Newsletter february 2014 by Deon Tucker

FREE

Awbridgenews

Awbridge District Village Association

Winter in Awbridge

february 2014

please don’t forget the fete is coming soon and we need your help to make it a success! contact us on 340709 or chanwel@yahoo.co.uk for more info awbridge.news@gmail.com | www.awbridge.info

Awb ridge

awbridge district village association

V I L L A G E

awbridge.news@gmail.com | www.awbridge.info We’re now on Facebook - search for Awbridge Village

ADVA

committee Fred Tucker - Chairman Chanwel House, Romsey Road - 340709 Laura Hailwood-Thomas - Secretary 1 Spring Field, Romsey Road - 342020 Nigel Hemsted - Treasurer Emmbrook, Newtown Road - 340986 Paul Jameson Forest View, Kents Oak - 340118 Deon Tucker Bryn Gower, Romsey Road - 340230 Alex Hillier Forest View, Kents Oak - 340118

Advertising

Lynda Tucker Chanwel House, Romsey Road - 340709 Sally McLellan Coles Farm Cottage - 522402 James Child 4 Cowleas Close - 341980 Kay Murrant Old Police House, Danes Road - 340289 Paul Harvey Rowlands Barn, Dunbridge Lane - 341259 Amanda Hanson 1 Woodlands, Saunders Lane - 340899

Katy Stimson Thurston House, Danes Road - 341452 Simon Hughes Awbridge Farm Cottage - 341783 Joss Hughes Awbridge Farm Cottage - 341783 Toby Jones Pluto House, Romsey Road - 341105 Melanie Jones Pluto House, Romsey Road - 341105 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Peter Allen, Sandra Tebbett

Special Offer – Save up to £144! Get 12 months for the price of 10 when you book and pay in advance!

Costs Black and white :

Colour: (CMYK)

• ¼ page - £12

• ¼ page - £24

• ½ page - £22

• ½ page - £44

• Full page - £36

• Full page - £72

Info For further information please call 340709. Send all adverts to awbridge.news@gmail.com to book for further issues. We thank you for your support and trust that you will continue to use our magazine in the future. To book back page please add £10 and call to confirm.

Sizes and file types: Please provide adverts as print ready pdf files with no bleed or tick marks at the correct sizes, as below: ¼ page - 90 mm (w) x 133.5 mm (h) ½ page - 190 mm (w) x 133.5 mm (h) Full page - 190 mm (w) x 277 mm (h) Please ensure colour adverts are in CMYK and not RGB. If you cannot provide print ready pdf files we can take a number of different file types and create the advert for you but this may incur a cost depending on the nature of the advert; please contact us for more information. Inserts: To have an insert delivered with the newsletter would cost £72. Please contact Fred on 01794 340709 to discuss.

Articles and stories Please provide all articles, stories and text as word documents or just in the text of an email. All text and pictures will be printed black, so please provide all images as grayscale, full size at 300 dpi.

Please try to ensure all spellings and grammar are correct as, even though we proof the newsletter, we cannot be held responsible for any errors. This also applies to adverts. Send all correspondence to awbridge.news@gmail.com

subscriptions Awbridge News is now available by annual subscription. Send your details and a cheque for £15.00 made payable to

ADVA to cover costs and postage to Nigel Hemsted, Treasurer, Emmbrook, Newtown Road, Awbridge, SO51 0GJ.

The deadline for the next edition will be 15th February

Page 2 | Feb 2014

From the Editor

Awbridge Primary School

Well that was a fun Christmas and New Year break, if only due to the weather and all that has gone with it! We went away for Christmas on the 24th only to find just one way out of Awbridge via Stanbridge Earls. Thankfully someone had been up that morning to partially clear the road else best laid plans would have had to have been changed drastically! I know from driving through the village there has been a lot of damage mainly caused by trees, so I hope any discomfort it may be causing you is as short lived as possible.

School Dates in February:

What for the year ahead? ADVA will be as busy as always and details of events such as the fete will follow in the months ahead. We’ll be hoping of course for the dry weather to return in May but I don’t think anyone will be daring to predict what will happen that far in advance just yet.

(1) Bistro style glass topped table and two chairs. £50

You’ll note within this edition there is mention in a couple of places that ADVA are looking for an editor. I have chosen to step down from the role as my increasing family commitments need to come first, so if anyone fancies taking on the job feel free to phone me for a chat about what is involved. It doesn’t have to wait until the AGM later in the year if you wish to become involved sooner, and I’d happily run alongside any volunteers for the first issue so you can see how the process works. Nothing more remains than to say Happy New Year (even if it does feel strange this being said in a February issue) and I hope to see many of you at events in the months ahead.

Thursday 13th Friday 14th Friday 28h

- Conifer Class Cake Sale - Half Term - School Disco

Cane Furniture for Sale (2) Cane 2 seater sofa and 2 arm chairs, ideal for a conservatory. £50 (3) Two cane occasional glass topped tables - Offers. I can help to deliver if local.

Peter & Eileen Allen - 01794 342040 - allen609@btinternet.com

Please remember to mention Awbridge News when responding to any adverts in the newsletter

James Child - Co-Editor Awbridge News

From the Chairman’s Pen

Awbridge Village Lunches 2014

We trust that you have all enjoyed the festive season with family and friends. We certainly seem to have started the New Year in a very wet fashion, but there is always the spring to look forward to with sunshine and warmth. Time to think about what to plant in a few weeks time to ensure that it’s a prizewinner in the village show in September.

Would you like to join friends and neighbours from the village for Lunch?

We have already received applications from stall holders for this year’s fete in May so the committee will be working hard in the months to come to ensure that we have another successful day. Leaflets for the car show were distributed on Boxing Day in Romsey; if you know any one with an old vehicle then please invite them and let Peter know. We are still looking for an Editor and also a Secretary. If you could spare some time each month and would like to join a happy and enthusiastic committee then give me a ring. I look forward to hearing from you. We hope to see you at the various events throughout this coming year. Fred - Chairman ADVA

Newsletter Editor Do you fancy having an active role on the ADVA committee? Fancy yourself as a newsletter editor? If you can answer yes to either of the above, read on! ADVA are looking for a new Secretary as well as an Editor for Awbridge News due to both roles becoming vacant. If you are interested in what either role entails, please email awbridge.news@gmail.com or contact any of the committee for further information.

Menu Main course e.g. Shepherd’s pie Home-made pudding Tea or coffee At 12 noon Awbridge Village Hall Wednesday 26th March - £4 per person Wednesday 25th June - £4 per person Wednesday 24th September - £4 per person Wednesday 10th December- £6 per person, Christmas Lunch Booking and Transport arrangements:

To let us know numbers for catering, please ring the Neighbourcare co-ordinator on 0845 094 6155 by the Monday before the lunch. If you would like transport, at no cost to you, please ask the coordinator at the same time. (If you normally attend the All Saints lunch, arrangements for booking are the same as usual). These lunches are being jointly organised by All Saints Church and Awbridge Neighbourcare with catering provided by a team of cooks and volunteers. We hope that you will come and enjoy these events. Page 3 | Feb 2014

All Saints Awbridge - February 2014 Happy New Year from members of Awbridge Church Although it seems a while ago, we had some wonderful Christmas services and celebrations; thank you for supporting them and taking part in the Christmas story. Despite the poor weather we still managed to enjoy the Nativity story in the church instead of the Barn, had a wonderful Carol and Christingle service and again a great celebration on Christmas Day. Our next social event is supper at Poppies on Friday 7 February at 7.30 pm. Tickets cost £7.50 and please bring a bottle to share. We are delighted to have Malvena with us who will be talking about her recent medical work in Ghana. Tickets from Roger Savage 367908, e-mail: savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk. or James Alexander 340386 e-mail: p.alexander386@btinternet.com or sign the list at the back of the church. Final numbers by Wednesday 5 February please. Our next First service is on 2 February at 6.30 pm. Do come and join us for this informal worship and praise service. Messy Church: our last Messy Church was in November covering the theme of Advent all about heaven breaking into our lives on earth through the birth of Jesus Christ. Activities included making a nativity stable and characters, advent wreaths & candles, pin the tail on the donkey among other messy activities! At our next Messy Church on Sunday 2 February we will be looking at the journey of the three wise men and the celebration of Epiphany when the light of Jesus was given to all nations. This time we will be meeting in Braishfield Church Room, we have some great activities planned including making tealight holders, our homes as beacons of light, mobiles to reflect the light of Jesus, icing biscuits & hand massage with frankincense among other things! Contact Pepe Alexander 340386 for more information. New Housegroup - we now have a new housegroup in Awbridge meeting on Wednesdays 12 & 26 Feb, studying the Emmaus course. If you would like to know more please contact Fred and Lynda Tucker on 340709. Worship and Events in Awbridge in February Sunday 2 February Candlemas 10 am UB Holy Communion at All Saints, Braishfield 2.30 pm Messy Church - Epiphany at Braishfield Church Room 6.30 pm First service at Awbridge Sunday 9 February 9.30 am Morning Worship & Young church Sunday 16 February 9.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 23 February 9.30 am Family Worship Sunday 2 March 9.30 am Holy Communion 6.30 pm First Service Other Activities for February Five Alive Fellowship Monday 3 February - “Mothers Union”, 7.30 pm, Church Rooms, Braishfield Prayer Group Meets twice a month in Romsey, prayer requests to John Twigg 521966 or via prayer request box in church

Page 4 | Feb 2014

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations” Isaiah 42 v 1

Craft & Chat Meets Fridays 7 & 21 February, 10 am Awbridge Church Rooms contact Sue Franklin 322185 Awbridge Lunch Club Wednesday 12 & 26 February at 12 noon, Awbridge Church Rooms contact Delia 340395 Housegroup Tuesday 18 February 7.45 pm Rosemary Croft, Awbridge contact John Twigg Tel 521966 Wednesday Housegroup - Emmaus Course 12 & 26 Feb, 7.45 pm at Chanwel House, Romsey Rd, Awbridge Fred & Lynda Tucker 01794 340709 Open Housegroup Thursday 6 & 20 February 7.45 pm venue TBA, Contact: Sue Franklin 322185 “The Ark” The All Saints Church Toddler group meets in Awbridge Village Hall, on Fridays in term-time, 9.30 am – 11 am. All toddlers and their parents and carers welcome. Refreshments, craft, singing and other activities provided. Contact: Lynda Tucker 340709. Welcome Pack If you have recently moved into the Awbridge area and would like a copy of our village Welcome Pack please contact one of the churchwardens, see details below. Useful church contacts: Rector: Revd Canon Steve Pittis 01794 368335 email:pittisinc@gmail. com or Benefice Office 01794 878020 email: braishfieldbenefice@ gmail.com Churchwardens: Fred Tucker (01794 340709) or Mary Savage (01794 367908) Young Church: contact one of the wardens The Ark Toddler Group: Lynda Tucker (01794 340709) Awbridge Neighbourcare: 0845 094 6155 Other relevant information can be found on the village website www.awbridge.info

Professional Tree Surgeons

Trees Hedges Gardens 01794 518871 07899 952944 Fully qualified and insured.

Spring arrangement workshops Each workshop includes all materials, coffee on arrival and a light lunch at the end of the class. Workshops are from 10.30am to 1.00pm.

only

£40

Spaces are limited so contact us now! Tuesday 25th March Kimbridge Restaurant, Kimbridge SO51 0LE

Thursday 27th March Woodlands Lodge Hotel, Bartley Road, Woodlands SO40 7GN

Tuesday 28th March Academy Studios, Unit 10 Romsey Ind. Est, Romsey SO51 0HR

Tuesday 1st April The White Horse Hotel, Market Place, Romsey SO51 8ZJ

AwbridgeArb.co.uk

To book please contact Kay on 01794 341110 or kay@pompandpetals.co.uk

Seasoned Split Logs

Brook

BUILDING SERVICES A local family run business covering all aspects of building work

£80 per trailer load

Call Lewis or Paul now for a free no obligation quote on:

07799 664 308 07798 566 424 w ur ne See oeb site w

www.brookbuildingservices.co.uk Lower Brook - King's Somborne - Stockbridge - Hants

+ Optional £20 to load logs into log store Free delivery within 10miles of Romsey Available for collection, Minimum of 10 bags for delivery

15kg bag of Logs £4 • 15kg bag of Kindling £3 Call Ollie on 07944 833 726 (Please leave a message if unavailable)

Page 5 | Feb 2014

Awbridge Neighbourcare 0845 094 6155

We are now well into 2014 but we would like to extend our best wishes to you all for the rest of the year. Let’s hope that we have a dry, sunny spring after all the winter rain! The first village lunch of the year will be held on Wednesday 26th March, starting at 12 noon at the village hall. Everyone in the village is welcome to come along to enjoy a delicious meal and a friendly chat. The lunches are great value at only £4 per person. To book, please telephone the duty Neighbourcare co-ordinator on 0845 094 6155, by Monday 24th March. The dates for the rest of the 2014 village lunches can be seen in the advert in this edition of the Awbridge News. NEIGHBOURCARE ARRANGEMENTS

0845 094 6155

Awbridge Neighbourcare volunteers are available to help, as good neighbours, to provide transport for all kinds of medical appointments or shopping. Our volunteers have allocated time to be available to help you, so your requests are vital to the work of this group. All you need to do is call 0845 094 6155 to speak to the co-ordinator to see if they can help you. If you would like to use Awbridge Neighbourcare, please could you try to give at least 48 hours’ notice when you need to book transport so that the duty co-ordinator has time to make the necessary arrangements. Although we will endeavour to help if shorter notice is given, we cannot guarantee the availability of our volunteers. We would very much also like to hear from you if you could volunteer as a driver. The more drivers we have to call on, the more people we are able to help. Please contact the duty co-ordinator on 0845 094 6155 if you would like to join this worthwhile organisation.

Operation Christmas Child

“Operation Christmas Child: the power of a simple gift” Thank you for all your present-giving, making and donating to Operation Christmas Child before Christmas. As a result our warehouse in Eastleigh was able to send 32,353 shoeboxes to the following countries Swaziland, Zambia, Belarus and Serbia. Thank you for making Christmas so special for the children receiving your boxes of love and gifts. As we have just celebrated Christmas which is all about giving love and worshipping the infant Jesus we remember that wise men & women followed and found Jesus then and still do so today. Thank you for your continuing and valued support

Mary Savage and Fred Tucker on behalf of Samaritans Purse UK.

Page 6 | Feb 2014

D.A.WHEELER LTD. GENERAL BUILDING & MAINTENANCE • • • • • • • • •

New Build Repairs and Renova ons Listed Building Work Extensions Lo Conversions Altera ons Carpentry Kitchens Bathrooms

Free Quota ons Tel: 01794 514988 Mob: 07860166536 Email: david@hillberryfarm.com Hillberry Farm, Awbridge.

Wanted Gardener needed near Shootash, one day every two weeks for general gardening work. If you are interested please contact Jon on 07747604453.

Gardening stall at Village Fete Now that the village gardening club has disbanded some members of the church would like to run the gardening stall at the village fete to help raise funds towards the maintenance and upkeep of the church yard. If you would like to support this venture by growing plants for sale or have some space in a green house please ring Delia on 340395 as time is short to get plants ready for the fete in May. Fred Tucker - Church Warden

Sherfield English Gardening Club I would therefore like to extend a cordial invitation to anyone who is interested if they would like to come along to our Gardening Club meetings in Sherfield English. We meet monthly, usually on a Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm in the Sherfield English Village Hall which is on the A27 road which runs through the village. We usually have a speaker each month giving various talks such as: Wildlife Gardening by Grace Hall, The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. How to Grow Show Vegetables by Darren Blick, Hampshire District Vegetable Society, New Forest Badgers, by Mr Martin Noble, New Forest Badger Group, and in the summer time we visit local gardens open to the public as advertised in the Yellow Book. If anyone would like to contact me, please do so either by : telephone on 01794 322250 or via email on greta.thew373@btinternet.com Visitors are welcome any month and the fee is £1 which also includes refreshments, or an annual subscription of £10. Greta Thew

British Red Cross Romsey & District Local Office: For All Enquires Red Cross Centre, 10 Greatwell Drive, Romsey (opposite Nightingale Surgery) 01794 513202 - 24 hour answer phone Romsey Medical Loan Open 10.30am to 12.30pm - Mon to Fri. Enquiries: 01794 513202 (24 hr answer phone). General Information 0844 871 1111. Emergency number for all of the above 07790 670840 Autumn Fayre and Charities Fayre Our Autumn Fayre raised over £600 and our table at the Romsey Charities Fayre raised £165 plus £106 on refreshments. Overall sixteen charities raised £2000. Thanks to all the volunteers.

Epiphany: the wise men Sunday 2 February 2014 Braishfield Church Room 2.30 pm - 5pm

Messy Activities Celebration - Feast Messy Church is organised by the churches in our group of five parishes, for all families to attend. Children to be accompanied by parent/carer. For further information contact: Kate Orange 367417 email: mrskateorange@gmail.com or Mary Savage 367908 email: savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk

EVENT IS FREE BUT DONATIONS ARE WELCOME Next Messy Church: Sunday 9 March 2014 Lent 2.30 pm Awbridge Village Hall

Supper Evening Friday 7 February 2014 hosted by All Saints Church, Awbridge at Poppies, Choice Plants, Timsbury Images of work in Ghana with Malvena Stuart -Taylor

Menu: Beef or Vegetarian Lasagne with roasted vegetables Trifle Tickets: £7.50 please bring a bottle to share To reserve tickets contact James Alexander (340386) p.alexander386@btinternet.com or Roger Savage (367908) savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk or sign list at the back of church no later than Wed 5 February Page 7 | Feb 2014

Awbridge Hill Wildlife Sanctuary Spring’s arrival. If there is a flower that symbolises the arrival of Spring at Awbridge Hill then it is without doubt the snowdrop, which comes into bloom in early February when temperatures rise above 6oC. To shepherds, the appearance of the snowdrop was a climatic indicator that grass was beginning to grow and lambing could commence, whereas to the woodsman it heralded the rise of sap in birch trees and an end to the winter tree felling and tree planting season. In this context Spring derives its name from the time of the year when the countryside literally springs to life. Associated with the opening up of hazel catkins spring is also the time of year when water aquifers become saturated and springs flow at maximum capacity. Whilst the snowdrop is regarded by many botanists as non native, in medieval times they were worn as garlands by maidens, symbolising purity around the festival of St Bride. This winter woodcock have been regular visitors at dusk to the wildlife sanctuary patrolling areas of hazel coppice. These visitors have already paired up and will begin nesting by the end of February.

Toots were the equivalent of inland lighthouses, lit by beacons they were there to guide long distant travellers, aided through the tooting of horns, to keep them from getting lost. Prior to the Roman occupation, toots were places run by druid priests, from where local law was administered and punishment handed out. Stanbridge Lane is an example of a sunken lane which is equally ancient and important, having once been an alternative route for crossing the River Test in times of flood at Nursling. Stanbridge Earls itself was the ancestral home of King Alfred’s father Ethelwulf back in the 9th Century and is situated on what was a strategic highway from Southampton that went up Dunbridge Lane along the B3084 and went on across Wessex, via Marlborough and Cirencester, to the lowest fording point on the River Severn. The discovery of roman coins dated AD307 and pottery in the vicinity of Awbridge House indicates the site of a roman villa positioned strategically on Dunbridge Lane. Newtown Lane appears to have evolved as a drovers track to cart clay from Carters Clay via Saunders Lane and across the River Test via Kimbridge Lane to Michelmersh. Here bricks have been made since Neolithic times. “Kine” is old English and collective for cattle and therefore it is likely that Kimbridge derives its name from “cattle bridge” and that clay has been carted this way for hundreds of years. Michelmersh has its own clay seams as well as lime (chalk), gravel and sand, however high quality clay has always been in demand. Ironically the newest road in the village appear to be Coombe Lane, which may be only 150 years old, followed by a slightly older Church Lane.

Ditches and flooding With the heavy rainfall and stormy weather, there have been a number of incidents in which properties have been put at risk of flooding. This has usually been as the result of silted up ditches spewing out huge torrents of water onto the highway, rather than discharging water away from highways and onto fields. Of concern is the fact that few landowners bother to carry out their obligations to manage the road side ditches along their properties. In freezing weather road surface water ices over resulting in frost damage and the formation of pot holes. Where bramble, hedging and trees are allowed to grow out into and over ditches, when flooding eventually occurs it becomes difficult to rectify. Hedgerows and ditches are a sanctuary for wildlife. From a parish conservation perspective the verges, ditches, banks, hedges and trees of our country lanes need protecting for they are a vital and important habitat for a wide range of animals, birds, insects and plant life. Grass verges can provide a meadow flower habitat for grasshoppers, bees and butterflies, whereas the adjoining ditch can be a damp boggy habitat for toads, frogs and shrews. The bank should be a place for snakes and slow worms to bask and a home for voles and mice to burrow into. Then there is the hedge; a nesting place for birds, a source of nuts, fruit and berries and a habitat for animals such as the rabbit, stoat, weasel and dormouse. Finally there are our native hedgerow trees, such as spindle, the wayfarer trees, yew, holly, field maple and crab apple, to name a few. Slowly these trees are being displaced by the planting of non native species such as cherry laurel and leylandi. Preserving Awbridge’s prehistoric highways. From a historic perspective virtually all of the country lanes around Awbridge were once ancient trackways dating back to Neolithic times. Danes Road and Saunders Lane appear to be part of an ancient ridgeway running inland from the lowest fording point of the Test at Ridge near Nursling. It was strategically overlooked by an iron age hillfort at Dunwood and a “toot” off the Lockerley Road near Kents Oak. Page 8 | Feb 2014

Clay carters from Carters Clay From the context of public liberty legal right of access to the countryside for walkers in Awbridge is restricted to a thin short broken ribbon of public footpaths, a sports ground and the highway verge. Highway verges are of common purpose and usage; they are a place for pedestrians to seek safe refuge from converging traffic without stepping up to their waist in mud or stumbling into blackthorn and bramble. In places such as sunken lanes pedestrians have no alternative but to walk on busy roads, risking their lives, when a little consideration by estate owners could remedy this problem. Living in a community comes with obligation for estate owners; linking up footpaths safely is a priority that we should all be working towards. Bryan Raines

A Thank You I would like to express my thanks to friends and neighbours for their kind thoughts and unstinting help during the recent illness and subsequent death of my very good friend May West. I had known May for over twenty years and her loss has been very keenly felt. John Jones

A trip to the top of Africa

Heating or Boiler Problems?

AK Heating & Plumbing Est 1972



Boiler Servicing & Repairs



Boiler Replacement & New Central Heating Systems Installed



Gas • Oil • LPG



Bathroom Refurbishments



General Plumbing



Landlord Safety Inspections

ALL WORK GUARANTEED Specialists in Energy Ef�icient Boilers We set off from the Machame Route Gate on the 30th of Dec along with 3 Scandinavians. It had only been booked since September so manic planning and training had taken place. Hiking Kilimanjaro was something I had not initially planned to do but as I was lucky enough to be offered this opportunity I decided I would love to make the trip even more worthwhile by climbing for charity. As a biology student I am very aware of the issues facing different ecosystems around our planet. I decided to raise funds for the World Land Trust that is an international conservation charity, which protects the world’s most biologically important and threatened habitats. The day before the start I had met a range of people who had not reached the summit which increased my apprehensions significantly. Luckily I didn’t suffer any severe symptoms of altitude sickness and on the 3rd of January 2014 at 6.25am I reached the (freezing cold) summit. Despite hiking for up to 8hrs a day at high altitudes and sleeping in tents in freezing conditions the overall experience was amazing. The Machame Route we took has gorgeous views that keep you constantly motivated. The guides and fellow climbers are all unbelievably friendly and selfless. The hardest day was without doubt the summit night. After hiking 7 hours to a base camp you quickly have dinner, 2 hours sleep (if you are lucky as it is well below freezing) and a breakfast of a few custard creams then hike off at 00.00 to heights of 5895m above sea level. My advice to anyone wanting to climb Kilimanjaro is: drink lots, bring toilet paper and don’t underestimate how much of a mental challenge it is. A South African told me it is only 20% physical endurance but 80% mental strength. This is totally true. When it is pitch black, freezing and you have another 5hr trek in front of you, being positive is essential. I personally reflected on my first term at Bristol and spent most of my time smiling up to the summit. Moreover, if you have ever attended a Lockerley group camp you will not be precious about toilet facilities (or lack of) and getting dirty which was also a big help. Lastly, I would like to say a huge thank you to friends and family who encouraged me and everyone who has supported the charity. Donations can still be made at: www.justgiving.com/Kate-Mainprice. Kate Mainprice

01794 340577 07836 747626

kevin.isaac@btconnect.com www.akheatingandplumbingromsey.co.uk

ROMSEY’S EXPERT PICTURE FRAMERS At 46, The Hundred, Romsey

01794 516479 www.firstfloorgallery.co.uk Est 1982

Fully qualified fine art trade guild commended framers expert framing advice and design service A family business built on reputation and success.

www.firstfloorgallery.co.uk

Page 9 | Feb 2014

A GOOD NEIGHBOUR- May West 1924-2013 Most villagers will have heard of the recent death of one of our older residents. Clara May West (nee Sharpe) always known by her middle name, would have been ninety on 1st February 2014. She had lived in the same house, No 2 Alliance Cottages on Awbridge Hill, for more than half a century. But those of us familiar with her Midland accent and firmly held Socialist political views were left in little doubt that her origins weren’t local! In fact May had been born and raised in the village of Kersley, just outside Coventry, the youngest child of a mining family of six. Growing up at the beginning of World War 2 she initially found employment with a Coventry firm producing chains for military purposes. But later on, after joining the St Johns Ambulance Brigade on a voluntary basis, she moved to London to work as an auxiliary nurse at St Thomas Hospital. Returning to her roots she was on a trip into Coventry with a group of girlfriends when there was a chance encounter with some young soldiers one of whom just happened to be Jack West. Romance blossomed and in 1947 the pair were married in May’s home village. Soon afterwards the young couple moved in with Jack’s parents who were Hampshire people and May’s long association with our locality began. In 1948 their only child Barbara was born and in 1977 an only grandchild Mark arrived. The marriage lasted over 44 years until Jack’s untimely death in 1981 when he was only in his fifties. Typically May adapted well to life as a widow. She fllled her time volunteering just as she had in the early 1940s. One day a week was spent at the Oxfam shop in Romsey but she also helped her local organisations. She was on both the ADVA and Village Hall committees, practically ran the now redundant Friendship Club single handed and more recently she joined the Lunch Club. There was never any need to ask who would be manning the white elephant and jumble stall at our annual summer fete raising money for the Village Hall as yes, May was also on the fete committee!!! Together with her good friend and neighbour Ivy Head (my mother) there was nothing May liked more than seeking out a bargain. Most Saturdays, with me acting as a somewhat reluctant chauffeur, it was off to that nearest jumble sale. Back home we would come laden down with stuff we seldom needed. Still May and Ivy had had a wonderful time which was what mattered most. By the way that elusive bargain never did seem to materialise, as far as I can recall! Eventually passing years and increasing poor health meant May had to give up most of her outside interests. But with the help and support of family, friends and neighbours she managed to stay in her own home until late last summer. Then an emergency admission to hospital led inevitably to the decision to move her to a nursing home for the last few months of her life. At Colbury House, Totton she was close to her daughter and grandson for a brief time. She was finally reunited with Jack after more than thirty years in November 2013. May West was quite a character. She was never afraid to state an opinion or stand up for what she believed in but she was also unstinting with her time and in her efforts to help others. In that true sense of the word she was what we would call a really good neighbour!

Anne Jones

Page 10 | Feb 2014

MBR PLUMBING & BATHROOMS * Free Estimates * * Competitive Rates*

Call Matthew Rowe on 01794 341709 or 07831 624887

*** EMERGENCY CALLOUT *** * Complete Bathroom Refits inc tiling * * New toilets/baths/basins supplied & fitted * * Leaks fixed * * Showers supplied and repaired * * Washing machines & Dishwashers installed * * Gutters/Drainage etc *

NO JOB TOO SMALL !!!

o p n So ho do g S or in arm t, B m n’s F rke Co wto Ma O ntry u Co

Traditional Family Butchers

Get fit for spring with quality fresh meat and wholesome foods straight from our local farms

Owton’s Traditional Butchers has been established for over 35 years, farming our own beef and working with over 25 farmers in the local area to deliver good quality local meat and produce. Our extensive range of products are matched by our warm, friendly and knowledgeable team of butchers and artisans offer expert knowledge and cooking advice. Giving you the best advice and ensuring that you can lead the healthy lifestyle that you deserve. If you have not visited one of our farm shops, you are certainly missing out on a good old fashioned shopping experience.

Where to find us

Owton’s at Garsons Fontley Road, Titchfield. PO15 6QX TEL: 01329 854895 garsons@owtons.com

#OwtonsButchers

Owton’s at Kimbridge Kimbridge Farm Shop Near Romsey. SO51 OLE TEL: 01794 341681 kimbridge@owtons.com

Owton’s Chalcroft Farm Burnetts Lane, West End, Southampton. SO30 2HU TEL: 023 8060 1154 shop@owtons.com

www.owtons.com Page 11 | Feb 2014

Page 12 | Feb 2014

Awb ridge

Diary

If you would like your event in the diary, send the details to bertanddoris@btinternet.com

V I L L A G E

Date

Event

Venue

Time

Tuesday 04 February

ADVA Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Thursday 27 February

Parish Council Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Saturday 22 March

Village Litter Pick

Awbridge Village Hall

10am

Wednesday 26 March

Village Lunch

Awbridge Village Hall

12 noon

Thursday 27 March

Parish Council Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Saturday 12 April

Dinner and Jazz Evening

Awbridge Village Hall

TBC

Thursday 24 April

Parish Council Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Saturday 10 May

Village Fete

Awbridge Village Hall

2pm

Berry Crumble Tray Bake This easy layered traybake is inspired by American coffee cakes – which contain no actual coffee, but are meant to be eaten with your morning cuppa. If you were really pushed for time, you could use a very good quality soft jam for the filling, but it will be much sweeter. Ingredients For the berry filling 200g/7oz frozen berries (raspberries, blackberries, cherries, blueberries, blackcurrants all work well, or a mix) 50g/2oz caster sugar 2 tbsp cornflour For the Crumble topping 110g/4oz plain flour 70g/2½oz cold unsalted butter, cut into smallish cubes 30g/1oz caster sugar

For the cake 220g/8oz plain flour ¾ tsp baking powder ½ tsp cinnamon 50g/2oz ground almonds 200g/7oz caster sugar 80g/3oz butter, melted 2 free-range eggs 40g/1½oz yoghurt thinned with 2 tbsp milk

Method: Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease and line a rectangular baking tin (approximately 26cm x 20cm/10½in x 8in). 1. In a saucepan combine the fruit with 50ml/2fl oz water. Bring the fruit just to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes. 2. In a mixing bowl combine the caster sugar with the cornflour. Stir into the fruit and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture is thick and jammy. Set aside to cool. 3. For the crumble topping, add the flour to a mixing bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs and no large lumps of butter are left. Stir in the sugar and set aside. 4. For the cake, in a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Stir in the ground almonds until thoroughly combined. 5. In another bowl beat together the sugar with the melted butter, eggs, yoghurt and milk mixture until thoroughly mixed. Stir into the flour mixture just to combine. Don’t overmix it, but watch out for big lumps of unmixed flour.

6. Spoon two-thirds of the mixture into the lined tin, gently spreading out evenly to the corners. Spoon the cooled fruit mixture evenly over the top. 7. Using a teaspoon, dot the remaining cake batter evenly on top of the fruit. This will not cover the entire cake, but make little hillocks with gaps in between. 8. Sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top, filling in all the gaps to cover the fruit. 9. Bake in the oven for 45-50 minutes, until the crumble topping is golden-brown. Allow to cool for ten minutes in the tin, then transfer the cake in its paper to a cooling rack. This is cake is beautiful eaten while still warm, with a dollop of crème fraîche or yoghurt – but is equally nice the next day with a cup of coffee. Katy Stimson

Kindling Wood Kindling Wood £Kindling 3 a bag ! Wood £ £33aa bag bag! !

Adam & Jacob’s pocket money project Adam & Jacob’s pocket money project Clean pinewood for bird and bat boxes etc

Adam & Jacob’s pocket money project

Clean pinewood for and bat boxes etc Clean pinewood for bird bird and bat boxes etc

01794 340175

01794 Please remember to mention 01794 340175

Awbridge News when responding to any adverts in the newsletter

340175

Page 13 | Feb 2014

Awb ridge

If you would like your organisation/amenity in the directory, send your details to bertanddoris@btinternet.com

V I L L A G E