Monday 8 January 2024
www.winchestertoday.co.uk
FFFRREEEEEEZING!
First the floods, now the freeze! As if we hadn’t had enough with all that rain last week, now the weather has appeared to have gone full circle with another yellow warning, but this time for ice. The warning will remain in place until midday on Friday. Temperatures in Winchester will struggle to get anywhere over 3C in the daytime today and tomorrow, with overnight temperatures down to minus 2C or lower. Still, the frosty scenes in Winchester are always a delight, as our picture from the city shows.
City welcomes Bishop page 7
City match called off page 7
A resolution to stick to page 2
Trust Pearsons for a smooth move this winter. Worried that moving home will be a rough ride? Talk to Pearsons. Established and trusted in Hampshire for over 120 years, we’ve always offered unwavering service through calm and crisis.
Book a free, no obligation market appraisal today. S E RV I C E | M A R K E T I N G | E X P E R I E N C E
Call 01962 853344 or visit pearsons.com
2winchestertoday.co.uk winchestertoday.co.uk
news news
Monday 8 January 2024 December 2023
Nominations open for Mayor of Winchester’s Community Awards By Kevin Gover
Having been a recipient of a Mayor of Winchester’s Community Award a couple of years ago it gave me great pleasure to receive notice last week that the awards are again open for 2024. The search once again is for individuals and organisations who have made a real difference in the Winchester district. It’s seen as an opportunity to recognise and celebrate those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help others. I was given an award for helping arts organisations throughout Winchester and beyond who were absolutely on their knees after lockdown and closure of venues. At the time, I considered that what I did was just an enhancement of my job, both on the radio and the Winchester Today newspaper. Since then though, we have taken that even further with a clear commitment to helping spread the word. We made this clear in our application to OFCOM to run a community DAB+ radio station on the new network in Winchester. From that we developed our Sunday evening ArtsPlus programme which returns shortly. So, I’m very proud of that award certificate which takes a prominent place in the living room. The closing date for nominations is Sunday 18 February, with the award ceremony taking place at the Guildhall on Thursday 7 March. The Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Angela Clear: “My Community Awards are an opportunity to publicly recognise those who make such a difference to other people. I would encourage everyone to please take the time to nominate anyone who deserves this. Thank You.” To nominate a person, please complete the online form at www.winchester. gov.uk/mayorsawards24
Winchester Based Apprentice Helps Champion Skills Video
An apprentice based here in Winchester is featuring in a new Department for Education campaign designed to inspire young people, adults and businesses make the most of their potential by engaging in a range of technical qualifications, training and skills. Louisa Seers is just one of the real learners and employers who feature, each one having embarked on their own training route or supported others to do so. Louisa has just finished her degree apprenticeship in business management with IBM: “The campaign is inspired by people like me, each individual on a personal journey to gaining new skills and building a career for the future by harnessing their potential. “It really brings to light how skills can change your life and highlights that there is something for everyone, including qualifications and courses you might never have heard of.” The ‘It All Starts with Skills’ campaign will run until March in cinemas, on radio and billboards.
Resolution Worth Sticking To? The charity ‘Against Breast Cancer’ is hoping that kind-hearted walkers in Winchester can help fund life-saving research taking place at the University of Southampton. The research funded is for secondary spread of the disease, the main cause of breast cancer related deaths. Their Breast Walk Ever is returning this year, having raised a whopping £300,000 since 2014. Three routes start just outside Winchester at the event on 12th May 2024, including 10k, half marathon and full marathon distances on the Clarendon, Itchen and Pilgrims Way marked trails. Event Manager Richard Martin says it’s important to be back in Hampshire near to where a significant proportion of the research takes place: “We received lots of lovely feedback last year from our supporters who relished the chance to talk to some of our researchers who were volunteering at steps along the course.” Entry fees start from £13. Those taking part are asked to aim for a target of raising £75. As our picture shows, you even get a massage at the end as well as a medal! More details at breastwalkever.org
SA
sale Discover
le
sale
E L SA SALE LE
S
SALE
sale
sale
DINING
SOFAS
more…
A huge range of beautiful furniture from around the world! BEDROOMS
FROM
SAVE £££’s
FROM TABLES
www.aworldoffurniture.co.uk SALISBURY - Behind Halfords, Opposite Tescos Also in - POOLE • BLANDFORD • SOUTHAMPTON
DANCE CLASSES WINCHESTER, HAMPSHIRE FUN, FUNKY, FRESH MOVE YOUR BODY, FEED YOUR SOUL
WW FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS W. SA JOIN SARKER DANCEWORKS, RK ERD WHERE BEING YOURSELF IS AN YOUR SUPERPOWER. CEW O O R W K E S C N R A D R CONTACT US E KS. K R E : F R F O A S E @ C W VICTORIA SARKER - PRINCIPAL O M TAP 07756402748 VIKI@SARKERDANCEWORKS.COM @SARKERDANCEWORKS WWW.SARKERDANCEWORKS.COM COME AND FIND YOUR GROOVE WITH US. TAKE A LOOK AT OUR WEBSITE
MODERN BALLET STREET DANCE COMMERCIAL CONTEMPORARY FITNESS 07756402748
news news
5winchestertoday.co.uk winchestertoday.co.uk
Monday 8 January 2024 December 2023
ArtsPlus – supporting the Arts in Winchester and beyond New Year at Theatre Royal There’s plenty to look forward to at the Theatre Royal, both in terms of ‘professional’ shows and community events. The new year begins with An Evening with Alan Titchmarsh on Wednesday 17 January at 7.30pm when Alan will talk about his life as part of an event in support of the local homeless charity, Trinity Winchester. Spoken word, poetry and song will feature in Playmakers Local Talent on 23 January – and then the Playmakers Youth Showcase on Thursday 28 March at 7.30pm where theatre goers can even choose the ticket price that works best for them. More events will be featured here next week.
Playmakers. Image: Cave and Sky
Mayflower Theatre Celebrates Record Breaking Christmas Run TICKETS LAST FOR O N E Y EA R !
A SHORT M DRIVE FRO R E T S E WINCH
Snow White at Mayflower, Christmas 2023 The Mayflower venues which include MAST appear to have enjoyed a record-breaking run of festive shows over Christmas. More than 80,000 people came to see ‘Snow White’, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘Counting Down to Christmas’ across both venues. Mayflower Theatre alone had over 74,000 people attend ‘Snow White’, making it the highest attended pantomime for the length of run in over 20 years. MAST had 19 sold-out performances of ‘Counting Down to Christmas’ and seven for ‘A Christmas Carol’ which featured 50 young people in the show. Michael Ockwell is Chief Executive and Creative Director: “I’m thrilled that we have achieved record breaking attendances across our venues. “We developed a strategy to provide festive shows catering for all ages when we opened MAST Mayflower Studios. Christmas is an important time where young and old often have their first experience of theatre and I’m delighted so many of our local community have been able to attend one of our productions.”
V I S I T T H E H A M P S H I R E C O T TA G E WHERE JANE AUSTEN LIVED AND W ROT E H E R B E LOV E D N OV E L S Book tickets at www.janeaustens.house
Winchester Today Ad.indd 1
15/11/2023 10:45
7winchestertoday.co.uk winchestertoday.co.uk
news news
Monday 8 January 2024 December 2023
Bishop Welcomed Winchester Cathedral’s gearing up to welcome the man who has become the 98th Bishop of Winchester. The Service of Welcome at the Cathedral this Saturday 13 January for the Rt Revd Philip Mountstephen has children central to the proceedings, with themes of love, humility and service. The Cathedral says that according to tradition Bishop Philip will knock on the West Doors of the Cathedral to be greeted by a child who will ask the question: “Why have you been sent to us?” He will reply: “I come as one sent as Bishop to serve you.” Bishop Philip will also preach the sermon, which will be his first public address since he legally became Bishop of Winchester.
Playing The Music From Your Life… here’s a guide to your radio listening this week on Winchester Today:
Match Called Off – Bentley Bids Farewell Winchester City’s trip to Plymouth Parkway was postponed first thing on Saturday morning in controversial circumstances, writes Matt Richbell, in a week that also saw the retirement of club legend, Warren Bentley.
Monday to Friday 0900-1300 Kevin Gover, including the Golden Hour at 0900.
City had a fully-booked coach ready for the trip to Devon, on the assumption that with no overnight rain the game would go ahead. There was indeed no overnight rain yet the pitch still managed to fail an inspection on the Saturday morning, so it was training instead on Saturday morning for Craig Davis’ side.
Monday 8: January 1973
Earlier in the week, City striker, Warren Bentley (pictured) called time on his footballing exploits and announced his retirement. Bentley, who had been on the periphery of the starting XI in recent weeks due to the prolific form of Tommy Wright, has called time at the end of his second spell at Winchester City. Bentley retires aged 33, after a successful non-league football career including spells at Alresford Town, Hungerford Town, Weymouth, Gosport Borough, Poole Town, Salisbury and two spells at the City Ground.
Tuesday 9: January 1982 Wednesday 10: January 1968 Thursday 11: January 1978 Friday 12: January 1984 1300: The Lunchtime Express 1400: Tony Simon 1700: Jon Gripton, including ‘The Big Book of Birthdays’. 1900: Jess Garner with his Mighty Fine Tunes. 2100: The Golden Hour 2200: The No Sleeping Zone! While others send you to sleep, we do exactly the opposite! Saturday 13 includes Jon Gripton’s Party Zone at 1700 Sunday 14 includes Chrissie Pollard at 1000, and ArtsPlus at 1700. Find us on TuneIn or your smart speaker.
‘Wazza’ as he is affectionately known around the club, will be missed by all - Directors, Staff, fellow players and of course supporters. Chairman, Ken Raisbeck, spoke of Bentley: “I am sure I speak for everyone connected with Winchester City FC in thanking him for his outstanding contribution to the history of ou Manager, Craig Davis, added to Raisbeck’s words: “I would like to thank him for how he has helped to elevate our team to where we are today. We will miss him for sure.” Up next for City is a trip to Sholing on Saturday.
For One Night Only!
13 January 2024 7.30pm Thornden Hall Performing Arts Centre, Winchester Road, Chandler’s Ford, Hampshire SO53 2DW Blue Apple Theatre presents a show of plays, dances, songs and film made by learning disabled performers. Join us to see what they have been working on this year. Prices: Full £6 Concessions/Students £5 Tickets via the Box Office 023 8024 6555. Scan QR to book online or go to: https://bit.ly/BATFONO Blue Apple Thornden Hall FONO 13 Jan 24.indd 1
27/10/2023 17:32:26
9winchestertoday.co.uk winchestertoday.co.uk
news news
Monday 8 January 2024 December 2023
DAB+ Radio Update: As you will know, DAB+ broadcasts in Winchester on the small-scale multiplex have been halted temporarily while the licence was transferred to new owners and a new transmitter was built at Flagstaff Stables just a few hundred yards from the old one at Crabwood Farm. Details of the new Winchester coverage, where that transmitter will be, audience and power required have now been put out for consultation by the regulator, OFCOM. The consultation is running throughout January 2024. Hopefully, all services will then be back on once the consultation has finished. Please have a look at the details published on the OFCOM website. In the meantime, Winchester Today’s fantastic programmes continue at TuneIn and via your smart speaker. Ask Alexa: “Alexa, play Winchester Today.”
Project:Alfie150 Our training days for anyone aged 16-25 and interested in a career in media will be open for applications very soon. This is provided through our training team: media professionals determined to pass on their skills to the media professionals of the future. Initially, the details will be released to schools in the Winchester District. Last time, sessions were sold out. Don’t miss out!
Contact: Thank you for reading the online version of the Winchester Today newspaper. We publish every Monday morning. If you would like to get in contact with us either for editorial or advertising purposes, please ring 01962 458452. Our email address is news@winchestertoday.co.uk Winchester Today, 47 Southgate Street, Winchester SO23 9EH. Managing Editor: Kevin Gover. Layout Design: Grace Pradhan. Contributors: David Cradduck, Jon Gripton, Helena Gomm, Beccy Conway, Sophia Sample, Tony Simon, Chrissie Pollard, Matt Richbell, Jan Conway, Jack Shaw, Mark Ponsford, Eleanor Marsden, Jess Garner and Rachel Gover