TheThe BramleyBramleyFREE FOR BRAMLEY AND LITTLE MagazineMagazine

October 2015 2 WELCOME

In his article on page 7 John Lenton reminds us about the importance of The planning. Perhaps if I had heeded his advice I wouldn’t be up against a deadline now, struggling to write an already overdue editorial. I could blame writer’s block for my failure to start typing earlier but I think the real reason is Bramley procrastination – and Facebook. I must admit I never used to see the point of Facebook and have only recently joined. Why would I want to spend hours looking at pictures of other people’s Magazine children or their holiday snaps? How do people have time to update their status three times a day? However, now I work at home I happily spend half an for Bramley and hour catching up with everyone’s news and liking the gorgeous pictures of their children. I now see that it is a good way for families and friends to keep in touch, Little London and it can become almost addictive. As an employment lawyer, Facebook is also a good source of work. You would be surprised how many employees are October 2015 disciplined or even dismissed for comments they make about their employer or fellow employees on Facebook. Other potential employees find that despite an excellent interview they don’t get a job offer because of drunken pictures posted Chairman of Steering Group: on Facebook years ago. A lot of my friends are teachers and have decided against Rhydian Vaughan having a Facebook page. They don’t want to be “Friends” with all their pupils and [email protected] don’t want parents worrying that their son’s teacher always seems to have a glass in her hand. Editor: So Facebook has its pros and cons and it is certainly one way to find up what Rachel Barclay Smith people are up to all over the world. If you want more local news you could join [email protected] the Bramley Google Group – see page 16 for details. Alternatively, just turn to pages 14 and 18 to see details of all the events happening in Bramley in the next Schools Editor: few months. Christine Rowley our Development Manager has been very busy Emily Sykes and will soon be launching a new Bramley website. If you would prefer to be outside rather than glued to a computer screen why not Advertising: get out into the garden to help hedgehogs like the one on our front cover. See Joan Shadwell page 19 for ways you can help. [email protected] www.fromthesmallestseed.co.uk Must stop now – my Goddaughter (aged 17 with 924 friends!) has just posted a new photo on her timeline………. Treasurer: Best Wishes Alex Marianos (881665) Rachel [email protected] (Rachel Barclay Smith - Editor) Minister: Rev’d John Lenton (880570) [email protected] www.stjamesbramley.com

Bramley Parish Council Clerk: Maxta Thomas (07810 692486) [email protected] Chairman: Anthony Durrant www.bramleypc.co.uk

Artwork and Printing Ian Crossley, “Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that Greenhouse Graphics Unit 8, Cufaude Business Park, I love - that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are Cufaude Lane, Bramley, consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on RG26 5DL the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the 01256 880770 ground, that one’s very footsteps may not disturb the repose www.greenhousegraphics.co.uk of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect Material for the November issue to be anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul sent to the editor as soon as possible is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth and no later than 15 October. seeking the successive autumns.” Cover photo: George Eliot Hedgehog by Tom Marshall

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4 CHURCH SERVICES Church diary for October 2015… Come and see what it’s all about 3rd Saturday 4.30pm **Café Church** - Bramley Primary Saturday 3 October, 4.30-5.30pm School Hall in Bramley School hall, all welcome

4th Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity 9.00 Holy Communion – Little London 10.30 Matins (BCP, 1662) – Bramley

11th Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity 8.00 Holy Communion – Bramley 10.30 Holy Communion – Bramley

18th Twentieth Sunday after Trinity 8.00 Holy Communion (BCP, 1662) – Bramley 10.30 Family Service

25th Last Sunday after Trinity 8.00 Holy Communion – Bramley 10.30 Holy Communion – Bramley NB Both of today’s services will be led by the new Priest in Charge of our Benefice, the Rev’d Stephen Ball

… and into November

1st Saturday 9.00 Holy Communion – Little London 10.30 Matins (BCP, 1662) – Bramley

7th Saturday 4.30pm **Café Church** - Bramley Primary School Hall

8th Remembrance Sunday Men’s Breakfast – 8.00 Holy Communion – Bramley 8.30am, 31st October, 10.30 Remembrance Service – Bramley Cross House 15th Second Sunday before Advent 8.00 Holy Communion (BCP, 1662) – Bramley 10.30 Family Service Women’s Breakfast – 6.30pm Confirmation Service, with the 8.30am, 1st November, Bishop of Cross House Catholic services Basingstoke Church of St Bede, Popley Way, RG24 9DX Sunday Mass: 9.00 am, 11.00 am and 6.30 pm in St Bede’s Delicious full English Mass usually: Tues, Thurs and Sat 9.30 am in St Bede’s Holy Ghost Church, Sherborne Road, RG21 5TX: breakfast… interesting Mass usually: Mon, Wed, Fri 9.30 am in Holy Ghost Church speakers… good company: Phone 01256 465214 or email do come along and join us! [email protected] for information See www.stbedesbasingstoke.org.uk No charge, but donations Tadley welcome at the end. St Michael’s Church, Bishopswood Road, RG26 4HG Saturday Mass: 6.00 pm Sunday Mass: 9.30 am Parish priest: 0118 9814572 5 6 ON REFLECTION Failing to plan = planning at the Big Lunch on Clift Meadow in to fail June, at the station and the Bakery and the School about what they perceived “I sometimes wonder why it is that and what they wanted from the church. many of us find” it such a tedious chore Interestingly, most people had a fairly to plan. After all, it’s surely about positive view of the church, though no anticipating the future, getting together particular suggestions for us. One man ideas for things we’re going to want to probably represented a wide variety do, setting aside time for activities we of opinion when he responded very enjoy, avoiding unnecessary clashes honestly that he was glad to know it with events or commitments that we’ve was there, but he’d let it know when already made. And of course, it can he wanted something, and in the save a lot of money, if we’re able to meantime, leave him alone. book airline flights months in advance, Many ideas came from church or buy event tickets before the less members when we circulated an email expensive seats are sold out. Yet still, as Rev’d John Lenton questionnaire, asking what people my poor wife can testify, it’s like pulling that hunger and thirst and keeps them thought was good in the church, teeth to get me to sit down with her and coming back for more: we want long- what needed change, who weren’t we begin mapping out the months ahead term commitment, not just short-term reaching, and what more could we do? in my diary. I suppose it’s the sight of attendance. So that’s what the pMAP So with all this in hand, our team went all that free time I thought I had being process is all about, and that’s what the to work and over the last few weeks soaked up with commitments for the team has concentrated on. has put together the pMAP for Bramley foreseeable future. and Little London. There’s a summary The Diocese started it all off by setting Despite my own foot-dragging of it coming out shortly, and if you’d out four Strategic Priorities on which reluctance to plan, a little team of like to see that, it will be on the website individual churches could focus their people in our church has spent a fair – www.stjamesbramley.com – or you plans: to grow authentic disciples bit of time over the last months on a could try coming along to experience it of Jesus, helping people to grow process called Parish Mission Action at first hand, because we’re already in in their faith; to re-imagine the Planning, or pMAP in Church of the process of implementing elements Church, to make it the kind of place Englandese. No, I don’t know why the of it as we go along. that attracts and holds the ‘missing first ‘p’ is in lower case and everything generations’, especially the under-35s The challenge, as always, has been to else in upper case: perhaps the Bishop and their families; to be agents of know what to keep and what to change, knows. I’ll ask him next time we meet. social transformation, serving our recognising that you’re never going The Church of in our Diocese local communities in different ways, to please everyone. The main thing (i.e., the area of England for which the whether they are churchgoers or not (as we want to do, though, is to please Bishop of Winchester is responsible) the Bramley Magazine seeks to do); and God. The Bible has some wise things wants to reverse the decline in church to practise sacrificial living and to say about planning: my favourite is attendance that we’ve all heard about good stewardship of the money and in the book of Proverbs: “In his heart which has been taking place for almost physical resources we have as a Church, a man plans his course, but the Lord 100 years. The problem could be so as to put them to good use in our determines his steps.” That might seem summed up in that little parody of mission. They’re good priorities, and disconcerting: I find it reassuring, that “Onward, Christian Soldiers”: we needed to decide how we were going ultimately our true Mission Action “Like a mighty tortoise to apply them locally in Bramley and Plan is guided by God Himself. “Thy Moves the Church of God; Little London. kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Brothers, we are treading The process required us to start off Where we’ve always trod…” by doing something called “triple The fact is that for most of our society, listening”: listening to God, listening going to church is no longer the norm to our local community and listening – it’s the exception. Nobody goes to the Church community. To listen nowadays just for the look of the thing to God is what we try to do every time – thank God! As a church, we want to we meet in church: reading the Bible, be there for people who are spiritually discerning what God wants for His hungry and thirsty (and that includes people, praying for guidance – and very many people), and to give them ideas came out of that. Then we took an experience there which satisfies the opportunity to ask Bramley people 7 OUR COMMUNITY/LIFESTYLE his month we have a different take on the TMeet your Neighbour column. Ian Roulstone explains why the bells were ringing in Bramley to remember a resident who had died 100 years before. Bellringers up and down the country are commemorating those ringers who lost their lives in the First World War. On Wednesday 26th August a full peal – a ringing performance that involves 5000 changes or more and lasts about three hours – was rung at St James Bramley in memory of Corporal Alick William Symonds, who died during the Gallipoli campaign on 21st August 1915 at the age of 20. Cpl Symonds was a ringer at Bramley: his parents, William and Mary Symonds came from Suffolk, where Alick was born. It is not known when the family moved to Bramley, but Alick is recorded as having enlisted for the army in Basingstoke. He is commemorated at the Helles Memorial in Turkey. The band of ringers who rang the peal in August included Alan Regin. Alan is the Steward of the Rolls of Honour of ringers who died in the Great War. He has spent many years gathering information from parish registers, memorials in churches etc., to compile the Rolls and he is actively engaged in promoting the ringing of bells in memory of those ringers who gave their lives 100 years ago.

KNIT FOR PEACE badly needed by Knit for Peace. Edna next meeting will be held at 7 Ringshall The members met on August 25th in reports that there will be enough for Gardens, from 2.30pm on September Pond Close. Pat Jones was improving a further consignment to be sent off, 29th. For venue for October please and was able to join us and use her together with the teddies. The group’s contact 01256 881296. All are welcome mended arm to work away on a cream finances are at present able to meet the to join us. coloured crochet blanket. It was cost of this, as well as the airmail costs Phyl Davies also lovely to see Val Mills, who had of children’s jumpers still being sent to increasing mobility after a “hip job”. Zimbabwe. With so many needy people Jay Hudson made squares for a blanket abroad and in the UK, Knit For Peace and was accompanied by her daughter, takes everything groups such as ours in also knitting away. Brenda, one of our Bramley can produce. knitters at home had sent along some Thanks go this month to Frances for the beautifully made jumpers and will be two big bags of wool in lovely colours working on teddies. that she donated to our store. Olive and Edna was our hostess and had given Freda work on squares all the time so a over her spare bedroom to store the mix of shades is welcome. All this helps amazing amount of items accumulated towards the humanitarian work our since the last consignment was Bramley Knitting Circle is pleased to be dispatched in April. Various sizes of part of. pullovers, jumpers, waistcoats, bonnets, Thank you, Edna, for the hospitality of mittens, cot covers and blankets - all so your home and lovely refreshments. The 8 LIFESTYLE Bramley & Romans were not hugely complicated so we could Floral Society all attempt them with flowers from the supermarket and foliage and flowers In September we had a workshop by Mrs from our gardens. Bridget Warrington, assisted by Sheila. After the first three designs we had our Because of overrunning work in our usual tea and homemade cakes followed usual hall we used a smaller hall, which by two more arrangements and the raffle. we filled to capacity with members, visitors and carers from the Applewood Our next meeting is a workshop on 1st care home. Bridget`s demonstration October called `Italian Design`. Visitors was entitled `Floral Delight`. She did are always welcome so please contact five completely different arrangements, Eileen on 01256 881125 for information. some of which are shown here. They Eileen Gulston

9 OUR COMMUNITY News from the Nursery continue striving for excellence in both caring for and educating our children. Following on from our great news last If you would like to visit the Nursery month and our wonderful front cover, please contact our Nursery Manager on we wanted to share some more photos 01256 882515, or alternatively for more of the Ofsted Outstanding party we information please visit our website held in the Pavilion attended by lots www.mydaisynursery.com of our families and Linda Clarkson from Services for Young Children. Vicky Peterkin We celebrated our result by hosting an afternoon tea party with specially made Ofsted cakes and fruity biscuits, a fabulous buffet spread, a bouncy castle, soft play adventure area and lots of balloons and bunting! We definitely got into the spirit and it was a lovely opportunity for our parents and their delighted to meet so many new families. families to mix and get to know each Our rolling role-play area in pre-school other outside of the Nursery hustle and is currently a supermarket and the bustle. The team thoroughly enjoyed children are exploring different types of celebrating with our biggest supporters money and costs of items. The trolley is and relished the time to relax, have a a big favourite and so is the handbag! chat and toast their success. The toddlers and babies are focusing on The party atmosphere continued on that the topic of ‘All About Me’ and are using evening as we hired the hall for the night lots of sensory activities to understand and turned the Pavilion into a team the world around them. Our walls are pamper party. The ladies were treated to full of lovely family photos and the a salon experience, enjoying manicures; children enjoy talking to us about them pedicures; facials; massages, mountains or pointing to them and grinning. of pizza and sweets, Breakfast at At the end of September the Nursery Tiffany’s on the big screen projector and team are attending our company’s the bouncy castle until very late! We annual conference for group training soaked up the celebratory atmosphere and the opportunity to focus on our right up until we snuggled down in our common goals and strategies for the sleeping bags and air beds and collapsed coming year. Kelly will also be joining in exhaustion and post-Ofsted relief! senior colleagues across the South East At the Nursery the sunflowers may at the National Day Nursery Association be drooping slightly but our plans annual meeting in Kent setting out and activities are ever-inspiring. We industry wide approaches for the year have been inundated with visitors and ahead. Our biggest challenge in this new applications for places and have been year is to sustain our high standards and

10 OUR COMMUNITY NATIONAL WOMEN’S New challenges ahead an application form and having an REGISTER for The Priory House interview with several teachers. We had to answer a range of questions. Members of the Bramley NWR met Captains The six chosen were: on August 26th at “Vectis” The Autumn Term has started well at Phoebe Maxwell-Heron and Mollie Road. The proposed visit to Salisbury The Priory and staff and children are Cathedral was discussed and then the glad to be back, excited at the prospect Johnson for Hawk subject for the evening took over- “Old of all that the new academic year holds Guy Smith and Evie McDonnell for wives’ tales and superstitions – fact or in store. Kestrel fiction?” Some of the unlucky items that Traditionally, the Autumn Term sees Maggie Ashley and Sol Zealey Smith came up were Friday the 13th, walking many prospective parents visiting us for Falcon. under a ladder, breaking a mirror and and if your child is due to start school opening an umbrella indoors. Then One of the roles we have is collecting next September, please do give us a up all the housepoints on a Thursday there were the lucky ones - black cats, call to arrange an appointment to be afternoon, counting them and finally a rabbit’s foot, horseshoes, the number shown around. It is a very big step for telling the result to the rest of the three and touching wood. Were they children (and parents) but it is amazing just superstitions or fact or fiction? how quickly everyone settles in, as school during assembly on a Friday Well, thoughts varied according to shown by our new starters in Year R. morning. Another responsibility we members’ experiences and no final have is making speeches. We are going decisions were reached. One of the things that staff are most to be talking at a welcome speech to excited about is the new way in which the new Year R parents on the 17th Phyl served up tea and cake and it was the school will be working with our time to make our way home. of September. We are also setting House Captains. We are hoping to examples to the other children in the make much more of the role and by The next meeting will be on October school and are being very polite! 28th but please check with 01256 doing so enhance the leadership skills 881691 for subject and venue. that the children will take away with I look forward to letting you know how them to . Our new our House Captains are rising to their Phyl Davies house captains write: challenges and, next month, to writing to you about a new venture for the During the last term of Year 5, a lot of school - opening our very own branch the class decided to apply to become a house or vice captain. We had to of The Newbury Building Society! go through the process of filling out Suzanne Kelly - Headteacher

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11 OUR COMMUNITY BRAMLEY LUNCH CLUB There is much to report since July. hospitality and to the voluntary drivers In AUGUST the Rev John and Ann who transported members home. Lenton welcomed us to the Vicarage SEPTEMBER, and the club was back in Silchester Road for the favourite at the usual venue in Cross House. summer lunch meeting of the club. The day started with Maureen Cole Members, including another two expertly demonstrating how to make a newcomers, were greeted and twenty- floral arrangement from lovely foliage five of us sat down at the beautifully and white flowers, just right for a prepared tables. Pat Jones was there, dinner or tea table. There was a raffle making a steady recovery and enjoying for the arrangement and it was won by the company. After John had said grace Olive, who had much pleasure in taking the summer lunch of salmon, quiche it home. Next there was a quiz, “find and salad was served, followed by the herbs”, which was very hard to sort strawberry dessert. Wine was poured out as the letters were well mixed up. WOULD YOU LIKE TO and there were birthday wishes. A Arthur was the cleverest at this, finding PLAY BADMINTON? belated celebration for Phyl’s 91st and quite a lot of them. then a cake for Jay who claimed the Why not come along to play badminton largest strawberry with cream from the Lunch was steak and kidney pie with at the Village Hall on either Monday or topping. Robin also had a birthday, so vegetables followed by fresh fruit Tuesday evening, from 8.30 -10.00pm. it was a special day for them all. salad. There was a reminder of the new Beginners are always welcome. event at Clift Meadow on September Christine Rowley, the new village For more information please contact 23 for which transport can be arranged. development coordinator, visited and Jane Matthews on 881647. was pleased to meet the vicar and his All are welcome to Bramley Lunch wife and to invite all to a new event - Club and the next meeting will be coffee and cake, to be held each on October 8th, but please call BRAMLEY VOLUNTARY month on Wednesday mornings 01256 881053 or 884065 for CARE GROUP ANNUAL in the Clift Pavilion. catering purposes. GENERAL MEETING A big thank you to Judy for the lovely Phyl Davies This will be held on Wednesday, lunch, to hosts John and Ann for their October 14th at 2pm in Cross House. It will be an open meeting so all residents are welcome and are encouraged to attend. There will be Bramley WI reports of the previous year’s work After a very successful Fashion about lace. She told us the history and the treasurers will present audited Show in July we had a reasonably of lace - from how it started in financial reports. The committee has ten members and officers for the group quiet summer. We went to the the 1700s to the present day. She will be elected at this meeting. New Forest Show at the end of had lots of items displayed on the July and were very successful with table which we were able to handle The object of Bramley Voluntary Care our entries - a lot of golds, silver+s and wear. There were some lovely Group is to provide help for those and silvers together with reds and residents of Bramley who need pieces, which of course were very greens. We were very pleased, and assistance with transport to hospital, delicate. The meeting ended with a doctor or other medical appointments the show was excellent. raffle and refreshments. within a radius of ten miles or at the We also had a trip to the Watermill Next month we are going to make discretion of the transport coordinator, Theatre to see ‘Oliver’. We had a flower gift demonstrated by The lunch club is part of the Voluntary lunch first and then watched the a member of the Bramley and Care Group system. brilliant performance, the second Romans Floral Society, who is also Hope to see you on October 14th. half of which was outside for a a WI member. Any enquiry contact 01256 881053 while. A very good afternoon and FOR FUTURE INFORMATION Phyl Davies the weather was very kind to us. The walks on a Wednesday We are going to make small evening have now finished due Christmas Cakes and produce to the nights’ drawing in, but we at the next Farmer’s Market on Disclaimer: Bramley Magazine is intended to provide managed quite a few and didn’t Saturday 7th November at Clift readers with information they may find useful and of interest. We take all reasonable steps to keep have to cancel because of the Meadow 1pm – 4pm. Perhaps buy this information current and accurate, but errors weather. a cake for a present or purchase can occur. The editor reserves the right to make one for yourself instead of making changes to any contributions. Bramley Magazine This month we had a speaker is not responsible for and does not endorse any one. We would love to see you so talking to us about the history of advertising, products, or opinions expressed in this do come along. publication and shall not be liable to any party as a lace. Gwynedd is a WI member result of information published herein. herself and is very passionate All photographs are included with kind permission Jane Matthews and may not be reproduced.

12 OUR COMMUNITY Welcome back to a new academic year at Little Apples It has been great to welcome back sure the step up to school is not all our stayers from last year and too daunting. marvel at how much they have grown In other news, our Sponsor a Chair and changed in six weeks. We had appeal has gone very well. We have many more stayers than usual this 38 new chairs being sponsored by September so we have really been able families who either have or have had to hit the ground running. It has also children at Little Apples, by villagers been lovely to welcome lots of new and by the customers of the OneStop. children and families to Little Apples Eventually we hope to raise enough for and put some faces to names. These 60 new child sized chairs to replace first few weeks, while the children are ours, which are very old and somewhat getting to know each other, we are battered. Thank you if you have focusing on a theme of “All about me” donated through us or the shop. If you - finding out about families, homes, would like to sponsor a chair at £10.00 pets and our favourite things. We each, please drop in the money in an have started this week by making a envelope marked “Chair” and with handprint tree, which is on display in your family name. (Cheques payable to the main hall, and by sending home Little Apples of Bramley.) hearts for our special people. The children have also enjoyed tidying up If you have a child eligible to start our lovely garden which has thrived this academic year, we recommend over the summer. In the photos we can reserving your preferred sessions as see Ollie has helped picking herbs and soon as possible. This is easy Michael is King of the Castle! to arrange by contacting Jo or Sian on 01256 886408 or For the second year running we have [email protected] also sent senior members of staff to school to assist with the transition to school for all our Little Apples who left in July. Staff have enjoyed the chance to see the children again and make

13 WHAT’S ON Bramley Village Events Christine Rowley, Bramley Development Manager, has been working with the two village trusts, Clift Meadow and Bramley Village Hall, to bring lots of different kinds of events, fun and entertainment to Bramley. This exciting list of local activities for families and individuals can also be seen on our new website www.bramleyhampshire.org.uk

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14 LITTLE LONDON/OUR COMMUNITY Pamber Parish Council Notes for Bramley Show Little London What a scorcher it was for the Bramley The next meeting of Pamber Parish Council will be held at Show this year! Our thanks go to 7.30pm on Monday, 19th October 2015 in the Memorial all who entered and supported this Hall, . All parishioners are welcome to attend. sociable village event, which is always Details of meetings are displayed on the notice boards and enjoyable. Our sincere thanks also go on the website www.pamber-pc.gov.uk to the stalwart tea ladies and to the Rev John Lenton for the prize giving E.A.Knight (Clerk) (01256) 882571 - both absolutely crucial roles for this village event. Although the numbers of entries were Bramley Village Hall down a little, we are hoping that next During the month of August you Two major improvements to the year this will be rectified as we are might be forgiven for assuming that facilities the Village Hall can offer planning to have special events to nothing is happening at the Village to hirers were also installed. The celebrate our 30th anniversary! In Hall. Nothing could be further from Village Hall can now boast a state early July 2016 we would like to have the truth. August is the month when of the art sound system which has some open gardens in the village - we essential repairs, major cleaning and been installed in the Main Hall have a few possibilities already but redecoration take place ready for the and Committee Room. With the is there anyone else who would be return of most of our regular users capability to distribute sound from interested in doing this? The more in September. Helen Willans, our microphones, CDs, iPods, mp3 variety we have, the more interesting it Caretaker/Cleaner and her husband players, SD cards, laptops/computers will be for visitors. Tim spent many hours cleaning, and even televisions through eight To coincide with this event we decorating, stocktaking and carrying speakers spread throughout the intend to have a village scarecrow- out many small tidying up tasks in two rooms no-one will be able to making event. Everyone can enter - and around the building and grounds. complain that they can’t hear! A organisations for the young and older, New coat hooks at adult height have hearing loop has also been installed families, streets or individuals! I am been fitted in the Committee Room, in the Main Hall for those with sure that many of you have seen places a new noticeboard has been fitted in hearing difficulties. This system where this has been done and it is fun. the Entrance Hall for use by the Trust was used to very good effect at the We are aiming for the scarecrows to and hirers, the tables and chairs for Bramley Show on 22nd August. be displayed altogether for the open the Main Hall and the Bramley Room The second major improvement takes garden weekend and then to be brought were cleaned and checked for wear the Village Hall into the 21st century to the village hall for the Bramley Show and a myriad of other small jobs with the installation throughout the in August. More details of these events done. Our maintenance contractor, whole building of a high speed Wi-Fi will be given in the New Year. PSC Services, were to be seen hard Internet connection delivering up to So you can see that 2016 is going to be at work repairing plumbing and 50Mbps. If you are thinking of hiring a busy year for us and if you think that electrical problems, installing a you can offer any time, expertise or new light and new fire exit door and the Village Hall do ask about using ideas to help make these ideas come to putting right all those small jobs these new improvements to enhance fruition then please contact either Anne that had built up. The Trustees wish your booking. on 881691 or Gillie on 881529 - we to register their thanks for the hard Philip Lewis, Village Hall Trust would love to hear from you. work these people have put in. Treasurer Frances Lewis

15 OUR COMMUNITY THE BRAMLEY which could have a huge impact on Click on the “Apply for membership—“ GOOGLE GROUP our village. This was well advertised link on the Google Group. Around 90 If you have a Google Mail account and Many people living in Bramley are people attended, but it might have been are signed in it will set this as your not aware that there is a thriving hundreds if we had more people signed Google Email Group in our village. It up to the group. email address. is an extremely useful resource where You will get a window that asks for a residents can email each other about If you would like to join then email few details. upcoming events and interesting news, Maxta Thomas, the Parish Clerk: swop advice, offer items for sale, and [email protected] or follow You should select your email delivery also ask for and offer information the instructions below. preference - no updates, daily and recommendations about local Give it a go, sign up, it’s free, and keep summary, 25 batch summary, notify for businesses or services. up to date with all that is going on in new messages. Bramley! Currently there are about 200-300 You will now have to wait for approval. people signed up to the Bramley Google How to join the Bramley This is automatic and will not take group, but there is no limit to the long. number we could have. More people Google Group would mean more helpful input, and If you have a Google email account: If you don’t have a Google email possibly better turnout for the various Go to groups.google.com Village Events that take place during account: the year. Search for “Bramley” in the box next to The process is similar, but you will not the Google logo You can receive the emails as they are get the ability to change your settings. sent, or in batches once a week if that The top listed result is bramley@ After searching for Bramley in groups. suits you better. I think that in a village googlegroups.com. Select it. google.com you will see a “Subscribe to as spread out as Bramley this group You will see a page that says “You must this group” link instead of “Apply for is particularly useful, with many of us be a member—“ membership” living nearly 2 miles apart at different ends of the village! There was an Extraordinary Meeting of [email protected] the Parish Council 10th September, to discuss recent Planning Applications

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16 SPECIAL FEATURE arah Hodnett had years We used English text books, but of experience teaching because their curriculum is different I often had to work from a more basic Smaths in England and level. I was never sure whether this was Scotland, but when she spent because the students hadn’t learned a year teaching in Sweden what they were taught or whether they she found things were very had not been taught it at all. Anyway I found that most of the 15 year olds different……… had not any knowledge of algebra! It was quite a surprise to find myself However the students were all very teaching in Sweden. I had taught in keen to learn. It was expected that England and in Scotland, different teachers would provide a homework systems but many similarities, so I was club once a week for their subject, but amazed by the difference in Sweden. many children came at other times or However the maths was the same, I’m before lessons started, for extra help. glad to say. They seemed surprised and delighted that staff were willing to give the time. The school at which I taught was the 23rd to be opened by IES. The timetabling was interesting, with equivalent of SATS and GCSEs. The Internationella Engelska Skolan is no fixed times for lessons or breaks, so staff of the school administer them, a company that runs schools for the some were learning whilst others had all on the same day, mark them, and state in Sweden, and has made money break, or lunch. Some days students then give the grades. Although there doing so. It sets up schools and anyone had four lessons and then lunch and are gradings from the tests a teacher who applies may go, unless it is full - went home. School started for staff and can give a different grade if there is selection is not allowed. Our school at pupils at the time of their first lesson, evidence. Teachers are trusted to be Skårholmen was new and immediately and ended when no further lessons professional. the waiting list was as big as the school. were timetabled. Staff were supposed I was horrified by some of the The company do not own or build to do a 37 hour week but anything comments of students. One was schools, they rent schools or in some more was to be reimbursed with time surprised that I explained ideas cases office space and arrange it to or money. This included parents’ days, before letting them start working on fit their requirements. We were in an though they were during the day and examples, another had never had a office block with a fire extinguisher all parents have a legal right to time off teacher who went around the class company and a tool shop around us. to attend. to help. The parents all seemed very The draw back to this was a lack of All the students wanted to do well. appreciative too, and at the end of the outside space, inside we had the widest The grades were assessed by the year it seemed that all the parents were corridors I’d ever seen. The classrooms teachers, however any student failing in school for the last morning to bring were a good size too. an assessment has the right to be presents and flowers. As I was leaving Skårholmen has a high proportion reassessed. Any assessments handed for England the next day I had to give of immigrants, so our students had in before grading must be considered the flowers away - I couldn’t have a varied selection of mother tongue and so theoretically a student could do carried them home anyway. I wasn’t languages. We taught in Swedish or nothing all year and hand everything in the only teacher with that wonderful English, aiming for about 50% of each, on the last day. Thankfully this didn’t problem, all the staff were much but in the first year when I was there it happen while I was there. At years appreciated by students and parents – was nearer 70% taught in English. 6 and 9 there are national tests, the a marvellous feeling.

17 WHAT’S ON Clift Meadow Update and which was played in glorious sunshine of Clift Meadow to run a Fun Day on News of a Fun Day throughout. Like bees round honey the St George’s Day 2016, the traditional children swarmed over the ball and the date that Bramley celebrated in the There are many who would be able occasional woop of excitement denoted past. The 2014 Fun Day was a great to mark the passing of the seasons that the ball had somehow been run into success with literally thousands of you with some acute observations on the goal. We hope this new initiative will enjoying yourselves on Clift Meadow mother nature and the clues she provide a gentle focal point for this age Park. It would be great to do so again provides us - sloes and blackberries group and while parents won’t get the but for this to happen we need help. If are in abundance on Clift Meadow time off, as spectating is obligatory, they you believe you can offer some time and Park for example. But for those of us will be able to hand the reins over to the thoughts to helping make the Fun Day who are less observant the cricketers referee to ensure order. a success please contact Eileen Gulston have packed up for the year and the A further development will be the on 01256 881125. Can you tell her what footballers are back. opening of the Pop Up Café on Sundays. you are prepared to do? It could be as cricketers have provided us with classic By the time you read this the café will simple as offering two hours help on English bucolic scenes throughout the already have started. In part to coincide the day to run a stall or tidy up after summer months and it was great to see with the footballers’ parents’ need for the event. Or if you have more time to the pitch being put to good use. a revitalising cup of tea and slice of give then we need a Committee to run (If there were villagers who wanted to cake but also because the Trustees felt the day. Are you prepared to seek out start a cricket team rest assured that we it provided another opportunity for sponsorship from local companies or would love to hear from you.) villagers to meet up and enjoy some perhaps twist arms to get raffle prizes? Meanwhile we are delighted to welcome downtime over the weekend. There is a lot to be done and the more the advent of junior football for the This idea of meeting up brings me people who can offer time the better the under 10s. On Sunday 13th September neatly to our Fun Day. Plans are afoot day will be. they held their inaugural match, by members of the Church and Trustees Simon Gill

18 SPECIAL FEATURE Wild about hedgehogs, and nesting sites – racking up between To find out more about hedgehogs and 1-2km per night. Get together with your Hedgehogs are now disappearing how to make your garden a little wilder, neighbours to cut a 13cm2 (5in2) hole from our countryside as fast as tigers visit http://www.wildaboutgardens. in your fence or dig a channel beneath are worldwide – a shocking fact for org.uk. As well as supporting garden boundaries to connect your a species that was once common. hedgehogs in your own garden, why gardens. You can pledge to make a However many of our common native not join or donate to the Trust so that hole in your fence and map it at www. wildlife - hedgehogs, house sparrows, we can continue to make space for hedgehogstreet.org and starlings, for example – are all wildlife in the countryside and in our in decline for a variety of reasons, 2) Avoid the use of pesticides towns and cities? Visit www.hiwwt.org. including loss of habitat. uk for more on how you can help us Ditch the slug pellets and avoid the use While hedgehogs are suffering in rural of pesticides. Hedgehogs are natural protect wildlife. areas, some are taking sanctuary in pest controllers and need a plentiful many of our suburban neighbourhoods. and varied supply of invertebrate prey Hedgehog facts With some 15 million gardens in the to stay healthy. UK, covering an area larger than all Some hedgehogs are blonde! This the UK’s National Nature Reserves put 3) Provide nesting sites colour mutation is called leucism together, we have a great opportunity Log and leaf piles, wilderness areas and and is thought to be caused by rare right on our doorsteps to help the purpose-built hedgehog homes make recessive genes. humble hog. great places for hedgehogs to nest and On average hedgehogs live for 2 Wild About Gardens Week is an hibernate. Fallen leaves also make the years in the wild, but some have annual celebration of garden wildlife. perfect nesting material, so make sure lived up to 10! This October we at the Wildlife you don’t clear all of these away. Trusts are teaming up with the You can even try and make your own An adult hedgehog has up to 7000 Royal Horticultural Society and the hedgehog house with nothing more spines and a small, hidden tail. Hedgehog Street campaign for Wild than a cardboard box, newspapers, About Gardens Week, an opportunity grass and a carrier bag. General to raise awareness of the hedgehog’s wildlife-friendly gardening tips, like Deborah Griffiths plight and encourage everyone to look using mulch and compost, allowing Education and Engagement Assistant out for hedgehogs in our gardens. areas to grow wild, and growing bee- There are some simple steps you can friendly flowers also help. take to help hedgehogs: Hedgehogs might be declining, but with some small steps, even in the 1) Create hedgehog highways smallest of urban green spaces, Hedgehogs need to be able to roam together we can make sure hedgehogs far and wide in search of food, mates have a home in our gardens.

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20 LIFESTYLE Ramblers Association THE INTERNATIONAL The North Hampshire Downs Ramblers group is part of the Ramblers ASSOCIATION OF Association. We walk mostly in LIONS CLUBS Hampshire and the surrounding countryside. In the last few months our group has enjoyed both walks and social activities. The group has started to walk the London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP) in stages of about 12 miles. Taking the London LOOP is a great way to get to World Sight Day know London better. Made up of 24 mostly flat or gently sloping sections, its 8 October - 9am - 3pm combination of beautiful open spaces like Hainault Forest Country Park and Bushy Park, historic buildings (Hall Festival Place Place and Black Jack’s Lock & Mill), makes this an enjoyable walk. 45 million people in the world are blind We have also enjoyed our annual trip to Hengisbury Head and lunch on the 90% live in areas with little or no access to treatment quayside, which is always a great day 80% of blindness is curable and preventable out. Other walks included Tangley, Longparish and many other more 66% of the blind are women or girls local areas. As well as the walks, the group also Following the success of the two previous years, Basingstoke Lions Club is again enjoys some social activities. We inviting people to bring along any old, unused spectacles to their stall in Queen recently had a Ramble and Roast where Anne’s Square on 8 October, where they can also collect information leaflets, the group enjoyed a 4 mile walk followed receive advice on help available locally and see small items of equipment that by a Roast dinner in a local hostelry. We assist those with impaired vision. also had our Annual Grand picnic where 34 members enjoyed a 5 mile walk “Lenny the Lion” will stroll through the centre, bearing a sign publicising the followed by a group shared picnic which presence of his fellow Lions and directing people (silently of course!) to his stand was enjoyed by all. There is a regular and a free raffle for a chance to win 2 tickets to one of the Lions’ ‘boys’ lunch at various local hostelries upcoming concerts. and not to be outdone the ladies also Various local organisations are supporting the event through the supply of had a walk followed by a cream tea this literature and equipment, and opticians in the town are promoting the event also. summer which was enjoyed by all the Lions Clubs International is one of the main organisations working with the ladies who attended. World Health Organisation to combat this terrible scourge on human lives. The group have an active path patrol Lions have promoted education programmes, campaigns such as Sight First and group, who report problems to the Sight First II and other vision screening programmes. They have funded the local council and also do some work provision of Water Wells, Eye Banks and Eye Camps at which sufferers can be on the paths, which can be as varied as treated for cataract, trachoma, glaucoma etc. checking waymarking and replacing 30 years ago they developed SPECKTREK, a programme for recycling eyeglasses; waymarking discs, minor clearing or last year over 325,000 pairs collected last year across Great Britain and Ireland even repairing stiles and gates. To date alone were sent to eye camps in Africa, India and Eastern Europe in partnership this group has replaced 20 gates in with Medico Lions Clubs de France. conjunction with the local council. Helen Keller, the American author, who was born both blind and deaf, once If you are interested in finding out more challenged a group of Chicago Lions to become ‘Knights of the Blind’. She about the North Hampshire Downs famously said “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”. group, there is more information on our Website. http://www.ramblersnhd. hampshire.org.uk. If you are new to walking and want to give us a try, or already walk, you would be given a very warm welcome by the Group. We hope to see you soon! If you are interested in joining the PLEASE, BRING US YOUR OLD SPECS ! Ramblers we suggest you come along Contact: Ann Vicars/[email protected] for a couple of walks with the group first to get a taster. Membership details are Ordinary people – amazing things available from the Ramblers’ national website: www.ramblers.org.uk 21 22 OUR COMMUNITY Probus Summer Pub Lunch The Queen’s College Arms on the Aldermaston Road at You may find lots of mistakes Pamber End was the venue for this year’s Summer Pub in the Bramley Magazine but Lunch for the Probus Club of Basingstoke. Thirty one members/wives/friends enjoyed a convivial lunch at this at least they are not quite as annual event which has been on the Probus calendar for bad as these…… many years. Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance The venue is the choice of the Vice President, made several to get rid of those things around the house not worth months before the occasion, and therefore he is already keeping. Bring your husbands. installed as the President at the time of the lunch. The sermon this morning; “Jesus walks on the water”. More information about the Probus Club can be seen on The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus” their web site www.probusbasingstoke.webs.com or phone their secretary Paul Flint on 07770 886521. The Fasting and Prayer Conference includes meals

Don’t let worry kill you off- let the church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang “I will not pass this way again”, giving obvious pleasure to the congregation

The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing “Break forth into Joy”

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married in church on October 24th. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.

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23 OUR COMMUNITY BASINGSTOKE CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP In welcoming 52 members to the monthly meeting held on 2nd September John Lambeth, the chairman, commented on the recent enjoyable visit to Sissinghurst Castle and Gardens. Christine Broadbent gave her welfare report and Tony Brazier, the Secretary, reminded everyone of the forthcoming Mystery Trip in October which includes lunch and tea.

Views of Sissinghurst The guest was Jean Sheppard who presented a 50 slide pictorial quiz covering a wide range of subjects from art, geography and history through to horticulture, sport and zoology. Her detailed and often amusing description of the answers made up for the fact that no one managed a full score. At the next meeting on Wednesday 7th October the speaker will be Rachel Baughen from the charity “Kipepeo Designs”. The group meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Brookvale Village Hall from 10 am – 12 noon and all retired Civil Servants and their partners are welcome. Further details about meetings can be obtained from the Secretary Tony Brazier on 01256 418770 or at [email protected] and if you would like to join us on any of our trips please contact Kate Lambeth on 01256 328791. David Cowling

24 INFORMATION New Clinical Chair for social care as well as the voluntary sector North Hampshire Clinical and has reminded me that patients rely on us working together.” Commissioning Group “I have a clear vision of a truly integrated North Hampshire Clinical care pathway for all our patients. I Commissioning Group (CCG) today recognise that the only way that this (1st September 2015) announced the vision can be fulfilled is by engaging appointment of Dr Nicola Decker to the meaningfully with every GP in our CCG position of Clinical Chair (Interim). Dr Things to check when you Decker takes over this key position from and with all involved in our patients’ have rent arrears care, including patients themselves. Dr Sam Hullah who has returned to Getting into rent arrears can be Encouragingly I have already been practice full time as a GP. distressing. But don’t ignore the assured of support by many of my situation. If you don’t take action to deal Dr Decker will continue to work part colleagues as I firmly believe that any with the arrears quickly, you could end time as a GP at the surgeries in Overton future success can only be delivered by a up losing your home. and Oakley. team effort. I am committed to working Dr Decker qualified at the University of within a budget which must deliver value You will need to contact your landlord the Witwatersrand in South Africa in for money and in an organisation with as soon as possible and try and make 1990 and completed her post-graduate clear values, strong governance and arrangements to pay back what you owe. GP training in England in 1995. She structure with an ethos of transparency” However, before you do this, you should joined the Oakley and Overton GP Dr Matt Nisbet, chair of the CCG check that you owe all the money your Practice in March 2002 after moving landlord says you do. Membership Senate said; to Hampshire from Bury St Edmunds You might not be responsible for all the “Dr Nicola Decker is an experienced and became a partner in 2006. She was arrears if: appointed as a NICE fellow in 2013 and and respected local GP. The CCG needs this role has facilitated the Dementia a strong clinical leader to continue its • you’re not the tenant or someone Friendly Practice initiative which she work to improve the health services else you live with owes the money launched with Overton and Oakley provided to the 218,000 patients living • your landlord has not recorded all surgeries in April 2014. This work has in North Hampshire. I am sure Nicola your rent payments correctly will be an excellent leader and clinical now been cascaded by the Wessex • you took over the tenancy from Academic Health Science Network and advocate. I know she enjoys widespread someone else and your landlord is is strongly supported by the Royal support and the GPs and patients trying to charge you for rent from College of General Practitioners and of North Hampshire are extremely before you took over the tenancy Alzheimer’s society. fortunate that she has agreed to take up this position.” • you’re not getting all the Housing Dr Nicola Decker said; Benefit you should be. Graham Wallis the Accountable Officer “I am very excited about this opportunity Check through all the situations listed for North Hampshire CCG said; to lead our CCG, to improve outcomes on this page to see whether you think for our patients and to deliver the best “We are very pleased to be able to any of them applies to you. If you think value for money. Over the past nine appoint a new clinical chair of Dr they do, you might need to get help years I have developed my leadership Decker’s ability to take over from Dr before you contact your landlord to skills through experience gained as my Sam Hullah. To secure the appointment arrange to pay back the arrears. practice’s management partner and of someone with Dr Decker’s skills and commissioning lead as well as in my role You can get help with your rent arrears commitment is a real benefit to both the from a Citizens Advice Bureau. as Dementia Lead for our CCG.” CCG and the North Hampshire health “I know the value of working with care system. I am looking forward to Need further information or Help? others to improve care pathways for our working alongside Nicola in a true Basingstoke Citizens Advice Bureau, patients. My experience in Dementia partnership bringing the best out of the (located within Basingstoke Discovery has given me the opportunity of working CCG’s clinical and managerial skills as Centre) can help you with queries you with primary care colleagues and we lead North Hampshire CCG out of have on budgeting, benefits and debt, partners in secondary, community and recovery.” relationships, immigration, employment issues, and consumer rights. We operate a drop-in service 10-3.30 Monday to Friday (except Thursday which is pre-booked appointments only) and Saturday mornings 10-12. Wednesday evenings we are open until 6.30pm The Advice Line telephone number is 0344 111 306 The Basingstoke CAB website can be found at www.basingstokeandtadleycab.org.uk Online help from Citizens Advice can be found at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk 25 26 BEAUTIFUL BRAMLEY phids may be tiny but female process – normally fertilised aphid way round this is the adoption of as John Stubbs eggs being laid in the autumn, but colonies of a particular bacterium: give fatherless clonal eggs being laid in the them an allowance of sugar, and they explains they can do A spring. Must be awful confusing, really. provide the essential amino acids with a lot of damage Sit under a lime tree, though, or just which to build proteins. It seems that The little guy in the photo stopped park your car underneath, and you’ll a couple of hundred million years ago, my car the other day. Actually it see one of their effects: a fine rain of some of these bacteria hitched a ride in probably wasn’t just him, he and a lot sticky sugary drops – clear initially, but an aphid, and they’ve stayed there ever of his mates must have got together; soon becoming black as moulds form. since, passing through the generations after all he’s not more than a couple This is honeydew, of course. But isn’t it unchanged inside specialised cells. of millimetres long. And I suppose a bit odd that a mite like this can afford So, a clever if sometimes annoying to dump sugar, when nearly all other he (or she) don’t really apply, either: little bug. Bit worse than that, in fact. animals spend their life trying to make but ‘guy’ is gender neutral nowadays, A case could be made for its being a sugars to fuel their bodies? The only isn’t it? Thing is, being tiny doesn’t major killer of humankind, primarily time I’ve thrown honey away was at a always mean a tiny effect on things, and because it doesn’t sterilise its mouth flight check-in, when they reckoned we neither does it mean you’ll only have a before eating. This means that not only simple, straightforward lifestyle. might try something subversive with it, presumably leading to a sticky end for does it weaken the plant by sucking the The aphid in question lived on a big us all. sap, but it becomes a major vector of lime tree round here. Come June plant viruses. One of the ironies of the and July their numbers explode. The The thing is, aphids have it pretty easy. Irish potato famine was that the staple weather’s suddenly right, and the food They don’t have to synthesise sugars, crop on which the population depended they just stick a tube into a plant’s sap supply arrives all at once – obviously was the cloned potato – that is, grown and suck. But not every insect can work the best time to get multiplying. from the previous year’s spuds, not this: one of the reasons that we use Without the time-consuming business the plant’s seeds, and just one variety sugars to preserve fruit in jams is that of finding a mate, fertilising eggs, laying used. Thus if the blight fungus killed concentrated solutions of it suck out them and making sure they hatch, the one potato, it could kill every potato aphids’ ploy of parthenogenesis make a water – without which nothing can live for long. So, the essence of the aphid’s plant in the country. All it needed was lot of sense, though it may be less fun. something to spread it – and rapidly They can fix live birth of identical little strategy is running a very fine balancing act between getting a free supply of cloning aphids were just that. A million mini-aphids, all on their own, each a deaths followed… though of course clone of the single parent. And each sugar and being de-hydrated by the there was a lot more to this sad story. one born already carries more mini- stuff. Hence output almost, but not clones inside – sort of living Russian quite, equals input. Plant sap comes But how come aphids stopped my car? dolls with legs. Wings are optional. If in different strengths, so choosing the The problem here was lots of honeydew the weather’s ok, and there’s food here, right amounts of the different types, on the gravel drive – the stones got so don’t bother. When times get harder, and leaking the excess, means that they sticky that they clung to the tyres and they can be ordered up and hey, it’s a get the free lunch. showered down over the brakes. It just flying pest as well. And if it suits, they As humans have found out, though, takes a few to land on a brake pad and it can run the more conventional male/ you can’t live on sugars alone. The sounds like a banshee.

27 Clinical Negligence Law: The Costs Debate

The Government’s austerity programme has had an The law on costs in clinical negligence cases is a impact on personal injury and clinical negligence law current issue. Representatives from the Association of and has generally made it more difficult for Claimants Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) are “in negotiation” to recover the level of damages that, until recently, with Government authorities who insist on imposing they might otherwise have expected to receive. fixed fees being paid to clinical negligence lawyers (claims worth up to £250,000). If fixed fees are Most personal injury lawyers continue to offer to payable, any shortfall in costs will more than likely act for Claimants on a “no win, no fee” basis: if the have to be paid by a successful Claimant. claim fails, the Claimant pays the lawyer nothing, but if the claim is successful, payment becomes due (a APIL representatives argue that a change of attitude Claimant therefore only has to make a payment after in the NHS is the solution: not only could it make he/she has received compensation). Prior to April 2013 life better for vulnerable patients but it could also a Claimant could generally expect to receive 100% curtail costs, leading to savings and improved service. of any damages awarded as the insurer was expected Arguing that there has been no negligence right up to to pay all legal costs and damages. In April 2013, the day of trial and then making a concession so often however, fixed fees were introduced in personal injury results in unnecessary and often considerable expense. cases and Claimants are now generally expected to It would also encourage the NHS to learn from its make a contribution to any shortfall in costs recovered. mistakes so that the same injuries can be avoided.

I would not usually object to asking a Claimant to If the Government wishes to minimise expenses, make a contribution towards his/her legal costs. If an alternative consideration would be to impose I have to take my car into a garage for work to be fixed costs in cases where negligence is promptly done, I would not expect the work to be done for free admitted. Both parties are then winners: the NHS has so, as with any service, why should the provision of to pay only fixed costs and the Claimant can proceed legal service be any different? But what if costs have, in the knowledge that he/she will duly receive the arguably, been incurred unnecessarily, because of an compensation he/she deserves. It also avoids those unjustified denial of liability? Is it fair to ask a client situations where an injured person spends years trying to make a contribution when costs have been incurred to prove there has been negligence, running up costs collating evidence to prove a case when a concession all the time, only for liability to be admitted at the should have probably been made much earlier? eleventh hour.

Reading Office 17 Castle Street Reading West Berkshire RG1 7SB TEL: 0118 958 5611

Offices also at Tadley, Staines and Richmond EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.rowberrymorris.co.uk

28 LIFESTYLE Cat carers desperately needed for local One cat currently requiring a new feline charity home is Willow who is a lovely friendly cat. He is approximately Cats Protection’s Basingstoke & District Branch is looking to 3-4 years old and is really recruit fosterers to care for unwanted and abandoned cats affectionate and loves a fuss. He while they wait to find a new owner. is looking for a new home without Cat fostering is hands-on cat welfare work looking after felines very young children. on a short-term basis, either in cat pens in their garden or a If you are interested in becoming spare room in their home. a volunteer for Cats Protection’s The branch, which is run entirely by volunteers, needs people Basingstoke & District Branch then who can offer a temporary home to one or more cats whilst please call 0845 177 1364 or email they get back on their paws. adoptacat-basingstoke@hotmail. co.uk}. “Cat fosterers play a vital role in our charity by caring for cats in their own home until a new owner can be found,” said Hilary Wells, Branch Co-ordinator. “No special equipment is needed but cat fosterers do need to have either a spare room or an area in their garden where a cat pen can be housed and, of course, a love of cats is a must. The charity will provide plenty of assistance and support materials for all fosterers. “Offering a temporary home to a cat in need can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and becoming a volunteer for Cats Protection is a great way to meet new friends – both human and feline!” Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and the Basingstoke & District Branch is part of the charity’s nationwide network of 250 volunteer-run branches and 31 adoption centres that together help over 194,000 cats and kittens each year.

CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME “A realistic alternative to residential care”

 Personal care  Trips to see friends &  Companionship relatives, sightseeing and  Help with getting up and leisure activities going to bed  Overnight Care  Shopping  Live In Care  Cleaning  Respite Care  Washing & ironing  Preparing meals

All our care staff are police checked and fully trained to provide a safe, efficient and friendly service. We provide care for everyone; people who have learning or physical disabilities, short term respite and post operative support and of course care for older people, those with dementia and life-limiting illnesses.

Call and talk to one of our friendly, professional team on 01256 762324 or email [email protected] 29 WHAT’S ON July events at the Willow Basket Workshop Join the Basingstoke Caribbean Society & Friends for story telling, singing and Basingstoke Discovery Saturday 10 October 10 am -4pm £40 music in this lively interactive session Centre Under the guidance of local basket about life in the Caribbean. To book a place, you can order online maker, Judith Needham, you will from https://www.hants.gov.uk/ spend a fun day learning a new skill Macro Photography shop/home.php ,or visit Basingstoke and will go home with a beautiful and Workshop Discovery Centre in Festival Place, or useful basket in natural willow. This call 01256 478670. Advance booking is might be a shallow fruit basket or a Enjoy the close up world strongly recommended. waste paper basket, the choice is yours. Saturday 24 October 10am – 4pm £35 You will be using the ‘stake and strand’ To find out more about Basingstoke Get the most out of your camera technique. Discovery Centre and Hampshire settings and functions and enjoy the Libraries visit www.hants.gov.uk/bsdc Make a Crochet world of close up photography. Suitable http://www3.hants.gov.uk/library/ for DSLRS and Bridge cameras, find bsdc.htm Cushion Cover out how to make use of ISO, aperture For beginners and intermediates and composition and depth of field. https://twitter.com/BasingstokeDC Wednesday 14, 21 & 28 October Make sure you bring a fully charged https://www.facebook.com/ (3 week course) battery with your camera, empty BasingstokeDC 10:30am – 12:30pm £40 memory card and handbook if you have one. A macro lens is useful but not essential. Bombs & Riots Half Term Basingstoke Walk In a Galaxy, Friday 2 October 10am £5 far far away… A wander around old Basingstoke looking at the effects of war and Family Craft & Film Screening disturbance on the town. Phil Howe Monday 26 October and John Hopkins will take you Friday 30 October backwards and forwards between Saturday 31 October the 17th and 20th centuries, even Children’s Craft 10am FREE explaining conflict in the town in the Come and learn all the basic stitches in Ages 5 - 12 19th century. Meet at the Information a supportive and friendly environment. Desk and please dress for the weather. Film Screening Learn how to read a pattern. The tutor 2pm FREE Ages 5 and up will bring materials for the first session Film Screening and will then advise students on what May the force be with you this half & Panel Discussion to buy. Email barbara@letscrochet. term as we eagerly await the next with The Basingstoke Caribbean co.uk if you have any queries. instalment of this film franchise. Relive the excitement of the original Society and Friends www.LetsCrochetUk.wordpress.com trilogy with your children with free film www.facebook.com/LetsCrochetUk Monday 5 October 2pm Free screenings and craft activities. The story of Martin Luther King’s Part of Black History Month campaign to secure equal voting Half Term Film Screening rights via an epic march from Selma Creepy Crawlies to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. & Panel Discussion With Geoff Read Riveting drama starring David with The Basingstoke Caribbean Oyelowo. Society and Friends Wednesday 28 October There will be a post screening Monday 19 October 2pm Free 9:30am, discussion led by The Basingstoke 10.30am & Caribbean Society & Friends A young African American woman must overcome the brutal hardships 11.30am Part of Black History Month of her circumstances to find herself (Three and her freedom. Based on the award sessions to Mary Seacole winning novel by Alice Walker. choose from) Tuesday 6 October There will be a post screening £3 Ages 5-10 2pm £3 discussion led by The Basingstoke Starring Mrs Seacole wanted Caribbean Society & Friends Giant Stick to join Nightingale’s Insects and Land Snails, a Chile Rose nursing party but Part of Black History Month Tarantula and more, children will love she was rejected. Stories from the this creepy-crawly experience led by a Inevitably there are Caribbean retired Zoo-Keeper, discovering lots comparisons with of information about their camouflage, Florence Nightingale, with Miss Lou how they protect themselves and how both the ladies providing great service Saturday 24 October 11am FREE they hunt for food. Sessions last in the Crimean War. Ages 5 - 12 45 minutes. 30 ADD CHARACTER TO YOUR HOME THIS WINTER TRADITIONAL OR CONTEMPORARY MORSO WOOD BURNING STOVES

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32 33 WHAT’S ON

Mondays Tuesdays Thursdays Parish Council Meetings 0-5 club Clift Pavilion Bramley & Romans Floral Society 3rd Monday of the month Dance Club (Petite School) 1st Thursday Village Hall Village Hall Village Hall Pilates Clift Pavilion Slimming World Clift Pavilion WI 2nd Thursday Village Hall Beavers School Hall Short Mat Bowls Village Hall Lunch Club Cubs Brocas Hall Badminton Village Hall 2nd Thursday Cross House Badminton Village Hall Karate Primary School Hall WI Lite Stay Active As Bell Ringing St James’s 4th Thursday Clift Meadow Pavilion You Age Class Legs, Bums & Tums – 11am Brocas Hall 9am Clift Meadow Pavilion Youth Club 11-14 Brocas Hall Dance Club (Petite) Village Hall Bramley Mums Dance Club Primary School Hall Walking Group 6.50 for 7pm Wednesdays Fridays Clift Meadow car park Rainbows Village Hall Youth Club 14-19 Brocas Hall Trail Runners Guides Village Hall Hatha Yoga 9.30-10.45am Brocas Hall 7.3opm Clift Meadow car park 1st Bramley Brownies Village Hall Scouts Brocas Hall Saturdays Pilates Village Hall Dance School Village Hall Circuits 8pm School Hall Trail Runners Sundays 7.30pm Clift Meadow car park Church services at St James’s Bramley & St Stephen’s Little London

see Church Diary on page 5

Contact Details for Village Clubs and Organisations Organisation Name Tel No Email Remarks Parish Council Maxta Thomas 07810 692486 www.bramleypc.co.uk Not for bookings [email protected] Clift Meadow Eileen Gulston 881125 [email protected] Bookings Cross House Pam Luck 882687 [email protected] Bookings Village Hall Eileen Gulston 881125 Bramleybookings.org.uk Bookings School Hall Julie Francis 881339 Badminton Jane Matthews 881647 Bell ringers Terry Cooper 881102 Bramley Voluntary Robin Dolman 07787 166924 Care Group Brownies Suzanne Cox 07920 822221 [email protected] Now Weds only Beavers, Cubs & Scouts Jodie Saunders 881113 [email protected] Country Music Roy Seymour 07917 744780 No children please Dance Club (Petite) Louise Onslow 883568 Exercise classes Caroline Sherlock 07845 217901 [email protected] Floral Society Joyce Rawlinson 889040 Guides Emma Seal 07867 550399 [email protected] Patrick Croombs [email protected] Hatha Yoga Jacqui Morris 07539 432228 jacqui,[email protected] Lunch Club Pat Jones 882441 Royal British Legion Chris Holland 883486 Short Mat Bowls John & Pauline 881065 Walker WI Anne Porter 881691 WI Lite Sarah Spencer [email protected] Little Apples Jo Whatley & Sian 886408 [email protected] Davies Trail Runners Richard Perkins [email protected] 34 6XSSOLHUV ,QVWDOOHUVRI ‡ :RRG)ORRULQJ Masquerade Ball ‡ /DPLQDWH)ORRULQJ Saturday 31st October 2015 ‡ 1DWXUDO)LEUH)ORRULQJ Glass of Bubbly on arrival from 7pm ‡ &DUSHWV 9LQ\OV Four Course Dinner served at 7:45pm '!T3ø''{,3$3£!;'-2;9 ‡ $PWLFR '2'ধ!2!90 +RPH6DPSOH6HUYLFH$YDLODEOH )UHH(VWLPDWHV ([SHUW$GYLFH -='!2&{<2ধ£ˆ!1d £!$0-' ='2; 8QLWE&XIDXGH%XVLQHVV3DUN £55.00 per person &XIDXGH/DQH%UDPOH\%DVLQJVWRNH+DPSVKLUH5*'/ 6KRZURRP2SHQ:HG )ULDPSP6DWDPQRRQ

Rectory Road | Oakley | Basingstoke | Hampshire | RG23 7EL T +44(0)1256 783350 | F +44(0)1256 783351 E [email protected] | www.oakleyhall-park.com

●● 160sq ft TO LET ●● Facilities include - Network High Quality Office - Air Conditioning - Heating in Bramley ●● New carpets throughout

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35 Why take a chance?

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