16
Summer 2015 FREE … and not forgetting Cheriton, Romsey, Stockbridge, Hursley, Kings Worthy, Littleton, Alresford, Chandler’s Ford, Micheldever, Bishop’s Waltham, and everywhere in between! Issue 016 winchestertoday.co.uk @winchestertoday Winchester Today – Your local FREE newspaper – and online daily at winchestertoday.co.uk Escape – The Lakes, Cumbrian Mountains and Windermere ... Page 10 Inside Lymphoma Update on the man ‘no longer ill’ ...Page 6 MusicVan is still the man... Page 12 Festival The Winchester Festival of the Arts returns ... Page 8 Review: Winchester's latest addition to the restaurant scene ... Page 15 Major web revamp ahead of festival season in Winchester To mark the start of the 2015 festival season in Winchester, the Festivals in Winchester website has been redesigned and re-launched to showcase the city’s growing number of colourful festivals which bring the city to life throughout the year. The city's tourism team has carried out the work on behalf of the directors from all the major Winchester festivals - prompted not least by the sheer growth in the number of festivals in the city. It should now be much easier for visitors to the site to search for festivals based on the themes they are interested in – comedy, music, film, literature, arts, food and drink and Christmas. Ellen Simpson is Head of Tourism at Winchester City Council and knows just how much Winchester’s festival scene has grown over the last six years since the Festivals in Winchester group was first launched in 2009 by Winchester City Council in partnership with Winchester BID: "The group originally consisted of just the five main city-based summer season of arts festivals - MayFest, Festival of Art and Mind, Winchester Writers’ Conference, Hat Fair and the Winchester Festival. It has now widened its net to include the newer festivals also making their mark on the city and adding to the variety of events available throughout the year including Winchester Fashion Week and Winchester Comedy Festival." More on festivalsinwinchester.co.uk Sitting pretty! Pupils at Patchwork Day Nursery & Pre-School celebrating after a visit from Ofsted. The final report confirms that Patchwork are well on their way to becoming an outstanding setting. Patchwork is based at Perins School in Alresford and provides flexible childcare places for 39 children aged from 6 months to 5 years, whether part-time, full-time or in crèche sessions.

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Page 1: Winchester Today - May 2015

Summer 2015 FREE… and not forgetting Cheriton, Romsey, Stockbridge, Hursley, Kings Worthy, Littleton,

Alresford, Chandler’s Ford, Micheldever, Bishop’s Waltham, and everywhere in between!

Issue 016 winchestertoday.co.uk @winchestertoday

Winchester Today – Your local FREE newspaper – and online daily at winchestertoday.co.uk

Escape – The Lakes, Cumbrian Mountains and Windermere ... Page 10

Inside

Lymphoma – Update on the man ‘no longer ill’ ...Page 6

Music– Van is still the man... Page 12

Festival – The Winchester Festival of the Arts returns ... Page 8

Review: Winchester's latest addition to the restaurant scene ... Page 15

Major web revamp ahead of festival season in Winchester

To mark the start of the 2015 festival season in Winchester, the Festivals in Winchester website has been redesigned and re-launched to showcase the city’s growing number of colourful festivals which bring the city to life throughout the year.

The city's tourism team has carried out the work on behalf of the directors from all the major Winchester festivals - prompted not least by the sheer growth in the number of festivals in the city.

It should now be much easier for visitors to the site to search for festivals based on the themes they are interested in – comedy, music, film, literature, arts, food and drink and Christmas.

Ellen Simpson is Head of Tourism at Winchester City Council and knows just how much Winchester’s festival scene has grown over the last six years since the Festivals in Winchester group was first launched in 2009 by Winchester City Council in partnership with Winchester BID:

"The group originally consisted of just the five main city-based summer season of arts festivals - MayFest, Festival of Art and Mind, Winchester Writers’ Conference, Hat Fair and the Winchester Festival. It has now widened its net to include the newer festivals also making their mark on the city and adding to the variety of events available throughout the year including Winchester Fashion Week and Winchester Comedy Festival."

More on festivalsinwinchester.co.uk

Sitting pretty!

Pupils at Patchwork Day Nursery & Pre-School celebrating after a visit from Ofsted. The final report confirms that Patchwork are well on their way to becoming an outstanding setting.

Patchwork is based at Perins School in Alresford and provides flexible childcare places for 39 children aged from 6 months to 5 years, whether part-time, full-time or in crèche sessions.

Page 2: Winchester Today - May 2015

2 WINCHESTER TODAY SUMMER 2015

By the time most of you read this we will know who our MP is and who is running the country. It has been a fixed parliament... we all knew when it was going to happen. Just like the United States, it seems that the build-up went on for ever and ever. Didn't it all start last October? I can't help thinking that the previous set-up was far more exciting. The 'calling' of an election - or indeed the downfall of a government - kept everyone on their toes.

***

It will soon be Festival time here in Winchester, and whatever your choice of entertainment there seems to be loads on offer, not least with the Winchester Festival. Take a look at our centre spread and feast your eyes on the great and good who will be here. Personally, it's Greg Dyke for me; someone who was at the BBC when I worked there and who always seemed to talk sense - and have some fun along with it.

***

The entire team at Winchester Today are so glad to see staff member David Cradduck back up on his feet after suffering a torrid time with cancer. The outcome is yet to be resolved, but I hope the word 'clear' is one he will hear soon. And here is a man who didn't just lie there in Southampton General feeling sorry. Here is a man who raised ten grand from his hospital bed for Lymphoma. We already brought you an early

update in our Christmas edition. You can read more on his story in this edition.

***

Well done from everyone here to everyone at Winchester City. After a flying start to the season and an excellent FA Cup run, things it has to be said went slightly off-course. But they persevered and came out victors in the North Hants Senior Cup. See their smiles on the back page.

***

Things are moving ahead rapidly at Naomi House with the expansion and refurbishment. See what it means, see our commitment and see YOUR commitment in this edition.

***

Most of us have already basked in glorious weather, especially through April. We must be careful though. Remember what happened during our launch in July 2012 when we had monsoon conditions both here in Winchester and throughout the Jubilee celebrations?

Talking of which, it will soon be our third birthday. It hasn't been easy, but we're still there. We have an amazing amount of followers on Twitter, and we hope to be able to provide you with many more years of quality journalism.

Have a great summer!

WinchesterToday est.2012

Editor-in-Chief:Kevin [email protected]

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With special thanks to Johnny Blonde for the original layout.

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Cathedral Recitals

No doubt you have enjoyed listening to the wonderful organ at the Cathedral. Here's news of a few recitals that have been organised in May and August:

Tuesday 19 May, 7.45pm Timothy Parsons, Winchester

Cathedral

Monday 25 May, 4pm Martin Baker, Westminster

Cathedral

Monday 31 August, 4pm David Dunnett, Norwich Cathedral

The Winchester Cathedral Willis Organ dates from 1851, where it was on show at the Great Exhibition, and was moved to Winchester by the then organist Samuel Sebastian Wesley shortly afterwards.

The Winchester organ can be heard almost every day as it accompanies over a thousand services in the Cathedral every year. With over 5000

pipes, producing a large range of sounds, it is one of the finest organs in the country and so is ideal for exploring the wide range of music.

More information on the organ can be found on the website winchester-cathedral.org.uk

Tickets are £10 for the Bank Holiday Monday concerts and £8 for the Tuesdays. The box office number is 01962 857275.

Could you stop the traffic?

If you can spare two hours a day to help children get to and from school safely, then Hampshire County Council would like to hear from you.

A number of vacancies for School Crossing Patrol Officers are proving hard to fill, and with children’s safety a top priority, the County Council is raising awareness about how rewarding the job can be.

Local communities place great value on School Crossing Patrol

Officers to help their children get to and from school safely - so much so, they often nominate their local officer for prestigious awards.

Those who have been in the job for many years get a great sense of pride, satisfaction and achievement knowing that their job really is a matter of someone else’s safety.

There are currently positions available in Waltham Chase, Fair Oak, Winchester and Overton. To find out more about the job role and person specification visit: www.hants.gov.uk/newjob.

Cyclefest

The Winchester Criterium and Cyclefest is fast becoming the biggest and best of its kind in the region.

Now in its third year, the event will

be staged on Sunday 7 June from 10am to 6pm.

Organisers promise more races, more riders, more cycling entertainment and more fun for all the family. The day promises to be a perfect mix of cycle activities and fast and furious racing.

New sport science research hub for city

The University of Winchester is celebrating the opening of its Sport and Exercise Research Centre.

The dedicated research hub promotes contemporary research in the area of sport and exercise science, provides a central point for research students’ work and aims to attract high-calibre sports science specialists.

Research topics have already been examined at the University, including a Team GB track cycling case study, the positive effects of exercise on stroke recovery, and an overview of student expectations of undergraduate study in sport.

Dr Stewart Cotterill is Head of the

Department of Sport and Exercise: “The new Centre offers an excellent opportunity to engage local, regional, national and international communities in high-quality impactful research.

"That research makes a real difference – not only to the sporting world but also to the global understanding of the complex issues surrounding health and wellbeing. The Centre will provide a point of contact for external collaborators and develop a valuable network of associated staff.”

Preview: Susan Calman, Discovery Centre, 29 May 2015

Fresh from the successful first leg of her debut tour, the multi award-winning Susan Calman takes her hit show Lady Like back on the road this spring and will be at the Discovery Centre in May.

Lady Like is a chance to spend an

hour with the woman known as “The Mad Cat Lady” to her neighbours, and Calman promises to reassure you, make you feel better about your own life and let you find out what being lady-like really means. How will she do this? With anecdotes, observations and no-holds-barred honesty.

You see, Susan has a confession to make, and it’s a heart-warming one. Through plunging to life’s lowest depths she has, fortunately, come out the other end and wants to share her story. The show is, above all, a call to like ourselves no matter what others say; a journey of self-awareness, self-discovery and – here’s the fun bit – self-indulgence. Indeed, as the lady says: "All of us have mental health issues, it's just that for some of us, our issues make us go more mental than others".

Since reaching the semi-finals of the

BBC New Comedy Awards in 2005, she has appeared on QI, Would I Lie To You?, Rab C. Nesbitt, BBC Radio 4’s The News Quiz, CBBC’s Extreme School and Channel 4’s Blowout, which won a Scottish BAFTA in 2007. She also won the Best MC Chortle Award 2012, and Best New Scottish Comedian at the Real Radio Scottish Variety Awards in 2009.

Page 3: Winchester Today - May 2015

SUMMER 2015 WINCHESTER TODAY 3

Sail On, Sailors...Gale force winds no problem

for PSC in the Royal Southern Youth Championships

For many years sailing has been linked with Peter Symonds College thanks to the outstanding Olympic and international successes of Sir Ben Ainslie and Iain Percy OBE.

However, it is only this year that it has been introduced as a team sport at the college.

With a mixture of experience, from beginner to advanced, the PSC sailors are already proving their worth with a podium place for their first competitive event at the Youth Keelboat Championships hosted by Hamble Royal Southern Yacht Club.

The seven students - Jamie Brown,

Ross Mackley, Nina Jones, Finn Jones, Niamh Gannon, Harry Kenchington and Lucia Sanchez Toribio - together with ‘Passion’ skipper/yacht owner Paul Jones and four more experienced sailors came 3rd out of 11 yachts in the Royal Southern Yacht Club Inter-Club Keelboat Championships at Hamble, in race conditions which were far from easy.

The competition saw numerous vessels retiring due to the adverse

weather (winds of 30 knots, gusting to 40+ knots strong Gale Force 9) but ‘Passion’ persevered and completed the three races in the series. Once back in the sailing club the ‘Passion’ crew were delighted to discover that they were placed.

Team Captain Jamie Brown says most of the PSC crew were experienced, but some had barely been on a yacht: "To get everyone trained up we organised several

Wednesday afternoon training sessions which really helped to bring us together as a team.

“The Championships certainly tested our abilities, but we were amongst those who managed to finish all three races, whilst yachts around us were forced to retire. Our combined efforts paid off, and we were all delighted with our final results and podium place."

Big Pipe: Phase 2 of Hambledon Flood Alleviation

Hampshire County Council has appointed Mildren Construction Ltd as the contractor for phase two of the Hambledon flood alleviation scheme.

Mildren have told us that they will be working closely with Hampshire County Council and its partners to ensure that Hambledon remains open for business as usual throughout the works, and that disruption for residents is kept to a minimum.

The main roads through Hambledon were severely affected by groundwater flooding following the exceptional rainfall last winter,

and the flood alleviation scheme has been designed to help mitigate the effects of such flooding in the future.

Preliminary works that began last October are now said to be substantially complete, and Mildren will start work on the main scheme by the end of May.

Once complete, this phase will provide new floodwater culverts, road resurfacing and, where practical, re-shaping of the road to help drainage.

Chris Wingham is Managing Director of Mildren and says the commitment is total: “We will be working with the local community to make sure that local residents and businesses are kept up to date with

our plans and progress during the works.

"There will, of course, be a need for closures and diversions, but with careful planning, we will do our very best to minimise disruption while we implement the scheme, including ‘the big pipe’ which will help alleviate flooding through the village in the future.”

A public exhibition took place in Hambledon Village Hall in April and was attended by over 170 local residents and businesses who were able to talk to representatives from Mildren, Hampshire County Council, and Winchester City Council, all of whom are committed to keeping Hambledon open for business as usual during the works.

Kill the speed

Think those speed cameras are not working because of a lack of money? Wrong!

Hampshire Police recently took part in the Europe-wide TISPOL speed enforcement campaign.

The results from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for the week of action saw a total of 2,656 vehicles detected exceeding the speed limit. Of those, 671 were detected by Roads Policing Officers and the rest, 1,985, were detected by static automated speed cameras and officer controlled devices.

Throughout the campaign officers raised the awareness of the dangers of speeding to people and reminded those who drive goods vehicles how their speed varies on certain roads.

Hampshire Constabulary Road

Safety Sergeant, Rob Heard says the results show that too many people are still speeding on our roads: "By doing so they are putting their own lives at risk, as well as others.

"82% of people caught speeding during our campaign were in 30 or 40mph limits. These speed limits are in areas where the hazards and various road users are often increased. Excessive or inappropriate speed has a singularly devastating impact on the safety of all road users, increasing the risk of not only being involved in a crash but also the severity of the consequences.

"The forces experience by the human body in a collision increase exponentially as the speed increases. If you collide with a pedestrian at 30mph they have a 80% chance of survival, however if you collide at 40mph then the pedestrian only has a 20% chance of survival."Freedom Parade for Hussars in Winchester

to celebrate 300th Anniversary

One of the city's most ancient traditions is to be upheld in Winchester in July. The Freedom Parade involving the King’s Royal Hussars will take place in Winchester on Thursday 9th July.

The event is being arranged jointly by the Regiment and Winchester City Council in celebration of the 300th

anniversary of the Hussars.The right of ‘Freedom of Entry’ to

the city is an ancient privilege and allows a Regiment to parade through Winchester with ‘bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying’. It comes from a period in history when only trusted units would be allowed to carry arms within city boundaries. The City Council awarded Freedom of Entry to the King’s Royal Hussars on 5 January 2005.

The event is over lunchtime with around 250 troops plus band ‘stepping off’ from Peninsula Barracks, marching down the High Street, forming up in the Broadway for inspection and then moving off around the King Alfred statue to fall out in the Guildhall Yard.

There may also be some small military vehicles on display in the Broadway.

Approximate timings are:

12:10 Parade form-up at Peninsula Barracks

12:30 Parade steps off and turns right into Romsey Road, continues into Upper High Street, down pedestrianised area

12:40 Parade arrives in The Broadway and forms up; inspection of parade

13:00 The Parade moves off and marches around the King Alfred Statue/Eastgate Street Roundabout and back past the Guildhall, giving eyes left as it passes the Guildhall steps , then turns left into Colebrook Street and left again into Guildhall Yard to fall out.

Hey - don't I know that place?

If you have seen ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, then yes, you probably do!

Scenes for the film were shot in Hampshire at Hawley Common and Stratfield House during summer 2014.

The film brings together Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye and Black Widow who have to fight against the evil Ultron. It’s a cast of ‘A’-listers too, starring Robert Downey Junior, Chris Hemsworth and Scarlett Johansson.

Filming was made possible by Film Hampshire – part of Hampshire County Council’s Economic Development service which promotes Hampshire’s unique character and historic appeal to attract top blockbusting productions to the county. £8.5m of production spend was brought into Hampshire in 2014, giving a massive boost to the local economy.

With around 400 film locations on offer, previous productions in Hampshire have included the TV’s Downton Abbey and Wolf Hall, as well as movies such as Mission Impossible 5, World War Z with Brad Pitt, The Da Vinci Code, and Edge of Tomorrow with Tom Cruise.

Preview: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Two great musical forces are joining together for a masterpiece in Winchester

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

and the Royal Choral Society bring Elgar’s epic choral work The Dream of Gerontius to Winchester Cathedral on Saturday 30 May.

Time: 7.30pmTicket prices: £29 - £12

More details from the Cathedral Box Office or BSOlive.com

Page 4: Winchester Today - May 2015

4 WINCHESTER TODAY SUMMER 2015

Now I Didn't Know That!

Kevin Gover discovers that the award-winning 'History Heroes' cards created here in Hampshire are - so far - a knockout.

[email protected]

Sometimes you meet people in our area that totally inspire you. They get off their backsides and come up with an amazing idea. Then they

get off their backsides again and put the idea into practice. Alexandra Ehrmann is one of those people.

Alex and I meet at a café in Alresford, not far from her home to talk about 'History Heroes', a beautifully presented pack of cards with details and questions on the 40 most significant characters in a series of subjects. The four sections Alex showed me were heroes, scientists, sports heroes and World War 1: "I have to give credit to a

history teacher called Harry Hastings who came up with the original concept. It's something to get you away from your computer screen and smartphone. Their USP is their concept. Every card tells the story of every individual."

I could probably name 200 sports stars, so how does she narrow it down?

"Rigour. Is this a person that everybody in the world would know about? Ayrton Senna, Ali, Pele... nobody could argue with those. Jonny Wilkinson didn't make the cut. Yes, he's a great player, but not quite in the 40."

The cards have only been out since the summer of 2014 and yet they have already won a Junior Design Award: "It never occurred to me that they would win. I even had to email them to say 'Really?' - yes, the judges loved them!"

Perhaps the best gauge to how well things will work is to take the project to the children themselves. Here's what happened at Ropley Primary School (pictured left). Clare Farrell is the Deputy Headteacher there:

"Alex carried out workshops using her ‘Famous Scientist’ History Heroes cards in all of our KS2 classes as part of a science week. The workshops were highly engaging and the children responded with enthusiasm. They were very keen to find out about the different scientists on the cards. and also to share their existing knowledge with each other.

"During the workshop, Alex used the History Heroes cards as a vehicle for getting the children to participate in a range of stimulating drama, speaking and listening and reading activities. The children thoroughly enjoyed the workshop and responded very well to the activities as there was a 'game based' approach from using the cards.

"The History Heroes cards provide a fantastic teaching and learning resource to use within a classroom as they are packed full of interesting facts about the famous people, such as scientists and are presented in a way which appeals to the children. Alex’s workshops were a big hit with all the Ropley children and staff!

With more subjects on the way, it seems like the sky's the limit for expansion. There may be an online version and a teaching app. And no, Alex won't go on 'Dragons' Den': "I don't want to give the company away!"

www.historyheroes.co.uk

Mark Couper captures the beauty in our area, with this wonderful picture from Micheldever Woods.

Business News

Page 5: Winchester Today - May 2015

SUMMER 2015 WINCHESTER TODAY 5

Preview: 'Cascades'It's almost time to be enchanted

and enthralled once again by majestic flower arrangements and installations in the Cathedral.

'Cascades' will use thousands of flowers to create a stunning display of contemporary and traditional floral designs, under the lead of

artistic director Hans Haverkamp.

Opening times: (from 24 – 28 June) 9am - 8pm from Wednesday to Saturday and 9am – 6pm on Sunday. Last admission one hour before closing.

Tickets: £10 adults, £5 children under 16, £8 groups of 15 or more and NAFAS members, available online from the Cathedral Box Office

or by calling 01962 857 275. Advance booking is highly recommended.

The newly refurbished Basing Room at Winchester Register Office has been showcased as part of the city’s Fashion Week.

The room is in the newly-relocated Register Office on Castle Hill, at the top of the High Street.

The impressive setting is a nineteenth century wood-panelled room with ornate fireplace, up-cycled chandelier and Mackintosh-style seating.

Ever considered fostering… but thought you wouldn’t qualify?

New Look To Register Office

Fire and rescue services welcome new law

The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service are both welcoming a proposed change in the law that will require private landlords to install working smoke AND carbon monoxide alarms in their properties.

The government has announced the law will come into force in October 2015. The alarms must be installed on every floor of the property and be tested ahead of any new tenancy, with the carbon monoxide alarms placed in each room which is deemed 'high risk', such as where there is a gas fire or boiler.

The government says the move will help prevent dozens of deaths and over 1,300 injuries each year.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue's Ty Whitlock says there will now be no room for excuses: "Although most private landlords do already have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed, this announcement by the government will ensure every property will have them in future. We would therefore urge landlords to check their properties and ensure they have the necessary smoke and carbon monoxide detection on every floor of their properties.”

Winchester Student Lands Italian Job

A trip to the World Chamber Congress in Turin has been presented to Claudia Hurlock from Winchester at first ever Liverpool Hope University Insight to Business Awards.

Businesses, academics and students attended the awards ceremony organised by the Liverpool Hope University Business School and Business Gateway. Business School tutors nominated students who then had to undertake interviews and give presentations to the host organisations before a winner was chosen for each category.

Claudia was chosen to be part of an official delegation for Liverpool and Sefton Chamber of Commerce at the World Chamber Congress in Turin this June - which came as a bit of a surprise for her: "When my name was called for the Turin World Chamber Congress trip I couldn't quite believe the amazing opportunity that I had been given. I know it will benefit me in so many ways, through the people that I will meet, the work that I will be doing and the experience as a whole.

"After completing my degree at Liverpool Hope University I would like to find work experience or a graduate scheme that will give me extensive practical knowledge of how a business runs on a daily basis, before hopefully starting my own property development business.”

Page 6: Winchester Today - May 2015

6 WINCHESTER TODAY SUMMER 2015

So How Are You? An ill bloke becomes well again - here’s an update on how our staff

member David Cradduck got through months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with a rare form of Lymphoma called Burkitt’s. David had to have an emergency operation to remove a tumour from his intestines - and then became an epic fundraiser while in hospital, raising over £10,700 for the Lymphoma Association. Form filling, ward changing, discharge procedures and endless ‘date of birth’ questions all followed. Then the light finally came through at the end of the tunnel. But David still had to get through the last day...

“So, how are you? A very good question and not one that I am prepared for because I honestly don’t know. I know how I feel, but is that anything to go by? When I had a ‘bucket load of tumour’ inside me last September I didn’t really feel that ill, I just knew that something wasn’t right.

“So, after being ‘released’ from Southampton General as an inpatient, I really don’t know what to say when people ask me the question “how are you?”. All I can do is tell them - quite honestly - that I feel good and I’m “getting there”, whatever that means.

“My last night in hospital was a truly bizarre one: I had just got myself settled down in D2, the new ward attached to D3 and had - providing I

had a few platelets to my name - only one more night to stay in before being released. So I was a little surprised when I was asked if I could do everyone ‘a huge favour’ and move wards again. But the biggest surprise was where they wanted me to move to: a sideroom on the Teenager and Young Adult Cancer Ward (apparently they asked me because I was the youngest in the bay...).

“Now well into my 62nd year I cannot honestly lay claim to being a teenager but, flattered of course, I agreed and the next thing I knew was I was in what appeared to be a five

star hotel with its own TV (proper job with Freeview), wifi, hifi, X-Box, desk, sofa, built-in faux fire complete with video of burning logs, electronically controlled venetian blinds, mood LED lighting, ensuite bathroom, and decor more befitting a hotel than a hospital. There is a dayroom, with pool table, sofas and more entertainment. Being a recycled teenager I was reluctant to poke my head around the door of the dayroom in case I was arrested for being a dirty old man.

“In fact, it was more of a hotel room than a hospital ward... I understand that the ward was paid for by The Teenage Cancer Trust which is highly commendable and I don’t begrudge them a penny; it’s just a shame that the rest of the hospital doesn’t match up to this VIP treatment. My platelets were exceptionally low (8) on the day of discharge, so a pool of platelets was ordered up for me prior to going home. Daughter Zoe came and fetched me, and Zoe and I watched the Six Nations Rugby (England thrashing Wales) while I had my platelets, then I (rather reluctantly) packed my bags and we left for home where my sister Steph was going to look after me for the night in case I had to be rushed back in for any reason. In fact I had to come back the next day for a blood test to see if my platelets had recovered or whether, if below 10, I would require more. Steph and Mike drove me to the hospital and - hey presto! - my count was a massive 25 so we went straight back home again.

“The next week saw my platelets drop from 25 to 15 and then to 12, prompting fears of more infusions; but come the beginning of the next week, they had zoomed back up to the 20s by themselves. However my haemoglobin was dropping and at a lowly 75, required me to come back in for a couple of bags of red stuff; otherwise I had been feeling ok but I admit to getting a bit puffed

out before the blood transfusion put colour back into my cheeks and enabled me to walk up hills again.

“The platelet count continued to rise and once it was hitting the dizzy

heights of 70-80 (at time of writing they are 133!), my last intrathecal was then scheduled; not one I had been looking forward to but certainly wanted out of the way. Not for the first time, the procedure was definitely not straightforward.

“How does one put th i s diplomatically? If you know your patient has a lot of scar tissue in that area and, on a few occasions, you have had a great deal of trouble hitting the right spot with your spinal needle do you not ask the doctor who has successfully performed this before to perform it again, rather than pumping your patient full of anaesthetic, gas/air and needle holes before finally giving up and bleeping that very doctor? I left hospital with a very sore back and still groggy from the gas and air - and slept, if a little uncomfortably, at least very soundly, that night, dead tired but happy that in the end the procedure was successful and I wouldn’t have to come back for a rematch the next day.

“Which brings me back to my title question: “How are you?”, one that I have been asked by many people who have been following my journey. Well, even if I am ‘in remission’, I still won’t know if or when the Lymphoma might return - in a few weeks, months, or years; but hopefully I will have joined that lucky club who have beaten cancer for the time being and bought themselves many years of quality life. I am under no illusions about the future, but take each day as it comes and am grateful for the opportunity to do so.

“There are plenty of unfulfilled ambitions left on my bucket list and if this life-changing event has taught me anything, it is to be grateful for the second chance and to take advantage of that for as long as I am permitted. To quote one of the Lymphoma nurses recently: “It’s a new kind of normality”. Things will never be the same again but a sense of normality - insofar as I am starting to do ‘normal’ things again - has been re-introduced into my life.

“I am leaving An Ill Bloke’s Blog open for a final chapter - or epilogue - at some point in the future when I can either look back and say “thank God I survived that” or I have more news, good or bad, to impart. Meanwhile, remember that life is short, and without being glum about it, death

comes to us all eventually. One just hopes that it will be later rather than sooner!

“My final word goes to all those kind people who have looked after me over the past five months - the NHS medical staff who operated on me, nearly killed me off with chemo and then nursed me back to health again; the many donors who provided me with blood and platelets; my family, especially my long suffering wife Sally, for being there when they were needed, and my too-numerous-to-mention-but-you-know-who-you-are friends who willingly volunteered to be my ‘army’ and visited me or sent messages of encouragement through Facebook, Twitter, email and SMS. Thank goodness for social media. Oh, and Rosie the Golden Retriever.”

Book a classified ad by downloading the form from winchestertoday.co.uk!

Brendoncare Clubs

01962 852133www.brendoncare.org.ukRegistered charity number: 10913454

Buy a coffee and get one free!

(so drink 2 - or come with a friend!)

2 De Lunn Buildings - opp Theatre Royal

onLY WItH orIgInaL of tHIS ad

LeafLet DeLivery

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Would you like to rent this space?Call us now for some amazing bargains!

01962 868234 07427 417387

[email protected]

Would you like to rent this space?

Call us now for some

amazing bargains!

01962 868234 • 07427 417387

[email protected]

Would you like to rent this space?Call us now for some amazing bargains!

01962 868234 07427 417387

[email protected]

David pictured near The Lizard at Easter with Rosie, post-treatment.

"If this life-changing event has taught me anything, it is to be grateful for the second chance."

Open Gardens Treat in Longstock

Let's hope the sun shines around Stockbridge over the weekend of Saturday 13th June and Sunday 14th June between 1.30pm and 5.30pm for an event new to Hampshire's list of Open Gardens. This is being held at Longstock, a beautiful village in the heart of the Test Valley, and close to Stockbridge.

9 gardens, most of which have never previously been seen by the general public, plus the Village Allotments will be open to visitors. Programmes will be on sale in the Village Hall (Post Code SO20 6DP for those with Sat Nav) and also at one of the designated parking areas in the village - watch out for the signs!

Entry prices to all gardens (covering both days) are £6 for Adults and £2 for Children aged between 5 and 16. Under 5’s go free.

Teas will be served in the Village Hall on both afternoons starting at 1.30 pm, where there will also be a Plant Stall.

A limited amount of free mini bus transport will be available, if required, to take visitors up and down the village and if you are lucky you might just be in time for a ride in a pony and trap. Unfortunately it will not be possible for dogs to enter any of the gardens.

All proceeds are in aid of St Mary’s Church, Longstock.

Page 7: Winchester Today - May 2015

SUMMER 2015 WINCHESTER TODAY 7

Wine Festival Winchester toasts Naomi House - Winchester Today - and the hammering! Naomi House Update

As you know, Winchester Today is committed to Naomi House and Jacksplace both for coverage in the newspaper and - where we can - physical donations. We have just sent off £90 in cash for a little project we carried out at a concert.

We were also delighted to hear that the Wine Festival organisers have followed up their success from November 2014 by visiting Naomi House & Jacksplace to donate a cheque for £1,026.62.

The charity ran a prize draw at the event featuring prizes including tickets to Grange Park Opera, Riedel wine decanters worth up to £495, an AMG Mercedes-Benz drive, Farrow

& Ball consultancy, Le Creuset wine accessories, Justerini & Brooks champagne magnums, goodie bags from Guy Kremer salon, dinner at Savage Kitchen and wine from Majestic Wine.

Wine Festival Winchester is the brainchild of local Masters of Wine and BBC1 experts Susie Barrie & Peter Richards, together with co-director Claire Quigley Ward. Peter says that it has been a joy working with the team at Naomi House & Jacksplace: "It's wonderful to see their ambitious new renovation project taking place, which will make a massive difference to the quality of care and hospitality offered to the young people and their families. Wine Festival Winchester is

delighted to be able to support such a brilliant operation.’

Festival co-director Claire Quigley Ward also had warm words: "It has been an honour to learn about the humbling work of Naomi House & Jacksplace. We are delighted to be able to contribute in a small way towards the immensely valuable care and support they provide."

Paul Morgan is head of fundraising at Naomi House: "It really was an absolute delight and total pleasure to be part of Wine Festival Winchester. We could not imagine more delightful, inclusive and engaging partners to work with. It was an extremely well organized event with a joyous and cheerful atmosphere and great support from both guests and exhibitors."

As for that renovation project, you can see from our pictures that great time and care is being put in at Naomi House to making sure that the dedication and care is even more special.

01962 852133clubhampshire@brendoncare.org.ukwww.brendoncare.org.ukRegistered charity number: 10913454

Would you like to join a friendship club for people in the South?Brendoncare Clubs are devoted to giving people the opportunity to meet new friends, take part in activities and enjoy occasional club outings. Here are the clubs running in your area. Why not come along and try out one of the activities and see how you can become a member... we’d love to welcome you there.

Good Companions Eastleigh (2nd and 4th Tuesday, 2pm - 4pm)

Eastleigh Arts and Crafts Club (1st and 3rd Tuesday, 2pm - 4pm)

Badger Farm Friendly Group (Alternate Thursdays, 2pm - 4pm)

Weeke Gaiety Club (Alternate Fridays, 2pm - 4pm)

Romsey Companions (Alternate Mondays, 1.30pm - 3.30pm)

Romsey Tuesday Luncheon (Every Tuesday, term time, 11.30am - 1pm)

Bishop Waltham Welcome Club (2nd and 4th Tuesday, 2pm - 4pm)

West End Club (Monday, 2pm - 4pm)

Southampton Coffee Shop (Wednesday, 10am - 12pm)

Southampton Thursday Club (Thursday, 1.30pm - 3.30pm)

“ Tuesday is my day, the best day of the week. I now have people to speak to and this means the world to me. No longer do I feel isolated. My life has changed since I joined Brendoncare, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

Jean Gell, Member, Brendoncare Winton Friendship Club

Page 8: Winchester Today - May 2015

8 WINCHESTER TODAY SUMMER 2015

Hurrah! Here's something we always look forward to, and The Winchester Festival of the Arts returns for its 16th year in 2015. It runs from 3 – 11 July, and by the look of things it promises to live up to expectations - yet again a varied programme from across the genres of the arts, which includes a range of events.

Details are available from the festival brochure, which is now available on line at www.winchesterfestival.co.uk

The 2015 Festival opens with the spellbinding Rachmaninov Vespers (3rd at 8pm), in the hundredth anniversary of its first performance. It heralds nine days of music and talks throughout the city, from the incomparable (and recently award-winning) Tallis Scholars (7th at 8pm), this year celebrating their fortieth year, to world-famous cellist Natalie Clein with actress Louisa Clein (10th at 8pm) in a programme of words and music in the medieval Church of St Cross.

Lunchtime concerts from talented

young musicians sit side-by-side with concerts from local groups such as Southern Voices (3rd at 8pm) and the Ashton Singers (11th at 7.30pm), and a diverse range of talks taking in literature, art, history, the media and science from a host of well-known names.

They include the Poet Laureate, Dame Carol Ann Duffy (4th at 7.30pm), locally educated author Patrick Gayle (5th at 5pm), internationally recognised medical scientist Professor Robert Winston (7th at 6pm), highly respected popular historian Dan Snow (6th at 7pm) and Chairman of the FA, Greg Dyke, who was previously Director General of the BBC (8th at 8.30pm). With Will Self (8th at 6pm), well known for his penetrating intellect and political insights, there will be no shortage of controversy amongst any of them.

A very popular feature of the Winchester Festival has become a Schools Exhibition and, this year, the Winchester Consortium of Secondary Schools is proud to present some of its finest GCSE Art work in the beautiful North Presbytery Aisle at Winchester Cathedral. You will be able to see students’ work from Henry Beaufort School, Kings’ School, Perins, Westgate and Osborne schools.

Again, there will be the popular 'Literature Comes Alive in Schools'.

For this year’s literature-based work in Winchester primary schools, Helena Fox has once again devised an intriguing workshop for years 5 and 6 pupils – The Story Thief. In a performance that interweaves Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes and Philip Pullman’s Grimm Tales, the pupils will help to rescue their favourite fairytales from the clutches of the Story Thief and restore them back to books everywhere.

Will Self

Southern Voices

Wessex Sinfonietta

Robert Winston

Gilly McMullin

Louisa Clein

Page 9: Winchester Today - May 2015

SUMMER 2015 WINCHESTER TODAY 9

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... ER OLLIE! YOU'VE GOT THEM ONTHE WRONG FEET!

Michael Buerk Greg Dyke

Dan Snow

John LloydJuly 38.00pmSouthern Voices: Rachmaninov Vespers – Cathedral

July 411.00amCome and Sing with Tom Seligman – United Church

7.30pmDame Carol Ann Duffy / John Sampson – Theatre Royal

July 53.30pmFestival Evensong – Cathedral

5.00pm Patrick Gale – Guildhall

7.00pmWessex Sinfonietta – St Paul’s Church

July 61.00pmAdam Turner – St Lawrence’s Church

3.00pmJoa Studholme – Guildhall

7.00pmDan Snow – Guildhall

July 71.00pmPiano and wind quintet – St Lawrence’s Church

6.00pmProfessor Robert Winston – Guildhall

8.00pmTallis Scholars – Cathedral Nave

July 81.00pmLaura Rickard – St Lawrence’s Church

6.00pmWill Self – Guildhall

8.30pm Greg Dyke and John Lloyd – Guildhall

July 91.00pmGhislaine McMullin – St Lawrence’s Church

6.00pmAngela Williams – Link Gallery

8.00pmDivertimenti – Cathedral Quire

July 101.00pmVicki Puttock – St Lawrence’s Church

6.00pmMichael Buerk – The Stripe

8.00pmNatalie and Louisa Clein – St Cross Church

July 117.30pmAshton Singers – St Cross Church

7.30pmAlexander Creswell – The Stripe

Page 10: Winchester Today - May 2015

10 WINCHESTER TODAY SUMMER 2015

Escape - The Lakes, Cumbrian Mountains and Windermere. John Gee takes a detour into a mini-wonderland.

If you've ever had to travel to Scotland on the M6 past Lancaster - as we have had to on a number of occasions - you will know how mind-numbingly boring that road is. I mean, it's a great quality road, but on certain stretches there aren't even any bends in the road for miles!

So, faced with yet another 10-hour hike towards Inverness, we decided to forget about the shared driving and make a sharp left. The Lakes. Somewhere we had always wanted to go but had never thought about. At least, not since scouting days in 1977 when we stopped off at Keswick on the way to, er... Inverness.

"We've put you in the room with the four-poster bed" said the charming girl at Lonsdale House in Bowness on Windermere. Much laughing then ensued. Followed by even more laughter. Not least that the bed was so high up. What if we fell off? Especially as we seemed to polish off most of the complimentary sherry on offer. Then a brisk walk outside down to the lake. Many restaurants en route. We could have had the pick of anything but opted

for a fab curry house.

No such worries about the bed in the end, and we came downstairs on the Saturday morning to a hearty and beautifully presented full English in an equally full breakfast room. Overheard conversations included: "We have just loved it here."

Outside, the weather was completely different to the previous evening. There's a certain kind of

rain in Cumbria. It's like being in a power shower. The rain attacks you from the right but soaks you equally everywhere. It's a wetter kind of rain. The only similar kind of rain I have experienced is in the Welsh valleys.

It rained. And rained. Horizontal rain with the downpour dripping off our noses, and gale force winds to boot... we loved it!

Then - as suddenly as it had started - the rain stopped and we were at the lakeside of Windermere. The swans were completely friendly, people were venturing out on small boats - and there was a bigger pleasure cruiser heading off through the mist.

We had been completely unprepared in the clothing department of course,

but there were plenty of outdoor gear shops with many bargains. A great lined coat purchase served well over the next few days in Scotland too, but this is where your problems are just beginning. Because as you take each tiny bend on the road through Keswick and back to the M6, you want to stop every 5 minutes to take a photograph! Mine cannot do justice. Go and see for yourself. Breathe in the scenery.

On the way back we stayed at Uplands in Cartmel, a beautiful 3 star hotel on the side of a hill with spectacular views over Cumbria. The hotel has upstairs rooms and also a beautifully furnished annexe with further rooms - and a bath! Heaven after a week of showers both inside and out. I can honestly say that the bed was the most comfortable I have ever slept in. Mind you, we had enjoyed great food at the hotel even after arriving quite late; the staff went beyond the call of duty to make sure we could have a table. Yes, we had some great wine. The restaurant prices were around half that of Winchester and of a very, very high quality.

And then, another hearty full English in the morning. Heaven. The staff seemed to be the same as those on duty just a few hours earlier, which gave it even more of a family feel. As we drove back through the village of Cartmel, the church bells were gently ringing. People were walking to the church and all seemed in order for Easter Sunday.

Cumbria. You probably knew all this already and had been keeping it to yourself. If you hadn't, you won't drive past next time.

We stayed at:

Lonsdale House. Rooms £75 per night. In the heart of Bowness on Windermere. Great service.

Uplands, Cartmel. Rooms £90 per night. Beautiful hotel, great food, great atmosphere. Fantastic village and scenery.

All prices correct as on booking.com at Easter 2015.

John Gee

Escape

The Lakes, Cumbrian Mountains and Windermere

"Horizontal rain with the downpour dripping off our noses, and gale force winds... we loved it!"

The seating area next to the dining room at Uplands.

Page 11: Winchester Today - May 2015

SUMMER 2015 WINCHESTER TODAY 11

We are now accepting submissions for the following 9 categories:

Best Drama Short - Best Comedy Short (new for 2015) - Best Non-Fiction

Short - Best Animated Short - Best Music Video - Best Original Screenplay

Best Fine Art Short - Best Budget & New Media Short (new for 2015)

Best Short Under 15 Minutes (new for 2015)

All eligible entries will also be considered for the following special awards:

Best Director Under 18 - Best Short Film - The Hampshire Prize

The 4th annual Winchester Short Film Festival runs from

7—14 November 2015 Entry deadline 15 October 2015

Earlybird entry deadline 31 August 2015

www.winchestershortfilmfestival.com

WinchesterShortFilmFest @WinchesterFilm

Page 12: Winchester Today - May 2015

12 WINCHESTER TODAY SUMMER 2015

You may have heard the Van Morrison single 'Real Real Gone' with Michael Bublé on the radio quite a lot through April, especially on Radio 2. It's from his new album 'Duets: re-working the catalogue' featuring songs reinterpreted by Van with personally selected duet partners including Michael, Steve Winwood, Bobby Womack, Joss Stone and Mark Knopfler among others.

Van told Clive Davis more about the project:

The idea has been around for years really, it’s what you call a side project. I’ve done duets before, several with John Lee Hooker, Tom Jones a couple, Ray Charles, Carl Perkins, Bobby Bland, Lonnie Donogan, Georgie Fame.

How did you choose the guests?

With great difficulty. I had to leave a lot of people out because of the time factor and it was going to run into a double or triple album. I just had to get people who were available. It started back in October 2013. I wanted Bobby Womack, he had been

one of the first people on my list for many years. So Bobby Womack, Mavis Staples and Natalie Cole were playing the Blues Festival in London and so was I. That made sense to get them during that. Those three kind of kicked it off for me. Then it was much harder to get the rest of it because of calendars.

Was it important to have people face to face with you in the studio?

Absolutely, yes, yes. It's not always possible because of calendars as people are all over the place and very busy. Whenever possible you want to get that. The George Benson track I did live with his band in the studio, because I wanted to do something with his band rather than mine for a change. You just have to work with what’s available at the time. Luckily he was in London at the time, his band was there, so it worked out.

You have always been a fairly fast worker, you like to go into the studio and not linger for too long.

No I’m from the John Lee Hooker

school of, ‘you get in, you get out’, kind of thing.

But is it harder to do that with a duet?

Not really, if you have the people available, like George Benson. He was available, he was there that day, we did it, it was a great couple of takes and we were out of there having lunch by 3pm.

I guess some people would have expected to hear the greatest hits, like Moondance on the album.

It ended up being called ‘Re-working the catalogue’. The idea was that as no one else is working the catalogue. You have publishers but it is lip service really, it is not like the old days where you had a publisher that was going to work your songs. So that was the other strand of it. It was two parts to it, one was the fun of doing duets the other was re-working the songs as no one else is working them. So I have to work them. It’s like working the catalogue.

Exile Productions for Winchester Today

Music: Turn It Up!

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Van Is STILL The Man!

Page 13: Winchester Today - May 2015

SUMMER 2015 WINCHESTER TODAY 13

Review: The Great Cheriton Variety Show, Cheriton Village Hall

A quick look through the 'previous productions' by the Cheriton Players will show you that Music Hall presentations were a regular part of the yearly offerings, usually every January / February right up to 1990 when they fizzled out.

More's the pity because there was plenty of the Music-Hall type of singing on offer in this performance to get us singing along and joining in. On top of that there was poetry, drama and comedy to add to the mix, and to delight us all. Hey, we even had some gentle heckling!

I particularly enjoyed 'Flash, Bang, Wallop' led by Charlie Hellard and the Chorus, along with singing along to the Hippopotamus song. Alison Carter delivered a note perfect rendition of 'Memory'... and there were plenty of boos and hisses in the comedy drama 'Train Track Tragedy' on the Watercress Line. Above all, it was splendid to see David Cradduck back on stage after many painful weeks of chemotherapy with 'A couple of me poems' a la Pam Ayres - especially with a hilarious one that was set around 50 shades of grey.

It was also a great idea to offer a ploughman's style meal in the break, with drinks served at the tables. It made everyone feel even more welcome.Add to that the fact that the four shows that

were more or less sold out. Perhaps it's time for the Players to re-instate this kind of show every January as an alternative to the Panto-style shows on offer elsewhere?

This show had everything... it was colourful, bawdy and ever-so-slightly bonkers. All in all, a super scrumptious sizzling sensational show!

Kevin Gover

Review: Spamalot – MayflowerDavid Cradduck is a Python fan,

eats ham and jam and Spam a lot - and so couldn’t resist visiting Camelot when it came to town... (It’s only a model! - Ed).

OK, I admit to being rather biased, belonging to that lucky generation that witnessed the birth of Something Completely Different back in 1969. Watched by thousands of youngsters, but not always completely understood, Monty Python’s Flying Circus broke the TV comedy mould with its cult off the wall sketches, wild and peculiar animation, silly walks, cross-dressing lumberjacks and dead parrots.

From the scratchy black and white

TV series a series of equally mad films was made which spawned further catchphrases destined to become as

much a part of folklore as King Arthur himself: The Knights of Ni demanding “Bring me a shwubberwy”, the lavatorial taunts of the French soldier to Arthur and Eric Idle’s anthem “Always look on the bright side of life”.

Spamalot is a colourful, funny,

panto-esque rip-off (by its own admission) of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, the low-budget blockbuster shot in cold, wet Scotland – with various additions from Life of Brian and other Python classics.

It is not high-brow, sophisticated or out to win awards for stage craft, but it is clever in its own way, funny and had our audience rolling in the aisles. Gags aplenty – many of them well-anticipated – made it difficult to keep a straight face and there were a few local and topical references to Southampton, the upcoming election and Jeremy Clarkson’s fall from disgrace to keep it fresh.

Even Eric Idle put in a video

appearance as God (played in other venues by other suitably God-like folk such as Michael Palin, Christopher Biggins, Brian May, Simon Callow and even Professor Brian Cox).

Joe Pasquale as an unlikely King

Arthur was endearing, especially in his 21st century spectacles – aided by his sidekick Patsy played with amazing facial expressions and Baldrick-like approach to the role, by Todd Carty of Grange Hill and Eastenders fame.

The supporting cast of ten danced and sang their way through classics

as the ‘Fisch Schlapping Song’, ‘Brave Sir Robin’ and ‘He is Not Dead Yet’ in various locations from ‘Plague Village’ to Camelot, all of which were brought to life with a simple set, robust lighting and a few panto-style scene changes. Some doubling of very strange characters was required and the versatility of the cast didn’t go unnoticed.

Sarah Earnshaw as The Lady of the

Lake really earnt her Diva stripes as she belted out her songs whilst

mercilessly taking the **** out of the whole Holy Grail legend – and in fact there was some really excellent, if straightforward, song and dance routines.

It has to be said that nearly all

the Good Bits from the original film scripts went into the first half, leaving the second act scratching a little for material. But overall this was hugely entertaining stuff and not just for old, male, Python

stalwarts like me – there was a decent smattering of yoof and the fairer sex there, and presumably they went voluntarily and knew what they were in for.

This is not a show for people who want surprises – you know what you’re in for and are more than likely to be chuckling, singing and whistling along.

Review

Would you like to rent this space?

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01962 868234 07427 417387

[email protected]

Page 14: Winchester Today - May 2015

14 WINCHESTER TODAY SUMMER 2015

Third Week in AugustA Comedy by Peter Gordon

10th – 13th June 2015

an open air production (audience under cover, seating provided) at the Flowerpots Inn, Cheriton

£10.007.45pm (*gates/BBQ/bar open 6.30pm)

BBQ* and Licensed Bar*

Licensed premises - No picnics or bottles please

Tickets available online from www.ticketsource.co.uk/cheritonplayersor tel 0333 666 3366 (standard rates apply)

* All booking, seating, catering and other details at www.thecheritonplayers.org.uk

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

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited

no seating plan - first come, first served’All Tickets

Page 15: Winchester Today - May 2015

SUMMER 2015 WINCHESTER TODAY 15

Review

REVIEW: Côte Brasserie, WinchesterIf you had ever been to the original

location of Moss Bros in Winchester, you may have wondered how the building could be transformed into a restaurant - it was, after all, pretty ordinary as a building. As far as a location for top flight restaurants go, it was off the beaten track too... especially for the traffic noise from the High Street!

A £1m refurbishment later, and Winchester has a French-style brasserie that is not only in keeping with its surroundings, but which inside is bright, fresh - and busy.

So it was then that on an afternoon in March, three of us decided to check it out. We were not disappointed. Personally, I was immediately struck with the refurbishment and how they have coped with the interior. The restaurant is well laid-out on a series of levels leading up to the loos which wouldn't look out of place in a five-star hotel.

We were right by the front window, and I could hear barely anything

of the noisy traffic outside. People were arriving all the time, and many more were outside looking at the menu. Not only that, but the phone was ringing almost constantly with people wanting to make bookings. Now, I have to say at this point that the staff knew who we were. But I went back a couple of days later, and the place was - again - busy, busy.

As it was before 7pm, we each had a selection from the three-course early evening menu, with a couple of deviations, and which seems amazing value for £11.90 considering what you get. We can give you an idea of what to expect, but be aware that the menus change every two weeks to take into account the seasons and what is available for fresh ingredients.

The early evening menu included roast vine-ripened tomato soup, smoked mackerel rillettes, hake fillet and pan roasted breaded chicken breast with Provençal sauce. The after that caught my eye even before we had started was the 'crumble

aux pommes' with Normandy butter crumble - comfort food to the max and delicious. The specials menu when we were there included grilled swordfish and lamb shank.

We all decided to have something different so that we could do some swapping around, and tried to be as French as possible. Therefore, it was a bottle of genuine Breton Cidre that came before the wine (and after the Kir Royale!). The onion soup was superb - rustic with a sourdough croûte and melted comté cheese topping - almost a meal in itself. Team member 2 went for a crab mayonnaise to start, which came with avocado, cucumber, capers and tarragon and team member 3 chose a prawn gratinée, king prawns in a white wine, garlic, chilli and tomato sauce.

We all could have stopped there! Except there was something very tempting about a traditional beef bourguignon. The meat was tender and went down a treat. As did the roast seabass. Somehow we managed to squeeze in a lemon tart and apple tart too.

Although we were there for a good 90 minutes, there are quick traditional dishes which we could maybe try another time... what could be more French than steak frites or Hachis Parmentier - the French equivalent of a cottage pie?

I was also very impressed with the French way of bringing everything to the table on a huge round tray,

sometimes high above the head. That, my friends is a skill in itself and one to be applauded. Five stars all round to everyone for a splendid time. Welcome!

Côte Brasserie53/54 High Street Winchesterwww.cote-restaurants.co.uk

KG, EK, DK

Page 16: Winchester Today - May 2015

Up For The Cup!

Late goal forces extra time and penalties

Wow, what a beauty! Many congratulations to Winchester City who at least already have something to show off for the season with a trophy in the cabinet.

City took on Whitchurch United in the Final of the North Hants Senior Cup and won 4-2 on penalties after the match finished 1-1 at the end of normal time, and then still 1-1 after extra time, although the match started in the daylight, it was almost 10:30pm when we knew the final outcome.

Kevin Watkins was at the match and reports for Winchester Today:

It was a scrappy game, which saw Whitchurch take the lead with a header after an hour which looped over City keeper Gareth Barfoot.

Just in time though, prolific

marksman Warren Bentley tapped in at the far post after a long throw by Adam Roberts for his 55th goal of the season with just seconds of the match remaining.

Extra time saw City create a few chances but in the end it went to penalties. City emerged victorious when Micky Hubbard scored the decisive penalty to win it 4-2 in the shootout. Pictures: Tony Smith Photography

16 WINCHESTER TODAY SUMMER 2015

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