SEPTEMBER 2017 ISSUE 032
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GCSE TRIUMPH FOR HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS St Swithun’s report “best top results in five years”
Flood defences welcomed
By News Editor KEVIN GOVER THE new-style GCSE regime hasn’t seemed to affect St Swithun’s school, who’ve reported their top GCSE results as being the highest for five years. 56% of all entries were awarded an A* (the highest since 2012) and 85% of all entries awarded an A* or A. These results come against the backdrop of a decline in GCSE grades nationally and in the first year of a numerical grading system for some subjects. Over two thirds of entries were awarded the top grade in nine subjects including all three sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) as well as English language, French, German, Greek, Latin and Spanish. Nine girls achieved A* in all of their subjects, and over half of St Swithun’s pupils were awarded all A* or A grades. Overall, 97% of results were A* to B. Headmistress Jane Gandee told Winchester Today she’s delighted. “They have excelled academically whilst still enjoying notable successes outside the classroom. “This year group can boast national level sporting representation, county champions and outstanding performance in academic competitions. They have also excelled in supporting each other and have made us all laugh with their light-hearted approach. We are looking forward to seeing them flourish in the sixth form.” Hampshire’s Education boss, Peter Edgar, congratulated GCSE pupils across the county: “Even with the more rigorous new standards, our indications are that young people in Hampshire have achieved good GCSE results and the vast majority will be going on to further study or training with a good set of the core qualifications under their belts. “The Government’s new GCSE curriculum and radical change in grading has set the bar far higher for maths and English. It would be inaccurate to try and compare this year’s results in those subjects with performance in previous years, and wholly unfair on the students
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They have excelled academically whilst still enjoying notable successes outside the classroom
Stomp returns in triumph page 5 to do so. With two systems temporarily running in parallel for different subjects, it is also a challenge to summarise the performance of schools. That said, early indications from schools would indicate that the underlying trend in outcomes is an improvement on previous years in Hampshire. “Hampshire’s pupils, their families, and schools can be very proud of this year’s results. The high calibre of teaching staff in our county is a big factor in the good GCSE results we see each year. I know that the announcement of GCSE results can be an equally rewarding moment for a great many teachers who are passionate about their work, and committed to doing all they can to help students to achieve. They should feel justly proud of having prepared young people so well, for the next stage of their lives.”
Meanwhile, over at Perins School in Alresford, Mia Cave and Vita Bush celebrate their results too. more details on page 6 ➜
Steve Brine opens play area page 8
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September 2017
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the September issue of Winchester Today. If you’ve already had the chance of having a break of some kind, we all hope that you had a great time. In this edition we are proud to share with you some of the triumphs celebrated by young people in our area with A-level results, and more recently, GCSE results. I know that across the country some of the pass rates are down, so it’s great to see the opposite happen in our area. Well done particularly to St Swithun’s who have reported their best ‘top results’ in five years.
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Every August back in the 1970s, my family used to cart the young Govers off to Cornwall. We used to go to Falmouth, we stayed in the same place and we always had a great time. I used to dread the return home though, because there would always be the results envelope waiting on the doorstep. Back then, my results were rubbish. “Seems to know more about the Top 20 than anything else”, wrote one of my teachers in my school report. Little did he know that his sentence was a ‘result’ - later in life I would work on some of the
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est 2012
n EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Kevin Gover kevin@winchestertoday.co.uk n CONTRIBUTORS • David Cradduck • Rachel Gover • John Ellery • Chrissie Pollard • HIOWAA • Beccy Conway • Gavin Harris • Dilyara Gover • Katie Chappell • Charlie Osman • Keri Jones • Freya Storey • Joe Hunter n LAYOUT DESIGN • Jon Heal Winchester Today Media Partner to Winchester Short Film Festival
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IT will soon be harvest time again! Harvest Festival provides us with an invaluable opportunity to replenish our food stocks for the year ahead. Our residents receive breakfast and a hot cooked evening meal every day of the year, as well as sandwiches, cakes and other snacks, particularly at weekends. Many of the donations we receive are also used in cooking workshops to help prepare residents for independent living after they have moved on from the Nightshelter. We are conscious that many local churches, schools, community groups and individuals are extremely generous in their support of our work with the homeless in Winchester and the surrounding area, particularly during Harvest time. Obviously all donations are gratefully received and we thought you might find it helpful to have a list of the items, which will be particularly helpful this year. Food: Tea Bags Instant Coffee Hot Chocolate Biscuits Chickpeas Noodles Rice Ketchup Brown Sauce Chocolate Spread Marmite Tinned Custard Evaporated milk Condensed milk Tinned vegetables – peas, beans, mushrooms, sweetcorn
Healthy cereals (no porridge please)
Housekeeping items: Loo rolls Kitchen roll Washing powder Anti-bac spray Shampoo Floor cleaner Dishcloths Tea-towels
DELIVERIES: If you were planning to deliver items, it would be enormously helpful if you could let us know in advance so we can ensure we have storage space and that someone is available to help with carrying items. Please contact 01962 862050 or email admin@wcns.org.uk.
country’s top radio stations. I’m glad now that I was recently awarded an MA with distinction - but that was only a couple of years ago. If I’d worked as hard then back in the 70s as our local young people have done in 2017, I am sure that my work life would have been a whole lot different! Hope you enjoy all our other stories, and don’t forget that there’s more on our website. See you next month. Kevin Gover
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September 2017
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A LITTLE BIT SAFER… £1m flood defence scheme unveiled By News Editor KEVIN GOVER NONE of us who were here in the city at the time will forget the moment the rain started to fall in Winchester in late 2013... and continued on into early 2014... and remained in the city centre, and remained - and remained... Good news then that a new flood wall has been unveiled in Winchester. It’s all part of a £1m joint project to help protect the city, following that major flooding during the winter of 2013/14. Hampshire County Council (£290,000), Winchester City Council (£144,000), the Environment Agency (£591,000) and University of Southampton (£60,000) have all chipped in to provide the low wall which you can now see around the River Park area. The wall features openings for everyday access, which can be closed when needed. Slotting in flood gates will protect the St Bede’s and River Park areas of the city including St Bede School, Winchester School of Art, homes and businesses. County Council leader Roy Perry says the flood barrier provides much needed relief and peace of mind for residents in the St Bede’s and River Park areas: “Flooding is a shared problem which is why a shared solution was needed. I’m grateful that Winchester City Council, the Environment Agency and the University of Southampton have worked with us to build this flood defence to help protect the local community in this part of the city.” Jan Warwick is responsible for Transport & Engineering in the city: “We all recall how disruptive the floods were in 2013/14. These measures should help to reduce the risk of flooding and will hopefully provide reassurance in terms of preventing the damage floodwater causes to private and public property. “The scheme is a good example of different parties coming together in order to find a way to tackle the problem of flooding, and shows our collective commitment to investing in the future of Winchester.” Wesley Jones is Flood Team Leader (Hants and IoW) at the Environment Agency: “This partnership scheme has combined central and local government funding to quickly and efficiently deliver a reduced risk of flooding to nearby properties. This work complements the Environment Agency’s recent construction of the natural flood storage areas upstream, so that Winchester is now in a much better position to manage flooding in the future.” Many of us will recall the vast expanse of water outside the University... Kevin Monaghan is University of Southampton’s Director of Estates and Facilities: “Winchester School of Art
Group picture includes Wesley Jones, Flood Team Leader (Hants and IoW) at the Environment Agency; Councillor Caroline Horrill, Leader of Winchester City Council; Councillor Roy Perry, Leader of Hampshire County Council; and Maurice Woodcock, Director of Estate Operations at the University of Southampton
Images: Winchester Today staff, Hampshire County Council, Environment Agency
The scheme is a good example of different parties coming together Protection needed: How the floods affected the Winchester area in 2013/14 including the University campus (below)
is an important institution in the city, attracting investment and jobs as well as the creative young people who help make Winchester such a vibrant city. “In the past, severe flooding has caused significant disruption to our Winchester School of Art campus and the new flood defences are most welcome. We were pleased to work collaboratively with Winchester City Council, Hampshire County Council and the Environment Agency to find a longterm solution that protects us and also our neighbours.” The wall has been built in red brick along North Walls/Park Avenue to match existing municipal walls in the area, and blend into the street scene - similar to the recently constructed flood defence wall in Water Lane. However, the core and foundation of the new wall is reinforced concrete - capable of resisting the calculated water pressures. The scheme received positive feedback during a public consultation in 2015. Concerns about the removal of trees have been addressed, with eight new trees and shrubs planted around the nearby River Park Leisure Centre, as well as new shrub planting within the play park. A second phase of the defences, to be funded by Winchester City Council and the Environment Agency, is currently being designed by Hampshire County Council. This scheme will look to add additional flood protection to areas south of the Durngate Bridge, with works likely to commence in spring 2018.
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September 2017
Haven To Grieve THE Butterfly Suite at Royal Hampshire County Hospital has been refurbished thanks to the fundraising efforts of two bereaved families. Toby and Claire Ward and Hayley Evans managed to raise an incredible £5,000 through a series of fundraising activities including a skydive, completing a Tough Mudder and taking part in sponsored walks and craft sales. This money was donated to the maternity unit at RHCH, part of Hampshire Hospital Foundation Trust allowing staff to completely overhaul the Butterfly Suite, a bereavement suite for parents. Hayley’s daughter Mimi Bluebell had been stillborn two years earlier, and met Claire and Toby on the ward when she went into labour again last year: “I knew exactly what Claire and Toby were going through and I feel so proud to have been able to contribute £900 to their fundraising efforts through my sponsored skydive, and I’m glad it’s gone to such a good cause.” Claire’s baby Evelyn sadly passed away after 40 weeks of pregnancy: “We were so appreciative of our own space away from the rest of the ward when we came in. “We realised how important this type of facility is for families going through the most difficult time in their lives. “After our stay, we decided that we wanted to make it even more comfortable for families who were feeling the same pain Toby and I did.”
The suite is a sanctuary for families going through a horrible time Midwife Carly Shaw is delighted with the new look: “The room looks so much better now that it’s had a proper facelift courtesy of the HHFT estates team, who did a brilliant job. “The suite is a sanctuary for families going through a horrible time and the refurbishment will help so much in making their stay more comfortable. “We really appreciate all the help Claire, Toby, Hayley and SANDS have given us to make this project happen. It enables us to give the best care we possibly can to bereaved families. “We would also like to thank Abigail’s Footsteps for donating a cold cot, which will be used to give the families more time with their child, and allow them to create more memories with them.”
Pictured: The neonatal team in the newly refurbished Butterfly Suite with Claire and Toby Ward, Hayley Evans and Julie Etchingham, Vice President of Abigail’s footsteps.
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Worth The Wait Rare birds of prey have bred for the first time at Hampshire County Council’s Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve. A pair of marsh harriers has raised two chicks in reedbeds at the reserve for the first time since the haven was established in 1972, and only the second time marsh harriers have bred in Hampshire since 1957. Image: Peter Gasser
reviews
September 2017
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Dreamboats on a wave of froth Eleanor Marsden tries to get her bobby-socks knocked off player, Joey Ellis, and on-stage pal, David Luke). Elizabeth Carter’s Laura is the most interesting character and she carries much of the show, ably assisted by Carole Todd’s excellent choreography, but lacks any chemistry with Higgins. The set is simple and nostalgic, and the band’s permanent visibility on stage works well. All in all, however, it feels like ‘doo-wah, doo-wah’ candyfloss: one long thread of sweet but substanceless fluff, which hits the spot at the time leaving only a vague headache afterwards. If that seems unkind, it’s fair to say that it never pretends to be anything other than froth. Dreamboats and Petticoats was written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who once wrote for Frankie Howerd, and the show appeals to those who want a good tune and gentle laughs about big knockers, ‘something for the weekend’ and how that new Coronation Street on the telly won’t last. (Jokes alluding to the 1950s may also fall flat for younger members of the audience.) The ebullient reception from the audience at the Mayflower was certainly heart-felt, however, with the majority up on their feet and bopping along for the final kneetrembling, petticoatwaving mash-up. Clearly, this show has something people like, and for pure escapism it’s an entertaining evening.
DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS The Mayflower, Southampton 22 August 2017
MAMMA Mia, We Will Rock You, Jersey Boys… The trend for weaving musical stories around popular melodies is now well-established and undoubtedly crowd-pleasing. Why is it, then, that Dreamboats and Petticoats has not reached the same giddy heights of success as these? It is, after all, surely a winning combination of Rock’n’Roll hits intertwined with a feel-good story of young love at 1950s youth club: Awkward teen, Bobby, longs to be in a band and win the love of local glamour-girl, Sue, all the while being loved from afar by his best friend’s talented little sister, Laura. Fairgrounds, quiffs, candy-bright costumes and big tunes – what’s not to love? The trouble is, as Laura points out when teaching Bobby the techniques of 1950s song-writing, ‘There are only four chords used’ in popular music of the era. This becomes increasingly evident as the cast throw themselves into many iterations of the same thing, rarely completing a full homage to the original music, but instead chopping and changing – often with just a line or two – between old favourites. Add to this a plot that is thin in the extreme (love triangle comes good) and characterisation which is barely two-dimensional (geek girl with glasses blossoms into beautiful flower at her Sweet Sixteen; the greaser; the ‘go-er’; the Sidekick…) and you get the impression that you’re watching Grease’s poor relation. It wouldn’t pass the Bechdel test, either…
‘It’s Rock’n’Roll: let yourself go!’ instructs Norman (a suitably hipthrusting Alastair Hill), the ubiquitous nice-but-dim ‘dreamboat’, in the opening sequence. And the cast, on the whole, do just that, almost all of them singing and playing instruments on stage to create the live soundtrack, sustaining an almost frenetic energy throughout. The lead women battle clunky dialogue (‘Probably my time of the month,’ apologises Sue - a strong performance by Laura Darton) and fluffy stereotyping, whilst the lead men also contend with some cringeworthy lines about acne and ‘going all the way’. Alistair Higgins’ young Bobby looks the part and carries his solos well, but is shown up by the ladies in the dance sequences and eclipsed in charisma by other cast members (notably ensemble
Images: Pamela Raith Photography
For pure escapism, it’s an entertaining evening
Stompers back for a second success
Back for more at the Mayflower is David Cradduck - who finds Stomp funnier and cleverer than ever…
STOMP The Mayflower, Southampton 17 August 2017
YOU know that slight reservation you have when you go to see a show for the second time and fear that it will not live up to the memory of the first? I confess that, having seen Stomp only two years ago at The Mayflower, I was a bit concerned that I would be disappointed, that my memory of my first encounter was rose tinted and the reality wasn’t going to work so well. I shouldn’t have worried: this latest visit by the hugely talented and energetic touring ensemble to Southampton was as frenetic and enjoyable as ever. In fact I am convinced that subtle differences have been made to the show, making it funnier and more involving; one of the eight young, fit, energetic, dynamic team (yep, the slightly geeky one with glasses) is obviously the main clown of the show, always getting it slightly wrong or being put down by the others. For instance, whist the other seven are sporting big shopp ing trolleys loaded with make-do percussion instruments, he is the one with the wire basket; when everyone is making deep, melancholy noises with big flexible tubes, he is given the tiniest tube that makes a ‘dink’ sound. An intricate series of contrasting criss-cross rhythm based numbers is still the core, the essence of the show. Any ‘instrument’ to hand is used, starting with a lone broom and progressing to
Time flies by, such is the audience’s involvement
Swan Vesta match boxes, cellophane wrappers, paper bags, paint tins, pedal bins, dustpans and brushes, sticks, even cigarette lighters (a row of eight synchronized flickings and flickering over which you could hear a pin drop). Then come the ‘big’ numbers: amplified oil drums, massive inner tyre tubes, water-filled kitchen sinks played like steel drums and emptied in an oh-so-naughty way into buckets; percussionists swing from ropes on high and beat the hell out of a variety of saucepans and metal apparatus,
performers stomp in on oil drum stilts; primeval, almost tribal drum beats combine with hilarious mime, dance, juggling, mock fights and acrobatics to fill an hour and three quarters with non-stop foot-tapping stuff that appeals to all ages. There is no spoken word but the different characters that make up the team of six men and two women come across effortlessly. A delightfully maverick and motley crew who give the occasional glance or a raised eyebrow which speak volumes, not just to each
other but with the audience. It is this interaction with the audience that seems to have blossomed – including the finale complete with audience participation as one performer encourages us to clap and stamp our feet to increasingly complicated riffs with hilarious results, building to a very noisy and highly entertaining finish. Stomp started life 26 years ago in Brighton with two young musician/ percussionists – Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas – who put together a rhythm based comedy musical based on a ten year collaboration of street comedy musicals for the likes of Edinburgh Fringe. It has, over the intervening years, spawned a huge number of tours, 2D and 3D films, themes, events and variations; some 40 performers came together for a specially choreographed version in the closing ceremony of the London 2102 Olympics. The list of credits, adaptations and accolades is long and consistent. No interval means a fairly long sitting (make sure you visit the loo before you sit down), but I can see why they do it: the pace is paramount from the start and to stop halfway would lose that amazing impetus. But the time just flies by, such is the audience’s involvement with the show. Stomp is a very different show and whilst it may not be to everyone’s taste it certainly appeals to the frustrated drummer in me. I look forward to seeing this mesmerising show for a third time when it comes around again! Meanwhile, guys, keep on Stomping.
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September 2017
Look What We’ve Got!
Here’s one we made earlier!
Hampshire School Celebrates Outstanding GCSE Results
MEANWHILE...BARTON Peveril students celebrated another outstanding set of A Level and vocational programme exam results, achieving some of the best results in the college’s history. The overall pass rate at A Level for the college was 98.3% with 77% of grades at A*- C. In total, 764 A*/A grades were achieved and 15 students have received offers from Oxford or Cambridge. The Extended Project Qualification has enabled many students to achieve additional top results, with 149 additional A/A* grades resulting from
THE number of overall GCSE pass rates across the country may be down particularly because of the new system of grading - but Perins School says it’s celebrating another year of outstanding results. In a year of changes to performance measures as well as curriculum requirements, the students exceeded all expectations and the school has seen a significant increase from 2016 on all key measures. In comparison with 2016, the ‘old’ headline figure of 5A*-C including English and Maths saw a 7 percentage points increase on last year’s excellent results. Over 28% of all entries achieved at least an A grade. The core subjects achieved staggering results of 88% A*-C equivalent in English and 79% A*-C equivalent in Maths. Science results were also notably incredibly high, including 99% A*-C in Biology and over 93% A*-C in both Chemistry and Physics. The headteacher at Perins is Steve Jones: “Behind these excellent results are stories of individuals. I know the many hours of work that our staff and students have put into achieving these exceptional results. We took the moral decision to ‘break from the pack’ and, where other schools were narrowing their curriculum at the detriment of areas such as sport and the arts to focus on core and English Baccalaureate subjects, we invested heavily into a more holistic approach. I am delighted that not only is this reflected in the overall results, but that those very core subjects of Maths and English have shown significant improvements as a result of students becoming ‘immersed’ in life at Perins. Of note should be the major increases in our English Baccalaureate and English and Maths combined ‘Good+’ pass figures with a further 10% rise from last year’s commendable figures. This, along with the significant number of our young people achieving the new grade 9, indicates that our students, in a yeargroup labelled nationally as ‘guinea pigs’, have shown that they have the resilience, intellect and work ethic that will ensure that they will achieve major successes throughout their lives. I am proud to be working with such committed staff, supportive parents and most importantly an outstanding student body that never fails to impress me with their attitudes, abilities and support for one another.”
The students exceeded all expectations
Some of the notable successes at Perins: l
ur top performers this O year with average points’ scores exceeding 57 are Maia Cave, Sophia Hawkins, Ben Matthews, Eleanor Moss and Josh Taylor. Sophia, Eleanor and Josh gained A* and A (98) grades in all ten of their GCSE subjects.
l
Exceptional results were achieved in the non-core subjects including: Drama 98%, Music 96%, Physical Education 92%, Textiles 89%, Computing 84%, and History 83%.
An equivalent of 83% (Good+) achieved 5 A*-C. l An equivalent of 76% (Good+) achieved 5 A*-C, including English and Maths. l 41% of pupils achieved the English Baccalaureate, bettering last year’s figure by a 11 percent point increase. l
this qualification.Among the individual success stories is Lewis Croney, formerly from Crestwood Community School who achieved A* in all of his subjects – Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics securing a place to study Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. Anna McQueen (pictured) is formerly from The Toynbee School and also achieved a straight run of A* grades in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and an Extended Project Qualification which has earned her a place at the University of Oxford to study Biochemistry.
the final word
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Room To Play at Badger Farm
September 2017
New Franchise “We’re On Track”
Rail company again commits to massive change RAIL passengers in Winchester are served by a new operator – South Western Railway (SWR). The change in operator will see more than £1.2 billion invested between now and 2024 on new and refurbished trains, station improvement schemes, the simplification of tickets and many more improvements – all of which will make journeys better for customers. Here - in their own words - are the main franchise highlights.:
JUST as our last issue was being delivered, this fab picture of Steve Brine opening the new play area in Badger Farm came through - and we promised John Godbold that we would try to print it in our next available issue. John says it was an honour to have our MP and his assistant Ruby Barnes-Bond perform the ceremony.
Steve Brine told us that he enjoyed the day too: “It was a pleasure to officially cut the ribbon at this high quality new play area. Big congratulations must go to John Godbold and his team at the Parish Council for making it happen and making a difference in their community. My daughter was with me for the event and she gave the zip wire a very thorough test.”
New and refurbished trains By December 2020 the SWR mainland fleet will undergo a facelift. Ninety new British-built Aventra trains be introduced (750 carriages, in five and 10 car formations), and the rest of the fleet will be refurbished and refreshed. Ultimately this will increase capacity by 52,000 extra seats through the morning and evening peak by 2020. Improved Wi-Fi (up to 5x faster), at-seat charging points, toilet provision on all suburban trains, infotainment systems and better on-board customer information will make passenger journeys better.
It was a pleasure to cut the ribbon
More services and faster journeys The December 2018 timetable will mean customers can expect more services, quicker journeys, and earlier and later trains. With up to 400 additional Sunday trains across the network, passengers can expect more flexibility when planning their journeys. Improved connectivity As one of the UK’s largest rail networks, SWR will support local communities by providing greater connectivity. SWR is delighted to re-introduce through services between Portsmouth, Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth to aid regional connectivity, while journeys to London will be sped up for those wishing to travel to the capital. SWR will also work with the Isle of Wight community on plans for a more sustainable future for the island’s railway. Station investment More than £90 million will be invested to improve stations, with major refurbishments planned for Southampton Central and Wimbledon. Other planned improvements include: better customer information screens, new seating and waiting areas as well as additional car parking. These are all designed to deliver the customer experience step change that customers deserve. Value for money ticketing The SWR network contains a huge number of attractive places to visit and tickets will be on offer to encourage customers to travel by train wherever possible. This will include new promotional fares, an easier to use website
and apps to support ticket purchase. Plans also include flexible tickets for those that do not commute every day and a new ticket for 16-18 year olds to bridge the gap between child and full fare travel while still in education. SWR have also unveiled the new South Western Railway website (www. southwesternrailway.com), customer app and social media channels (@SW_Help and @SW_Railway). New SWR branding will begin to appear on leaflets and posters at stations and eventually on trains. Commenting, Tim O’Toole, FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to launch the new South Western Railway. Together with our partners MTR, we will connect millions of customers every week, while investing to improve the network now and in the future. Our experienced leadership team, working alongside thousands of our dedicated SWR colleagues, will deliver the tangible improvements that customers and stakeholders told us they want.
More than £90 million will be invested to improve stations Passengers can look forward to a step change in customer experience with new and better trains, more seats and services, quicker journey times, improved stations and more flexible fare options.” Jeremy Long, Chief Executive Officer European Business, MTR, said: “MTR has a long track record of improving passengers’ journeys around the world and a strong reputation for efficiency, operating performance and quality of delivery. Together with FirstGroup we will bring this to bear for passengers in London and the South West, and help deliver a major programme of upgrades across the South Western network.” Andy Mellors, Managing Director, South Western Railway said: “We’re looking forward to building on the respected foundations established by the former franchisee’s employees. They’ve done a great job during the Waterloo and South West upgrade programme work, and I know it’s been a challenging few weeks for customers travelling so I’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding during this time. The outcome of this improvement work will deliver the infrastructure needed to support the increased capacity plans we need for the future.”
Eco Heroes Just as our last issue was being delivered, we were alerted to this fantastic group of people. A group of young volunteers from the National Citizen Service cleared and uncluttered the North Pond area in Bishop’s Waltham. Well done guys!
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