A Passion for Fashion

The next meeting of The Arts Society Solent will feature a talk by Sally Hoban entitled ‘A Passion for Fashion’.

A Passion for Fashion tells the story of 20th century fashion design, tracing how clothes, textiles and accessories were influenced by contemporary history.


It includes the elegant fashions of the Edwardian era, the glamour of the 1920s and 1930s, the austerity of the 1940s, the futuristic fashions of the 1950s, the liberating styles of the 1960s and the avant-garde fashions of the 1970s to the present day.

The meeting takes place on Tuesday 15 October 2019 at 10.30 In the Titchfield Community Centre .

Ken Groves

The death has been announced of Titchfield historian, Ken Groves.

Ken passed away yesterday (Sunday) at his home in Mill Lane.

He was active in many projects and events in the village He was one of the founding fathers of the Titchfield Festival Theatre and was a leading light in the very successful Blue at the Abbey concerts.

A long time supporter of the Titchfield History Society, Ken was made their President earlier in the Year.

One of those paying tribute on social media was Kevin Fraser of Titchfield Festival Theatre who said, “I am desolate, I saw him only yesterday and thought he would live till 100 and beyond. I can say no more…”

Avenue Q at Titchfield Fesival Theatre

Cheeky and hilarious award-winning musical Avenue Q hits the Titchfield stage

Avenue Q is an award-winning, irresistible musical telling the story of several loveable characters from downtown New York – with the help of various bawdy, not very politically correct puppets….

Described as an adult Sesame Street or The Muppets on Acid, Avenue Q is sure to keep everyone entertained following the fortunes of Princeton, a bright-eyed college graduate who moves to New York City with big dreams – and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone is looking for the same things he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a “purpose.”

Director of Avenue Q is experienced puppeteer Elliott Fendle who said: “Avenue Q is a great musical and hugely entertaining, packed with bad behaviour, rude songs and political incorrectness.

“The show is incredibly funny and when I first saw the musical performed 5 or 6 years ago, I knew that it was perfect for the Titchfield Festival Theatre stage.

“Avenue Q is full of jokes, raunchy humour and has plenty of catchy tunes – and the audience will love the puppets! It has been huge fun rehearsing the play and the superb cast and production team are really enjoying it. Most of the show is tongue in cheek and we are certain that everyone coming along to watch will have a fabulous time.”

This is the first time that Titchfield Festival Theatre has featured puppetry in a main production, hiring in a bespoke set of the iconic puppets especially for the show.

Avenue Q opens on Wednesday 9th October until Saturday 19th October 2019 at 7.30pm in the Oak Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG. Matinee performances: Saturday 12th, Sunday 13th and Saturday 19th October all at 2.30pm.

Note: This show is not “fur” the little ones! Recommended 14+

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

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Our very own Breast Cancer Haven Wessex are supporting the nation wide Breast Cancer Awareness Month of October.

There are loads of events locally during the month, check them out by visiting the Haven website. CLICK HERE

Find out how you can get involved by contacting the Wessex Fundraising Team on 01329 559 295 or email wessexfundraising@breastcancerhaven.org.uk

The Haven offers support to anyone affected by breast cancer for free.

From their welcoming centre in The Square, their counsellors, therapists and health professionals offer you the support you need to help you with your own personal challenges of living with breast cancer.

Anyone can come to the centre. There are no geographical restrictions and no need for a doctors referral. Just get in touch and make an appointment today. 

Breast Cancer Haven Wessex are at 35, The Square, Titchfield, PO14 4RT

Make a note in your diary. The Breast Cancer Haven Wessex Christmas Carol Concert is on Monday 9th December at St Peter’s

Stubbington Bypass - a step closer

Hampshire County Council have confirmed that work is expected to start in November this year on the Stubbington bypass.

The long awaited road will enable drivers to bypass Subbington centre, hopefully reducing travel time and congestion in the village.

Bridge Street, Titchfield

The scheme, which is expected to cost £34m, will involve building a single carriageway from the Gosport Road, near to Crofton Secondary School to Titchfield Road, (B3334) near Hollam.”

Councillor Rob Humby, Executive Member for Environment and Transport at Hampshire County Council, said: “We made a commitment to the people of Gosport and Stubbington to improve traffic and travel in South Hampshire.”

However, Titchfield residents have voiced concerns that the new road will result in more traffic using the village as a short cut.

The plans include changes to Titchfield Gyratory, but fears have been expressed that any queues backing up along the Titchfield Bypass will result in motorists using Bridge Street, Coach Hill and St Margaret’s Lane to rejoin the A27 to the west of the village.

TITCHFIELD IN BLOOM IN BRIGHTON

On Friday 13 September 4 members of the Titchfield in Bloom Committee travelled to the Amex Stadium Brighton for the South & South East ‘In Bloom’ Awards sponsored by Gatwick Airport.

The presentations in was front of 400 people began at 10am and cities, towns, parks and villages were amongst the many categories judged. Large villages were featured half way through the afternoon. After the silver and silver gilt awards it was announced Gold awarded to Titchfield for the second year running.

The judges visiting a Titchfield garden.

Later it was announced that the County Awards were to be awarded, each County in the South & South East was read out Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Dorset and Hampshire, and the winners for the County of Hampshire are Titchfield.

Not only Gold but the County Winners as well. Thank you to all those residents and businesses who supported the Titchfield in Bloom Team.

LINKS

Titchfield in Bloom

Posbrook Lane triple whammy

Residents in Titchfield’s Posbrook Lane have, overnight, been suffering with three separate incidents.

Driving through the sewerage.

Workmen were already dealing with a burst sewerage pipe near Great Posbrook House when later in the evening a car crashed into a hedge on the left hand bend further down the country lane where the road changes from Triangle Lane to Meon Road.

Later on two large stacks of straw were set alight just yards from the accident and 300 tonnes of straw have been ruined.

The fire service spent the night dampening down the blaze.

This morning, whilst the car has been removed, the road is still inches deep in running raw sewerage and the fire is still burning.

Residents have called for the road to be closed while the broken pipe is being repaired.

Posbrook Lane flowing with sewerage

The hay stack still ablaze.

Please feel free to leave a comment below…

Looking to send your child to Titchfield Primary School?

If your child is four by August 31st 2020 then they will be eligible to join the school in September next year.

Parents of year R 2020 pupils who would like to visit the school are asked to contact the office team on 01329 843322.

The ofsted report of February 2017 reported that ‘This school continues to be good… Children in the early foundation stage are happy, settled and well cared for. They enjoy participating in valuable activities available for them during the day. Leaders at all levels work effectively together to make teaching even better.

Parents describe the school as having a ‘sense of family.’

LINK

Titchfield Primary School

PPG Open Meeting

The Patient Participation Group for Jubilee Surgery invite you to their open meeting on 25th September at 3:45pm.

You will be able to hear what has been achieved since the Patient Survey in May.

Dr Tom Bertram and his management team will also be present to provide you with updates.

If you have suggestions for the Agenda, please contact the PPG Group so they can be included on the agenda.

You are asked to let them know if you are likely to be able to attend so that they can set out the room with sufficient chairs.

If you can’t come but want something raised, do please email or phone me.

LINKS

• The Jubilee Surgery Jubilee Surgery

• The PPG Facebook Page PPG.Jubilee

• Email: ppgchair.jubilee@gmail.com

• Or phone Suzy Jackson 07532 168454

Your invite to Abigal's Party

It’s 1977 and you’re invited to a party… Abigail’s Party

The 1970s: a period remembered for its lurid wallpaper, questionable taste in clothing, increasing consumerism and political and economic uncertainty. It also gave us one of the most popular stage and TV shows of the decade: Abigail’s Party. This September, Titchfield Festival Theatre is delighted to start its exciting new season by welcoming this timeless classic to the Oak Theatre stage.

Abigail’s Party is a classic comedy of manners. What starts as an innocent small party to greet new neighbours in a respectable middle class neighbourhood quickly degenerates into a slanging match with disastrous consequences.

Richard Hackett is the director of Abigail’s Party, and this is a culmination of a 40 year ambition having first watched it on TV in 1978. Richard said, “I have always admired the work of Mike Leigh who wrote Abigail’s Party. Over the years Leigh has been a real inspiration to me, someone that I consider to be a role model. I am therefore immensely proud to direct this play.

Richard continued, “Abigail’s Party remains popular for many reasons – not least because the jokes are still very funny! All of the characters are almost equally awful which makes for an entertaining piece of theatre.

“Casting for the play has been actually quite difficult because we have such an amazing talented group of actors now here at Titchfield that I could have cast the various roles five times over. We have set the play firmly in the 1970s, with period music, decoration and clothing. It promises to be great fun and I am sure our patrons will enjoy it.”

Abigail’s Party opens on Wednesday 11th September until Saturday 21st September 2019 at 7.30pm in the Oak Theatre, Titchfield Festival Theatre, St Margarets Lane, Titchfield PO14 4BG. Sunday matinee on 15th September at 2.30pm.

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

Meet for lunch at The Day Rooms

If you are over 60 and looking for something good and wholesome to eat at lunchtime, why not drop into The Day Rooms in The Square.

The Earl of Southampton’s Day Rooms

You get a home cooked lunch with a pudding for just £4.00.

Please call 01329 847923 the day before to pre-book a lunch.

Or, pop in for a chat and a cup of tea with friends, a cuppa is just 50p.

The Day Rooms are open every weekday from 9.30am to 3pm.

The Earl of Southampton Trust runs Day Rooms

The aim of the Trust is to promote and improve the welfare of anyone in need in Titchfield, Locks Heath, Sarisbury Green, Stubbington, Park Gate, Warsash, Whiteley and Lee on the Solent. The charity seeks to make a real difference and make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Vandalism and Criminal Behaviour in Titchfield

Following a meeting of various village organisations and individuals who have been targeted by a group of youngsters it was decided to list and collate all incidents of anti-social and criminal behaviour to present to the authorities.

The smashed windows at St Peter’s Church

At the meeting representatives of the Abbey, Surgery, Shops, businesses, TVT, the Community Centre, the Church, our councillor and private residents heard of the widespread disruptive behaviour.



Over the last few year the village has suffered from a number of incidents culminating last week in damage to the roof of St Peter’s Chapter Rooms and the smashing of one of the stained glass windows.



The group of young people have been abusive to members of the public, climbed on the walls of the Abbey, climbed on the roof of the Jubilee Surgery and have been rude and threatening in some of the village shops.

At the Community Centre, they have climbed on the roof, vandalised parts of the building and abused and threatened staff and visitors to the centre.



They have also been seen standing on window sills peering into residents homes.



It was understood that the Council has given an Acceptable Behaviour Contract to one boy, with a Parenting programme due to start next month for the parents. 



Legal action is promised if the boy does not cease his current behaviour. 



The youth outreach team will visit the village regularly to try and engage with the youths hanging about.  


The meeting was mindful of the anxieties caused by the recent County Lines drugs problems reported in the press.

There is also a need to protect elderly and vulnerable villagers from harm of any sort, criminal or of a public order nature.



It was confirmed that currently Fareham, (from Portchester to Park Gate) has only 7 police officers on night duty with more officers available in the day. People were asked to report any type of nuisance or annoyance by ringing 101 (or reporting the same on line https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ ) or 999 if it is an emergency.



The Community Protection Officer at Fareham Borough Council is more than supportive of the village and the current spate of damage and public order nuisance is a worry and of great importance to her.

Last week’s meeting was attended by police, education providers, children’s services, FBC, youth workers and village organisations to try and find ways to engage children to reduce the chances of this sort of thing happening in the future.

Cheers! For Bob and Maz

Landlords of the Queens Head, Bob and Marilyn Forster have called time after 12 years at the very popular village.pub.

Bob and Marilyn took over the tenancy of the Queen’s Head Public House, on Maundy Thursday, 4 April 2007 - Bob being the Landlord and Marilyn the ‘Soul of the Kitchen’ with 30 years plus of culinary experience.

She was working at the Stubbington Study Centre and continued working there for a further two years, as well as running the kitchen at the pub.

Along with Bob and Marilyn, their two sons Matt and Tom helped run the pub, with Matt leaving only 4 years ago.

Bob and Marilyn

During their time in Titchfield and being in the Queen’s Head they have organised over 120 Dinner Dances with the DJ Tony Christian, of Radio Caroline fame. Plus have had over 20 ‘Becky’s Play and Dine’ evenings over Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

The family have been a huge support for ‘Charlie’s Beach Hut’ charity raising over £10,000 through various money raising events – for example, the famous ‘Baked Bean Bath’ where Marilyn sat in a bath of baked beans for an evening, Tom completed a motor cycle ride in atrocious weather to Cornwall and back, and Susan (Tom’s wife) successfully completed a day’s silence.

They have supported many village community charity events for the Bonfire Boys plus giving out food, milk and Christmas puddings during certain difficult times. When the village was cut off during a heavy snowstorm, Bob and Marilyn put up a family who became stuck in the village, not being able to drive out of the village.

In their time at the Queen’s Head Marilyn has lost both her parents, and both their sons have got married and brought grandchildren into their lives. Angie and Susan,wives of Matt and Tom respectively, have been an integral part of the family team.

Marilyn and Bob agreed that the ‘highs’ of being at the pub are “making lovely friends who pay our bills” and are not customers.

The ‘lows’ were the challenges of learning to work together as a family in a business because everyone had different ideas. Although they know they have made good friends and will be sad leaving, it is a huge relief to say goodbye to the Queen’s Head.

Bob and Maz’s last day will be Monday 26th August.

Martin O’Grady will be taking over the tenancy.

Twelfth Night at the Barn

“Love,” said the Ancient Greek philosopher, is a journey in search of our lost other half.”

The final production in this summer’s 2019 Titchfield Festival Theatre Bard at the Barn season sees the welcome return of Twelfth Night. Although this is the third performance by the theatre, it is the first at the historic Great Barn. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most popular romantic comedies and a celebration of romantic love, also featuring one of his legendary characters – the crude and jolly Sir Toby Belch. This production however comes with a twist as it is set in the 1950s, complete with music and period clothing.

Viola and her twin brother Sebastian have been shipwrecked off the coast of Illyria. Each believes that the other has been drowned. Disguising herself as a boy called Cesario, Viola enters the service of the duke Orsino. The Duke sends Cesario to woo the lady Olivia on his behalf but Olivia falls in love with this lovely ‘boy’. Viola, meanwhile, falls in love with Orsino. The play takes us on a giddy exploration of many aspects of love in which characters are forced to lose themselves in order to find themselves again in ways that are both very funny and touchingly poignant.

The play is co-directed by Franchesca Nicholson and Lauren Monckton and is a lead directorial debut for them both. Franchesca said, “We decided to set Twelfth Night in the 1950s with the actors dressed in clothing from the era and accompanied by 50s music. The play follows the traditional Shakespearian script; however the more contemporary setting will help the audience to better understand the story and that they will really appreciate the great humour and fun that is a particular hallmark of this play.”

Lauren added, “As soon as I saw Twelfth Night performed at The Globe Theatre in London and when the theatre offered me the opportunity to co-direct, I had to seize this chance! It is a lovely story, full of various love triangles, same sex relationships and explores both gender and sexual identity. The addition of 50s music will give the whole production a really upbeat feel.”

This year the play will feature five members of the local Titchfield Youth Theatre – some of whom are performing in an adult production for the first time – as well as new and more familiar and experienced faces.

Twelfth Night opens on Tuesday 27th August with performances continuing until Thursday 5th September. The Sunday matinee is on 1st September and starts at 2.30pm.

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

Open Gardens, Blooming Marvelous

On Sunday 23 June 2019, Friends of St Peter’s (FOSP) ran Titchfield Open Gardens and what a fabulous afternoon we had!

Over 600 visitors came and enjoyed looking around the 12, very different, gardens that were open.

A huge thank you to the garden owners who welcomed the visitors and spent time talking to them about their gardens.

The delicious refreshments available were enjoyed by many – tea and cake in a beautiful setting whilst taking a rest and deciding where to go next, perfect!

FOSP is delighted to have raised in the region of £4,300 from the event and thanks everyone who visited.  This money will go towards specific projects which are much needed to restore and maintain St Peter’s Church.

Titchfield Open Gardens will take place again in 2021, if you would like to participate, FOSP would be pleased to hear from you fosptitchfield@gmail.com.

Moviola returns to Festival Theatre

Titchfield Moviola is moving back their original venue, Titchfield Festival Theatre, and to the first Thursday in the month apart from November where it will be 1st Friday due to a prior booking at the theatre we hope you will continue to support us. 

The next showing, ‘Red Joan’ will be on Thursday 5th September

Synopsis

Red Joan (12A) Joan Stanley (Dame Judy Dench) is a widow living out a quiet retirement in the suburbs, then suddenly her tranquil existence is shattered as she is shockingly arrested by MI5.

For Joan has been hiding an incredible past; she is one of the most influential spies in living history. Cambridge University in the 1930s and the young Joan (Sophie Cookson), a demure physics student, falls intensely in love with a seductive attractive Russian saboteur named Leo.

Through him she begins to see that the world is on a knife edge and perhaps must be saved from itself in the race to military supremacy. Post-war and now working at a top secret nuclear research facility, Joan is confronted with the impossible: Would you betray your country and your loved ones, if it meant saving them?

What price would you pay for peace? Inspired by an extraordinary true story Red Joan is the taut and emotional discovery of one women’s sacrifice in the face of incredible circumstances. A women to whom we perhaps all owe our freedom.    

Autumn Season



Thursday 3rd October - Collette - (15)

Friday 1st November – Rocketman (15)

Thursday 5th December - Fisherman’s Friends (12A)

Titchfield Co-op goes a bit batty

Southern Co-op is helping protected bat species by installing a bat boxes on their convenience stores in the village. 

The store had the boxes fitted to house local bat populations. A bat tile – with a hole just big enough for a long-eared bat to access – was also fitted to the roof of the Titchfield store to help bats use the building’s loft area.

Southern Co-op carried out the conservation work after commissioning a number of surveys last year.

The rear wall of the store

Here in Titchfield, the survey found three species of bat foraging and commuting within the local area: the common pipistrelle, the noctule and the (brown or grey) long-eared bat, all of which are European protected species.

Bats play several important roles in the environment, including helping to pollinate flowers, spread seeds and control pests by eating insects.

Emma McVie, Southern Co-op’s project manager, said: “When we were looking at replacing the roof in Titchfield, the age of the building meant there was a high likelihood of bats being present and this was confirmed during one of the surveys, when a single common pipistrelle was recorded emerging from beneath a lifted roof tile to the rear of the building.

“We made sure we protected them and their access to the loft when we finally replaced the roof in March. We also placed an extra bat box on the side of the building to give other bats a new home should they need one.

“Despite not finding roosting bats, we wanted to make sure we protected the bat population and gave them a home for the future, so we have installed two bat boxes on the side of the building.”

Beat the heat

The MET Office has forecast high temperatures across the South East over the next few days, which may leave some people vulnerable. Fareham Borough Council is asking residents to take note of the following advice to keep safe.

How to keep cool:

·         Drink plenty of water,

·         Wear light, loose fitting clothing,

·         Try to keep out of the sun whilst temperatures are highest (11am - 3pm),

·         Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat if you are going out in the heat,

·         Look out for others, especially older people, young children and babies and those with underlying health conditions,

·         Close curtains or blinds to keep your home or office cool,

·         Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals,

·         Avoid physical activity such as gardening or exercise during the hottest parts of the day.
 

Fareham Cllr Trevor Cartwright, Executive Member for Health and Public Protection at Fareham Borough Council, said: “With temperatures potentially reaching highs of thirty-nine degrees celsius today we are asking residents to use common sense and be cautious when outside in the heat.

“It is especially important to drink plenty of water, keep in the shade and be aware of the symptoms of heat stroke, these include: headaches, thirst, loss of appetite and pale or clammy skin in adults and may include sleepiness in children. If this occurs, move into a cool place and drink plenty of water.”

Referendum Result

It’s NO to the Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan.

The result of yesterday’s local referendum were announced this morning by Fareham Borough Council.

No  363  ….60%

Yes 241 …. 40%

Turnout was just over 30%

As less than 50 per cent voted ‘yes’ the Neighbourhood Plan will not be made part of the statutory Local Plan for the Fareham Borough.

Titchfield Village Trust Chairman, Nick Girdler, welcomed the result, saying that, “We can now get on with doing positive things over the next few years.”

The Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan was created by the Titchfield Forum group which had been a sub-committee of The Titchfield Village Trust.

When the Forum’s aims and objectives differed from those of The Trust, the two organisations had to separated.

The Forum believed the Neighbourhood Plan was ‘the best way to influence current and future developments in the area so that Titchfield become the village that the inhabitants want it to be.’

The Titchfield Village Trust disagreed, their concerns centred around the Plans figure of 153 houses to be built in the village over the next 20 years. Also that FBC’s own Local Plan did not include any new housing within the NP area.

Click HERE for more background information

LINKS

• Titchfield Village Trust

• Titchfield Neighbourhood Forum

• Fareham Borough Council
  

It’s Referendum Day

Please vote - Your vote is important

Titchfield residents go to the polls today to vote in a referendum about the Titchfield Neighbourhood Plan.

Residents will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the question: ‘Do you want Fareham Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Titchfield to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’

If more than 50 per cent vote ‘yes’, then Fareham Borough Council will ‘make’ the TNP. Once made, the planning aspects from the TNP will be used to help determine planning applications in Titchfield. If more people vote ‘no’ than ‘yes’ then the Neighbourhood Plan will not be made part of the statutory Local Plan for the Fareham Borough.

You can vote at the polling station in Titchfield Community Centre for the referendum today.

Residents are entitled to vote in the Referendum if they are eligible to vote in a local government election and if they live in the referendum area – which is identical to the area which has been designated as the Titchfield Neighbourhood Area.

Cllr Keith Evans, Executive Member for Planning and Development, said: “This is the first time we have had a Referendum in the Fareham Borough and it is essential we hear the views of the people of Titchfield.”

The results, which are expected to be announced tomorrow (Friday) around noon, will be published here as soon as we are informed by Fareham.

READ MORE HERE