Newsletter april 2014 by Deon Tucker

Awb ridge

awbridge district village association

V I L L A G E

ADVA

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

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

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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.

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

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** The deadline for the next edition will be 15th April **

Page 2 | Apr 2014

From the Editor

Awbridge Primary School

Thankfully the subtle cover of the last edition has been answered and a new editor has come forward. Due to the timescales around this time of year and where the next deadline is, we still need to decide who is editing the next edition! It may well be a team effort but I hope that from the June edition (deadline May 15th) the new editor will be firmly in place. That doesn’t mean to say anyone who still harbours a wish to become involved with the production of Awbridge News isn’t needed; far from it, as any contribution (however small) would be a great help.

School Dates in April:

I’d like to remind all our regular contributors that the deadline for articles is the 15th of each month, as I’ve had a few late receipts this time around. With the fete coming up, we will as always be on the lookout for roving reporters on the day to write pieces for the following issue of Awbridge News. If you are interested, drop me a line so we can discuss further. You can write as much or as little as you like, and the deadline will be 15th May. James Child - Editor Awbridge News

From the Chairman’s Pen It looks like the spring has arrived with warm sunshine and birds singing in the early morning. Lets hope that it continues and helps to dry out the sports field ready for the fete. So have you volunteered yet to help or book a stall to ensure that we have a successful day?

Tuesday 1st 6.30pm

Conifer/Maple Class Play

Wednesday 2nd 2pm

Conifer/Maple Class Play

Thursday 3rd 10am

Easter Service at Awbridge Church

Thursday 3rd

Easter Lunch

Thursday 3rd 6.30pm

Conifer/Maple Class Play

Friday 4th

End of term

Tuesday 22nd

Start of Summer term

Star Gazing in Awbridge Is anyone interested in star gazing in Awbridge and meeting up to share experiences? Please contact Paul – bertanddoris@btinternet. com for more details.

Items For The Fete

A this time of the year many people change homes and we could be welcoming new families to the village; if a near neighbour is moving please let us know so that a village welcome pack can be delivered.

To help us with the fete preparations, please note the following:

We are pleased to report that we have a new editor Martin HailwoodThomas.

• Any items for the Bric-a-brac stall are to be handed in to Stockfield House or Chanwel House, Romsey Road from 12th April onwards.

We wish him every success as he begins to take over the reins. We are now collecting bric-a brac and books for our fete stalls, which can be dropped off at Chanwel House (340709). We hope to see you at the Fete and other various events through this coming year. Fred - Chairman ADVA

100 Club Winners £25 John Smith £20 Louise Preget £15 Elsie Batiuk

Advertising We always welcome interested parties wishing to advertise within Awbridge News. The summer months are approaching and we would be more than happy to publish new/additional adverts in order to help your trade as the weather improves. If you are interested or wish to know more, please speak to any of the committee.

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

• If you have any old cricket balls available that you are willing to donate for the crockery smash, please let us know. • The book stall will need stocking as always – if you have any suitable books you wish to donate we’ll be glad to take them off your hands! • Bakers of Awbridge – we are looking forward to your wonderful cakes once more for the fete, so please give generously. • We will need physical help on the Friday night to erect the tents ready for the fete, likely to be a 7pm start but will be confirmed nearer the time. Please let us know if you can help. • Any contributions of bottles for the Bottle Tombola would be very welcome, from chutney to champagne! Page 3 | Apr 2014

All Saints Awbridge - April 2014 As we look forward to celebrating the greatest festival of all we have services and events telling the Easter story which we hope you and your family can take part in. We welcome the children, staff and parents of Awbridge School to the church for a special service on Thursday 3 April at 10 am. On Palm Sunday we have a special service of worship including some processing at 9.30 am. The sombre side of Easter, Good Friday, will be explored at “An Hour at the Cross” on Good Friday at 9.30 am. This will be followed by a celebration of new life on Easter Day with a church full of floral decorations and much joy, sharing Holy Communion together and followed by an Easter Egg Hunt, families welcome. We are Easter people and so can enjoy celebrating “new life” that Easter brings every Sunday. The cherry tree in the churchyard, pictured above, flowers around Easter time and lasts only a week or so but is a wonderful example of “new life” in nature at it best. Living the mission of Jesus: during Lent all the parishes in the Winchester Diocese have been encouraged to study this specially written course “Living the Mission of Jesus” with the themes of the kingdom, being authentic disciples, re-imagining church, being agents of social transformation and being a generous community. All of these ideas are being looked at by our housegroups and Messy Church; see www.winchesterlent.org . Messy Church: Once again a great gathering of children and adults enjoyed Messy Church in March in Awbridge, with activities including sand labyrinths, a collage of “what is church?” i.e. people worshipping God, building a temple from junk, creating tempting cakes, transforming butterflies and pictures, plus donkey money boxes for TOTT, and being part of Jesus’ family tree. Come and join the next one on discovering the Easter Story at Timsbury, 10th April at 2.30 pm, at the Jubilee Hall. Contact Pepe Alexander 340386 or email: p.alexander386@btinternet. com or Mary Savage 367908 email: savage@choiceplants.freeserve. co.uk for more info or see www.messychurch.org.uk We are looking forward to welcoming Holly West and her family when she is baptised during our Family Service on 27 April and to the wedding of Ashley Paskins and Tammy Ridges on 3 May in Awbridge Church. Our annual parochial church meeting (APCM) takes place on Sunday 27 April, after the 9.30 am service. We are currently seeking a new secretary for our PCC, more leaders for Young Church and helpers for Messy Church. This is the annual meeting when we elect our churchwardens and members of the PCC for the following year and celebrate what has been achieved during the last year. Dates for your diary: Next Messy Church , “the Easter Story” on Thursday 10 April at Jubilee Hall, Timsbury and then “Pentecost” on Sunday 8 June at Braishfield Church Rooms. Worship and Events in Awbridge in April Thursday 3 April 10 am Awbridge School Easter Service Sunday 6 April - 5th Sunday in Lent 9.30 am Holy Communion 6.30 pm First: “Living the mission of Jesus” continued Thursday 10 April Messy Church 2.30 – 5pm “The Easter Story” Jubilee Hall, Timsbury All families welcome Sunday 13 April Palm Sunday 9.30 am Morning Worship Maundy Thursday 17 April 7.30 pm Holy Communion + washing of feet St John’s, Farley Chamberlayne Page 4 | Apr 2014

He is not here, He is risen” Matt 28 v 6 so let us celebrate Easter together… Good Friday 18 April 9.30 am An hour at the Cross, followed by refreshments with Hot Cross Buns 7.30 pm The Cross of Christ - choral service, All Saints, Braishfield Sunday 20 April Easter Day 9.30 am Holy Communion followed by Easter Egg Hunt Sunday 27 April 9.30 am Family Worship + Baptism, Followed by APCM Sunday 4 May 9.30 am Holy Communion 6.30 pm First Other Activities for April Five Alive Fellowship Monday 7 April Easter Godly Play, With Teresa Pittis, 7.30 pm Braishfield Church Rooms Prayer Group Meets twice monthly in Romsey. Prayer requests to John Twigg 521966 or via prayer request box in church Awbridge Lunch Club Wednesday 9 and 23 April, at 12 noon, Awbridge Church Rooms Contact Delia 01794 340395 Tuesday Housegroup 15 April, 7.45 pm Rosemary Croft, contact John Twigg Tel 01794 521966 Wednesday Housegroup 9 and 23 April 7.45 pm at Chanwel House, Romsey Road, Awbridge Contact Fred 340709 Thursday Housegroup 3 April “Agents of social transformation”, 7.45 pm venue TBA 24 April “Re-imagining church”, 7.45 pm at Poppies, Choice Plants Contact Sue Franklin 01794 322185 “The Ark” The All Saints Church Baby & Toddler group meets in Awbridge Village Hall, on Fridays in term-time, 9.30 am – 11 am. Easter Session 4 April. 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

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Quality fresh meat, and outstanding value straight from your local farm this Easter Visit us at Chalcroft Farm and choose from locally sourced quality meats such as lamb, pork and beef, not to mention more exotic cuts. Expect a good old-fashioned shopping experience and quality food for your Easter gathering .

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

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This year Awbridge Neighbourcare are planning to hold a “Teddy Tombola” on our stall at the village fete on 10 May 2014, to help raise valuable funds. If you have any spare Teddies, please consider donating them to us so that we can “rehome” them! Please donate new or nearly new Teddy Bears by delivering them to either Awbridge Church, or Choice Plants, Timsbury, no later than 3 May. Thank you. Do you have some spare time to take people to medical or other appointments, to help with shopping or collect prescriptions? Would you like to help those in our neighbourhood who need transport for these journeys? If so Awbridge Neighbourcare would like to hear from you. For more information please contact 0845 094 6155. NEIGHBOURCARE ARRANGEMENTS - 0845 094 6155 Awbridge Neighbourcare volunteers are available to help, as good neighbours, to provide transport for all kinds of medical appointment 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.

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 Coffee Morning and Bring and Buy Sale This will be held on Wednesday April 30th at 10 am to raise funds for British Red Cross. Admission is £2 which includes coffee/tea and cake. Come and support us at 9 Ennel Copse, North Baddesley, SO52 9LB(off Rownhams Road). All welcome

Awbridge Evening W.I. Our Speaker in March was practically ‘home grown’: Roger Savage, from Choice Plants at Timsbury. Roger gave us lots of tips about planting our Spring containers and hanging baskets. He planted up three containers, made of different materials, with three different types of plants; seasonal, permanent and a mixture of both. He also gave us an insight into the joys and woes of being a nurseryman. A lot of the myths about container planting were dispelled, and his sense of humour was infectious; we all ended up having a good laugh together as well as learning a lot! Page 6 | Apr 2014

The report on the TV Group committee meeting mentioned that in 2015 we are to be merged with the Romsey Group. Several members had enjoyed the ‘Ladies Day’ in aid of the Hampshire Air Ambulance which Tytherley WI had organised. A group of members had also enjoyed a visit to the Mayflower Theatre to see ‘War Horse’. Members were reminded that wine bottles (full and empty!) are needed for the stall at Awbridge fete in May. The Produce meeting is on 31st March at Awbridge and the TV Spring Group at Kings Somborne on 15th April.

ROMSEY’S EXPERT PICTURE FRAMERS

Next month our speaker will be Jill Daniels talking on Romanovs to Revolution. Do come and join us on April 10th in Awbridge Hall at 7.30, we’d love to see you. Yvonne Goodridge

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A Big Thank You From Grateful Parishioners We have been contacted by many parishioners who would like to thank Brian Raines for all the work which he has undertaken in cleaning so many ditches and culverts. During this very wet winter many roads would have flooded if the ditches had been left in disrepair and not cleared. I’m sure many of you have seen Brian working hard in all weathers to rectify this problem. Please take this as a personal thank you Brian from very grateful parishioners. Fred Tucker

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Books And Bric-A-Brac We are now collecting bric-a-brac and books for our stalls at this year’s fete. If you have anything that you would like to drop off, you can do this at Chanwel House, Romsey Road, Awbridge (tel 340709). We also need old crockery for our “smash the crockery” stall, so we look forward to hearing from you in the run up to the fete.

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Page 7 | Apr 2014

Awbridge Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Musings From Maurice

At Awbridge Hill, central to the creation of the wildlife sanctuary, has been the planting of thousands of trees, most of which are native to the English countryside. These include species such as field maple, ash, beech, oak, aspen, plus many more.

Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold. Everyone would like good, friendly neighbours and I am pretty sure the readers of this magazine all have the ideal situation but there are occasions when even good neighbours can become a problem.

Native trees are those which have been present in Britain over the last ten thousand years, having evolved to provide host to thousands of species of wildlife including animals, birds, fungi, beetles, insects, butterfly, moth, lichen and woodland flowers. By stark comparison, non native trees such as the horse chestnut which originates from the Mediterranean, or rhododendron from Asia, have very few species in Britain, able to utilise them. In this context a woodland rich in native trees, is one that is rich in wildlife, whereas a woodland of non native trees is a place where wildlife largely is absent.

We have all heard stories about loud music, teenagers revving up their motorcycles late at night or in the early hours of the morning when they return home. Sometimes the complaints occur because the garden next door is a tip or the large tree is blocking out all your light. Do you live next to an animal lover who let their animals break down your fencing and urinate over your vegetable garden after eating all the flowers? I know this is taking things to extreme but it does happen.

Many people assume that when a tree is cut down it will die and that felling of trees leads to the loss of woodland. The truth is that whilst many mature trees do not survive felling, most British native species actually benefit from being regularly cut back or coppiced in winter and will shoot up new growth from the cut stump in spring. Trees that are periodically coppiced from youth, will live indefinitely, developing large stools or stumps, some of which live for thousands of years. From these stools new shoots and suckers appear, however if left unmanaged, these same trees will grow to maturity, then after 70 years or so, begin to rot and fall apart. In this context, it is successive generations of woodsman, who from the dawn of time have blessed so many ancient trees with eternal life. Historically there has always been a high demand for poles, stakes, hurdles and spars, however since the Great War the coppice woodland industry fell into serious decline, as alternative modern materials became available. A consequence has been the large scale abandonment of traditional woodland management, resulting in neglect of much of our woodland and the loss of ancient trees. Coppice woodland management encourages dense thick growth and a wildlife holding capacity, three times greater than that of abandoned or out of cycle coppice. Traditionally every woodland was divided into “coups” the underwood of which was coppiced in rotation every seven to ten years. A scattering of standard trees such as oak and beech were often allowed to grow for the production of valuable timber, however sometimes theses trees were pollarded, or cut above the browsing height of deer, for the production of poles. Trees that are pollarded, will grow to become of such great age and huge girth that they seem immortal, however left unmanaged, these trees eventually rot and fall apart. The Fortingale yew in Scotland, is said to be perhaps ten thousand years old, dating back to around the time Britain was still connected to mainland Europe, whereas the Ashbrittle Yew in Somerset, is at least three thousand years old. These ancient trees owe their immortality to man’s continued management, however that process has all but stopped. Tree planting should be undertaken during the winter months of November, December and January, when trees are dormant, for by February sap begins to rise announcing the arrival of spring. Coppicing and pollarding is best undertaken from the beginning of autumn in early August, through to the beginning of spring early February. Bryan Raines

Page 8 | Apr 2014

One of the strangest stories I have ever come across was the lady, a friend, who lived in a nice quiet rural area and had several bird feeders in her garden. The feeders were always kept clean and the fresh food was changed daily. The lady was so fond of her birds she had a name for almost every visitor. She knew if a goldfinch was ailing or a long tailed tit had lost one of its feathers. Her robin was so friendly he would almost take the food from her hand. Woodpeckers, both lesser spotted and green were regular visitors. Nuthatch, blackbirds, sparrows and several thrushes would arrive daily and enjoy every beak full of food and when they were not eating they would be bathing in the spotless birdbath or singing their little hearts out. It was a very happy environment for all concerned until a new neighbour arrived. At first the ladies got on fine because the neighbour was a keen bird watcher. While having a cup of tea or coffee together they would compare notes on all the wonderful little creatures on the feeders, then the lady next door started to get her own bird feeders! It was not long before many of the birds started to change their diet and went next door to eat. The competition was on; “she had six blackbirds and seven goldfinches yesterday” So “how many came to your garden”? “Not sure I was watching her steal my birds and was wondering how I could get them back again”. I tried to point out to my friend that they were not her birds and if she really was a bird lover, did it matter where they went providing they were safe? More to the point if the neighbour was now buying all the bird food was it not a good experience to watch for free! I was told the money did not come into it. The woman next door was stealing all her birds, and she was enticing all the pigeons as well. Pigeons were not nice, they stole the food from the smaller birds and made a mess all over the place, including the fence! The bird feeding was now becoming a competition with both neighbours more interested in winning and less concern for the well being of the birds. One woman would boast that she had got a good deal on white sunflower seeds and for a while the birds enjoyed the change of diet. Then the other neighbour changed her bird food to mealworms and so the battle raged on for several months with both neighbours hardly talking to each other. Then, the breakthrough. The new neighbour started to leave the odd feeder empty and then it was taken down, shortly afterwards a second feeder disappeared until about two weeks later all the birds were feeding in the original garden because all the bird feeders next door had been removed. My friend was very smug and victorious as she had won the battle of the birds and was only too happy to boast of her victory to all her friends. Until her neighbour bought two cats! Maurice Hibberd

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Page 9 | Apr 2014

Times Past? There definitely seems to be an appetite for stories about the past in our parish and several requests have been made through this magazine, over the years, to start our own local history group. There’s probably not enough available information to fill a regular slot but I would be willing to contribute occasional short articles if readers, and of course our editors, would like (the Editors do like – Ed). A recent idea of mine is for some of our longer established families and perhaps others who have long associations with Awbridge to be asked to share some of their own and/or their ancestors’ experiences with us. From those I’ve already approached, the response has been very positive. So it’s over to them, or, if they prefer, over to them via me! Other people are, of course, very welcome to send in stories about past lives and events in Awbridge. Meanwhile may I offer, as a follow up to Mr Raines’ recent interesting article on possible road origins in our village, some additional information. My intention is to write three or four short pieces under the collective title of:-

TRACKWAYS; TOLLGATES,TURNPIKES and A TALL TALE; RECENT ROAD REFINEMENTS Part One: Ancient Trackways Kents Oak is indeed a rather mysterious feature in our village and the origin of the name seems to have long been lost in the mists of time. Rather tantalisingly the surname Kent can be found in our area even today. Certainly it was around as long ago as the 18th century. Lying on strategic high ground and the site of a former major crossroads the significance of this landmark has been widely recognised for centuries. It still appears on almost all major OS maps and was featured on charts as far back as the 1700s. As Mr Raines suggests it may well, in the past, have been the site of a beacon. But undoubtedly its true significance lay in the meeting of those two important ancient routes. These took full advantage of the dry ground along the chalk and gravel ridgeways between such major cities as Winchester and Salisbury. One, crossing the Test at Kimbridge, which was once probably fordable, went from Winchester through Merdon and then Braishfield (past Pucknall and Fairbourne’s Farm), on to Michelmersh, then up Saunders Lane (known by us locals as The Beeches), directly across Awbridge Common to Newton Rd and along those still surviving narrow lanes to Sherfield, Whiteparish and beyond. While most of the tracks across the Common disappeared with its Enclosures in the late 18th century it is still possible to follow the remnant of one of those routes even today. Walk the footpath which runs along the lane behind Awbridge School, past Butlers Wood Farm and out on to Newton Rd and you will be following in the footsteps of our forefathers. If you’re really interested, the original surveyors drawings for the first OS maps of 1810 clearly show the numerous tracks which once criss-crossed common land. These are held in the British Library in London. A second major route from Romsey crossed the Test at Greatbridge and followed Stanbridge Lane heading towards Lockerley and the Tytherleys. From this road it was still possible to branch off to Salisbury at several points. But while undoubtedly some of the significance of Kents Oak lay in its dominance as a former major crossroads, its importance to our local community also existed for another reason. How many of you are aware that it still actually marks the conjunction of three parishes those of Mottisfont, Lockerley and Awbridge? This could, perhaps, give some credence to the idea that it may once have been the site of some ancient form of local government. If you look in the bank of that rough track behind our primary school you may get quite a surprise. It is there Page 10 | Apr 2014

that the original boundary stone can still be located. It is unfortunately now in very eroded, neglected and sorry state - which I, for one, think is a pity. The majority of you must be aware that Awbridge was, for much of its recent history, part of the very large parish of Michelmersh. For much of that time this also included Braishfield. Only in the mid 1870s did Awbridge gain the status of a separate ecclesiastical parish with its own church and clergy. Its independence for local government purposes didn’t occur until very much later - in the 1960s - and even then it was conjoined initially with Sherfield English. The boundaries with Mottisfont and Lockerley have changed a little but remain fundamentally the same as in the past. The most recent alteration was a very small adjustment when Butlers Wood Farmhouse was logically transferred from Lockerley to Awbridge. We cannot possibly leave the subject of local road development without reference to the several turnpikes which once ran through our village. These were responsible for changes which are still clearly visible today. I don’t propose revealing more about this very complicated subject until part 2 of my articles which will be entitled - TOLLGATES, TURNPIKES and A TALL TALE. Incidently, those events I’ve just described which led to the setting up of our own parish church and the effects this had on the village, could provide us with yet another article! Perhaps you should watch this space! Anne Head-Jones

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

Messy Church News Awbridge Village Hall was the venue for our Messy Church in March for the 5 churches which make up our United Benefice. The theme was ‘Living the Mission of Jesus’ and activities during the afternoon included making chocolate chip temptation cookies (and trying not to eat any of the mixture before they went into the oven)! Also, building the Temple of Jerusalem out of junk, making ‘Born Again Butterflies’ by melting grated wax and playing with a sand labyrinth. Other activities included revealing hidden pictures with paint and creating a collage ‘reimagining church’ reminding us that we can be ‘church’ anywhere; in a garden, at the beach, on the top of a mountain, even in the village hall! As an example of ‘being a generous community’ children made donkey money boxes which they took home to collect money in for the Samaritans Purse project ‘Turn on The Tap’. Money boxes will be collected at Messy Church in Braishfield for Pentecost on 9th June. After playing a parachute game outside in the sunshine there was a time of worship followed by a delicious tea of pasta bake and choc ices with the cakes made earlier. The afternoon was thoroughly enjoyed by all the families who attended. The next Messy Church with the theme of Easter will be held at Timsbury’s Jubilee Hall on THURSDAY 9th APRIL starting at 2:30pm until 5:00pm, all families are welcome. For further information contact: Pepe Alexander 340386 or Mary Savage 367908. Pepe Alexander

Diary of a Village at War: What’s for tea Mother? During World War II civilians saw blackouts, bomb shelters, mass evacuation and rationing. Surprisingly people had a more healthy diet than many today. Awbridge Parish Council is leading a community project to mark the Centenary of WWI and the 70th Anniversary of D-Day. Part of the project is a ‘Diary of a Village at War’, where residents can contribute details of WW2 recipes and ‘make do and mend’ tips as a way of illustrating how ordinary families coped with food rationing and the general shortage of materials.

The Easter Story Thursday 10 April 2014 Jubilee Hall , Timsbury 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: Mary Savage 367908 email: savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk

EVENT IS FREE BUT DONATIONS ARE WELCOME Next Messy Church: Sunday 8 June Pentecost 2 30pm Braishfield Ch Rm

Your Teddies

needed in Awbridge

Hampshire County Council has indicated that they are interested in featuring the Awbridge project in a future edition of the Hampshire Now magazine. Can you help put Awbridge firmly on the Hampshire map? Do you, your parents, or grandparents remember eggless cake, potato floddies, or woolton pie, or any other war-time delicacies? Does anyone in your family know about the use of gravy browning as a substitute for ladies stockings? Or about using a piece of raw potato to shine shoes? If the answer is yes, then Awbrige Parish Council would like to hear from you. Contact the parish clerk, Ian Milsom, on clerk.awbridge@ parish.hants.gov.uk or telephone 07745411274

To All Garden Lovers Now is the time to divide all of those herbaceous plants which have managed to survive the wet weather through the winter. If you have planted seeds and the plants are not all needed, these could be sold on the garden stall at the village fete. Any money raised will be used toward the upkeep of the village churchyard. We really would appreciate any help in this area. Please contact either Delia Dutton 340395 or Fred Tucker 340709 and let them know what you are able to provide.

Awbridge needs your spare Teddies for our “Teddy Tombola” at the Awbridge Fete, on 10 May 2014, to help raise valuable funds for Awbridge Neighbourcare. Please donate new or nearly new Teddy Bears by delivering them to either Awbridge Church, or Choice Plants, Timsbury, no later than 3 May. Thank You FAO: Awbridge Neighbourcare c/o Mary Savage 01794 367908 Page 11 | Apr 2014

Fun

Dog Show at Awbridge Village Fete 10May All classes £1.50 to enter, starting at 1.45pm. To be held at Awbridge Village Hall on 10th May. Kindly sponsored by Hansard Pet Centre & Supported By: James Wellbeloved, Royal Canin, Skinners, Beta, Pedigree, R & A Pet products, Eukanuba & Burns. Class 1

Prettiest Bitch

Class 2

Most Handsome Dog

Class 3

Child Handler (2 to 10 years old)

Class 4

Junior Handler (11 to 16 years old)

Class 5

Cutest Puppy (Under 18 months)

Class 6

Best veteran (Over 7 years)

Class 7

Dog The Judge Would Like To Take Home

Championship ~ 1st prize winners from classes 1 to 7 are eligible Rules And Conditions: DO NOT leave your dog unattended in cars – action will be taken if you do. Dogs must stay on leads at all times. Dog mess has to be picked up. Classes will start at 1.45pm prompt. Please enter before your class is due to start; entries can be made from 1pm at ringside. Classes will be running to time and late entries will NOT be accepted. The Judge’s decision is final. Rosettes will be given up to 5th place & prizes will be given to all competitors. Winner of Championship Shield must return to Hansard Pet Centre by April 2015.

Fun Dog Show Entry Form Class

Name of Dog

£1.50 PER CLASS

Name of Handler

TOTAL £

Please fill this entry form in and bring it along with you. Page 12 | Apr 2014

Help Needed For Your Fete! Each year we look for extra help at our village fete. This year we again need help to run some of the stalls and help in the kitchen. This only requires short periods of time to assist and work as part of a team. The more help we have the more fun we all get out of a great day together.

Awbridge Village Lunches 2014 Would you like to join friends and neighbours from the village for Lunch?

Thank you to all of you who already have offered help. We look forward to hearing from many others, with all ages welcome.

Fred Tucker

Cakes Cakes are wanted for the teas and coffee stall as always. To all you budding cooks/bakers, please get busy so they can be delivered on the morning of the fete. Sponges, fruit cake, tray bakes or fancy cakes all will be welcomed. Please give Katy a ring on 341452 so she is aware of your commitment to the day.

At 12 noon Awbridge Village Hall Wednesday 25th June - £4 per person Wednesday 24th September - £4 per person Wednesday 10th December- £6 per person, Christmas Lunch Booking and Transport arrangements:

Lemon Tart Delicious crisp pastry with a smooth lemon filling. Can be served warm or cold. PASTRY • 225g plain flour • 150g cold butter, cut into small cubes • 25g icing sugar • 1 large egg, beaten • 2 tbsp water

Main course e.g. Shepherd’s pie Home-made pudding Tea or coffee

LEMON FILLING • 9 large eggs • 300ml double cream • 350g caster sugar • finely grated zest and juice of 6 large lemons

Method (Serves 8): 1. You will need a 28cm deep loose-bottomed tart tin. 2. To make the pastry, measure the flour, butter and sugar into a processor. Whiz until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs and then add the egg and water. Whiz again until it forms a ball. 3. Roll out the pastry thinly on a floured work surface until it is just a little bigger than the size of the tin. Line the tart tin with the pastry, letting the extra pastry hang over the sides of the tin. Place on a baking sheet and then chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. 4. Peheat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line the tin with nonstick paper and fill with baking beans. Blind bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven until pale golden brown. 5. Take out of the oven and remove the baking beans and paper. Carefully trim the excess pastry from the sides using a sharp knife. Return the empty pastry shell to the oven for another 10-12 minutes or until it is completely dry. Set aside to cool. 6. Reduce the temperature of the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. 7. Measure all the filling ingredients into a bowl and whisk until smooth. Carefully pour the filling mixture into the cold baked pastry case. 8. Transfer the tart and tray carefully to the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until just set but still with a slight wobble in the middle. The filling will sink down a bit when it has cooled. 9. Leave to cool a little, or completely, and then remove it from the tin. Transfer to a serving plate and dust with icing sugar to serve. PREPARING AHEAD - the tart can be made up to 2 days ahead. Freezes well. Katy Stimson

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.

Litter Pick 2014

Sunshine welcomed the thirty five volunteers who turned out for the fourth Awbridge litter pick on Saturday 22nd March. Emma at Test Valley came up with the ‘goods’ in the shape of high-vis jackets, pickers, gloves and of course a lorry with two willing staff members to load and remove point18 of a tonne of rubbish. Linda Tucker of ADVA rewarded us all with soup and french bread which made our efforts well worth it. Looking at the weight of rubbish this year, compared with the last three years (0.75 of a tonne against 0.18 this year), I think we are getting on top of the problem. Thanks to all who turned out to keep our village spick and span.

Peter Allen for ADVA Page 13 | Apr 2014

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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

Thursday 10 April

Messy Church

Jubilee Hall, Timsbury

2.30pm

Saturday 12 April

Dinner and Jazz Evening

Awbridge Village Hall

7pm

Sunday 13 April

Palm Sunday

Awbridge Church

9.30am

Friday 18 April

Good Friday

Awbridge Church

9.30am

Sunday 20 April

Easter Day Service and Egg hunt

Awbridge Church

9.30am

Thursday 24 April

Parish Council Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Saturday 10 May

Village Fete

Awbridge Village Hall

12 noon

Thursday 29 May

Parish Council Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Sunday 01 June

The Big Lunch

Awbridge Village Hall

12 noon

Wednesday 25 June

Village Lunch

Awbridge Village Hall

12 noon

Thursday 26 June

Parish Council Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Saturday 06 September

Produce Show

Awbridge Village Hall

TBC

Kindling Wood Kooking with Kate Kate Buchan, Sous Chef at Kimbridge Restaurant. Gives you your Seasonal Recipe

Orange & passion fruit roulade This recipe serves 10 persons.

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

Shopping List: 3 large eggs 85g caster sugar 85g self-raising flour

Filling 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 passion fruit 3 oranges zest and segments 200ml double cream

How to make it: Heat the oven to 200c / gas 6 / fan 180c. Butter and line a 25 x 35cm swiss roll tin with baking parchment. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and the sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Sieve the flour into a clean bowl and gently fold the flour into the egg mix. Fold in until all combined, but being careful not to over mix as you will knock the air out of the eggs. Pour the mix into the lined tin and smooth out to the edges and bake for 12-15 minutes until thoroughly cooked. Lay a sheet of baking paper slightly larger than the sponge on a surface and dust with sieved icing sugar. Flip the sponge out onto the paper and carefully peel off the parchment lining on the sponge.

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

01794 340175

01794 01794 340175

Cut a line into the sponge one end about 2 cm from the edge, being careful not to cut all the way through (this will help when filling the sponge). Using the sheet underneath the sponge, tightly roll the sponge up starting with the cut edge, rolling the paper in the sponge. Once rolled, leave to cool completely. For the filling whisk the cream and vanilla until it forms soft peaks, carefully scrape all the seeds out of the passion fruit and mix into the cream. Unroll the sponge and spread over the cream, scatter the cream with the orange segments and starting with the edge you cut earlier, fold that over into the cream then tightly re-roll the roulade and transfer to a serving plate. Dust with sugar if desired and serve.

340175

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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