LEE ON SOLENT February 2020 | Issue 147 | £1.50 where sold
Yo u
A recipe for Chinese New Year Who are the Sandy Beards...? An ‘excellent’ local school
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THIS MONTH...
y, arit h c y, unit d more m n om s, c rties a e p i Rec prope
CONTENTS 8
Get Puzzled
18
Recipe of the Month
12
Mum’s the Word
24
Keep On Running
14
St Faith’s Church
29
Home Focus
17
Watering & Wellies
30
Consumer Champion
Test yourself with this month’s crossword
Clinics, playgroups and half term fun!
Lee Infant School LEAPs to success!
In between seasons
A dish inspired by the Chinese New Year
Or is it swimming......
Pack away your stress
Protect yourself - When a firm goes bust
february issue 2020
Smalltalk
H
ow are the resolutions going?
Peach Publications 01329 630630/07909 627177
Editor
Gemma Harvey-Guttridge editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk
Advertising Sales
editor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk
Distribution
This Big Voice Bigazine is delivered to residents and businesses in Alverstoke. For distribution enquiries please give me (Gemma) a call. Two other editions are also published in Stubbington & Hill Head and Lee on Solent. Whilst Big Voice Directories aim to provide a quality publication for local reference, it cannot be held responsible for the services, reputation or cost of any of the advertisers, and content of adverts or editorial herein. Readers must make their own enquiries to establish the credentials of each entry. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the Publishers. The magazines are produced on paper sourced from FSC approved paper mills and printed using vegetable based inks. They love being recycled but please pass to a friend first! Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content ©Copyright Peach Publications Ltd.
I have been promising myself for years that I would start ‘jogging’. This year a friend and I have made a resolution to crack 10km and take part in the Race for Life. At the time of writing, its early January and I have hit the road a few times already. I have just about cracked 5km and I’m still committed. Keep your eyes peeled for monthly updates! If your resolution was to get fit but you are finding the gym and running a bit boring, then perhaps our ‘Keep on Running’ article will interest you this month. Surprisingly it has nothing to do with running and I know it will catch my husband’s eye! Simon, has Perthes’ disease in his hip and after suffering for a number of years he has had to give up nearly all exercise. In the past he was always active and loved playing tennis and football as well as cycling but in recent years he’s had to give it all up. Last year his resolution was to start getting fit again and with a hip replacement on the horizon he was forced to look for other ways to get active and so decided he would teach himself to swim. In the last 12 months he’s gone from doggy paddling with the kids, to front crawling over a kilometre! I’m super proud of his achievement. I wonder if he will one day be a Sandy Beard or a Shack Shark, turn to page 24 to find out more. If your resolution was to not improve yourself but instead finish that long-standing home improvement plan, then again you are in the right place. This month’s magazine is full of great local companies that will help you get your home in tip top shape, along with a gardening and home article to steer you in the right direction! Have a great month and it’s Valentines so why not spread a little love!
Gemma x Advertise with us!
Reliably delivered by our local teams, reaching over 15000 homes each issue. THREE editions of Big Voice provide exceptional monthly coverage of our area every single month. Call our friendly team now on 01329 630630, jump on our website and have a chat or link up with us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @BVDirectories
Visit our Facebook page Big Voice Directories
Visit our website www.bigvoicedirectories.co.uk
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Get Puzzled 1
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Clues Across
1 4 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 18 21 23 25 26 27 28
Informal gathering (6) Intolerant person (5) Bloodsucking worm (5) Exceptional, particular (7) Funeral procession (7) Lazy (4) Short sleep (3) Fakir, mystic (4) Admire, commend (4) Winner's trophy (3) ____ and hearty (4) Salad vegetable (7) Branched horns (7) Sibling's daughter (5) Large wading bird (5) Smouldering pieces of coal (6)
Clues Down 1 2 3 4 5
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Join two ends (6) Casual farewell (7) Physically strong, fit (8) Infuse, ferment (4) Association, society (5)
6 7 13 16 17
Steering lever on a boat (6) Pale with shock or fear (5) Precious metal (8) Four stringed instrument (7) Sword case (6)
19 20 22 24
Delux, lavish (5) Splits, cuts apart (6) Subsequently (5) Long period of time (4)
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Mum’s the Word Welcome to Mum’s the Word, an article containing helpful information, tips, advice & reviews. If you have any suggestions we would love to hear from you!
Are you looking for something fun to do with your little one? Here are this months suggestions... THURSDAY
MONDAY
AS Football Academy HEDCA, Coombe Road, Gosport 11am - 12pm, £5 A fun football group aimed at 2-4yrs
TUESDAY
Stay & Play Storm Cheerleading, Unit 8 Alphage Road, Gosport 9.30am - 11.30am, £2 per child Inflatables, soft play, games and more!
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WEDNESDAY
Phonics Club Gosport Discovery Centre, High Street, Gosport 4.15 - 4.45pm, FREE (book in advance) For children 4-7yrs who need help with phonics
Rhyme Time Stubbington Library, Stubbington Lane 11.15am - 11.45am, FREE Fun, songs and rhymes for children aged 0-4yrs
FRIDAY
Sticky Fingers Messy Play Alver Valley Family Centre, Rowner 10am-12pm, £1.50 per family Messy, sensory play... no tidying up!
Looking for something different to entertain the kids
over half term
Craft Club - FREE The Reilly Enterprise will be running a FREE kids craft club on Friday 21st February from 10am - midday. Kids can enjoy themed craft tables, glitter tattoos, soft play, biscuits and squash. Spaces are very limited and this is a ‘PRE-BOOK’ session only. If you are not pre-registered and confirmed a place there will be no entry. To register please email: charlie@thereillyenterprise.com. The Reilly Enterprise can be found at Studio Two, North Meadow, Royal Clarence Marina, Gosport, PO12 1BP Messy @ The Movies - ONLY £1 per person Fareham Methodist Church will be showing ‘The Prince of Egypt’ on Wednesday 19th February. Doors open at 3pm, film at 3.30pm. £1 per person payable on the door to cover the cost of popcorn and a sausage in a bun. No charge for under 2s. Booking is essential! All bookings are to be made before 11am on Thursday 13th February. To book please email: fareham.methodist.messy@gmail.com stating any dietary requirements & number of tickets required. Fareham Methodist Church can be found on Kings Road, Fareham, PO16 0NU Stubbington Springboards Gymnastics Holiday Club - Half day £10 / Full day £18 Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th February. Full day is 9.15am-3.30pm and a half day is 9.15am-12.15pm or 12.30pm-3.30pm. Suitable for girls and boys from Year R to Year 12. Sessions include use of the double-mini, vault, floor, beam, bars, trampoline and lots of fun games. All coaches are DBS checked. Places are limited and must be booked and paid for in advance by calling Nathalie on 07817 391860. Last date for booking is Friday 14th February.
INDOOR ENTERTAINMENT February half term can be a wet one so if you find you’re stuck indoors and have some little people to keep entertained, there are a couple of games that you can set up to amuse them and they don’t involve too much mess or preparation! The first one is the ‘Sock and Bucket Challenge’. Simply grab your laundry basket, plus a pile of kids socks and set the basket up at one end of the room. Use a pair of tights, or other ‘long’ item to mark the ‘line’ to stand behind (you can adjust this for age groups accordingly) and then let the children take it in turns to see how many sock balls they can get into the bucket. The other thing you can do is to find some old plastic drinks bottles. Fill the bottoms up a little with water to stabilise them and then use the same socks to play indoor bowling. You can do it with as few or as many bottles as you like - just make it up as you go!
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St Faith’s
Leaping to success
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I was on my way to meet the Headteacher of Leeon-the-Solent Infant and Nursery School when I was drenched in a downpour. So, on my arrival I was delighted when the administrative staff immediately offered me of a cup of coffee. Moments later I was sitting with Julie and her deputy head, Margaret Rochon, hearing, among other things, that the school prided itself on welcoming everyone, something I’d already discovered! Eager to tell me all about the school, I quickly realised how committed Julie was. I heard how she valued every member of staff, how much they cared for the children, what they’d achieved as a team during her two years as head and what they aimed to achieve in the future. The school had recently received an excellent Ofsted report and are among the nation’s top 20% in reading, writing and maths. Not satisfied with that, her aim in the next Ofsted inspection is to become an ‘outstanding’ school. Such was the enthusiasm of everyone I met on my visit, I’ve no doubt the aim will be realised. To me it already seemed outstanding. The school values based on LEAP (LEAP to success at Lee!) are linked to the United Nations Rights of the Child (UNICEF). This aims to see that children are enabled to become enthusiastic learners, excellent communicators, active and healthy and part of the community. Before they progress to the next stage of education, the entire staff team aim to help each child to be independent and resilient, collaborative in relationships, self-aware and equipped with learning skills for the 21st century, bearing in mind that no one knows what changes will occur in the future. Wanting above all for the children to enjoy learning, without sacrificing high standards in basic skills they are encouraged to learn through play and group activities. The school welcomes all children including those with particular needs who are cared for by specialist teachers and support assistants. In addition to the normal curriculum, there are numerous clubs including
karate, dance, cooking, gardening and yoga. Taking over what was once the Sure Start Centre, existing staff also run the ‘Club in the Hub’ which provides breakfast and after-school care as well as a school holiday club. More information about this and the school can be found on its website: https://www.los-infants.co.uk/ Although it is a county and not a church school, like the adjoining Juniors, Lee Infant and Nursery has close links with St Faiths. As well as holding their harvest service in the church, they welcome visits from our ‘Open the Book’ team, assembly talks from our vicar Paul Chamberlain and visit the church building when learning about the town’s places of worship. Similarly, the church watches over the school with the vicar and two congregation members on its Governing body. From the moment I met her, Julie stressed that she wanted me to write about the school and not about her although, after some gentle persuasion, I did manage to learn that she is married with three grownup children, grew up in Thanet, Kent, with her sister, attended grammar school and trained at Sussex University. I also discovered that she prefers coffee to tea, counts Rudyard Kipling as one of her favourite writers and, although she rarely has time for television, enjoys watching Strictly Come Dancing while she’s doing the ironing. Wanting to know how she came to settle at Lee, she told me it was partly her love of being close to the sea that brought her along the coast, I’m glad it did. Rarely have I met such a committed, enthusiastic and caring head teacher and staff team and I look forward to future visits. Written by Alan Millard for St Faith’s Church, Lee on the Solent. Parish Office Open Mon - Fri 10:30am - 12:30pm. Tel: 023 9255 6445 Email: alan.millard@talktalk.net
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Watering & Wellies
IN BETWEEN SEASONS Things to do in the garden when the temperature is yo-yo’ing
February can be a month of seasonal confusion. Some days can see us in the depths of dark and cold and then other days it can feel as though we’re screetching towards springtime at a rate of knots. And during those times it can be easy to want to get a head start on your early sowings as you’re lulled into a sense of security with the odd warmer days but please try to be patient. Freezing days can also suddenly appear and ruin your hard work so if you’re itching to get in the garden and ‘get on’ then spend your time trimming off any dead growth and tidy things up a bit in readiness for the new season which I promise isn’t too far away. Winter flowering plants and shrubs all need a bit of a tidy at this time of year and cutting them back now prevents plants from becoming leggy, setting seed and encourages new growth when the weather starts to improve. For those of you who want a bit more physical activity, start digging some manure into your soil but make sure your soil isn’t too wet before you start. You can sew some early veggies too, especially if you’ve started craving parsnips since Christmas, but make sure that the soil is warm enough before you do. The best rule of thumb is to hang on if you have clay soil as this takes longer to get up to temperature than a sandier based soil. You can speed up the process if you want by covering the seed beds with fleece, cloches or polythene (just make sure that you are careful with the plastic so that you can reuse it year after year). You might like to consider adding some raised beds to your garden if the aesthetic (and space) allows. They are relatively simple and best of all they allow you to make an early start in the garden because the soil contained inside warms up faster, drains quicker and this can be the perfect antidote to those of you cursing a clay soil.
Your lawn may be wanting a trim but try and keep off the grass if there’s a frost and avoid cutting it then as the blades on your mower are more susceptible to damage. But you can still work in this area - try installing lawn edging which gives a neat and tidy look and helps with maintenance. Go through your collection of pots and wash and repaint any that are looking a little lacklustre. That way you’ll have a good set to choose from when you’re ready to plant out this year and it won’t increase your workload on top of all the jobs you’ll want to be doing when the weather really improves. Don’t have a water butt? Get one in now in readiness for the summer. There’s really no excuse to not install one—they are super easy and rainwater is particularly useful for watering acid-loving, ericaceous plants since tap water is often slightly alkaline. And more than that you are recycling what nature has provided us with from one easy to fit container. If the weather hasn’t graced us with much warmth or sun yet, or if it’s just a bit too nippy for some of you to want to venture out, then February is still a great month to work on armchair gardening. You can plan out your veggie plot for the year - remember to consider crop rotation if you had a plot there before, as this helps to prevent pests and disease building up in the soil. You can order your seeds and plug plants online now and by planning in advance you’ll only buy what you need. Consider the display of colour and spread in the garden of plant heights. Do you need to order up some more annuals / hanging basket items? Again all these can be ordered as bulbs now for summer colour and just the delight of receiving this gift of nature by post is enough to want most of us to get out there and get our fingers dirty. Annie Gardner 17
Recipe of the month
Perfect crispy sticky Chinese Chicken Wings This scrumptious supper dish is inspired by the Chinese New Year festival Preparation time: 15 minutes | Cooking time: 30 minutes + 50 minutes Serves: 4-6 Ingredients 1.5 kg chicken wings, 2 level tbsp baking POWDER, ¾ tsp table salt, ½ tsp pepper, 3 spring onions, chopped Sticky Chinese Sauce 1 tsp vegetable oil, pinch of salt and pepper 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger peeled and finely chopped 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce, 2 tbsp honey, 4 tbsp dark brown sugar 5 tbsp dark soy sauce, 1 tsp lemon grass paste (you can buy this in tubes) 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced 1 tbsp sesame seeds (lightly toasted) Method: Preheat the oven to 120C / 100C Fan Gas ½. Place a rack on a large baking tray. Cut each wing at the joint so you have a mini wing and a drumette. Dry these with kitchen roll (they mustn’t be too damp, then place in a large bowl and add the baking powder, salt and pepper. Mix to combine. Remove the chicken and place in a single layer on the rack, skin side up. Discard the remaining coating mixture. Place the chicken on the lower shelf of the oven for 30 minutes to dry. After 30 minutes, turn the oven up to 220C / 200 Fan / Gas 6, rotate the tray and place on the middle shelf in the oven for 45-50 minutes until the wings are golden and crispy. Remove from the oven to cool slightly. Place all of the sauce ingredients into a saucepan, stir and bring to the boil. Allow to simmer for 5-10 minutes until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly. Turn off the heat. Place the cooked wing pieces in a large bowl and carefully pour over the warm sticky sauce. Mix to combine, then serve topped with chopped spring onions and some toasted sesame seeds. 18
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Keep on Running
Keep on Swimming By the time you are reading this we will be in a new decade and probably all trying to stick to those New Year’s resolutions! As a runner, my articles are invariably running related but running isn’t the only activity to offer respite and a solution to an expanding waistline. Back in 2011 when Absolute Running first opened its doors, we started organising Friday night meetings at Stokes Bay where we offered supervised open water swimming, with kayak support. We literally stuck our toes in the water to gauge interest but immediately realised that swimming outdoors was extremely popular! The numbers grew to such proportions, that after two summer seasons we were forced to withdraw our services
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because we simply could not keep a watchful eye on so many swimmers at one time. So, we sat down with a few dynamic individuals and decided to form Gosport’s first triathlon club and this was when the Bayside Tri was born. Now in their 6th year, they boast athletes of all standards from absolute beginners to those who have completed the coveted Ironman events. Not wanting to give up their passion for open water swimming, others formed their own social swimming groups and continued to support each other as they looked to make the most of our fabulous coastline. Enter ‘The Shack Sharks’ who meet regularly at The Shack in Hillhead and ‘The Sandy Beards’ who base themselves near Leon’s Bistro at Lee-onthe-Solent. Both groups swim all year round and will always offer a friendly welcome to anyone of any standard wanting to join them. ‘The Sandy Beards’ have even persuaded me to don their distinctive yellow swim hat and join them, but not during the winter months, I’m definitely a fair weather swimmer/paddler.
This year, I hope to join the swimmers more often so that I too can make better use of what nature has given us. So, if running isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for you but you fancy a go at swimming, check out the above groups on their social media platforms and get in touch. Or, if easier, simply drop me an email and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll put you in touch with some lovely people. It all happens in GosVegas! Happy New Year and we hope that 2020 is good to you.
Article written by Nick Carter GosVegas Running & 545 RunClub Email: cartscartergosvegas@gmail.com
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LOMAX DESIGNS LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN CONSULTANCY
PROVIDING QUALITY CARE IN YOUR OWN HOME We are a family run care company providing care that allows people to remain in their homes and continue their life as they choose. • Domiciliary Care • CQC Registered • Fully trained and friendly carergivers • Care Packages cover home care, dementia care, personal care, emergency and respite care, overnight care, companionship and support. • Care within as little as 24 hours • Active Call Monitoring service for peace of mind At Serenity Care Solent we believe in providing care that is tailored to your needs, it’s always a difficult time when deciding to choose care, but with Serenity Care you can be assured peace of mind. If you are looking for care for your loved one or yourself with companionship, personal care, medication support, meal preparation, social visits in and out of the home, dementia care, domestic and overnight care. Please contact our friendly team on:
Tel: 02392 350274 | 07563 172078
email: enquiries@serenitycaresolent.co.uk | www.serenitycaresolent.co.uk 28
Home Focus
Squaring it all away The key to a successful and happy life is in storage and organisation. OK that might seem a little far fetched, and we know that life is more than just acrylic containers, but getting this right in your home really will create a ripple effect across many areas of your life. Consider when you stay in a hotel room how less often you lose an item, or feel stressed by the mess around you. Invariably you have less belongings with you, but there is generally good storage solutions for you to unpack and then you enjoy the ambience of your surroundings far more. Transfer this feeling back into your home. When you open your wardrobe doors in the morning are you faced with a horror scene, or are your clothes neatly laid out in front of you, on matching hangers, so that you can see what you have? Do you purge your belongings regularly so that you can see past the
clutter and only use those things that you really enjoy? By only keeping those clothes that fit you and that you go to regularly, you’ll reduce the space you need for storage, and create an experience that is far less stressful when choosing an outfit to wear. Depending on the amount of hanging space you have, wooden hangers will give a luxurious, ‘boutique’ feel but will take up more space. If you are a little tight for room, have a look at metal hangers but covered in velvet. These take up less room on the rail but have the added bonus of not letting the clothes slip off. Transfer these concepts to other areas of your house. Your fridge is another place that can be an area of waste and frustration. Take everything out, give it all a really good clean and then reorganise it. Set up baskets for different types of food (acrylic does tend to work
best in a fridge as it’s hygenic and you can see the contents inside). That way, when you need something, especially in a larger fridge, you don’t have to be rummaging through to the back to find it, you simply pull out the container that has it in, and replace it when you’re done. It’s far easier to manage stock control in a space where you can see what you have, than second guessing. How many bottles of sauces and oils have we all thrown away because we didn’t realise there was one lurking in the back of the cupboard? Kitchen drawers need to be neatly organised but allow yourself one drawer in the house where ‘bits’ can be thrown. Nobody is perfect and everyone needs somewhere to pop those bits and bobs that don’t immediately have a home. Screwdrivers, pens, elastic bands, all these things can be popped into the ‘bits and bobs’ drawer guilt free. Just remember to give it a bit of a clear out every now and then! For the rest of the drawers, make sure each one has a purpose (cutlery, tea towels etc) so everyone knows where to find things. It makes life so much simpler when your belongings are organised and then you can get on and enjoy the rest of your time with little fuss! 29
Consumer Champion JAMES WALKER – “FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS” The man who helps you resolve your consumer complaints!
WHEN FIRMS GO BUST Why is it that your washing machine The collapse of Mothercare has once again shown us how much the high street as we know it has changed forever. In 2018, 43 brand names went bust, closing 2,594 stores. And 2019 will end with much, much grimmer stats.
£100 and less than £30,000 you could claim the money back from the card provider. You don’t even need to have spent the whole amount on the card as long as the deposit falls within the limits. This is known as making a claim under ‘section 75’. [I have a huge guide on this].
the manufacturer to see if you can get a repair, replacement or refund. If you’ve not received your goods then ask for a ‘charge back’ from your card provider urgently.
If you’re worried you’ve been stitched up by a dodgy retailer, speak to your local Trading Standards officer – The past few years have seen some Failing that, pay by debit card: It’s not they’re based in the council offices. They can let you know if there’s a pretty big names bite the dust too. So a legal right, but the card providers wider problem and can investigate run a scheme called ‘chargeback’ understandably, lots of the people I the business if they think there’s a which means you might be able to speak to are concerned about what cause for concern. happens when a business goes bust ask them to recall your money if there’s a problem. But act quickly. If a when you’ve paid them money but The best way you can protect firm goes bust it may be too late. haven’t got what you purchased. Using electronic money services like yourself is to keep your eye on the news. If it sounds like a firm is in PayPal also gives you some rights, You can’t ever guarantee that a firm trouble contact them asap. But act but read the dispute resolution rules won’t go bust, but here are a few quickly – it’s the best way to simple tips on how to shop so you’ve first. safeguard your hard-earned cash. got more rights: Avoid paying by cash, cheque or direct transfer. You’ve got no rights to Chargeback: First things first, call You can find out more about your recall your money if this happens. your bank and ask them to ‘charge rights or make a complaint using Always question businesses that ask back’ your money. Explain this is Resolver for free at urgent and that the business is going for payments this way and don’t pay if www.resolver.co.uk. Or view our you can’t afford to lose it in to administration. Chargeback is an Twitter page @WalkerResolver agreement between plastic card @resolvercouk or go Vouchers and gift cards. If a firm providers and can be used on to facebook.com/resolvercouk goes bust, then vouchers and gift payments made by debit or credit cards you may have with them card. Your bank should try to get you become invalid. They are generally treated as cash you are owed. Some the cash back as soon as possible. firms that have gone in to However, if the administrators have administration have honoured their closed the business’s accounts, it vouchers. But if you hear rumours may be too late. So don’t delay. If that a business is in trouble, don’t your card provider makes a mistake delay – use your vouchers and gift or fails to recall your cash, you can cards before it’s too late. As money is make a formal complaint through usually refunded to the card of the Resolver person who paid for the vouchers, speak to whoever bought them for Pay by credit card: You’ve got lots of you. Failing that, get down to the shop and spend them! statutory protection if you pay for goods or services using a credit card. Repairs and refunds. If you’ve bought There’s a nifty law called the Consumer Credit Act that says if you something that doesn’t work but the pay for things on a card that cost over retailer goes bust, you’ll need to go to
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SOLENT FLOORING
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Call today - 0239 876700 or 0800 9177 553 Jason: 07770 411734 Vicky@solentflooring.co.uk www.solent-flooring.co.uk
Unit C1, Heritage Business Park, Heritage Way, Gosport, PO12 4BG Established 25 years. Company Reg 5813534.
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