The Royal Wedding

See how they celebrated the Royal Wedding in West Street.

Click HERE to view a gallery of images

It’s Strawberry Season Again

The ready picked strawberry season is here at last.

The fields in and around Titchfield have long been recognised as the ideal location for growing strawberries.

Is it the soil, the sunshine, the rain, the nurturing or a combination of all four. Whatever the reason Titchfield strawberries rightly regarded as some of the tastiest fruit in the country.

The  early ready picked strawberries are grown under glass or more likely in ‘polly tunnels’ and are just as juicy.

Mark Harris from Steve Harris Farms said, "We have just opened our Ready Picked Strawberry stall for 2018 along Posbrook lane."

So support our local growers and stop at one of the roadside stalls and pick up a punnet. You’ll find strawberries for sale along the Warsash Road, Stubbington Road and Posbrook Lane.

The Pick Your Own fields usually open mid-late June.It all depends on the weather...

Link
Steve Harris Farms

Name Titchfield's new park

Residents in Fareham are being asked for their help to name a new park in Titchfield which will open in Summer 2019.

The new park will run along the A27 on Southampton Hill and will be the size of 15 football pitches.

Plans include a play area, orchard, wildflower meadows as well as educational wildlife areas and beehives. Visitors will also be able to enjoy footpaths, interpretation panels with details of the park's surroundings, seating, dog bins and a small car park.

Now residents are being asked to cast their votes for one of three choices or suggest a new name for the park during a consultation period from Saturday 12 May to Friday 22 June.

People can choose from the following options:

• Tannery Meadows – Tanneries were an important industry in the village from the Middle Ages.
• Abbey Meadows – The new park is next to Titchfield Abbey.
• Meon Meadows – The Meon River runs to the east of the site and flows through Titchfield.

Executive Member for Streetscene, Councillor Simon Martin said: "The new park will be for the whole community to enjoy and I would encourage everyone to help us name this great new facility." 

To help decide the name of the park, you can vote online at www.fareham.gov.uk/consultations visit Titchfield Community Centre or drop a token into our voting box in the foyer of the Fareham Borough Council offices.

Children at Titchfield Primary School, Ranvilles Infant and Junior School and St Anthony's C of E have also been invited to take part and vote.

Residents will also be able to vote at Community Action Team (CAT) meetings taking place at across Fareham during May and June.

Luxury retirement development takes step closer to completion with announcement of prices

Older people worried by the prospect of downsizing can be reassured their equity will be protected for the future, thanks to the properties on sale in Titchfield’s newest retirement village, Friary Meadow.

An artists impression

The Hampshire development, named in reference to the nearby Abbey and the likely historic use of the fields around it, has taken another major step towards completion as developers release the much-anticipated prices for its luxury accommodation.

Friary Meadow will offer a selection of 86 luxury homes, comprising of apartments that start from £375,000, bungalows from £485,000 and townhouses from £595,000. Car parking spaces are available for just £250 per year and residents won’t be charged ground rent.

It is based on the ‘extra-care’ living model, as recommended by the Department of Health, which aims to giving older people the opportunity to retain their independence for longer, including their financial independence by enabling residents to own their own properties, thereby protecting their equity.

Dr. Stephen Ladyman, founder of Oak Retirement and a former Minister of Health responsible for Social Care, said: “I’m delighted to announce the prices for accommodation at Friary Meadow and believe they really reflect the high-quality living on offer.

“This is a really exciting time as we move one step further to finishing this luxury development and open its doors to residents, who will be able to enjoy the many benefits of an independent, worry-free retirement.”

The £35m development is a joint project between independent retirement living specialist, Oak Retirement, and real estate fund manager, Frogmore.

Construction was launched in June last year, during an official ground-breaking ceremony attended by Mayor of Fareham, Councillor Geoff Fazackarley and the Mayoress Mrs Tina Fazackarley.

Friary Meadow is due to be completed in November 2018.

For more information about Friary Meadow, visit www.friarymeadow.co.uk. To enquire about a property, please email info@oakretirement.co.uk

For more information about Oak Retirement, visit www.oakretirement.co.uk.

Village turns out for the Church Fete

Despite the threat of showers hundreds of Titchfield residents enjoyed a fun packed  afternoon at St Peter’s Church Fete.

See a whole gallery of images from the day by clicking HERE

Helpers from right across the community were busy from first thing preparing for the event.

The plant stalls were stocked, the second hand books stacked high, the gazebos erected and the BBQ lit.

The gate was officially opened at 1pm and the visitors streamed in.

Music was provided by Paul McKenna’s Swingworld Band in the front garden and by the St Peter’s Puppets, Titchfield Primary School Pans Ablaze and the West Hill Park Community Choir in the back garden.

The scouts did sterling work selling burgers and hot dogs.

Refreshments were also provided in the church with the opportunity to listen to the church organ and to speak to the Organist.

In the beautiful Old  Vicarage garden, were the usual range of stalls with a variety of community organisations greeting visitors on the front lawn.

Activities and games include ‘Jolly Jars’, the ‘Coconut Shy’ and ‘Splat the Rat’ as well as the Super Chance and Chocolate Tombolas.

A great day for all and thankfully the rain held off for most of the afternoon.

See a whole gallery of images from the day by clicking HERE

Get planting for Titchfield in Bloom

Judging last year

Last year, for the first time ever, Titchfield entered Britain in Bloom as part of South and South East England.

The organisers were amazed at the number of people who decorated their front of houses, in the whole area of Titchfield, with flowers and flags.  This is more than just the centre of the village.   

Everywhere looked wonderful and the village of Titchfield won Silver Gilt ( just below Gold) which shocked the organisers as we were a first time entry.

Gloria Hunt from the ‘Titchfield in Bloom’ group said, “This year we are going for Gold .

“We have to show conservation, recycling, care of environment and lots more as well as loads of flowers, so quite a job.

“You will see us through the next few weeks, in green tops planting, sweeping , litter picking and weeding.”

Following on from last year the committee are convinced that this year, and with everyone’s help , the village will look amazing.

They recommend geraniums, lavender, begonias or any plants that need less watering .

Titchfield IS the hottest

Phew wot a scorcher!

It’s official, Titchfield is the hottest place in the country.

The BBC have just announced that the hottest place in the country is Gosport with 24.2C while our picture shows Titchfield is baking at 24.5C and it’s only 11am.

The Met Office also confirmed that today is the hottest May Bank holiday since the long weekend was introduced in 1978. The previous national highest May Bank holiday was 23.6C on May 3rd 1999.

So, get out there and enjoy the sunshine but, remember to use sun cream to lower your risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

Take heed of Baz Luhrmann’s advice from his 1997 hit, ‘Everybody’d Free to Wear Sunscreen’.

Connie Hockley returned as Councillor for Titchfield

The Fareham Borough Council elections saw Conservative Connie Hockley returned as Councillor for Titchfield Ward.

Connie and Geoff opening St Peter's Church Fete in 2016

Connie won with a large majority over her rivals, Gillian Underwood (Liberal) and Michael Prior (Labour).

Over the years Connie has supported many local organisations and served on a number of important FBC committees. She was Fareham’s Mayor in 2016.

Turnout for Titchfield was surprisingly low with just 2114 residents voting.

The Conservatives remain in control of Fareham Council, as they have for the last 20 years.

The Tory’s won 12 of the 16 sears contested this year.

The Official Results

• Connie Hockley Con 1,475
• Gillian Underwood Lib 324
• Michael Prior Lab 304
• (11 ballot papers were rejected)

Links

Fareham Borough Council Election Results page
Cllr Connie Hockley

New Chair for FoSP

Pat Shirley has been appointed the new Chair of Friends of St Peter’s, taking over from Frances Knight.

Frances has stepped down as chair after leading the work of FoSP for the last 4 years.

Paying tribute to Frances, Pat said, “Under her stewardship FOSP has continued to  thrive exceptionally well and l know you will all join me in thanking her for her leadership in this role (big shoes for me to follow but l will do my best!)"

The ‘Friends’ confirmed dates for future events as follows:-

• 10th June - Open Garden with tea and cakes at Meon House
• 16th September - Jazz at the Great Barn featuring Solent City Jazzmen.
• 7th, 8th & 9th December - St Peter’s Christmas Tree Festival

The Friends of St Peter’s is a charity formed to raise money, maintain the church’s beauty and keep it in sound condition.

Over the years the Friends of St Peter’s have raised a great deal of money to support the funding for the recent renovation work, internal safety and lighting and the Gothic Tomb.

Links

• The Friends of St Peter's
• St Peter's Church

An appeal to keep Barry's Meadow stream free flowing

The stream and culvert alongside Barry's Meadow gets blocked from time to time and has caused houses to flood in the High Street in 2014.

After that incident residents were under the impression that Fareham Borough Council would check and clear the culvert, but this has not happened.

A few diligent residents keep an eye on the culvert and go and clear it occasionally, but what would be very helpful would be the reduction in debris getting into the stream in the first place.

Please could residents of Southampton Hill whose gardens back onto the stream and anyone who walks in Barry's Meadow please remove branches when they see them.

Ironically the recent pollarding of a tree along the stream by the council added to the debris blocking the culvert.

Liver Birds fly in to Titchfield

The Liver Birds: You Dancin’? You Askin’?

Two young women, Sandra and Beryl, share a flat in Liverpool. It’s the 1970s and their lives are filled with dreams, talking about boyfriends and of course, the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

The Liver Birds, written by friends Carla Lane and Myra Taylor became a hugely successful television programme in that decade, entertaining millions with its funny and amusing take on life as the girlspursue their romantic interests whilst keeping their interfering mothers at bay.

The TV sitcom has now been adapted for the stage and Titchfield Festival The atre are delighted to perform this comedy production, directed by Martin Crawley. Martin explains;

“The Liver Birds is a play which brilliantly captures that exciting period at the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s as women started to discover greater independence, with more freedoms at work and opportunities in their love lives.

This is a hilarious and entertaining show where you will be introduced to a constant stream of colourful and eccentric neighbours, ex-lovers, mothers, fathers and vicars, each who parade through the flat to add to the overall confusion.”

Kevin Fraser, Artistic Director for the Titchfield Festival Theatre says, “We chose The Liver Birds as it was a perfect play to follow on from our classic season. If you remember the 1970s you will love it, however there is plenty for younger audiences to enjoy and appreciate.

The play is suitably nostalgic, superbly co-written by one of Britain’s most popular writers Carla Lane, exploring the relationships of the two young women in an amusing and charming way.”

The Liver Birds opens on Wednesday 9 th May until 19 th May at 7.30pm in the main Oak Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG. The Sunday matinee performance is on 13 th May at 2.30pm.

For more information, please go to Titchfield Festival Theatre or contact our Box Office on 01329 556156

Titchfield Gathers Together

The Titchfield Community Centre have invited all village Clubs, Societies and Fund Raising Groups to a social  event on Tuesday 5th June.

The ‘gathering’ will enable members of all village groups to mingle socially and, by working together, help eliminate clashes of events.

Here, on ‘Titchfield News’ we have a ‘What’s On’ calendar which is open to all village organisations to submit their events and meetings. 

Click HERE to view the calendar.

Community Centre Chairman, Ann Whyntie, explained, “There are often events in the Village that “clash”, and it could benefit all of us, particularly if fundraising, to be aware of other events and either try to spread them out over the year, or synchronise for a win - win outcome.

“As the Association is a charity, we’re sorry but we are unable to fund this (other than provide the venue), and I would therefore ask you to contribute by bringing a bottle and some ‘nibbles’ to make the evening go with a swing!”

If you are coming to the gathering please contact the Centre's office to let them know how many from your group are going.

The ‘What’s On’ calendar is open for all to use. Below the calendar is a link to an upload form to submit events.

Groups can also be given the relevant passwords to enter events directly onto the Google Calendar.

There is also the facility to ‘embed’ the Google calendar into any other village website.

The gathering will be at the Community Centre in the Barleycorn Lounge from 7pm-9pm.
 

It’s Art Show weekend

Once again Titchfield Community Centre is the venue for the Titchfield Art and Craft Show.

The very popular event starts with a preview evening which is always a fun and very sociable event.

Again, this year, there are over 400 pieces of art and craft exhibited by over 142 Artists/Photographers plus 350 portfolios to look through..

Art arriving at the show

Visitors can browse 18 Craft Stalls, with products ranging from delicate jewellery to contemporary ironwork for the home and garden.

The theme for the ever popular children's exhibition is 'Through a Window'

Last years show raised £6,500 which was donated to Titchfield Community Centre and another £250 was given to The Oasis Youth Club to use for Art related projects.

The preview evening is on Friday 27th 7pm - 9.30pm.

Friday night is ticket only but allows visitors to view, and purchase, the work on-sale prior to the show opening to the public.

Open to the public:- Saturday 28th 10am - 5pm and Sunday 29th 10am - 4pm. Entry £2 on the door.

Foreman Homes appeal Posbrook Lane decision

An impression of what the new development could look like when viewed from the canal.

Foreman Homes have lodged an appeal against the decision of Fareham Borough Council to refuse outline planning permission for the land east of Posbrook Lane.

The plan was to provide for a scout hut, up to 150 dwellings, community garden, associated landscaping, amenity areas and a means of access from Posbrook Lane.

The developers claim that FBC’s development plan is out of date and that therefore planning permission should be granted for the Posbrook Lane site, ‘unless any adverse impacts of doing so would not just materially, but significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.’

Foreman Homes say that the development plan is not based upon a NPPF compliant objectively assessed need for housing and cannot be said to be up to date in respect of its housing requirement. It does therefore provide an appropriate basis for the calculation of a five year supply.

They point out that following the Cranleigh Road appeal decision (APP/A1720/W/16/3156344) (August 2017) now accepts that the Core Strategy does not meet the objectively assessed need for housing .

Titchfield Village Trust led opposition to the original application.

TVT Chairman, Nick Girdler, said, “Since they put in the first application things have moved forward on Wellborne and they have also moved on their new housing proposals so hopefully the inspector will see that.”

The application Ref. No. is P/17/0681/OA

LINKS

• Titchfield Village Trust
• The appeal by Foreman Homes

Air Ambulance lands in the village

Titchfield Square was closed this morning following a crash between a motorbike and a Volvo estate car outside the Co-Op.

The Air Ambulance in Barry's Meadow

Police and emergency services were called to the incident at around 10.10 am this morning.

Soon after the Air Ambulance helicopter landed in Barry’s Meadow to assist with the treatment of the motorcyclist.

Staff from the Co-Op helped direct the traffic until the police arrived.

Rubbish left in churchyard

A pile of rubbish has been left on Skinhouse Piece alongside St Peter's churchyard.

The pile of rubbish includes rubble, a plastic chair, garden prunings, plastic flowers, a paint tin, plant pots and car tyre.

It is thought that the rubbish had been pulled from the nearby canal sometime last week and is awaiting collection by Fareham Borough Council.

Do you know who left their rubbish in the churchyard? Leave your comment below.

A healing weekend at St Peter’s

Following the controversial decision to change the date of last year’s Christmas candlelit carol services the church have organised a workshop entitled ‘A Time to Heal and a Time to Grow’.

The workshop facilitators, John Hughes and Liz Smith, members of Reverend Doctor Russ Parker’s 2Restore Team, have extensive experience of helping churches through times of conflict, here and in the United States.

Earlier in the year the church asked, in a questionnaire, the views of all within the village. The PCC’s report on the feedback they received is available in a folder at the back of the church.

The workshop will begin at 9.30am on Saturday 28th April in church and finish no later than 4pm.
On Sunday there will be a united service of blessing at 10am in the morning.
Everyone is welcome.

The flyer issued by the church

Poppies at Portsdown

A wave of bright red poppies sweep over an embankment at Fort Nelson on top of Portsdown Hill.

The sculpture was created by artist Paul Cummins and  designer Tom Piper Wave was created by artist Paul Cummins and  designer Tom Piper at Fort Nelson for the 14-18 NOW arts project it commemorates the centenary of World War One.

The Wave

The hundreds of ceramic poppies were previously part of the installation at the Tower of London and now stunning visitors to the Royal Armouries Museum.

The sculpture will be on display until Sunday 24th June.

While the Wave is on display daily talks will focus on life at the fort during the war and on the collection of artillery from the period.

For more information: - Fort Nelson

David Copperfield: Dickens enduring story comes to Titchfield

David Copperfield is Dickens’ storytelling at its best and this week Titchfield Festival Theatre brings this stunning adaptation to life, following previous productions including A Christmas Carol and Great Expectations. Charles Dickens considered David Copperfield to be his finest piece of work and without doubt, this classic will keep you entertained.

Image: www.posbrookpics.uk

The story of David Copperfield is of a boy making his way in the world, and finding himself as a man and as a writer. Throughout the play you will be introduced to all the favourite characters as David Copperfield wends his way through life with a loving mother and doting nanny through to a wicked stepfather, downtrodden schoolboy and a ‘working hind’ to his saviour in Aunt Betsy, Mr Dick and Tommy Traddles.

Working on a multi layered set representing rooms in David’s life the cast of 25 tell of David’s trials and tribulations, his heartache and eventual happiness. In true Dickens style, all the characters are colourful, vivacious and eager to tell a story. All of this is wonderfully told by this multi-talented cast, with many indeed playing two or three roles.

Artistic Director of Titchfield Festival Theatre and the director of David Copperfield, Kevin Fraser says,

“‘Of all the Dickens stories this has to be one of my favourites, it is crammed full of colourful characters and a rich tapestry of life runs through the whole book. Frank Veresi has brought us a wonderful adaption that our audiences will adore. Patrons are in for a treat, a roller coaster of emotions from laughter and fun to terror and grief. It is all here, just as Dickens wrote it using his own words. If you love Dickens, enjoy a great story or want a brilliant Victorian evening you simply can’t miss David Copperfield.”

David Copperfield opens on Wednesday 11th April until 21st April at 7.30pm in the Oak Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG.

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

Test your wits at the Community Centre Quiz Night

The Titchfield Community Centre are hosting their annual Quiz Night on Friday May 11th and are inviting teams and individuals to take part.

Teams of no more than 6 people.

The event, which takes place in the Barleycorn Lounge, will cost Quizers £10 each and will include a Fish and Chip Supper.

Doors open at 7pm.

The bar will be open.

Contact the Community Centre for tickets and for more information