Choice Magazine for Stubbington & Hill Head - September edition
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It’s September which I’m hoping means a month of lovely weather - it usually does! I like the warmer months to drag out as long as possible as I’m not a fan of the cold! September also means it’s ‘Strictly time!’ Sequins and sparkles are dusted off and Tess and Claude’s outfits are a topic of conversation and dancing across the kitchen floor resumes after watching it!
I’ve gone mad again with the bulb buying! I love a wacky daff and I’m a sucker for a tulip that looks like a peony. I always get overexcited and order a wheelbarrow full and then need a month to plant them all! It will be worth it though! I’m also going to get sowing salad leaves while I can and chuck the seeds from annuals that have gone over around, see what hapens next year. I know it’s time to do this because of the gardening guide inside! I hope it helps you too!
The new home for the Crofton Men’s Shed is up and running and ready for more members! You may have spotted the smart-looking green cabin to the left of the drive at Holy Rood Church. After five years of fund raising and seeking planning permission the new cabin is formally open! With currently around 25 members, the Crofton Men’s Shed is looking to grow and is open to new members. Find out more about it inside.
It’s party time for our lovely local senior citizens! The Crofton Lions are holding a Senior Citizens Tea Party. If you know of an elderly person who would like to go, get in touch with them. Find Crofton Lions details on page 35.
It’s birthday cake season in my world! I’ve been knocking them out left right and centre! My current go to is a 3 tier chocolate berry cake! It’s been given the thumbs up so it is this months recipe!
As always, you’ll also find great offers, sudoku, more great advertisers, local events, local news and much more inside!
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This makes for a fab celebration cake! Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or the fact that it’s Tuesday, it’s perfect!
You’ll need three 20-cm cake tins (or bake one at a time) base-lined with greaseproof paper Makes 10-12 slices
Ingredients for the sponge
• 100g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 260g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 45g cocoa powder
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• a pinch of salt
• 170 g plain flour
• 160 ml whole milk
For the filling
• 600ml double cream
• ½ tsp vanilla paste (optional)
• 1 tbsp icing sugar (optional)
• 12 strawberries finely chopped plus additional berries of your choice to pop on top
• jam of your choice (I used raspberry)
Method
Preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/Gas 3
Put the butter and sugar in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and cream until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well and scraping any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula after each addition. Turn the mixer down to slow speed and beat in the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt until well mixed. Add half the flour, then all the milk, and finish with the remaining flour. Mix well until everything is well combined.
Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tins and smooth over with a palette knife. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Leave the cakes to cool slightly in the tins before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
When the cakes are cold put one cake on a cake stand and spread a layer of jam then half of the finely chopped strawberries then about one-third of the cream over it with a palette knife. Place a second cake on top and and repeat. Top with the last cake and spread the remaining cream over the top and decorate with your chosen berries. Enjoy!
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Nash, our Centre Manager doing diagnostic work Jake our Apprentice
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 11th September. Interested to
SEPTEMBER IN CRESCENT GARDEN
Wall germander, Teucrium chamaedrys, is classed as a tiny shrub; it normally grows to no more than 20 cms (8 inches)high and can spread to be a good ground cover. Or it can be cut into a very low, neat hedge. This is the aim for its use in Crescent garden. You will find it fairly newly planted, bordering the western Repton basket, which is full of rose bushes. T. chamaedrys also surrounds the new mulberry tree, just inside the eastern central gate. The specific name, chamaedrys, comes from the Greek meaning ‘gift of the ground’, and it was used by the ancient Greeks to treat coughs and asthma. In more modern times it has been a common ingredient of tonic wines sold in health food shops because of its medicinal
effect on the digestion. Recently, however, it was discovered to be toxic and has been banned in France since 1992 and in USA in 2017. It has even been suggested that it should be handled wearing gloves as it can cause skin irritation.
It is a member of the family Lamiaceae) sometimes called the Labiateae), which includes mint, rosemary, thyme, lavender and salvias. Like most of the rest of the family, Teucrium has a square stem and aromatic leaves and flowers. Also like other members of the Labiaceae, wall germander has a bilaterally symmetrical flower with petals fused into a small upper and large lower lip - hence the name of the family, as labia is the Latin for lip.
Wall Germander is native to the Mediterranean area, being found growing wild in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, as far as Iran. It prefers to grow in full sun, but will tolerate some shade. Its natural habitat is dry grassland, so it grows well in this country in sandy, free draining soil and in rockeries. It has frilly edged dark green leaves, which are slightly hairy on the back. The flowers are pale purple and appear in late summer. They are very attractive to bees.
So a good plant to grow in your garden if we are going to continue with dry summers. But make sure the soil is free draining so that the plant can cope with any very wet winters.
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
CROFTON MEN’S SHED NOW UP & RUNNING
If you have been past Holy Rood Church recently, you may have seen the smart-looking green cabin to the left of the drive. This is the new home of the Crofton Men’s Shed. Formed in 2019, the Shed is part of the national Men’s Shed organisation, which aims to provide opportunities for mainly older men to meet together and enjoy shared activities. The original impetus to open a Crofton branch came from Jenny Wilford, who was appointed by the Parish to head up ministry to older people. Jenny devised a two-pronged approach, the first being Young at Heart, which meets in the church on the first Monday of each month, and the second was the Men’s Shed.
Initially, ‘getting going’ was a challenge because of the impact of COVID, plus we had nowhere suitable to meet, until one of our members suggested using the scout hut in Titchfield Road (thank you to the Second Stubbington Scout Group for their generosity). However, it was always the plan to have our
own building on or near to the Holy Rood site. The past five years have been spent raising funds and seeking planning approval. The current building (The Cabin) was the culmination of five years work by the committee and shed members and was formally opened by Councillor Jacquie Needham in April. Also in attendance was Councillor Pal Hayre, who was then the Mayor of Fareham. An enormous vote of thanks to Jacquie and Pal for their invaluable support and encouragement as we have navigated various legal and logistical obstacles.
Unlike other Sheds, such as Gosport, which has full workshop facilities and around 160 members, the Crofton Men’s Shed is on a more modest scale, and at the moment is mainly centred on social activities, such as quizzes, talks, games, and trips. Food also plays an essential role at our meetings, which take place at 2pm on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Besides getting to know one another better, we have enjoyed visiting places of interest in the local area. These have included trips to the Haynes Motor Museum in Yeovil, the Bursledon Brickworks, the Milestone Museum in Basingstoke and the Tangmere Aviation Museum. A few weeks back, we had a wonderful day at the Titanic exhibition in Southampton. Later in the year, we hope to visit the Beaulieu Motor Museum and the DDay Museum in Southsea.
With currently around 25 members, the Crofton Men’s Shed is looking to grow and is open to new members, whatever their background. If you are interested, why not take a look at our website https://sites.google.com/view/croftonmensshed/home or email us at mensshed@croftonparish.org.uk
The new cabin offers a wonderful community space with access from the carpark and kitchen facilities for providing light refreshments. Besides being the home of the Crofton Men’s Shed, the Cabin is also available to rent by other community groups that may be looking for a smaller venue in which to gather. Please contact us through the email address or the Church Office to find out more.
Revd
Colin Prestidge, Assistant Minister Crofton Parish. Tel 01329 661154
IN THE GARDEN
• Start planting your spring bulbs
• Keep deadheading and weeding
• Collect & store seed from perennials/annuals
• Deadhead dahlias
• Prune climb/rambling roses after flowering
• Lift, divide and replant congested perennials
GREENHOUSE & PLOT
• Bean and pea plants that have finished their harvest can be cut back
• Sow spring onions, Swiss chard, radish, salad leaves, herbs, winter spinach, broad beans, kale and hardy peas.
• Cut back fruited summer raspberry canes
• Plant shallot and onion sets in a sunny spot
• Lift maincrop potatoes
HOUSE PLANTS
• Feed house plants once a week
• Repot house plants that are pot bound
• Clean your plants, wipe over the leaves or hose them down outside or in the shower.
Grinding
Shrubs:
W L S
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
REVERSE PARK
SENIOR CITIZENS TEA PARTY
20th September 2-4.30pm Holyrood Church Hall
The Crofton Lions are holding a Senior Citizens Tea Party If you know of an elderly person (and their carer) who would like to come and join us please send the information to www.croftonlions.org.uk/_contact.html or phone 07941 969429.
FRIDAY FAIR AT STUBBINGTON LIBRARY
Every week 9:30-11.30am
Home-baked cakes, jams, chutney by our talented cooks. Unique crafts, cards, jewellery & make up bags, cushions, embroidered items, gift boxes. Jewellery repairs possible. Plants/veg/salad items depending on season.
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. 18th Sep 10am-12pm Open for visitors/private prayer.
STUBBINGTON BELLES W.I.
8th September 1.30-3.30pm Crofton Club, Titchfield Rd. Jill Bentall talks about ‘Pills, Prayers, Potions and Pandemics’. Talks/demos, lunch club and coffee morning. Annual minibus day trip and visits to local open gardens. Give us a try - for info email: stubbingtonbellessec@hampshirewi.org.uk
STUBBINGTON & HILL HEAD HISTORY SOCIETY
Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington 8th Sep History of Salisbury Part 3 - Andrew Negus
13th Oct The Napoleonic Prison of Portchester CastlePaul Chamberlain
Guests are welcome for a £5 admission charge - pay on the night. For more information visit www.shhhs.co.uk
ALVERSTOKE
MICHAELMAS FAYRE
Saturday 27th Sep 11am-4pm. Alverstoke Village Attractions, stalls, live displays, entertainment, fun!
LOVE SINGING BUT THINK YOU CAN'T?
16th Sep - 21st Oct7-8.15pmMethodist Hall Kings Rd Fareham PO16 0NU Come to our FREE vocal harmony course for women's voices. All abilities.
YOUNG AT HEART HUB First Monday each month 2-3.30pm at Holy Rood Church Opportunity to find friendship. Crafting table, games tables and a wonderful selection of cakes, tea and coffee and chance for a natter.
STUBBINGTON & HILL HEAD WI
24th September 2pm Baptist Church, Jay Close, Cuckoo Lane, Stubbington Talk by Rosemary Tiffin on "Law, London & Me". We are a very friendly group and visitors are always warmly welcomed, so if you wish to make new friends, come along and try us out! 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
September 9th, 30th 10am-12pm
RC Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington £7
Dances to beautiful music from around the World. No Partner or experience is required & all dances are taught. New members welcome. Contact Bob & Mary 01329 609589 Mobile: 07748009838 neal.bob61@gmail.com
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
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.)
ALVERSTOKE MICHAELMAS FAYRE
The Michaelmas Fayre returns to Alverstoke Gosport Rotary Club is delighted to announce the return of the much-loved Michaelmas Fayre, now in its 34th year, taking place in Alverstoke village on Saturday 27th September from 11am to 4pm.
The Fayre has become one of Gosport’s most popular annual events, attracting thousands of visitors each year to enjoy a traffic-free Alverstoke filled with music, colour, and community spirit. In 2024, the event raised more than £20,000 for local good causes, with donations supporting the Mayor of Gosport’s Charity Appeal, Alverstoke Parish Centre, and Gosport Rotary Club.
This year promises another fantastic line-up, with entertainment from the Big Noise Samba Band, HMS Sultan Volunteer Band, the New Thorngate Singers, and the Harry Strutters Jazz Quartet. Families can also enjoy Walls’ Funfair, the ever-popular Kiddies’ 10p Messy Fete, and
over 150 stalls, many hosted by local charities, community groups, and businesses.
The festivities will continue into the evening with a community concert at St Mary’s Church from 7pm, featuring ‘Not the Last Night of the Proms’ – a joyful evening of music and song to round off the celebrations.
Michaelmas Fayres are a tradition dating back to medieval times, often called “Goose Fairs” during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In Alverstoke, the Fayre brings together centuries of history with the vibrancy of a modern community celebration, ensuring a memorable day for all ages.
As part of the event, Gosport Rotary Club is seeking donations of themed hampers valued at £20 or £30 for its fund-raising stall. Any businesses or individuals willing to support this effort are encouraged to contact Dave King on 07918 838680 or email peekay63@hotmail.co.uk
For more details: www.gosportrotary.co.uk
LIME (LINDEN) FLOWERS
(TILIA CORDATA):
NATURE’S BENEVOLENT & CALMING PROTECTOR
There is an abundance of lime (linden) trees in our local area, recognisable by their deep green, sort of heart-shaped leaves with toothed margins. The leaves appear around April time, and heavily scented, sweet, creamy-white flowers arrive mid-summer. It is these dried flowers that I regularly include in my medicinal teas. Found freely available across Europe in countries such as Spain, France and Germany by the name of lime flower, lime blossom, linden, tilia and tilleulle, the tea has a long traditional history of use for combatting fevers and as a relaxing nervine. Lime flowers contain a range of medicinal compounds such as volatile oils, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenolic acids and polysaccharides which result in a range of medicinal uses. Lime flowers are relaxing, calming, and antispasmodic thereby helping to relieve nervous tension, reduce anxiety and aid sleep. These calming and antispasmodic effects mean they are also an excellent circulatory nervine, indeed I have prescribed lime flowers for patients with high blood pressure as they help to reduce tension in the cardiovascular system, and are also a
gentle diuretic. I have also used them to address palpitations, migraines/headache and varicose veins. They also have a gentle diaphoretic action (induces sweating) which is particularly useful when combatting a fever, cough, colds and catarrh by helping to reduce body temperature and enhance peripheral circulation. Lime flowers are often prepared as a tea to be drunk hot or cold, but they can also be infused as bathing herbs that can be used with young children and in pregnancy. Lime flower footbaths are a lovely relaxing way of experiencing this beautiful plant, just make a strong infusion of the dried or fresh flower and soak your feet!
Below is a recipe for a restorative rice pudding from the famous British herbalists Hedley and Shaw to help with convalescence and to restore digestion after illness:
1 cup short grain rice
4 cups of milk, nut milk or soya milk
1 cup of whole linden flowers, fresh or dried 1-2 crushed cardamon pods or a pinch of nutmeg
A little grated lemon or orange rind
Simmer the flowers in the milk for 5 minutes, strain. Add the flavoured milk, spices and rind to the rice. Cook on a low oven for 1 hour. Serve with honey or fruit preserve.
(Plant Medicine: A collection of the teachings of the herbalist Christopher Hedley and Non Shaw, edited by Guy Waddell). Nb. While tilia is a gentle herb, please consult a qualified medical herbalist before internal use (especially with the tincture and if you are taking other medications) and for use with children and babies.
