily, (bear in Bins. There have been some mind we only dig properties that despite paying the same out grit in frozen conditions at -2 level of Council Tax as everybody else degrees) and the lid should be have, for some years, not received the waterproof. You can report grit bins in full range of waste services, this has poor condition online, using the usually been due to access restrictions. reference in the lid. Those are being reviewed; if Don’t forget you can walk off the householders contact me, I will ensure winter blues at one of Hampshire’s that decision is revisited. Country Parks! Lepe is my favourite: The Parking Strategy for Alresford now with a new restaurant. will now be the Parking and Access Do you use the local recycling Strategy which makes a lot more centre? Have you registered your car sense. New Alresford Town Council is with Hants.gov.uk yet? a major player in this, historically it has All drivers living in Hampshire likely to have funded enforcement when lack of be entering the Recycling centres are churn in free on-street parking was now required to register their vehicles making it difficult to shop in Alresford. to use the HWRC’s. I am not sure if Now that using an ANPR system is actually legal is insisting that a profit is to be made in this context - but this is surely a from on-street parking, all options are challenge to the spirit of greater on the table, again. Those that live in recycling in the UK? Go to hants.gov.uk the villages and the outskirts of to register your vehicles:- https:// Alresford make a major contribution to www.hants.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/ the viability of shops, but if there are recyclingcentres/vehicle-registration no buses and you can’t park, shops will The County Council revealed its fail. Climate Action Plan at the Cabinet No date for consultation available as on the 6 January. Although some 27 Spanish Tuition

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28 council progress has been made, and it Itchen Abbas, SO21 1AX. All ticket is the subject of greatest interest to the proceeds go to Nursing Charities. public, if this is to be successful it Mark and I really look forward to needs us all to make lifestyle changes! seeing you! The jointly commissioned Cllr. Jackie Porter 07973 696 085 Winchester Movement Study is [email protected] Twitter: now moving onto identifying possible @JackieLibDem sites for more Park and Ride/Stride into the city. With transport being one Tatty Duck - a true story of the biggest contributors to our Carbon footprint, even a few miles less in a car; taking the bus for the ‘last mile’ instead- will help carbon and emissions. Bus transport- Mervyn’s 95/96 service will be sorely missed, but it was just not economic. A big ‘Thank you’ to Mervyn for his years of service. This service touched many of the communities in my division. An interim service has been put in place by HCC from 1 January for three months, but it is not satisfactory. The County has agreed to look at viable alternatives- but needs to know what residents want. Please give me your views asap. A big thank you to Cresta too; the 240 service through Alresford and villages Author Juliet Deacock has been replaced by Stagecoach. If you are affected by either of these changes, A new children’s book, ‘Tatty Duck, a please contact me. true story’ recounts a tale that took Development Delays: The ‘Nitrate place here in the Itchen valley. A one Neutrality’ issue is hitting developers day old orphaned duckling was taken in right across the South East at present-: by a family in Itchen Stoke. Here they Natural England want to ensure that all nurtured it from being so weak and buildings that include overnight sickly until it grew up and settled down accommodation are ‘nitrate neutral’. on the river. All written in verse, by This is holding up planning in all areas the talented Juliet Deacock, the book of the South East. describes the funny summer the family If you’d like to know more, please shared with ‘Tatty Duck’ and Barny contact me. their dear brown Labrador. The book is aimed at children aged 3-6 years and Finally, I’d like to invite you to one of the first National Garden Scheme includes photographs of the duckling in openings of the year. It is on the house and garden. Snowdrop Sunday from 1- 4 pm on The book can be bought from Amazon, the 16 February, at The Down House, Waterstones and the publishers, Austin 29

Easton Village Hall Ina Williams 779465 or [email protected]

Authentic Pilates Mon 0900 & 1830 Fri 0830 Judy 07774 899909 Ems Bray Pilates Tue & Thu 0845 Emily 07876 033893 Sally Stanyard School Tue 1615 Thu 1830 Sally 01962 776562 of Dance Fri 1530 Sat 0900 Brew with a View Wed 1500 - 1700 Ina 01962 779465 Dionne Yoga Tue 2000 Fri 1000 Mon 0900 Dionne 07961 888676 Mahjong / U3A Tue 1400 - 1700 Stella 07732 082079 Yoga for men Mon 2000 Wed 0845 Sun 1900 Alex 07814 678155 Panto rehearsal Wed 1930 Sun 1600 Anna 01962 779350 Yoga with Helen Mon 1400 Helen 07703 278892 NCT Yoga Wed 1030 & 1800 Janet 07973 855107 Older Adult Exercise Thu 1130 - 1230 Caroline 01962 779796 Martyr Worthy Village Hall Lucinda Ffennell 779701 or [email protected] Riverbank Mon Wed Thur 8.30am to 3pm Maria 07900 437685 Kindergarten Tues & Fri 8.30am to 1pm Itchen Abbas and Avington Village Hall Details of bookings and real time availability are now available on our website. www.iaavillagehall.co.uk Hall Manager Alex Bellisario [email protected] 07947 191229 Village hall callbox 01962 791021 Regular Bookings Montessori Mon to Fri 08.30 Caroline 01730 829377 Zumba Fri 10.00 Sue 07947 410394 Pure Circuits Mon 19.30 Juliette 07799 890860 Rugby Tots Tue 10.00, Wed 10.15 Phil 03453 133258 Thur 15.50 Ladies Short Tennis Wed 14.30 Arminel 01962 779611 Pilates Wed 09.15 & 18.00 Aimee 07546 941489 Choir Wed 19.30 Gary 01962 732350 Badminton Thur 19.30 Mike 07887 503345 Swing It Dancing Thur 21.30 Neil 07825 709691 Qi Gong Tai Chi Tue 19.00 Emma 07863 203630 30 Macauley. If the book is successful, the author and duck foster family are hoping to launch a soft toy “Tatty Duck” Tatty duckling, with some of the profits supporting local charity The Cameron Bespolka Trust. The trust was set up in memory of a 16 year old Winchester College pupil who died in a tragic accident in Heart Social founder, Georgie Krone 2013. It creates and sponsors outdoor events for young people from every Social media has become a necessity background to help them discover all for businesses and organisations. It’s things wild and natural. one of the prime ways of Good luck Juliet - we think it’s a communicating with clients or ‘quacking good’ read! customers. It’s where you learn what’s The Editors going on in your industry or community and how you stay up to Itchen Valley Entrepreneur date with events. And of course it’s where businesses can promote This month Fi McIntosh talks to Georgie themselves. They’d be mad not to. Krone from Avington, founder of social Whats the best and worst thing media consultancy ‘Heart Social’ about Social Media? Why and How did you start up your The best thing about social media is new business? connecting with others, building up a I started Heart Social after I completed community and a following. It can be a social media marketing course in really gratifying and you actually make 2017. The course was designed to set online friends. This was not something its students up as freelance social I set out to do and was quite surprised media managers, so it seemed like a when asked if I thought I’d logical step to take. Whilst doing the make friends online. I didn’t think it course I ran a campaign on Twitter, possible, or healthy! Instagram and Facebook under the What’s the scariest thing you had to name of The Winchester do? Foodie, highlighting all the fabulous Send my first tweet. I prayed that no independent food retailers and outlets one would see it. It wasn’t long before in and around Winchester. It was a I was doing everything I could to make brilliant way to connect with local sure people did see my tweets. The businesses. whole point of being on Twitter. How important is Social Media? What’s your main inspiration from 31

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32 the valley? local businesses or in London but given The beautiful country. I often take that I can advise remotely, some come photos whilst out and about and post in from further afield. One flew in them on social media. from Bermuda to attend one of my What’s your favourite local brand? workshops! The Hambeldon. I love what they sell What are your plans for 2020? and they are brilliant at social To rebrand as Georgie Krone Social, media. Check out their Instagram launch a new website, roll out more @thehambledon workshops, put my hand up for Where do you do most of your work? speaking events. At home or in London where I attend What are you most proud of? networking events and run workshops. Being in business. You never know What’s your most successful insta what will happen when you start out. post? How do you balance work/homelife A successful recent post was a photo whist not being on your phone too of my daughter’s birthday cake in the much? shape of a guinea pig. People like cakes Last year I worked whenever I wasn’t and animals. Win win. carrying out family or school related Who are your main Clients? commitments. I’m now learning to say I started off running the social media no and aim to keep weekends and for local brands, notably Chalk Stream evenings more clear. and Tom Parker Creamery. Now What advice would you give almost all of my work is advising and someone starting out on social training businesses how to run their media? own social media. Most of them are To spend time learning from others on social media. To experiment and have fun. It gets you noticed. Fi Mcintosh Otterly adorable! This month Alice Ashcroft from The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust gives us the lowdown on how to go about spotting the elusive otter. Whether it’s a glimpse of water- webbed whiskers, a lithe body porpoising in play or the tip of a ruddering tail, the sight of a shy otter is one of the most rewarding wildlife experiences in the UK. Pushed to the brink by hunting, habitat destruction and pesticides, otters almost disappeared from rivers and waterways in England, surviving in small numbers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 33

34 rather pleasant smell, reminiscent of Jasmine tea! Footprints – otter footprints are very distinctive. Look out for two inch wide, five-toed, webbed footprints in soft mud. Sightings – if you’re really lucky, you might get to see one yourself. Otters are fast, agile swimmers and can be difficult to identify, but for the best chance of seeing one watch along the Thankfully, after huge efforts to improve water quality and the banning of chemicals such as DDT, otter numbers are increasing across the UK and the odds of spotting one are vastly improved. They are a flagship species of our wetlands and if you see an otter about, you know that the local ecosystem is relatively healthy. Here are the key signs that otters are out and about on rivers near you: Otter runs – as you walk along the river’s edge, look out for trampled edge of reedbeds where they often vegetation, and a circular gap in the hunt. Look out for a mammal about a reeds where otters slip seamlessly metre long, swimming very low in the through into the water. water with only its head showing. It’ll Spraint – otters often leave smelly often dive for fish, leaving a trail of spraint on tree roots, riverside rocks bubbles as it goes. and under bridges to mark their Good luck with your otter spotting! territory. Look closely and you’ll be Find out more about these secretive able to see what’s been on the menu, swimmers on our website: perhaps fish bones, frog bones or www.hiwwt.org.uk/wildlife-explorer. feathers. Bizarrely, otter spraint has a

Alice Ashcroft Communications Officer, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Photographs taken by Russ Valentine and Andy Rouse

35

36 Our Wild Valley - Small things classic indicator of environmental pollution. make a difference To keep hope and action at the Moss is a green, beautiful, abundant forefront of this years wave of thing - more easily noticed in winter, it environmental movement for caring for reproduces in the colder months by our planet we can use our power of stalks with small but perfect capsules choice. We can act (consumer power that contain the spores. Take a closer for one), voice our thoughts and look at those on tree stumps or in support those around us to make your garden. The names can be long choices in our lives that will care for but I remember some like a poem, our planet in the future. Can we hold from courses I joined in Betws-y-Coed, governments to account to do the Wales. right action and not hide behind ‘looking busy’ or ‘blagging it’ if they haven't got a clue what to do ? Worth a try. Our consumer power is huge plus our letters, voice, email, petition or tweet - whatever we choose. I shall keep reading and listening and sharing. My favourite thought from Greenpeace; ‘be an imperfect user of fewer plane flights, less energy, an imperfect recycler or user of less plastic’ - we don't need perfection, we just need everyone to do it’. Sophie Rogers Wildflower of the month

Hypnum cupressiforme (cypress-leaved plait-moss) shown in the photo above, on a tree trunk, forms plaits down the trunk, with tiny brown capsules (by the Mill House in Marthy Worthy). Hampshire is famous for its experts in this field. Bryophytes are excellent habitat indicators - of pH, wetness (think of the sphagnum found in the Seed heads of Clematis vitalba, Old New Forest or other such moorland Man’s Beard or Traveller’s Joy habitat where they look after huge Verity Coleman carbon sinks) and their absence is a 37 Pure circuits classes Can’t get the hang of Mondays 7.30 - 8.30pm your computer? at Itchen Abbas Village Hall Are you up for a new challenge? Suitable for all levels of fitness. No equipment or fancy gear needed, just a good sense of humour! One-to-one tuition in your own home by qualified trainer - DBS checked Run by local Personal Trainer Juliette Green. Book a FREE trial - Drop in classes only £6. Gift tokens available Email [email protected] Call Christine for details on or phone/text 07799 890860 to book your FREE place. 01962 735359

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A quick way to use leftover ham or a The discovery of a Bronze Age burial ham hock. It makes a great canape! monument and a Roman aqueduct was Serves: 4 or canapes for 20. made at a completed development of 200g plain flour two large houses. It was revealed that 2½ teaspoons baking powder the site lay immediately to the south of A little salt an area of burials first located during gas main trenching in a school playing 3 medium eggs field in 1984. Finds recorded at the 70ml olive oil time indicated a Late Roman-Early 100ml white wine Saxon date for what was clearly a 250g ham, shredded or chopped mixed rite (inhumation and cremation) 175g stoned green olives, halved or cemetery located on the edge of a quartered steep terrace cut into the hillslope and 250g grated gruyere cheese overlooking a river valley. 1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard The excavation of trial trenches in Grease a large loaf tin. Preheat the 2010 and 2011 revealed a Bronze Age oven to 220. Sieve the flour, baking pond barrow, a very rare form of burial powder and salt into a large bowl. In a monument, which likely became the smaller bowl, whisk the eggs with the focus of the Late Roman-Early Saxon olive oil, white wine and mustard, then cemetery add to the flour and mix to a smooth The site owner worked closely with batter. Add the rest of the ingredients, the archaeological advisor at pour into the greased loaf tin and Winchester City council and Historic smooth the top. Grate over a little England to develop a scheme that parmesan if you like. Bake for about 45 would ensure the preservation of the -50 minutes or until a skewer comes significant archaeological remains, with out clean. Rest for ten minutes (the new development to be located in loaf and you) before cutting into slices areas of lesser significance within the to serve warm with a salad or into site. fingers to serve as canapes. For a Two inhumation burials were found, smaller loaf halve the ingredients and their graves having been cut into the use two eggs. natural chalk, with coffin nails indicating Verity Coleman that they have been placed into coffins 39 and suggesting a Roman date. Farmers Market in Winchester Subsequent radio-carbon dating of the Sunday 9 and 23 February. skeletons indicates they date to the Parish Council Full Meeting late 4th century, with evidence of Thursday 6 February. MW. injury and joint disease. Finally, a large linear feature previously 67 Bus operated by Stagecoach. identified as a lynchet (a type of earthwork formed through ploughing) School term timetable operates was exposed and recognised as part of 1 - 14 and 24 - 28 February. the Roman aqueduct supplying the Mondays and Thursdays to Winchester: town of Roman Winchester, Venta 07:53 08:20 09:23 13:53 16:23 17:23 Belgarum. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays to Extracted from a report by Tracy Winchester: Matthews, Archaeological Officer for 07:53 08:20 09:23 11:53 13:53 16:23 Winchester City Council, Thankyou to 17:23 Alison Matthews for drawing our attention Mondays and Thursdays to Alresford: to the full version of this article which 11:49 15:19 17:11 18:09 appeared in a South Downs National Park Planning Letter) Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays to Alresford: Tiddler Joke of the month 09:49 11:49 13:19 15:19 17:11 18:09 School holiday timetable operates I just found out 17 - 21 February I’m colour blind. Mondays and Thursdays to Winchester: The diagnosis 07:53 08:20 09:23 13:53 17:23 came completely Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays to out of the Winchester: purple! 07:53 08:20 09:23 11:53 13:53 15:23 17:23 Alanna Barclay, Mondays and Thursdays to Alresford: aged 10 11:49 15:19 17:11 18:09 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays to Alresford: 09:49 11:49 13:19 15:19 17:11 18:09 Local monthly information Saturday service (same for the whole month. Itchen Valley area waste Towards Winchester: collections in February 08:23 11:23 14:23 17:23 Black bins and green bags on Fridays 14 Towards Alresford: and 28 February. Green bins on 09:19 12:19 15:19 18:09 Saturday 7 and Friday 21 February. No Sunday or bank holiday service Glass boxes on Friday 7 February. All times shown are at Itchen Abbas. Cameo Times are 5 minutes later (or earlier) Tuesday 18 February. at Easton.

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The Chestnut Ho rse rides again!

Now open after a major refurbishment. Our menu is created using ingredients from award winning local suppliers and The Chestnut Horse we have a bar that we believe Easton is the best 01962 779866 stocked in Hampshire. www.thechestnuthorse.com

41 Keylink SAS Ltd Mercedes, BMW and VAG servicing and repairs specialist. (All other makes too.) Competitive rates, full diagnostics, MOTs arranged. Air conditioning service and repair. Free collection, delivery or courtesy car. www.kelinksas.co.uk [email protected] 01256 397150 Unit 15/16 Calvert Centre, , Winchester SO21 3BN

Jemma Giles your local

Advanced Clinical Massage Therapist. Treating clients who suffer from:- *Back and neck issues * Headaches *Frozen shoulder *Tight muscles *Low energy *Tennis elbow

Call Jemma to arrange your treatment on 07752 623234 or 01962 854184 [email protected] www.massagetherapywinchester.co.uk

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Showroom Workshop

TEL 01962 771800 TEL 01962 771800 LACEYS FARM, , ALRESFORD SO24 0JT www.georgecanngardenmachinery.co.uk

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