Test Valley Forum Issue 143 - July

Life in your Community

We are back!

We can't thank our advertisers and readers enough for supporting us through such difficult times And a big thank you to all the local businesses that are supporting our community PHOTO: COW COMMON, CHILBOLTON

STYLE ˙ INTERIORS ˙ HEALTH & BEAUTY ˙ INTERVIEWS ˙ FOOD & DRINK ˙ ENTERTAINMENT ˙ EVENTS

ISSUE 143 JULY 2020

Forum TEST VALLEY

OVER WALLOP

BROUGHTON

Immaculate property in an excellent village location.

A delightful Grade II listed cottage with many period features

Entrance Hall, Kitchen/Dining/Sitting Room, Master Bedroom with ensuite bathroom, 2 further Bedrooms, Family bathroom. Partly walled landscaped gardens with terrace and lawn. EPC: C

Sitting Room, Study Area, Dining Room, Kithchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room, Cloakroom. Bedroom 1 with en-suite shower room, Bedroom 2 with en-suite bathroom. Attractive landscaped gardens, terrace, Car parking.

GUIDE PRICE: £475,000

GUIDE PRICE: £475,000

GREAT SHODDESDEN

ST MARY BOURNE

A Victorian cottage which has been sensitively restored, tastefully extended and modernised

A charming Grade II listed brick and flint cottage

Entrance Hall with cloakroom, Kitchen/Dining Room, Sitting Room, Study, Utility, 4 double Bedrooms, one ensuite, one Family bathroom.

Kitchen/breakfast room with Aga, Sitting Room, Study / Bedroom 3, 2 Double Bedrooms, Family bathroom. Second floor has potential for further accommodation subject to planning.

Gardens, car parking and garage. EPC: D

The landscaped garden runs down to the Bourne Rivulet with idyllic views over the surrounding countryside.

GUIDE PRICE: £475,000

GUIDE PRICE: £525,000

www.myddeltonmajor.co.uk

Tel: 01264 316000

TEST VALLEY LIVING JULY 2020

CONTENTS 04 Retail

18 Feature

Our regular retail feature, Unique, Bespoke, Eclectic and Local shopping

Not New Now and Not Normal - Lucia Foster-Found

04 Professional

From photographers to solicitors - every professional service you need

06 Property Management

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Buying, selling, letting?

Find local estate agents and property management services

Director of Advertising Steve Walker stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

20 Entertainment

Director of Marketing Rob Harrison rob@forummedianddesign.co.uk

Discover local events and days out in Hampshire

22 Motoring

Local services to keep your vehicle running smoothly

Make your garden dream come true

Find local schools and educational experts

15 Home

Design Manager James Curtis james@forumpublications.co.uk

Contributors

09 Education

Advertising Manager Mandy Head mandyhead@forumpublications.co.uk

Accounts accounts@forumpublications.co.uk

08 Garden

Editor Mark Tubb editor@forumpublications.co.uk

19 Wellbeing

Looking after your health and yourself!

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Contacts

Lucia Foster-Found www. luciafosterfound.com

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Gill Grant gill@forumpublications.co.uk

Trades, services, designers, All you need for your home

Get in Touch Forum Publications Offices 11 Broad Street, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9AR Tel: 01962 735137 www.forumpublications.co.uk

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Test Valley Living contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. Test Valley Living takes reasonable efforts to include accurate, current information on its pages, but make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, safety or value of the published items that are displayed. No liability or responsibility can be taken for errors or omissions in magazine content.

Test Valley Living magazine content does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or recommendations of its creators and any reliance upon its content is taken at the user’s sole risk. Adverts designed by Forum Publications remain the magazine's legal ownership. Readership figures calculated on an average national statistic of 2.5 readers per household Š Forum Publications Ltd, 2020

RETAIL / PROFESSIONAL The Bookmark Is Open!

The response to our re-opening has been very heartening. Visitors to Stockbridge High Street seem glad to be out and about and able (after a quick dose of handsanitiser on entry) to browse the bookshelves once more.

So, what have we missed in the meantime? What new titles and authors have been waiting in the wings for these past few months? The fact is, many books with publication dates during lockdown have been postponed until the autumn when, all being well, they can be welcomed with the fanfare they deserve. However, there are a few new gems out right now.

One of these is the wonderful ‘Diary of a Young Naturalist’ by Dara McAnulty, a teenager from Northern Ireland who writes beautifully, evocatively and with powerful insight, of the natural world he observes around him. Dara is all the more astonishing in light of his autism, which he writes about with disarming frankness, and so alongside his nature diary, we learn something of the struggles and challenges he faces, making a place for himself within society, with his peers at school and also in the wider world of conservation activism. His voice is so honest and endearing, this is set to become a classic of nature writing.

HAS RE-OPENED AT LAST Hours 11am - 4pm, Tuesday through Saturday

With all due concern for safe and sane book buying, we look forward to welcoming old and new customers.

Only two at a time in the shop, safe social distancing, hand sanitiser ready, masks available, signage outside and inside the store!

THERE ARE SOME GREAT NEW TITLES TO CATCH UP WITH! We’ve also now enabled on-line ordering and shipping, so if you are looking for a particular title, send us an email (thebookmark.stockbridge@gmail.com) and let us know what it is. Please include your phone number so we can contact you for your order details.

HAPPY READING! High Street, Stockbridge, SO20 6EX Tel: 01264 811529 thebookmark.stockbridge@gmail.com www.thebookmarkstockbridge.co.uk

A well-established name in this genre is Tim Dee, and his latest book, ‘Greenery’ also came out during lockdown. Here, Dee follows the emergence of spring, much in the way Edward Thomas did in 1913, which he recorded in his classic book ‘In Pursuit of Spring’. While Thomas travelled by bike and on foot from Clapham to Somerset over a matter of some days following the emergence of blossom in the hedgerows, Dee travels metaphorically and in real time, with the migratory birds, heralding spring as they journey, from South Africa to northern Scandinavia Charlie Mackesy’s ‘The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse’ has continued to delight and console the reader during these strange weeks, and it sits at present back at number one in the top sellers list. Other current real-world events have also impacted on the bookselling world with the Black Lives Matter movement influencing book sales. Bernadine Evaristo’s Booker Prize winning ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ is out in paperback and is in second place on the best-sellers list with Reni Eddo-Lodge’s discourse on race relations in modern day Britain, ‘Why I am No Longer Talking to White People About Race’ is at number three.

We’re very happy to be open once more, and look forward to seeing you in person or hearing from you on line.

High Street, Stockbridge, SO20 6EX Tel: 01264 811529 thebookmark.stockbridge@gmail.com www.thebookmarkstockbridge.co.uk

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ADVERTISING OFFER ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE FOR AS LITTLE AS £45 PER MONTH

(PLUS VAT, MINIMUM 12 MONTH BOOKING FOR PRICE SHOWN)

For more information

01962 735137

stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

Bespoke Kitchen Fitting & Kitchen Makeovers

Made-To-Measure Kitchens 30% off* On Kitchen orders taken during July

I found Happy Kitchens on Houzz, and I decided to go with them as the reviews were encouraging and I liked that they were a small, local company. From the outset, Ben was extremely professional and understands exactly what the client wants.

The Happy Kitchen team were all fantastic; punctual, hardworking, incredibly tidy and most importantly they really cared about the quality of their work. We are really thrilled with our new kitchen and it has totally exceeded our expectations.

Joanne McCarthy Happy Kitchens are quite unique as we are able to offer top quality products, available in any size, fitted by the best professionals in the business. Change your kitchen and bedroom with a makeover or design and install a new kitchen and bedroom, whichever suits your needs or price range.

2017 2018

2019

2020

PROPERTY Test Valley businesses going the extra mile?

The Country House Company - What do the next few months hold for the property market in Hampshire?

Are you or do you know a local business that is going the extra mile to help others in this time of crisis?

Test Valley Business Awards (TVBA) organisers and sponsors want to remind businesses that although it has been necessary to postpone the 2020 awards, the show goes on, hopefully with a re-launch in the Autumn and the Gala Dinner in Spring of 2021.

These are uncertain times and we want to keep in touch.

The exceptional levels of activity since restrictions have been lifted give a positive indication the next few months will continue to see a rise in transactions for both sales and lettings.

Sponsor Cllr Drew said “Although the awards have been deferred, we want to keep their spirit alive and to celebrate business excellence in the Test Valley by asking for examples and nominations of local businesses which have made a special contribution during these challenging times.

“Examples include switching production to supply the NHS and care homes, switching to delivering to people who are house-bound or supporting their staff or the community in a million and one other ways. Big or small we would like to know.”

Each month, through to the re-launch, we would like to celebrate a Test Valley business that is “Going the Extra Mile”. The Gold Sponsors will then choose the winner who will receive a bottle of champagne, coverage in the local media and social media and an award logo for their website and marketing.

Whilst the housing market is clearly influenced by the wider economy, interest rates remain low and the instability of the stock markets is tempting investors back to the property market. This, combined with a change in choices, means that for now the market has confidence and will continue to be active. So, over the next few months at The Country House Company we will be doing our bit to safely #keepthecountrymoving.

If we can help, we look forward to hearing from you.

Kate Porter,

Head of Sales,

Full details and an entry form can be found on the

The Country House Company

with the entry dates.

katep@countryhousecompany.co.uk

website at www.tvbawards.org.uk/extramile together

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The release of pent up demand has created a surge of activity in a market that has been passive for too long. The South of England provides the perfect environment for commuters and those looking for a change of lifestyle, our excellent road and rail links mean easy access to the capital and other cities with planes and boats making the continent as easily accessible. Many of us have had to adapt to working from home during lockdown and these local links will influence the demand in our area for the coming weeks and months.

Tel: 02392 632275,

www.countryhousecompany.co.uk

PROPERTY

helping to safely

#keepthecountrymoving

Selling, Letting & Managing properties in the Test Valley 02392 632 275

sales@countryhousecompany.co.uk  lettings@countryhousecompany.co.uk management@countryhousecompany.co.uk countryhousecompany.co.uk

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T H E O L D P O L I C E S TAT I O N S TAT I O N R O A D , A L R E S F O R D

TWO BEDROOM HOMES IN ALRESFORD TOWN CENTRE FROM

£349,950

• Brand new & ready now • Low energy bills & minimal maintenance • Off road parking Please call either of our appointed agents to view our show home.

50%

ALREADY SOLD

WWW.HAZELEYDEVELOPMENTS.CO.UK T 01962 734 633

T 01962 736 333

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GARDEN As the business is still new we are evaluating franchises and local needs but so far we have niche franchises across leading brands such as, Wessex Machinery, Countax, ECHO power tools, Ariens mowers, and Hustler mowers. With our contacts and experience we can source many items and have already secured New Holland tractors and New Holland diggers for clients, Cobra mowers, John Deere ride on mowers and many many more.

Stockbridge, Broughton, and Houghton areas and are very keen to further develop our local connections alongside developing our garden and estates machinery offering.

During lockdown we have worked as safely and remotely as we can to collect and deliver machines making the whole process easy and efficient for our customers”. As the business grows we aim to employ locally and anticipate taking on an apprentice later this year.

A T H Machinery A T H Machinery was founded in August 2019 by Tim Lane, following a career working for a large regional and national machinery company. Experience gained included working in the dealership and distributor business focussing on agricultural, groundcare, construction, and garden machinery.

Based in central Hampshire, Brightside Farm, Broughton the business has one simple mission – to become the dealer of choice for your machinery needs.

This includes garden machinery, estates machinery, tractors, mowers, digger hire, agricultural machinery, service sales and parts.

With extensive facilities including a showroom, small machinery workshop (435 square feet) and a large machinery workshop (1500 square feet) it really is a very exciting time in the business.

Commenting on the business at the moment Tim Lane states “we have been really well supported by customers in the

A

Viewing of machinery and the premises is by appointment at this stage and for more information about the goods and service we can offer call Tim Lane on 07818 104864, or email tim@athmachinery.co.uk.

Website is growing and displays most of the business at www.athmachinery.co.uk

TH MACHINERY

SALES, PARTS, AND SERVICE FOR PROFESSIONAL GROUNDCARE MACHINERY • TRACTORS • CUT AND COLLECT MOWERS • PEDESTRIAN MOWERS • LANDSCAPING MACHINES • AERATION, ZERO-TURN MOWERS • CYLINDER / ROTARY MOWERS • IMPLEMENTS • UTILITY VEHICLES • REMOTE CONTROL MOWERS • CHIPPERS AND SHREDDERS

OVER 25 YEARS INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE FAMILY RUN COMPANY WITH STRONG HONEST VALUES MOBILE REPAIRS AVAILABLE LOCALLY BASED IN BROUGHTON BRIGHTSIDE FARM, SALISBURY ROAD, BROUGHTON, SO20 8BX

CALL TIM: 07818 104864

EMAIL: TIM@ATHMACHINERY.CO.UK

PARTS EMAIL: PARTS@ATHMACHINERY.CO.UK WWW.ATHMACHINERY.CO.UK

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GARDEN / EDUCATION

Paddock Perfection

Maintaining Hampshire's Paddocks to Perfection

07594 443 618 Supply and planting large specimen trees and shrubs Espalier, pleached and instant impact hedges

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Grass Cutting * Harrowing, Seeding & Fertilising Hay Making, Baling * Hedge Trimming Topping, Rolling * Scrub Clearance & Excavation Ploughing, Rotavating * Reseeding Grass Cutting * Direct Drilling

All trees and shrubs carefully selected Design, landscaping and ongoing maintenance Free site visit and consultation Bosque is a trading name of Just Limegrass Ltd. Harko: 07710 502798 Tom: 07855 656984 www.bosque international.co.uk

Blending innovation and tradition – remote schooling at Embley

Embley’s decision three years ago to implement a class-leading digital strategy to support and extend teaching and learning may now appear prescient. We couldn’t have foreseen the arrival of Covid-19 or the impact of the measures to counter its spread, but the early implementation of our digital strategy and the considerable concerted efforts of pupils, parents and staff have allowed us to segue into remote teaching and learning with poise, aplomb and relative ease.

Our digital strategy (shortlisted for the Tes Independent School Awards for Best Use

of Technology) never set out to vanquish completely the tyranny of spacetime: the need to be in a particular place at a specific time. Instead we devised it to be firmly grounded on evidence and sagely informed by practice. To us technology was never a substitute for effective teaching, but rather its enabler; nor was it a distraction from successful learning, but rather its accomplice.

So, although never designed for fully remote teaching and learning, tools like Sparkjar, Seesaw, Microsoft Teams and our bespoke Digital Learning Spaces allowed us to transcend many of the physical limitations of school closure.

Remote teaching differs only superficially from classroom teaching. At the core of successful teaching lie key principles of instruction that remain the same whether you are in the same room as your students.

But great teaching is more than the imparting of knowledge and the delivery of content. The human element and the development of personal relationships continue to be essential, and that is why we incorporated videoconferencing into our remote lessons routinely.

We ensured that our pupils retained the routines and structure of the school day as much as possible. Tutor time, assemblies and teacher-led timetabled lessons continued to provide the scaffold around which learning and progress are woven.

Lessons have been carefully structured to provide students with the time and opportunity to complete work that can be submitted to teachers at the tap of a screen.

Despite all the advanced technologies in use, our digital strategy is solidly researched and pedagogically effective.

Remote lessons contain a variety of approaches that will vary from teacher to teacher and from subject to subject, as they would in a normal school day. And they include opportunities for pupils to work independently, as they would in a classroom-based lesson.

At Embley we pride ourselves in taking an approach that has allowed us over the years to entwine technology seamlessly into the processes involved in teaching and learning and so to marry innovation with tradition happily. As a result, we have enviably been well placed to weather the current crisis while ensuring continuity of learning for our pupils, whatever the future holds.

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EDUCATION

Enriching Lives

OPEN MORNING S AT U R D AY 2 6 T H S E P T E M B E R 9.00am - 12 .00pm

SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING T H U R S D AY 8 T H O C T O B E R 5 . 3 0 p m - 7. 3 0 p m

I N D E P E N D E N T D AY & B O A R D I N G S C H O O L FO R B OYS & G I R L S AG E D 2 - 1 8 ON THE EDGE OF THE NEW FOREST

Embley Park, Romsey Hampshire, SO51 6ZE +44 (0)1794 512206 info@embley.org.uk

Book your place www.embley.org.uk Farleigh School Leavers Reach For The Remote Control!

The lockdown has provided the 61 pupils in Year 8 at Farleigh School with the opportunity to hear from a wide range of engaging and interesting speakers (remotely, via Zoom), including former pupil, Patrick Millington Buck, who called in from Sydney, Australia, where he works in sports marketing.

Right, so, none of the children can come back to school after Easter. Check.

OK, and we still have to teach them. Check.

We now have to provide a totally new learning platform for the whole school.

Check.

Awesome - all sorted for their learning and their exams.

Sorry? We need to entertain 61 Year 8 pupils for four weeks after Common Entrance too?

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But they cannot go to the beach, Thorpe Park, even play tennis properly or perform a concert. Really...

Thinking cap on, think, think, think. Got it!

We just have to make the fun come to us and to every household.

Hmm, we did have some interesting speakers lined up. Bingo, let's ask current parents and past Farleigh pupils to volunteer. We now have ultra-marathon runners, an army doctor, high flyers in the business world, and former pupils, such as the Sunday Times New York correspondent, the Head of Player Care at West Ham Utd Football Club, and one or two ringing in from Australia and the USA. Result!

Add to that an in house business competition - our very own Dragons’ Den, complete with four real Dragons of industry. The children have to turn their "virtual tenner" into as much profit as possible whilst working with their team and a teacher mentor online.

Only the final three teams will face the inquisitorial panel of challenging Dragons, who will not be pulling any punches!

From the sublime to the ridiculous, as we go from drumming out your advertising to African Drumming - don't miss the beat -

and then there is the Leavers' Cabaret to prepare for… don your best outfit, choose the right tunes and get down on it. To cap it all off, the children can blow off steam in the afternoons with leading children’s entertainers and creative events company, Sharky & George, hosting a fantastic variety of activities from a Bake Off Challenge and Olympic Games 2020 to Magic and Mad Science experiments, liberally laced with dressing up, silly games and an adventure race. They’ve managed to pull in their videographer friends, Daisy and Kitty Jenks, to corral the pupils into putting in their best singing and dancing performance for the House music video competition. With all this going on, the children will welcome the yoga and mindfulness sessions led by experts in their field. They will be exhausted.

And, quite frankly, so will we!

Whilst Farleigh’s leavers would have preferred to be at school for the last hurrah, Covid-19 has given us the opportunity to put a Leavers’ Programme together which offers genuine life skills and some crazy activities to boot!

Caroline Pryke Director of Communications & Marketing

Daily Morning Minibus From Winchester via Stockbridge Town Hall

Please join us for our forthcoming: Whole School Open Morning Saturday 19th September 9.30am - 12.30pm

Contemporary Catholic Co-educational 3-13 Boarding & Day

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1157842

EDUCATION

Please contact Sarah O’Rorke admissions@farleighschool.com

www.farleighschool.com

Rescheduled Taster Mornings 10am-1pm

Year 6 Thursday 17 September 2020 Thursday 24 September 2020 Year 8 Monday 21 September 2020 To attend, email registrar@kes.hants.sch.uk

@kessouthampton

023 8079 9216 11

Meet the new headmaster of St Swithun’s prep school, Winchester

Jonathan Brough is joining St Swithun’s in September after ten years leading Hurlingham School in Putney and a further six as head of prep at City of London School for Girls.

He has also been an educational journalist, computer coder and a schools’ inspector Jonathan was interviewed by Jane Gandee, head of St Swithun’s senior school. Their conversations can be viewed in full on the school website.

What do you think are the characteristics of best practice primary education?

Primary schools should ensure that all children develop enduring passions

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for learning, for literature and for life itself: that’s the fundamental purpose of education today. Pupils must, therefore, never merely be taught as a box ticking exercise, governed by learning objectives in a shallow and impoverished, one-size-fitsall model. Instead, best practice involves them becoming truly educated in a manner that introduces them to the widest possible range of activities and celebrates their own unique individuality, as well as the beautiful diversity within their community, as they explore and foster their own interests, talents and skills. Every day must be an adventure and every lesson must contain something new. Life’s adventure is best embraced with courage and enthusiasm!

What are you looking forward to most about joining St Swithun’s?

St Swithun’s is a cutting-edge prep school with a fantastic community of pupils, parents and staff: there are so many opportunities just waiting to be enjoyed, both within the new school buildings and outside in the wonderful 45 acres of grounds.

At St Swithun’s, children develop the awe, wonder and creativity that enable them all to make their studies and passions truly their own. It’s the higher order thinking skills and competencies, encouraging

children never to be satisfied with the obvious but to look deeper into things – to ask why – that develop the enquiring minds which, in the future, are going to open the locked doors for which science hasn’t yet given us the key.

I’m also looking forward to working in a girls’ school again. Girls do learn differently; in a co-educational setting there’s always a danger that they’ll be held back by the comparative immaturity of boys, so it can often be much easier for them to reach for the stars in a single sex educational environment.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I’m a great believer in bibliotherapy for everyone, adults and children alike: when I want to unwind, there’s nothing better than a piece of gripping fiction! One of my recent favourites is Orphan Island by the American writer Laurel Snyder; it’s the perfect text for anyone approaching changes in their life!

I am currently recommending Kind, an illustrated children’s book by a collection of authors and illustrators, wherever I go. As human beings we need to be kind to each other- and, if we get that right, we won’t ever go far wrong with anything else that we do.

Spaces available for September 2020 in our Nursery and Reception.

Nursery funding available.

Specialist facilities and outdoor learning in 45 acres of countryside.

Please contact us for details.

01962 835792 or visit www.stswithuns.com.

N F I N E ART AU C T I O N E E R S & VA LU E R S

A Welcome Return

Andrew Smith & Son Auctioneers are delighted to have re-opened their doors to the public after such a long break.

Silver, jewellery and Asian art was also on offer, including a decorative oversized Chinese famille rose vase.

For future sales the saleroom will look and feel a little different to its regular visitors. In accordance with Government guidelines, strict social distancing measures will be in place, and viewing of the auction will be by appointment only.

The Itchen Stoke based auctioneers and valuers were busy making the saleroom safe for their staff and public in preparation for their long-awaited auction which took place on 24th and 25th June. The auctioneers would like to thank all their vendors for their patience and understanding over the long delay in holding this sale, which was originally scheduled for March.

Notable highlights of the sale were a first edition book of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Only five hundred of these books exist. Some were given to libraries where they were well-used, and although this example from a private individual is inscribed within, the condition is good hence the estimate of £20-30,000.

An Air Force Cross group of four medals to Flight Lieutenant R A Harvey commanded interest at £1000-1500, and a pair of 1830 box pattern Victorian officers epaulettes to a VC recipient, still within their original japanned case did well at £500-800.

Pictures, ceramics and glass, furniture, textiles and costume, rugs and collectables were all on offer.

An extremely large Chinese vase, Qing period - Measuring 69.5 cm high Estimate £1,000 – 1,500

‘Mouseman’ furniture is ever popular and there were five lots offered including a golden oak dresser and sideboard, each estimated at £2500-3000.

Visitors to the saleroom are encouraged to wear face coverings and gloves, and there will be hand-sanitising stations around the saleroom. In order to minimise risk the auctioneers will not be publishing a catalogue for the first time in their history, and they suggest that clients print their own at home, from the catalogues available online. Unfortunately, the café and toilets will also be closed.

The saleroom will be closed to the public on sale days but the auctioneers are offering various ways to bid.

Telephone bidding and commission bidding will be offered, and there is the opportunity to bid live via one of three global internet auction platforms.

Probate, Insurance and sale valuations are still being undertaken and sociallydistanced appointments can be arranged by calling the office on 01962 735988.

A large colourful collection of American postcards dating from 1931-55 was sure to attract interest from around the globe.

A Robert Thompson ‘Mouseman’ Oak dresser Estimate £2,500 – 3,000

For information on the July Asian Art, Fine Art, Antiques, Collectables and Decorative Interiors auction visit: www.andrewsmithandson.com Tel: 01962 735988

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FEATURE

Not New Now and Not Normal

© Lucia Foster-Found 2020 www.luciafosterfound.com

She felt something of a failure.

Not for her a daily Joe Wicks workout. Nor had she learned a new language, written a novel or redecorated her house. Not one single cute video of her dancing with her husband or dogs was going viral on Tik Tok. The novelty of Zoom meetings had worn off after a week or two, along with workmates’ initial relief and curiosity that everyone was well. It seemed she’d done more virtual gatherings in the first fortnight than she had in the following ten. Houseparty was fun for a while, but her habitual family video calls had slipped back as before into Whatsapp and Messenger. Almost as if nothing had changed. And maybe that was why.

The stars had shone more brightly, the sky was chem-trail free. The poor, abused planet was having a short respite – on her daily walk she’d watched a deer wander fearlessly down the middle of a road devoid of traffic. But daily death tolls and pictures of exhausted NHS workers bruised by hours in PPE made her cry. And whilst the world was distracted, poaching on game reserves and the rape of the rainforests increased.

Her days had quickly slipped into a routine.

A new normal encased her, but very soon it felt not new. And it was not normal. It wasn’t working from home so much as being at home trying to work. But she was grateful she had a job and a role that she could fulfil remotely, from the safety of her house. Not entirely sure if she was lucky not to have the distraction of young children and the additional burden of home schooling. On reflection she was saddened because her brood were all grown and not around to photo-bomb her video calls. Initial terror that she would catch ‘it’ from the post had waned. The Olive and Mabel Labrador video

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commentaries made her laugh. Although she’d been a bit concerned in those early days that she’d run out of food. A good sort out through her cupboards and freezer had seen the creation of some interesting meals from stuff past its ‘best before’ dates – and nobody got sick. Supermarket delivery slots being the stuff of myth and legend, the small independent shops and suppliers became local heroes.

And that was when the baking had started; the peach upside down cakes and lemon drizzles, the spiced tea loaf and even some bread rolls – not an unqualified success, what with the lack of strong white bread flour. To call them heavy was a kindness.

Himself had described it as ‘elven Lembas bread’, convinced that a man could march for a whole day after eating just one. Bless him for binge watching all that Lord of the Rings with her.

Nothing she cooked was remotely slimming.

There was the delicious beer batter for the fish and chips that she had missed so much.

But the chips.. not chip shoppie enough somehow. Home made tartare sauce was a bit of a revelation though and the fish cakes with melting cheese centres were yum. A pastry-athon to the backdrop of an entire season of Death in Paradise on Netflix, had populated the freezer with sausage rolls, pasties and quiche. Comfort, comfort, comfort. Thank goodness for the exercise bike, because just going out once to walk the dogs was not enough to burn off all those lockdown calories.

Her tomato plant plugs ‘by post’ were sad and near death when delivered. A week in transit, during the late frosts had done them in. But then the garden centres re-opened. A tiny bit of normality returned (although runner bean plants were like hen’s teeth apparently).

Compost

purchased brought joy. Packets of seeds, excitement.

Lockdown eased a tiny bit more and she saw her UK-based daughter in the flesh for the first time since January, albeit from two metres away. It was so good to see her, but her arms ached to hug and to hold. They had a bring-your-own picnic and together apart they chatted. As they walked, their dogs played, chasing and rolling about – the canine world was blissfully untroubled by social distancing and no-one was going to report them on 101. But the littering by day trippers to parks and beaches made her angry – and the thoughtlessness of people barbecuing in the tinder dry forests made her despair.

She wondered about the harsh lessons learned and the enormous changes wrought by the pandemic. What would they, the lessons and the changes, ultimately, at some final reckoning, at some future time, on balance, result in?

A brave new world; kinder, cashless, greener, cleaner? One where we respect the planet and all of the creatures unfortunate enough to share it with us? One in which key workers, at least, get paid more, instead of clapped for?

But a line popped into and kept on running through her head – she couldn’t remember where she’d heard it. It bothered her so much, she felt compelled to Google it.

“Then we’re stupid and we’ll die.”

Turns out it was from a film about a dystopian future.

WELLBEING Garden Circuits for Garden Athletes

there for a few minutes to a whole day, fully immersed in the sounds, textures, sights and smells.

It is such a wonderfully mindful activity, and it’s easy to lose time and awareness, but it’s not without its injury risks, and this is where a little bit of planning before full immersion can help avoid the aches and pains.

So here it is, garden circuits for gardening athletes:

If like me you’re a Lockdown gardening newbie, or you’re a green fingered expert, these tips on staying injury free as you tend to your plants are essential.

I like to think of this approach to gardening as ‘garden circuits’ as it helps to get you in the right frame of mind before you even start. Gardening can vary from a light activity to some heavy and demanding movements, and getting into the mindset of preparing for a workout can really help reduce the injuries that often bring clients to my door.

As I learn and feel the many benefits gardening can bring, I understand that you could be out

1. Warm the spine up first with this little sequence A) Stand up tall, reach over head with your arms, then gently and slowly roll down to reach for your toes.

B) Stand up tall, hands on hips and twist to look round over one shoulder and then twist the opposite way and look over the other shoulder.

C) Stand up tall, hands by your sides, slide your hand down your outer thigh to reach for your knee, then repeat on the other side.

D) Repeat each movement 2 or 3 times 2. Now consider your jobs. Avoid planning hours on one intensive task such as weeding or digging.

3. Instead pick 3 jobs that entail different movements, loads and heights, and rotate round them as if doing circuits, spending no longer than 10 to 15 minutes in each position.

STOCKBRIDGE OSTEOPATHIC PRACTICE

Osteopathy and Cranial Osteopathy Emma Wightman, registered osteopath and antenatal teacher. A gentle, hands on approach for newborns through to adulthood and in pregnancy.

Also Massage Therapy Pilates, 1 to 1 and small group Homeopathy Naturopathy Online Bookings available for Osteopathy and Massage via the website

4. After an hour take a break, admire your handiwork and check in with how you are feeling. You can repeat the warm-up routine if you need to stretch out, and if you’re feeling good, then select another 3 tasks to rotate through.

5. After you have finished your circuits, take a stroll around your garden to gently warm down and then head in for a wonderful magnesium salt bath for a bit of muscle recovery.

Your body may take a while to adapt to new moves, so as with any training program, build up slowly, and you’ll get strong, you’ll improve your flexibility and fitness, and you’ll reduce your risk of injury. And best of all you’ll have a beautiful garden without the gripes and groans!

If you’d like some more exercises for stretching and strengthening the spine, go the Video Guides page on our website or just give us a call for an appointment for a full assessment, treatment and personalised exercise program.

We are now open for face to face appointments and just loving seeing everyone again.

It’s so good to be back!

Emma Wightman Registered Osteopath www.the-sop.com

• McTimoney Chiropractic • Sports Therapy • Allergy Testing • Hypnotherapy • Homeopathy • Counselling • Nutrition Chiros Clinic has close links to Andover Osteopathy, for more information contact Mark on 01264 580280

Tel: 01264 810028 www.the-SOP.com reception@the-SOP.com STOCKBRIDGE OSTEOPATHIC PRACTICE - HIGH STREET, STOCKBRIDGE, SO20 6HF

36 East Street, Andover, SP10 1ES

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Since 2016, Winchester’s Heritage Open Days festival has grown to become an important event in the local calendar, with thousands of visitors attending the programme of events. This year, with the uncertainty surrounding when cultural events will be able to run once more following the Covid-19 Pandemic, it has become clear that the traditional format of the festival will not be possible in September. The focus this year will be digital. Commenting on the decision to focus on digital events this year, Festival Director Nicky Gottlieb said,

Winchester Heritage Open Days festival to go digital for 2020 The organisers of the Winchester Heritage Open Days festival are delighted to announce that this year's 2020 festival will be going ahead, with free events and local stories at its heart.

“We are enormously grateful to all our sponsors, supporters, volunteers and event organisers whohave helped the Festival grow to become the success that it is. I am sure that there will be people who look forward to the events every year and will be disappointed by our decision not to hold events in the usual way this year. However, it is important the festival is safe, is inclusive

and does not add further cost or burden to businesses and organisations who at this time are getting back on their feet. Whilst we hope one or two organisations may be able to hold some in-person events (in line with government guidance at the time of the festival), our focus will be on encouraging digital events.

We do this with the expectation that this year’s festival will be smaller. We are working hard to plan for a digital festival this September, and this will include our very own podcast channel. We very much hope to welcome all our events and visitors back in the usual way in September 2021.”

Further details on the programme for the 2020 Digital Heritage Open Days Festival and the launch of our podcast channel in August will be released in due course.

For more information visit: www.winchesterheritageopendays.org

to view. This is a major step forward and allows us to give broadcast HD TV quality streaming year-round. I therefore call on the government to urgently review the precise details of these guidelines, so that TFT – and the thousands of theatres and arts venues across the country – can reopen to live audiences as soon as possible.”

Kevin Fraser, Artistic Director of Titchfield Festival Theatre said, “Although the decision to allow theatres and cinemas to reopen is welcome, the restriction preventing any live performances until further notice is extremely disappointing.

week of an ozone sanitiser – and so far, we are the only theatre in the UK to have one.

This will sanitise all auditoria, public spaces and stage areas, killing 'all known germs' bugs and viruses including Covid19. It will be applied after every show after audiences and cast have left the building and ensure that the building is completely sanitised and safe.

We will also have thermal imaging on entry to the venue and hand sanitising stations. All of our venues will continue to operate with the safer 2 metres social distancing and 6 metres distancing from the stage to audience when musicals are on. This is on top of the increased cleaning and sanitising regime we have put in place.

“In recent weeks we have been pressing ahead with plans to reopen, safely and keeping the interests of our patrons and our members to the fore. We took delivery this

“Furthermore, we have invested in over £60,000 worth of camera, sound and vision mixing equipment so we can stream our shows live and to begin with, will be FREE

We are ready to reopen The Prime Minister has just announced changes to the government’s policy on the coronavirus lockdown. The new guidelines will allow theatres to reopen on July 4 and there is a relaxing of the two-metre rule to one metres – however there can be no live performances for the current time.

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For more information on Titchfield Festival Theatre including booking tickets for forthcoming productions, please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/or contact our Box Office on 0333 666 3366.

The Theatre has launched a new YouTube Channel and a page on its website with videos and information during the closure period.

For more information, please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/or contact our Box Office on 01329 556156.

BE SAFELY ENTERTAINED WITH TITCHFIELD FESTIVAL THEATRE

At Titchfield Festival Theatre we’ve been working hard to transform our theatre into a safe environment so that you can relax and enjoy your experience once again. We’ve introduced…

• 2M DISTANCING • HAND SANITISERS • DEEP CLEAN BETWEEN SHOWS • STATE-OF-THE-ART OZONE SANITISING MACHINE TO CLEANSE THE AIR

If you’d prefer not to come into the theatre, immerse yourself in great performances from home with our new

0333 6663366

LIVE STREAMING

73 ST. MARGARETS LANE, TITCHFIELD PO14 4BG

WWW.TITCHFIELDFESTIVALTHEATRE.COM

WITH LIVE STREAMING

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE

MOTORING / COMMUNITY Put simply, we care for classic cars – passionately!

We specialise in work on classic cars, including: SERVICING • REPAIRS RESTORATION

With a team headed by former Morgan Factory and race team technician, Dan Monk, and our extensive knowledge of British and European classic and sports cars, you are assured your pride and joy will be in safe, expert hands.

The Winchester Classics ethos is to strip away the ‘smoke and mirrors’ which have sadly become synonymous with so many high street and specialist auto workshops. We will consult with you and explain, in easy to understand terms, your requirements and the costs which will be involved.

We will work with great care and attention to detail before returning your car in perfect working order. Classic cars are in our blood. We own them, we drive them and we cherish them. We know just how frustrating it can be when things go wrong.

So when you come to us with a problem, we will provide you with the most cost-effective and speedy solution to get you back on the road or track.

From minor niggles, like sticking relays to worn-out wheel bearings, all the way through to body-off restorations and full engine rebuilds, we can take

Stockbridge Music Music in the time of COVID-19 I would also like to give a special mention to the ticket holders for the Brompton Quartet concert.

Thanks to your generosity in not asking for a refund, we have been able to pay the majority of the ensemble’s fee. And because musicians have little or no income at the moment, we also decided to use some of our reserves to pay a large portion of Gesualdo Six’s fee in advance. We hope you’ll agree that this was entirely the right thing to do in these uncertain times. To date we have been fortunate to have been able to entice many musicians to Stockbridge for less than full fees, usually as part of bigger tour. No more...These wonderful musicians need every bit of support they can get now that their incomes have evaporated. There is no question that in future their fees must be paid in full, and so our concert costs are bound to increase. In response, we have created the Stockbridge Music Patrons Programme. With the support of our Founding Patrons, SM will be able to safely navigate these uncertain times and continue to fulfil our mission of bringing top quality musicians, at affordable prices, to Stockbridge.

The fate of the 2020 Season Concert Programme...

Due to the current lockdown, it will of course come as no surprise to you

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Headed by ex-Morgan Factory & Race Technician, Dan Monk, who has over 30 years experience.

CLASSIC CAR HIRE AVAILABLE (SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS)

Contact Dan Monk: 01489 878615 / 07747 552051 www.winchesterclassics.co.uk Find us on facebook

Unit 17, Lycroft Farm, Park Lane, Upper Swanmore, SO32 2QQ care of it. Winchester Classics look forward to caring for your car. As well as offering our unrivalled services covering all things classic car, we are due to release our own a fleet of classics for hire in Spring of 2020!

For further details please visit our shiny new website: www.winchesterclassics.co.uk - happy motoring!

that our plans are somewhat up in the air. As things stand, we are hoping to squeeze all of the scheduled performers into the latter part of the year, social-distancing rules willing. You will find full details of the five fantastic events planned for the 2020 Season at stockbridgemusic.uk. It is just the dates that are not, as yet, confirmed. Please do check the website regularly for updates, and alternative plans should larger gatherings continue not to be possible for any length of time.

TBC TBC TBC

25.09 (TBC) 06.11 (TBC)

The Brompton String Quartet, Royal College of Music Gesualdo Six (choral) ‘Creating a Ballet’ Tom Seligman, Guest Conductor Royal Ballet (talk) Adrian Brendel, cello Sarah Deere-Jones, harp (talk /recital)

We hope you agree that we have curated a tantalising mix of artists of international quality and renown for your enjoyment this year, and that you will consider coming along to all four of our concerts - as well as what promises to be a fascinating bonus event, a talk by conductor Tom Seligman on the creation of a ballet from the conductor’s point of view.

With best wishes, Tim Lowden (Music Director)

BREAKFAST CLUB Saturdays 9am – 12pm Hopefully...

19th September 14th November Dates TBC, see website for details

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Opening hours 8:00am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday

During this worrying time we wanted to say we’re here for you.

Our doors remain open Most of our branches are open, but operating reduced opening hours.

Please check opening times on our website before visiting, as these may change.

We are operating a little differently We have reduced the number of tills open and are limiting the number of members into branch at one time to comply with social distancing guidelines.

We are here to help with your essential transactions only • • • •

Cash and cheque withdrawals Cheque deposits Electronic transfers Registering a death

If you have any other queries, please contact us through our website or by phone 01635 555777 from Monday to Friday, 9am until 1pm.

Help us keep you and our colleagues safe Please refrain from visiting a branch if it is not necessary. The welfare and safety of our members and our colleagues is the most important thing to us and we will continue to make sure you’re supported.

For more information about how we’re here to support you during this challenging time, visit www.newbury.co.uk

Visit: 35 High Street, Andover, SP10 1LJ Call: 01264 361455 | Email: andover@newbury.co.uk

Newbury Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number 206077). English Law applies and we will communicate with you in English. We are participants of the Financial Ombudsman Service. We have a complaints procedure which we will provide on request. Most complaints that we cannot resolve can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. 8002

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