The future of the Parish Room

Nick Girdler, Chairman of Titchfield Village Trust, on the future of the Parish Room and Project 2070

The launch of Project 2070

According to Village gossip the Parish Room is to be demolished and a care home built in its place !

Why would Titchfield need a care home when residents show they always care for the village in more ways than the Prime Minister can call for a vote on Brexit.

It’s not going to be demolished, far from it, and at a village meeting in May a ringing endorsement for Project 2070 proved that there’s life in the Victorian building yet.

The current trustees of the Parish Room charity have agreed to be merged with the Titchfield Village Trust Charity. The reason : to bring the building up to scratch and ensure it will be fit for purpose for the next 50 years.

It’s a complex set of legal hoops the Trust has to jump through in order to achieve this aim along with an herculean effort to raise the money to bring the project to fruition.

Essentially the entire roof needs replacing and at the same time we think a major upgrade should be undertaken allowing the Room to continue as an affordable and much loved venue at the heart of the village.

It’s a project we want the everyone to be part of and work has already started on setting up an infrastructure to make certain that this is the case.

If you think you have skills we could use in order to complete the task in front of us please contact the Trust. TitchfieldVillageTrust@outlook.com

We are at the start of a project that is likely to take years rather than months and cost hundreds of thousands rather than the cost of a haircut…and if anywhere in the south of England knows how much a haircut costs it’s the residents of Titchfield!

We know you won’t let us down.

Nick Girdler

Chairman Titchfield Village Trust

Shakespeare season kicks off in style

Two Gentlemen of Verona, one of William Shakespeare’s earliest plays, is the perfect choice for the start of the 2019 Bard at the Barn season in Titchfield.

Best Friends Valentine and Proteus are in love, but fickle Proteus likes Valentine’s girl Silvia - poor Julia sets out to sort things out! Valentine elopes gets caught and banished…confused?

What are the chances that Valentine will be pursued by Silvia, and Silvia by Proteus, and Proteus by Julia, and that all will be waited upon – after a fashion – by their servants Speed and Launce and even Launce’s dog, Crab? This riotous production is led by a joyful ensemble of players who will delight with songs, romance, music and chaos, and hurl Shakespeare’s anarchic comedy into the wonderful setting of Verona Aka The Great Barn, the ideal place to see Shakespeare’s work performed.

Director Abi Linnartz acted in the very first Titchfield Festival Theatre production at the Great Barn – Much Ado About Nothing in 2001 - and makes her directorial debut for this play. Abi says,

“The Great Barn has been completely refurbished this year, with a new stage and oak hayloft and provides a stunning location for Two Gentlemen of Verona. Unlike many other productions which have often used a more contemporary approach to the story, all the actors in our production will perform in Tudor costumes against a traditional setting.

“Many people consider Two Gentlemen of Verona to be one of the Bard’s first ever plays and there are many references in the dialogue to themes that Shakespeare returned to later in his writing which I find really interesting. I love the open air feel of The Great Barn – and I know that audiences will really enjoy the exciting and versatile new staging. It promises to be a fantastic start to the summer season.”

The 2019 Bard at the Barn season opens on Tuesday 28th May 2019 with Two Gentlemen of Verona and continues until Thursday June 6th. The Sunday matinee is on 2nd June and starts at 2.30pm

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

Concerns in Titchfield over East Street closures

Hampshire County Council’s planned work on resurfacing East Street on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd June has worried residents about gaining access to their homes during the work.

It seems the council no longer write to all homes in the street advising them of the work.

On the Saturday there are two weddings at St Peter’s and fears are that guests will be unable to find places to park due to the congestion.

HCC’s notification re. the closures…

Road Closure over Weekend of 1st & 2nd June

East Street, Titchfield – Carriageway Resurfacing Works

As part of Operation Resilience, Hampshire County Council’s programme to make Hampshire’s roads more resilient to the effects of extreme weather and heavy traffic, this letter is to advise of upcoming carriageway resurfacing works on East Street from its junction with Titchfield Hill to the junction with Southampton Hill. 

The resurfacing works are programmed to start Saturday 1st June and are expected to last for 2 days. During which time the road will be closed to vehicular traffic from approximately 09:00 to 16:30hrs. The road will be open during the evenings. Access to the High Street will be maintained via South Street throughout the works.

The above timescales are weather dependent, any significant changes to the scheduled dates will be made clear on the yellow sign boards located at the works limits.

In order to help us to complete the work as quickly as possible, please ensure that no vehicles are parked on the road or in the laybys on the days of the resurfacing.

Please be aware any vehicles left parked on the road that prevent the works taking place, face the risk of being removed.

For your safety and that of our workforce, we are unable to guarantee vehicular access to and from your property during working hours. Pedestrian access will always be available.

The surfacing operation uses a separate bitumen layer in addition to the new asphalt carriageway surface. In order to avoid potential injury or damage, please do not walk across the carriageway during the works unless directed by a member of the workforce.

Thank you for your co-operation and, if you need more information regarding these works, please call our contact centre on 0300 555 1388.

Dilemmas for theatre goers

Dilemmas: two plays, different choices: what would you do?

Dilemmas is the title of two short plays presented at the Acorn Studio Titchfield Festival Theatre this month. Both characterise the often difficult choices people have to make in their life: one a secret agent, another is a doctor.

The first play is George Bernard Shaw’s classic The Doctor’s Dilemma. London’s finest physician, at the peak of his career, is on the horns of a dilemma – having discovered a miracle cure for tuberculosis, should he treat a penniless fellow doctor or save a talented yet unscrupulous artist?

A keen-eyed examination of medical morals and malpractice, The Doctor’s Dilemma is a witty, compassionate and timely classic by the master playwright.

Today, doctors are unlikely to face the same dilemma as Dr Colenso Ridgeon; medical consultation, treatment and medicines are free at the point of delivery, whereas in 1903 if you could not afford it, you went without.

Director Teresa Crawley says, “Although The Doctor’s Dilemma was written more than a century ago, the basic issue of the play: how to choose between two options is timeless.

“For this production, we have reduced it to one-act from a full-length play; however we have kept the crux of the playwright’s words and ideas intact. The period is a fascinating one, with widespread social change, including the launch of the suffragette movement.

My grandmother was a suffragette and I am full of admiration for what they did – and audiences will appreciate just how different our society and values have changed.”

The second production is called What's Left Of The Flag written by Jimmy Murphy and directed by Dave Lee. Dave also acts in the play in the role of Jacob.

New recruit Yossi has just graduated from the Mossad training academy in Tel Aviv, the Midrasha, and is sent to Dublin on his first mission. He’s teamed up with soon to retire veteran field agent Jacob, who is on his last mission. As the minutes tick away and the target nears Yossi discovers that a conscience is a luxury he can no longer afford. A spy with a dilemma and a job to be done but what would you do?

Dave Lee says, “We looked at a number of short plays with two actors, but What’s Left of the Flag really stood out. It has a simple setting and is uncomplicated in terms of staging – however, it has fascinating and contrasting characters. During the play we get to learn more about the two agents before finally being posed with the question ourselves: could we really do that?”

Dilemmas opens on Monday 20th May until Saturday 25th May 2019 at 7.30pm in the Acorn Studio, Titchfield Festival Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG.

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

Sun shines on Church Fete

Titchfield residents were out in force supporting St Peter’s Church Fete on Saturday.

With glorious sunshine, and only a few drops of rain, visitors to The Old Vicarage garden were able to browse the stalls, enter raffles, enjoy a cup of tea, listen to the music, buy bric-a-brac and books, select a plant and have a chat with old friends.

To mark the Fete’s 70th anniversary it was officially opened by twin sisters, Sheila Hignall and Mary Parrett.

The annual event attracts people from far and wide to a very traditional English village activity.

Visitors to the Fete were able take a break from touring the stalls and enjoy a cuppa and a slice of delicious cake inside the Church.

A new feature this year was a ‘Field Dog Handling Demonstration in the Churchyard.

All proceeds from the day will go to the Church Funds Charity.

CLICK HERE FOR GALLERY OF IMAGES FROM THIS YEAR’S FETE

Links

St Peter’s Church

The Friends of St Peter’s

Jubilee Surgery Patient Survey

Jubilee Surgery Patient Participation Group are carrying out a patient satisfaction survey on behalf of Jubilee Surgery.

The surgery team genuinely want to know what they are doing well and what to prioritise for improvement.

Questionnaires are available at the surgery, or if you email Suzy Jackson at ppgchair.jubilee@gmail.comshe will forward you a copy.

Members of the Patient Participation Group (PPG) will be at the Surgery to help with any questions from Tuesday 7th May to Friday 17th May.

All responses remain confidential - no names required. The PPG will be giving the outcomes to the GP’s and Management team.

Copies of the report will be available on the Jubilee Surgery website, displayed on the PPG noticeboard and by email if requested.

Thank you for helping the Jubilee Surgery team.

Strawberry time is back

‘Peggy the Picker’ of Steve Harris Farms with a tray of tasty 2019 strawberries.

A tray full of sweetness

This year we are open a bit earlier for our Ready Picked ‘Strawbs’ and hope to open the Pick Your Own fields at the end of May or the beginning of June.

So till then it’s down to Peggy to harvest your favourite summer fruit for you from our early crop.

We are looking forward to another great year on the farm, so come on down Posbrook Lane from Titchfield, sharp right into Triangle Lane and our strawberry stall is on the left.

Plenty of off road parking.

Wanted for burglaries in Titchfield

Hampshire Police are asking the public to help locate 35 year-old Daniel Bryan Thornton of St Michaels Road in Park Gate.

Officers investigating thirty burglaries in Titchfield, Fareham, Gosport, Warsash, Winchester, and Petersfield between September 2018 and April 2019 want to speak to Daniel Thornton as part of their enquiries.

The value of property stolen during these burglaries exceeds £100,000.

They ask anyone who has seen Daniel Thornton to call 999 immediately.

Daniel Thornton is described as:

Daniel Bryan Thornton

• White.

• 35 years-old.

• Slim build.

• 6ft 1ins tall.

• Short brown hair.

• He has tattoos on both arms

Police Staff Investigator Catherine Cole said: “We need to speak to Daniel Thornton urgently as part of our enquiries into these burglaries, which we believe may be linked. Thornton has links to the Fareham and Gosport areas as well as Sussex, so we would ask you to share this appeal with friends in those areas.

“We think that Thornton may be sleeping rough, possibly in a tent. If you see him, please don’t approach him. Call 999 immediately.

“Please be aware that anyone found to be harbouring him to deliberately obstruct our attempts to locate him may be committing an offence and liable for arrest themselves”.

Anyone who believes they may have seen Daniel Bryan Thornton is advised to call 999 quoting 44180437435.

Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan moves a step further

An independent examiner has given its verdict on the Neighbourhood Plan submitted by the Titchfield Neighbourhood Forum.  T

he examiner has confirmed that, subject to a number of modifications, the Plan should progress to the next and final stage which is a public referendum.

Titchfield Neighbourhood Forum was formally designated as a neighbourhood area on 6 March 2017.

The Forum submitted its Neighbourhood Plan to the Council on 22 October 2018.  A consultation on the Neighbourhood Plan was held by the Council between 23 November 2018 and 11 January 2019.   It was then submitted for independent examination.

On 26 April the independent examiner’s report confirmed that a number of modifications to the plan were needed to ensure it meets the basic conditions. 

The report will now be presented to the Council’s Executive Committee in June of this year.  Once approved, the Plan would be the subject of a referendum; anyone who is eligible to vote in a Local Election, and lives within the appropriate area, will be able to vote.

Cllr Evans, Executive Member for Planning and Development, said: ‘This is the first Neighbourhood Plan to be submitted in the Borough and will possibly lead to the first referendum.  If people then vote for the Neighbourhood Plan to be made, it will carry equal weight to the policies contained within the adopted Local Plan.’

For more information about the Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan please visit: http://www.fareham.gov.uk/planning/titchfieldneighbourhoodplan.aspx.

FL Exercise at Community Centre

In addition to the flourishing Wednesday morning group (8.55-9.55am), a new FL Exercise class is starting on Thursdays at 9.15am-10.15am in the main hall at Titchfield Community Centre.

Why not go along and enjoy yourself, the new Thursday class starts on 2 nd May.

FL Exercise is a welcoming, all-in-one keep fit class with enjoyable, low-impact routines to music.

The aim is to improve general fitness and wellbeing with a focus on mobility and posture.

You are encouraged to work at your own level so make a start and feel better.

If you would like more details the website is www.fl-exercise-fareham.com or if you prefer a chat please call Lindsey on 07715 435863.

Wealth of talent on display at art show

This is the Titchfield Art & Craft Show’s 45th year and, as ever, is a showcase for local talent for both professional and amateur artists in the fields of Painting, Photography and Crafting.

The success of the show is down to a small group organisers and expert hangers who take great care to match paintings so that they complement each other.

This year 144 artists exhibited over 400 works on display and able to be purchased.

Also on sale were 329 mounted but unframed works.

With pride of place up on the stage was a display of artwork by local children from Bothe West Hill School and Titchfield Primary. Visitors were able to vote on the children’s pictures.

With the profits made from the 2018 show £7,000 was donated to the Community Centre. A further £400 was shared between The Oasis Youth Club, Jigsaw Pre-school, Titchfield Primary School art department and the League of Friends of Oaklands.

The show continues today (Saturday 27th April) from 10am till 5pm and tomorrow from 10am till 4pm. Items bought during the show can be collected on Sunday between 5pm and 6.30pm.

'TWO' at Festival Theatre

TWO: An honest, engaging, hilarious and heart achingly sad, bitter-sweet comedy

TWO is a play written by Jim Cartwright set in a pub in the north of England and is performed for the first time at Titchfield Festival Theatre this April. Comprising of just two actors who play seven different characters each, all pub regulars, the play takes place over the course of one evening. It is poignant, sometimes sad, uncomfortable viewing at times – and a belly achingly funny comedy as well.

The play’s two principal characters are a pub Landlord and Landlady. Theirs is a tense and oftendifficult marriage with plenty of bickering as well as banter, the pub providing the glue that holds their relationship together: the history, the memories and their life experiences.

Pubs have played a key role in people’s lives throughout the UK for many years – yet currently more and more pubs are closing across the country, up to 18 per week. This sad fact has inspired Titchfield Festival Theatre to include TWO in this season’s programme to highlight their crucial contribution.

Director of TWO Zia Wheeldon says, “Pubs play such an important part in many local communities; they are somewhere where people are able to chat, relax and talk about their lives. TWO will enable you to take your seat and watch how the diverse stories unfold. With each story, we may laugh, cry or perhaps feel sad, identifying with the wonderful individual and multi-dimensional characters.

Performances which showcase the everyday lives of extraordinary people we know nothing about.”

TWO will take you on an emotional journey through many people’s lives; an old man who seeks comfort following the death of his wife, a lady who wishes to spend one night by herself and a couple who simply wish to visit the pub to watch football and eat crisps. All of these stories are told as the agonising story of the pub landlords is gradually revealed.

TWO opens on Monday 22nd April until Saturday 27 April 2019 at 7.30pm in the Acorn Studio, Titchfield Festival Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG.

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

St Peter’s rings for Notre Dame

St Peter's Bellringers have rung a special peel of bells in an act of solidarity with the people of Paris who saw their Notre Dame Cathedral’s roof ravaged by fire earlier this week.

Churches across the UK took part in the national toll of bells as did churches in France on Wednesday.

UK Bellringers had been asked to do this if possible by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in response to a suggestion by the British Ambassador to France, Edward Llewellyn.

Foreman Homes plan rejected

The planning inspector has today turned down Foreman Homes appeal which would have resulted in the building of 150 homes on a green field off Posbrook Lane.

The building firm appealed Fareham’s ruling almost a year ago and residents were becoming concerned over the delay.

A photographic impression of what the development would have looked like.

The Titchfield Village Trust was at the forefront of the campaign to halt the development.

On hearing the news, Village Trust Chairman, Nick Girdler said, “Over the last year the Trust has been arguing against this development and gave a presentation stating as much at the inquiry.

“The inspector has concluded that the green (Meon) gap that is protected under FBC planning guidelines is important enough to prevent Foreman Homes going ahead with their development.

“Thanks to all of you who wrote objecting to the planning application, they all formed part of the argument which has proved successful. Well done everyone in the village.”

The inspector gave the overall reasons for rejecting the scheme, saying, I conclude that the proposed development would result in material harm to the character and appearance of the area.This would result in harm to a valued landscape.

Tarmac around the Great Barn

The open area in front of Titchfield’s Great Barn has been covered in tarmac along with the drive up to the Grade 1 listed building.

The Titchfield Festival Theatre, which uses the barn for plays and as a wedding/events venue, have applied to Fareham Borough Council for retrospective planning.

Residents, however, have voiced their objections, saying that the tarmac is, ‘totally out of keeping with the amazing old barn building.It must be left as a track’.

The Grade 1 listed Great Barn

Another objector on the FBC website says, ‘this sterile expanse of tarmac now almost surrounding and overwhelming the historic site of the barn is hideous.’

The barn, is a medieval monastic timber-framed aisled barn dating to the 15th Century and still retains a large amount of original features, such as the unusual and beautiful timber roof structure.

The building is now incorporated into the country park and along with Titchfield Abbey forms a unique historic landscape.

The FBC planning reference is Ref. P/19/0316/FP

THS’s Summer Outing

This Season’s Summer Outing for Titchfield History Society members and guests will take them to Winchester to visit the Hospital of St Cross and Winchester College.

On arrival there will be refreshments, followed by a group tour carried out by one of the brothers wearing traditional gown.

The hospital is one of the oldest continuing almshouses, renowned for its tranquil setting and beautiful architecture.

The tour will go into the Georgian kitchen, Norman church, minstrel gallery, Tudor ambulatory and bread room this should last about 1 hour, there are also attractive grounds to explore.

They will then stop for lunch. This will be a chance to visit a close by pub, or there are refreshments at the Hospital or if you would prefer take your own picnic.

In the afternoon we will proceed with a tour of Winchester College where again we will have our own group tour around the Chamber Court, Chapel, College Hall, Cloisters and 17th century school building.

There are also formal gardens. The plan is to leave Winchester around 4.30p.m.

The cost of this outing is £30 per person this includes refreshments on arrival, entry fee to both venues, payment for private tour and coach.

• Depart Titchfield 10.00a.m. – Southampton Hill

• Arrive Hospital of St Cross – refreshments on arrival

• 12.30 ish – lunch –

• 2.00 p.m. – Tour of College

• 4.30ish – return to Titchfield

If you wish to book on the coach please email me on mwiltonsmith@gmail.com or ring on 01329 843822

Payment on or before the next meeting please.

Cheques made payable to Titchfield History Society.

Dear Brutus at Titchfield Festival Theatre

What if you had a second chance?

“The fault, Dear Brutus, is not in our stars but in ourselves….” Titchfield Festival Theatre is delighted to announce the forthcoming production of Dear Brutus by JM Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, The Admirable Chrichton and Quality Street.

This is a haunting drama revealing the inner soul and longing of eight widely differing strangers, performed to Barrie’s original script. It is darkly comic, full of elfish wit and human tenderness. If you enjoyed reading Peter Pan and A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, you will love this beautiful and enchanted play.

A magical wood appears on Midsummer Night’s Eve and the eight strangers are invited into it by a mysterious old man. What happens there has the power to change their lives for ever… giving each individual an insight into what life would have been like if they had that second chance which they so longed for.

Kevin Fraser, Artistic Director of Titchfield Festival Theatre says,

“This play holds very dear memories for me as it was the first play I ever appeared in live on Radio 4 and recorded at the Kings Head Theatre in London. Dan Crawford who cast me and ran the theatre died that same year. He was a real loss to theatre and a huge and eccentric influence on me!”

Dear Brutus opens on Wednesday 10th April 2019 until Saturday 20th April at 7.30pm in the Oak Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG.

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

01329 556156.

Car hits house in Bridge Street

A Vauxhall Corsa has collided with a house in Bridge Street close to the junction with Coach Hill and South Street.

The incident happened this morning around 10am.

The front aspect of the bay window is presently boarded and shored up

The car appeared to have left the road, crossed a narrow pavement hitting a bay window at the property.

Eye witnesses reported on Social Media that the driver looked to be unhurt.

'First Man' - Titchfield Film Night

Friday 5th April – ‘First Man’ (12A) is the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon. 

The film focuses on Neil Armstrong who became the first man to walk on the moon on July 20th 1969 and the years leading up to this. 

The film explores the sacrifices and the cost on Armstrong and on the Nation of one of he most dangerous missions in the history of space travel.

Based on the book by J R Hansen and directed by Damien Chazelle the film stars Ryan Gosling as Neil Armstrong. 

Armstrong's wife is played by Claire Foy of the 'The Crown' and 'Wolf Hall' fame. "While Gosling plays everything close to his chest, it's Foy who invites us into the unfolding drama with her wonderfully empathetic performance".

Films will be detailed on the Titchfield Moviola web site http://www.titchfieldmoviola.com

We advice that you purchase tickets in advance - Tickets (£6 each) on sale at Daisy B’s Kitchen in The Square Titchfield and on the Door (subject to availability)

Earl of Southampton Trustee vacancy

Have you ever thought of becoming a trustee?

The Earl of Southampton Trust can trace its origins to approximately the year 1597. It is an amalgamation of five earlier charities and, from 1969 until 1989, was called The Titchfield Welfare Trust.

The name was changed at that time to The Earl of Southampton Trust in order to avoid confusion with The Titchfield Village Trust, a local environmental pressure group.

The Trust provides Relief in Need grants and Almshouse accommodation only to residents of the Ancient Parish of Titchfield. This covers the area of the present day Church of England parishes of Titchfield, Sarisbury Green, Locks Heath, Hook with Warsash, Stubbington, Whiteley and Lee-on-the-Solent.

The Trust also runs Day Rooms in Titchfield providing lunch for the elderly.

If you would like an informal chat or to register an interest please contact the Clerk to The Trusteees - Sue Boden on 01329 513294 or visit The Earl of Southampton Trust at www.eost.org.uk