SUCCESS FOR TITCHFIELD IN BLOOM 2019

What a year 2019 has been for the Titchfield in Bloom Team. This is only the 3rd year they have entered the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society’s In Bloom competition.

Titchfield is judged in the large village category and in July the village was judged twice for the South & South East In Bloom and for the National In Bloom competition.

Nicky, Jane, Pamela, Coral and Marilyn with the silver gilt award.

In September at the South & South East In Bloom Awards which were held at the Amex Stadium Brighton the team achieved a Gold award, and during the South & South East County Awards with Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset it was announced that Titchfield were the overall winners for Hampshire with the highest marks. A fantastic achievement.

On Friday 25 October 5 of the team travelled to London for the R.H.S. National Awards Ceremony whilst Gloria (Chair of Committee) with Sue and Julie waited in Titchfield for the result.

In the large village category along with Titchfield representing the South & South East were Bridge of Earn representing Scotland, Catterall for the North West, Culleybacky from Ulster, Curry Rivel for the South West and Pateley Bridge from Yorkshire.

Titchfield village was awarded a Silver Gilt an amazing result for first time entry into the R.H.S. National In Bloom competition.

The Titchfield In Bloom Team with Gloria, Coral, Marilyn, Pamela, Jane, Nicky, Sue and Julie are already working on their entry for 2020.

Take a tour of St Peter's Church

Tours of St Peter’s church are conducted every third Tuesday of the month except December.  The tours start at 2 o’clock and last about an hour, there is no charge but a donation could be made toward the church maintenance fund.

Tour dates for 2020 are: Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 17, Apr 21, May 19, Jun 16,

Jul 21, Aug 18, Sep 15, Oct 20 and Nov 17.

Tours outside these dates can be arranged through the Church Office on 01329 847003.

Order your outside Christmas Tree NOW

October 25th will be the last day you can order an outside tree.

The village of Titchfield shines and sparkles at Christmas time with a blaze of light as local residents display a Christmas tree in a bracket fixed to the outside of their houses.

Each year a group of village volunteers get together to co-ordinate the tree display by ordering a bulk delivery of trees which are then delivered to a central collection point in the village The volunteers then prepare the trees to fit the brackets.

The group also organise trees for village community buildings like the Parish Rooms and a tree for the ‘Green'.

The company who supply the trees have an early deadline this year so the order-by date is earlier this year.

The Christmas Tree team are concerned that they have around half the normal orders and they will not be carrying spares this year, only paid orders will be supplied.

Trees are available for Titchfield Village residents only.  

Make sure you get your order in and tell your neighbours!

Order forms are available at Daisy B’s and at Hadlows.

Members of the team preparing the trees last year.

'Elton John' in Titchfield

Friday first of November sees Moviola’s screening of Rocketman at Thtchfield Festival Theatre.

Rocketman (15) is an epic musical fantasy about the incredible human story of Elton John's breakthrough years.

The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John.

This inspirational story set to Elton John's most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton, tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture.

Rocketman also stars Jamie Bell as Elton's longtime lyricist and writing partner Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as Elton's first manager, John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton's mother Sheila Farebrother.

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

Tickets (£6 each) on sale at Daisy B’s Kitchen in The Square and on the Door (subject to availability)

Fundraising Fashion Show,

Friday night was all about Fashion and was all in a good cause.

‘Travelling Trends’ returned to the Titchfield Community Centre for an evening of fun, fundraising and Fashion.

Over 60 ladies (and a few men) were treated to a fashion show of some famous brands all modelled by local ladies.

‘Travelling Trends’ has hosted thousands of successful fundraising fashion shows, which in turn, have helped to raise thousands of pounds for many charitable organisations.

After the catwalk and raffle the ladies were invited to browse the many racks of clothes and purchase their selection.,

This was the third visit of the very popular show and was in aid of the Community Centre.

LINKS

Titchfield Community Centre

Travelling Trends

Charity Preview Evening Launches Christmas

The Preview evening at the Stewarts Abbey Garden Centre Titchfield allowed customers holding privilege cards the opportunity to enjoy a full Christmas Roast dinner and view the extensive new Christmas department and display.

Santa is to arrive on Saturday 30th November at 10.15am accompanied by his elves and the Fareham Scout Band. Santa will then be ready to meet the hundreds of children who will visit his special winter wonderland until Christmas Eve.

Terry Head, Retail and Marketing Director at Stewarts Garden Centres, said that November will also see the Dine & Demo Evenings on the 13th November at both centres when suppliers with provide sampling and demonstrations, and the full Christmas roast dinner will be available.

“Again the team at both centres have planned and worked hard to ensure that we provide a very festive and traditional run up to Christmas day which delights both children and adults,” said Terry Head, “We wish to thank everyone who supports us and Age Concern Hampshire throughout this popular time of year.”

For additional information visit www.stewarts.co.uk

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.