Romsey & Wellow Gazette - January 2023

We have had an increase in young people who need additional learning support so are growing our team! We have the following roles available:

SENIOR LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT UP TO £21 708*

Part-time/full-time – term time only and full year Plus a recruitment attraction payment of £2,000 pro-rated (terms and conditions apply)

LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT UP TO £19 920*

Part-time/full-time – term time only Plus a recruitment attraction payment of £2,000 pro-rated (terms and conditions apply)

PROGRESS COACH UP TO £23 661*

Full-time/part-time – 40 weeks per year

* pro-rata if part-time. Pay review pending.

Dear Residents,

A Very Happy New Year to you! 2023 here we are. We cannot say that the last three years have been uneventful, that is for sure. Here at Modern Magazines with your local Gazette, we sincerely intend this year to be successful for all of us, despite anything the news may try and tell us. I hope you have made some good New Years’ resolutions and that you feel you can create and have some fun. Our local trades and businesses inside really want you to call them. Please use their services for the help you need in the home, for the car, your business or even for yourself. Do tell them that you have seen them here, as this makes all the difference. I just love to hear you found their details in “My Gazette”. The index at the back is a quick guide to find who you are looking for. There are local groups and societies that also wish to hear from you, so please give them a call too and join in with their activities. There is nothing better than getting together with like-minded people. It is very uplifting and may be the ‘therapy’ we all need to watch less TV. If you know of a club that needs more support, let them know of us. We can help spread the word.

In a number of recent editions we have carried a column that was associated with Martin Lewis. We have since found out that although they were taken from interview answers that he had given, it was in fact not written by Martin Lewis himself. For the most up to date guidance and personal finance information, visit MoneySaving Expert.com. Stephen, myself (Debbie), Mel, Julie, Steph, Tracey, Pippa, Beth and Jaidan, our new graphic designer, all wish you a fantastic 2023! May you expand in all areas of your life and laugh a lot. Best wishes, Debbie, Stephen & the Gang!

Councillor’s

Column

Happy New Year!

Regular readers will already be aware of Test Valley’s Cost of Living Grant scheme, which I mentioned in my December column. At the time of writing, there have been 17 awards, distributing over £22k of funding to local groups including the foodbank, Citizens Advice, schools and other charities working with those who need it. I’m keen to support even more organisations though, so if you know a not-for-profit group that would be interested, please encourage them to get in touch. More information at www. testvalley.gov.uk/costoflivinggrantscheme.

Test Valley have also teamed up with Unity and the local Citizens Advice Bureau to redistribute Winter Fuel Payments. In short, we are mirroring a scheme that has been successful elsewhere whereby those who receive a Winter Fuel Payment but don’t necessarily need it, are able to donate it locally to support those most in need. I have also arranged for Test Valley to match fund donations, initially up to £5k.

All residents who are over the age of 66 before September 25, get an annual payment from the government of between £250 and £600, depending on their age and living situation. This year there’s an extra £300 for all households. Anyone wishing to donate some of their Winter Fuel Payment is asked to contact Unity at 03304 004 116 or visit their website www.unityonline. org.uk.

Anyone in need of additional financial support is also being urged to contact Citizens Advice as soon as possible at 0808 178 6882 or go to their website www.testvalleycab.org.uk.

I must stress that we are not asking people to donate any money if there is any doubt

whatsoever about whether they need it. We don’t want people to cause themselves financial difficulties while trying to support others.

Finally, I was pleased to join the Mayor of Test Valley, representatives from the Upper Clatford Parish Council & Andover Trees United as we planted the first oak in a new wood we are creating at Bury Hill. Before Christmas, hundreds of school children from in and around Andover helped plant over 1,000 trees at the site. The Borough Council purchased the land last year, using money secured from developer contributions to help improve access to the countryside. The aim is to create a new nature reserve for the public to enjoy - with an official opening in the spring. Works to create a small car park are due to get underway shortly - with the site also accessible on foot from Rooksbury Mill out to Watery Lane and using the footpath that runs alongside Anna Valley. Meaning Andover’s growing green spine, which currently links up Anton Lakes, Town Mills, Watermills Park & Rooksbury Mill will be extended to Bury Hill. Again, a huge thanks to Andover Trees United for facilitating the planting at this site - boosting biodiversity and countering climate change.

Cllr. Phil North

Leader of the Test Valley Borough Council

Dementia Services in Romsey 2023

Having made Christmas wreaths and sung Christmas songs, members of Greenbuttercup CIC’s Dementia activity groups are now looking forward an expanded programme for 2023.

Members of Greenbuttercup CIC are delighted to announce that in 2023 they will be adding a further activity group to their usual twicemonthly programme for people living with Dementia and their carers/relatives.

It has been well-documented that music and singing stimulates people living with Dementia. Like everything else, Dementiafriendly choirs and music groups

stopped in March 2020, and although some continued or re-started via zoom, there are still few face-to-face groups currently in the Romsey area. When asked what activity they would like to do, members of Greenbuttercup CIC’s existing activity groups always say ‘sing’. So, with the Winter months upon us, and more people wanting to access our services than ever before, it seemed the ideal time for Greenbuttercup CIC to trial a monthly ‘Singing’ group and bring the joy of music to those living in the continual ‘Lockdown’ that is Dementia.

A local singer/guitarist called Traci Kennedy has been booked on the fourth Friday of the month from January to April 2023. This will not be a ‘choir’, rather an informal social gathering with the opportunity to sing along to well-known songs – mainly from the 60s and 70s. We will keep the same time, place, and cost as for the other groups.

The programme for the first part of 2023 is as follows:

Friday 6th January ‘Arts & Crafts’ Painting on Stones

Friday, 20th January ‘Reminiscence Activities’ Magic Lantern

Friday, 27th January ‘Singing’

Friday 3rd February ‘Arts & Crafts’ Fridge Magnets

Friday, 17th February ‘Reminiscence Activities’ Indoor Games *

Friday, 24th February ‘Singing’

Friday, 3rd March ‘Arts & Crafts’ Glass Painting

Friday, 17th March ‘Reminiscence Activities’ A Year in the Life of a Mayor

Friday, 24th March ‘Singing’

Pegg in Paradise

Not long ago, Simon Pegg was co-writing low-budget British comedy. Now he’s tasked with preserving the legacy of not one, not two, but three of cinema’s most beloved sci-fi franchises.

It’s a sizeable distance from the suburbs of North London to the final frontier of space, but Simon Pegg has made the journey without breaking sweat.

In 1999, Pegg first made his way into the British public’s consciousness as slacker Tim Bisley in Spaced, the sitcom he both starred in and cowrote. The show not only set a precedent for much of Pegg’s early career, it also helped him catch the eye of Hollywood’s elite movers and shakers. In 2006, just five short years after wrapping up the low-budget British hit, and at a time when the writer feared he may have to pen a third series, Pegg was approached by one of Los Angeles’ leading directors, J.J. Abrams.

With Abrams in the director’s chair, Mission: Impossible III saw Pegg appear alongside cinema royalty in the form of Tom Cruise as the nerdy Benjamin ‘Benji’ Dunn.

“When J.J. Abrams asks you to be in one of his movies, you don’t think, ‘Will this pigeonhole my range’ – you say, ‘When do you need me?’” the 52-yearold laughs.

Pegg and Abrams teamed up again as part of Star Trek, the cinematic re-boot of the much-loved sci-fi story. Add in his cameo as Unkar Plutt in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and this largely unassuming creative comedian has strolled almost effortlessly into the A-list franchise elite.

“Being handed the keys to these universes has been such a privilege and an honour. They are daunting prospects and I’ve always appreciated the importance of doing them justice.

“You have to tread a fine line between the two different types of

people who watch franchise movies – on one hand you have the super fan, and on the other, the newbie who knows nothing about this world,” he explains. “You want to appeal to someone who says, ‘what’s this Mission: Impossible business?’, and then goes back and discovers 20 years’ worth.”

“Yet at the same time you don’t want to alienate old fans and move too far away from the core model,” he continues.

With two new Mission: Impossible movies in motion –Dead Reckoning Pts 1&2, for release in 2023 and 2024, the size of the task doesn’t get any smaller.

“I feel like I’ve had a really nice run of smaller films before all this – with Hector, Man Up, Absolutely Anything and others. I’ve had a run of blockbusters, then balanced back into movies such as Lost Translations, Inheritance and others. It’s a nice mix. It’s keeping me away from having to write another series of Spaced!”

Andrew Opens Club’s 2023 Programme

Appearing at the Fairground Hall in Weyhill on Thursday 19 January is popular electronic keyboard player ANDREW VARLEY from Southsea.

Andrew become a full time professional in 1991, after spending a number of years in the musical instrument retail trade. Since then he has been playing for dancing, private functions, electronic keyboard clubs and festivals throughout the UK.

He can also claim international status, having performed in Germany, Italy and Dublin. He has made numerous recordings on a range of electronic instruments and several tracks have been broadcast on national and

regional radio stations.

The concert commences at 7.30 p.m., with doors opening at 7.00 p.m. Tickets are priced at £6.00 and are available at the door, while refreshments can be obtained during the interval. Everyone who enjoys melodic, easy listening music is sure to enjoy the evening and newcomers are especially welcome. For further details visit: www.andrewvarley.co.uk and

Used Cars: Banging Bargain Or Buyer Beware?

The checks you need to make when it comes to buying a used car.

The used car market is awash with quality motors, yet it’s important to lean on the talents of a mechanical mind who can give your prospective purchase a once-over. Alternatively, if the seller agrees, book it in for a professional health-check.

Before you get to that stage, there are a number of checks you can perform yourself on the driveway:

1. Beginning with the outside of the car, have a good look at the wheels and tyres. Make sure that you confirm the tyre depth and tread are road legal and do the 20p test by inserting a coin into the grooves.

2. Make sure you take a torch along on a viewing in order to check bodywork, both the exterior and underneath. Rust, leaks and splits should be evident.

3. Next is the interior. Check all warning lights work properly, and that the mileage is ticking along properly on a test drive. Electronics are important and could be costly to get replaced.

4. Next look at the engine. Check for leaks (when you previously looked underneath the car, you may have seen liquid on the tarmac). Inspect pipes and hoses for any splits or abrasions.

5. The test drive is where you will truly put your new motor through its paces. If you have someone else with you, get them to check the colour of the smoke from the exhaust.

Drive along with windows open and music off so that you can listen out

for any unexpected noises – squeaks, purrs and grinds should cause alarm.

Ensure you drive at varying speeds to get an accurate idea of what the engine has in it (or doesn’t!).

6. Gear box and clutch issues can be particularly expensive, so ensure you move through all configurations. If the car doesn’t get through each of the gears happily, there could be an issue.

7. Documents and paperwork should include the car’s previous service history. Perform an online vehicle history check to confirm nothing is outstanding regarding MOT and tax.

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Summing up, although the fun of landing a new car can seem like it’s being taken away by an exhaustive look at possible motor issues, you may well save yourself a lot of money in the long run.

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits. Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance tax and help protect their share from care fees

A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner returns to the subject of sustainability, both in terms of what we make our homes with, and what we place inside them.

To me, the relationship between making things and sustainability is essential, and I fear, as Western society, we’ve lost touch with the value of made things… with the value of raw materials, of the energy required. I don’t just mean fossil fuel energy, but also the human energy that goes into the process.

I’m very struck by seeing people producing lighting out of bits of recycled industrial stuff, or those who can put together and sell furniture they’ve handcrafted in small workshops all over the country.

A fabulous trend in the past couple of decades has been the

encouraging of home production creation –

everything from picture frames to jewellery – and how the internet has given these people a platform that is truly global.

When you meet someone who has made something in their workshop, you get the opportunity to sample their passion, influences, their own inspiration for doing what they do.

People talk a lot about sustainability using words like carbon and energy consumption – all that technical stuff – yet sustainability also comes in the form of the value of the objects we place inside our homes too.

After all, we are five times less likely to

throw away something we have made compared to something we have bought.

It’s also true that the longer we have something the less likely we are to bin itthere are records from the Seventies that I’ve still got; there’s a belt I’ve had all my life. We’ve all got stuff we love that we don’t want to let go of!

Sure enough, when we see our friends we talk about these things, we share the stories. I can bore people into infinity talking about my belt, or my old leather chair, and that’s the exciting thing: stuff as it gets older, gets better; it attracts more stories.

What I’m saying is we need to continue to keep creating homes that are rich in their fabric, but that are filed with things of value as well, so that we can share those stories with people, make friends, and embed ourselves into a community. That to me is actually a big part of what sustainability is about.

Eco-Co ee

How to ensure your morning beverage isn’t brewing up an environmental storm.

When, in the mid-Nineties, the likes of Costa Coffee and Starbucks began opening on our high streets, so too did there begin a coffee bean revolution that has transformed our drinking habits.

However, such pleasure has come at a cost. With 95 million cups of coffee slurped down in the UK every single day the resulting waste and environmental impact has also increased significantly. A colossal 2.5 billion coffee cups are dumped every year (with only 0.25% currently recycled), while 30,000 coffee pods end up in landfill every single month. And that’s before you even consider the global resource and human costs of what has become the most traded commodity after crude oil.

Fortunately, there is much you can do to ensure your caffeine kick is not compromising the planet. As with most products, knowing the origin

of what you’re consuming is vital, and many supermarkets are keenly aware of their responsibility to offer ethically sourced coffee. Check for sustainability certifications that ensure things are being done to help make production better for both the environment and the farmers involved. Associations like Fairtrade and the Rainforest Alliance are great examples of this, so look out for beans that feature their logos.

Even fans of pod machines can also lower their coffee carbon footprint. Many appliances are now compatible with foil pods which can be recycled using a very simple and nifty pod recycling device that separates the used coffee grounds from their foil casing. The grounds go on your compost heap, while the accumulated foils

head for the recycling bin. You can also source pods that are compostable in their entirety.

When it comes to drinking ‘on the go’, the obvious solution to limiting waste is to switch to a reusable coffee cup, and many cafes will offer a discount on your beverage when you proffer your own vessel. You can also upgrade to beans that are organic; and if your focus is on the imprint being made on the dairy industry, cow’s milk alternatives such as soy, almond, rice or oat have never felt closer to the real thing.

In other words, you don’t have to let your coffee consumption become a burden on your conscience.

With an abundance of options available in an industry that is positively booming, it’s actually very easy to make the right choices. It means if you still give in to the temptation of the odd instant coffee – and why should you not? – the assault will be only on your tastebuds, not the planet!

Going Green...

So much is being said about the need to protect the planet and use more eco-friendly material, but it is the small steps that each of us can do that will really make the difference.

Take the EcoEgg Laundry Egg... the innovative laundry solution. It replaces laundry detergent and fabric conditioner, reducing both harmful chemicals used and also single-use plastic packaging.

Dermatest has rated it excellent for use on sensitive skin, giving a kinder wash on both your skin and your pocket.

The mineral pellets in the egg, which are refillable (saving even more money!), work together in the water to effectively draw dirt from your clothes and softens them by changing the pH. Therefore leaving your laundry clean and fresh.

EcoEggs are available in Fresh Linen, Spring Blossom and Fragrance Free.

Recently, they have also released the EcoEgg Dryer Egg, which can be used when tumble drying. They reduce the drying time by up to 28%, saving you both time and money.

“I’ve been using mine for over a month now and I absolutely love it. It saves money, there’s no mess from washing powders and liquids. Also easy to use, and is better for the environment. Helps cut down on single use plastic and doesn’t use harmful chemicals.” KD

If you would like to know more about these products and many more, please feel free to visit my website at debbiegoesgreen.uk or email me at hello@debbiegoesgreen.uk as I would love to hear from you. Let’s look after ourselves and our environment!

Debbie Corney

Romsey Future backs

improved walking and cycling proposals for the

Three proposals to improve some of the cycling and walking routes around Romsey have been backed by Romsey Future. Julian Jones, from Romsey & District Society Infrastructure group, proposed the changes, which will see upgrades to the infrastructure for three established paths.

The first is to provide improvements on the route from King’s Chase and Abbotswood to town – starting from Doris Bunting Road through Woodley Close via Woodley Lane, Richmond Lane, Homefield and Old Road to Canal Walk into Town. It would see 25 dropped kerbs and more signage introduced, while also including bus stop changes so there can be safe routes to The Romsey School and Romsey Junior Schools. There is currently no straight walking and cycling route from King’s Chase to bus stops on Braishfield Road or to Town.

The second route is from Woodley Way to town - from Woodley Way and Short Hill via Anstey Road through Woodley Estate to Fairview Drive then along Woodley Lane, crossing Cupernham Lane into Mercer Way and continuing on to Canal Walk and into Town. These upgrades include 28 new dropped kerbs. The changes to the footpaths would enable pedestrians and users of pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters from the Hunter’s Crescent and Woodley estates to take a safe ‘straight line’ route towards Town.

The third route is from Halterworth Lane to Town via The Hundred - from Halterworth Lane, its junction with the A3090 and along the A3090 Winchester Road to the Plaza Roundabout for access on towards Town via The Hundred. A crossing refuge from Halterworth Lane

to Silverwood Rise has already been proposed by Hampshire County Council, with a completion date planned for February 2023. Further dropped kerbs would also be implemented under the changes.

The changes would provide safer access for the bus stops near Halterworth Lane and parents picking up children from school. Councillor Nick Adams-King, chair of Romsey Future said:

“After considering the proposals, Romsey Future is in support of the plans and believe they would make a positive different to our town.”

“All of these infrastructure upgrades would make it easier for pedestrians, mobility scooters and cyclists to get around and into the town centre. This will be of huge benefit to our residents, making Romsey a safer place to travel around on foot or by bicycle.”

Now these projects have been endorsed by Romsey Future, Test Valley Borough Council will be working with relevant partners, including Hampshire County Council, to seek funding and any other requirements needed to deliver the proposals.

Romsey Future sets out a long-term vision for Romsey. It is an active partnership of many groups and organisations working together to build consensus and deliver on shared ambitions. We work together to deliver projects, to attract funding, and to guide future policies and strategies.

You can find out more information about Romsey Future by visiting www.romseyfuture.org.uk

The Adventures of Daichi

The Modern Magazines Camper Van

London! Daichi has never been to London. Many years ago I was at university there, so this was a real adventure for me. A trip down memory lane. The easiest and cheapest way to get there was to park Daichi in the car park at Richmond. A mere £8.50 for the day. The Richmond train station is just a ten minutes’ walk away and we were on our way into the Capital! It was 25th November and Hayden’s 19th Birthday so what a great excuse to book a show for the evening and wander around our wonderful city for the day. Hayden has never seen Buckingham Palace so that was a must. St James’s Park is one I remember well. Having spent three years at Goldsmiths College and regularly taking the train to Charing Cross then walking from there, it was a place I recall with fondness. We stopped in the park for a coffee and sandwich, looking at the ducks on the water and enjoying the sunshine – Yes, in November! The palace was surrounded by people taking photos. I heard one European sounding accent say, “Oh that is where he comes out on the balcony!” I smiled. Isn’t it incredible how well our late Queen passed over her duties so smoothly, after all that time on the throne, and how well we are recognised for the good work we do as a nation.

I really enjoyed being there. The King was there too – the flag was up! I would have gone in to say ‘Hello’… but we were a little short on time.

Next was a trip to Camden Market. You see, owning a Waffle place, it is good to get ideas and we set off there all determined to see what we could do, to lift “Wafflicious” in Weymouth even further. Lindsey, a friend, came with us as she is a chef and is full of great ideas of her own. Camden Market is not a place I frequented much at all when I was living there. It is an amazing place. We immediately saw lots of street food vendors and lo and behold there were two very colourful and popular I have to say, waffle sellers! Wow. They looked amazing. Of course, we all had to try one. They tasted as good as they looked. So… if you are ever in Weymouth this coming spring or summer you can come and see our own version of the delights that we relished. Let’s see how we do! After dessert, we had lunch (obviously) outside, under the canopy, of a bar overlooking the Lock. Fabulous! Smoked salmon salad this time, so healthier, but not nearly as much fun. A barge even floated by for us to watch.

Hayden has joined a ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ group recently. This is a fantasy tabletop

First stop... Buckingham Palace!

role-playing game where you create your own character and can enact it while you play. How exciting! We found a wonderful leather book at a bargain price, with a dragon on the front. All ready for him to take notes and plan his manoeuvres. This world famous and iconic market really does live up to its reputation. We spent a few well–spent hours there, looking at clothes, games, toiletries, food stalls galore, paintings, decorations, in fact anything you could think of to buy. Daichi would have loved it, if he wasn’t too expensive to drive into London itself!

Then it was time to make our way to the well anticipated West End Show! We had tickets to see the renowned musical, “Back to the Future”. Seats in the upper circle, second row from the front, and we were ready. It is such a long time since I have taken in the full atmosphere of a truly professional setting like this. It was glorious. The whole show was spectacular. The special effects of lighting and scenery were remarkable. The singing and dancing were outstanding. Ben Joyce who played Marty McFly was brilliant and he only graduated in summer 2021. His list of

Night lights of London across the Thames

already acclaimed credits was much shorter than Cory English who played ‘Doc Brown’. What a fantastic start to his career. All of the performers were perfectly cast, and I have to say that Oliver Nicholas who played the father, George Mc Fly, as his debut West End performance, was excellent. To be able to dance ‘wrongly and awkwardly’ deliberately is a skill in itself! Bravo I say. The finale was totally unexpected and incredible to watch. Having a seat in the circle I do believe was a bonus as we had all the full effects of the lighting, sound and visuals. I will not spoil it for you as you must see it for yourself! All in all, a day trip to London was a real hit. We walked to the Thames before leaving. I looked at the Charing Cross Bridge I used to cross all those years ago and remembered times when I was much younger. Fortunately, I was not sad. I feel I have been leading a full life and those days set me on my path. The lights of all the towering buildings that night seemed particularly bright and were shimmering Thames water. Then there were the opulent boats carrying well dressed passengers for a luxury 4 course meal. Not quite the street food we had been drooling over earlier. London of course is full of diversity and that is why we love it… or maybe you don’t. I love to visit but am happy where we live. I think a day trip to London will be on the cards again soon. It was a great success and Daichi was as happy as Larry to take us home and Hayden was all smiles after his Birthday treat. Where will Daichi take us next I wonder…

By Debbie Corney

Romsey’s space making sisters get a boost through £750 Business Incentive Grant

Two sisters from Romsey, who set up their own business to help people de-clutter their homes, have been awarded a £750 grant by Test Valley Borough Council. Elizabeth Kennedy and Vicky Fordham have received a Business Incentive Grant to help their company ‘Space Makers’. People who struggle with not having enough space in their homes or are fed up with clearing away increasing amounts of stuff can ask the Space Makers for help to de-clutter their homes, organise their belongings and put storage and processes in place to create more space. The idea for the business came up a few years ago, with lockdown prompting many people to de-clutter their homes, as they tried to juggle working from home, bringing up children and home schooling.

Elizabeth said: “We were very grateful to receive our Business Incentive Grant from Test Valley Borough Council. It has really helped us cover the initial costs of starting a new business such as

insurance, marketing and website design.”

Romsey Abbey ward councillor Sandra Gidley said:

“I very much enjoyed meeting Elizabeth and Vicky and learning about why they decided to set up their business and the challenges they have faced. Most of us have too much “stuff” and they have a warm and practical attitude to helping you organise your possessions and your space. There is much emerging evidence that reducing clutter helps your mental health so if you are seeking a perfect gift for “someone who has everything” then a session with these two lovely ladies could be the answer!”

The council’s Business Incentive Grants are available to anyone looking to set up their own business in Test Valley. Anyone who successfully applies for the grant will receive £750 if their business is still going strong six months later. These funds have become available to the community as a consequence of the council’s prudent investments, financial management and the use of the New Homes Bonus.

For more information about the council’s grant schemes, please visit www.testvalley.gov.uk.

ROMSEY L VES

By Alex Baxter

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Twinning

Visit any town or city and there is a great chance you will be greeted by a familiar sign that reads: ‘Welcome to [town] twinned with [towns from Europe]’. The country is covered with these signs, and Romsey is no different. But what is twining? And who are Romsey’s twins?

Naively, I first thought “twinning” was exclusive to towns with the same name. There’s a Romsey in Australia and a Southampton in America after all, so my logic seemed reasonable. The consequence of being a historically farreaching country is that we came up with a majority of town and city names first, that later established countries would keep. Just look at the former territories from the Empire and pilgrims. English speaking nations today tend to have place names that derive from the first English settlers. Although similarities like

a shared name or history do sometimes play a factor, the spirit of twinning is actually not so simplistic.

When the concept of “partnership towns” and “sister cities” was originally conceived is hard to say. The earliest recorded agreement most researchers cite is between Paderborn (Germany) and Le Mans (France) in 836AD, which was established by two bishops for the exchange of religious relics. But the twinning we widely see today comes from the Second World War. Post the war, twinning was encouraged as an act of building peace and reconciliation between nations - purposely pairing together damaged cities among Britain, France, and Germany. The most well known of these original pairings is between Coventry and Dresden - two cities that respectively suffered extensive bombing.

Today this form of paradiplomacy is practised globally and can run the spectrum of productivity. From a purely symbolic gesture of friendship to a practical emphasis on promoting trade and tourism. Legislature isn’t always necessary to bind these relationships. Usually they hang on mayor-to-mayor agreements and civic charters, and that’s what ultimately makes a partnership meaningful and strong. The appeal and potential of this type of relationship has never gone away.

So who are our twins? Romsey is twinned with three towns. Our oldest partnership is with Paimpol - a small fishing port on the north coast of Brittany. According to Le Télégramme (a Brittany paper) the friendship began when ‘Admiral Louis

Mountbatten befriended the Count of Mauduit whose castle in Plourivo served as a base for evacuating RAF pilots shot down over Brittany’. The partnership was ratified with a charter signing in 1960, with the two mayors and Mountbatten present. A gifted painting of Paimpol Harbour by Alain Le Nost (1934) is displayed in the Town Hall.

Battenberg (1987) is our second - a hilltop town in central Germany, and for those who don’t know, the ancestral home of the Mountbatten family. Being a resident of Romsey, the connection makes symbolic sense.

Treviglio (2014), based outside of Milan, is our newest friend of the three. The relationship was initiated by a teacher from Treviglio, who saw the experience of different cultures important to student education.

Evidence of these partnerships can be seen around Romsey. There are streets named after each town, a tree gifted to us from Paimpol in the Memorial Park, and the market occasionally sells vegetables from Brittany. And for the occasional town-wide event, Treviglio likes to send street performers and musicians.

To maintain these unions is the responsibility of Romsey Twinning Association. They are essentially our representatives, and their duty includes organising alternating goodwill trips - sending and receiving delegates to festivals and celebrations. Each exchange, which in the past has involved sports fixtures and hosting students, gives the chance to make new friends and experience different cultures. These

receptions also allow residents to interact and promote their homes as holiday destinations. We are lucky to have a strong appeal with our proximity to cultural interests such as the New Forest, Winchester, Stonehenge etc.

In 2020, coinciding with the Romsey Festival, a celebration to commemorate 60 years with Paimpol was planned called Twinfest - supported by Test Valley Borough of Culture. Delegations from each of our twins were to meet together for the very first time to mark the anniversary. Sadly it never happened due to the Covid outbreak. Nevertheless, there is a shared pride with our counterparts over the long continuing commitment of friendship - enduring even the worst world dividing times.

If there ever was a time to stay connected to our European neighbours, surely it is now. By expanding Romsey’s outreach in international siblingdom, we can ensure prosperity and cross-border engagement for the long term.

Transition Town Romsey’s plan for community energy group given backing by Romsey Future

A proposal by Transition Town Romsey to set up a community energy group in Test Valley has been endorsed by Romsey Future. The plan is for them to be able to install and manage renewable energy equipment at sites across the borough and beyond. It will be called ‘Dragonfly Power’ and already has the support of Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council. Initially, the group will identify suitable locations where they can install solar panels on roofs of suitable schools and businesses. There are also opportunities for groups like Dragonfly Power to be partners in the delivery of energy efficiency advice and initiatives to tackle fuel poverty funded by central government or other third parties.

The prime objective of Dragonfly Power is to install more renewable energy equipment across Test Valley, which would reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. In 2019, both Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council declared climate emergencies.

Anton Page, from Transition Town Romsey, said: “Dragonfly Power is a new community

energy company. We hope to install renewable energy equipment on the roofs of businesses and schools across the borough to help combat climate change. Climate change is a threat to us all so it is great that Romsey Future is endorsing this project.”

Councillor Nick Adams-King, chair of Romsey Future said:

“Romsey Future is excited to see what impact Dragonfly Power could have on renewable energy and the difference we can make to the environment at a local level.

“This a great chance for our community to come together and have their say on the way we use the energy system and do our bit for the climate. We’re pleased to endorse this project and look forward to following its progress.”

Romsey Future sets out a long-term vision for Romsey. It is an active partnership of many groups and organisations working together to deliver projects, attract funding, and to guide future policies and strategies.

To find out more about Romsey Future by visiting www.romseyfuture.org.uk.

Panto Time at the Plaza Theatre Romsey – Oh Yes, It Is!

Cinderella will be Georgette Ellison’s fourth pantomime as a director and the most challenging so far. Even harder than the one she put on during Covid — and that’s saying something!

Cinderella is the ultimate family panto – it has all the qualities for a fun night out: magic, fairies, a party, and two of the naughtiest sisters in Panto Land! None of this comes about easily, and being the ultimate panto, it has the ultimate challenges.

You can imagine the main challenge: how do you go about getting Cinderella into her dress and into a carriage whilst she remains on stage in full sight of the audience? Without giving too much away, we are so lucky to have a team of technical people at the Plaza who make magic happen for TV, and they have turned their considerable skills to this problem. It is not something that can be done overnight, and at the time of writing the production team have been working on this single element for over six months!

Another major challenge for this production of Cinderella is the costumes. All 38 cast members need either a ball gown or formal wear, and each then must be able to sing and dance very

energetically. If you have ever tried to dance and sing in formal wear, you know how hard that is. If you haven’t, then give it a go and imagine having to do that for 14 performances – some days twice!

RAODS are always looking at ways of making their shows more accessible, none more so than our flagship pantomime. The relaxed performance of Cinderella on Sunday 22 January (house lights on, no loud bangs or music) will be Makaton friendly. In addition all the other performances apart from Sundays will have BSL signing throughout the show. So come along and see for yourself but don’t leave it too late as tickets are going fast.

Performances run from 13th to 28th January on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and allround horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses his move to incorporate horticulture into the National Curriculum, and a sidestep into novels.

I’ve written three autobiographies and people have expressed surprise that I do sometimes, even now, lack confidence in my work. I always wonder if it stems from my childhood and my parents who were very much realists. I wouldn’t swap them for the world, but in their very blunt Yorkshire way they would say ‘he’s not that bright,’ and I wasn’t then. I suppose it has been a bit of a curse and given my success I probably should have more confidence, but then

again it has made me who I am. When you’re not that good when you’re young, there is the fear that you won’t get better, and it came as a kind of revelation when I did.

Even in the 11 novels I’ve penned, I’ve never had faith in my prose; in secondary school I remember doing ‘when composition becomes essays’. I don’t think my English teacher was particularly convinced about my capabilities; I’ve still got my essay book and it’s got some very harsh comments at the bottom in red ink.

Yet my English teacher, bless her, I was in touch with her a few years ago and she said she felt she hadn’t been a particularly good teacher,

and I wrote back saying ‘well whatever it is you did, I’ve ended up doing the job I do now, writing pretty much for a living, so you can’t have got it all wrong’. I thought it was terribly generously spirited of her to admit that she was wrong.

I think my point here is that I was no more a gardener at school than I was a novelist, and I became both; but I did that through exposure and opportunity, and this is what we need to give our children.

And in my mind, there is no greater exposure to the world than you will find in the garden on a frosty Sunday morning, so get your kids and grandkids out there, and let’s really inspire the next generation!

Nurturing a garden can give you a real sense of achievement, and connection to the earth; I always say it is an escape to reality, or a different reality… and for our young people, that’s where real inspiration can emerge.

Man ordered to pay £3k and narrowly avoids prison sentence for fly-tip

A man from West Yorkshire has been ordered to pay almost £3k after pleading guilty to fly-tipping a large amount of waste spread over two locations near Romsey earlier this year.

Ryan Lelliott of South Kirkby, Pontefract, dumped storge heaters, cardboard boxes and plastic packaging near Lee Lane on 11 February 2022.

His vehicle registration was picked up by a covert camera installed by Test Valley Borough Council. Officers were then able to track down the defendant and invited him to an interview under caution, which he refused. But he did admit in an email to the council that he was the person in control of the vehicle at the time of the offence.

At Southampton Magistrates’ Court on 30 November 2022, Lelliott stated that he was selfemployed and running late and couldn’t offload the heaters for the next day. He said that he had Googled landfill sites and left the waste near Lee Lane in the hope that someone would take it to the nearby site.

Lelliott was ordered to pay an £1,800 fine reduced from £2,700 for an early guilty plea, a £180 victim surcharge and £935 costs.

Portfolio holder for environmental services, Councillor Nick AdamsKing, said:

“This was a great result made possible thanks to the proactive work of officers. This was a sizeable fly-tip and the judge made clear that it was a serious offence which meant the defendant narrowly avoided a prison sentence.”

“If you’re thinking of dumping waste in Test Valley then just remember that you never know if there is a camera about. And if we catch you in the act, then you will have your day in the dock.”

“Fly-tipping is an utterly despicable crime, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every single person who flouts the law is held to account and punished for their actions.”

Older Residents Can Give Up Their Winter Fuel Payment for Others in Test Valley

People in Test Valley who receive a Winter Fuel Payment, but don’t necessarily need it, are now able to donate it locally to support those most in need.

All residents who are over the age of 66 before September 25, get an annual payment from the government of between £250 and £600, depending on their age and living situation.

This year there’s an extra £300 for all households, which will be paid at the same time, to help tackle the rising cost of living.

To support those most in need, Test Valley Borough Council has joined forces with Citizens Advice Test Valley and local charity, Unity, to offer those who genuinely don’t need their full Winter Fuel Payment, and would like to redistribute it locally, an opportunity to donate the money to other pensioners living in Test Valley.

Citizens Advice will then distribute the donated funds to people of pensionable age who are struggling the most to pay their bills.

Anyone wishing to donate some of their Winter Fuel Payment is asked to contact Unity on 03304 004 116, or visit www. unityonline.org.uk/winter-fuel-paymentdonations.

Anyone in need of additional financial support is also being urged to contact Citizens Advice as soon as possible on 0808 178 6882 or go to their website www. testvalleycab.org.uk.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North said:

“As the cost of living continues to rise, we’re keen to ensure that those people over the age of 66 who are in need of extra support this winter can get it. We would be incredibly grateful to anyone who is in a comfortable

enough position, to donate part of their Winter Fuel Payment to help others in their community. This kind of scheme works really successfully in other areas and we’re keen to roll it out here. I have also agreed that Test Valley Borough Council match funds donations, initially up to £5,000. I must stress that we are not asking people to donate any money if there is any doubt whatsoever about whether they need it. We don’t want people to cause themselves financial difficulties while trying to support others.”

Chief executive of Unity, Terry Bishop said:

“This is such a challenging time for so many people across the community and we want to do all we can to help those in greatest need. Unity is proud to be able to work with Test Valley Borough Council and Citizens Advice on this initiative, and together we hope to make a real difference.”

Ange Moon, chief officer at Citizens Advice Test Valley, added:

“As the cost of living crisis takes hold we all find ourselves in different situations. Some people who have received the government help may be able to pass it on to others in the community, and we will help to get that money to those who really need it. If you would like to donate and re-gift your Winter Fuel Payment then please get in touch.”

In order to help even more people across Test Valley get the support they need, Test Valley Borough Council has also agreed to match fund any donations, up to £5,000.

Information about the Winter Fuel Payment for this year can be found at: www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment.

Lorraine Pascale’s Soda Bread

Bread, on its own, is always enough! There is a warmth and simplicity that no other type of food can rival.

Sure, add some butter, some oil, and maybe a dusting of salt, and jam of course; but bread, no matter how you dress it up, comes equipped with such perfection that I don’t feel it will ever let me down!

This recipe is probably the easiest route for baking bread. It’s also quick – and the bread won’t keep for long, so you get the pleasure of scoffing it all on day one!

Ingredients

(serves 4)

• 370g/13oz plain flour, plus extra for dusting

• 130g/4½oz wholemeal flour

• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 40g/1½oz butter, melted

• 1 tbsp black treacle

• 300–340ml/11–12fl oz buttermilk (or alternatively use warm milk plus 1 tbsp lemon juice)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6 and ensure the top shelf in the oven is in position. Now place the flours, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a large bowl and stir together. Make a large hole in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the melted butter and treacle, plus enough of the buttermilk to make a loose sticky dough.

2. Tip the dough onto a lightly dusted work surface. The dough will be quite sticky. Knead the dough for one minute, then shape it into a large ball with a taut, smooth top. Place the dough on a baking tray and flatten it a bitI find the easiest way to do this is with a rolling pin.

3. Take a wooden spoon, put some flour over the whole handle, then hold it horizontally over the bread. Put the wooden spoon handle on top of the bread then push it down until

you feel the baking tray at the bottom. This mark is the first half of the trademark soda bread cross. Repeat with a line at right angles to this.

4. Dust with some flour then bake in the oven for 30–40 minutes, or until the bread is brown, has risen nicely and the dough inside where the cross was made is not damp.

5. Serve fresh from the oven with butter and jam. Enjoy!

Top Tips

This recipe calls for buttermilk, which is available from bigger supermarkets. However a homemade version can be made by putting lemon juice in regular milk and letting it sit for a few minutes.

Also, the best way to remove treacle from the tin is to run a tablespoon under a really hot tap for 10 seconds before dipping it into the treacle. This ensures the treacle runs easily off the spoon.

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