The Dever December 2021

Dever The

The Journal of the Dever Valley

Frosty Morning

December 2021 FREE ISSUE

Photo Tina Georgiadis

Public Meeting 6pm, 14th December, Micheldever Primary School 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

Dever The

The Journal of the Dever Valley

Contents Dever Valley Contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 View From The Vicarage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Remembrance Day Service and Poppy Collection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Hampshire History Trust seeks new Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Wonston Community Café . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Clean Air Green Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 News from Woodmancote & Popham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Greening Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Micheldever School News for December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Apology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 The Questor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Basingstoke Music and Arts Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Church Services for Dever Valley Benefice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Dever Valley Church Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Is Travel Really Bad For The Climate Crisis? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Holy Dusters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 From Our MP, Steve Brine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Table Top Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Citizens Advice Winchester District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 City Councillors’ News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Jackie’s County Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 In the Garden – December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Hall Booking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Forthcoming Events 2022 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Sudoku . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 December Diary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Regular Dates and Times – Weekly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

The Dever–December 2021 3

Priest in Charge

Curate Benefice Cordinator

Dever Valley Contacts Rev'd John Rennie

01264 811174

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 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

The Dever Annual Subscription January to December for 12 issues: £8.00; £15.00 by post. Articles for January issue to be received by the editor before 10th December 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

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

Editor: 4

07799 212586 01962 774363 01962 774956

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

01962 795028

01962 774516 01256 397429 07548 955374

Dever Advertiser

Amanda Forsey email: Roger Forsey

01962 774115 mob. 07500 334393 deveradvertiser@hotmail.com

The Dever–December 2021

View From The Vicarage Christmas hope – that does not disappoint A very happy Christmas to you. We look forward with more confidence to a normal festive period this year. Even our family gatherings were threatened just a year ago by Covid so to be planning Carol services, nativity plays and special visits to concerts and the theatre sounds more like normal life.

For many Christmas is a tough time remembering loved ones no longer with us, struggling to make ends meet and to keep themselves warm. Such are the privations of living in the west in one of the most privileged countries in the world.

Can we imagine the thousands of migrants on the road, trying to cross dangerous waterways as they escape terror and look for peace in the west.

What a legacy of charity and welcome we owe to these people who long for just a little of the security and luxury in which we live. Their great hope is to reach safety in the west – it drives them to take often impossible risks and dangers.

Commercially Christmas is ‘make or break’ time for many businesses.

As we move from face to face to digital purchasing it provokes fear and uncertainty into the hearts of many who have committed so much of their time and energy into building up a business.

It was into such a fragile and insecure environment that Jesus was born 2,000 years ago.

The expectation of a Messiah had been present for 400 years–but yet nothing had happened. Then a baby was born in a stable to teenage parents who had travelled far to fulfil the requirements of a census and who then before travelling home had had to flee the country because of a terror campaign by the King against young boys newly born.

Fragility and uncertainty abounded at that first Christmas but yet God had his hand on those events and the baby grew up in a good home and then emerged aged 30 as the long awaited Messiah who would bring hope to troubled people and troubled nations.

That was why Paul writing to the young church in Rome could speak of Jesus as a “hope that does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5).

The Christian faith does not offer something it cannot deliver on and in fact the only criterion for delivery of hope is a trust in the one who offers it.

It’s a wonderful timeless story repeated every year but especially this year after all the Covid inspired uncertainties of last year.

I do hope you will join us for a carol service which will be held in every church in the Dever valley this Christmas time.

Christingles, crib services and Christmas day communions will welcome you – do come.

John Rennie

The Dever–December 2021 5

Remembrance Day Service and Poppy Collection.

There was a well attended Armistice Day commemoration at the Micheldever memorial on Thursday 11 November at which Year 6 children from the school read out the Roll of Honour. Afterwards there was a very enjoyable Veterans Table lunch in the Half Moon and Spread Eagle, an event that might grow year on year.

On Sunday 14 November a well supported service was held in St Mary’s Church during which the Roll of Honour was read out by Hector Balmain. The collection raised £210 for the Royal British Legion.

During the preceding fortnight there was a door to door collection as well as a number of static collection points in local businesses. There was some concern that the lack of much cash in being in circulation would diminish the collection.

However, an amazing sum of around (Gift Aid has yet to be added in) £2300 was raised, reflecting the generosity of the local community. On behalf of the Royal British Legion, a very sincere thank you to the Micheldever community and those who made this collection possible.

CH

Hampshire History Trust seeks new Trustees Hampshire History Trust (CIO), the charity which runs Winchester’s Heritage Open Days, is searching for trustees to join their supportive and welcoming board, in particular those with finance experience and an interest in the role of Treasurer.

The role of Treasurer would involve monitoring the financial standing of the charity, overseeing financial riskmanagement practices, cash-flow, income streams, and management of financial resources. Key skills include: financial qualifications/experience, knowledge of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice, good IT skills, analytical skills, ability to communicate and explain financial information to others. Specific knowledge of charity finance, law and insurance is a bonus.

Trustees serve in a voluntary capacity but with the satisfaction of 6

supporting a distinctive and highly regarded heritage organisation.

Closing date for applications: Monday 20th December 2021 (Interviews: January 2022) In addition to Heritage Open Days, Hampshire History Trust runs free and low cost history and heritage educational projects for the public benefit, such as the podcast channel ‘Hampshire HistBites’, throughout the year.

The Trust would also like to hear from other individuals with different skill sets who are interested in exploring future board level roles with the Trust.

For further information about the Trust and its activities please visit https://hampshirehistorytrust.com/ or email Nicky Gottlieb (Chair) via info@hampshirehistorytrust.com (Hampshire History Trust Charity number: 1191377) The Dever–December 2021

Wonston Community Café Thanks to an amazing attendance, will be open again at the Victoria and some very generous donations, Hall, Sutton Scotney, on Wednesday the October community café 15th December 9.30am – 12 noon, raised £400 for Blood Cancer UK. when we will be raising funds The Wonston Community Café for Wessex Heartbeat.

2022 dates/charities already confirmed are: Wednesday 19th January Countess Brecknock Hospice Wednesday 16th February Clic Sargeant Wednesday 16th March BOAZ Please do come along to support are homemade, we have real coffee the community café, which is staffed and plenty of free parking! entirely by volunteers. All the cakes Janis Kinnell

Clean Air Green Environment CAGE was delighted that Basingstoke Council's Planning Committee turned down the application to build a gigantic warehouse on J7M3 at their meeting on the 27th October. Our local councillors Diane Taylor and Hannah Golding, both worked hard to stop the warehouse development.

However, an appeal has been lodged by the developer, Newlands, for outline planning permission for all 4 warehouses on the site and there may be one in the pipeline for the refused warehouse. The CAGE campaign will carry on, so continued interest and

support will be much appreciated.

CAGE is very pleased that Tree Preservation Orders on the Oakdown Oaks have now been lodged which should mean that the importance of the trees and the priority habitat has been acknowledged. The SaveOakdownOaks petition has now reached almost 104,000 signatures.

Visit: cleanairgreenenvironment.org for the latest information.

The Dever–December 2021 7

News from Woodmancote & Popham November is always a month for reflection and remembrance and at St. James’ we hold our All Souls Service. It is always a beautiful service where we light candles for loved ones no longer with us.

We also listened to an inspiring talk

by Juliet Pattinson, one of the Church Wardens at Micheldever. Juliet told us, how after meeting a man who’d recently lost his wife in Micheldever Churchyard, it led her to train and join a small charity in Winchester that helps the recently bereaved. Juliet had me transfixed and I couldn’t help but think what a wonderful thing to do and how in demand this small charity must be.

In this world nothing is certain except death and taxes (Benjamin Franklin 8

1789) It is such a shame it's a part we don’t really feel comfortable talking about and therefore often find it difficult to deal with. Talking, Juliet told us, is the best way to come to terms with life‑changing events like bereavement and helps us cope with our feelings of grief.

Christmas is upon us and once again it’s carol singing time. St James’ will hold its much-loved Carol Service on Friday 17th December at 7pm. Afterwards, as is tradition, it is all back to Mary Wallis’s house, this year for refreshments around braziers in the garden. It is a wonderful evening and everyone is warmly welcome. We are always so grateful to Mary and Nick for hosting this for us.

Mary is also running a Christmas Wreath Making workshop on Saturday 4th December. Mary is a professional florist, so this is a wonderful opportunity to make something yourself, under expert guidance, to take home for Christmas or even give as a gift to someone special. All proceeds from this event will go to St. James’ Church.

In January we hope to hold our Sunday Plough Service as normal, details of which will be to follow.

Finally, on behalf of St. James’ Church I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas and New Year!

Jane.

The Dever–December 2021

Micheldever Parish Council

Notice of Meeting Wednesday 1st December Northbrook 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

Christmas wreath making

with maitre fleuriste Mary Wallis. Learn how to create a welcoming wreath for your home, with everything you need to make your wreath supplied.

11.00 a.m. - 2.00 p.m.

Saturday 4th December East Stratton Village Hall £20 per person All proceeds to St James Church Places are limited - book with Mary mary@thecalvertcentre.co.uk 07713 266 799

The Dever–December 2021 9

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

Sunday 5th Dec 2021

Parking on the roadside in the lane.

SO21 3AF. Grid Ref: SU50073948

Walk sets off at 10:30am

from the Map Board at Weston Colley.

Field layout taken from Milner’s History of Micheldever.

Downstream from Micheldever Village, how would those villagers have felt at the proposed construction of the Railway?

Weston Mill, not further than sparks could fly from those great thundering machines belching flames into the sky?

We walk for approx.

4 miles. It is liable to be muddy and with some uneven, steep, slippery surfaces.

Dogs WELCOME

A rare occurrence with FirstSunday Walks, we do not start and finish at a pub Car Park.

Map Board

However, for anybody wishing to share a festive glass we will adjourn up to The Half Moon and Spread Eagle, Winchester Road, Micheldever Village.

(approx. 12.30) 10

The Dever–December 2021

The Greening Campaign What is the ‘greening’ campaign?

Put simply, the campaign aims to encourage and support local people and businesses to take easy and straightforward steps to reduce energy consumption and waste – we will all see who is taking part and we will have great fun encouraging each other to make meaningful changes.

Public meeting: 6.00pm, Tuesday 14th December, in the main hall at Micheldever Primary School To kick off the campaign, we are holding a public meeting where the Greening Campaign will be explained in detail. We will show a film by Terena Plowright, Founder of The Greening Campaign, so we all know what positive things are involved.

Those attending the meeting will be invited to help choose a number of simple actions they consider to be most relevant to the community and which will enable people to make a difference to our environment today – and long into the future.

Who is invited?

The meeting is open to everyone who lives or works in the Micheldever Parish and so all businesses, societies, and churches are invited.

We believe this is an important campaign that could benefit us all – individuals, families, organisations, businesses and the area as a whole. We would be delighted to see you on the 14th of December, at 6.00pm in the main hall at Micheldever Primary School.

Light refreshments We aim to make this a concise meeting lasting no more than two hours, including time for drinks and nibbles. There is no need to RSVP, but if you are certain that you will be attending, please let me know. It will help us to ensure that there is adequate seating and refreshments.

Simply phone 07515 339279 or e-mail peter.okeefe@micheldeverparish.org.uk We look forward to welcoming you to the start of ‘Greening Micheldever’.

Yours sincerely Peter O’Keefe Convenor, Greening Micheldever For further information visit www.micheldeverparish.org.uk

The Dever–December 2021 11

Micheldever School News for December As we move into the season of advent, as a school we are looking forward to all the excitement that comes at this time.

Our infant children are busy preparing for our nativity performances, we are hopeful for a visit from Santa, our older children are learning carols for our service at the church and we are eagerly anticipating our PTA Christmas disco.

It really is a busy time of the year! We are, however, amongst the business of it all, focusing in our worship sessions on the meaning behind Christmas and remembering the birth of Jesus.

Over this term, the children once again have been a credit to the school.

Birch class (year 3/4) held an excellent Remembrance service for the whole school and it was good for us to join and participate with other members of the community at the Remembrance service at the memorial. A well done to the Year 6 pupils who took part. We have also enjoyed inviting parents back into the school to take part in parents evenings, class exhibitions and to volunteer again.

Thank you to all the parents who have participated. We have enjoyed football matches, iron age workshops, have

all participated in anti-bullying week, enjoyed puppet workshops and have packed our minds full of learning! Phew!

It has also been fantastic to welcome prospective parents and children to our open mornings. A reminder that the deadline for school applications is 15th January 2022. If you have been unable to visit the school but are interested in your child joining the 2022/23 cohort, please contact us at school and we will be able to support you.

We are really excited to be a part of the Greening Project and to be hosting the event. We look forward to joining with many of you to make a big difference together to Micheldever.

We wish all of you, and all our families in the school, a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Mr T. Johnston, Headteacher

Apology In the November Dever I inadvertently stated that the memorial service on Armistice Day was Wednesday 11 November rather than, correctly, 12

Thursday 11 November. I apologise for any confusion it may have caused.

Charles Holden The Dever–December 2021

Micheldever Village Lunch

15th December 12.30pm

at Northbrook Hall

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 Community Bookcase The Library is now open.

Opening times will be 2 to 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.

The Dever–December 2021 13

The Questor Reflections on St Paul..…

….. The Man When you think of a Jewish Pharisee, what picture comes to mind? For many people it’s a grumpy authoritarian person that you wouldn’t choose for a companion for a fun evening. Well Paul was a Pharisee by upbringing and training – so was he like that?

He was certainly very serious and uncompromising in matters of faith. His training as a Pharisee had given him great knowledge of the Old Testament – the holy book of the Jews. He was steeped in it and it was his foundation; but, while his Jewish faith remained his bedrock, his interpretation of those scriptures was influenced by his encounters with Jesus.

He was certainly tough and very resilient; how else could he have undertaken all those difficult and dangerous journeys. As we have noted before, in his second letter to the church at Corinth, he says: Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned (and left for dead), three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea…..

He was also not afraid to take tough decisions either, which at times brought him into conflict with other leading figures in the fledgling church such as Peter and Barnabas. And he was an uncompromising disciplinarian when it came to dealing with the churches he had founded. Time and again in his letters to them he takes them to task on account of their lapses in faith, problems with relationships and issues of morality.

14

So far then, we have a picture of a tough, uncompromising disciplinarian.

But that’s not the whole picture. There’s another side of Paul that we can discern from what Luke wrote in the Acts of the Apostles and from the letters that Paul wrote to the churches.

Paul always supported himself, and sometimes his fellow travellers, by working as a tent maker. So we can imagine him working away in the market place with other tentmakers and tradesmen, like Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth, enjoying and participating in the general banter. Indeed he used that situation to talk to people about the Message of Jesus and it’s inconceivable that the other tradesmen would warm to a grumpy, fanatical sort of guy.

The people in the churches clearly loved and revered him deeply. His parting encounter with the church elders from Ephesus on the dockside at Miletus is very moving. Following his parting words: …he knelt down with all of them and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again….

And as he continued his journey to Jerusalem from there, he called at other churches and in every case they beseeched him not to go there because of the imminent danger. Such accounts speak volumes about the depth of love in those relationships. Indeed, his capacity to love is laid out for all to see in his letters. In particular, he expresses his feelings about love in his The Dever–December 2021

first letter to the church at Corinth: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith which can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing…..Love is patient, kind, not envious, doesn’t boast, isn’t proud or rude…always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres. Love never fails……

It’s inconceivable that anyone could write so beautifully about love without experiencing deep feelings of love in his own heart. As far as the churches were concerned, this was a fatherly love which at times caused him much heartache when they failed to keep the faith. Worst

of all was the sorrow it caused him when his motives were misconstrued.

The depth of his anguish in that regard is very much in evidence in the second letter to the church at Corinth.

Paul was also a man of compassion, shown in the letter he writes to Philemon in which he asks him to be gracious towards Onesimus who was once his slave. And he was a great encourager, particularly of young leaders like Titus and Timothy.

In all he does, Paul argues from a position of humility. In him are brought together a brilliant and uncompromising intellect with a heart that is warmly and wonderfully kind.

Next month: Religious views

Basingstoke Music and Arts Festival.

It’s that time of year again where we are looking for creative individuals from across the area to get involved in the Basingstoke Music and Arts Festival.

This prestigious annual event is open to entrants of all ages and experience, with categories covering Creative Writing, Singing, Woodwind & Recorders, Brass, Band, Choir, Ensemble and Orchestra, Pianoforte, Speech & Drama and Strings.

Anybody with a passion for writing (be it poetry, short stories, or articles), performance or music is highly encouraged to enter. Adjudicated by inspiring experts in each field, we are greatly looking forward to hearing from you and seeing the creativity that our area has to offer.

More information on classes

and how to enter through Run My Festival can be found on our website – basingstokemusicandarts.org.uk CLOSING DATES FOR ENTRIES Friday 21st January 2022 with the Awards being presented at Queen Mary’s College, Basingstoke as follows: Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March–Pianoforte, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th March–Speech and Drama Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March–Bands, Choirs, Ensembles, & Orchestras, Woodwind & Recorder, Brass Strings, Creative Writing Awards Ceremony and Singing Sunday 27th March 2:00 pm Gala Performance and Overall 2022 Awards Ceremony

The Dever–December 2021 15

Church Services for Dever Valley Benefice December 12th 9.30 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

December 14th 11.00 am

10.00 am

3.00 pm

6.00 pm

Second Sunday of Advent

Morning Prayer Roger Keys Family Service with Baptism Rev'd John Rennie Family Service with Communion Rev'd Neil Britton

St Margaret's - South Wonston St James - Hunton Holy Trinity - Wonston

Third Sunday of Advent

Christingle Campbell Dye Family Service with Baptism Rev'd Rob Rees Carol Service Rev'd John Rennie Evening Prayer Neil McSparron / Rev’d John Rennie

Holy Trinity - Wonston

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

December 17th

6.00 pm Carol Service

Rev'd John Rennie

St James - Woodmancote

December 18th

4.30 pm Carol Service

Rev'd John Rennie

December 19th 9.30 am

11.00 am

5.00 pm

6.00 pm

6.30 pm

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Holy Communion Rev'd John Rennie Morning Prayer Peter Russell Carol Service Rev'd Rob Rees Carol Service Ruth and Roland Guy Carol Service Rev'd Rob Rees

December 23rd 4.00 pm Nativity Service

Campbell Dye 16

Holy Trinity - Wonston

St Margaret's - South Wonston Holy Trinity - Wonston All Saints - East Stratton

St Mary & St Michael - Stoke Charity St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever

St James - Hunton

The Dever–December 2021

December 24th 3.30 pm

4.00 pm

December 25th 9.30 am

9.30 am

10.00 am

10.00 am

10.00 am

11.00 am

St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever St Margaret's - South Wonston

St Margaret's - South Wonston St James - Woodmancote St Mary the Virgin - Micheldever All Saints - East Stratton St Mary & St Michael - Stoke Charity Holy Trinity - Wonston

First Sunday of Christmas Day

No Services

January 2nd 9.30 am

11.00 am

Christmas Day

Family Service with Communion Rev'd Michael Norton Family Service with Communion Rev'd John Rennie Family Service with Communion Rev'd Neil Britton Family Service Rev'd Rob Rees Family Service Ruth and Roland Guy Family Service with Communion Rev'd John Rennie

December 26th

Christmas Eve

Crib Service Rev'd Rob Rees Christingle Rev'd John Rennie

Second Sunday after Christmas

Morning Prayer tbc Holy Communion Rev'd Neil Britton

St Margaret's - South Wonston Holy Trinity - Wonston

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

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 The Dever–December 2021 17

Is Travel Really Bad For The Climate Crisis?

Studies by Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis (WinACC) of greenhouse gas emissions (harmful gases that cause climate change) repeatedly show that in Winchester District, road travel makes up the biggest proportion of our carbon footprint. But it’s not all doom and gloom.

These emissions can be significantly reduced by choosing wisely how to travel.

Choose carefully how you get about The CO2 emissions (those harmful gases) you create when you travel vary considerably depending on the mode of transport you use. The latest government figures show how average emissions vary per kilometre travelled, for example: If more than one person travels in a car, divide the emissions by the number Mode

Grammes of CO2e per Km

Long Haul Aircraft

214

Domestic Aircraft

273

Small car (petrol)

191

Medium Car (diesel)

205

Dual purpose 4x4

254

Average battery-electric car

69

Medium sized motorbike (petrol)

128

Local Bus

127

Coach

33

Train

43

Eurostar

5

Bike

0

Walking

0

18

of people to calculate emissions per person per km. The ‘local bus’ figure is based on a bus carrying 13 passengers, so a bus that is occupied by more passengers will give lower emissions per passenger.

Train emissions are an average for the whole fleet in 2019 (before Covid-19).

What changes could you consider making?

We all live very different lives and a change to travel habits that would work for one person may not be feasible for another. There may not be a bus service that goes to the right place at the right time, or you may not live within walking distance of a shop. Changing travel Unit can essentially be broken down into two categories: Per person 1. reducing the distance Per person you have to travel by changing where you Per vehicle shop/work/take holidays/ Per vehicle go to school or live. Or reduce the number of Per vehicle times you commute.

Per vehicle 2. changing how you travel by lift sharing / reducing Per vehicle the size of your car / Per person using public transport*/ flying only when it is Per person unavoidable. Cycling on Per person journeys under 5 miles Per person and walking on journeys under 2 miles would be another great change. *If public transport is The Dever–December 2021

not convenient then press for better public transport. You can look up train times at Your UK Train Journey Planner–National Rail Enquiries and bus times at Plan Your Journey | Traveline for any journey in Great Britain Days out with a low carbon footprint The past 18 months has taught us the importance of our local environment.

Whether that is connecting more with your neighbours, shopping locally or exploring the countryside within walking distance of your home.

Detailed local ordnance survey maps are available that will tell you where all your local public footpaths are by loading bing.com/maps on a computer and choosing the Ordnance Survey

view in the top right-hand corner of the map. The map will usually open up showing your local area.

Try making alternative travel arrangements to get to your holiday abroad You should think very carefully before you take a flight. One return flight from London to the Middle East uses 3 tonnes of CO2e (those harmful gases again). This is more than the average UK household uses for all travel in a year although households in Winchester District have a far higher travel footprint of an average of 4.4 tonnes of CO2e per year.

Low carbon flights are not currently

viable, and the urgency of the climate crisis means we need to work with what we have now. If you would like to make a flight-free pledge this year Flight Free UK have great resources including a podcast focusing on how people have adapted to a flight-free lifestyle and how you can too.

You could reduce your carbon footprint and still travel abroad by using Eurostar.

One excellent website The Man in Seat 61 | The train travel guide has tips on the best ways of getting to countries across Europe and Asia. There is a growing network of sleeper trains, and you can use Eurail passes to reduce the cost.

Holiday in the UK Holidaying closer to home really will cut down on your carbon footprint and could save you money. There are many adventures to be enjoyed • Visit Britain has lots of tips on the best places to go in Britain.

• If you’ve developed a love of walking during the Covid-19 lockdown, then why not incorporate this into your holiday; even better if you use low-carbon public transport to access your walking holiday.

Help plan the future for travel in Hampshire We don’t just use transport–we can help shape it. One way to help is to take part in the imminent debate about how to make local low-carbon transport easier.

Hampshire County Council (HCC) is our transport authority. To help people to leave the car at home, HCC is looking at how to improve bus services. They are also looking at how to improve things for people who would like to walk or cycle more. (continued over page)

The Dever–December 2021 19

(continued from page 19) They will soon consult the public for views on what you want.

Look out for a consultation in December and January about the "Winchester Movement Strategy''.

Later in the New Year, they'll consult on the Local Transport Plan 4. Even

though this is called "local" it will plan schemes across the whole of Hampshire for the next decade.

This is your chance to tell HCC what you need from them to help you to travel to work, school, shops and leisure in more climate-friendly ways.

Sidesmen & Readers ~ St Mary the Virgin December 12th 10.00 am Sides-duty Georgie Balmain & Louise Keys Readers tbc

December 19th 6.30 pm

Sides-duty David Findley & Ali Vaisierre Readers tbc

December 24th 3.30 pm

Sides-duty Young family & Jan Mason Readers tbc

December 25th 10.00 am Sides-duty

Readers

Juliet Pattinson & Richard Vellacott Sue Sandars Louise Keys

Isaiah 52.7-10 Hebrews 1.1-4

Holy Dusters St Mary the Virgin Week commencing Monday

6th

13th.

20th.

Gail Bates and Sue Sandars Jan Mason and Christine Finch Jill Lee and Wendy Pursey

St James

20

Flowers and Cleaning

Christmas clean and all decorating the Church The Dever–December 2021

Wonston Community Café Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney

Third Wednesday of the month 9.30am - 12 noon 15th December - Wessex Heartbeat 19th January - Countess Brecknock Hospice 16th February - Clic Sargeant 16th March - BOAZ

The Dever–December 2021 21

From Our MP, Steve Brine First up this time, it was such a pleasure to be back in our hospital recently to catch-up with everyone in-person and to welcome the extremely busy cancer services team back to Nick Jonas Ward following a temporary move to Sarum Road and Basingstoke because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I understand the trust had to move cancer services out of the Royal Hampshire, and it was key to keeping this lifesaving work ongoing during the pandemic, however there was anxiety among constituents whether they would ever return. I know everyone is extremely pleased that this has happened exactly as envisaged and as promised. It was great to go in and welcome them home.

Bigger than most things is, of course, COP26 which took place

22

HHFT - Cancer Services Return

early in November. As I write it’s not yet finished but it was a genuine privilege to be in Glasgow in week one of the United Nations event.

I attended a number of events and spoke at several; including how parliaments around the world will hold Governments to account for their undertakings on the climate and the environment. The UK has made ambitious, legally binding pledges so it’s important experienced MPs like me hold their feet to the fire. We intend to!

It was also a real pleasure to meet with several indigenous peoples and representatives from Brazil in the wake of the landmark agreement which saw 100 world leaders sign a new agreement to stop and reverse deforestation in places such as the Amazon. As a young school-boy, as I have written before, this was THE issue which drove me into politics in the first place so I am personally very invested in it and have already met with our Prime Minister to The Dever–December 2021

better understand the agreement reached at COP. We are working with, among others, the Coalition for Rainforest Nations who I also met in Glasgow.

A little outside this parish but can I recommend residents in St Paul take a look at plans I am backing for a new nature reserve north of the city?

Littleton and Harestock Parish Council is proposing a 25-hectare reserve in the northern section of the barracks at Sir John Moore Barracks on Andover Road once the Army Training Regiment departs. It is in discussion with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation

(DIO) to protect and enhance the biodiversity of the northern area of the site and I recently took the case to the Minister at the MoD in Whitehall.

Finally, thank you to the countless number of constituents who have contacted me since the murder of my colleague, Sir David Amess, just to wish me well. It means more than you know. You can read my tribute to David and comment on the relationship we (should) have with our MPs at stevebrine.com/DavidAmess Steve Brine MP for Winchester & Dever Valley

Table Top Sale Thank you to Pat Matthews and others for organising the Table Top sale on 27th November. In spite of a rather

disappointing turnout I managed to make £115 for The Daisy Garland charity.

CK

We hope you enjoy reading this complimentary copy of

The Dever.

If you would like to subscribe to have it delivered every month please contact your local distributor on page six.

Only £8 a year, it would make an excellent Christmas Present!

Current subscribers - please remember January is the time to renew.

The Dever–December 2021 23

Citizens Advice Winchester District It feels like everything is getting more and more expensive and with Christmas coming up, I'm really worried about how I'll manage. My partner and I would love to treat our kids but we’re keen to avoid huge debts. Do you have any advice?

Christmas can be costly for many of us and we know lots of people are struggling already this year. There can be a lot of pressure to spend more than you can afford, so here are a few key things to remember as we head into 2022.

Be realistic and budget accordingly.

Work out how much you can afford to spend – and stick to it. There’s nothing wrong with managing expectations, and suggesting things such as spending limits, secret Santas or maybe even that you don’t need to swap gifts.

Don’t forget the everyday bills. Remember that the rent or mortgage, utility bills, food bills and other existing debts still have to be paid – the consequences can be severe if they’re not. Even though it’s Christmas, it’s not worth starting the New Year being behind on your bills.

Tempted by Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)? While it can be tempting to split payments, make sure you have a plan for how to pay the money back– particularly if your circumstances or income were to change. If you're using BNPL repeatedly or using multiple BNPL options, make sure you know how much you owe in total. Make sure you understand what you’re signing up for, how you’ll make the repayments and what will happen if you can’t pay on time.

24

Buy safe Lesley Rose, Advice to be safe.

Services Manager Whatever for Citizens Advice the deal, Winchester District gives whatever advice on how to avoid the debt this Christmas. temptation, don’t buy from unauthorised traders and don’t borrow from unauthorised lenders. These could put you at risk of unscrupulous collection methods – including threats and harm, unsafe products and unexpectedly high interest rates. You may also not be protected by Financial Conduct Authority rules.

Shop around. Try as many different places as possible to find the best price.

Buy what you want and not what other people say you need. Be wary of extended warranties; the cost of a repair could be less than the cost of the warranty.

Get help if you’re struggling. If you’re worried about paying the bills, get free, independent advice as soon as possible.

There’s lots of information on the Citizens Advice website and you can call us at Citizens Advice Winchester District on 0808 278 7861 where an adviser will be able to help you understand your options and come up with a plan

The Dever–December 2021

City Councillors’ News Support is growing for the creation of a Nature Reserve on the fields to the North of Sir John Moore Barracks. This would provide a green buffer area between any development and the Littleton Stud as well as a valuable amenity for our Ward. We are delighted that our MP, Steve Brine, is promoting this scheme with several of the decision makers.

City Council plans to create a wetland area on the land to the North of Church Street in Micheldever have been out for consultation. Diverting flowing water from the River Dever through the wetlands will remove nitrates and improve water quality. It should also provide new habitats for a variety of flora and fauna and reduce the risk of flooding.

A planning application is expected soon.

The Council have announced that they are intending to sell a long lease on the old leisure centre site at River Park to the University of Southampton.

It is expected that plans will soon be submitted for new buildings that will be used to expand the facilities of the Winchester School of Art. This may include exhibition and performance

spaces that will be available to the public.

The City Council’s new Director of Place, Dawn Adey, has been given a guided tour of our Ward by the three of us. We showed her all the settlements, all the key natural treasures and the main areas of concern, so she can understand what is important to residents.

There remains considerable uncertainty over future Government funding for local authorities. The City Council is planning to raise most charges, including Council Tax in April, although these plans may change if more funding becomes available from Westminster.

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 1st December at Northbrook Hall, Micheldever.

Wonston PC – Wednesday 8th December at Victoria Hall, Sutton Scotney.

South Wonston PC – Monday 13th December at South Wonston Pavilion.

All meetings start at 7.30pm.

Stephen

Caroline

Patrick

Cllr Stephen Godfrey

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

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

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

The Dever–December 2021 25

Jackie’s County Corner Merry Christmas! Thank you for your comments about recycling following November’s County Corner. I’ll return to Recycling in the New Year.

2021 hasn’t been easy, and many of us haven’t been ‘boosted’ yet to protect us from Covid 19 because of our beliefs, or our age or the venue for the vaccination.

I urge you to take up the offer of the booster as soon as you can. If you need help to reach the vaccination centre, and don’t know how you are going to get there, please let me know. I can signpost you to organisations who can help.

Hopefully though, you have enjoyed some good times in 2021. Quizzes were one way we have kept touch with friends, both in our local Pub and on zoom. A recent Quiz round was COP-In or COP-Out? What COP26 promises would you have made?

You can see more questions at www.carbonbrief.org/thecarbon-brief-quiz-2020 It set me thinking about my Personal Carbon Plan towards ‘net zero by 2030’.

Have you got a Personal Carbon Plan?

Does it involve using less electricity, generating more energy, driving less, and driving more slowly, walking more, no more plane journeys, substituting the car for a bus ride, insulating your home, eating less?

I’d be interested to hear how you are making changes to your lifestyle to tackle Climate Change: you can see more ideas on www.newleafalresford. org or www.winacc.org.uk I’ll be sharing thoughts for PCP’s in a future County Corner.

26

I recently joined in a call on ‘Community Preparedness’, primarily in case of flooding and the results of other terrible weather, with HCC and the Environment Agency.

To register for Floodline warnings (though not Storm water notifications) go to www.gov.uk/check-flooding or call 0345 988 1188.

A really good idea is to create a ‘grab bag’: a simple plastic wallet containing copies of all the necessary paperwork to enable you to deal with life if your home is consumed by flooding or any other emergency. By keeping this near your front door, you will be better prepared to deal with any scenario which needs you to leave your home in a hurry. It will be reassuring to know that you have the paperwork at hand in a crisis!

If you need me urgently over the Christmas period, please call 01962 791054 (with ansaphone).

I look forward to talking with you again in the New Year.

Jackie Porter tel: 01962791054, text: 07973 696085, email Jackie.porter@hants.gov.uk The Dever–December 2021

PUT YOURSELF HERE

We have opportunities for MEN prepared to take on a challenge and learn bike mechanics.

We train YOU starting with the basics so you don’t need lots of mechanical know-how, super-powers or a cape.

Be trained by our experts - Velotech Pros, over six weeks in our Bike Shed in the Brooks Shopping Centre. Learn to fine tune bikes and present these to deserving local kids. We provide the kit, the bikes and parts, we need you to offer us just 2 HOURS A WEEK for six weeks.

Become part of the Winchester bike community, meet new people and gain bike mechanic skills.

Stay the course and you could gain a place on our Velotech Pro course and become a qualified Velotech Pro bike mechanic.

RESCUE A BIKE, PUT A SMILE ON A KIDS FACE, BE A BIKE HERO Join our CoGS Sessions, part of our Bikes For Kids programme, find out more, visit, BESPOKEBIKING.COM or drop into the BIKEHUB 4a Middle Brook St, Winchester

BE PART OF SOMETHING COORDINATED BY:

SUPPORTED BY:

In the Garden – December The warm days at the beginning of November, following a couple of hard frosts, have brought the leaves whirling down into great heaps and the blackbirds have been busy digging under them for a tasty worm or two.

There is not much to do in the garden, but here are some handy tips you might like.

Sprinkle ordinary kitchen salt onto moss on pathways and patios, much cheaper than chemicals.

Have you noticed the small red wriggly worms in your compost bin?

They disappear in very cold weather and go to ground, but will reappear when the weather warms up.

Woolly aphids on apple, cotoneaster and pyracantha. These aphids cover themselves en masse in a protective woolly coating to keep predators at bay, including insect sprays. The waxy protection can be stroked away with methylated spirits or taken off with a gloved hand, thus making them vulnerable to insecticides. Alternatively scrub with a brush and soapy water.

If the bush/tree is large, prune back hard, thus pruning out the worst of the breeding colonies but the problem will probably occur again next year.

Check that evergreen shrubs in wet soil have not been half pulled out of the ground by strong winds. Pull them upright and tie to a stake or two, treading the roots gently back into the ground.

Snow – if we have a white Christmas with heavy snow, it should be brushed off the top of bushes to prevent damage.

Finish cutting back perennials.

Once the borders are cleared it is a good time to weed out creeping buttercup and hairy bittercress.

Check the condition of your nestboxes, maybe they need replacing and would make a good Christmas present.

CK

Hall Booking East Stratton Village Hall Northbrook Hall The Warren Centre 28

01962 774517, 07731 952705, visit www.thewarrencentre.co.uk/hire The Dever–December 2021

Forthcoming Events 2022 January 5th 7.30pm February 2nd 7.30pm March 2nd 7.30pm April 6th 7.30pm 11th 27th 7.30pm May 4th 8th June 1st July 3rd 6th

Micheldever Parish Council - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council - The Warren Centre Play in a Week, Mary Poppins - Northbrook Hall Micheldever Parish Council, Parish Assembly - East Stratton Village Hall

7.30pm Micheldever Parish Council, AGM - East Stratton Village Hall 11.30 am Micheldever Station Celebration 180+2 - The Warren Centre 7.30pm Micheldever Parish Council - Northbrook Hall 8.0 am Ellis Journey Breakfast at The Dove Inn 7.30pm Micheldever Parish Council - The Warren Centre

7 5

4

3

7 9

4 2

5

4

7 1

2

Sudoku 1 3 6 8 2

3 4

(Medium) 8

5

2

Daily Sudoku: Fri 15-Oct-2021

7

7

medium

November Solution

5 8 2 7 6 4 1

1 4 9 3 7 5 2

7 1 6 5 8 3 9

9 5 3 6 2 7 4

6 9 4 2 5 1 8

Daily Sudoku: Fri 15-Oct-2021

4 7 1 8 3 9 6

2 3 7 9 4 8 5

8 6 5 1 9 2 3

3 2 8 4 1 6 7

medium

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

9 8 4 1 3 2 6 7 5 3 6 2 8 7 5 1 4 9

3

6 9

1 7 4 8 2 5 1 6

8 5 7 4 2 5 3 9 8 5 3 4 Daily Sudoku: Tue 16-Nov-2021

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

4

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

6 4

1

Micheldever Parish Council - East Stratton Village Hall

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2021. All rights reserved.

9

Micheldever Parish Council - The Warren Centre

9 medium

The Dever–December 2021 29

December Diary

1st 7.30pm 3rd 8.00pm 4th 11.00am 5th 10.30am

11th 1.30pm 12th 7.30pm 14th 6.00pm 15th 9.30am 15th 12.30pm

Micheldever Parish Council - Northbrook Hall Wine Circle Christmas Party - Northbrook Hall Christmas Door Ring Making Workshop - East Stratton Village Hall First Sunday Walk, The second of two walks based on the Map Boards.

Christmas Fayre - The Warren Centre Jesus My Boy - St Mary the Virgin Church Greening Micheldever Launch Event - Micheldever Primary School Wonston Community Café - Victoria Hall,Sutton Scotney Micheldever Village Christmas Lunch - Northbrook Hall

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)

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 FRIDAYS 2.00 - 4.00 pm Community Library, Northbrook Hall 30

The Dever–December 2021

JJJJJ MY BOY A comedy about fathers everywhere

by John Dowie

Saturday 11 December - 7:30 pm

St Andrew’s Church, Medstead - GU34 5LC

Sunday 12 December - 7:30 pm

St Mary’s Church, Micheldever, SO21 3DA

Monday 20 December - 7:30 pm The Half Moon, Petersfield, GU31 4BE

Tickets £8 ticketsource.co.uk/hm-collective

Christmas Fayre

at The Warren Centre, Micheldever Station

Saturday 11th December 1.30 - 3.30 p.m.

Christmas market Bottle tombola and raffle Mince pies and mulled wine under the Christmas tree Face-painting for children Christmas lights to be switched on

by Councillor Jackie Porter

Free Entry for more information or to take a stand contact info@thewarrencentre