The Dever January 2021

The

Dever

January 2021 80p

The Journal of the Upper Dever Valley

The St Mary the Virgin noticeboard, Repaired, Refurbished, & Reinstated

by David Findley, Craig Townsend, & Paul Newman

Photograph ©Peter O'Keefe

Where to walk in Micheldever - All the off-road routes.

Footpath Bridleway Permissive path

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So many places to walk! Choose your own routes. We are so fortunate in having so many off-road routes to explore in our own neighbourhood. Routes that are marked here are Rights of Way where you are welcome to walk. Some roadside parking places have become terribly muddy. Don’t forget that Black Wood and Micheldever Wood each have firm Car Parks. Hopefully there will be less traffic in Lockdown and it will be safer to walk along the roadside to your favourite path. Good LOCAL Walking in 2021.

The

Dever Contents Upper Dever Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 View from the Vicarage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 News from Woodmancote & Popham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Village Pub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Subscriptions Due . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Governors Wanted! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Questor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Village Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Micheldever WI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Micheldever School News for January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 January Services ~ Upper Dever Valley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Lobby for Structural Change Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Parish Council News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 From Our MP, Steve Brine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 City Councillors’ News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Jackie’s County Corner for January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 In the Garden ~ January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Micheldever & Stratton Pre-School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Forthcoming Events 2021 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Hall Booking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 January Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 The Dever January 2021 3

Upper Dever Contacts Priest in Charge

Rev'd John Rennie

Ordinand Benefice Cordinator

Dr Robert Rees Clare Fancourt

01962 760827

07590 909811 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 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

Websites

01962 795134 01962 774918 01962 760001 01256 397616 01256 397271

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

The Dever

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 Maureen Allan Micheldever Station Andy Adams Ann Hawkins

Annual Subscription January to December for 12 issues: £8.00; £14.00 by post.

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

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

Treasurer: Paul Knight 01962 774683

Subscriptions Enquiries & Distribution 07702 879865 01962 774363 01962 723347

East Stratton Olly Bramley Woodmancote Liz Hawkesworth External/Postal Caroline Knight

Dever Advertiser Sales: email:

Editor: 4

01962 774516 01256 397429 07548 955374

Amanda Forsey deveradvertiser@hotmail.com 01962 774115 07500 334393 Roger Forsey The Dever January 2021

View from the Vicarage A very Happy New Year to you all.

I hope this new year will bring with it much joy and hope. Certainly it will begin with real changes as we finally separate from the EU and find our way forward as a sovereign state again. The beginning of the year will also see a surge in the vaccination campaign as it rolls out across the country, bringing with it the thoughts of returning to a semblance of normality. So two big changes to our national life which will impact on the way we conduct our personal lives for some months or years.

The theme of ‘From Darkness to Light” over the Christmas period provoked an outpouring of creativity across the Dever Valley churches. Christmas was celebrated in churches, in church yards and on polo fields. This was true to form as much of the Christmas story was played out in the open air–with shepherds visited by angels on a hillside, the kings travelling from afar following a star and Jesus himself being born in a stable.

The immediate impact of Jesus’ birth was that the years of darkness were coming to an end. They had waited four hundred years since the last prophet spoke. Jesus really was the light coming into the

world bringing those long years of separation and darkness to an end.

The fulfilment of the prophecies was seen as a most significant omen but none at that stage could even venture to know the impact that Jesus birth would have on history and culture and contemporary life today.

Jesus’ mandate, his code of living, quickly became the basis for civilisation to live by. It still continues to be the standard by which governments and their laws across the globe are judged.

Jesus came offering a new hope, and a new way of living that has continued to give energy to churches, and communities and individuals that wanted to make a difference in their own back yard.

What an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to God’s way of doing things through the power and direction that Jesus brings in 2021. With such changes in our national life that will affect all our lives eventually, we will need an army of committed people prepared to be different and to stand up for the mandate that Jesus shared with us when he came at that first Christmas 2,000 years ago.

John Rennie January 2021

The Dever January 2021 5

News from Woodmancote & Popham Despite all the odds stacked against us, Woodmancott still managed to have its annual Carol Service in December. Even though we had to contend with Corona Virus restrictions, no singing allowed inside the Church and despite the fact it had poured with rain all day, still roughly 30 people turned up to brave the elements outside and sing. The weather seemed to take pity on us and actually dried up. Nick Greenwood had organised fire pits to keep us warm, Celia Parkes very kindly played for us in the Church porch and outside the Christmas tree lights twinkled as we sang…….. and it felt good to be able to sing!

Afterwards we enjoyed mulled wine with mince pies and although it wasn’t the usual format, I am so pleased that once again

St. James’ managed to celebrate Christmas!

As it stands at the time of writing this, we are having our Plough Service a little earlier this year and it will take place on the 10th January at 10am and we will be blessing the Plough and the Tractor in the traditional way.

I am not naive enough to think that the New Year will bring the end immediately to this terrible pandemic, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully by late Spring the tide will have definitely turned.

Hang in there, we will win in the end!

Jane.

The Village Pub The Half Moon and Spread Eagle would like to thank all the local community for the continued support through these troubled times. We have decided to operate as "takeaway only" through the month of January due to the Covid restrictions. We will review this and reopen our doors when the restrictions are eased and we can fully operate.

Takeaways will be available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from the 8th of January - email halfmoonandspreadeagle@gmail.com

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Follow us on Facebook/Instagram (half moon micheldever). Meanwhile, we hope that you have been able to enjoy as good a Christmas as restrictions allow and we look forward to sharing a far more exciting 2021 with you all.

The Dever January 2021

Subscriptions Due Welcome to the January edition of The Dever magazine; now is the time to renew your subscription of £8.00 for the year.

Please pay your deliverer when they call, cheques should be made out to “The Dever Magazine”.

Your local representative is as follows: Andy Adams Micheldever Station – Overton Road, Mill Close Ann Hawkins Andover Road, Brunel & Ellis Close Olly Bramley East Stratton Pam Newman West Stratton Liz Hawkesworth Woodmancote Gilly Ballard Popham Charlotte Fraser Weston Colley Maureen Allan Micheldever Village We would like to take this opportunity to thank our loyal deliverers and Maureen Allan

who voluntarily make sure that you get your magazines delivered through your door.

Governors Wanted!

The Dever Valley Federation is seeking to recruit new members to our Governing Board.

The Federation comprises two small, Church of England schools - Micheldever and Barton Stacey Primary Schools - and we pride ourselves on our family ethos, keeping the wellbeing and attainment of the children at the heart of all we do. Being a Governor is a fantastic way to give back to your community and we would welcome applications from anyone who would be interested in using their expertise and experience in this rewarding role. Experience in governance would be welcomed but appropriate induction and training will be provided.

The commitments of the role comprise 12 Board meetings per academic year, six held in the evening and six during the school day. There will also be the necessity to visit each school to undertake monitoring visits, the frequency of these depends on the role taken on the Board. Additionally, there is the expectation for Governors to undertake at least one relevant training course a year (usually held in the evening).

Interested parties should please contact the Clerk to the Governors – r.cousins@bartonstacey.hants.sch.uk

The Dever January 2021 7

The Questor The Wild Gospel..… …..Back to Saul A couple of months ago we thought about the conversion of Saul, on the road to Damascus, from being the chief persecutor of the new church to being called by Jesus to follow him. And we left him in the Arabian Desert, where he went to think things through.

Things such as what Jesus as The Messiah or The Special One meant; and how he would fulfil his commission of taking the Message of Jesus to the Gentiles and the Jews.

Remember, Saul had been brought up as an ultra orthodox Jew with very clear ideas about what the Messiah would be like – and it wasn’t like Jesus. So part of what he had to do was to completely re-orientate his ideas. Not easy when they’re so ingrained.

At this point Saul’s only contact with Jesus had been in the vision on the road. He hadn’t been party to his teaching as the apostles had.

They had spent three years in close contact with him and had heard him speak and teach countless times; and they’d seen the miracles he’d performed. They’d also been present at critical times such as the Last Supper and after the resurrection when Jesus had explained everything about himself to them.

The only thing Saul knew about Jesus was what he’d heard and seen of him in Jerusalem.

Then, he’d been on the other side of the fence.

He was a rapidly rising star in the Pharisee community and saw Jesus through their lens.

He may even have been present at his trial by the chief priest on the night he was arrested.

To unlearn all that and get himself to the point where he understood The Message as well as the apostles did was a big task.

Years later, in a letter to the churches in Galatia (present day Turkey) Saul explains that, after his conversion, he didn’t 8

immediately rush off to Jerusalem to learn from the apostles. Instead he learned directly from Jesus during his three years in Arabia.

The implication is that Jesus appeared to him and taught him all he needed to know – rather like he did with the apostles after his resurrection. In his view that gave him the right to be called an apostle because he received the Message directly from Jesus.

At the end of his time in Arabia, Saul returned to Damascus where he stayed for three years, teaching and preaching the Message of Jesus. Towards the end of this time, the Jews in Damascus began to plot against him – just as he had plotted against the new church before his conversion and for the same reason.

Saul became aware of the mood in the synagogues and decided it was time to move on. But by now, the Jews had posted people at the city gates to prevent him leaving. They wanted to catch him and kill him. So he took some pretty risky evasive action. His followers knew of a safe house that was built into the city walls. They took Saul there in the dead of night and lowered him down from the wall in a basket.

It was then that Saul returned to Jerusalem – for the first time since he had left to persecute the church in Damascus. When he got there he was regarded with great suspicion and the disciples and apostles didn’t want to meet with him. That’s hardly surprising since the last time they saw him he was dragging their people off to prison.

But help was at hand. There was a good guy named Barnabas amongst the believers.

He was a native of Cyprus who had heard the Message and become a disciple. He knew The Dever January 2021

what had happened to Saul on the Damascus road and what he had been doing since then.

So he acted as a go-between and brought Saul and the apostles together. As a result, Saul was accepted into the inner circle of believers and worked with them in Jerusalem.

In particular, he went to the Greek-speaking synagogues preaching the Message of Jesus and debating with them. In all probability, these were the same synagogues that Stephen had preached in before his arrest. And the people reacted against Saul just as they had against Stephen, plotting to kill him.

When the believers heard about this they acted swiftly and took Saul to the port of Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast. There they put him on a ship bound for Tarsus, the city in modern day Turkey where he was born.

This was the prelude to what was to be one of the most amazing adventures in history in which Saul took the Message of Jesus to most of the known world. And even before he got going, he survived two plots to kill him!

Next month: The Adventure begins

The Village Store A new year dawns and we are still striving to deliver the village store. And I assure you that that is exactly what we are doing.

We set out to deliver a pub and a shop, Phase one - the pub, Phase Two - the shop.

Phase One has been more than effectively delivered, despite the best efforts of Covid.

As Paula and Andy have evolved their business, a delightful village pub serving excellent food has emerged. And we are heavily immersed in Phase Two. Despite my inherent impatience, these things do just take time. We are intent on delivering the best possible outcome for the village.

Having mentioned the pub, they really do need as much support as is possible during these crippling Covid restrictions. Bouncing around between changing restrictions is a very costly business for them. By the time you read this, we will probably be in a strengthened lockdown after the Christmas relaxations. Consequently, Paula and Andy cannot afford to maintain a full pub service until those restrictions are lifted.

However, they will continue with the excellent takeaway service until such time as they can get back up and running the pub they so desperately want to provide.

In the meantime there is something you could do to help that will cost you absolutely nothing. MCES needs small sums of money to keep the various strands of what we are currently doing going and you could provide that without paying a penny! We are registered with EasyFundraising. All you have to do whenever you shop online, is enter Micheldever Community Enterprise Society on the EasyFundraising website.

The first time you use this platform and the supplier you wish to access (there are some 4,600–including Amazon!), you will then be linked directly to that supplier’s website.

Your shop and MCES gets a small percentage of your purchase value as a donation from the supplier - and it costs you nothing!

Please go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk and start some revenue generation for us. If you are unsure of how to do this, contact Charles on charlesholden1@hotmail.co.uk.

The Dever January 2021 9

Micheldever WI A Happy New Year to you all from the members of Micheldever WI. We are keeping our fingers crossed that 2021 will be the turning point in conquering the Covid-19 virus and that, at last, a positive is emerging with the beginning of the vaccination programme.

As we have been warned that despite the vaccine, we will still face restrictions, I thought I would keep our brains working by including two quizzes this month. A quiz is a popular time filler in a WI programme and used when speakers have to cancel at the last minute, or we have not been able to fill a space. So here are two – one is conventional and the second has a twist!

The First one is about the hidden towns and cities of the British Isles. The following clues represent towns and cities although in some cases the spellings of the answers may be slightly different. e.g. Men on a ship – answer Crewe.

Now try these: 1.

A dirty pond 2.

Feed the Family with pork 3.

Served at the bar 4.

Kiwi Prelate 5.

Best before 6.

Let’s shake on it!

7.

The food is still on the table 8.

Backward note 9.

Cook to perfection 10.

Inter, on the run 11.

An entrance for mother 12.

Cattle crossing water 13.

Highwayman’s demand 14.

Cook’s pasture 15.

A wide way up The answers will appear in February’s Dever Magazine’ 10

My second quiz has a twist. Below are the answers– but what are the questions? As there can be more than one answer to some of the questions, this can be great fun played in a group to see who can come up with the silliest but accurate question.

No ‘google’, dictionaries or encyclopedias allowed until after the quiz is finished!

1.

William Hartnell 2.

John F. Kennedy 3.

Pisces 4.

Green Cross Code 5.

The sparrow 6.

Dosh 7.

River Po 8.

Clarence Birdseye 9.

Saki 10.

Loom 11.

Stonehenge 12.

The avocet 13.

Benny Hill 14.

Birds of a feather 15.

Hypochondriac 16.

Kuala Lumar 17.

Michael Bond 18.

Aubergine 19.

Marion Morrison 20.

50 metres Enjoy – Again, I will provide some of the possible answers next month Until next time

Gina

Gina Ireland Secretary Micheldever WI email micheldeversec@hampshirewi.org.uk Or phone: 07486 397 514

The Dever January 2021

Micheldever School News for January Happy New Year from all of us at Micheldever Primary School. It was a very busy end of 2020 for us at school. A real highlight for us was the infant nativity, which you can now see on our school website. The children put on a fantastic display, with super singing, acting and speaking. A big well done to all the children involved. Our class exhibitions were another highlight as well, also available on the school website. We had to take a break from the norm of inviting parents into the school to see the work that we had completed in that term but instead each class put a video together, showcasing their excellent work from the term. From Oak class’ bear hunt, to Willow class’ news reports, to Birch’s artwork, to Pine’s story writing, I am once again incredibly proud of the standard of work being done by the children at the school.

2020 finished with a very fond farewell to Mrs Brewster, our Executive Headteacher, who is moving into education consultancy.

Mrs Brewster will be missed by us all at Micheldever and is leaving our school in a strong position as we continue on with our exciting curriculum. We would like to say a big thank you to her. We are in the midst of the recruitment process for a new executive Headteacher to lead the Dever Valley Federation and look forward to an exciting appointment. We ask for your thoughts and prayers as this decision is made.

As we look forward to 2021 and all that this year holds for us, we are hopeful. Hopeful for the continued wellbeing for all the children and families in our school. Hopeful for an ease of restrictions as the vaccine becomes more widely accessible and with that a return of parents and visitors into our school building. Hopeful for each child to be able to reach their full potential with us and to know what success is for them. We have some exciting projects that our children will be learning about including; why children love toys; how does chocolate bring us together; what difference can one person make to the world? As a school community, we are hopeful for an excellent year in 2021 and look forward to sharing it with many of you.

Mr T. Johnston, Head of School, Micheldever Primary School, 01962 774213

The Dever January 2021 11

January Services ~ Upper Dever Valley January 3rd 10.00 am

11.00 am

6.00 pm

January 10th 10.00 am

10.00 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

St Mary the Virgin – Micheldever St James - Hunton St James – Woodmancote Holy Trinity – Wonston

Second Sunday of Epiphany

Holy Communion St Mary the Virgin – Micheldever Rev’d James Whymark/Rev’d John Rennie Family Service St Mary & St Michael – Stoke Charity Ruth Guy Morning Prayer Holy Trinity – Wonston Roland Guy Refresh – informal service St Mary & St Michael – Stoke Charity Evening Prayer All Saints – East Stratton Rob Rees

January 24th 10.00 am

First Sunday of Epiphany

Family Service Ruth Guy Holy Communion Rev’d Neil Britton Plough Service Rev’d John Rennie Morning Prayer Peter Russell

January 17th 10.00 am

10.00 am

11.00am

4.00 pm 6.00 pm

2nd Sunday of Christmas

Holy Communion St Mary & St Michael – Stoke Charity Rev’d Neil Britton Family Service with Holy Communion Holy Trinity - Wonston Rev’d John Rennie Evening Prayer St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever Rev’d John Rennie

Third Sunday of Epiphany

Online Service (YouTube) – link available nearer the time For details of how to access online services, please contact the Parish Co-ordinator, email: coordinator.upperdever@hotmail.com

January 31st 10.00 am

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Team Service Bishop David

Fourth Sunday of Epiphany St Mary the Virgin – Micheldever

The Dever January 2021

February 7th 10.00 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

Second Sunday before Lent

Holy Communion Rev’d John Rennie Morning Prayer Roland Guy/James Gray Family Service Campbell Dye

St Mary the Virgin – Micheldever St Mary & St Michael – Stoke Charity Holy Trinity – Wonston

Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin January 3rd 6.00 pm

Sides-duty Reader

David Findley Gail Bates David Evans

Ephesians 1: 3-14 Jeremiah 31: 7-1

January 10th 10.00 am

Sides-duty Readers

Jan Mason Zander Balmain Poppy Young

January 17th 10.00 am

Sides-duty Reader

Intersessions

Maurelle D’Agostino & Jan Hallam Tricia Patston Revelation 5: 1-10 Vivienne Vellacott 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 Louise Keys

January 31st 10.00 am

Sides-duty Reader

Juliet Pattinson & Jan Mason Ruth Guy Revelation 12: 1-5 Linda Albin Deuteronomy 18: 15-20

The Dever January 2021 13

Lobby for Structural Change Now The last 6 weeks have seen important announcements about the UK’s action on the climate emergency, looking forward to the global conference COP26 which will be hosted by the UK in November 2021.

The UK Committee on Climate Change gave its 6th carbon budget report on 9 December 2020. The Committee on Climate Change advises the UK Government on what it needs to do.

They urged Government to get on with this at once. We cannot wait any longer.

All the experts agree that we need to invest real money in tackling the climate emergency – somewhere between £20bn and £30bn every year.

Even though this is a lot, the cost of action is less than 1% of GDP (closer to 0.5%). These are the costs of rebuilding after COVID-19 anyway. And returns are significant, with new jobs, less need for state benefit payment sand increased taxes.

The Government had just announced its 10 Point Plan for a green revolution, on 18 November. And on 4 December, it published our Nationally Determined Contribution on greenhouse gas emissions in the UK. This included a new and more ambitious target to reduce emissions by 68% by 2030 (from a 100% baseline in 1990).

But despite the fine words, the UK Government’s announcement gave only £4bn – and they took £1bn of that away immediately, when they cut funding for the railway. They have no detailed plan for hitting the promised targets, and almost no funding to pay for action.

So what do we do?

Should we panic?

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No. But because it won’t help, not because it isn’t very frightening.

Should we feel guilty? No. It isn’t our fault.

We read story after story after story about “what you can do about climate change.” Change your lightbulbs. Bring reusable bags. Cut back on meat. It’s preposterous. Climate change could never have been fixed by ordering a less take‑aways, using fewer plastic bags, turning off more lights or planting a few trees.

The vast majority of global greenhouse gas emissions come from just a handful of corporations, and it’s business and government that needs to act. We need structural changes that make it possible for us to lead zero-carbon lives.

So what can we do? Focus on what will make the most difference. And push for action by people with power–Government, and business.

Show politicians that they’ll get more votes if they act on the climate crisis, and business people that they’ll lose money if they don’t act. Ι Email your Winchester City Councillor and Hampshire County Councillor to say you want more action more quickly. Ask what their party is doing locally – or what it will do if it wins a majority in the 2021 local elections Ι Take your savings and your pension out of any institution that invests in fossil fuels – writing to them first to tell them you will unless they disinvest The Dever January 2021

Ι Campaign for central government to take these 10 steps to zero-carbon: 1. Set a zero net emissions target of 2030 2. Allocate 1% of GDP to actions that will cut emissions 3. Stop all fracking 4. Stop all new coal-mining 5. Give COVID support and tax breaks to renewable energy, not fossil fuel companies 6. Support large-scale renewable schemes including wind

7. Spend not a penny more on air travel – no new runways anywhere 8. Invest in electrifying the railway, Work with farmers to cut the carbon footprint of agriculture, encourage wild-life and plant more trees 9. invest in making existing housing carbonneutral, with much better insulation 10. Require all new buildings to be zero-carbon Ι Set up a local campaign. or join in action across Winchester District – support and help from Action2021@winacc.org.uk

Parish Council News Residents of Micheldever are fortunate to have the benefit of the Lord Rank Playing Field and the Parish Council are keen to see this amenity used for the benefit of residents and to support an active and thriving community.

A review of the play area is currently being undertaken to establish the likely remaining life of the current equipment and to establish what can be done to improve the area in the coming year. It is anticipated that this will be the Parish Council’s major project for 2021 and the views of residents would be very welcome.

The Parish Council has partnered with the Worthys Youth Football Club to retain children’s football in the Parish and Matt, Chairman of the Worthys, has provided further information as below: Worthys Youth FC are a thriving local club with 24 boys and girls teams from age 7 to 18 plus a mens team. The club is based at Eversley Park and we play across 4 other locations including Lord Rank in Micheldever village and the Warren Ground at Micheldever Station.

With children coming from all over the Winchester region (including Micheldever) the club has massively grown over the past few years and we identified the need for additional pitches to accommodate the growth.

Thanks to the support of Micheldever Parish Council we are now firmly established in Micheldever with 4 teams playing across the two pitches (ages U12, U13, U14 and U18).

The club and Parish Council have also (with additional funding support from the Football Foundation) funded new goals for both sites which has really improved the facilities available for the club and wider community.

Worthys Youth are an inclusive club and anyone is able to join in – please visit https://weareworthys.co.uk/joinus to register your child’s interest.

Wishing a happy and safe New Year to all residents.

The Parish Council can be contacted via Jocelyn, the Clerk, micheldeverpc@ hotmail.co.uk or 01794 368951

The Dever January 2021 15

From Our MP, Steve Brine Happy New Year! And surely it has to be, better than 2020, right?

For more than a decade I have represented us in Parliament and I have never worked harder but, also, never found it more rewarding.

Steve Brine MP HoC World Aids Day 2020 It is true, in any walk of produce its report after leaving Government life, that experience aids success but I feel last year. And I used a special debate blessed to have so much I can fall back on in the House of Commons, timed to for the benefit of the people I represent. coincide with the Commission’s launch The early part of this year will (hopefully) on World Aids Day, to call on Ministers be recovery from the pandemic; both in how to accept its recommendations in full. See we roll out the vaccine across Hampshire and www.stevebrine.com/hivcommission seek to get economic growth going again.

Other work I have been doing lately, I am being very regularly briefed by and in the year ahead, will focus on Dr Nigel Watson, who is leading the nurseries and early years, cancer, local county wide vaccine programme for the transport–and the recovery of our NHS, and it’s a humbling effort – with creative industries via my place on the so many people involved. My message is powerful DCMS Select Committee. simple, no-one is safe until everyone is And finally, plans are afoot for the eventual safe so I shall be rolling up my sleeves the disposal of Sir John Moore Barracks when moment I am asked to have the jab and I the MOD depart and you may have already would beg you to do likewise. We don’t have seen something of them. In short, it’s a mixed time for dangerous conspiracy theories (or use plan comprising around 1000 houses politics), we just need to get vaccinated. (too many), a commercial element (too little), I have worked closely with the regulator park and ride (why?), sports pitches (great) (the MHRA) and constituents can be and a supported living facility. My message confident they will interrogate the data has consistently been – do not over-develop robustly before granting any licenses. this site – and I have introduced the team And on the subject of a virus which to our own Dever Society as whatever has ended too many lives too early, I was happens will impact the Dever Valley. so proud to be part of England’s first See the plans at: www.stevebrine.com/SJMB ever HIV Commission which has made Much more, and daily updates, via www. recommendations to meet the Government’s fb.com/SteveBrineMP and Green Winchester pledge to end new HIV cases by 2030. (only) on Twitter @SBGreenWinch I set-up the group while Public Health Steve Brine Minister and subsequently worked to MP for Winchester & Dever Valley 16

The Dever January 2021

City Councillors’ News Winchester City Council have decided to delay any substantive consultation or decisions on the revised Local Plan. A highlevel consultation on ‘Strategic Issues and Priorities’ will be undertaken in Feb/Mar 2021, which will focus upon the local plan’s vision, objectives, key issues and priorities for action. The consultation will not contain any detail on options for accommodating housing targets once they become available. We are not clear on what value this consultation will give, as the uncertainty over the Council’s preferred approach to allocating sites remains.

Meanwhile, landowners and developers are actively promoting their sites, seeking support locally and nationally. The 5,000 home proposal at Royaldown – between Oliver’s Battery and Hursley – would affect our Ward, but not as much as any similar scheme around Micheldever Station. There is a more positive response to the emerging plans from the MOD for Flowerdown Barracks, where some 1,100 homes, employment sites and a park and ride car park are being discussed with residents.

Stephen

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

Caroline

Another planning proposal for a large array of solar panels has come forward – this time to the East of South Wonston, on the land around Waller’s Ash. The impact of this development locally should be limited, as footpaths and bridleways will be protected.

It is unlikely that any planning gain will be realised by local residents. More details will be available once the full application is submitted, probably in January.

The Council budget for next year is taking shape. Following the impact of the pandemic lockdowns, the Government has continued to support the Council’s finances with more grants, having already given over £5.5m, but more will be needed. Savings will have to be found and Council Tax will probably rise by around 3%. Only a limited number of the major projects are likely to proceed, The new Sports and Leisure Park at Bar End should still open in Spring 2020.

Parish Councils are still all meeting online using video conferencing applications. Please look at their websites for details. All City Councillors are available for you to contact at any time.

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

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Jackie’s County Corner for January Wishing you an active and healthy 2021 all problems New Year, new you? If you are a young person on the HCC (between 16 and 24), have you heard of the website: Kickstart scheme? This enables employers priority to give a young person the opportunity to is given take up 6 months of meaningful, paid work to those experience. See more at https://jackieporter. incidents mycouncillor.org.uk/2020/12/02/kickstartwhich result in flooded homes scheme-six-month-paid-work-placementsor sewage systems. for-young-people-aged-16-24/ If you are The County has recently agreed a pilot interested in employing someone for 25 hours scheme within the Itchen Valley division per week, costs paid by the Government, to look at practical ways to slow or collect please email kickstart@hants.gov.uk for more water before it floods communities. We’re not details .If you are a young person, apply for ready to import beavers yet but it is looking at Universal Credit (mainly open to 18-24), and innovative ways to do this, which I welcome! explain to your assigned Work Coach that Flytipping : We have had some horrendous you are interested in the kickstart scheme. examples recently. Call 999 if you see it Hospital consultation: This is gathering happening, or go to the Winchester website pace, with two sites and three delivery options, or app to report fly-tipping. The pile will be to be consulted upon in Spring 2021. You can checked for evidence, marked as seen and see more on www.hampshiretogether.nhs.uk then collected. There are about 200 incidents Watch out for online events where you a month, so please continue to report – it can hear more and ask questions before will at least to keep our countryside tidy. you respond to the consultation. HCC has Operation Transition: Brexit is happeningalso set up a Scrutiny Committee to look and the County is preparing to be a at this: I will attend these meetings, so if ‘checking station for customs papers before there’s anything you’d like to know contact the HGVs arrive at Portsmouth. The City the website above -or write direct to me. I Council report in this magazine covers have a list of questions (they are on my the impact of the workings of the scheme, website) but I’d like to hear your views too. but contact me if you have a query.

Flooding: The Autumn brought flooding School vouchers for children and families: even where it hadn’t happened before. The This a new scheme, aiming to help those new County team assigned to the Itchen facing hardship because of the COVID-19 Valley Division has been getting to grips (pun pandemic . It is being funded from the £2.89 intended!) with the problems. I ask you to million Winter Grant Scheme, awarded to copy me into any which are not responded to HCC by the (DWP), as part of a programme of relatively quickly: the new officer for this area supportive measures over winter. More details is helpful, but work planned takes longer if a on hants.gov.uk or my website. Schools and road closure is required. Please continue to log Citizens Advice Bureaux can use these grants 18

The Dever January 2021

County Councillor Jackie Porter Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk Tel/text 07973 696 085 Website www.jackieporter.co.uk

to help families with essential items: food, energy cards & tokens to pay fuel bills. And don’t forget, residents can ‘self-refer’ to the Alresford or Winchester Basics banks too.

In the Garden ~ January So Christmas is over for another year, and the tree and decorations can be taken down after the 6th.

Our holly berries were devoured by the fieldfares and redwings over a weekend in mid November, they seem to arrive earlier each year and have terrible scuffles with the resident blackbirds.

I read an article in December about the tree seedlings that spring up under hedges or in flowerbeds in the garden. I often come across holly and yew seedlings in the flowerbed. These should be nurtured and eventually replanted in the garden where possible, or given to friends. However I wouldn’t advise keeping sycamore or ash, unless you have a field to plant them in!

There is not a lot to do in the garden this month, especially if it’s cold and the ground hard. Ή Use up the remains of last years’ liquid tomato feed by fortnightly feeding indoor flowering plants. Ή Re-pot any lilies that have been in the same container for 3 years or more. Use John Innes No 3, with 20% added leaf mould or multi-purpose compost.

Ή Plant new container-grown roses into the ground if the weather is mild. Ή Cut back last seed heads of agapanthus and iris sibirica, taking care with big border sedums in case you damage the new shoots. Ή Prune established Rugosa roses, cutting close to ground level the very oldest shoots and the skinniest shoots, and halving the remainder. Ή Continue pruning fruit trees, feed with sulphate of potash Ή Tough deciduous hedges such as hawthorn or privet can be hard pruned in mild weather but leave if possible the ivy fruit for another month to feed the birds. Ή If the ground is dry and there is no frost you could mow the lawn on a high setting. Ή Cut down autumn fruiting raspberries to ground level Ή Force rhubarb by covering plants with a cloche or upturned pot. Ή Sow sweet peas indoors in 3 inch pots, autumn sown seedling can be potted on now. Ή Clean pots and seed trays for the coming season, check gardening implements are clean and apply some oil where necessary.

CK

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Micheldever & Stratton Pre-School The new term has got off to a great start at pre-school. We have been excited to celebrate our All Hallows Eve Party, our Bonfire Night and even more exciting was our very first ever socially distanced Art Exhibition; what talented little artists we have. It was so nice to see all our parents come and view their children’s amazing work. Everyone has loved making a real fire and cooking some hot chocolate at our weekly Forest School. It is such an amazing time to be in the woods, especially as the weather changes and the colder weather brings a new perspective on the environment and how the children view the world around them.

This term we are looking forward to lots of exciting activities at pre-school. We are really excited that our Christmas Elf Elvis has visited us. He certainly knows how to play some tricks, but they are all good fun.

We also were extremely fortunate and grateful to Burcot Farm Christmas Trees.

They very kindly donated a tree for us, and we were so grateful; the children thoroughly enjoyed decorating it. Their trees are beautiful, and Bill and his team were really kind, so a massive thank you to them. We are also looking forward to our Nativity,

20

our Christmas Family Dinner and hoping that a very special visitor will visit us and bring us an early Christmas present.

We still have some availability, so if you would like to join our small community run pre-school, where your child is a member of our family and not just a number, then do contact our leader, Mrs Nicola Rae, and we’ll happily show you what we can offer you and your little ones.

Opening hours: Monday & Friday 9am – 12:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am – 3pm leader.micheldeverpreschool@gmail.com www.micheldeverpreschool.org.uk Facebook: @micheldeverpreschool Marcus Mann

The Dever January 2021

Forthcoming Events 2021 February 3rd 7.30 pm 7th 10.30 am March 3rd 7.30 pm 7th 10.30 am April 4th 10.30 am 6-9th 7th 7.30 pm 29&30th 7.30 pm May 1st-2nd 7.30 pm 2nd 10.30 am 5th 7.30 pm 9th 11.30 am 15th 7.30 pm June 2nd 7.30 pm 6th 10.30 am 26th 1.00 pm July 4th 10.30 am 7th 7.30 pm

Micheldever Parish Council - virtual meeting First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc Micheldever Parish Council - virtual meeting First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc MVG & Debbie Rush, Mary Poppins Play in a Week - tbc Micheldever Parish Council - tbc MVG the Peter Pan Pantomime - tbc MVG the Peter Pan Pantomime - tbc First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc Micheldever Parish Council - tbc Celebrating Micheldever Station 2020+1 - The Warren Centre - tbc Safari Supper - tbc.

Micheldever Parish Council - tbc First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc Micheldever Church Fete - Lord Rank Playing Field.

First Sunday in the Month Walk - The Warren Centre - tbc Micheldever Parish Council–tbc

Please Remember to Check That Events Are Taking Place Before Venturing Out Mobile Post Office Wednesday morning 9.30–10.30 Lord Rank Car Park (please note: times may vary slightly)

Hall Booking East Stratton Village Hall Northbrook Hall The Warren Centre

01962 774517, 07731 952705, info@thewarrencentre.co.uk

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Jau n aryiD ary 6t h

7.30pm

MicheldeveraP rishCouncil–virtualmeeting

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

The next Micheldever Parish Council meeting will be Wednesday 6th January Meeting Link–https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89662669263 Dial-In–0203 481 5237 Meeting ID: 896 6266 9263

COVID19 Information

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

Visit www.micheldeverparish.org.uk and select COVID19 Information button on home page.

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The Dever January 2021

If you have any questions or queries before this event, please feel free to contact the School Office on 01962 774213

The Carol Service at St James Woodmancote was a fine occasion with joyful singing in the open air, followed by mince pies, mulled wine and great conversation afterwards. photos by Jane Milsome