Choice Magazine for Stubbington & Hill Head - October edition
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It’s cosy season! Which means soups, stews, red wine, boots and the sweaters are back on!
Winter time, we spend a lot of time indoors, we then start seeing what work needs doing in the house! We’ve got lots of local trades inside to help keep the house looking good! Or if you want to sell the house, we have advertisers to help! Need new slippers or boots? We have an advertiser to help! If you want to get cosy by the fire try out the Alverbank, if you want to use the winter to start your laser journey we’ve got advertisers to help with that too!
If you have a business you’d like us to advertise - get in touch!
Inside you’ll also find a super easy and quick cookie recipe. It’s vegan too! Plus news, events, Rita’s great words, the sudoku and more!
Have a great October whatever you’re up to! See you next month!
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ALMOND COOKIES
Here’s a quick, easy cookie recipe by Helen Ridgeway. Super delicious, crispy on the outside, soft in the middle; perfect!
Makes 12
Ingredients
• 150g ground almonds
• 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 50g chocolate
• chopped nuts
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas 3
Mix the ground almonds, maple syrup and melted coconut oil together.
Separate the dough into 12 pieces and roll into balls and flatten and put on a lined baking tray and bake for about 10 mins.
Once cool you can dip in melted dark chocolate and add a sprinkle of chopped nuts. They’ll only last for a few days out of the fridge but you can refrigerate overnight to help them last a little longer. Enjoy!
LASER TREATMENT OPEN DAY EVENT
Saturday 1st November from 9:30am
This day is to give our clients that extra boost to feel confident in starting their laser treatment journey. Our state-of-the-art Lynton Excelight Laser IPL offers the safe removal of hair, pigmentation, vascular and acne reduction. The machine uses an intense pulse light that helps to reduce signs of ageing, lighten darker patches of skin, port wine stains and improve the appearance of spider veins, age spots, rosacea and other vascular lesions.
Want to come along? Book your space... Simply book your space by calling or emailing us. Complete the medical form and book a complimentary patch test before 30th October to ensure your skin is suitable. A laser treatment will be carried out on the Open Day at 50% discount. This can include, but not limited to face, legs, underarm, bikini, chest and back.
Shoreline Church meets every Sunday, 10.15am, in the main hall at Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington
Please join us, everyone is welcome
Visit shorelinechristianchurch.com for more information or phone Kevin Stares on 07462 066104 or Julie Stares on 07531 856465
Waves meet every Sunday in Crofton Youth Project 10.45‐11.45am (adjoined to Crofton Community Centre)
Waves plus are aged 13 to 19 meet every fortnight on Thursdays 6.30‐8.30pm from Thursday 9th October.
Email: mjquigleybuilders@gmail.com
www.mjquigleybuilders.co.uk
OCTOBER IN CRESCENT GARDEN
Bay trees are the backbone of much of the shrubby planting in Crescent Garden. They form most of the shady cover along terrace walk, making it a very pleasant stroll on a hot summer’s day. All the bays were planted when the garden was first established in 1830, so are among the most venerable plants in the garden. In 1989, when the restoration of Crescent Garden was begun after years of neglect, one of the major tasks was to trim back overgrown bays and remove some of them completely to create an open woodland effect
through which the rest of the garden could be seen during a walk along Terrace Walk.
Bay (Laurus nobilis) is originally native to the Mediterranean region and covered much of the area when the climate of the region was much more humid than it is now. Most of the laurel forests around the area are believed to have disappeared about 10,000 years ago with some remnants persisting in damper mountainous areas. However, the plant has been widely cultivated in parks and gardens in regions with Mediterranean or oceanic climates for many centuries. It can be left to be a natural shape as in Crescent Garden or used to create topiary shapes or low hedges. Bay trees are dioecious, ie they have male and female flowers on separate plants. So at this time of year some plants (the female ones) bear fruits in the form of shiny berries, gradually turning black as the autumn progresses.
Ideal for front gardens as statement pieces, or for smaller rear gardens where you want the sound of water without the footprint that a pond requires. There are a multitude of fountain designs to choose from and the configurations are endless. These are also really good for attracting birds to drink and wash.
ECOSYSTEM POND
PONDL
Ideal for and stre a hidden water is
Ideal for people wanting to enjoy it as a fishpond, and/or to use it as a recreation pond if the space allows, where your family sit and relax in the summer, but still enjoy the visual of a beautiful natural looking pond all year round. This is the oppos swimming pool which remains a covered over rectangle for most of the year with our English weather! Using the Ecosystem basis for natural chemical free filtration, underwater jets and larger wetland filtration systems can be incorporated to ensure and circulation. Waterfalls, streams and decorative fountainscape elements can be incorporated into the pond to suit your s ultimate outdoor living lifestyle.
I can also create and incorporate Rainwater Harvesting systems to use with any of the water features mentioned. All ponds and water features will periodically lose water due to evaporation, splash and wind. Manual top up is the simplest solution but requires regular checking for levels. Creating an underground water reservoir from collected rainwater for your feature to draw upon is the most environmentally friendly way
Contact Craig to arrange a consultation and design visit: 07787 562490
All other landscaping, pond cleaning and garden maintenance also carried out.
LESS WATERFALL
people wanting the impressive visual and sound of a waterfall am, but without the want for fish or pond maintenance. Using n water reservoir to give the illusion of disappearing water, the then pumped back up to the start of the waterfall to recirculate.
All water features can be enhanced with lighting to ensure 24 hour enjoyment of them.
y and friends can swim or site to a standard garden m Pond philosophy as the the highest water quality space and budget, for the
Nash, our Centre Manager doing diagnostic work
Jake our Apprentice
Rear
IN THE GARDEN
• Aerate and feed lawns
• Collect seeds from summer-flowering plants for planting next year
• Sow your sweet pea seeds now
• Continue to plant spring bulbs
• Lift, divide and replant congested perennials
• Prune climb/rambling roses after flowering
GREENHOUSE & PLOT
• Plant new soft fruit canes.
• Move citrus trees indoors
• Cut back fruited summer raspberry canes
• Plant shallot and onion sets in a sunny spot
• Remove yellowing leaves from Brussels Sprout plants and other brassicas to prevent the spread of disease and dispose of them.
HOUSE PLANTS
• Water less frequently and use tepid water
• Pruning off dead or dying leaves
• Avoid repotting plants unless it is an emergency, as they are focused on resting
• You may need to move certain plants to a brighter spot
• Check for pests regularly and remove any that you find
Grinding
Shrubs:
With 3 sites in the local area, all of our Garages are high ranking members of ‘The Good Garage Scheme’ and ‘Checkatrade’. Our Garages provide onsite MOT testing. Mon - Fri: 8.30 - 5.30 Sat: 8.30 - 12.30
All Makes and Models catered for.
0333 3585 999
Solent Airport MOTs, Unit il1-3, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX (Stubbington Motors is now at Solent Airport MOTS) Elkins Motors, 99b Mays Lane, Stubbington PO14 2ED Locks Heath Garage, 212 Hunts Pond Road, Locks Heath PO14 4PG
HVR CUSTOMS
Specialists in VW’s, we also cover many other makes and models in the full or part conversion of camper vans, kombi vans and caddy’s. We manufacture and design custom built camper interiors for Volkswagens and other makes.
Full & Part Conversions
VW Transporters, Campers, Kombi’s and Caddy’s
0333 3585 999 (Option 3)
HVR Customs, Unit il3-4, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX
CARS AND VANS ALWAYS IN STOCK FOR SALE!
Specialising in transporters and small low mileage cars. (The cars are ideal for first time drivers.)
STUBBINGTON STITCH AND KNIT
GROUP
Fridays 2-4pm Foster Room, next to Holyrood. We make craft items and garments to sell to raise funds for the local Hampshire Charities. Our next sales are:
11th Oct - Stubbington Library 9.30am-12noon
25th Oct - St Columba's Church 10am-12noon
Many thanks for all the kind donations from locals. For enquiries, please ring Chris on 07970 826044.
FAREHAM ART GROUP ANNUAL EXHIBITION
25th Oct 10am-4pm & 26th Oct 10am-4.30pm
Titchfield Community Centre. Members exhibit and sell their paintings and cards. Stallholders will also be there selling craft work, cards, sculptures and jewellery. Purchase art books and materials and sample the home made cakes. www.farehamartgroup.co.uk
CROFTON WI 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Baptist Church Jays Close Stubbington 2pm-4pm
Varied speakers, several clubs including craft, book club, lunch club. Visitors always welcome.
CROFTON PROBUS CLUB
Monthly social lunch at Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club. For retired and semi-retired professional/businessmen. If you miss the camaraderie and social connection of the workplace come to a trial meeting before joining? 01329 600837 or email: mortonsue.dupreez@gmail.com
ST EDMUNDS (CROFTON OLD CHURCH)
Services 9.30am every Sunday.
1st & 3rd Sunday of month is Holy Communion (BCP). 2nd & 4th Sunday Morning Service. Coffee served after. 12th Oct Harvest Festival Service
18th Oct 10am-12pm Open for visitors/private prayer.
STUBBINGTON BELLES W.I. 13th Oct 1.303.30pm Crofton Club, Titchfield Rd. We are offering a complimentary visit to this meeting to ladies interested in joining. Speaker is Debbie from Debbie’s Kitchen, showing us how to make Macarons – come along for tasty treats! stubbingtonbellessec@hampshirewi.org.uk
STUBBINGTON & HILL HEAD HISTORY SOCIETY
Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington 13th Oct The Napoleonic Prison of Portchester CastlePaul Chamberlain. Guests welcome for a £5 admissionpay on the night. For info visit www.shhhs.co.uk
RSPCA THE ARK CHARITY GALA DINNER
25th October 7-12pm Solent Hotel, Whiteley 3 course meal, raffle, disco and dancing! Scan for details and tickets
CURTAIN UP! FAREHAM PHILHARMONIC CHOIR
18th Oct Holy Trinity Church, Fareham 7.30 pm An evening of show-stopping tunes from Gershwin & Gilbert & Sullivan. Tickets £18, accompanied under 16s free www.trybooking.com/uk/FGON chair@fpchoir.org 07803 908741 choir members/on the door. Free parking at rear.
FRIDAY FAIR AT STUBBINGTON LIBRARY
Every week 9:30-11.30am Home-baked cakes, jams, chutney. Unique crafts. Jewellery repairs possible. Plants/veg/salad items depending on season.
GOSPORT
JAZZ CLUB - OCTOBER
Gosport RFC, Dolphin Crescent, Gosport 8th - Hershey & Hot Shots. 22nd - Gambit Jazzmen G£12 to book gjcresrve@gmail.com gosportjazz.org.uk
STUBBINGTON & HILL HEAD WI
29th Oct 2pm Baptist Church, Jay Close, Cuckoo Lane, Talk by y Jackie Dimmock "The Good, The Bad and the Downright Funny". We are a very friendly group. Visitors can come to two meetings before deciding to join.
CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP
STUBBINGTON GROUP Second Thursday of the month 2pm at Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane All retirees are welcome. For info contact Peter Cornish 023 9234 5457 or visit csrf.org.uk/group/stubbington
ENJOY PLAYING BADMINTON
Tuesdays 6.30-8pm Crofton Community Centre. A social crowd of all standards and welcome anyone to join us (we cannot accommodate complete beginners). First session free. For info Jan Hooper 07501126196.
INTERNATIONAL FOLK/CIRCLE DANCING
October 7th, 21st 10am-12pm RC Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington £7. Dances to beautiful music from around the World. No Partner or experience is required. New members welcome. Contact Bob & Mary 01329 609589 Mobile: 07748009838 neal.bob61@gmail.com
CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT FELLOWSHIP
STUBBINGTON GROUP Second Thursday of month
2pm Catholic Church Hall, Bells Ln All retirees welcome. 023 9234 5457 or csrf.org.uk/group/stubbington
BADMINTON Tuesdays 6.30-8pm Crofton Community Centre. First session free. Jan Hooper 07501126196.
STUBBINGTON & HILL HEAD WI 29th Oct 2pm
Baptist Church, Jay Close, Cuckoo Lane, Talk by Jackie Dimmock "The Good, The Bad and the Downright Funny".
LEE PLAYERS 'SCHOOL FOR MURDER'
Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd November. Crofton Hall Theatre, Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington
A comedy-thriller. A guest house owner is holding a writers' seminar. However, one guest goes missing, another appears to have been murdered and her god daughter disappears. Don't miss this intriguing play. Tickets, £10, from 01329 662128, Crofton Community Centre or on the door.
SPITHEAD ARTS - ARTS APPRECIATION
SOCIETY LECTURE Bay House School, Gosport. Tuesday 28th October 7pm.
A Tudor Christmas. Visitors are welcome to attend at a cost of £7 per lecture or £1.00 for students. More details at spitheadarts.co.uk
CROFTON BOWLING CLUB COFFEE
MORNING & RAFFLE Saturday 4th October 10am-Noon. Stubbington. Behind the tennis courts. A drink and cake included with entry price. Members £1.50, non members £2.50. Everyone welcome. The bowling season has now ended and we will be holding some club social events during the winter months. Our Autumn calendar will include a quiz or two, a talk and a Race Night (new venture for the club).
Members are also able to enjoy Friday, Pub night, in the clubhouse. Games, darts etc. A good way to meet up with one another during the winter months. Plus 2 more Coffee mornings, November and December.
SHORE LEAVE HASLAR MEMORIAL GARDEN OPEN DAY Haslar Road, Gosport. Weds 8th October 11am-1pm. Free entry, donations gratefully accepted. Crafts, plants, produce for sale. Homemade cake and drinks. Walk around the peaceful garden. Please park in main Haslar site. Sat 11th Oct 11am-3pm Open for Haslar Open Day. Access is through main site.
Do you have important legal documents in place to protect your interests and make life easier for you and your family, whatever the future brings?
If you have received a diagnosis of dementia, or are concerned about becoming ill and unable to cope with paying your bills, wouldn’t it be helpful for a family member to be able to step in and deal with your finances? If your family member needed to make decisions for you, instead of just acting on your instructions, they would need your formal written authority to do this.
Formal authority can be given by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney. This document will allow your family member to take over managing your money, either temporarily or long term.
You can also create a Lasting Power of Attorney which allows your family member to make decisions for you about medical treatment, if you are unable for any reason to make your own decisions. This is not the same as an Advance Decision, which is a document which sets out your decision to refuse medical treatment in the future, under specific conditions.
If you are caring for an elderly relative, or are likely to be doing so in the future, a Lasting Power of Attorney will mean that you can provide the support your relative needs and access services on their behalf, without the difficulties, stress and resistance you would otherwise encounter.
Having a Will gives you peace of mind that your money, property and personal possessions will be going to the people you have chosen to benefit. An out of date Will can cause problems within the family or mean that a chosen beneficiary receives nothing.
If you have any unanswered questions about Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney, Christine will be pleased to help, so do please get in touch for a free, no obligation, chat.
Call Christine Davies Solicitor on 07860 772274 or email: christine@winterbornelegal.co.uk
Christine is a Fully Accredited Member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a Dementia Friend. Christine will visit you in your own home and aims to provide a warm personal touch to every meeting.
Christine Davies Solicitor
FAREHAM ART GROUP
75TH ANNIVERSARY ART
EXHIBITION AND CRAFT FAIR 2025
Fareham Art Group started in 1950 and is now in its 75th year thanks to a gentleman called Arthur Slinn.
In response to an article in the local Newspaper deploring the lack of facilities for artists in the Fareham area, Mr Slinn placed an advert inviting anyone interested in art, to contact him. The first meeting of the club took place in the home of Mr Slinn with seven members.
As the membership increased it was necessary to relocate to a hut rented from the Fareham Model Engineering group. The iron stove pumped out smoke, but everyone was happy to be painting! The membership fee was 2/- per annum (10p) and increased in 1953 to the grand sum of ten shillings ( 50p)
When the Model club folded,they relocated to a room at Fareham Youth Centre. This room, in disrepair, was offered in return for the art group to paint the walls in their chosen style.
The group painted full sized murals, a large winding staircase to a balcony with pillars, a beautiful Mediterranean view with palm trees. In another room, each member painted a picture of their choice and this room became a sunny scene in the south of France.
Today, Fareham Art Group is progressive and exciting. During COVID, the group chose the famous painting, Garrowby Hill, enlarged it and divided it into squares measuring 4x4 inches. Members were posted a 4x4 piece of watercolour paper and a photograph showing their square of the original painting, to be copied in their chosen medium. The members posted their painting back and these were mounted on a large board to create the original Garrowby Hill picture. The result was spectacular and displayed at our first exhibition after COVID to wide acclaim.
This year's challenge is to paint a scene portraying Fareham Past and Present, to be displayed at Fareham library and at our Annual Exhibition in October.
So what is on offer at Fareham Art Group in its 75th year?
Art can make a difference to your life. It is therapeutic, brings people together to make new friendships and meets at St Johns Hall every Tuesday afternoon. Sometimes, we organise tutorial sessions for small groups to explore new techniques. Similarly, on Saturdays in Portchester, “paintalong” workshops are organised, tutored by a professional artist. At monthly evening meetings there are demonstrations by professional artists and competitions where trophies are awarded.
In the summer, great fun and camaraderie takes place on Tuesday afternoons while painting outside at interesting venues.
Several years ago the group ran a very successful PopUp shop in Fareham Precinct which lasted six years. We have recently opened up a new PopUp in Fareham Precinct inside the Save A Warrior shop, which is hoped will be of similar success.
This year the group is celebrating the 75th Anniversary at the Annual Exhibition on the weekend of 25th and 26th October at the Titchfield Community Centre.
The Exhibition provides members with the opportunity to exhibit and sell their paintings and cards. Stallholders will also be there selling craft work, cards, sculptures and jewellery and
the opportunity to purchase art books and materials and sample the home made cakes.
Our dedicated Committee holds regular monthly meetings to plan future events and our 150 Members are kept informed by newsletters, email, our Website and Facebook page.
If you would like to know more about our Fareham Art Group please visit us on our website at www.farehamartgroup.co.uk and on Facebook and Instagram.
You are assured of a warm welcome at all events.
CROFTON PARISH HARVEST AT HOLY ROOD
The pear tree in the Vicarage garden has had a bumper year. We’ve lived here 9 years and it always seemed to be on its last legs; more than once, I’ve thought about chopping it down. But, this year, large, healthy pears are weighing down every limb of the tree – more in a single year than in the last nine years put together.
I would love to say it’s been our care that helped the pear tree flourish – but that wouldn’t be true. Other than a half-hearted prune shortly after arriving, we’ve left it to its own devices. Last year, it produced 5 or 6 pears worth picking; this year, there’s more fruit than we’ll be able to use.
We didn’t plant it; we didn’t make it grow. Yet we still have the incredible blessing of being able to enjoy it.
This is true of the whole of the natural world. Our planet was here long before us – we inherited a world that provides for our needs, the blessings of which we enjoy every day.
Harvest is the opportunity to remember that the natural world is a gift from a loving Creator. Too often, we take creation – and our lives – for granted. We act as if we deserve our place on this planet. We rarely stand in awe of the world we’ve inherited and remind ourselves that it is all a pure gift of a loving, heavenly Father.
At Harvest, we simply say thank you for all we’ve received. We acknowledge that we have been provided for in countless, unearned ways and often failed to recognise that. Finally, at Harvest, we give towards those less fortunate as a reminder that all of our lives are a gift. At Crofton, we give towards the Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank.
This year, Harvest at Holy Rood is on Sat 4 October for our Harvest Family Fun Afternoon and on Sun 5 October at our 10am service. At St Edmunds’, Harvest is on Sun 12 October at our 9.30am service.
You are more than welcome to join us at any of these events as, this Harvest, we remember then unearned gift that is our life and our world.
Rev Canon Richard England Vicar, Crofton Parish Area Dean, Fareham croftonparish.org.uk Office: 01329 661154
