The Dever February 2022

Dever The

The Journal of the Dever Valley

February 2022 80p

First-Sunday-in-the-Month Fund Raising Walk.

Sunday 6th February 2022

“Proposed Micheldever Wetland” WCC Planning Application 21/03255/FUL

Walk starts 10:30am from Map Board at Lord Rank Playing field Car Park, Micheldever. SU518391.

If you wish only to attend the Wetland presentation at (approx. 11.15 - 11.45) please walk there because there is nowhere to park at the entrance to the Wetland site which is off the bottom of Church St. Duncan Faires, WCC project manager, will meet us on site and give details of the Wetland proposal.

If this plan is agreed, it is anticipated that the Wetland will provide greater diversity of habitat to be monitored by the WCC Ecology team. We hope that Rick Smith, ecologist in charge of the project, will be able to inform us what improvements to expect.

Today’s walk is 1.5 miles in total.

We walk north from the Car Park, across the playing field and up the track to cross over the Coffin Walk and down into the Dever Valley. This time of year it is certain to be wet. Water proof footwear strongly recommended. From north of the village we will have a good view of the low-lying land and site of the disused watercress beds before reaching the Wetland.

Donations from this walk will be made to the Hampshire & IoW Wildlife Trust DOGS welcome

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Suggested donation £5. Children free.

www.halfmoonandspreadeagle.co.uk

Afterwards we visit the local pub.

You MUST book if you want LUNCH

Winchester Road, Micheldever.

SO21 3DG. Grid Ref: SU517388

Further details: suebell0906@gmail.com

Dever The

The Journal of the Dever Valley

Contents Dever Valley Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Books, Bottles and Boots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 News from Woodmancote & Popham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Paul and Caroline Knight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 St Marys Table Top Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Dever Singers Are Back! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Questor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 God's Word for Every Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Parish Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Greening Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Church Services for Dever Valley Benefice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Dever Valley Church Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Insulation: Keeping the Warmth at Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Micheldever & Stratton Pre School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Wonston Community Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Holy Dusters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Citizens Advice Winchester District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 From Our MP, Steve Brine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 City Councillors’ News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Forthcoming Events 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 February Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Hall Booking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Regular Dates and Times – Weekly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

The Dever - February 2022 3

Dever Valley Contacts Curate Benefice Cordinator

Rev'd Robert Rees 07590 909811 Clare Fancourt coordinator.upperdever@hotmail.com

Church Wardens

St. Mary the Virgin Micheldever Jan Mason 01962 774362 Juliet Pattinson 01962 774399 Holy Trinity Wonston Sarah Hobhouse 01962 760003 St Margaret's South Wonston Melinda Samms 01962 761036 Roger Keys 01962 881718 St Mary & St Michael Stoke Charity Ruth Guy 01962 760259

All Saints’ East Stratton Chris Hilling Ed Beckwith St James’ Hunton Campbell Dye St James’ Woodmancote Linda Albin Mary Wallis

01962 795134 01962 774918 01962 760001 01256 397616 01256 397271

Websites

St Mary the Virgin www.stmarysmicheldever.co.uk Holy Trinity www.wonstonchurch.co.uk

Editor: Peter O’Keefe 07515 339279 1 Canada Cottages, Overton Road, Micheldever Station, SO21 3AN. Email: editor@thedever.org Printing: Richard Vellacott and team

Micheldever Anby Dixon Micheldever Station Andy Adams East of railway line Ann Hawkins West of railway line

The Dever Annual Subscription January to December for 12 issues: £8.00; £15.00 by post.

Articles for March issue to be received by the editor before 15th February please.

Articles printed in The Dever are accepted ‘as is’ and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Editorial Team.

Treasurer: Tony Patston

Subscriptions Enquiries & Distribution 07799 212586 01962 774363 01962 774956

East Stratton Olly Bramley Woodmancote Liz Hawkesworth External/Postal Hazel Nugent

01962 795028

01962 774516 01256 397429 07940 485882

Dever Advertiser

Sales: Amanda Forsey 01962 774115 mob. 07500 334393

email: deveradvertiser@hotmail.com Editor: Roger Forsey 4

The Dever - February 2022

Books, Bottles and Boots February is that time of year where our most recent past comes back to haunt us. You won’t be alone if there is at least one New Year Resolution you have already broken just as easily as the seal on your Friday evening bottle of wine. Maybe that bottle was the end of your “Dryanuary”. Maybe that book you promised to read remains pristine on the shelf. Maybe those new walking boots have not yet been properly broken in. We all make ourselves promises. We all break them. The freshness and promise of January gives way to the banal reality of February. We are back to working too hard, rushing about with children, following our routines of caring or worrying about things we can’t control.

New Year Resolutions have become less and less important to me over the years and not just because my only success was repeatedly failing to do what I promised I would. It’s more that, as I’ve investigated the Christian faith more deeply, I’ve realised more and more that every day is a new opportunity to make a change – it doesn’t need to be tied to a

specific time of the year. The message of Jesus is that it’s never too late to call out to God. None of us is ever a hopeless case and none of the things which burden us is too insignificant for God. We believe that God really wants us to turn towards him and get to know him through his son, Jesus.

February brings a new start for us in our village churches as Rev John Rennie formally retires.

We will be without a vicar for some time while a replacement is found.

Be patient with your churchwardens and PCCs as they take on the extra duties. The churches are still there for weddings and baptisms and, if needed, funerals. We are also still meeting, still praying, still worshipping. If you are “churchy” please keep coming - give us your support and don’t be afraid to offer to help. If you are not someone who is currently involved, why not come and join us at one of our services? You will be made very welcome. Now... where’s my gym kit?

Campbell Dye Churchwarden Stoke Charity with Hunton

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News from Woodmancote & Popham Woodmancott was blessed with dry weather for our Plough Service in January, which was good as we gathered together outside to bless the Tractor and Plough, Farmers and Fields.

The first reading from Genesis was read beautifully by Libby and Allie Crosswell.

The second reading was all about anxiety, all too real in the world we live in today.

“But seek first his Kingdom and his

righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry

about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” Matthew 6 Verse 33–34.

I wish I personally could take this last verse onboard, as it’s very easy to let worry get away with you and not have faith that everything will work out in the end.

It was a bitter-sweet service as it was Reverend John's last service at Woodmancott. We will miss John and Sheelagh greatly. We presented John with a gift from St. James’ congregation and then we all enjoyed tea and cake.

Once again though, St. James’ Church is now in Interregnum, which has become all too familiar unfortunately.

Our service in February is Morning Prayer on 27th at 10 am, all very welcome.

Jane.

For Sale Homebase 2 ring camping stove plus five canisters of gas. £30.00.

Battery operated Worx 40v lawn mower, as new. £50.00

please contact Pat Matthews for both items 01962 795058

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The Dever - February 2022

Paul and Caroline Knight Paul and Caroline are leaving the Dever Team in February 2022 as they move away from the village after 36 years.

Caroline has been a powerful voice and influencer in the team over much of this period. She edited the magazine for a number of years, has recently been a sub‑editor and has been a regular contributor, with her garden notes for example. She has also more recently been a proof reader, a member of the printing team and a distributor. She really could not have been more involved and her contribution and advice will be sorely missed.

Thank you Caroline for your significant contribution to The Dever Team. Your advice and help over many years has been invaluable.

Paul has also has been involved and managed the accounts of the Dever operation for in excess of 10 years and has been a steadfast supporter in so many ways.

Thank you Paul for your help and support.

They have both been great team players and they will be greatly missed. We wish them every happiness in their new home.

RDV

St Marys Table Top Sale First let me extend a warm and sincere thank you to all my wonderful helpers; everyone did a sterling job.

We had a great day and despite everything we still managed to raise over £500 for St Marys. Plus we also have a

Llandro Figurine still for sale which was donated by a very kind villager. If anyone would like to offer the valuation price of said figurine, don't be shy!!! Contact me and maybe we can do business.

PM

The Dever - February 2022 7

The Dever Singers Are Back!

The Dever Singers have been entertaining the people of the Dever valley since 1984.

We perform a wide repertoire of music, varying from classical and religious choral works to showtunes and other popular songs. Rehearsals run from September round to June and we usually give two pairs of performances a year, at South Wonston and Micheldever churches but can also sing at some weddings, funerals and charity fund-raising events on request.

Ben Cooper has been our new musical director since 2018 supported by our longerserving assistant director, Karen Middleton.

In March 2020 when the COVID pandemic lockdown stopped choirs singing together, we were only a couple of weeks away from performing our Easter concert.

We eventually restarted rehearsals in October 2021 and supported a number of local carol services at Christmas but are now determined to restage the previously planned Easter event with our performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion on Palm Sunday, 6pm 10th April 2021 at St. Mary’s church in Micheldever.

8

Please come along and support us. There will be no entry charge but donations are welcome towards the two churches who generously host our rehearsals and concerts: St Mary’s, Micheldever and St. Margaret’s, South Wonston.

The purpose of our choir is to encourage people who enjoy singing to practise together and improve their musical and vocal skills in a friendly atmosphere; to bring enjoyment to the community and help others achieve their charitable aims. We are always keen to welcome new members, in particular men as, like many other choirs, we could always do with more Tenor voices. We are a community choir with no auditions.

Some of us can read music, others do not but we make a pretty good sound! You will be given a warm welcome if you would like to consider joining us and exploring how enjoyable – and good for you – singing can be. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 8.00 pm until 10.00 pm at either St. Mary’s Church, Micheldever or St. Margaret’s church at South Wonston school.

For more information, please contact Ruth Ironton, 01962 774817, 07784967464, E-mail: ruthironton@gmail.com

The Dever - February 2022

Wednesday

2nd February 12.30pm

at Northbrook Hall

Mi c Vil helde Lun lage ver ch

Two course lunch for £4.50 If you need a lift or have not been before, please give me a call

Tricia Patston on 795028

Micheldever Parish Council

Notice of Meeting Wednesday 2nd February East Stratton Hall 7.30 pm There will be an opportunity for questions from the public at around 8.00 pm

www.micheldeverparish.org.uk Parish Council Matters - Planning Applications, Meetings - Agendas, Dates & Minutes, Newsletters, Parish Assembly and more.

COVID19 Information

The latest information for Micheldever Parish, including live links to local services.

Visit www.micheldeverparish.org.uk/newsletters

The Dever - February 2022 9

The Questor The Wild Gospel ..… ….. Letters By the time Paul was executed around AD64, The Message of Jesus had reached the whole of the Roman Empire and beyond.

This was no easy environment in which to be a Christian. Moral and ethical standards of the day were quite at odds with those which the Christian church promoted. So it’s not hard to imagine the difficulty the fledgling Christian communities had in making the step into a completely new life.

Many of the communities had been brought into being by Paul during his long missionary journeys. And, as he travelled, he got messages from various sources which gave him an insight into how they were faring. Some of the messages were pleasing and some were upsetting. So you can understand Paul’s desire to get in touch with them to encourage those who were doing well and to get the others back on track.

He couldn’t phone them or hop in a car or on a plane. So he wrote letters. Imagine him as he travelled hundreds of miles, thinking what he would like to say to them. And then, in the evening, writing his thoughts down or dictating them to a scribe.

We have the text of some of those letters in the New Testament in the Bible. Most of them are quite long – far more than could have been written by Paul or dictated to a scribe in one go. So it may be that the ones in the Bible are compilations of many shorter letters – or that Paul saved everything up and sent it in one go.

We read these letters as though they’re pieces of scripture – as they are. But they’re more than that. They’re Paul’s own words and it might help us if we close our eyes and imagine him saying those words to us in our 10

own communities. Just like when we get a letter from a person we know well–we can imagine them saying the words on the paper.

At the end of his third journey, it was Paul’s intention, after going to Jerusalem, to go to Spain and to call in at Rome on the way.

That would have been his first visit. So he wrote the Letter to the Romans to prepare the ground for his visit. It’s a long and quite theological letter and it’s only possible to pick out a couple of key points here.

First of all he says that “Religion can’t save you”. By that he means that obeying a bunch of laws and being circumcised, as was the case for the Jews, isn’t the point.

None of us can become perfect by our own efforts so we can’t possibly make the grade.

What really matters is that we enter into a loving relationship with God, earnestly ask for forgiveness and have the slate wiped clean – clean to the point where there is no record of our past mistakes. That was the Message that Jesus brought to the world.

The second point follows from this. It is that we shouldn’t become so well adjusted to the culture of our time that we fit into it without thinking. It’s important that we make every effort to be a good citizen and we should cultivate good relationships with those around us. But the way we live and relate to other people must reflect the relationship we have with God. Paul had invested a lot of time and effort in establishing and nurturing the church in Corinth. So it was upsetting for him to hear that they had gone off the rails. As a result we have two Letters to the Corinthians. If the letter to the Romans was, to a degree, of an intellectual nature, the letters to The Dever - February 2022

the Corinthians are full of emotion.

Corinth was a very challenging place to live as a Christian. The city was known for its hard drinking and sexual promiscuity.

This had its impact on the fledgling church and soon factions developed and morals degenerated. The first letter therefore is a kind of pastoral letter in which Paul expresses his affection for them but, in a firm and clear way, takes them by the hand and goes over the old ground again, reminding them about God’s saving love and how that should be reflected in love for one another. The high point is his love poem in chapter 13.

The criticism in the first letter annoyed the Corinthians so they wrote back in

strong terms questioning his motives and his authority. That really upset Paul and so he wrote a second time to defend himself.

He reminds them of how much he had suffered in order to bring the Message of Jesus to people like them and how much love he had shown to them when he was with them. He almost wonders whether he should have sent the first letter at all.

There’s nothing new under the sun is there! We still criticise our clergy and religious leaders, causing them hurt and a feeling of rejection – when we should be doing all we can to support them.

Next month – More Letters

God's Word for Every Day If you feel

Read

Upset

John 14

Weak

Psalm 18:1-29

Lonely

Psalm 23

Sinned

Psalm 51

Worried

Matthew 8:18-31

Anxious

Philippians 4:4-9

Unhappy

Colossians 3:12-17

In Danger

Psalm 91

Depressed

Psalm 27

Lack of Faith

Exodus 14

Need Courage

Joshua 1

Need Direction

Psalm 73:21-26

The Dever - February 2022 11

Parish Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.

The parish is keen to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. An informal group has met and has decided that the 4 main villages should each be allocated a day over the Jubilee weekend to organise their own celebrations.

This will hopefully enable all parishioners to join in as many of the events as they wish.

Each village has formed a small committee to take their ideas forward.

If you would like to be involved or have any suggestions, please contact the following:

Thursday 2nd June Woodmancote

Mary Wallis mary@thecalvertcentre.co.uk

01256 397271

Friday 3rd June Micheldever Station

Paul Brown pjb7777@btinternet.com.uk

079709989011

Saturday 4th June East & West Stratton John Harring

Catherine Miller

catherine.ventura@yahoo.co.uk Sunday 5th June Micheldever

Maurelle D’Agostino l.dagostino@btinternet.com Olly Bramley orb@bramleys.org

Weston Colley

David Findley david@marquees-mini.co.uk

07970989011 01962 774395 01962 774516 01962 774777

Micheldever Community Bookcase Opening times 2 - 3 pm Friday afternoon only Has anyone got any paperback books that they have read and no longer want?

If so please give me a call on 795058 and I will come and pick them up. Alternatively you can bring them to Northbrook Hall on any Friday afternoon between 2 - 4 pm.

While you are there, why not have a browse for some new reading matter? Unfortunately I can not take any hardback books; I just don't have the room for them. Many thanks, Pat Covid19 precautions will be in place – only one person admitted at a time.

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The Dever - February 2022

The Greening Campaign You can pick up a card at the launch event but you should receive one through your letter box, don't get it mixed up with the junk mail!

If by chance you don't get one by Saturday 12th February a few cards will be left at the churches, St Mary the Virgin in Micheldever, All Saints in East Stratton and St James in Woodmancote. Failing that please contact Peter O'Keefe with any questions you

PR PR O PR O OF PR O OF P PR O OF P RO PR O OF P P RO OF PR O OF P PRORO OF P PR O OF P PROROO OF P RO PR O OF P PROROO OFF P RO O O OF P PROROO OFF P PPR RO O F O O F O F R O R R O R F P PRO O F F P P O OO F PR PRRO OOOF OF P PRROROOF OFF P PR O OOOF F P PRRO OOF OF P RO PR O OF F P PRRO OOF OF P RO O O OF P PRRO OOF OF P RO O F O O F R F PR O OOOF F P RO OF O R O

You may notice unusual things appearing or happening around the Parish Council Notice Boards. What is it? Is it vandalism? Should we be afraid? Please, can somebody explain what is going on?

The Launch Event All will be explained at the Greening Micheldever Launch Event on Tuesday 1st Feb. 6-8pm at Northbrook Hall, Micheldever.

You and your community are going to be tackling climate change, saving money, and having a little fun along the way.

All it takes is a few small changes to what we do, something simple you would hardly notice. But, when a community works together, the individual changes we make creates a big difference. We can make a difference and it will save you money too!

The Challenge Cards Everyone in the Parish area should receive a challenge card (both sides are illustrated here). It lists the eight challenges chosen by the village at the Public Meeting in December. It also shows how each challenge saves energy.

The less energy you use the more you save.

The Challenges are: • Turn off lights when leaving room • Turn off all standbys • Wash laundry at 30°c • Line dry clothes in the summer • Turn thermostat down by 1°c • Install a low-flow showerhead • Reduce each shower time by 1 minute • Halve your food waste by making a meal plan and using up leftovers

Micheldever

This card is the start of our Greening Campaign. With your support we will move to Rewilding, Retrofit and other mass community actions to tackle Climate Change. But first we need you to take action in your home. Once you have committed to five of these challenges, please display the logo side of the card in your window by 19th March 2022 and show your support for further community action.

Already doing some of the challenges? Go to the Energy Savings Trust website and pick some different ones. Then put the card up in the window to encourage others!

Turn off lights when leaving a room (non LED) and stop 25kg of CO2 going into the atmosphere and save £14 a year* C

Line or rack dry clothes (or use an airer) reduces CO2 emissions by 65kg and saves £35 a year*

Halving your food waste by making a meal plan and using up leftovers will save 312kg of CO2 and saving £252 a year** C

Turn the thermostat down by 1°C and you can stop 325kg of CO2 being emitted, it also saves your household £80 a year*

Reduce each normal shower time by one minute (4 people) saves 35kg of CO2 and £7* C

Turn off all standbys and inactive appliances and save 60kg of CO2 from going into the atmosphere and £30 a year* C

Installing a low flow showerhead (4 people) will save 345kg of CO2 and £70*

Wash laundry at 30° C saving 15kg of CO2 and £8 a year off household bills*

We will be counting the cards between 19th — 26th March to calculate how much CO2 we have saved together, so please can you ensure the card is displayed where it can be easily seen, i.e. in a front window or if you have a long drive tie something green to your gate!

MICHELDEVER

*All energy calculations supplied by the Energy Savings Trust based on an average household per year. For more detail please contact the Greening Campaign.

C = Child friendly

Supported by

Micheldever Parish Council

** calculations supplied by Waste and Resources Action Programme, WRAP

If you need advice please contact Peter at peter.okeefe@micheldeverparish.org.uk or call 07515 339279

(For more information about the central Greening Campaign go to www.greening-campaign.org)

may have about Greening Micheldever.

Thank You! Micheldever parish is leading the way to solving climate change and having a great time doing it. Thank you to everyone who is supporting this initiative.

Peter O’Keefe Convenor, Greening Micheldever email: peter.okeefe@micheldeverparish.org.uk mobile: 07515 339279 For further information visit www.micheldeverparish.org.uk

The Dever - February 2022 13

Church Services for Dever Valley Benefice February 6th 9.30 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

6.00 pm

February 13th 9.30 pm

10.00 am

10.00 am

9.30 am

10.00 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

6.00 pm

Holy Trinity - Wonston St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever

Sixth Sunday of Epiphany

St Margaret's - South Wonston All Saints - East Stratton St James - Hunton

Seventh Sunday of Epiphany

Family Service Ruth Guy, Iain Henderson Holy Communion Rev'd Neil Britton Morning Prayer Peter Russell

February 27th

St Margaret's - South Wonston

St Mary & St Michael - Stoke Charity

Holy Communion Rev'd Dave Mapes Family Service with Baptism Rev'd Rob Rees Morning Prayer Campbell Dye

February 20th 9.30 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

Fifth Sunday of Epiphany

Morning Prayer John Walsh Holy Communion Rev'd Neil Britton Morning Prayer Roland Guy Evening Prayer Rev'd Rob Rees

St Margaret's - South Wonston

St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever Holy Trinity - Wonston

Last Sunday before Lent

Morning Praise Melinda Samms Family Service with Baptism Rev'd Rob Rees Morning Prayer Roland Guy Holy Communion Rev'd Neil Britton Evening Prayer Campbell Dye, James Gray

St Margaret's - South Wonston St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever St James - Woodmancote Holy Trinity - Wonston

St Mary & St Michael - Stoke Charity

For further information, please contact the Parish Coordinator, email: coordinator.upperdever@hotmail.com

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The Dever - February 2022

March 6th 9.30 am

10.00 am

6.00 pm

First Sunday of Lent

Morning Prayer Mary Cleal Holy Communion Campbell Dye Evening Prayer Rev'd Rob Rees

St Margaret's - South Wonston St Mary & St Michael - Stoke Charity St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever

Dever Valley Church Locations All Saints East Stratton SO21 3XA ____________ ruffling.upstarts.disposing Holy Trinity Wonston SO21 3LS__________________ grub.dove.unpacked St James Hunton SO21 3PX ________________ lingering.dwistract.improve St James Woodmancote SO21 3BL _______________ scatters.helper.rating St Margaret's South Wonston SO21 3EW ____________ diver.guises.tarred St Mary the Virgin Micheldever SO21 3DA ________ sprays.serenade.gripes St Mary and St Michael Stoke Charity SO21 3PG ______evaded.avoid.lyricist

Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin February 6th 6.00 pm

Sides-duty Readers

David Evans Ali Vaisierre Richard Vellacott

Isaiah 6.1-8[9-13] 1 Corinthians 15.1-11

February 20th 10.00 am

Sides-duty Readers

Jan Mason & Jan Hallam Helen Symes Genesis 45.3-11,15 TBC 1 Corinthians 15.35-38, 42-50

February 27th 10.00 am

Sides-duty Readers

Louise Keys & Juliet Pattinson TBC

The Dever - February 2022 15

Insulation: Keeping the Warmth at Home Winter is here bringing frosty mornings, biting winds, long nights.

We all love the changing of the seasons - and many of us never lose the childhood thrill of a snowy day. But as winter sets in many of us may be feeling that our homes aren't quite as warm as we would like them to be, or that we're suddenly spending a lot more on heating.

If this is you, then it's time to have a think about insulating your home. Home insulation involves adding a layer of material in the loft or roof, under the floor or on or in the walls to keep the heat in–like putting on a coat on a cold day. If you want to make your house warmer and cut bills, insulation should be at the top of your list.

And if you end up using less gas, oil or electricity to heat your home, you don’t only save money but you cut you carbon emissions. Collectively making our homes more energy efficient is one of the best things we can do to combat runaway climate change.

Let's take walls first. If your home was built in the past 30 years, the walls are probably already well insulated. But older homes were built with much less insulation.

If your home dates from around 1930-1980, it probably has cavity walls - that is, two brick 'skins' with a gap between them. Over the years, many such homes have had their cavity walls filled with insulating material - often polystyrene beads or expanding foam. This can save up to £200 a year on heating bills, so is well worth the £500 or so that it costs to install. And there are grants available for this in some cases.

Homes that are older - pre - 1930s - often 16

have solid walls.

There's no gap that can be filled. But they can still be insulated by attaching a layer of material either on the outside of the house or the inside - we call this 'external' or 'internal' solid wall insulation. This can be quite a complicated job, though, and not all homes are suitable. Follow the links at the foot of this article for more information.

Homes also lose a lot of heat through the roof, so insulation is important here, too. Again, if your home is new or if the loft has been converted into a living space, there won't be much you can do to improve it in this regard. But if your home has a traditional loft, then it's time to check how much insulation there is. The recommended depth is now 270mm (10 inches) so if you have less than this or none at all you should definitely consider a top-up–you could save up to £400 a year. The insulation comes in big rolls, and while it's a job that a competent DIY-er could manage, there are also installers who specialise in this work.

As with cavity wall insulation, there might be grants for this depending on where you live and your personal circumstances.

And finally there's floor insulation.

This is only something to think about for ground floors or floors above an unheated space like a garage. And since less heat is lost through the floor than through the walls or roof (because heat rises, as we all know!) the savings here The Dever - February 2022

are much less - around £40 a year.

Want to find out more? Check out the Energy Saving Trust's pages on reducing home heat loss at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-

at-home/reducing-home-heat-loss. The Centre for Sustainable Energy's home energy advice pages are also a useful source of information: www.cse.org.uk/advice.

Micheldever & Stratton Pre School The New Year has arrived What an exciting Christmas time it has been! We were so busy with all things Christmassy that we can’t begin to wonder where the time has gone. The children, families and staff have been so excited by our recent activities, that we cannot wait to share them all with you. We have been fortunate to have visits last term from our local Police Officer, a children’s nurse, our dental health team and our local MP who donated our Christmas tree.

Among our exciting things for last term was our trip to the Christmas Market in Winchester. The children were so excited with one of our little ones commenting that ‘this was the best pre‑school trip ever’.

We were fortunate to be able to travel up by train, being so easily located over the road to the train station. The station is very useful for our children and parents to access our preschool and continue their journey via train onto work. Our longer opening hours of 8.30am - 4.30pm also allow us to provide a great service to the local working community, as working parents ourselves, we understand how valuable it is knowing that you can leave your child with our highly caring, friendly, qualified and skilled staff whilst you work.

Next term we will be focusing on our topic of ‘Our World’. We will be going on a short train ride visit to the Eastrop Park to look at what surrounds us and exploring our senses whilst outdoors. We have also been starting to look at the changes in our weather and how the cold spell has brought some ice and frozen animals in icebergs to pre‑school. We have been exploring what tools we can use to rescue them. We will also be exploring our own immediate world such as our homes, pre‑school and how we can identify the smaller details around us that we so often miss. We will then use these to recreate our own collage of what we have been learning.

It is sure to be lots of fun and useful too.

We do have some availability at the moment so if you would like or know someone who is looking for a small family feel run community preschool, please do get in touch. Please contact our pre‑school leader Mrs. Nicola Mann-Rae at leader.micheldeverpreschool@gmail.com

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Wonston Community Café We had a splendid turn out in December given the doom laden messages from the media and donated £330 to Wessex Heartbeat. Thanks must go to all the (masked) volunteers and in particular to Celia, for making the most beautiful table decorations–all of which were sold.

It is great to see what a success the community cafe is in its new venue.

Thanks must also go to our loyal regulars who support the café every month with their generous donations. We sold all our cakes in December – although some mince pies were on offer in January!

The next Community Café will be open at the Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney, 9.30am–12 noon on Wednesday 16th February. This month the café will be raising funds for Clic Sargent, which is now known as Young Lives vs Cancer. The charity provides support for young people with cancer and their families.

2022 dates/charities already confirmed are: Wednesday 16th February Young Lives vs Cancer (formerly Clic Sargent) Wednesday 16th March BOAZ Wednesday 20th April Winchester Talking Newspapers Please do come along to support the Wonston Community Café, which is staffed entirely by volunteers. All the cakes are homemade, we have real coffee and plenty of free parking! The café is cash only and we welcome all donations to the nominated charity.

Janis Kinnell

Holy Dusters St Mary the Virgin Week commencing Monday January 31st February 14th February 21st

Georgina and Alex Anita and Liz Olive and Eleanor

St James Flowers and Cleaning

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Lisa Crosswell and Linda Albin

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Citizens Advice Winchester District Q: I keep seeing on the news that my bills could be going up soon. It’s making me really worried, especially as I spent more on Christmas than I should. How can I get my spending habits back on track in 2022?

A lot of people will be asking themselves this question right now. The good news is there are lots of things you can do to be more in control of your money and better prepared for the future.

Firstly, find out exactly what money you have coming in and going out each month. Be realistic about what you need for essentials like food and travel. Then you can set yourself a budget that you can stick to–take a look at the budgeting tool on the Citizens Advice website to help you do this.

If any of your bills do go up in the coming year, you can go back to our budgeting tool anytime to create a new plan and stay in control. Our website tips on how to reduce your regular living costs may be helpful if you find you have more money going out than coming in at any point.

You should also make sure you’re getting all the income you’re entitled to. Use the income checker on the Citizens Advice website to see if you could be getting more support, such as benefits or government grants. You can also use this to make sure you’re being paid the right wage.

If you’ve been using Lesley Rose, Advice Services credit Manager for Citizens Advice cards, your Winchester District gives overdraft, or advice on how to manage the store cards imminent rise in energy costs for your spending, it’s understandable if these debts are causing you worry. It’s important to prioritise paying your rent or mortgage, plus energy bills and Council Tax first though. Not paying these has the most serious consequences. On the Citizens Advice website, we have advice about which bills you need to prioritise and the support available for paying these and other bills.

Once you have planned how to pay your priority bills, the budgeting tool can help you plan how to repay credit cards, overdraft charges and store cards.

If you need more specific support or don’t feel able to manage your situation alone, you can call Citizens Advice Winchester District on 0808 278 7861. You’re not on your own.

Citizens Advice Winchester District is a local, independent, registered charity and a member of the national Citizens Advice network of England and Wales.

Citizens Advice Winchester District is a highly regarded advice agency providing free, confidential and highquality advice to local people on their rights and responsibilities.

Much of our advice is delivered by trained local volunteers In 2020/21 Citizens Advice Winchester District helped over 7,000 people with 17,910 advice issues and generated more than £1.3million in income gain for them.

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Wonston Community Café Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney Third Wednesday of the month 9.30am - 12 noon

16th February - Clic Sargeant 16th March - BOAZ 20th April - Winchester Talking Newspapers Cash only café All donations welcome The café is staffed entirely by volunteers Cakes are all homemade We serve real coffee Plenty of free parking!

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From Our MP, Steve Brine First up this month, as 2022 continues to have a very familiar feel to 2021, Covid-19 …

Readers will know, I have been pressing Ministers and local NHS leaders since the launch of the “Get Steve speaking with BBC South Today outside Boosted Now” campaign one of our pop-up vaccination clinics to bring some walk-in vaccination capacity Health Minister, people with poor health to Winchester. This is to supplement, outcomes often have complex challenges not replace, the good work our local GP and are excluded from good health in surgeries and pharmacies are doing to many ways so it’s not unsurprising the get us fully vaccinated and it is needed Covid vaccine is the latest evidence of that. because it’s really important that we have We need to understand a little more and a multi-channel offer for my constituents condemn a lot less because compulsion in places which are easy to access. will only work against us in the end. You The pop-ups, at Badger Farm and the can watch back all my contributions in Park & Ride South site near junction 11, Parliament at stevebrine.com/news. reported brisk jabbing early on which is Secondly, I continue to engage with very good to see. We do largely now have your councillors–including Cllr Patrick a pandemic of the unvaccinated but must Cunningham – and my colleagues at the remember not everyone in this category Ministry of Defence around the future of Sir is vaccine hesitant or refusers. There are John Moore Barracks and play my part in still a number of people who cannot have the strategic group planning its future use. their next vaccination because of a recent With the news, revealed in a letter to me infection and there are, of course, those from the Minister late last year, its disposal who are unable to take the vaccine in its is now delayed until 2026 we have time to current form because of a health condition. consider even more carefully what it will I have rightly pressed the Prime Minister be transformed into and to make sure our in Parliament for a long term plan to truly plan for a 25 hectare space nature reserve at learn to live with Covid – which sets Flowerdown becomes a reality. My strong out how we will avoid a damaging panic preference remains for a mixed use site with when the next variant comes along – but high quality new employment space part am clear that must include how we will of the solution. Winchester City Council support the unvaccinated to do the right need to show some real ambition here. thing for themselves and the common Finally, I have written a lot about Green good. In my experience, as a former Public Winchester and events leading to – and 22

The Dever - February 2022

since – COP26 in Glasgow. Our focus now shifts to holding Ministers to their promises made and delivering our Net Zero Plan published in the Autumn. Further to this, which will be of great interest to those of you taking part in the Greening Micheldever initiative – I will be holding a very special AskTheMinister event in Winchester early on this year with COP President Alok Sharma MP. Look out for

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Steve Brine MP for Winchester & Dever Valley

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details of that and sign-up to receive my GW updates at www.greenwinchester.com Much more on my work, in Westminster and Winchester, at stevebrine.com but instant updates (including when I speak in the House of Commons) by liking my page at fb.com/SteveBrineMP

Daily Sudoku: Fri 14-Jan-2022 http://www.dailysudoku.com/

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City Councillors’ News The public consultation on the latest proposals to come out of the Winchester Movement Strategy continues now until 11th February 2022. The Strategy is intended to reduce congestion, support the local economy and improve the environment of Winchester. The Councils are asking for your views on 10 possible projects that include a new Park and Ride car park to the North of the city, changes to the one‑way system, prioritising bus traffic along Andover Road and improvements to cycle routes across the city. You can submit your views at: https://www.hants.gov.uk/ transport/transportschemes/winchestermovement-strategy .

The government has announced a new grant support scheme for businesses impacted by the Omicron variant. Businesses in the hospitality, accommodation and leisure sectors, that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed business rates-paying premises, will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises. Apply by 28th February 2022 – www.winchester.gov.uk/business/ business-rates/important-informationon-business-rates .

Stephen

Cllr Stephen Godfrey 119 Downs Road South Wonston SO21 3EH Tel: 01962 884477 sgodfrey@winchester.gov.uk

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Caroline

Just before Christmas, several residents reported horse and trap racing along the A33 near Micheldever Station.

The police response was prompt and effective, with the road cleared for safe use by normal traffic. If you see unsafe or illegal use of the roads like this, contact the police by 999 or 101 and also let one of us and the parish council know.

Following contact by several residents, the City Council have corrected an error in the SHELAA sites being considered as candidates for development allocation in the new Local Plan. Area SW06 at the Eastern end of South Wonston was included in error as a possible amendment to the settlement boundary. This land has now been removed from the list of SHELAA sites.

You can contact your City Councillors at any time or you can catch us at any of the Parish Council meetings.

Their next meetings are on: Micheldever PC–Wednesday 2nd February, East Stratton Village Hall.

Wonston PC – Wednesday 9th February at Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney.

South Wonston PC – Monday 14th February at South Wonston Pavilion.

All meetings start at 7.30pm.

Cllr Caroline Horrill Wheatlands Woodman Lane Sparsholt SO21 3SH Tel: 01962 776844 chorrill@winchester.gov.uk

Patrick

Cllr Patrick Cunningham The Corner House North Drive Littleton SO22 6QA Tel: 07866 367897 pcunningham@winchester.gov.uk The Dever - February 2022

Forthcoming Events 2022 March 2nd 12.30pm 2nd 7.30pm 2nd - 5th 7.30pm 6th 10.30pm 16th 9.30am April 3rd 10.30pm 6th 12.30pm 6th 7.30pm 10th 6.30pm 11th 27th 7.30pm May 1st 10.30pm 4th 12.30pm 4th 7.30pm 8th 11.30am 15th-21st June 1st 7.30pm 2nd-5th 8th 12.30pm July 3rd 8.00am 6th 12.30pm 6th 7.30pm September 7th 12.30pm October 5th 12.30pm November 2nd 12.30pm December 14th 12.30pm

Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council - East Stratton Hall MVG, Terry Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters - Northbrook Hall First Sunday in the Month Fund Raising Walk Wonston Community Café - Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney First Sunday in the Month Fund Raising Walk Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council - The Warren Centre Dever Singers perform Stainer's Crucifixion - St Mary the Virgin church Play in a Week, Mary Poppins - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council, Parish Assembly - East Stratton Hall First Sunday in the Month Fund Raising Walk Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council, AGM - East Stratton Hall Micheldever Station Celebration 180+2 - The Warren Centre Christian Aid Week Micheldever Parish Council - Northbrook Hall Queen's Platinum Jubilee Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Ellis Journey Breakfast at The Dove Inn Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council - The Warren Centre Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall

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February Diary 1st 2nd 2nd 6th 16th

6.00pm 12.30pm 7.30pm 10.30pm 9.30am

Greening Micheldever Launch Event - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Village Lunch - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council - East Stratton Hall First Sunday in the Month Fund Raising Walk - Lord Rank car park Wonston Community Café - Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney

Please Remember to Check That Events Are Taking Place Before Venturing Out

Hall Booking East Stratton Hall Northbrook Hall The Warren Centre

01962 774517, 07731 952705, visit www.thewarrencentre.co.uk/hire

Mobile Post Office Wednesday morning 9.30 – 10.30 Lord Rank Car Park (please note: times may vary slightly)

Regular Dates and Times – Weekly SUNDAYS TUESDAYS

Church Services Details on centre pages 8.00 - 9.00 pm Circuit Training by Toppe from T Fit Training, Micheldever School Hall. contact Jane 07919 018877 WEDNESDAYS 9.30 - 10.30 am Mobile Post Office, Lord Rank Car Park, Micheldever 9.00 - 10.00 am Body Control Pilates - Micheldever Village Hall. contact Fredricka Brooks, 07979 254895 THURSDAYS 8.00 - 10.00 pm Dever Singers Rehearsal - Micheldever or South Wonston churches . contact, ruthironton@gmail.com FRIDAYS 2.00 - 4.00 pm Community Library, Northbrook Hall

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Launch Event 1st February Northbrook Hall Climate Change is Happening Our Community is going to make changes

All Welcome Together the people of Micheldever Parish can make a difference!

For more information please contact: Peter O’Keefe 07515 339279 peter.okeefe@micheldeverparish.org.uk

Micheldever Variety Group proudly presents

Terry Pratchett's

Wyrd Sisters THE PLAY

adapted for the stage by

STEPHEN BRIGGS 'Alle Thee Disk's a Stage'

2nd 3rd 4th 5th March 7.30pm Northbrook Hall, Micheldever

Tickets £10.00 available from

www.ticketsource/mvg