Winchester Today - March 2017

MARCH 2017 ISSUE 026

www.winchestertoday.co.uk

75K GRANT CELEBRATES OLDER PEOPLE Cash boost will help engagement with Winchester’s Art and Culture.

By KEVIN GOVER News Editor

STRIKE THE POSE!

City Prepares For Fashion Week 2017 The team at Winchester BID say Winchester Fashion Week 2017 will be the “biggest and most exciting yet”. The event kicks off on Monday 24 April, celebrating fashion in the city of Winchester and incorporating a selection of fashion, style and beauty related events throughout the week. It all rounds off with the Grand Finale Catwalk Show and Fashion Fair at the Guildhall on Saturday 29 April. More details on www.winchesterfashionweek.co.uk Photo: Andy Brooks Photography

HAT Fair has been given more than £75,000 to deliver a two-year programme of arts activity for, with and about older people. It follows the success of last year’s production ‘Four Score Years And Ten’ which featured the lives of six of Winchester’s 90 year olds.

The grant has been awarded by Arts Council England and the Baring Foundation’s Celebrating Age fund as one of only 16 grants throughout the country intended to help older people engage with high quality arts and culture.

It will make it possible for the Winchester-based arts company to tour Four Score Years And Ten around Hampshire in September. Hat Fair will be working with Winchester City Council, Flintlock Theatre, Age UK, St John’s Charity Winchester and Winchester Live At Home Scheme.

Next year the grant will enable Hat Fair to work with older people in Hampshire to create ‘The Recycled Silent Movie’. Partnering with the Core at Corby Cube, they will take film clips from the archives of footage held at Hampshire Records Office and transform them into a new silent movie with a specially composed live piano soundtrack performed by Jonathan Best.

Hat Fair Artistic Director Michelle Walker says she’s really excited about the project: “This Celebrating Age grant will enable us to extend the work we have been doing recently with older participants and performers in the local area.

“We’ve been really touched by people’s willingness to open up their lives to us and to co-create theatre with us.

The grant will enable us to continue to change people’s perceptions of older people and to offer older participants and interviewees an enriching creative experience.”

Winchester City Council funded the original Four Score Years And Ten project: “We are delighted that Hat Fair

and our consortium partners have been given the opportunity to build on the successful work we have already begun together to maximize the potential of the arts to support healthy ageing in Winchester and District.

“The Celebrating Age grant provides the perfect opportunity for Hat Fair and our partners to enrich the lives and experiences of older people.”

Anna Glynn is Co-Director of Flintlock Theatre, the company which wrote and performed Four Score Years And Ten: “The participants have been absolutely central to a project that explores what it is to be an older person in the UK today and that pushes audiences to listen to them with fresh ears.

“The project has been humbling, inspiring and just enormous fun. We’re so looking forward to bringing the show to a wider audience.”

93-year-old Phyllis was one of the original participants whose story was told in Four Score Years And Ten, and had this reaction: “ I can’t tell you how thrilled I am. Getting people together through the local communities is really important. I sat there and heard my past afresh. It was a wonderful experience.”

The Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Jane Rutter, was one of those who was enthralled by the production: “I was so pleased to attend the Four Score Years and Ten performance. It was an immersive experience like no other, and really opened the audience’s eyes to the very different lives those that are now around 90 lived all those years ago.

“Looking around the room at my fellow participants, it was both entertainment and an education. It would be really good to see the show replicated, so that more people can enjoy the experience. I hope to see more theatre of this nature which chimes with the appetite from audiences to experience, rather than just to watch, a little bit of living history.”

Young run winnners page 5 Air Ambulance Gets Revamp page 5

More Big Names For Festival page 7

Atlantic Is Conquered page 8

news

2 winchestertoday.co.uk

March 2017

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Ahem. What’s that they say on the telly? Ah yes: “We’ll be back after the break…”

Well, sorry that it’s been longer than we intended.

We’re glad to be here in a digital form. Sure, you won’t see us in Tesco any day soon. But as we’re now staffed entirely by volunteers we think we can make the digital version work.

We’re even determined to tell you exactly how we did Cornwall in a weekend. That was our last tease on our last page - ‘The Final Word’ - of the last edition.

So, on we go. Please tell your friends. Now, where were we…

Kevin Gover

100 Not Out!

ABOUT US winchestertoday est 2012

n EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Kevin Gover kevin@winchestertoday.co.uk

KINGS Worthy resident John Tate has become the first to receive a newly-designed 100th Birthday card from Winchester’s Mayor Jane Rutter: “I was delighted to be able to present John with his 100th birthday card. It was particularly appropriate as John lives in the ward which I represent on the City Council, in Kings Worthy.

“In a world where more and more people are reaching this very significant milestone I thought it would be good to find a special way of celebrating with them, rather than just presenting a shop-bought card, which is what we have done in the past.”

The Mayor is now keen to hear of anyone who is nearing their 100th birthday and who lives in the Winchester district.

If you think they would like to receive a birthday message from the Mayor of Winchester then do get in touch.

To nominate someone to receive the new 100th birthday card from the Mayor of Winchester please contact the Mayor’s secretary with the person’s name, address and date of birth.

Depending on the Mayor’s commitments they will do their upmost to make a personal visit; please allow at least two weeks before their birthday.

You can send your nominations to: mayorssecretary@ winchester.gov.uk Photograph: The Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Jane Rutter presenting John Tate with his 100th birthday card.

n CONTRIBUTORS • David Cradduck • Rachel Gover • John Ellery • Adrian Scott • Beccy Conway • Gavin Harris • Dilyara Gover • Katie Chappell • Charlie Osman • Keri Jones n LAYOUT DESIGN • Jon Heal Winchester Today Media Partner to Winchester Short Film Festival

winchestertoday

Charity Partner - supporting Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance until December 2020.

winchestertoday Suite 123 80 High Street Winchester SO23 9AT

news@winchestertoday.co.uk This digital edition of Winchester Today has been produced entirely by the commitment of our friends through crowdfunder.co.uk - a huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone involved

In Safe Hands THE Very Rev’d Catherine Ogle has been welcomed to Winchester Cathedral and installed as the 38th Dean of Winchester - becoming the Cathedral’s first female dean. She was previously the Dean of Birmingham Cathedral. Whilst there, she oversaw the Cathedral embrace the use of social media, its 300th Anniversary and major restoration work.

Canon Roly Riem had previously written how much they had to give thanks for, not least her experience of six years as a dean in a multi-faith setting: “This will be a great blessing to us as we reflect with her on how our Christian presence responds to the contemporary climate. Many who heard her speak briefly at the announcement of her appointment were impressed by her bearing and reassured by her speaking that the Cathedral will be in safe hands.”

Dean Catherine says she’s “delighted”. www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk

news

March 2017

Property Guru Opens Show Village

IT’S been the subject of many conversations and argument over the years, but now that the Kings Barton development is here to stay, more than 200 people came along to a special event recently to see what’s on offer.

On hand was TV presenter and property expert Amanda Lamb to officially open the show village at CALA Homes’ Kings Barton development.

Three new showhomes were on show – The Catherine, The Chesil and The Avington.

The developers say they hope the ‘21st Century suburb’ will have its own character while drawing on the best qualities of the city.

Kings Barton will eventually be host to a range of facilities including shops,

a pub, café, community building and healthcare provision. There will also be a new primary school and private nursery, 30 hectares of formal and informal public open space and a Park and Ride scheme.

winchestertoday.co.uk 3

Race night raises £500 for Cheriton Village Hall appeal DAVID Cradduck writes that the best way to raise money it seems, is to have a laugh and get everyone involved.

Cheriton Players went to the races on a Friday evening early in February - or rather the races came to the Players. A fun-packed evening for 50 people who all enjoyed a chilli/jacket potato supper energetic ‘races’ with wooden horses,

Amanda Lamb opens the new show village

a proper tote, a dope testing area, a licensed bar and all.

The result? Over £500 to kickstart a series of fundraisers for the purchase of the Village Hall... and we had a winner!

Geoff Ellis enjoyed his night with a bottle of Hattingley Valley Classic Cuvée.

FUNDRAISING FOR YOUR VILLAGE HALL

PRESENT

THe even greater cheriton

E I T R A V SHOW Y “Ever-so slightly bonkers” – Winchester Today

B AC K A R

BY PO P UALN D DEM

22 ND-25 TH MARCH 2017 PLOUGHMAN’S SUPPER INCLUDED – LICENSED BAR

Cheriton Village Hall

Doors Open

6.45pm

SO24 0PZ

7.30pm

NO RESERVED SEATING – ARRIVE EARLY!

“This one’s ours!”

Ian and Josephine McIntosh point out where their new home will be.

ALL TICK E T

Show Time

£ 14

PLOU HM SUPPG ER INAN’S CL.

Tickets available online from www.ticketsource.co.uk/cheritonplayers or telephone 0333 666 3366 (standard rates apply).

Telephone bookings cost £1.50 extra per booking for mailing etc. Telephone box office hours 9am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Sat and all telephone enquiries are handled through TicketSource – this is not an exclusive number for Cheriton Players.

Proceeds shared with Cheriton Village Hall

www.thecheritonplayers.org.uk

Winchester Fashion Week 24-29 April 2017

S

news

4 winchestertoday.co.uk

March 2017

Family Life Chaos Captured Cartoon Style Kevin Gover Meets Twyford Artist Zoe Fisher IF you saw Zoe Fisher’s work at her exhibition at the Discovery Centre late last year, you’re probably one of the many people who left her positive messages - which she really enjoyed: “I’ve had some lovely comments - one person said it was the best she’d seen, which was nice.”

I related to Zoe’s pen and ink drawings mainly because I’m a parent: “Yes, I like to reflect family life… I always feel like I’m trying to capture the chaos of being a parent and trying to do the best for your kids all the time... I always feel that I’m running late, or not quite getting things right for the kids.”

I tell Zoe that I especially relate to

e...

the

The family gives you positive feedback on your captions, surely?

No, not really!

PICO P L AY E R S

BOOK

TICKETS

NOW

Saturday 25th M *A * R * C * H

St. Paul's Church, Winchester, SO22 5AB

3. 30 PM 7. 45 PM

Conduct & play with us!

3-11 year old orchestral workshop.

All abilities, instruments & children welcome.

Please reserve your free place in advance due to limited capacity: picoplayerswinchester@gmail.com

Concert

The Pico Players will be performing a selection from Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite No 1 & Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6.

Please book your tickets here: www.jumblebee.co.uk/picowinchester

I N SU PP ORT OF ST PAU Lʹ S C H U RC H & PR E S C HOOL

Tickets:

PROU DLY SP ONSOR E D BY

Adult ticket pce: £10 Children and Concesons: free.

Donations gratefully accepted.

Enquiries & Reservations: picoplayerswinchester@gmail.com or Laura : 07796 614022

the drawing of parents standing on the touch line in pouring rain: “Yes! Pouring rain, wondering why you ever thought… there’s something I’m working on at the moment, where you’re telling the child they’re being a spoilt brat when they don’t want to do it… but actually it’s all YOU ever wanted them to do anyway.

They didn’t choose to go and do these activities. You’re demanding that they do it and then you get frustrated when they don’t really feel like it.”

There’s also a great drawing of the family dog sitting at the front door looking at the pouring rain, and who doesn’t want to go out for a walk. It’s fantastic, gentle humour. If you look at Zoe’s colour paintings, you will know that she loves the countryside: “We have family in Cornwall and Yorkshire, and I enjoy painting the countryside… I love sailing around Hayling Island too. I enjoy painting the kids and family life.”

I loved the pen and ink drawings because the captions made me laugh out loud, and I mentioned to Zoe that it’s two different arts… the painting itself and also the comedy: “I think it’s great when people laugh. Normally I’ll do two or three of it along with lots of different captions and then try them out on the family (husband and children). They’re very, very strong critics. I get a lot of criticism from my family…” Positive criticism as well I suggest… “No, not much! Normally it’s about what they want changed!”

What of the future for Zoe?: “I’ve been testing out the water - I do lots of things, this feels very mixed but I enjoy doing all of it… it’s just narrowing it down to what people like to buy.”

You can help her out by seeing more at zoefisher.co.uk Images: Rachel Gover

news

March 2017

winchestertoday.co.uk 5

New Look For Winchester Today’s Charity Partner Air Ambulance Celebrates 10th Anniversary In Style

WE’RE delighted to bring you details of the new brand identity for our charity partner, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, as the crew celebrates ten years of flying.

Since the charity’s first operational flight in 2007, the service that the Air Ambulance provides to the community has evolved considerably and the new brand identity will reflect these changes.

Central to the new brand identity is a new charity logo.

In January 2016 HIOWAA became one of the first Air Ambulance services in the country to commence night operations. The sun and moon shaped graphics incorporated in the new logo illustrate the fact that the charity’s lifesaving service is now available day and night, 365 days a year.

A medical cross at the centre of the charity logo represents the Air Ambulance Critical Care teams who bring their life-saving care to the most seriously ill or injured people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Highly skilled crews of Doctors, Critical Care Paramedics and Pilots can be at the scene of an incident within minutes, with a full range of life-saving equipment carried on board, including two state of the art ultrasound devices and a blood transfusion kit.

The new branding will also be carried on the charity’s new Critical Care Team Vehicle, a specially converted Volvo XC90, now able to get to the more difficult to reach urban areas. The vehicle will also provide a vital training platform.

Alex Lochrane is the CEO of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance: “As a charity, our brand identity needs to keep pace with our

developing service. It was clear to us that it was time to update our original logo with one that reflects our commitment to providing the highest level of emergency care outside of a hospital environment, day and night, 365 days a year.”

He says that charities today are characterised by ordinary people doing extraordinary things: “Our Critical Care teams are made up of ordinary people who bring exceptional pre-hospital care to those who need the highest level of urgent medical treatment, whenever or wherever they are. We can only deliver this service thanks to the outstanding support that we receive every day from the communities that we serve. Without their support, we simply could not continue to save lives.”

Winchester Today has pledged its 5-year support with media awareness as a charity partner to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance until December 2020.

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things

Best Foot Forward Pupils at St Swithun’s Junior School have proved they’ve got what it takes as they won a cross-country event that they hosted recently.

The four St Swithun’s Junior School teams won the gold team medals in each age category with some outstanding individual runs and achievements. Other junior schools competing were Oliver’s Battery Primary School, Portsmouth High and Portsmouth Grammar School.

Director of sport at St Swithun’s Junior School - Roger Marshall - says all the hard work appears to have paid off: “Well done to all the girls who have been running at lunchtime to prepare for this event and to all those who also choose to come out and run over their break time.

It is so lovely to see so many girls making the most of the opportunities available to them at school.”

Pictured: Year 3 battle in the St Swithun’s Junior School cross-country event.

around the county/business

6 winchestertoday.co.uk

March 2017

Around the County and beyond

Last Chance To View Great Painting There’s only a couple of weeks left before John Constable’s painting ‘Great Salisbury’ leaves the city for Edinburgh as part of the national Aspire project.

Thousands of visitors have already flocked to see John Constable’s ‘Great Salisbury’ painting, Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, exhibited 1831, since September. It sits at the heart of the exhibition, which is closing on Saturday 25 March 2017.

To mark the end of the exhibition, two special events have been organised.

On Saturday 18 March ‘The Fisher Letters’ will be performed starring actors Mark Honan and Fraser Wilson and directed by Samantha Holland.

This will be a lively, rehearsed reading of the correspondence between John Constable and his close friend and patron Archdeacon John Fisher who lived at Leaden Hall. The correspondence between Constable and Fisher is a revealing insight into the life, loves and preoccupations of these two great men.

The museum is also welcoming Nicholas Alfrey from the University of Nottingham to talk about ‘Turner, Constable and the French Impressionists

in Britain’ on 23 March. Nicholas’s talk will look at whether the work of these British artists had a lasting impact on French landscape painters. The evening also includes a Private View beforehand and one of the final chances to see the painting at The Salisbury Museum.

The Fisher Letters A rehearsed reading directed by Samantha Holland with Mark Honan as Constable and Fraser Wilson as Fisher. Saturday 18 March, 2.30pm Tickets £10 (includes tea and biscuits after the performance) Book online http://salisbury.merlintickets.co.uk/ product/EVENT0184

Mark Honan and Fraser Wilson

Turner, Constable and the French Impressionists in Britain - a talk by Nicholas Alfrey.

Thursday 23 March.

6pm Private View. 7pm Talk. Tickets £12 (includes a glass of wine) Book online: http://salisbury.merlintickets.co.uk/product/EVENT0186 Constable in Context runs until 25 March 2017. No booking required.

Normal admission charges apply.

Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows exhibited 1831 John Constable (1776 – 1837) © Tate, London 2013. Purchased with assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Manton Foundation, Art Fund (with a contribution from the Wolfson Foundation) and Tate Members.

Kings Remembers Historic Past KINGS Theatre in Portsmouth is using a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to remember the part it played during World War One. ‘Theatre of War’ will focus on the social context of World War One and the role of a provincial theatre in a busy port city.

The Kings Theatre remained open throughout the war, providing solace and comfort and a chance to forget about the horrors of war for a few hours.

Residents of the city as well as troops and nurses temporarily stationed in

Business

New France Route Brings More Choice EASTERN Airways will begin its new route from Southampton Airport to Rodez in the south west of France from 2 June 2017. Rodez is the capital of the Aveyron department, which is located in the north east of the Midi-Pyrenees region between the foothills of the Massif Central and the plains of the south west. Its UNESCO World Heritage candidacy as well as the natural beauty of the Aveyron department contributes to a positive and dynamic tourism destination from around France, the UK and Europe.

Mathew Herzberg is Eastern Airways’ Head of Commercial: “The Rodez service is aimed at leisure travellers taking weekend or week long summer breaks in the south west of France. Not only will it appeal to those with holiday homes in the area, but also from an inbound tourism perspective Southampton is the gateway to the south coast of England and also an option for London.”

Dave Lees is Southampton Airport’s Managing Director, and says the new route opens up even more choice in terms of French regional holidays from Southampton. “Rodez is a fantastic destination for those looking to sample Southern France - but also ideal for people with second homes and holiday homes in this beautiful un-discovered region.”

Eastern Airways started operations from Southampton in 2003. The airline has been operating for 19 years and has two Embraer 170, three Embraer 145 and two Embraer 135 jets in its fleet, as well as nine Saab 2000s. It’s also the largest operator in the world of Jetstream 41 aircraft with 17.

the city were entertained by some of the biggest stars of the period, yet little has been recorded of this time prior and during the war. Thanks to National Lottery players, the heritage of the theatre during this period will now be better interpreted.

Volunteers will now collect photographs, newspaper clippings, documents, letters and photos of keepsakes, as well as family tales passed down to help them build a clearer picture of what life was really like. With

help from industry professionals, the information gathered will be interpreted in a documentary film by pupils from St Georges Beneficial School, where they will include archive material and interviews with historians. A touring exhibition will go out to the wider community.

The Kings Theatre’s looking for volunteers to take part in this exciting new project. For more information, please refer to the website: www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk

news

March 2017

Festival Boost For 20th Anniversary MORE names have been announced for the 20th Winchester Festival line-up (7-15 July, 2017), including The Times journalist and author Ben Macintyre and acclaimed concert pianist Lucy Parham.

They’ll join those who are already appearing, including John Simpson (BBC World Affairs Editor), and author Joanna Trollope who is talking about Jane Austen in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Austen’s death.

We can also expect performances from international violinist Tasmin Little and The EUCO, as well as an a cappella programme from vocal ensemble, Voces8.

The week-long festival of the arts

includes music, talks, drama, visual arts and guided walks in venues across Winchester.

Festival Director, Carol Butler, says she’s extremely pleased with the additions to the lineup: “The Winchester Festival’s strength lies in the broad range of its programming, showcasing musicians with an international reputation alongside renowned authors and speakers and giving a platform to exceptionally talented performers from Hampshire. We are excited to announce the first details of the 2017 programme.”

The full details of the Festival programme will be available from 28 April and the box office will open from May.

TALKS n John Simpson, award-winning foreign correspondent and BBC World Affairs Editor talking about his latest book, We Chose to Speak of War and Strife: The World of the Foreign Correspondent, Saturday 8 July, Guildhall, Winchester n Joanna Trollope, author, talking about Jane Austen in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Austen’s death, Thursday 13 July, Theatre Royal, Winchester

MUSIC n International violinist Tasmin Little and The EUCO (The European Union Chamber Orchestra), Four Seasons, Elgar Serenade, Haydn Symphony 42, Friday 7 July, Winchester Cathedral Nave n Voces8, a cappella programme, Tuesday 11 July, Winchester Cathedral Quire More information on www.winchesterfestival.co.uk

Strong lineup: Lucy Parnham, Ben Macintyre and John Simpson

winchestertoday.co.uk 7

Start ‘em young!

You may have seen elsewhere in the paper that a special concert is being planned at St Paul’s on 25 March featuring the Pico Players.

Even better is the fact that very young children can also get involved in a special workshop that’s been planned for earlier in the day. Laura Broadhurst is co-chair of St Paul’s pre-school: “We’re really excited about getting children involved at such a young age. The workshop is designed for 3-11 year-olds who want to come along and try to learn how to make music. If you’re sitting alongside someone who’s been playing a trumpet for a long time, for example, hopefully it will raise ambitions.”

The workshop is free, but you need to reserve your place for your child in advance due to limited capacity.

Later in the evening there will be a full concert with the Pico Players, including music from Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No 1, and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No 6. The day is in support of St Paul’s Church and Pre School.

See poster on Page 4 for more details.

Pic of the Month This fantastic picture of Farley Mount was sent in to Winchester Today by Matt Adamiak. He took it just as the sun was setting on a frosty afternoon back in January. For those who need/want to know, the photograph was taken with a DJI Mavic Pro Quadcopter.

8 winchestertoday.co.uk

the final word

March 2017

3,000 Mile Journey Across Atlantic Seals ‘Triple A’

by KEVIN GOVER News Editor HERE’S a question - what did you get up to over the Christmas and New Year break? Lots of food… walk with the dog maybe? On a normal day, you’ll most likely find Littleton’s Andy Styles running his payroll company in Alton. At the same time as you were contemplating how to get through another turkey sandwich, an ordinary man was doing something extraordinary. A bit to your west. In the middle of the Atlantic! Andy took part in a 62-day row across the Atlantic Ocean for charity.

On December 14th he and his two team mates Andy Sacker and Andy Cameron left the Spanish island of La Gamora to row 3000 nautical miles to the Caribbean island of Antigua. Oh, and none of them had ever rowed before. No pressure, then. The three Andys took part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, known as the toughest rowing race on the earth. Er, I take it back about the pressure.

They were the first British trio to take part in the race, and hit several problems quite early on - the biggest being the lack of power. It led to them having to hand steer - which means one of them rowing for two hours while one steers and the other rests. That schedule went on for 24 hours a day for 65 days, making it very slow and tortuous.

If you saw any of the Atlantic weather charts, you will also know that they had some incredibly horrific weather too. A storm with four metre swells and a downpour of rain that hits you face on with such force that you can’t open your eyes to see where the next wave is coming from, meaning it was very difficult to make up any kind of ground in those extreme conditions.

On the positive they saw lots of wildlife including a couple of whales and several pod of dolphins. On Christmas Day, the weather was good and they enjoyed corned beef, smash and baked beans as their festive dinner.

You may ask - why put yourself through all this? Well Andy Styles ‘final’ epic adventure (or so he says) was to go towards completing the ‘Triple A’. He has already trekked to the North and the South Poles (Arctic and Antarctic) to be one of less than a handful to have done this (pictured right).

The charities he has chosen are also close to his heart. One of them is Barnardo’s. Having lost his father at a young age he understands the support and the difference a positive role model make to a child’s future. His message

1317nm done.

It’s like rowing in treacle... is that with hard work and dedication anything is possible. Another is Bowel Cancer UK as his brother recently used their services and he wanted to say thank you. Joliba Trust is an African sustainability project. Having done an MA in Agriculture this is a subject Andy is passionate about.

We were alerted to the journey by Andy’s wife, Teejay. At the time, I asked Teejay if she was a little apprehensive

THEY MADE IT!

Here are the guys as they crossed the finishing line in Antigua in the first week of February. Reaction to the challenge was swift in coming on Twitter, with comments such as “We’re in awe!” “Amazing achievement!” and “You’re totally mad, but fair play to you!”

Picture: Ben Duffy

about her husband being in the middle of the Atlantic: “Yes, I’m really worried.

I try not to think about the details else I get really emotional.

“But you can’t stop someone following their dreams... they will only resent you. I’m so proud of Andy for what he’s already achieved, the money he is raising or charity and for attempting this Atlantic row.”

Winchester Today is very pleased to have followed the crew’s progress through the amazing technology we have now. One Tweet reached us with the words; “Thanks Winchester Today for the exposure and support. 1317nm done. It’s like rowing in treacle.” I was amazed. Not so much with the progress that time… but to receive a Tweet here in Winchester from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, when we can’t even get a mobile signal at the bottom of the road!

Well done guys.

Main Picture: Ben Duffy @ AtlanticCampaigns