Winchester Today - October 2015

October 2015 FREE… and not forgetting Cheriton, Romsey, Stockbridge, Hursley, Kings Worthy, Littleton,

Alresford, Chandler’s Ford, Micheldever, Bishop’s Waltham, and everywhere in between!

Issue 017 winchestertoday.co.uk @winchestertoday

Winchester Today – Your local FREE newspaper – and online daily at winchestertoday.co.uk

Back on the road: Andy’s Got Some Great News For You ...Page 2

Inside

Escape: we discover the delights of Florence as a world in which you can forget about everything ...Page 10

Farmers: a new site and a fresh start in Winchester for Hampshire farmers ...Page 3

Competitions: we have prizes worth almost £1,000 to give away by January - here’s the first ...Page 14

Your Team: a special team souvenir poster of Winchester City ...Page 15

Residents are being asked to clear ditches on their own land and play their part, alongside Hampshire County Council, in preventing localised flooding this winter.

Since April the County Council says it has cleared over 60,000 gullies, 4600 catchpits and completed 22 major highways drainage schemes to help prevent localised flooding.

Environment spokesman Seán Woodward agrees that we can’t prevent flooding completely, but there is a lot that we can all do to reduce the impact on our neighbourhoods: "I am asking local residents if they can regularly check ditches and watercourses on their own land to make sure they are clear of leaves, vegetation and other debris and not blocked up by grass cuttings or other rubbish.”

The Council spends more than £2 million a year maintaining 900 kilometres of highway

drains and more than 200,000 roadside gullies but there are many gullies and watercourses on private land which can be blocked. These blockages can often lead to flooding on local roads after heavy rainfall.

When flooding does occur the Council’s team of emergency engineers is on call continuously, seven days a week, to unblock highway drains and clear fallen trees from roads.

Residents are also being asked to ensure that piped sections of watercourses that lie under driveways are kept clear as it is these restricted locations that are often the most vulnerable to flooding and need the most attention.

For more information on the work Hampshire County Council does against flooding visit www.hants.gov.uk/flooding.

The Gentle Giant

Rugby legend Jonah Lomu pictured on a visit to Naomi House and Jacksplace. More details on page 4

Plea To Help Fight Winter Flooding

The centre of Winchester in February 2014

2 WINCHESTER TODAY OCTOBER 2015

Andy's Got Some Great News For YouWe don't know about you, but

we love some of the programmes that award-winning comedian and comedy writer Andy Hamilton has been involved with: 'Outnumbered', 'Drop The Dead Donkey' and 'Have I Got News For You' are just a few of them.

Well, suffice to say that Andy's back on the road and on the stage this autumn with a brand new solo show - and the Theatre Royal in Winchester is included!

If you’re feeling flustered because of flux, Andy will teach you how to cope with the changes we have seen and the changes yet to come. Contains mild peril.

Friday 6th November 2015 at 7.30pm. 01962 840440

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Welcome

Letter from the editorWinchester St John Ambulance Looks For The Next Generation Of Life Savers

St John Ambulance in Winchester

is appealing for youngsters in the area to be the next generation of life savers, by becoming a Badger.

Anyone between the age of five and

10 years old can become a Badger. They are then guided by youth leaders through a lively programme, which has been developed to enable them to learn important life skills.

Badgers can choose from fifteen subjects to work towards their Super Badger award, ranging from Creative and Active, to Healthy and Caring.

They also learn first aid, so even at a

young age they can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.

The Winchester Badgers meet weekly on Monday evenings during term time for just over an hour.

For more information about being a

Badger please contact Louise Wright on [email protected] or call 0303 003 0101 for more information.

For first aid advice, details of

community and business training courses, or how to volunteer go to www.sja.org.uk

Cash For Sophie

The Level 3 Hairdressing End of Year display by Adult & Higher Education Division hair and beauty students, held at Littleton’s Millennium Hall, was a resounding success. Together with their family and friends the group raised in excess of £500 for their chosen charity the Sophie Barringer Trust and ‘Sophie’s Appeal’.

Mike Barringer, Sophie’s father and a trustee of the charity, is pictured with Level 3 student co-organiser Emma Wellesley-Davies, Sharron Radford - Head of Hairdressing and Barbering and Sharon Foley - AHED Bursar. (Not pictured - Level 3 student Sharon Spark, the other event organiser).

Sharron says the sci-fi extravaganza themed evening was amazing: “The hall was full and the students’ efforts to bring their designs to life and to showcase the hairdressing and beauty skills they have acquired during the course really paid off.

“We are delighted to be donating £530 to ‘Sophie’s Appeal’ to help

those children in need of support both at the hospital and in the community. We know that Sophie’s parents, Lin and Mike, will direct the money where it is needed most to give some sort of respite to the children undergoing treatment and their families.”

Sophie was treated in the children’s wing at Winchester Hospital. The Sophie Barringer Trust ‘Sophie’s

Appeal’, set up in her. memory, aims to support the social, emotional and educational welfare of children, their families, nursing and support staff and provide a caring and supporting

environment in both local hospitals and in the community.

The Trust have just launched an appeal to buy a caravan in the New Forest to offer respite breaks away from the hospital for families.

Salting Lorries Already Testing

Hampshire County Council’s salting lorries have already been out on trial salt runs to check that the vehicles are in good working order in preparation for the winter ahead.

The Council’s annual winter maintenance programme swings into action from October each year in readiness for the first frosts and snow of the season, and teams will be monitoring forecast and sensors daily right through to April to assess when salting is needed.

A number of factors are considered when deciding when to salt the

roads, including a specially provided local weather forecast, and the Icelert system. The Icelert system consists of a number of roadside sensors which detect road and air temperatures, wind speed and direction, rainfall, and ice formation.

Hampshire’s winter maintenance teams treat roads on a priority basis – ‘Priority one’ routes carry the majority of the total traffic in Hampshire and include A roads, major bus routes, and roads to major emergency services. During periods of prolonged severe weather, ‘Priority two’ and ‘Community’ routes are treated. Priority two routes include B roads and single accesses to villages, and ‘community routes’ ensure roads to smaller schools, GPs surgeries

and areas of community activity are covered.

People can check which roads are on which priority routes using a map or postcode at: www.hants.gov.uk/roads/winter-maintenance

Our front page picture will hopefully melt your heart just a little when we remember that we need the big guys to help the little guys.

There wasn't a dry eye in the house on Monday morning, 7th September either, when we all had the chance to see where our £4m has been spent on the new annexe at Naomi House and Jacksplace.

The generosity shown by 10,000 people means that the building has been able to benefit from a £4m makeover, bringing smiles and laughter to so many faces. The sun has shone in their hearts. The building has now been opened under a clear blue sky – yes, the sun definitely shines over Naomi House.

Judging from the smiles and radiant sunshine on our visit on that day, it is evident that the staff and families at Naomi House Children’s Hospice believe it has absolutely been worth the wait.

As you will see from our video on our website, and hear from our interview, Alastair Stewart – the charity’s appeal patron – was assisted by 3-year-old Mikey Strachan to cut the ribbon and unveil the hospice to more than 100 invited guests.

But as Alastair pointed out, the fundraising has to go on. He thanked us and urged Winchester Today as a media organisation to keep spreading the word. And that's exactly what we'll do.

project:Alfie150 is giving young people aged 16-25 free training in all aspects of media - radio, print and online.

Register for a place now on our next training start date (Sunday 31 January 2016) on [email protected]

Photograph: Steve Ullathorne

OCTOBER 2015 WINCHESTER TODAY 3

New Law On Smoking

A new law to prevent smoking in cars when children are present comes into force this month.

Hampshire County Council has been working with Hampshire’s Fire and Rescue Service, district and borough councils, schools, school nurses and NHS commissioners to set up the Step Out programme to encourage smokers to keep their homes and now their cars smoke free to avoid children being subjected to second hand smoke.

County Health Spokesperson - Patricia Stallard - says a survey of 7,000 schoolchildren across Hampshire showed that a third are still being exposed to second hand or passive smoke in the home or car: "Second hand smoke has been proven to be harmful to children’s health and the children say that it bothers or annoys them.

"I welcome this new legislation which will play a significant role in protecting children from the dangers of second hand smoke, and it will encourage smokers to consider the impact second hand smoke has on others.”

The survey revealed that the vast majority of parents, 96%, expected to protect children from the effects of second hand smoke. 94% of people surveyed – including almost all the smokers who participated (87%) - thought that cars should be kept smoke free when children are present and 93% said they already had a smoke free car. People who did not currently keep their car smoke free said that a law banning smoking in cars with children present would be the biggest influence and encourage them to do so.

The first day of October also marked the start of Stoptober, where smokers are encouraged to sign up to a 28 day challenge

to go without cigarettes. That same date also sees additional legislation being introduced to regulate the sale of tobacco and nicotine based products, like e-cigarettes.

Those people wishing to quit can get help from Hampshire’s Quit4Life service online or by calling them on 0845 6024663.

When Children Lead The WayYou may remember that we told you

some time ago about the success of the Hampshire-based ‘History Heroes’ and their series of playing-card games which help children and adults alike learn more about people through history, facts and figures.

Now comes a new game: CHILDREN, which contains 40 illustrated cards showing dates, flag of birthplace & seven memorable and often moving facts about the children throughout history, who have helped to shape and change our world or who have made history by their very existence.

CHILDREN includes leaders, such as the

‘boy king’, Tutankhamun, Joan of Arc and the Dalai Lama and campaigners, such as Malala Yousafzai, the nineteenth century Match girls and America’s civil rights campaigner, Claudette Colvin. At the age of 15, Claudette led her own protest against segregation on a bus in Alabama nine months before Rosa Park’s famous

stand for equal rights.

Child prodigy performers and artists such as Mozart and Picasso rub shoulders with Shirley Temple and Stevie Wonder. Children who led extraordinary lives, such as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Helen Keller, Victor of Aveyron & Mary Anning mingle with children who simply ‘made’ history: Lady Jane Grey, the Princes in the Tower, Anne Frank, Pele, Louise Brown...the game contains an extraordinary, inspirational range of boys and girls in history.

History Heroes tell us they are also

going to support inspirational children of today, with a donation from each game sold going to help Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity work to reach all 6,000 families with a life threatened or terminally ill child in England, who could benefit from their services. Learn more about their work here: https://rainbowtrust.org.ukes

Summer Borns - "Parental Choice Is Key" says MP

Winchester and Chandler's Ford MP Steve Brine has highlighted parental choice as a key reason for backing moves to allow summer-born children to enter education in reception at the age of 5 in a late-night debate in the House of Commons in September.

His son William had started school

that morning, and he has been campaigning on the idea for a number of years. He highlighted the fact that parents know what is best for their children over when it is right for them to start school.

The debate came hours before

Schools Minister Nick Gibb confirmed the government's intention to give summer-born children the right to start in reception at the age of 5, with admission rules set to be changed so children born between 1st April and 31st August cannot be forced to go straight into year 1 if they wait to start school until they turn 5.

Mr Gibb has written an open letter

to encourage schools and local authorities to take immediate action, in advance of the proposed changes,

and allow summer-born children to start in reception aged 5 if that is what parents want.

Steve says it's great news: "I was

delighted to be able to voice my support in the House in the debate even at nearly 1:00am. Time and again local parents have discussed the matter with me, and a parent of two little ones myself I have always been very supportive. Quite rightly, a full consultation will now be carried out and I look forward to seeing this returned before us in the House."

Mr Brine had previously raised

this issue in the Parliament, when two local parents approached him with their own concern. The then Schools Minister in the Coalition Government, Liz Truss MP, said at the time: "We are absolutely clear that parents should be able to say to a school, 'We want our child, who is aged five, to enter reception', if they feel that this is in the best interests of their child."

Steve says he is keen to gather

more evidence from local people, and constituents can contact him via [email protected] and 01962 791110.

Environmental Concerns Prompt Sky Lantern BanTo some, they are a thing of beauty

- for others they are part of religion and celebration. But now, following concerns raised last winter by councillors, Winchester City Council have adopted a new policy banning the release of sky lanterns and massed balloon launches from its land.

In recent years, the use of sky lanterns has become increasingly popular for night-time celebrations such as Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve. They consist of a paper-covered wire or bamboo frame, under which is placed a small fuel supply with a naked flame is placed, so that they can be launched into the sky.

Once launched, they float – according to some websites – up to a height of 1,000 feet and travel

for several miles. They travel on the wind, and they land when the flame dies out.

Although lanterns are said to be biodegradable, people can be concerned about their potential to cause damage to buildings, livestock and natural habitats.

Both Defra and the Welsh Government have reviewed evidence and concluded that the sky lanterns pose a significant fire risk; indeed firefighters had to be sent to Winchester Cathedral in 2006 when one lantern landed on the roof. There was concern about the old wooden structure of the building, and a sweep had to be carried out for other lanterns.

In rural areas, the lanterns can start

fires which destroy habitats and set animal housing, feed and bedding alight. The frames can also become chopped up with hay and eaten by livestock leading to stomach ruptures. The RSPCA website quotes ingestion, entanglement, puncturing and entrapment as three threats to animal wellbeing, often leading to injury, suffering and death. The National Farmers’ Union website calls for a complete ban.

The Civil Aviation Authority has recommended that lanterns are not launched without prior notification of any nearby airfield, through concerns about the potential distraction of pilots. There are also concerns for coastal shipping, should lanterns be mistaken for distress flares.

Hampshire County Council banned

the launching of sky lanterns from its land and property in September 2014.

At the same time, the Council decided that there was a strong case for banning mass balloon releases from its land, in view of the long-established risks presented to grazing animals and wildlife by the latex (and strings) when they land. The RSPCA, Defra and other bodies have all published information about the health risks to animals and the environment.

The new policy covers City Council-owned land such as playing fields, recreation grounds and open spaces, tenanted homes and gardens, and commercial sites including industrial premises and shops.

The Council’s licences and commercial tenancy agreements will be amended, on a rolling basis, to

reflect the new policy and it will also be set out in the Tenant Handbook when it is next printed.

Environment spokesman Frank Pearson says he has had universal support from officers and fellow councillors alike in developing this new policy: "The Winchester District includes large areas of countryside, where something as simple as a sky lantern can create anxiety at the least and lasting damage at worst.

“We would strongly urge people who are starting to plan celebrations over the coming months to consider the safety concerns and the litter nuisance associated with sky lanterns and balloon launches, and to avoid these completely. There are lots of other ways to create atmospheric outdoor celebrations, from tethered balloons and lanterns to bubbles, lights and bunting.”

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He may have 63 caps as an All Black and be regarded as one of the greatest rugby players of all time, but Jonah Lomu met his match when he came up against the Naomi House nursing team.

Jonah has been named by The Guardian as the Rugby World Cup’s greatest ever player. He toured the newly refurbished hospice and met with children, families and staff. On top, he announced that the south coast leg of his UK tour will support Naomi House.

Among those meeting Jonah were Toby Dobson with his parents Lyndsay and Alastair, from Chandlers Ford. Toby stays

at Naomi House for respite care and has a range of complex conditions.

Lyndsay had this to say on meeting the Rugby World Cup’s highest try scorer: “For Jonah Lomu to visit Naomi House & Jacksplace so soon after the new hospice’s official unveiling has been absolutely fantastic. Toby’s Dad is a huge rugby fan so this was a real treat for him.”

The 6 ft 5 inch winger’s Unstoppable Tour will reach Southampton on 21st October and Lomu has decided that the event’s auction will support Naomi House & Jacksplace hospices. Taking time to see first-hand where the money will go, Jonah visited the hospice’s hydrotherapy pool, bedrooms, gardens and bereavement suite.

He spoke afterwards about the experience: ”I thought it was an amazing place and a charity with a really nice feel to it. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the children and families and staff that make use of the facilities.

"As a father myself and with the odd health complication of my own I fully understand how important a place like Naomi House and Jacksplace is for the community.”

Naomi House spokesman Keith Wilson was thrilled with the visit:“Jonah arrived to a packed hospice with children and families all eager to meet him. He spent time with absolutely everybody, and really seemed to understand the importance of the work we do here. He is certainly welcome to return at any time.

"I would urge people to get their tickets for Jonah’s Unstoppable Tour as soon as they can. Not only will they help support our vital work by doing so, but they will get to meet rugby’s greatest living legend.”

Rugby’s Greatest Star Visits Naomi House and Jacksplace


Winchester Short Film Festival 2015Proudly supported by Winchester Today - official media partner.

A reminder that the Box Office for this year's line-up of Festival events is now open! The programme this year includes two separate screenings of the shortlisted 2015 entries, both with an introduction by Festival Director John Hayes (pictured above), and one with a discussion headed by Director-Producer Caroline Sax.

In addition to the screenings, there's a fantastic Q&A lined up with Mark Vennis from the independent film sales and production company Moviehouse Entertainment.

John told Winchester Today how much things had grown since 2014: "We've had a lot of films in much earlier now - which makes us a bit more relaxed. We're also pleaded with the quality too, which is broader... and because it's a nationwide competition now, it's really pleasing to have entries from Scotland and Ireland."

Tickets are also now on sale for the prestigious Award Ceremony, which will take place once again at the Discovery Centre, Winchester.

The closing date for submitting your entries

to the WSFF_2015 short film competition is drawing near! Midnight on the 15th October is your last chance to get your film into the competition, and with a host of fantastic prizes up for grabs across over 10 categories, you're in with a great chance of getting your hands on cash, mentoring or work opportunities - so be sure to send in your short films before the deadline closes!

John is also pleased with what he terms a 'serious' prize fund. "The prize fund for this year is worth over £2,000! Thanks to generous sponsors, you can grab anything from £500 for the best short film, to experience working as a runner on set, to the chance to work with industry professionals across a range of disciplines."

University of Winchester Teaching Quality Recognised

The University of Winchester has been ranked 3rd out of the South East’s 19 universities and 10th out of 105 universities in England for teaching quality in the latest league tables published by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

The league table also put Art and Design at Winchester top for teaching quality.

The University of Winchester

was recently ranked in the top 4 universities for overall student

satisfaction in this year’s National Student Survey.

Professor Joy Carter, Vice-

Chancellor of the University of Winchester, says it's fantastic news, not just for the University, but for the City and County too: "To be third in the South East and 10th in England for teaching excellence is something we are incredibly proud of. This comes just weeks after being placed in the top four universities for student satisfaction.

“We pride ourselves on offering

excellent teaching for our students who go on to make a positive impact locally, nationally and abroad. In a world facing increasing change, challenges and uncertainty, the University of Winchester way of doing higher education is becoming increasingly important. We are deeply committed to freedom, justice, truth, human rights and collective effort for the common good. This means our students are nurtured to make a difference in the world and our research is focused on making the world a better, safer place.

“It is so rewarding to have the

efforts of the superb staff at the University recognised in this way. We should all be incredibly proud to have such an excellent university right here in the heart of Hampshire.”

The President of Winchester

Student Union, Savannah King, is equally pleased: “This is great news for students at the University of Winchester. There are lots of elements of Winchester to shout about, but we are really proud to have it recognised

by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide. Students here have access to amazing teaching, as well as a great campus and one of the top student unions in the UK.”

Teaching quality in South East University / Teaching excellence (%)Buckingham 88Surrey 86.9Winchester 84.2Chichester 84Portsmouth 83.4Oxford Brookes 83.2Oxford 83.1Creative Arts 82.7Northampton 82.3Kent 81.5Buckinghamshire New 81.5Canterbury Christ Church 80.7Reading 80.5Bedfordshire 80.4Southampton Solent 79.5Southampton 79.3Sussex 78.6Hertfordshire 78.6Brighton 78.6


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There's not long to go before Hampshire Farmers’ Market makes a move from its current Winchester market site at Middle Brook Street and Middle Brook Street car park, where it has been at since 1999, to its new location in the High Street.

The first Hampshire Farmers’ Market in Winchester’s High Street will be on

Sunday 11th October from 9am - 4pm, providing two additional hours for visitors to shop.

Alex Handford is Business Manager

for the HFM: “The decision has been prompted by the recent closure of the Friars Gate car park reducing the number of car parking places for our visiting customers.

“The move will help alleviate some of the parking problems that are associated to the future development of Silver Hill. Negotiations with Winchester City Council have been ongoing for some time to ensure the move is of benefit to the High Street retailers.”

“We are looking forward to working closely with the High Street retailers to maximise the opportunities for

everyone. From past experience in other areas of Hampshire, where we have our markets in similar High Street locations, it has benefited retailers by attracting a higher foot fall into their area.

"The great benefit to the High Street retailers is that shoppers coming specifically to the Hampshire Farmers’ Market will linger longer in the High Street.

“From the perspective of our

producers we are also expecting that they will benefit from being in the central retail area of the city. Shoppers enjoy the vibrant atmosphere of our markets and we feel that our presence in the High Street will complement the existing retail offering."

The Hampshire Farmers’ Market at Winchester takes place twice a month on the second and last Sunday of each month.

Hampshire Farmers’ Markets is a not-for-profit community interest organisation, visit www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk for market locations and dates.

Hampshire Farmers On The Move


RURAL DIY: Conference speaker Rob Stark (second from left), Director of the Fox and Hounds (Denmead) Co-operative Ltd.

Photograph by Steve Hughes.

A conference on rural communities and how they can deliver their own services in an uncertain future is being held in Sparsholt this month to spread the word about rural DIY.

"Communities in Action” is being staged by the Campaign to Protect Rural England Hampshire - its aim is to share ideas on how rural communities can deliver services and protect facilities in the face of local government cutbacks.

Rosalind Rutt is a CPRE Hampshire

volunteer: “Because of cutbacks in

funding, there’s a lot of pressure on local facilities and services. We want to get a dialogue going to encourage rural communities to become more self-sufficient by working together.”

The conference is a product of CPRE

Hampshire’s review of its policy, “The Rural Economy in Hampshire”, which aims to protect the county’s environment while promoting a living countryside with appropriate development. The charity believes that protecting the character of rural areas and maintaining a thriving rural community can go hand-in-hand.

Attendees will be able to share

best practices by hearing case studies of how rural businesses and communities around Hampshire have been able to provide services and safeguard jobs.

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Could You Be a Dementia Friend?You may well have seen the recent

news that 1 in 3 babies being born today will end up with dementia. The stark figure brought it home. Just how do you cope?

Well, here in Winchester, dementia awareness sessions are being held, aimed at raising awareness of dementia and encouraging people to be ‘Dementia Friends'.

The sessions are at the Discovery Centre in Jewry Street, Winchester, Thursday 22 October at 3.30pm and on Saturday 21 November at 9.30am. The sessions are organised by

Dementia Friendly Winchester, a local action group comprising organisations, businesses and individuals each committed to making Winchester more dementia-friendly.

Dementia Friends learn about what it is like to live with dementia and will become part of a national initiative helping people living with dementia to feel included in their communities.

Anyone of any age can become a Dementia Friend and, from helping someone to find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia on social media, every action counts. The hour-long session is run by

Dementia Friends Champions - volunteers who have taken the Dementia Friends Champions' training. Participants will learn more about dementia and how they can help to create dementia-friendly communities. There is no need to book, just turn up

to a session. For further information contact [email protected]

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Would you like to join a friendship club for people in the South?Brendoncare Clubs are devoted to giving people the opportunity to meet new friends, take part in activities and enjoy occasional club outings. Here are the clubs running in your area. Why not come along and try out one of the activities and see how you can become a member... we’d love to welcome you there.

Good Companions Eastleigh (2nd and 4th Tuesday, 2pm - 4pm)

Eastleigh Arts and Crafts Club (1st and 3rd Tuesday, 2pm - 4pm)

Badger Farm Friendly Group (Alternate Thursdays, 2pm - 4pm)

Weeke Gaiety Club (Alternate Fridays, 2pm - 4pm)

Romsey Companions (Alternate Mondays, 1.30pm - 3.30pm)

Romsey Tuesday Luncheon (Every Tuesday, term time, 11.30am - 1pm)

Bishop Waltham Welcome Club (2nd and 4th Tuesday, 2pm - 4pm)

West End Club (Monday, 2pm - 4pm)

Southampton Coffee Shop (Wednesday, 10am - 12pm)

Southampton Thursday Club (Thursday, 1.30pm - 3.30pm)

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A special day full of once in a lifetime moments, delicious food, exceptional hospitality and service can all be enjoyed within the elegant, contemporary setting of the award winning four star Holiday Inn Winchester.

A Tripadvisor Hall of Fame Award is the Holiday Inn Winchester’s most recent award, with this unique accolade only granted to businesses that have won the Certificate of Excellence for 5 years in a row. This award follows on from a long list of awards that the hotel has won since it was opened five years ago and Siobhan Thomasson, General Manager for the hotel commented: “We are particularly thrilled about this award as it is so strongly influenced by those who have visited our hotel and we value their comments. A lot of visitors to our hotel also give us valuable feedback directly and it is so good to hear that they have had so many positive things to say about all aspects of the hotel, including our weddings offering.”

The hotel has received great praise from

clients who have booked their weddings at the venue and here is a sample testimonial from some happy parents: “We would like to thank you and your team at the Holiday Inn Winchester for making Sam and Pete’s wedding day so special. Everything was perfect, it was all organised so well. Please also pass on our compliments to the chef and kitchen staff, as the wedding breakfast and evening buffet was all that we asked for and more. We had found all the staff were extremely professional and polite, several of our guests commented on

how they were impressed with the service.” “We understand just how important

everyone’s wedding day is,” continued Siobhan Thomasson. “As a predominantly female management team at the hotel we all love helping to organise the weddings and ensuring that every wedding is memorable for all the right reasons.”

“Our Morn Hill Brasserie has an AA Rosette

and we ensure that the high quality of our food is maintained at every event we have in the hotel. Our wedding menus are interesting and imaginative and we get great feedback from our wedding parties.”

The contemporary venue also offers many

picture perfect places to take all the important wedding photos, from the elegant, light, contemporary and very spacious reception area, with its staircase leading to a balcony - to the stylish outside courtyard terrace. The romantic bridal suite offers the newly weds privacy and space, with luxurious soft furnishings in the bedroom and living area - another ideal location for some before wedding photos of the bride. There are also 7 contemporary designed ceremony and reception rooms to choose from, with the hotel licensed for civil ceremonies.

The 141 room hotel is large enough to

accommodate large wedding parties and guests, with a range of rooms available including standard, executive, family rooms, luxury suite and eight accessible rooms, with special rates for wedding guests and ample easy car parking.

The hotel can accommodate weddings from

small groups up to 200 guests, with late booking availability for 2015 and a variety of packages available including the Diamond Wedding package for 2015 starting at £3,300, with similar packages for 2016 and 2017, including a very special 2016 package for £2016. All of the packages are based on 50 day guests and up to 80 evening guests in total.

For those who are planning a wedding there

are a number of opportunities to see the Holiday Inn Winchester as a wedding venue, all dressed and presented to show visitors how it would look on their special day.

Autumnal Wedding ShowTaking place on Sunday 25th October from

11am - 3pm the hotel will be offering a free entry fun day filled with all things to do with weddings. The day will include an arrival drink, fashion shows, exhibition of 35 local suppliers, free entry into a prize draw and goody bag.

Sarah Waddington, Sales and Marketing

Manager for the hotel commented:“It is the perfect way for visitors to see how

the hotel will look and feel on a wedding day. We also have some Wedding Open

Evenings planned as well, where we will have our Hampshire Suite set for a ceremony and wedding breakfast. This is a great opportunity to discuss your big day with the team.”

Wedding Open EveningsThursday, 19th November between 6pm and

9pm, no appointment necessary For more information call the events team on

01962 670 700

Award winning 4 star Holiday Inn Winchester is the perfect place for your big day

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Escape

A Renaissance Jewel For Romantics – Nathalie Grainger enjoys some September sunshine in Italy

If you love fabulous Italian food, culture, romance and exquisite style, Florence ticks all the boxes. This is not a city for cheap tourism or groups looking for a good deal on a stag weekend. This is a place to come with a lover or your family, to escape the dreariness and stress of modern life. Life in Technicolour in Florence.

This September, I was lucky enough

to be invited by my parents to spend a week in the magnificent city of Florence as a birthday treat. This was their fourth visit and my first. It’s more than handy to explore this city with someone who knows all the hidden gems but it’s not essential – Florence invites you to discover it from the word ‘go’.

Known as the cradle of the Renaissance, the city is positively bursting with beauty and history.

Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus along with a host of great Masters are housed in the Uffizi Gallery, while the streets bear witness to equal measures of exquisiteness and architecture. I was bewitched from the moment I arrived, and can think of little else now.

One of Florence’s greatest assets

is that it is a living city, where the locals brush shoulders with the tourists; where little independent shops, restaurants and artisans are king and where chains are relegated to second place. The atmosphere is bustling but seductively relaxed

and this is because the city centre is largely given over to pedestrians and electric taxis or buses. You’ll get hit with a hefty fine for driving in the city centre’s restricted streets and this makes the experience all the more enjoyable, while protecting the Renaissance buildings from pollution.

Some ‘must-see’ places to visit Be sure to give yourself time to

stroll around the little alleys to get a feel of everything and wander into artisan workshops, shoemakers, delicatessens, perfumeries, jewellers,

leather craft shops and marketplaces. Don’t go home without eating in an authentic Trattoria and sampling some homemade ice cream from one of the many gelaterias.

Duomo and BattisteroThis awe-inspiring building was

constructed over 600 years and the facade was finished in 1887. People flock to see Brunelleschi’s impressive 15th-century terracotta-tiled cupola, which is the biggest masonry dome in the world. On site are Uccello’s fresco of the British mercenary commander Sir John Hawkwood, Giotto’s bell tower and Lorenzo Ghiberti’s intricately carved bronze Baptistery doors. If you venture to the top of the Duomo, you’ll be rewarded with views over Florence.

Duomo + 39 055 230 2885operaduomo.firenze.it Piazza della Signoria and

Ponte VecchioYou’d have to be sleepwalking not

to be utterly wowed by Piazza della Signoria as you turn onto it from one of the little side streets. Not only is it extremely large, but also it’s dominated by the medieval town hall of Palazzo Vecchio, which is brimming with artworks dating from the Medici dynasty. Ponte Vecchio, which is just steps away from the square, is the oldest of the bridges across the River Arno. The bridge is lined with jewellery shops and you could quite

easily imagine you’re on the set of a film or have been transported back to much grander times. The bridge was rebuilt in 1345 after being washed away by floods and is the subject of many typical shots of Florence’s landscape.

Palazzo Vecchio+ 39 055 276 8325museicivicifiorentini.comune.fi.it

Galleria degli UffiziThis is Italy’s most significant art

gallery and it sits in what used to be the Medici dynasty’s administrative centre. I suggest you do some research beforehand to decide on an era and cluster of artists or works you wish to focus on in the gallery as the selection is overwhelming and you need to be sure you don’t miss anything or get fatigued. My absolute highlights included Botticelli’s Primavera and Birth of Venus, and the exquisite Tondo Doni by Michelangelo. You really do need to book in advance to avoid hour-long queues.

Uffizi Gallery +39 055 294 883uffizi.firenze.it Officina Profumo –

Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

Dominican monks, whose herbal remedies and scented elixirs and

waters were concocted in the 13th century, in the time of Giotto and Dante, founded one of the world’s oldest pharmacies, Santa Maria Novella. Today, the Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella still sells traditional products such as hand-milled soaps scented with Florentine iris and Catherine of Medici’s very own Colonia, infused with orange blossom and citrus notes. Do not miss this magical place if you have even a passing interest in natural, original scent and beauty products. N.B They do not ship their products anywhere and have restrictions on the number of any one item you can buy at once to avoid people cashing in on eBay.

smnovella.it

Mercato Centrale from Monday to Saturday, next to the church of San Lorenzo. It is a covered market that’s a treasure trove of culinary delights. Their stalls are creaking with Florentine and Tuscan food produce, from cheeses and cured meats to sun-dried tomatoes and delicate almond biscotti.

When to go: It’s lovely from late spring through

to early autumn, when you can eat al fresco and be guaranteed balmy (sometimes boiling) temperatures, however this is also the busiest period when hotel rates are at their highest and the queues for the Uffizi Gallery and many other museums, require advance bookings. January and February are blissfully quiet in comparison and if you take your layers you can wrap up against the chill and enjoy very reasonable accommodation prices.

My stayWe stayed at the Hotel Degli Orafi

in September - which is rated on booking.com as 'superb' and hence very popular on there! Nevertheless, you can still find discounted rates in October of £544 for three nights midweek for 2 adults instead of £769. Be patient though! We arranged for parking to keep our car outside the city safely locked away (your hotel will be able to arrange this for you in advance). I flew with British Airways from Florence Airport (Peretola). Midweek return flights with BA in October can be found for around £210 return.

hoteldegliorafi.itbooking.combritishairways.com

“Florence invites you to discover it from the word ‘go’.”



Review

Review: Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mayflower, 14 September 2015

After hitting screens in Stephan Elliot’s 1994 Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Tick, Bernadette and Felicia took to the stage in Sydney for the first time in 2006 and Priscilla The Musical was born. Featuring dance floor anthems ‘I Will Survive’, ‘Boogie Wonderland’, ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ and many more, you’d better be prepared to for a sing-a-long.

Duncan James, pop star and television personality, takes the lead as Tick, a drag queen who spends his time as alter-ego Mitzi. But Mitzi has a surprising past, as friends Bernadette and fellow drag queen Adam [Felicia] are soon to discover, when the trio set off on a mysterious roadtrip across Australia, performing to crowds not quite as in touch with their feminine sides as themselves. Mitzi’s character reassesses what it means to be a good father. The exuberance, combined with vulnerability, which James brings to the role, both make for a great lead.

Simon Green’s performance as transsexual woman Bernadette is sassy and hilarious. The audience empathises with Bernadette immediately, wanting nothing more than for her to find her happily ever after.

For me, Adam Bailey steals the show. His portrayal of Adam’s alter-ego Felicia is mischievous and brazen, and the banter with Green’s Bernadette has the audience laughing aloud. Yet, throughout the show moments of tender support between the three friends comes across wonderfully, providing the story with a whole new depth that might not be believed possible from simply rifling through the flamboyant programme.

Any show in which the costume design include angels, gladiators, dancers dressed as giant paintbrushes and cupcakes, and funeral attendees with exposed false derrières, should – not – work. But it just does!

Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner’s multi

award-winning array of costumes mean you’d better not blink too often because you’ll miss something fabulous. A vivacious ensemble and hilarious supporting members such as Miss Understanding (Callum Macdonald), performing choreography that makes one tired just watching it, mean Priscilla is not to be missed.

Exploring issues of homophobia and

acceptance, friendship and fatherhood, and topping it all off with a soundtrack guaranteed to get you dancing, Priscilla The Musical has something for everyone. You won’t be able to wipe the smile from your face!

Star rating: 5/5

Beccy Conway

Review: Glenn Miller Story, MayflowerDavid Cradduck joins ‘those of

a certain age’ who were all ‘In The Mood’ to watch one great legend playing another – The Glenn Miller Story, Mayflower Theatre, Tuesday 8 September.

Glenn Miller became famous for defining a musical genre that has lasted for over 80 years and still has feet tapping all over the world, especially in his birthplace in Iowa where the Glenn Miller Festival happens every June. In his short life – sadly, he was reported missing in action in the English Channel in December 1944 – he crammed in an awful lot of music and sold a lot of records: Tuxedo Junction, released in 1940, shifted 115,000 copies in the first week of its release. That’s a lot.

His story isn’t a complicated one – he bought his first trombone aged 13, dropped out of university by 19 to focus on becoming a professional musician, married his old college mate Helen Burger and during the Swinging 30s, after a somewhat

shaky start, created the now familiar swingband sound that we associate with the American troops described by the Brits as ‘overpaid, oversexed and over here’. As a Major in the US Army, Miller’s music was a huge morale booster for the GIs overseas.

Like the story, the show isn’t a complex one: it is a sparkling tribute to a great musical legend, featuring Miller’s excellent music authentically played by outstanding musicians, supported by a lively sextet of dancing actors who know how to sing, act, jitterbug and tapdance their way through the well choreographed routines that reflected the era and the subject matter. The simple set reflects the era and is cleverly lit but never too flashy.

Sarah Soetaert, as Helen Miller née Burger, is faultless and sings beautifully. The other supporting actors all excel and accents are spot on.

Of course, playing the legend is another legend – the indefatigable Tommy Steele – and this is where, for me, the whole show becomes a little disappointing. I

shall probably be lynched for saying this, but although Tommy Steele may be a talented singer and showman at no time did I actually believe this cheeky, chirpy Cockney lad to be Glenn Miller. He was Tommy Steele throughout the show, and made no pretence when lapping up the audience’s appreciation.

Yes, he is a very spritely 78 year old but it was faintly ludicrous to see this grandfather character playing a 24 year old wooing young Helen. After all, Glenn Miller was only 40 when he went missing.

That said, the Peter Pan that is Tommy effortlessly sings and dances his way from one well known foot stomper to the next and the show taken as a whole is hugely entertaining. With classics like Moonlight Serenade, Chattannooga Choo Choo, In the Mood and Pennsylvania 6-5000 who could possibly resist tapping, clapping and singing along?

The Glenn Miller Story is now touring. More details on www.kenwright.com


You may well have noticed an extra helping of glamour in Winchester’s High Street - the Mint Velvet story began in 2009 with three women who, inspired by a desire for something new, wanted to create a collection which had a luxe everyday feel to it, without the matching price tag.

All working mothers with modern lifestyles, they wanted to create a collection which enabled them to look effortlessly stylish, even on the busiest of days. The relaxed glamour concept was born.

Mint Velvet believe that fashion

should be fun, that luxury should be affordable, and that looking gorgeous needn't be difficult. So, we take trends and relax them, creating seasonal collections for easy everyday style that you can simply slip on and feel effortlessly chic.

Our relaxed glamour handwriting

is at the very essence of our design process; using luxe tactile fabrics, coordinating sophisticated tones

of colours, and finishing off with thoughtful touches that give our garments that extra special quality. Our contemporary collections are all wrapped up with an understated sexiness, perfect for the modern woman who wants a nod to fashion in a carefree way.

Here are some questions we asked

the Mint Velvet team:

Why did you want an outlet in Winchester?

We love Winchester – it’s a combination of the best of city life with a market town vibe - bustling streets set off by the fresh surrounding countryside, which makes it an attractive destination all year round.

How long did it take to get what you want?

As with all of our stores, finding exactly the right store can take time.

Location is key in our hunt for the perfect store – we want to create the perfect relaxed glamour environment for our customers.

How much help did you need in securing the place?

We work with agencies to help us find the perfect locations, but we also have a very passionate team who are constantly on the hunt for new boutique opportunities.

Why is a High Street presence so valuable to you when so many shop online?Our high street stores are an important part of our brand presence. Whilst the online side of the business continues to do well, the luxury shopping experience, and fantastic customer service, that we provide in our Mint Velvet stores is one of is part of our brand ethos.

Our customers love to come in,try clothes on, and get a real feel for the brand first hand.

Why is Winchester special?Winchester is an unspoilt city,

and only an hour from London – it’s the ideal country retreat, and a destination for all kinds. A lively combination of excellent shopping, food and drink, craft and inspiration.

What's been the reaction from the customers so far?

We’re always delighted with the reaction we get from our customers - Mint Velvet has definitely been welcomed with open arms.

What will you bring to the city?

We hope that we can bring a little bit of Mint Velvet relaxed glamour to Winchester.

Haven’t tried Mint Velvet yet? The team at Mint Velvet would love to see you, and have offered us 4 lots of £100 vouchers which you can win - and see for yourself! We will be spreading this competition over the next four editions, so there’s plenty of opportunity for you to enter. Search elsewhere in the paper for the competition question and details on how to enter. Good luck!

Advertising Feature


bomb

Wednesday 18th - Saturday 21st November 2015To be performed in Cheriton Village HallAll performances commence at 7.30pm prompt (doors open at 7.00pm)

All tickets £10Tickets available online from www.ticketsource.co.uk/cheritonplayersor tel 0333 666 3366 (standard rates apply)Telephone bookings cost £1.50 extra per booking for mailing etc. Telephone box office hours 9am–7pm Mon-Fri, 9am–5pm Sat and all telephone enquiries are handled through TicketSource – this is not an exclusive number for Cheriton PlayersThis amateur production is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Ltd

Based on a short story by Oscar Wilde

www.thecheritonplayers.org.uk

Fireworksat THE FLOWER POTS INN, CHERITON

ON SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 2015FREE entry to an evening of fabulous fireworks and family fun to

raise funds for Cheriton Village Hall

Fun starts at 6.00 pm Torchlight parade at 6.45 pm. Fireworks start at 7.30 pm

GREAT ENTERTAINMENT

Bar and BBQ • Raffle • Glow toys for saleParking opposite the Flower Pots in the Recreation Ground

How would you like £100 to spend ahead of Christmas courtesy of our friends at Mint Velvet? You know you would! We know that hundreds of people already love the new outlet in the High Street!To be in with a chance of securing a voucher for £100, you need to answer the following question:

What is Mint Velvet known for?

a) Sportswear b) Relaxed glamour c) Formal dressing

How To Enter:Send your answer to Winchester Today, Suite 123, 80 High Street, Winchester SO22 9AT no later than 5pm on Friday 23 October 2015. You can also email [email protected]

DO NOT FORGET to include your name, your address and a contact phone number.

The winner will be announced in our next issue - when you will have the chance to win another £100!

Good Luck!

How would you like to have a fab £70 voucher in your hands to help with the bill at Côte Brasserie in the High Street? £70? Of course you would!

To be in with a chance of securing a voucher for £70, you need to answer the following question:

If you were to order Hachis Parmentier, what would you be eating?

a) Onion soup

b) Steak with

chips

c) Cottage Pie

How To Enter:Send your answer to Winchester Today, Suite 123, 80 High Street, Winchester SO22 9AT no later than 5pm on Friday 23 October 2015. You can also email [email protected]

DO NOT FORGET to include your name, your address and a contact phone number.

The winner will be announced in our next issue - when you will have the chance to win another £70!

COMPETIT ION

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Sport

Pictured here are PSC rugby team captains Liam Jensen (ex Kings) and Zac Mitchell (formerly at Henry Beaufort) who are captains of the Peter Symonds rugby 2nd and 1st XV squads respectively.

They're shown with fellow team mates prior to their first away fixtures of the season. Zac also plays for Hampshire.

They are proudly holding an England shirt signed by Mike Brown ahead of the Rugby World Cup. Mike is himself a former Symonds student and PSC rugby team captain.

Action pictures from the Winchester City v Cinderford Town league match in September. Images from Tony Smith Photography.

Documents

Winchester Today - October 2015