Authentic Thai 3 course meal, Licensed Pay Bar
*PLUS* Thai dancing presented by the Thai Dance UK Academy

Odiham resident - Linda Broadbent presents an evening of stories, pictures and entertainment based on her recent travels and experiences in Thailand as a volunteer Massage Therapist working with children and disability.

Tickets £35 available: Richard Ward Opticians,
113 High Street, Odiham
or email: info@massageforeveryone.co.uk

This is a fundraising event on behalf of Christian Care Foundation for Children with disabilities www.ccdthailand.org in association with www.4lifethailand.org reg. charity 1104291

Discover What Sure Start Children’s Centres Can Offer You And Your Family

Hampshire County Council in partnership with Action for Children are providing a Children's Centre to serve the Wards of Odiham, Long Sutton and parts of Upton Grey and the Candovers.

Action for Children who will manage service delivery on behalf of the County Council are currently developing services to meet the requirements of Sure Start and local families with children under five.

Children’s centres are for all families with children under five years and aim to support parents and carers in giving their children the best start in life. The range of services on offer is tailored to each community and can include:

· Information about family support services and activities
· Parenting advice and support for mums, dads and carers
· Drop-in sessions including groups for parents, carers and childminders
· Access to early education and childcare
· Access to child and family health services
· Links with Jobcentre Plus, further education and training opportunities
· Antenatal and postnatal support
· A home visiting service
· Services for children with special needs

All children's centres require a 'gateway' building where staff can be based and some services delivered from, a final location for this area is yet to be decided but, it is hoped that a final location will be decided upon shortly.

This event, now in its fourth year, combines a blues festival, a real ale festival and a family fun day, raising funds for charities, including The Neurofibromatosis Association (NfA). It is located open-air in The Bury, at the heart of the beautiful old town of Odiham, Hampshire, United Kingdom. The music starts at 12 noon and finishes at 6 pm. Entry is free and there’s plenty of parking.

As in previous years, the emphasis of this successful event will be on acoustic blues. This year’s performers include:

Ben Payton, from Jackson, Mississippi, USA, has been living the blues most of his life. Now in his sixties, he’s a “real deal” bluesman of the old school, singing and playing traditional material and his own songs on acoustic guitar. Ben’s appearance at Odiham will be part of his first tour in the UK. Ben Payton was born in tiny Coila, Mississippi, in the hill country just east of the Delta. His early musical influences included his grandmother Mabel Johnson’s gospel piano playing and his Uncle Joe Birch’s blues guitar.

Ben Payton's voice resonates with a passion for life and his skills as a guitarist evoke the tradition of the original Delta blues greats such as Robert Johnson, Tommy Johnson, Charley Patton, and Son House. Yet Payton has a style all his own. Visit Ben’s website benpayton.com

Also from The USA, Reverend Robert is a master of pre-war blues. He has delved deep into the styles of Charley Patton, Robert Johnson and other Delta blues giants. In 2004 he took first place at The National Slide Guitar Festival in North Carolina, USA. The Reverend is known for his true conviction and powerful delivery. Visit his website revrobert.com

Lewis Cohen is a phenomenal British bluesman; a rising star among the younger generation of acoustic blues players. His powerful vocals and exquisite slide guitar technique, combined with a repertoire of (sometimes obscure) numbers from the 1920s and 1930s, make him a lively and soulful performer. Visit his website www.lewiscohenblues.com

Bob Long is a British blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player specializing in "the old stuff". Most of what he plays is his interpretations of pre-world war II blues, jug band and ragtime material particularly music from the Mississippi Delta where he is a frequent visitor. He has performed at The Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, The Tommy Johnson Blues Festival in Crystal Springs and the legendary Ground Zero Blues Club. When at home, Bob hosts a monthly acoustic blues jam in Southampton. Visit his website www.bobalong.co.uk

Contact Information

Enquiries (music) Bob Long, long.boblong@gmail.com
Enquiries (admin) Peter Fountain, PtrFount@aol.com

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.

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

A few photo's from a very snowy Odiham High Street 06/01/2010.

A few of the happy faces at this years Odiham Spring Festival.

Do you have a camera and enjoy taking pictures?

Do you often take pictures of Odiham, the people, the places, the events?

You may have noticed the flickr badge at the top of the page showing pictures of Odiham - would you like to add your photographs to it and have them seen on the Community Website?

If you're enthusiastic about taking photographs no matter what camera you have or what level of skill you're at flickr is an addictive way of sharing your photographs with the world.

If you want to join the Odiham flickr group...

1. Sign up for a flickr account (it's all free for a basic account, no one tries to sell you anything and you only have to upgrade if you really want to)

2. Join the Odiham Group

3. Show us your pictures of Odiham.

If enough people join there's lots of scope for getting together and taking photographs as a group, sharing techniques and tips and creating a social group for photography enthusiasts in the village.

If you have any questions about flickr or the use of your pictures on the Odiham Community Website please feel free to drop me an email at cathy@postalgifts.com

Cashmere also known as 'Cash' was last seen on Tuesday 18th November in South Ridge, Odiham.

She listens to her name, Cash is very inquisitive, friendly and loves human company.

Cash is a small cat, black and white with short hair. She is micro chipped but does not wear a collar. Have you seen her?

Drivers - did you see an accident?

Do you know anyone with a 'new' cat?

Please check all your garages, sheds and keep your eyes open, perhaps you see her?

Please contact us with any information - thank you!

Natascha Tel 0777 5724814