Spring Arrives

After a month of cold winds, frost and snow the weather is at last on the up.

The Hawthorne bushes are turning bright green, buds are appearing on most trees, daffs are popping up everywhere and the cherry blossom brings extra colour to the village.

Click HERE for more images of Spring in Titchfield

From “Spring” by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1899)

“Nothing is so beautiful as Spring -

When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;

Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush

Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring

The ear, it strikes like lightning to hear him sing;

The glassy pear tree leaves and blooms, they brush

The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush

With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.”

Titchfield’s very own ‘Banksy’

Did you spot the April Fools jolly jape on www.titchfieldnews.com? We didn’t!!!

Late last night we received an email from a ‘Joe Kerr’ telling of the ‘Banksy’ graffiti and sadly we posted the story on the site without checking.

It wasn’t ‘till readers started to comment that it was an April Fools Day that we started to suspect a hoax. We even popped around to South Street, but of course there was no graffiti!
www.titchfieldnews.com therefore wishes to apologise for publishing inaccurate, misleading or distorted information and a fabricated image of the supposed ‘artwork’.

The article is printed in full below...

A Banksy inspired graffiti artwork has appeared on a wall in South Street, Titchfield.

The full-sized silhouette of a man having a pee has outraged residents who are demanding its removal.

Long time village resident, Daisy-Fora Poll, said, “I was shocked when I saw it as I came down West Street, I thought it was real, It shouldn’t be allowed.”

However experts from The Wessex Independent Topography Service are seeking to have the artwork protected as it falls within the Conservation Area.

The chairperson of TWITS, Lady Failspoor,  explained that the painting must have been completed in the early hours of this morning adding, “It may not be an actual Banksy but it should still be protected by being listed”  

According to Wikipedia:-
Banksy is an anonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist and film director.[1] His satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humour with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. His works of political and social commentary have been featured on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world.

Renowned Urban Art expert Dr. Olaf Priol is travelling from Sweden today to verify the artwork. Olaf is know for his work with the internationally acclaimed Graffiti Art Group.

GAG, with the help of TWITS, hope that the painting will become a major attraction for the area.

What do you think?

Use the Comment link below to tell us what you think should happen to the graffiti.

The search for two lost Angels

Can you help locate two lost Angels?

In the south wall of the Southampton Chapel of St Peter's Church is a beautiful Jacobean monument to the memory of Lady Mary, fourth daughter of the third Earl of Southampton, who died on January 5, 1615. Her little recumbent figure in the dress of the period, completed in white marble, upon a base of, and surrounded by, black marble, lies with her feet to the West instead of the East. The monument is thought to have been made by Epiphanius Evesham, the fourteenth son of a Hereford squire who learned his art with the Anglo-Flemish sculptors of Southwark.

This monument was restored in 1909 by Wriothesley descendants the Duke of Portland and Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. Another conservation effort was carried out in 1984 by the Chichester Cathedral Works Organisation. The current Lord Montagu of Beaulieu is leading an appeal to restore this monument further and would be grateful to receive any information, early drawings or photographs of the monument and any information regarding the whereabouts of the two missing angels/figures described and depicted flanking the recumbent child in 1717 and 1840. 

In 1717 William Pavey recorded his observations of the monument: 'Against the south wall is a beautiful mural monument of curious black marble with the figure of a small child finely dressed lying at length in white marble, angels with other neat ornaments in white marble; the head lies to the east.'

In 1840 R.H.C. Ubsdell created a beautiful watercolour of the Lady Mary Monument, complete with the two, now missing, Angels. On the back he provided this description: 'Monument to Ladie Marie Wryotheslye. Titchfield Church, Sept. 1840. Drawn by R.H.C. Ubsdell. The figures are much defaced, and only one hand remains, which appears to have held a palm branch. The figure above the monument probably held a trumpet. The figures of the Angels measure 25 inches in height.'

In 1943 C.J.P. Cave Esq. F.S.A. photographed the figures/angels and it is presumed they were photographed in the Church, but not in situ. A photo from 1944 shows another, now missing, stone fragment to the left of Lady Mary.

The current whereabouts of the two angels and the fragment are unknown.

The Southampton Monument & Vault Initiative (SMVI), in partnership with the Skillington's Workshop, endeavors to restore the Wriothesley monuments as accurately as possible. Please direct inquiries, responses, or donations to SMVI, Attn. Laura Matthias at mail.smvi@beaulieu.co.uk. SMV is enabled through the generous support of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu and welcomes public and private donations. Please contact SMVI Gifts to make a donation or to become a patron alongside Lord Montagu. Email: mail.smvi@beaulieu.co.uk.

Image:- Ubsdell, R.H.C.,1840, Watercolour drawing of the Lady Mary Wriothesley Monument, Collection of Prints & Drawings of the Society of Antiquaries of London, Sepulchral Monuments and Tombs, Hampshire, SAL/238A/5-7

Demolition of garage underway

Work has started to demolish the Titchfield Motor Works building in East Street.

The building was sold earlier in the year to developers who are planning to erect three houses on the former garage site.

Titchfield Motor Works was owned and run by Phil Upshall. Phil’s grandfather started the business before the war but died suddenly in 1946. Phil’s father, Don, had to leave the RAF to take over the reins.

Easter Fun Day fun

The Titchfield Bonfire Boys present an Easter Fun Day with fun and games for all the family.

Visitors will be able to take part and enjoy a selection of Easter based activities including, Face Painting, a Colouring Competition, Easter Bonnet Competition and an Easter egg Hunt.

Tea, Coffee and Cakes will available at the event which takes place on the 1st April between 2pm and 4pm at The Parish Rooms.

Sadly there will be no carnival again this year due to legal and insurance issues but the Bonfire Boys will be arranging a number of alternative events in the village.

LINK
Titchfield Bonfire Boys on Facebook

A world première for Titchfield

The Nose by Johnny O’Hanlon

The Nose is the world première of a story inspired by the famous Russian novelist Nikolai Gogol and written in the 1830s.

Strange things happen, perhaps rarely, but do happen. One day some thing strange indeed did happen to a man called Simonov who was due to be married that very day. He lost his nose…

Titchfield Festival Theatre member and the play’s director Johnny O’Hanlon took Gogol's idea of a man with a missing nose - and decided to write a different narrative. This is a hilarious story, capturing the surreal quality of Gogol’s writing whilst providing entertainment for a modern day audience to appreciate.

The play is rich in bizar re characters and storylines: A marriage bargain, a money-grasping family, a ruthless and pretentious poet, a desirous actress, a beleaguered husband, a frail servant, a few macaroons, a misbehaving sausage and, oh yes, a missing nose.

Johnny O’Hanlon explained the motivation behind the new version of the classic production: “I wrote The Nose because I was attracted by the idea of a ridiculous egotistical man, Simonov, running around his bedroom looking for his nose on the day of an important marriage deal with an equally scheming family called Uppervitch. Simonov cannot wait to marry their beautiful daughter, but Mr & Mrs Uppervitch are hatching a plan to deceive Simonov. The
scene is set for the fun to begin…”

Gogol wrote his absurd but brilliant short story as criticism of the way small-minded bureaucrats jockeyed for position within Russian government circles. Titchfield Festival Theatre’s production however is not political, but instead centres on how two families – the Simonovs and Uppervitchs – are prepared to deceive each other to gain popularity and status.

Artistic Director of Titchfield Festival Theatre, Kevin Fraser says, “We decided to focus on classic productions this month – Gogol is one of the world’s greatest writers who we wanted to feature in the Acorn Theatre here. Johnny O’Hanlon has specially written this play for us and it is great fun. Imagine Monty Python and The Goons meeting Benny Hill….that is the essence of what we promise will be a fun night of laughter and comedy.”

The opening night performance is on Monday 26h March starting at 7.30pm with further performances on 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th and 31st March.

For more information, please go to http://titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com/or contact the Box Office on 01329 556156.

Next Police Community Beat meeting

Your next opportunity to speak to our local Neighbourhood officer will be at the Parish Rooms between 10am and 11.30am on March 30th.

An officer will be on hand to offer crime prevention advice and discuss any issues face to face with a cup of tea or coffee.

The meeting takes place in the informal settings of the Titchfield Coutry Market where you can chat over a coffee and cake or purchase a wide variety of fresh locally sourced fruit, eggs and vegetables.

LINKS

• Hampshire Police
• Titchfield Country Market

Pippa Greenwood to visit Titchfield

The Titchfield Gardeners Club are honoured to be hosting "An Evening with Pippa Greenwood" on Friday 29th June 2018 at the Titchfield Community Centre.

Pippa will start by giving a talk about "Her life in Horticulture" and following a short interval, will  hold a question and answers session on her specialist subject "Pests and Diseases in your Garden.

Ticket prices and sales release date to be confirmed later, but readers may want to save the date on their calendars and also inform friends and relatives of this unique opportunity to meet a garden celebrity of "Gardeners World" and "Gardeners Question Time" fame.

Pippa has also agreed to do a book signing session during the course of the evening.

TACT is the word

The icy February weather was soon forgotten on entering the Community Centre, by the warmth and welcome of the members of TACT, who were performing there for the second year, and adding a Sunday Matinee, after the Friday and Saturday evening performances.

What could be nicer than sitting at candlelit tables, sharing supper, or tea, with your friends, and watching talented performers entertain you?

The twenty-strong cast rose to the challenge with an eclectic mix of songs, skits and satire.

There was something for everyone from the Barbershop Sextet, in harmonious accord, to the enthusiastic Skiffle group, jogging the old memories. 

The girls, too, did themselves proud with their Dust Busting routine and an intricate rain dance, with open umbrellas, showing their stage craft skills.

We were treated to Monologues from a frustrated actress, a doting Grandmother, and one telling us the problems of keeping fit on your own, Pam Ayres style.’

Another reminded us how easy it is to ruin an outing by not being sure that you have turned off the curling tongs before setting out.

We were treated to an abridged performance of” Grease,” with the girls in 50’s style dresses and boys in authentic gear, of black leather jackets. With wigs for the lads, and American accents, the cast ‘brought the house down!

We were privileged to have a visit from Theresa May and Donald Trump, in amazing wigs, trying to revitalize the ‘Special Relationship.’

The Baby Boomers Anthem had the audience chuckling, as did the unique telling of The Green Eyed Yellow Idol, and who will forget the harrowing tale of a spoilt child, an Anteater and a visiting relation to the USA?, it didn’t end well.

Also, I don’t think the residents would approve of the suggestion in “The Future of Titchfield,” of skiing down West Street. It might end in more than a bollard bump at the bottom. We all know what Health and Safety would say

There is so much talent in Titchfield not only in the acting department but in the original writing and the music. TACT again gave us splendid entertainment and our thanks go to the Stage Director, Pat Shirley, ably supported by Sukie Swan, Keith Tatman, and the Producer Jacqui Knott, who, with their hard work and organizational skills,  made it memorable and sent their audiences away with smiles on their faces.

 

Blanket of snow covers the village

The 'Beast from the East' storm has blanketed the village with a covering of picturesque snow.

The much talked about, and anticipated, snow laden air from the Arctic and Russia has arrived.

Most seemed to have taken note of the warnings and stayed off the roads, resulting in a lot less traffic through the village.

The Met Office have issued a 'Yellow Warning' for Snow and Ice for Friday until midnight.

hey report that 'patchy freezing rain will affect some southern parts of England and well as west Wales until early afternoon, leading to icy stretches which may be difficult to see.

There is also an increasing chance that a further spell of more persistent snow may move northwards across southern England, Wales and Central England.