We are planning a Spring Clean of the Village and the erection of horse-trough sized planters in various places. These planters will have a brick and flint finish in character with the area and should enliven Village Street. Grind Stone Green and the Church Triangle will also be improved with planting and new posts. With improved attention to the grass cutting of public areas around the Village and the planting it is hoped that the Village will be more attractive to visitors and residents. It is also hoped that these ideas will generate further suggestions.

One of the planters will be funded by the family of a former resident and a memorial plate will be attached to the structure.

I received an e mail from someone in America to say that "last  summer I purchased from a friend a lovely unframed watercolor of the Chilbolton Church dated 1890.  After finally getting a chance to do some research I realize it is your church.  I live in Pennsylvania, USA and thought it was an American piece.   From the hand written message on the back, the watercolor was done by a family member of the pastor at that time.   It seems as though it would be nice to have it back where it belongs from a historical perspective.  If there is any interest in purchasing this piece, I can take pictures and forward via email."

A copy of the painting is attached.  

 

January saw some very cold weather and we almost had snow in the first week. But in spite of that the spring bulbs are pushing their way through the ground. There is a new dog in The Old Cottage, Holly who joins Bramble and Tootsie in bringing joy and puddles to the home.

www.chilbolton.org  Is the new site for the Parish Council which should be properly up and running soon.

 

The Open Studios in this part of Hampshire are rather out on a limb so any help would be appreciated.

LONGPARISH have started a Film Club and hope to show recent releases on a regular basis. See also www.moviola.org

We have had an appeal from HART which it was thought might be of interest to those of us who are concerned with the well-being of the wild creatures around Chilbolton.

HART cares for sick, injured and abandoned wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Its objective is to release the creatures back to the wild as soon as they are fit and strong enough to fend for themselves.
Most of the patients are brought to HART by caring members of the public. The centre also collects from local vets and takes admissions from other animal rescue organisations, like the RSPCA, from within Hampshire and surrounding counties.
Formed in 1996 by June and Bob Gibbs, it is the only centre for wildlife in Hampshire and resources are frequently over-stretched. Planning approval has been granted for a new purpose-built hospital but this will demand a huge and concentrated fundraising effort.
Funding comes entirely from HART's own fundraising activities and generous donations from the public and organisations.
If you would like further information about HART, can help with fundraising, or would like to join the band of volunteers who help with cleaning and feeding the patients, please give them a call on 01256 770438.

HART told me that the BBC has eyes and ears everywhere. An article in various parish magazines and directories last month was spotted by BBC wildlife cameraman Ben Moore and he was keen to film the orphaned four being cared for by HART Wildlife Rescue.While positive advertising is something the charity welcome’s there were concerns that the filming would not be conducive to the wellbeing of the dormice.  After much deliberation, and a sympathetic approach by the solo cameraman, it was agreed that their daily weigh-in could be filmed as long as no re-takes were expected.“Little did we realise that their debut performance would be snatched from their paws by, would you believe it, a couple of commoners!” said hospital manager Di Morrison. “There was some superb footage of our dormice after the evening news on BBC South Today in various stages of slumber, relaxation and weigh-in.“But it was obvious from the offset that the heart of presenter Sally Taylor had been won by not the dormice but two baby grey squirrels in the background.  During filming these guys had obviously decided that stardom was up for grabs. Their performance resulted in their antics being filmed and viewers were treated to an action replay.” The dormice were completely upstaged and maybe, appeared positively boring by comparison despite their rare status. But, in their defence, they were at an unfair disadvantage – being nocturnal animals they were never going to be at their best during the daylight hours.As stardom eluded them the four dormice left soon afterwards for Paignton Zoo and will just have to be content with taking a starring role in keeping their species in existence.The pair of grey squirrels will soon have to resort to fending for themselves in the real world where they will probably continue to be a source of amusement and enjoyment for those in the vicinity.

January brought very cold weather and a new dog on the Common, Holly now lives and rules at The Old Cottage.

Charlie Baverstock died recently at the good age of 85, two days before his birthday. Charlie lived in Gravel Hill farm and had worked on the land all his life. He was always known as a trusted and much respected part of the “Painter” team. Edward tell the story of how Charlie built one of the first combined harvesters in the country which Edwards father imported in a crate after the war from Canada. With almost no instructions Charlie set-to and assembled the machine even though it would have been the first one of its kind he had ever seen...

Charlie had had an interesting war in that he first served in Egypt where he was injured and returned to the UK for treatment. He was healed and sent to France just after D-Day where again he was injured and returned for hospitalisation. When he was well enough he was sent to Hamburg and again was injured and returned to England for treatment. This Desert Rat must have found life down on the farm a lot less dangerous.

In his retirement he was a happy and contented man who won many prizes for rose growing and even a few weeks before he died was planning the planting for this year.

He will be missed by his family and friends.

The funeral was on the 10th March at St Mary’s and the church was over flowing with friends and family to witness the passing of this nice man.

The Coronation Tree and the bench at the edge of the village have long been a place to stand rather than to sit as the view to the river valley was obscured by vegetation. However the owner of Watch Cottage has generously arranged to cut down all the undergrowth so that weary walkers can now see the beauties of the River Test.

 

 

To see the Wherwell Millennium Video live on the Wherwell website, click the link below.

http://www.wherwell.net/html/wherwell_video.html

 

The grass on the sports field received an organic treatment of manure this week as the herd of cattle wandered through the newly fitted gate and wandered around. Eventually with the help of "cowboy" Painter and Maggie Hobbs plus friends they were herded off. A "kissing gate" has now been fitted to stop this happening again. However the cows have left many memories of their visit so watch where you walk.    

On Sunday the 15th there was the unmistakable sight of a Lancaster bomber, the last flying, crossing over the village at a very low atlitude. The sounds of the engines are very distinctive. Of the several thousands of these planes made this is the only one surviving.

I have often wondered about the flowers which are frequently left on a mole hill a few yards from the little bridge on the Common. They seem to be refreshed every week but even though my office window looks out on the spot I never see who is honouring the grave, and I assume it is a grave, and the story behind it. I have been told of someone scattering the ashes of a beloved pet on the Common but not about these floral tributes. Does anyone know?  

NASA has released some wondeful new pictures taken from Hubble. See the Sky at Night section.

In Digging Up the Past there is an interesing note about old maps which can be viewed on the web, just check it out.

The Leckford Hut is adding some new items to its lunchtime menu and some special Loire wines are available. In May they are having some special event so check it out under the Fine Dining section or call them on 810738.

 Today the 15th April I heard the first Cuckoo on the Common, it was loud and clear so would have been close.

Note from Becky she says she has a Red Piaggio Zip scooter for sale at £500ono. Call her on 861354.

Victoria Ramsay

If anyone is interested in renting our cottage near Polzeath in North Cornwall in July, we still have two separate weeks free: 2-9 and 23-30. It is fully modernised, with a garden, and sleeps 6. (There's a photo in the village shop window.) We also have dates free off season. Email or phone 01264 860251 for details.

In the Digging up the Past section there is are a couple of long letters from Linda Rogers but here is a photo of her grandmother taken about 1920. Linda's grandfather had a camera, not a usual thing for the 1920s, so on the recent death of  Linda father she found many early photographs which he had taken. Several were of the hose in which they lived but I have been unable to work out where it was in the village.The photo is taken looking down to the pub. The cottage on the left was burnt down, date unsure. Horse Shoe Cottage was lived in by a Tom Baverstock who was probably some relation, but there were many Baverstocks in this area and Charles Baverstock still lives in Gravel Hill farm, aged 87 but I am unable to connect Charles to Linda's family tree. If anyone is interested I can send copies of all the e mails with attached photos.

Go to this web site for the whole story.

http://individual.utoronto.ca/lrogers/chilbolton.htm

	John Rowles will like this photo.

We received a letter from Loiuse looking for accommodation in the area, any ideas?

""Do you know of any properties in the area that are looking for tenants for 6 months to 1 year? My partner and I and our 11-month-old would like to escape London living. I didn't see a real estate listing under your local businesses. Otherwise, can you suggest a real estate agent for the area, please.
Thankyou""

Also Geoff Thompson is trying to sell two easy chairs for £30 each or ONO, call him  on 860215

For anyone who reads Chilbolton at War there is now, courtesy of Mel Melle in Dallas, moving pictures of how to fly a P-47.

A new letter from Kate French in New Zealand; the number for New Zealand Airways is in the book!

""Just cruising around the net and found the Chilbolton website - it's lovely to catch up with news from 'home'! 
 
We moved from Chilbolton in August 04 and are now happily ensconced in Cambridge .......... New Zealand!  we lived in Garston Mede for many years and our two daughters went to school at Wherwell and, later, Westgate.
 
Many happy memories of Chilbolton, and we hope to return to visit one day. 
 
If anybody would like to contact us, or if they are visiting NZ and would like more information etc, we'd love to hear from them.
 
Kate and Alan French
a.french@xtra.co.nz
_________________________________________

This week, the week of the 20th is not only almost the start of Easter but the start of the spring equinox. In Chibolton it starts around the 21st and it is the time whne day and night are of the same length. However in the latitude of the British Isles we get an extra 12 minutes of light as the rays of the sun are bent as they pass through the atmosphere. I know that the sun is now setting in my hall window which faces due West. The house, like many ancient dwelling faced due North so it receives the early morning sun and the evening rays; evening on the Common are wonderful.

We received a letter from Linda Rogers in Toronto which said "My Grandmother, Kate Willmot (nee Baverstock) was born in Chilbolton in the 1880's and I have heard her stories of her childhood all my life. I also have pictures of the church and her home at the turn of the century. Her father was employed in some capacity by the church I think, perhaps a Verger?

It was charming to see this website and see the town looking not all that different from my dear nanny's memory.

I'd love to connect by email to any distant relative Baverstocks" Can any one help Linda?

Since the first e mail Linda wrote two long letters and attached various photos which are now featured on Digging up the Past. I am going to the Rectory to see if I can find more information for Linda.

For all those with green fingures and grubby finger nails there is a new heading under Sports and Social for the Horticultural Society with details of the show. For bird watchers these is a new list in Nature Notes of birds you are likely to see and some you will not see around Chilbolton, check it out. Also new this month is a feature called Chilbolton at War which is really just about the airfield. I might extend it to include a section of memories of those who were in the village during those times, just depends.We had a nice letter from Ann and Rob Shattock who found our website and loved seeing Chilbolton again. In 2003 they spent a lovely seven days in our village. Hampshire, they say, is a fascinating place and Chilbolton a delight to stay in and be a part of. Hopefully Ann and Rob will come back in 2006.The 'photo is one Rob took; thanks Rob. He says "keep up the site!!!"- we will. Does anyone remember Ann and Rob?

Our first advert, free, Jim Dunne has a new unused 9.5kw shower unit cost £100 from Homebase, any one interested. If so e mail me

	Wheeling and Dealing-some better photos will be included when I receive them

Mother Goose

 

As you know, the Chilbolton Players are half way through their short season of Mother Goose. The show has run for three performances at the village hall, Chilbolton and, due to popular demand is being transferred to the Memorial Hall in Wherwell for shows on the 25th and 26th February. Sue Williams wrote the words, all of which rhyme, and Ray Blazdell made the music come to live on the piano. Sue and Sally Hall directed the performance.The show also had great sound effects and dance music thanks to Doug Batley and Terry Gilmore, which gave the performance a professional edge. It was extraordinary to see such a marvellous show put on by an amateur cast in a village hall, it was a credit to all concerned.

There was a sell-out to an appreciative audience who booed at the right time; good fun was had by all. There are just a few tickets left for the performance in Wherwell so book now.

We have published with the help of Susanne Hasselmann and Tahira Hotton an interesting article about the Roman Villa at Fullerton in the Digging Up The Past section- it is well worth a read and looking with some interest at the site as you wizz past on the road.

Nick Richards from the Smokery at rivertest.smokery@virgin.net has written a great piece on what is happening in Nature at this time of year in Nature Notes. John and are are so grateful for the active contribution from Susanne, Tahira and Nick. More please!

 

February

This is the first time I have written up this column so it is a little ad lib; it is also just a few days into the month so not a lot has happened. However, the 5th saw the Hursley Hambleton Hunt meet at the Leckford Hut. It was a cold morning with rain in the air so the ground would be soft if you hit a hedge too hard. There were about 40 riders a pack of very eager hounds and two cars full of bored police officers. There was a certain excitement in the air as the well-groomed horses and riders set off to seek the quarry. I will try to find out where they went and if anything was caught. Very soon, the deliberate hunting of foxes with dogs will be outlawed; it would be sad to see an end to events like this and I am sure another use will be found for the horses and hounds.

. 

	The Book Worms, the winning team

At the Village Hall on the evening of the fifth there was a Quiz Night for the prestigious Errol and Sue Trophy in aid of the Tsunami Appeal. The hall was really packed and, in all there were ten teams who fought hard to prove just how good they were at knowing who was the cleaner in the Crossroads motel or where Gray's Elegy was written. Sue and helpers had made some great curry and all the necessary bit to go with it. There was a BYO deal on the wines and beers, which seemed to go very well. There was a tie between the Wooden Tops and the Book Worms which the Book Worms won by default. The prize, a big tin of toffees, was given back to Errol to distribute to the Chernobyl children who are coming to the vicarage this week. The event raised over £1,000 and everyone had fun. Jackie was the driving force behind the event and our thanks should go to her as well as everyone else who chipped in.