Songs,Tales and Ales

Enjoy an evening of Songs, Tales and Ales at Titchfield’s friendly Queens Head.

The Whalers

Performing during the evening will be the Gilkicker Weevils and our very own Titchfield Whalers.

The Gilkicker Weevils are a contemporary folk and roots band with a rocky flare.

Their music takes you through big hooky chorus’s, heartfelt ballads or fast paced footstompers, their feet are firmly planted in the ancient folk tradition of storytelling.

They will tell spooky tales such as ‘Three Tree Hill’, ‘Up the Creek’ or ‘The Owlers’,

The Titchfield Whalers will add to the evening’s entertainment with their repertoire of traditional sea shanties.

Make a date in your diary: - Queens Head, Titchfield. Saturday 18th October from 7pm

LINKS

Gilkicker Weevils https://www.thegilkickerweevils.com/

Titchfield Whalers https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556745582497

Summer Book Trail

Come along and join in the first Titchfield Summer Book Trail

Ready-picked, fresh, Titchfield strawberries

Ready-picked, fresh, Titchfield strawberries are just starting to be available at The Steve Harris Farm down Posbrook Lane.

The recent warm weather has brought on a crop of large, sweet, sun-ripened beauties.

Nurtured by the region’s ideal climate, these berries are hand-selected at peak ripeness for unbeatable taste and quality.

Their vibrant red color and juicy texture make them perfect for snacking, baking, or adding to salads and desserts.

Supporting local farms means fewer food miles and a fresher product on your table.

Enjoy the simple pleasure of real strawberries—naturally delicious and bursting with freshness.

The Steve Harris stall is only open when there is enough ready-picked fruit available.

FLOUR POWER! HOST A CAKES4CANCER EVENT

If baking takes your (fondant) fancy, Wessex Cancer Support would love you to host a Cakes4Cancer event this May to raise money to support local people affected by cancer.

Rolling out across Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight between 5th and 11th May, Cakes4Cancer is a really simple way to come together with friends, family or colleagues and ‘bake’ a difference by asking for a donation in return for a cuppa and cake.

Catherine Price, Wessex Cancer Support’s Director of Fundraising, said:

“We’re passionate about community at Wessex Cancer Support and believe everyone affected by cancer should be able to get free and local emotional support whenever they need it. Cakes4Cancer is all about people coming together to enjoy something delicious for a great cause. Your event can be as big or small as you want, either in person or virtual. You could put on a coffee morning at work, host an afternoon tea with friends or arrange a bake sale at school. Whether it’s faked or baked, every cake sold could help change someone’s life for the better. It really is a piece of cake!”

The charity has put together a free kit containing everything you need to host your own event, including lots of event ideas, cake toppers, posters and recipe cards. Sign up at Cakes4Cancer 2025 - Wessex Cancer Support

Sale for Ukraine

New Affordable Home Completed in Titchfield

Fareham Housing was delighted to welcome the Mayor of Fareham, Councillor Pal Hayre, along with Fareham Borough Councillors to the official opening of its most recent affordable housing development at Bellfield in Titchfield.

Making the most of a large side garden within the grounds of 51 Bellfield, Fareham Housing has built a new three-bedroom home, which will now be occupied by a family from the Council’s housing register.

Southampton-based building contractor, Daintree Developments, which was also in attendance, delivered this project for Fareham Housing. The new home has been specifically designed to suit the character of the area while including modern technology such as solar PV panels and an air source heat pump to provide heating and hot water. This supports the Council’s ambition to become carbon neutral across all its buildings and services by 2030.

Cllr Fred Birkett, Executive Member for Housing at Fareham Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to come along today to see the completion of this new home. Daintree Developments has done a fabulous job in delivering this modern, low-energy home in little over a year, utilising underused brownfield land on the side of an existing property. It may be just the one house, but it will make a big difference to a family from our housing register, and I am sure they will be very happy here.”

You can find more Fareham Borough Council’s affordable housing schemes at www.fareham.gov.

Titchfield History Files find new home

Fareham Borough Council has announced that the Titchfield History Files will now be displayed at their new home in the Crafty Makery inside Fareham Shopping Centre.

The files at Crafty Makery in the shopping Centre

Back in 2023 Hampshire Cultural Trust told Fareham Borough Council that it would no longer support Westbury Manon Museum, (home of the files) saying ‘It is no longer financially viable for Hampshire Cultural Trust to operate the museum.

Following the decision by the Hampshire Cultural Trust to close Westbury Manor Museum in 2024, the Council was keen to relocate the History Files so that they could be enjoyed by the Fareham community, rather than put them into storage. The files have been painstakingly put together by volunteers and local history groups over the years and contain a wealth of historical facts, documents, information and photos relating to Fareham from across the ages.

But all is not lost… Titchfield history lovers can visit the Crafty Makery to view the files during the following opening hours:

Monday: 10.30 to 4pm

Tuesday: 10.30 to 4pm

Thursday: 10.30 to 1.30

Fridaitchfield y: 10.30 to 4pm

Saturday: 10.30 to 4pm

Executive Member for Leisure and Community at Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Connie Hockley, said: “I am really pleased that the Fareham History Files have found a new home within the Crafty Makery. There is a wealth of information and history lovers could easily spend hours getting lost in this huge collection. I encourage local people to come and visit to take a look.”

The Future of the Stubbington Study Centre

Fareham Borough Council has expressed concerns following a consultation launched by Hampshire County Council into the potential closure of the Stubbington Study Centre, to make way for a specialist secure children's home.

The Stubbington Study Centre is a well-attended and much-loved community facility that has served children across the region for almost 90 years. It operates to around 95% capacity over the school terms and employs 24 staff.

A change of use on this scale will require planning permission to be granted and any such application will be carefully considered by Fareham Borough Council’s Planning Committee. Schools, organisations and individuals have until Monday 10 February to share their feedback and Fareham Borough Council encourages local people to take part in the consultation to ensure their voices are heard.

 Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Councillor Simon Martin, said: “I was extremely surprised to hear the news about the proposals from Hampshire County Council to close the Stubbington Study Centre. While I appreciate that there is an increasing need for facilities offering specialist residential care, this should not be to the detriment of this thriving community hub.

 “I will be strongly encouraging Hampshire County Council to continue their search for an alternative site, in order to protect the future of the Study Centre. I will also be seeking a meeting with the Hampshire County Council Cabinet Member to express my reservations in the meantime.”

 You can find the open consultation on the Hampshire County Council website: https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/stubbington-study-centre

Santa and the Krampus

Santa Claus and Krampus represent contrasting figures in Christmas folklore, embodying reward and punishment.

Santa Claus, rooted in Western Christian traditions, is a jolly, benevolent figure derived from Saint Nicholas.

He brings gifts to well-behaved children on Christmas Eve, spreading joy and reinforcing positive behavior.

Clad in his iconic red suit, he embodies generosity and goodwill, traveling in a sleigh pulled by reindeer to deliver presents worldwide.

Krampus, by contrast, originates from Alpine folklore and represents the darker side of Christmas.

This horned, demonic creature punishes naughty children, serving as a foil to Santa’s kindness. With his menacing appearance—cloven hooves, long horns, and a shaggy coat—Krampus wields chains and birch rods to scare or even capture misbehaving kids.

Traditionally, he accompanies Saint Nicholas on December 5th, known as Krampusnacht, to mete out justice to the unruly.

Together, Santa Claus and Krampus create a moral duality: one rewards virtue, while the other disciplines vice.

Their coexistence reflects the balance of light and darkness in human nature and the importance of both reward and consequence.

Today, Krampus has enjoyed a cultural resurgence, often celebrated in parades and festivals, offering a playful counterpoint to Santa’s cheery persona.

Perhaps more scary than the Krampus is the Yule Cat of Iceland, a very large feline who preys on the idle and the lazy.

Carols on the Green 2024

Well done Friends of St Peter’s

Carols round the Christmas tree tonight

Come snd sing some Carols with the Solent Communnity Choir.

Gather around the tree in West Street from 7pm tonight.

Keeep warm with a cup or two of mulled wiinre and a mince pie and help the Friends of St Peter’s raise money for the upkeep of our beautiful church.

What are chances of a white Christmas in Titchfield?

The chance of a white Christmas in Titchfield is generally low due to its mild maritime climate.

Historically, snowfall during late December is rare around here, with temperatures typically ranging from 2°C to 8°C.

Snow in March 2018

Cold spells and snow are more common in January or February, making December snow uncommon. Our picture here was taken in March 2018.

A “white Christmas” is officially defined in the UK as a single snowflake observed falling at any time on December 25, regardless of accumulation. This occurs sporadically, with the Met Office reporting snow on Christmas Day in the UK approximately once every four to five years.

However, Titchfield’s coastal position reduces its chances further, as warmer sea temperatures often moderate cold air, preventing snow formation.

Meteorological patterns, such as high-pressure systems from the east or Arctic air masses, could increase the likelihood of snow. However, these are unpredictable and depend on broader atmospheric conditions. In recent years, climate change has also contributed to milder winters, reducing the odds of snow.

As Christmas approaches, monitoring local forecasts will provide the most accurate information. While picturesque, a white Christmas in Titchfield remains an infrequent and fleeting event.

Fareham Charity joins The Big Give Christmas Campaign

Key to Joy is excited to announce participation in this year's Big Give Christmas Campaign with Hampshire Cricket Foundation as its champion funder.  Key to joy is a local charity and membership club for adults with learning difficulties and neurodiversity.

From its beginnings as a Friday Night Club in Fareham in 2019, undergoing a rebrand to Key to joy in 2023 and expanding their team, being selected by Hampshire Cricket Foundation is a huge sign for continued growth and development for this local Fareham charity. 

Having brought so much joy to its members through a range of life-enhancing activities, Key to joy has outgrown its small, shared venue and needs a larger venue a new home from home for its members and the people who support them. A larger premises would enhance member experience and enable Key to joy to support more adults with learning difficulties and neurodiversity.

With the generous support of the Hampshire Cricket Foundation, every donation made during the Big Give Christmas Challenge will be matched, doubling the impact of every single donation. This means, if Key to joy reaches the £8,750 fundraising target on the Big Give platform between 3-10 December, matched funds raised would be £17,500 toward their home from home campaign. 

While it’s a huge undertaking for a local independent charity in its beginnings, used to raising funds through raffles and more modest community events, Key to joy is determined to step up to the challenge and make double the difference. Chair of the Trustee Board at Key to joy, Christine Mouat, said: 

“There is so much potential for us to reach more adults with learning difficulties in the Fareham and Gosport boroughs that are isolated and need our support. Being part of such a huge nationwide campaign is a big step for our charity, which started its roots as a Friday Night Charity. We are incredibly excited and proud to have Hampshire Cricket Foundation as our champion funder. It’s an ambitious target to reach, but we're determined to do everything we can to make it happen. Even better, with the generous support of the Hampshire Cricket Foundation, every donation made during the Big Give Christmas Challenge will be matched, doubling the impact every single donation.” 

Head of Customer Experience at Hampshire Cricket Foundation, Greig Stewart added: 

“Hampshire Cricket Foundation is passionate about supporting small, independent charities. We are looking forward to seeing this brilliant charity grow and it is an absolute pleasure to be part of their journey, through the Big Give.” 

Key to joy have three core activities running through the Big Give campaign period from 3rd to 10th December: 

• 3rd, 4th & 9th Dec: Indoor sponsored rowing challenge Gosport to Isle of Wight  

• Sat 7th Dec from 10am-1pm: Fareham Town Christmas Carols singing and signing  

• Sun 8th Dec from 6.30pm: Charity comedy night at Fareham Social Club 

The comedy night, https://keytojoy.org/biggive is particularly exciting with an excellent lineup that are predominantly neurodivergent and 100 percent funny, including; Paul McCaffrey (BBC Radio 2), Joe Wells (The Neurodivergent Podcast), Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer and Sunjai Arif. 

Key to joy’s neurodivergent MC for the night is local comedian, Emma Ashley-King who is pleased to be supporting a cause close to her heart. She said: 

“It’s an absolute pleasure to be MCing Key to joy’s comedy night. Not only will it be a great night full of laughter, thanks to the fantastic comedy talent appearing, but we’ll also be raising funds for neurodiverse adults and those with learning difficulties. As a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and dyspraxia later in life, I understand how challenging things can be.” 

The Fareham Social Club have been incredibly supportive, sharing the event with their members both at the club and across their digital channels. 

Titchfield Remembers

The village pays tribute to its war dead.

After a short Remembrance Service at St Peter’s the congregation processed through the Square to the War Memorial at the Village Hall.

Over 150 attended both services.

Wreaths were laid by members of the armed services followed by scouts, schools, village groups and village organisations.

Wessex Cancer Christmas Concert at St Peter’s

JOIN TV’S SARAH PARISH AND SAM FRASER AT TITCHFIELD CHRISTMAS CONCERT  

Sam Fraser

  Actor, Sarah Parish, and BBC South presenter, Sam Fraser, are guest readers at Wessex Cancer Support’s annual Christmas concert at St Peter’s Church, Titchfield, on Monday 9th December. 

The event will raise money to support local people affected by cancer.

Hampshire’s oldest Church will host 300 guests for an evening of carols and performances from local artists, including Wessex Cancer Support’s Cosham Sing for Life choir. 

 Sam Fraser, said, “Most of us will be affected by cancer at some point in our lives and Wessex Cancer Support is there to help local people cope with whatever they’re going through.

Sarah Parish

As well as being a wonderful celebration of Christmas featuring some fantastic local performers, events like this are an important way of raising money so this charity can continue being there for anyone who needs them. I read at last year’s concert and it was a really special night. Please do join us.”  

Tickets for the concert are £20 and £40 for a pre-concert reception at the Bugle Hotel. For more information and to book, visit..

https://www.wessexcancer.org.uk/event/carol-2024/ 

Need your help

Can you spare some time next Saturday, 9th November, around 10am?

We could do with a little help getting the memorial at the Village Hall looking neat and tidy, ready for Sunday’s Act of Remembrance.

Bring along your garden waste bag, gloves, a rake and secateurs. There’ll be loads of leaves to gather up.

Let me know if you think you can help. phil.burner@gmail.com

Make a Bee-line to Titchfield

Your chance to join a Beekeeping course at Titchfield Community Centre

Fareham & District Beekeepers’ Association will be running a beginners course commencing on Tuesday 14th January 2025.

They will accept applications for the Beginner’s Course now,

The course cost is £85

Starting out in Beekeeping

For those wishing start beekeeping we strongly encourage you to take a beekeeping beginners course with a local Association. This will help you decide if beekeeping is for you before spending large sums on new kit and it will help you to understand how to handle used kit. 

Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby and the temptation of free honey is very irresistible.  Whilst we will always encourage anyone interested in taking up the hobby, it can be expensive so it is only fair that you are forewarned!  

For more information about the course and how to enroll click on the link below…

Posbrook pong returns

A new sewerage link on Posbrook Lane..

What appears to be raw sewage has once again been seen pouring across the road and into the field opposite.

The leak was quickly attended to but not before gallons of very smelly sewerage flowed across Posbrook Lane, close to its junction with Heath Lane.

It was in September 2019 that a major spill of sewerage at the same site resulted in a costly clean-up operation.

Read our story from 2019

Come along to the Titchfield Luncheon Club

TLC provides lunch for local pensioners every Wednesday, also providing transport for them to get to the Community Centre.

A 2-course lunch for £4.00 is available for up to 24 over 60’s at the Titchfield Luncheon Club (TLC) every Wednesday.

Titchfield Luncheon Club has existed for over 50 years and would like to welcome more diners from the Titchfield/Stubbington/Hillhead areas.

The lunch is served at the Titchfield Community Centre at 12 noon every Wednesday with tea/coffee and biscuits served from 10:45am.

If you like meeting people for a social chat and a home cooked meal, why not come along.

Transport can also be provided to and from your home for a donation of £1.00.

For more information, please telephone Mr Ken Moore on 01329 315615

Titchfield Ablaze 2024

Every year Titchfield village celebrates Christmas by local residents displaying a lit Christmas tree in a bracket fixed to the outside of their houses. Would you like to join in - or join us again - and have an outdoor tree this year?

We are able to supply a 4ft Norway Spruce tree at £15.00. We have again chosen to supply Norway Spruce the same as last year to keep costs down. Norway Spruce trees have classic fresh Christmas fragrance and structure (pyramid shape).

Their needle retention is fine for outdoor trees and are used for Trees in Trafalgar Square and at 10 Downing Street.

We will be sending an email with an order form out shortly to names on our mailing list. Forms will also be available from Hadlows the Butchers. Alternatively you can complete the form and post it through 27 West St, letter box is though the archway or email via titchfieldablaze@gmail.com.

Thank you for joining us in lighting Titchfield for Christmas.

The trees will be ready for you to collect from 9.30am -1.30pm on Saturday 30th November from the yard opposite 27 West St, the yard is on left before the path to Garsons. If you are unable to collect your tree please make alternative arrangements with a friend to collect within these times.

These trees are available for Titchfield Village residents - outside trees only. Please tell your neighbours and friends in the village if they do not know about ordering a tree.

We are a group of local volunteers who co-ordinate the trees; placing an order for 300 English grown trees. They are delivered to the village for collection. The trees will be trimmed but may need further trimming by you to fit into your bracket.

We organise Christmas trees for community buildings like the Parish Rooms and a tree for the village green – sponsored again this year by Hadlows the butchers and with lights provided by Freemantle’s, transport by Mark Harris and the star was made by Tony Traves.