In August 2004 singer Jacqui Dankworth was booked to perform at the Chalkpit at the Jazz Picnic in aid of The Neurofibromatosis Association. She was due to bring Trumpeter Lynley Hamilton with her but a week before the Picnic rang me to say that Lynley had problems with his lip and wouldn’t be appearing. She felt bad at letting me down and I said it wasn’t a problem – I’d get a dep!

At such short notice this proved impossible so I let her know, two days before the Picnic that we’d manage with Richard and his Quartet and no second instrumentalist. She said, replied that “I hate to let you down –hang on a minute – I’ll ask my Dad!” Two minutes later she said –“ Don’t worry – Dad’ll do it”!! I relayed this to Richard ( then 18!) who promptly choked on his curry on realising that he was to perform with the great Sir John Dankworth.

On the evening of the Picnic – just before all was due to start a large chauffeur driven car made it’s way slowly down the field and stopped behind the stage. The great man emerged in floral shirt and panama at a jaunty angle and said to the young Quartet – “You open while I warm up!” Richard led the opening number, and was delighted to be told on John joining him on stage – “You’re like Bix Beidebecke – you can’t ever play a wrong note!” Praise indeed! Then he began to play. His phenomenal skill and versatility combined with his creativity were matchless on the up tempo numbers and the two saxes traded witty musical repartee. Here it should be said that many a lesser older musician would try to upstage the youngster but John inspired rather than attempting to outplay. When he accompanied his daughter on her vocal numbers his restraint and sensitivity, matched only by his glorious sound and his intricate use of harmony when soaring on the solo passages were proof that this man’s reputation was justly deserved and the words “Inspired” and “Genius” were not overstating the case.

The audience loved it. My lasting memory was of Jacqui in the break, preparing him a plate of healthy chicken and salad from the buffet I had provided for the musicians. John, spotting a large bowl of Eton Mess said “I’ll have some of that instead please“ and on finishing beamed at me and said “Good fun this gig – have you got any more pud – good grub that!" and devouring another plate of cream, meringue and raspberries!!

When the evening ended to deafening applause I thanked him profusely for honouring us with his presence and he said “No problem – I enjoyed it” What a star. He will be sorely missed both as a great musician and a great human being. Our thoughts are with Jacqui, Dame Cleo and his family.

Battle of Britain Day falls on Wednesday the 15th of September this year and after the very successful Battle of Britain service organised by the Rev. Gary Keith last year it will happen again this year on Sunday the 19th of September with a few additions.
The aim is to create a typical wartime sunday afternoon in the Bury and Church surrounds with a wartime band, lots of spam sandwiches and cake, service representatives, Dads' Army etc. and hopefully a wartime aerial flypast. You will need to seek cover in the church ( in time for the service ) when the bombing begins.

Footnote: Odiham did suffer a direct hit during the second world war in Church street with the loss of lives on the site of the new Peter Goddard building and opposite where the entrance to Palace Gate is. The event is in no way intended to be disrespectful to those that lost family. The Germans were keen to preserve RAF Odiham as a key site.

If you wish to be involved, are a re-enactment group or just want to know more please contact me.
PtrFount@aol.com
01256 702128
07973 933832

We intend holding the 3rd Odiham Spring Festival on the Recreation Ground (once the necessary permission has been granted from the Parish Council) on Bank Holiday Monday 3rd of May. All organisations and groups within the Parish are invited to contact me to register an interest. The aim of this event is to promote what the Parish has to offer plus other groups that have an impact on the community. Retailers and businesses are also very welcome.
PtrFount@aol.com
01256 702128
07973 933832

Odiham Biodiversity Newsletter

Thank you to Sue Bennett for these pictures of Rooks, already paired up and building nests in Chamberlain Gardens, just after the great snowfall of the 5/6th January. Spring can’t be far away!

Five Years of the Loddon and Eversley Heritage Area

Thursday 25th March. It hardly seems possible that it was over three years ago that Alison Cross from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust gave us our first talk on the Loddon and Eversley Heritage Area project. This project is now five years old and Amanda Bassett is returning to update us. She will also talk about the small projects grants (one of which we have obtained for the restoration of the pond at Broad Oak) and the Wildlife and Heritage Walks (the books may be available for sale on the evening). The evening will include a showing of the DVD which has been produced recently. The talk will start at 7.45 pm at the Cross Barn and will cost £2.

Adder watching at Hook Common

Sunday 21st March and Saturday 27th March (tbc)
Peter Vaughan will be taking small groups for a short walk on Hook Common to look for Adders – and possibly Slow Worms and Common Lizards. These will be bookable events and cost £1. To book and for further details please phone Sheila Bates on 01256 701187.

Polecat?

It was Mark and Sheila Forrester who spotted the (late) ‘polecat’ on the A287 near Crondall. Paul Hope dutifully scooped it up to get it verified by Martin Noble of the Hampshire Mammal Group. Polecats virtually became extinct many years ago due to persecution but since WW2 they have gradually spread back into England from their last stronghold in Wales. The first sighting in Hampshire was in the mid 1990s in the south of the county so a confirmation here is important.

Egrets, Egyptian Geese and a Waxwing

Thank you to all of you who have contributed bird sightings. Several people have spotted the (almost certainly Little) Egret on the River Whitewater in the Fire Show field and there was also another one up at The Firs. It was only 20 years ago that the first Little Egrets became established on Brownsea Island, now they are spreading throughout the country. Philip Riley and Lynda Hampton saw two pairs of Egyptian Geese in Dogmersfield Park. One pair has been there for a couple of years and probably are escapees.

The recent cold weather has attracted more unusual visitors to gardens. Mike Reggler has had Fieldfares (flocks), Blackcaps (several single visits) and a Bullfinch (once). Sue Bennett has also had Blackcaps. Jill and Gerald White have a hen Pheasant as a regular visitor and Mandy Jackson in South Warnborough saw a Waxwing in her garden.

Odiham Common Update

The Management Plan Advisory Steering Group last met on 17th December. The meeting was largely a consideration of the Draft Management Plan for the common, looking at its structure, then a section by section run through in preparation for its eventual public consultation.

The Odiham Biodiversity Group feel that grazing by cattle would be an important tool for the future management of Odiham Common. Grazing has significant conservation benefits over many other options. Benefits of the uneven grass height across a site that can be achieved with carefully managed conservation grazing will help provide a more diverse habitat for insects such as butterflies and moths. Also insects associated with cattle dung provide for insectivorous birds and bats. Our aim is to support and promote management practices that would lead to a sustainable increase in the biological diversity of the common, with particular emphasis on those practices that would provide most benefits.

Highgrove Visit in the Spring

Lynda Hampton has kindly offered to organise a visit to Highgrove in the spring. Please contact Lynda on 01256 702109 by Friday the 19th February if you would be interested in such a visit. Admission is £15.

RSPB Evening walks

Peter Hutchins of the Basingstoke RSPB has offered to arrange an evening walk (May/June) in the Odiham area. Please contact him on 01256 770831 if there is a particular area which you think would be good for an evening walk and/or you would like to lead a walk.

HWT Work Party Sun 31st January at 10.00am North Warnborough Greens

The work party will be cutting bramble scrub on the edge of the Southern Meadow, opposite the Jolly Miller pub. The scrub is encroaching on the flower rich grassland and also shading out a stream that runs alongside the meadow. For more details please e-mail Tim Ransom [transom@btinternet.com] or phone on 01256 764541 or Mike Morton on 07786 678604

HWT Wildlife and Heritage Walk at Eversley

Thursday 4th March Please contact Sarah Broadhead on 01256 381103 for more information.

Please note that Church street will be closed for 5 days from Monday the 8th of February to complete works on the new Peter Goddard and Co. building.

Parishioners living in Palace Gate wish to thank Andy Turner (local decorator) for giving up his time during the recent heavy snow to clear pathways and footways around the complex.
Many thanks Andy for your public spirited help.

Please put this date in your diary. Saturday the 26th of June, Blues and Booze in the Bury and National Armed Forces Day. This event will use a different format from RAF Odiham Day and the Heroes Parade. Watch this space.

It has been suggested that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) which celebrates the sacrifice of those who flew during the 2nd World War, will be cut in the next round of defence cuts. This will be a travesty if it goes ahead. The BBMF costs a mere £3m a year, less than 0.1% of the defence budget. It is a great delight for all who see their displays, and the memory of 'The Few' will be lost. Please vote to ensure that the BBMF is not closed.

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Ensure that the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is not axed in any defence cuts.

Hart Neighbourhood Centre, Dickson House, London Road, Hook, RG27 9DJ

Tel: 01256 760800 E-mail: info@hartnc.org

Mon – Thurs 10:00am – 4:00pm, Fri 9:30am – 12:00pm,
2nd Saturday of the month: 9:30am – 12.00pm

Citizens Advice Bureau 12th February

(Please note date change). The Citizens Advice Bureau will be at the Hart Neighbourhood Centre. If you would like free, confidential and impartial advice then please call 01256 760800 to book an appointment

Connexions Advice

Tuesday afternoons. Please call 01252 814723 for an appointment. Are you 13 -19 years old? If you need to speak to someone about personal relationships, bullying, stress or any other issue that is concerning you, please come and speak to us. Talking really does help. We can also advise on: Job hunting/benefits, CV’s and applications, Apprenticeships/College or Housing.

Creative Art Group

Friday 5th and 19th February 10am – 12noon. Have you experienced anxiety, stress and/or depression? Do you have a disability? Do you feel isolated and would like to meet new people?

Whatever your age or ability, come and try using art as a form of relaxation. Very welcoming group, free materials. Come and join us.

Hart Homes

We receive the up to date information on available housing association properties. We can help you with the online bidding process. Please come in and see us on Thursdays and Fridays.

Healthy Walks

Come along and join us for our organised stroll around the villages. A chance to enjoy the outdoors and meet people! All abilities welcome. Cup of tea and a chat always included.

Hook: Every Monday 11am (excluding Bank Holidays). Meets at the Hart Neighbourhood Centre in Hook.

Church Crookham: Every Tuesday 11am
Meets at Wickham Court in Church Crookham.

Odiham: Every Thursday 1.45pm
Meets at the Bridewell Centre in Odiham.

Hartley Wintney: Every Friday 11am
Meets at Rosefield Court in Hartley Wintney.

If you are walking with us for the first time could you please arrive 10 minutes early to meet the walk leaders.

New walk leaders needed! If you enjoy walking and would like to spend some time each month helping others to do the same, please call Emma for more information about becoming a volunteer walk leader, full free training given. Please contact 01256 760800

Hook District Councillors

Saturday 6th February 10am – 12noon. Hook District Councillors, Sean Haffey or Andrew Henderson will be here for you to speak to personally. Also a chance to meet your Hampshire County Councillor Jonathan Glen.

Junction 5 Money Advice

Every Wednesday 1:30-3:30pm. Are you spiralling into debt? Need help writing to creditors? Struggling with your mortgage? Come along for free independent confidential support. Please call 01256 769953 or e-mail junction5@hncc.org.uk for appointment details.

Mobile Library Bus

Thursday 11th and 25th February 11:45am – 12.30pm
New visitors always welcome!

Sunshine & Showers

Every Monday. Do you get anxious, suffer from stress or experience depression? This friendly support group always welcomes new members. Please contact Gillian McCorry at Hart Voluntary Action on 01252 815652 for further details.

Taking Steps

Every Tuesday 10am – 11.30am. Have you experienced domestic abuse? Taking Steps is a very welcoming support group for men and women and is completely confidential. Crèche available. Please call Gerrie Jordan on 01489 577818 for more details.

Step – Up...

Please call our Step Up coordinator for more details. If you have ever thought of improving your basic skills but have never considered a course before, these friendly and informal sessions are for you!

Step – Up runs friendly and informal classes in the following areas:

• Basic Skills - Numeracy, Literacy.
• Beginner’s Computer Course.
• English as a second language.

All classes can lead to an accreditation.

• Confidence building workshops
• Weekly Job hunting and CV building sessions.

Step Up is open to all adults and young people aged 16+. Please contact our dedicated Step Up coordinator for more details on 01256 760800 or via stepup@hartnc.org
Classes and workshops are free of charge (small contribution towards cost of the Computer course)

Please contact the Centre for more details,
01256 760800 Or E-mail: emma@hartnc.org or visit our website:www.hartnc.org

Mark took this view of Odiham from Horsedown Hill, the highest point in the parish, just before Christmas.

Hedge-laying Along The Canal

Have you ever wondered how you lay a hedge? If you walk along the tow path between Colt Hill Bridge and Lodge Farm Bridge on Saturday 23rd January you can find out.

Paul Hope and his colleague Roy will be on site, weather permitting, between 11.00 and 15.00 and would be happy to show you how it’s done.

Winter Bird Feeding

During this wintry period, the feeding of birds will reward you as well as possibly save the lives of many birds. Natural food is in short supply as trees and bushes are covered in snow and frost and the ground is hard.

Bird food is ideal (P&K in Fountains Mall usually has some supplies) but the RSPB suggests many leftover scraps would be beneficial to garden birds including cake, biscuit and pastry crumbs. Other suitable leftovers include mild grated cheese, cooked rice, breakfast cereals, cooked potatoes and fruit.

Please let us know if you have any unusual visitors to your garden. We have had reports of Pied Wagtails and Blackcaps as well as Fieldfare and Redwing.

In the wider countryside there have also been some unusual sightings. Will has told us about Lapwing at Broad Oak and what turns out to be Snipe, all feeding together on a newly emerged ‘lagoon’ in one of the fields.

Broad Oak Pond

On behalf of Odiham Parish Council, owners of Broad Oak Common, the OBG has secured a grant from the Loddon & Eversley Heritage Area (LEHA) to restore the Common's pond. This will be the first practical conservation project we have organised and we hope to recruit local residents and OBG members to undertake most of the work.

The pond has become badly silted up and encroached upon by scrub and small trees creating heavy shade. It is now all but lost in the Common's landscape. The aim is to restore its original form as a natural country pond supporting aquatic wildlife.

Website

Our new website is under construction – thanks to Peter Simmons. Cathy Griffiths who has a lot of experience with the Odiham Community website has volunteered to administer it and monitor input as it will be interactive.

OBG Events

We have firmed up dates for the following events:
Thursday 25th March Update on the LEHA. It hardly seems possible but it was over three years ago that Alison Cross from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust came to talk to us about the Loddon and Eversley Heritage Area Project. Now Amanda Bassett is going to update us on the project and show the DVD that has recently been produced.

Sunday 18th April Guided Walk led by Paul Hope to the new Up Nateley Nature Reserve.

Thursday 22nd July Orchids at Greywell Evening Walk led by Tony Mundell.

More details nearer the time but make a note in your diary!

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Local Events

Sun 17th January Alresford Winter Bird Walk 10-12. Please contact John Bush on 01962 735062 for more information.

Sat 23rd January Winter Bird Watch at Hosehill Lake 2pm-dusk. Please contact Mike Sharman on 01189 816104 for more information.

Sun 24th January Winter walk around Pamber Forest 10 am. For more information please contact David Jewsbury on 01256 420818 (evening) or 07836 493677.

For more information about the Odiham Biodiversity Group please contact Sheila Bates on 01256 701187