Read it Now - Gosport Globe
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Read it Now - Gosport Globe
EDITION No 16012: Friday, March 18, 2016 Proud to be ‘hyper-local’ Visit our website World at her feet but top tattooist Ceri says... Gosport’s the best place for business S HE’S RATED as one of the world’s top tattoo artists but Ceri Williams turned down the chance of emigrating to open her own studio in Gosport’s Stoke Road. And at the end of her first week in the newly refurbished premises, the happy 38-year-old said: “It couldn’t be better!” Ceri is no stranger to Gosport, having lived in the town with husband Dan for the past eight years. But until this month she was working for other studios in Gosport and Portsmouth, even though being much in demand from a large, loyal international following of clients meant Ceri having to jet off to locations in countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the USA — not to mention on the Continent — several times a year. “Now I’m having to apologise to my overseas clients because I haven’t the time to visit them this year ,” she said. “Some of them have said they’d rather come over to Gosport to have work done than wait another year or whenever I’m able to fly over.” EXCLUSIVE By ROBIN YOUNG Just because foreign fans are willing to fork out on plane tickets and hotel bills so that Ceri can adorn their bodies with her world-famous artwork doesn’t mean they’re super-rich celebs, however. “For most people who want tattoos it is a passion, a ‘work in progress’, something they save up for and can keep adding to,” she said. Although the business, at 51a Stoke Road, is called Ceri Williams Tattoos, from April body piercings will also be carried out, by friend Cheryl Parslow. In the meantime cosmopolitan Ceri — who swapped Welsh surname Thomas for another one when she married painter and guitarist Dan — has months of advanced bookings to tackle before she can decide on the next step. Report and Pictures: Page 5 HAPPY MEMORIES: Ceri Williams in her Stoke Road studio with a family photograph of childhood travels through Germany. Picture by Lisa Webb Coverage of Alverstoke, Gosport, Hill Head, Lee-on-the-Solent and Stubbington 2 News/Chess Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe Patients quizzed on quality of borough’s NHS services A NATIONAL campaign to promote the NHS Friends and Family Test started on Monday and finishes today, Friday. The FFT is a way to find out from patients, quickly and anonymously, how they rate their latest experience of National Health Service care or treatment. They can provide comments to explain their score and the feedback helps to focus on areas needing improvement. As most feedback is positive, the FFT also provides a well-deserved pat on the back from hard-working NHS staff. It has been welcomed by the three GPs who lead the clinical commissioning groups which buy most health services for more than 600,000 patients in Portsmouth and south east Hampshire. Dr Barbara Rushton (South Eastern Hampshire CCG) said: “The FFT has been rolled out across many NHS services. We are keen to spread the word that, at any time you use NHS healthcare, you can give fast, anonymous H AMPSHIRE’S new Chief Constable was officially appointed this week and takes up the post on April 4. Olivia Pinkney moves over from Sussex Police, where she was Deputy Chief Constable, to become the first woman to take the top Hampshire Constabulary position. She was the unanimous choice of the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel at a confirmation hearing last Friday following a recommendation by Commissioner Simon Hayes. The decision was ratified on Monday after a recruitment process which also involved senior community stakeholders and partners from 18 organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as well as a two-day interview. As part of the role of the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel to scrutinise the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the PCP is required to hold a confirmation hearing to review the proposed appointment and question the preferred candidate on their suitability for the role. Based on that hearing, the PCP then made a report with its recommendation on the appointment. OLIVIA PINKNEY Start next month This week it detailed how the panel unanimously approved the selection of Mrs Pinkney. Prior to her role as the Deputy Chief Constable for Sussex Police, Mrs Pinkney was Assistant Inspector of Constabulary with HMIC, leading independent professional assessments of police efficiency and effectiveness for the public. She also served as Assistant Chief Constable for Surrey and Sussex Police, and was the Southeast lead feedback that could help improve services. The FFT asks a simple question to find out whether, based on your experience, you rate the service highly enough to say you would recommend it to the people you care about, which is seen as the acid test for most people of whether something is good enough.” Dr David Chilvers (Fareham and Gosport CCG) said: “We are told that nationally nearly 17 million pieces of patient feedback have been given in the for serious and organised crime. Nationally, she led for the police on tackling organised immigration crime including people trafficking. She was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the 2016v New Year Honours. Chairman of the Police and Crime Panel, Councillor David Stewart, said: “The way in which she answered each of the questions posed by the panel has demonstrated her suitability for the role, meaning that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight now have a new Chief Constable of exceptionally high calibre.” Mr Hayes said: “This appointment is hugely important for the future development of Hampshire Constabulary, but it is not just about the Constabulary itself, the Chief Constable must work strategically, and with our partners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.” And Mrs Pinkney, who will take over from Acting Chief Constable Graham McNulty, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to hear the panel’s decision and I look forward to leading the professionals within Hampshire Constabulary and serving the communities across the county and the Isle of Wight.” past three years, so it’s really important for the NHS to stand back and evaluate how those comments are helping to improve patient care. “But one big benefit is that NHS staff learn that they are in the main doing a great job. More than 90 per cent of people who complete the test give a positive response and that is really good for the NHS and for morale.” For more information on FFT, visit www.nhs.uk/friendsandfamily. IT’S A SQUARE WORLD... AS WELL as the Women’s World Championship the Candidates Tournament is in progress. There are eight players: Viswanathan Anand, Levon Aronian, Sergey Karjakin, Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana, Peter Svidler, Hikaru Nakamura and Veselin Topalov. The winner will go on to play Magnus Carlsen for the World Championship in September. Anand started well in round 1 with a win against Topalov although he was fortunate. Anand vs Topalov e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6. c3 O-O 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. d4 ed4 9. cd4 Bb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. a4 a6 13. Bf1 Re8 14. a5 Ba7 15. Qb3 Nc6 16. d5 Nd4 17. Nd4 Bd4 18. Qb7 Nd7 19. Nc4 Nc5 20. Qc6 Nb3 21. Rb1 Nc1 22. Rbc1 Rb8 23. Qa6 Qh4 24. Rc2 Re4 25. Ne3 Qd8 26. Qc4 Bg6 27. Bd3 Rf4 28. Bg6 hg6 29. g3 Re4 30. a6 Qe8 31. Rce2 Bb6 32. Qd3 Ra8 33. Kg2 Qa4 34. b3 Rd4 35. ba4 Rd3 36. Nc4 Ra6 37. a5 Bd4 38. Re8 Kh7 39. R1e7 Rc3 40. Nd2 Rc2 41. Ne4 f6 42. h4 Ra5 43. Rf7 g5 44. h5 Rf2 45. Nf2 Ra2 46. Rff8 Rf2 47. Kh3 g4 48. Kg4 f5 49. Rf5 black resigned on move 20 Topalov had two better continuations. One was 20… Re7 intending f6 and Be8 trapping the queen. Can you spot the second? Solution: Page 6 ...with Francis Carpenter News The Gosport Globe Friday, March 18, 2016 Winning smiles for the camera I T WAS a night for snap judgments when the winners of the first Gosport Globe In Perspective photography competition collected their prizes. For joining them at The Green Dragon in Rowner on Monday were three of the judges who’d cast their votes at the end of the inaugural event in January — Paul Jacobs, Lisa Webb and Dave Smith. Overall winner was Steve Gilbert, who revealed how he had ‘captured’ a fox up a tree during an open day visit to the Secret World Wildlife rescue centre at Highbridge, in Somerset, last year. “It was a young fox that was being cared for, after its mother was killed, so that it could eventually be released back into the wild,” he said. “Lots of people were wandering around looking at him so, not at all bothered, he decided to scramble up the tree to get a better look at them!” Second prizewinner Christine Fernie said she achieved her perfect mirrored image of three model yachts on the Cockle Pond at Gosport with a mobile phone “because the wind dropped just at the right time”. Unfortunately Richard Baker-Jones was unable to collect his joint second prize due to family illness but Amanda Morby was there to pick up framed commendations for her pictures of harbour fireworks and a perfect moon. Our thanks to landlady Alanna Clements for the venue and a superb buffet. PRIZE CREW: At the In Perspective competition presentations in The Green Dragon are joint runner-up Christine Fernie; editor Robin Young; first prize winner Steve Gilbert and, highly commended for two of her photographs, Amanda Morby. Picture by Lisa Webb ‘Cowboy’ roofer who preyed on elderly gets 4-year term A MAN has been jailed for a total of four years after admitting defrauding elderly and vulnerable women by overcharging them for house repair work. One of his many victims was an 84-year-old from Gosport who had been cheated out of £2,650. Mark Kempster, aged 50, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court last Friday after admitting six counts of fraud by false representation at previous hearings. The court was told that between January 1, 2013 and February 2, 2015, Kempster repeatedly called on a 61-year-old woman in Southampton, after replacing some roof tiles at her home. He demanded more and more money for the work and obtained from her a total of £15,000. According to the prosecution, on February 17, 2015, Kempster visited MARK KEMPSTER Demanded money a 90-year-old woman at her home in Andover and persuaded her that her roof needed repair work. On this occasion, he asked for cash up front and drove her into Andover town centre to go to a bank. He then left when the bank manager became suspicious. On May 8, 2015, Kempster visited an 82-year-old woman in Alresford and charged her £1,860 for roof repairs that were never completed. The court also heard that on November 24, 2015, Kempster received £2,650 from the 84-year-old woman in Gosport for work on her roof that was never completed. A confiscation hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act will take place on July 18. Investigating officer Detective Constable Paul Barry said: “Mark Kempster targeted the elderly and the vulnerable and took substantial amounts of money from them. “This is a despicable type of crime. Throughout the investigation, he showed no remorse to his victims and preyed on their good nature by offering to carry out work on the roofs of their properties. “This work was often not even required and the work that was completed was to a very poor standard and grossly inflated in price. “This sentence should serve as a reminder that Hampshire Constabulary will always pursue criminals who commit these types of offences.” Publishing deadlines DUE to public holidays over Easter, the advertising and editorial copy deadlines for next week’s Gosport Globe have been brought forward to noon on Maundy Thursday, March 24. 3 4 Classifieds/News Friday, March 18, 2016 Plumber TO ADVERTISE in The Gosport Globe Classifieds section costs just 12p per word or 15p if displayed in a box. For full details, see www.gosportglobe.uk and click ‘Advertise’. Events SEE Coming Events guide on Pages 15, 16 &24. Free Listings are on Pages 14&15. AS-SOON-AS-POSS Plumber. Call Robert Bartlett, 07715322120, Stradbrook, Gosport. Hampshire PO13OEZ. Website http://www. plumbbob.co.uk; email robertbartlett345@ Hotmail.co.uk. The Gosport Globe Family’s tribute to tragic Pub guide FREE: Pool and juke box at The Green Dragon pub on Rowner Road, Gosport, every Wednesday. PLUS: Sunday’s meat raffle, tickets £1 each. Host Families JOB OPPORTUNITY JOB OPPORTUNITY: Become a host family for our Italian students for a term or a semester. We will pay £22 per day, full board. Please apply to: [email protected] Picture courtesy of Hampshire Constabulary Painter/Decorator I HAVE been a self-employed painter /decorator since 1993. In that time I have worked on New Builds, Housing Associations, Local Authority, Private Sector, and also two Grand Design projects. All aspects of internal/external decorating, friendly professional service. For a FREE no obligation QUOTE, Telephone: 0239250115; Mobile: 07874340313 T HE family of 25-year-old Daniel Mark Thomas Stone, above, from Gosport, have paid an emotional tribute to him after he sadly died following a road accident. The motorbike he was riding struck the central reservation on the A32 in Fareham shortly after 8am last Friday. And his family said in a statement issued by Hampshire Constabulary: "Daniel, affectionately referred to as 'Daniel son' by his family, is lovingly missed by his parents Phil and Michelle and his brothers and sisters Paris, Kial, Harry, Bluebell, Jimmy and Fred. "Daniel was a local lad who grew up in the Gosport area and lived life to the full. He was passionate about his music and bikes and will be missed by his many friends.” HAMPSHIRE County Council has launched a 10-week public consultation to ask residents how it can cut the cost of its Household Waste Recycling Centres. Councillor Seán Woodward said: “The cuts the Government has made to Hampshire’s grant are now so severe that we simply cannot afford to carry on as before. “The county council had been planning to make savings to meet a £98 million funding shortfall by April 2017 but when the Government announced its funding plans for local authorities for the next three years, Hampshire lost £48 million more this year than had been anticipated.” He added: “We are now in a position where we need to establish how we can run the HWRC service with a much smaller budget in a way that is financially sustainable for Hampshire council taxpayers in the long term.” It operates 24 sites open seven days a week. The Gosport Globe Business Focus Friday, March 18, 2016 5 Stress on highest standards in a clinically clean studio Ceri is out to make her mark W CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE: Ceri Williams, top, outside her studio with body piercings artist Cheryl Parslow; samples of Ceri’s work, above and below left; the newly refurbished premises, right. Pictures by Lisa Webb ITH two decades of working her way to become one of the most sought after tattooists in the profession, Ceri Williams has a wealth of experience to draw upon. And talking to the friendly, unaffected globetrotter about the people with the greatest influence on her career and she mentions the best — and can count them among her friends — Liam Monaghan, ’Master of the Dark Arts’ Paul Booth, Bob Tyrrell and Andy Engel. They often meet up at conventions. But another explanation for Ceri’s success lies in her stimulating upbringing. She spent her formative years in Germany, living ‘Wild West style’ in wagons while artist-sculptor dad travelled from one work commission to another. Consequently, the early years were as varied and colourful as the stunning skin portraits that are now her trademark. “We might have lived as travellers after leaving England when I was three but my parents made sure that I had a very stable, disciplined childhood, with set mealtimes at the table and a strict bedtime routine,” she said on Friday, having just celebrated the first full week in her new premises. “It was a tremendously happy time, mixing with people living in caravans and tepees and the larger tents were used as communal areas for music and fun.” That lasted until she was 16 and settled down to study at Kiel, then Lübeck, from 1997 to 2000 before working as a typesetter, temping at a call centre and teaching English as a foreign language. Art studies led to training as a tattooist and working for a former nurse in Gosport whose stress on the need for totally sterile working conditions made a big impression on her star pupil. The clinical ethos is clear in her new workplace, which is simply but stylishly decorated and furnished. The only pictures on the wall include an autographed if macabre piece by Paul Booth and a favourite photo of the old wagons. Examples of her work — every one is different for each client — are in portfolios at the reception area. Ceri rejects the idea of hanging them on the walls. The place is also quiet as the machines she uses are silent, rotary operated. Its more comforting for clients. Another reason for basing herself in Gosport is that Dan has been offered a job running a new art gallery when the Haslar site is redeveloped. A sister studio in Germany is a possibility but for now Ceri has plenty to get on with. Find her on Facebook, Twitter or at http://www.ceriwilliamstattoos.com/. The phone is 02392 176620. 6 Comment/Letters Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe Gosport Globe VIEWPOINT Doctors identify a case for concern IT IS reasonable to assume that, if a potentially fatal illness or injury had to be dealt with, our politicians, like most of the population, would have no hesitation in entrusting members of the medical profession with their lives. So why is it that the Health Minister, Jeremy Hunt, expects us to believe that the junior doctors who oppose his proposed changes to their working practices — not mention the many senior colleagues who support them — haven’t the competence to spot when they’re being offered a pig in a poke with regard to new contracts? This week patients in Gosport have been asked to join a nationwide survey to help identify those areas of the National Health Service which they feel could be improved. Examples given include cleanliness of facilities and civility of NHS staff. If allegations that Mr Hunt has been less than honest in his claims turn out to be well founded, then surely the prognosis for him is indisputable! Editorial policy... THE GOSPORT GLOBE offers an independent voice and is open to all who wish to contribute, within the bounds of decency and laws of libel. It reports the views of residents and visitors alike, without always sharing them. If anyone feels that their organisation is not being given enough coverage in the newspaper, they should contact the editor. We also observe a ‘right of reply’ policy under which any individual who feels that they have not been given a fair opportunity to comment in an article concerning them will be offered equal space at the first available opportunity. While every attempt is made to avoid errors, if any inadvertently appear in print they will be corrected immediately the matter has been brought to the attention of the editor. Globe contacts... PRESS releases, Letters to the Editor and all other correspondence via email, contact: editorial@gosport globe.uk. Call Robin Young on 02392 602418; mobile, 07969 049515. Write to 48 Homer Close, Gosport, PO139TL. Contact business manager Fran Young on [email protected] or phone her on 02392 602418, mobile 07969 092378. Display advertising, call Tog Porter on 01465 460960. The Gosport Globe is published online each Friday in PDF form by My Free News Ltd, a registered company based in the borough. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. It’s A Square World: Solution 20…Bf2 21. Kxf2 Qh4+ 22. g3 Nxe4+ 23. Rxe4 Qxe4 24. g4 Qe1+ with a decisive attack. Parliament to hear the vaccination arguments I AM WRITING this letter because I needed to let everyone know what a talented author AB King is. So I am thrilled that The Sword, The Ring and The Mirror is being published in the Gosport Globe and that he is finally getting the publicity that his remarkable talent deserves. Wow, this is going to be a great read! I can’t wait for the next instalment. That was my first reaction to reading this instalment. This is one of AB King’s books I have not yet read. It is part of a series that I thought was meant more for teens but I now think I was very wrong with that assumption. I have, since reading this first part, brought the whole series on my Kindle and I am thoroughly enjoying the first book. I highly recommend it to anyone of any age who loves an adventure with a great storyline and mystery. I have loved every book I have WHAT’S happening in Gosport schools? Bigger classes in both primary and secondary schools, how can children learn in a class of over 30? Increased use of unqualified teachers or teaching assistants because schools cannot recruit enough staff; reduced spending on books and equipment… The Labour Party is committed to investing in education, as it did in government, funding Sure Start centres so that all children get a fair start in life; allowing only qualified teachers to teach by increasing places on university-based courses; restoring the value of practical, vocational courses because the Ebacc qualification is not suitable for all; making sure all schools are locally accountable; reducing class sizes, first in primary schools. read that was written by AB King and I have read several on my kindle over the last year. All have been extremely well written and captivating. His plots are imaginative and his descriptive prowess draws you into the story. The twists and turns in each story are clever and unexpected so once into the story it is very hard to put down. He has written a wide range of novels from disaster to romance and science fiction. There are not many authors who are able to write about such a range of topics with equal skill. AB King’s Number 1 fan Helen Allwright [If you want to find out why Helen is so enthusiastic about the author, pick up the latest instalment on Pages 19-21, go back to the start of serialisation by downloading the two previous editions or read his books on Amazon.] SOAPBOX By MARK SMITH We want an education system fit for all. Is St Vincent, Gosport’s only college, safe? According to Matt Atkinson, the principal of St Vincent College, in an interview with Portsmouth’s daily newspaper, The News: “For some years now, the spending on sixth form education has already decreased significantly. “Unfortunately we are being led to believe that the Government’s spending review will lead to a further cut… “Potentially this could lead to THE House of Commons Petitions Committee, working with the Health Select Committee, has confirmed that it is to hold two evidence sessions in respect of the Meningitis B petition. The dates are Tuesday, March 15 and Tuesday, March 22, commencing around 14.15. The sessions will be held in the House of Commons and will be open to MPs, the press and public to attend. The sessions will also be broadcast live on parliamentlive.tv. We are really pleased that the Petitions Committee has decided to push forward with this quickly and gather evidence prior to the Parliamentary debate being held. By announcing this we can now put an end to the speculation that the debate isn't going to happen and that the argument to extend the vaccine use has already been lost. It hasn't and this fight continues. Sue Davie Meningitis Now bigger class sizes and fewer courses for students to choose from.” Spending on college education has not been protected since 2010. The Liberal Democrat/Tory coalition agreed massive increases in university tuition fees and the cutting of the Education Maintenance Allowance — EMA — which helped many students from working families to complete college courses. Further education is now under review, with the probability that this will lead to colleges merging to create ‘super-colleges’ (a bit like the NHS and its super-hospitals). Nationally, it is estimated that four in 10 colleges will close and/ or merge. This will inevitably lead to a reduction in choice and longer travel times for Gosport students. Political Comment The Gosport Globe Friday, March 18, 2016 7 A month in politics with the Leading Lady of Gosport… Economy relies on skills T HIS IS National Apprenticeship Week and I am delighted that, since May 2010, 11,490 apprentices have started here in Gosport. This is a fantastic figure and really important because apprenticeships make sense. They give young people the chance to get the practical skills they need to find great jobs and get on in life. In Parliament, I was delighted to attend World Skills UK Reception to celebrate our World Champion Apprentices, one of whom was from Gosport and was part of the fantastic Web Design Team. Here in Gosport, our local economy greatly relies on young people having expertise in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Therefore, I attended receptions in Parliament to discuss how Government can tackle homophobia in engineering and support women in engineering. Tech and engineering skills are vital to our country's economic growth so it is important that we harness the skills of all young people and enable them to pursue their STEM ambitions. ON SATURDAY, March 5, I 'cleaned for the Queen' along with many wonderful volunteers at Walpole Park. A number of litter-picks took place across the constituency with a great turn-out of volunteers tidying up their GOSPORT MP Caroline Dinenage has welcomed Wednesday’s Budget as one that she says will provide greater economic security for the people of Gosport, Stubbington, Lee-on-the-Solent and Hill Head for now and the future. According to the Conservative Equalities Minister, the Budget provisions will: Cut taxes for working people. From April 2017 the tax-free personal allowance will rise to £11,500, a tax cut for 31 million people that means a typical basic rate taxpayer will be paying over £1,000 less income tax than in 2010. The higher rate threshold will also increase to £45,000, a tax cut of more than £400. In Gosport, 51,009 people will benefit from these changes, while 1,934 people will be taken out of tax all together. Cut taxes for small businesses. 600,000 small businesses will pay no business rates at all, an annual saving of up to almost £6,000, and 250,000 small businesses will get a tax cut on their business rates bill. Ensure taxes are paid. The Government will legislate against property developers shifting profits offshore, raising over £500 million a year. A further £500 million will be raised by imposing a duty on public sector bodies to ensure their employees are paying the right tax. £ £ £ Trade Fair at the Discovery Centre. I was delighted to see that Fairtrade’s positive message to give the world's farmers a fair deal is being supported by so many of Gosport’s schools, businesses and workplaces. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed attending this year’s Marine Jumble event. It was great to see so many people taking advantage of the products on offer. Gosport Marine Scene events are always fantastic at promoting the diverse and thriving marine and sailing scene here in Gosport and attracting people into the area. I HOSTED and attended a meeting with local resident associations and National Grid to discuss our concerns about the implications of the proposed IFA2 interconnector at Daedalus for our local area. The second round of consultations is now launched and I encourage constituents to participate. More details are available on the IFA2 website: http://www.ifa2inter connector.com/. local schools, beaches, businesses and roads in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday. LATER that day I attended Gosport £ Introduce a new Lifetime ISA to help the next generation save. The ISA limit will be increased from just over £15,000 to £20,000 for everyone. For those under 40, a completely new Lifetime ISA will be introduced. Freeze fuel duty to help household budgets and support small firms. This will save £75 a year to the average driver and £270 a year to a small business with a van. Beer duty and cider duty will also be frozen to back British pubs. Tackle homelessness. A £100 million investment will deliver accommodation for rough sleepers leaving hostels and domestic abuse victims and their families. Keep public spending under control. The Government will continue working to reduce the deficit so Britain will run a budget surplus by 2019/20 and the burden of our debt will be lifted from the shoulders of the future generation. According to Caroline: “The Office for Budget Responsibility statistics show that while Britain’s economy and productivity are continuing to grow, we still face challenges due to the slowdown in global economic growth and trade. “I am pleased, therefore, that this Budget takes a long-term approach that will deliver economic security into the future. For too long, we have borrowed £ £ £ It is right that we celebrate the great strides women have made but also acknowledge that more needs to be done to overcome the obstacles stopping women from reaching their full potential. In Gosport a great number of people joined the 'Go Women' walk over the Millennium Bridge to celebrate this important day. IN WESTMINSTER, I gave my support to the UK’s Earth Hour. It’s the 10th annual lights out display, aiming to set out the WWF’s vision for a low carbon future. Last year more than 170 countries from across the globe got involved, involving hundreds of millions of people. I ALSO had the pleasure of inviting Gosport’s Youth Citizen of the Year, Lacey Love Kent up to Parliament for a tour of Westminster to celebrate her great achievement. ON MARCH 8 I celebrated International Women’s Day 2016. This year’s theme was ‘parity’, meaning ‘the state or condition of being equal’. IN OTHER good news, Bridgemary Senior School, Siskin Junior School and St Vincent College all received Ofsted reports this month that signalled great improvement and achievement. This is wonderful news for Gosport and shows the enormous hard work and effort of staff and head teachers to ensure our pupils and students have the best possible start in life. at the expense of the next generation which is both unfair and short-sighted. “I am delighted that this Budget delivers on the Government’s commitment to cut the deficit whilst lowering taxes and restoring fairness to the system by closing tax loopholes. “I particularly welcome the support shown for small businesses, which are the bedrock of our local economy. “In a competitive market, every little helps and I know the vibrant small business owners in my constituency will welcome this support. It is also great news that 51,009 people across Gosport, Stubbington, Lee-on-the-Solent and Hill Head will be paying lower taxes and will be able to keep greater hold of their hard-earned money. “Today the Office for National Statistics also revealed that employment in Britain is at a record high at 74.1 per cent with a record high of 31.42 million people in work. In Gosport, the number of Job Seeker Allowance Claimants has reduced by 63 per cent since 2010.” 8 Looking Back Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe A history of Portsmouth in three memorable words... The glory days of pols and pongs I THINK it is true to say that Andrew Negus had Stokes Bay WI ladies in his thrall at this month’s meeting on Tuesday which, considering two of the three words in the title of his talk were ‘dung’ and ‘harlots’ might come as a surprise. Starting with a photo of Portsmouth, taken on a sunny day from Gosport, it was hard to imagine how this small island, much of it marshland, has become, through a series of interconnected accidents, incidents and interventions, the most densely populated city in the UK outside London. Where did the dung and harlots feature in this transformation and when and why did it start? Well, according to Andrew, perhaps after the death of William Rufus when his brother Robert crossed from Normandy and made a successful landing in what is now Portsmouth Harbour. Admittedly Robert failed to seize the throne from his younger sibling, Henry, but his attempt proved Portchester Castle’s inability to protect the area further down the coast from invasion and the need for some kind of defensive system of what, later, became Portsmouth and, later still, Portsea Island. Over the years, other Henrys built towers, square and round, replaced ramparts with walls and eventually enclosed an area that, until expanded to include Portsea in the late 18th Century, was accessible by only one gate – the North. PAST MASTER: Historian Andrew Negus at the Stokes Bay WI meeting on Tuesday By LIZ MITCHELL In 1194, Richard the Lionheart had given Portsmouth its first Royal Charter and the right to hold a 15-day market. So, with vendors and vendees, not to mention animals, we can see where the dung comes in! Unfortunately, without piped water or a sewage system, we can’t see how it goes out – other than into the ‘camber’ where it swirled and stagnated making the experience of ‘scolds’ in the ducking stools doubly disgusting - and the need to drink beer inevitable! Even at this time, ships could be commandeered for the king’s purposes, though they were more likely to be used for transporting soldiers to battle than fighting at sea. But it was Henry VII who started the dockyard by granting Portsmouth permission to build, as well as repair, royal ships. Then, in 1509, with the commissioning of the ‘Mary Rose’, Henry VIII ARTWORK: Jayne Colebourne presents Wendy Ledger with her ‘best display in a cup’ prize established, not only his reputation as the ‘Father of the Royal Navy’, but, the importance of Portsmouth in the defence – and expansion – of the realm. Now, no doubt, we can see where the harlots enter — literally! As the Navy grew, Portsmouth and Southsea grew with it, until, in 1750, there was a population of 24,000 plus those in Portsea. So many mouths to feed (so much dung to deal with), so many needs to fulfil! Spice Island alone had 44 pubs and numerous brothels renowned all over the world. The ‘Portsmouth Pols’ with their sturdy physiques and stone rings offered ‘companionship’ to sailors in dock; they even provided a ‘delivery’ service, paying the wherryman a princely £5 to row them safely to and from the ships in harbour. Andrew’s talk ended at 1760 but then it was only Part One of his ‘Harlots, Dung and Glory’ series and – ah yes, the third word of the title – ‘glory’. We were left in no doubt of the contribution Portsmouth – and Gosport – had played in the growth of and Empire that, by 1760, included North America, Canada, India, and parts of Africa. But we were also left wanting to hear Parts Two and Three. In fact, the only question to Andrew was: “When can you come back?” Having retired from teaching history (and backpacking around the world), Andrew continues to share his expansive knowledge and enthusiasm in a way that inspires and entertains. He brought our area to life with insights into local characters – including some who came to a ‘sticky end’; confessions to liking some monarchs and not others — and, of course, very helpful slides. During Social Time, the perfect guest, he even showed an interest in our competition for the best ‘Flower Arrangement in a Cup’, which, at a stretch, could claim to combine dung and glory... Those harlots would have been amused! [Liz Mitchell is the President of Stokes Bay WI, which meets third Tuesday, St Mary’s Parish Centre, Alverstoke.] Lottery fund grants to mark Great War CASH ADVICE: Caroline Dinenage GOSPORT MP Caroline Dinenage, is encouraging groups to consider applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund for community projects to learn more about the First World War and to think about how they would like to mark the centenary. The Heritage Lottery Fund supports projects across the UK that focus not just on the events of 1914 –1918 but also on the lasting changes the war brought about. The HLF is making at least £1million a year available until 2019 as part of the ‘First World War: then and now’ programme for small, community grants. It provides grants of £3,000 to £10,000 enabling groups across the country to explore, conserve and share their First World War heritage and deepen the understanding of the impact of the conflict. The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded grants to groups within Gosport including: Friends of Gosport Museum, The Gosport Society, Groundwork Solent and The Historical Diving Society. And Caroline said: “I’m delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is making this money available to local communities. Since they began in 1994, they have given £9,758,461 in grants to projects in Gosport. Like many areas across the UK, the impact of the First World War on the people of Gosport was extensive. “For those who want to find out more about its legacy or who wish to mark the Centenary, I would urge them to get in touch with Heritage Lottery Fund.” Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South- east England Stuart McLeod said: “The impact of the First World War was far-reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond. The Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘First World War: then and now’ programme will enable communities to explore the continuing legacy of this war and help young people in particular to broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.” Since April 2010, HLF has awarded over £70 million to more than 1,300 projects – large and small – that will mark the centenary of the First World War. If a group has a project idea to mark the centenary of the First World War, an online application pack is available: http:// www.hlf.org.uk/ThenAndNow. Should a group need more than £10,000 for a First World War project, it can apply to HLF through its open programmes. Culture The Gosport Globe Soft drinks secret behind prosperity 9 Friday, March 18, 2016 Poetry Corner One Fine Morning On such a fine morning I once stepped out On that day so long ago, There was a boldness then that buried doubt I swear, the very Horizon glowed. The on the thing without end is time And this was the eve of everything, Yesterday uncertainty had been the victim: Now freedom was on the wing. I had the time and I was young; All advice I could cast aside, A door flung open and I was gone Into the care of time and tide. I have passed through many years since then: Some still lie heavy on my bones, Many fine mornings have come again; The dark ones kept close to me alone. So on this morning as on this day I go forth to try once more, But this time I might change my ways: Old I can no longer roar. VICTORIAN ENTREPRENEUR: Charles Mumby, 1823 to 1895, right, was the founder of the soft drinks firm names after him and a major influence on the development of Gosport; top left, an advertising slogan from the 1920s and, above left, stone bottles for ginger beer But I have blamed myself far too much; No use at-all to be still denying, Too long misfortune has been my crutch; Life is naught nut a story of learning. Bill Slavin FOR more poems, Gosport’s own Scottish bard Bill has a Kindle book available on Amazon.co.uk. He would welcome contributions to his weekly column from poets whether budding, established or simply inspired by the occasional muse.) C HARLES MUMBY was a pharmaceutical chemist from Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, who moved to Gosport in 1844. Gosport then was a "well built handsome town" with thrice weekly markets and a railway terminus. Mumby went into business on his own in 1849, at number 47 High Street. He was keen to diversify and applying his skill with concoctions, soon setting himself up as a manufacturer of mineral waters. To ensure the necessary supply of good water, he sank a large bore hole, or artesian well, in the large backyard of his shop. The premises also had a rear access from North Street. At 384 feet down, the well was deep enough to reach the aquifers in the chalk sub-soil, for Gosport is surrounded by the sea and is penetrated by salty creeks. His next step was to install elaborate machinery to increase output of manufactured ice. The fame of Mumby's soda water, ginger beer and lemonade spread rapidly across LINK WITH PAST: A surviving part of the Mumby complex By Associate Editor PETER MAGUIRE the south of England and within a few years he was to supply large quantities to both the Army and Navy, traditionally victualled from Gosport. His clowning glory was to receive a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria. Mumby's being one of only four brands of mineral water that was served at her table. In 1864 Mumby joined the Board of Trustees that governed Gosport. He was to serve as chairman from 1881 to 1894 and oversaw vast improvements to the town. Streets were widened, the old fortifications were removed, areas of open ground were acquired for recreational purposes and a Free Library was created. He became a county councillor, a magistrate and sat on many public and social committees. The manufacture and supply of mineral waters continued at its original premises in the High Street and an office was opened up in Portsmouth. Mumby was also a founder member of the National Liberal Club and was appointed colonel of a territorial unit the ‘Third Hampshires’. Mumby retired from the active management of the business in 1885. The chemist's shop in the High Street was reduced to a sideline and given up. His eldest son Everitt was appointed managing director of the company from which he derived a good living. Alt- hough he had neither the capacity nor an inclination for a career in business, it was Everitt who oversaw the public floatation of the company in 1898, which greatly enriched the family and allowed him to indulge in his love of travel. Everitt died in 1906 leaving a third of his majority holding to only son Cyril, who would have preferred a career in the Army. When Cyril was appointed managing director in 1907, the firm employed 100 people at its two factories and had capital of £45,000. He installed himself in one of the finest houses in Gosport and was the owner of an expensive motor car and yacht. Cyril's good fortune was ended in 1914 while serving in the Army when he was severely wounded in battle. After the Great War he was to make a new life on the continent, resigning his directorship of the company in 1924. He died in 1938, by which time the company had been sold, although it continued to trade under the Mumby name. The prosporous, elegant Gosport that the family had helped to create was destroyed by a combination of German air raids in World War Two and redevelopment during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Nothing remains of the offices in the High Street or the premises in Portsmouth. So ends the Mumby story. However there is a link that still stands — one of the buildings that was at the back of the business and reached from what was North Street, now Mumby Road. Craft evening opportunity to share skills KEEN crafters are invited to an open evening in Gosport on Friday, April 8, to share their skills and expertise, join in with demonstrations or learn a new hobby. The event is open to anyone interested in any kind of crafty pursuit and people are invited to bring along their own crafts as well. Brendoncare Clubs Locality Manager Karen Seale said: “It’s a great opportunity for craft-minded people to meet others who share the same interests. We’re hoping people will come along with their favourite crafts, and show off their work whilst maybe picking up a few hints and tips themselves.” It is being organised by members and volunteers at the Gosport Beaders and Gosport Arts and Crafts clubs, who meet weekly at Brendoncare’s Club Hampshire centre. The two clubs will have some of their own work on display and available to purchase, and there will also be a raffle and refreshments. The Arts and Crafts Club meets every Friday morning, from 9.30am to 11.30am, and members enjoy a variety of different craft activities, including card making, watercolours, knitting and crochet. The Beaders Club meets on Friday evenings from 6.30pm until 9pm, and members work on a range of beaded jewellery and other projects. New faces are always welcome at both clubs, and Brendoncare is also keen to hear from anyone interested in volunteering at either club. Brendoncare runs more than 85 social and friendship clubs across Hampshire and Dorset, offering older people a place to meet new friends and enjoy a variety of different activities. Each club has its own unique character, but all offer fun, friendship and a warm welcome. The April 8 craft evening takes place from 6.30pm, at the Club Hampshire Centre, Willis Road, The Anchorage, Gosport, PO12 1LZ. More information is available by telephoning the charity’s head office on 01962 857099. 10 News Focus Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe Sultan a name to respect O N THE first day of June, 1956, following a transfer from a site adjacent to the Dockyard and Royal Naval Barracks in Portsmouth the Mechanical Training and Repair Establishment HMS Sultan was first commissioned in Gosport. The name HMS Sultan has a long history, The first was a 74-gun warship launched in 1775 and fought the French. The second spent 43 years in reserve, ending her days as a target ship! The third was an armoured battleship launched in 1870 and named in honour of Sultan Abdulaziz of Turkey. She took part in the 1882 bombardment of Alexandria to avenge a massacre of Europeans. Her sheet anchor was shattered by enemy shot and can still be seen at HMS Sultan today. The fourth HMS Sultan was an iron paddle steamer commissioned on the River Niger in 1876. However, she was sunk within a month. The fifth was a shore base in Singapore and commissioned in 1940. It was BADGE OF HONOUR: Trainees have an historical link to a Turkish ruler, inset By Associate Editor PETER MAGUIRE destroyed on surrender to the Japanese in 1942 but was re-commissioned on reoccupation in 1945 and continued until 1947. Today's HMS Sultan occupies a site which was one of the original Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service airfields in the country. Many air squadrons formed and trained there during World War One. It became a permanent Royal Air Force station in 1918 and was named RAF Grange but continued to work closely with the Fleet Air Arm and was transferred to the Royal Navy in 1945. The base became HMS Siskin and it was here that basic helicopter flying and training procedures were developed. With the closure of the airfield, however, the Mechanical training and Repair Establishment moved in and was commissioned as HMS Sultan in 1956. Over recent years, HMS Sultan has incorporated the Naval Engineering College Plymouth, elements of HMS Dolphin, HMS Daedalus and RNC Greenwich to make it the centre of engineering excellence that it is known as today. HMS Sultan comes under the com- mand of the Air Vice-Marshall AOC RAF No 22 Air Training Group. The establishment is home to the headquaters of the Defence College of Technical Training which includes the Defence School of Marine Engineerring and the Royal Naval Survival School. In addition, a number of other units reside within its boundaries including the Admiralty Interview Board. And as part of HMS Sultan’s celebrations to mark the 60 years in Gosport, the establishment has requested that on Wednesday, June 1, this year it will be allowed to exercise its traditional right as “a Freeman of the Borough of Gosport” to march through the town centre. District News The Gosport Globe Friday, March 18, 2016 11 Lee-on-the-Solent Latest dates for the diary LEE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY SHOWS: Lee-onthe-Solent, Lee Community Centre, Twyford Drive, Lee. Over 90 classes in various sections - Flowers, Vegetables, Fruit, Floral Art, Homecrafts and Handycrafts. Open to the public at 1.30pm. Prize giving at 3.30pm. Sale of items at 3.45pm. Free admission to members and £1to nonmembers. Refreshments available. Contact Bruce Thomas, secretary, 02392 551873 for more details. Spring Show, March 12; Summer, July 9; Autumn, September 10. MAY 25: Social evening with guest speaker Jennifer Carter, ‘The Changing Seasons at Monet's Garden’, starts at 7.30pm. Activities Room, Lee Community Centre. Contact Bruce Thomas, 02392 551873. for more details. SEPTEMBER 21: Social evening with guest speaker Mike Holloway, ’Bees in the Garden’, starts at 7.30pm. Activities Room, Lee Community Centre. Contact Bruce Thomas 02392 551873 for details. RETHINKING THE JOURNEY: Alverstoke’s Zachary Chapman, aged eight; Marie Noble, 10; Tilly Dobson, 10; Amelia Ware, seven; Mollie Flanagan, eight and Oliver Payne, 10 getting the ‘Use Your Legs’ message across with the help of Basil Bird and Lord Nelson W HY were 40 pupils seen walking to Alverstoke Church of England Junior School last Friday led by Lord Nelson and greeted at the school gates by a giant green bird? According to school governor Richard Baker-Jones: “It’s all to do with encouraging pupils and parents to make the school run safer, and healthier. In common with many schools, we have a real problem with congestion at the beginning and end of each day particularly in The Avenue and Tebourba Way. “Only last week, a child was very nearly knocked over by a car whilst she was crossing the road between parked cars.” Alverstoke The school has pupils as Travel Ambassadors, one in each class, who have undertaken a route audit suggesting there are a number of suitable locations where parents can park and then walk to and from school to take or collect children. Called ’Park and Stride’, the initiative was launched by pupils and parents meeting at Stokes Bay and walking with Lord Nelson to be met at school by Basil Bird, the Hampshire County Council ‘My Journey’ mascot. And ‘Rethink Your Journey, Use Your Legs’ is the message that the newly formed BikeItCrew, composed of Year 6 pupils, are sending out to parents, staff and pupils in an effort to make their journey to school safer, healthier and more enjoyable whether they walk, cycle or scoot. “Lord Nelson was played by an actor from Histrionics,” said Mr Baker-Jones. “After the walk to school, he presented two riveting and hilarious workshops that had the children roaring with laughter, all as a treat funded by the School Travel Planning Team to acknowledge the enthusiasm and work of the pupils in trying to make their school run safer.” Nominate volunteers for borough awards THE first week in June is National Volunteer’s Week. In honour of this, Gosport Voluntary Action and Gosport Council are coming together for their annual Volunteer Award ceremony to celebrate people who give up their time to help and support people and organisations in the borough. Gosport If you know of anyone who has done great work as a volunteer helping others in their community, then why not nominate them for a Voluntary Service Award by contacting Gosport Voluntary Action? Organisations can also nominate volunteers who have completed one year, five years, 10 years or 20 years and should contact Gosport Volunteer Centre on [email protected] for details on how they can do this. Entries close on March 29 and the ceremony will take place on June 9 at 6pm. HISTORIC WATERFRONT WALK & TALK: Lee Historic Waterfront Walk and Talks take place on the first Tuesday of the month February - October and include Gosport Heritage Open Days from September 8-11. Walks all start from Elmore Car Park, Marine Parade East, Lee PO13 9BW at 10 am. unless otherwise stated. The route is along Lee Promenade to the Old Swimming Pool site returning to Elmore Car Park. Total time is around 90 minutes. Contact Ray Harding 02392 551706 or email [email protected]. Walk leaders are Ray Harding, Anthony Stutchbury, and John Green. COMMUNITY TABLE TOP&CRAFT FAYRE: Monthly Lee Residents Community Table Top and Craft Fayre held on the third Wednesday of each month in the Methodist Church Hall, High Street. Start time: to set-up at 9am and open to the public from 9.30am to 12.30pm. To book a table, 6ft at £6 and 4ft at £5, payable on the day. Contact Ray Harding [email protected] 02392 551706 or Gillian Masterson [email protected] 02392 551303. Dates for 2016 are: March 16; April 20; May 18; June 15; July 20; August 17; September 21; October 19; November 16 and December 21. They can be booked in advance. See www.leeresidents.org.uk boost events or ‘contact us’ links. All events are listed on the Lee Residents website, http:// www.leeresidents.org.uk/leeresidents_events.html. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Tuesday, March 22, at 7.30pm. Methodist Church Hall, High Street Lee. Members only. Speaker Geoff Pell, ‘Daedalus, The Early Days.’ TRANSFORMING PRIMARY CARE IN GOSPORT: May 24, at 7.30pm. Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Lee. Speaker, Dr Donal Collins (NHS Fareham and Gosport CCG). DAEDALUS DEVELOPMENT: September 27, at 7.30pm. Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Lee. Speaker to be confirmed. HASLAR DEVELOPMENTS: June 28, 7.30pm Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Lee, Speaker Mr Joe Hines MSCSI MRICS for Harcourt Development. 12 Leisure Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe Eating Out: Lakeside Café and Bar Save a tree: go green and read the Globe! A RARE TREAT : There’s plenty of character and charm at The Lakeside in Walpole Park, Gosport Square meals are in the round for park’s visitors S TANDING in Gosport’s Walpole Park and alongside the model yacht lake is the Lakeside, an unusual building being round and a bit quirky. However, it offers a wide view across Walpole Park and also Haslar Lake. If you have not visited before then you will be surprised by its light and modern décor. In good weather (and let's hope there will be lots of it soon) you can relax over a drink on the outside terrace which overlooks the lake. There is an excellent menu offering a varied range and very competitive in price. In fact the Lakeside is just the place to unwind, relax and admire the views. By PETER MAGUIRE On arrival, you are served by welcoming staff who make you feel at home. Not a big building, it makes up for the lack of size by having a big, friendly atmosphere. MENU: Plenty of choice It also has vegetarian alternatives, a children's menu and babychanging facilities. For the disabled, it provides both a designated toilet and parking spaces. The Lakeside can also be booked for private functions. So if you are looking for somewhere different to have a coffee or a bite to eat, then try the Lakeside. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Venue: The Lakeside Café and Bar, Walpole Park, South Street, Gosport PO12 1FA. Opening hours: Monday, Closed; Tuesday, 08.30 – 16.00; Wednesday, 9.30 -16.00; Thursday, 08.30 - 16.00 ; Friday, 08.30 16.00; Saturday, 08.30 - 16.00; Sunday, 09.00 - 15.00. PANORAMIC: The Lakeside has something worth looking out at all around the terraced café The Gosport Globe C Features/News Friday, March 18, 2016 13 UTTING a dash along the shore at Stokes Bay, a little sanderling is this week’s subject for reader Helen Walker. In Perspective now sees an increase in the number of categories to include sea and landscape, ani- mal and wildlife, news and sport, holiday and recreation and a ‘best overall’ award for the most outstanding image regardless of subject. Each class will have a winner and runner-up receiving their entries printed on canvas and a certifi- cate to mark the achievement. Entries will be judged by a panel, with final submissions to be in on or before January 22, 2017. Once again entries, minimum width 972 pixels, should be sent to [email protected], with a contact number. Send images straight from camera, not optimised, so that we can select the best quality shot. Pictures — either landscape or portrait — should be in jpg, gif, tiff or png format, even if taken from prints by people who use film. ANOTHER new business has given Gosport its vote of confidence with the Wednesday evening opening of the town’s first auction rooms in several years. With just hours to go before the first lot was due under the hammer at 6.30pm, businessman Mark QuentainDavies and his head auctioneer son Jack were starting to relax, confident that a refurbished entrance at 44-46 Park Street, near St Vincent College, would be completed in time and the borough council was satisfied all its statutory requirements had been met. The Gosport Auction House will be holding general sales of electrical and household items each week, with special- ist events held when suitable lots are available. “At first it’s just family and friends helping out until we see how the business is going and then we hope to take a few people on,” Jack said. “We’re very excited because the nearest place outside town is in Titchfield.” Items for sale are available to view from 10am until 6pm on Wednesdays. Potential buyers will then pay 50p to take part in the auction. The Auction House is open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 4pm, with all lots to be booked in by noon on Monday. For more information, telephone the office on 02392 580928 or call Jack’s mobile, 07500 431086. 14 Listings Friday, March 18, 2016 Do you run a business that helps people? If so, you could sponsor this page. Call Fran on 02392 602418 for details GOSPORT VOLUNTARY ACTION is a registered charity providing support, advice, information and practical help to voluntary and community organisations in the borough. As part of a national network of councils for Voluntary Service it has over 193 members in the Gosport area and represents the voluntary sector on committees relating to health, access, young people, economic regeneration and crime and disorder. GVA also provides services directly to the community: advocacy, domestic assistance, activity groups, a disability information centre, transport, gardening and a handyperson service. It is able to provide services to the community because of the time and commitment given to us by volunteers and agency workers, together with the financial support of Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council and many gifts and donations. Another key role is providing practical support and advice to charities and voluntary groups. DEVELOPMENT PROJECT: The Development Team was set up to provide support to existing voluntary and community groups in Gosport and to assist in the development of new projects. It runs up to four open community lunches a year, inviting speakers on relevant topics to offer members the opportunity to learn from each other and network. It also organises an annual community conference to bring together voluntary sector organisations and statutory agencies to debate a topical issue and to ensure they work effectively together. VOLUNTEER CENTRE: The Volunteer Centre (VC) is one of 350 or more Volunteering Development Agencies across England. It acts as a one-stop volunteer recruitment agency for over 400 voluntary organisations and community groups across the borough. The Volunteer Centre offers an interview and advice service either in person or by telephone, to discover the needs of the potential volunteer and match these to one or more of 200-plus opportunities locally. All vacancies are advertised on www.gosportvolunteercentre.org.uk or www.do-it.org.uk. Anyone aged 14 to 90-plus can be helped to find the right one. Recruiting and retaining volunteers also requires skill and management expertise and the VC endeavours to advise the local sector on best practice, appropriate training and relevant changes in legislation. SUPPORTED VOLUNTEERING PROJECT: helps people of all ages, regardless of mental or physical disability, who wish to gain confidence generally and hopefully progress to volunteering. It offers a free eight-week course - Preparation for Volunteering — which is a broad based introduction. Contact Peter d’Agostino at GVA, tel 02392 604686. GIVE GAIN AND GROW GOSPORT: This project provides a volunteering group for people with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, with some members who have learning difficulties. It is for people who would like to try volunteering but would appreciate the support and encouragement of a small group situation. The group currently has a weekly Wednesday meeting at the RNA Club for new volunteers and a monthly Friday meeting at GVA for established volunteers. There are various volunteering options with Give, Gain and Grow including; gardening, arts and crafts, litter picking, fundraising, campaigning, walking group, preparing for exhibition on Phobias, beach cleaning. Give, Gain and Grow is a friendly group of volunteers who meet to plan their involvement in community projects. It welcomes new members. Telephone. 07910 675079. DUSTBUSTERS: A domestic cleaning service for the elderly, frail and vulnerable of the community. Dustbusters has maintained an enviable reputation since 1992 in providing a dependable service to the residents of Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent. It provides help with housework, laundry and ironing and shopping– and for some people, most importantly, conversation and companionship. There is a monthly administration fee for it. VISITING SERVICE: Befrienders are volunteers who visit an older person in their own home who may be socially isolated, or perhaps housebound. Volunteers offer friendship with a weekly visit. They may share a cup of tea and a chat; read mail for a person with a sight problem; make a visit to the shops together or take a trip out for coffee or lunch. There are approximately 5,000 older people in the Gosport area most of whom live alone. Referrals can be received from any source such as Adult Services; health professionals; hospital discharge; GPs; family; friends or self-referral. TELEPHONE SERVICE: The Telephone Service provides a weekly telephone call to older people who may be socially isolated or housebound. A trained volunteer makes a regular weekly phone call from the Befriending Service office to chat. The same volunteer will ring the same person each week. This regular weekly contact builds a rapport between the volunteer and the person they call. A weekly telephone call can keep a person `in touch` and it can also provide information if requested on many different services which are available. One volunteer will contact between six and eight people in one session. GOSPORT GARDENS: For people who are older, disabled, housebound or frail, watching the garden they once tended become overgrown and untidy can be very distressing. Gosport Gardens is a garden maintenance service available to the residents of Gosport and Leeon-the-Solent, which aims to bring peace of mind and a happier outlook. There is a monthly administration fee but this is not applicable if help is already being received from Dustbusters. DART: Helping people who are frail, elderly or disabled to remain in their homes in comfort is the prime concern of this service. From mending a tap washer to decorating a room, the team can bring brighter surroundings and a safer environment. This service is available to the residents of Gosport and Lee-on-theSolent. All workers are CRB checked and carry photographic identification. Access to the service is through completion of an application form. There is a monthly administration fee but this is not applicable if help is already being received from Dustbusters. ADVOCACY: Advocacy is taking action to help people say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need. Advocates and advocacy schemes work in partnership with the people they support. DRIVING FORCE: The service is invaluable to Gosport residents as many people who are elderly, infirm or disabled find it impossible to access public transport. Volunteer drivers use their own cars to help people visit friends, clubs or attend appointments for a minimal cost to cover expenses only. COMMUNITY TRANSPORT: As well as offering mini buses for hire by community/voluntary groups with their own drivers, it provides transport for two day-centres in Gosport. With financial support from Social Services it operates the service for Age Concern. Passengers may be frail or disabled and the drivers and escorts are fully trained and sensitive to the needs of the clients. The service offers transport throughout the borough and each week carries about 100 people who might otherwise be housebound and isolated. NOBES HALL: Managed by GVA, it is a light and spacious community hall in Bridgemary and available for members of the community to hire. Facilities include a large hall equipped with folding tables and stackable chairs for up to 40 people. There is a small kitchen and parking for four cars. Facilities are fully accessible. SING FOR FUN: This is a relaxed music group for young people and adults with disabilities. It meets at the Lowry Room, Victoria Square, Lee-on-the-Solent, on Thursdays, from 6pm until 7.15pm and, session two, 7.15pm until 8.45pm. Donations of £3.50 please to cover rent and refreshments. Contact Phil by telephone on 07811140188 for details. The Gosport Globe To have your organisation listed free of charge, please send full details to the editor via email at [email protected] by 5pm on Tuesday for inclusion in that Friday’s weekly PDF edition of Gosport’s own newspaper THE OLD RAILWAY SUITE: Situated in the former Gosport railway terminus, this 20-person meeting/training room is also managed by GVA and available for hire. It can seat boardroom or theatre style and has tables/chairs and a small kitchen area. Onsite parking for six cars is available and nearby free parking in George Street. LOUD & PROUD: Loud and Proud offers opportunities for young people aged 16 to 25, whatever their background or abilities to engage in a wide variety of confidence-building, volunteering and social activities within the community. The group is currently funded by Comic Relief and supported by Gosport Voluntary Action in ensuring a safe environment for its members. GOSPORT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU: The services based at Martin Snape House, behind Morrison’s, aim to provide the information people need for the problems they face and are independent, impartial, confidential and free. Trained volunteers deal with a wide range of topics including housing, debt, employment, benefits, legal and personal problems. Contact CAB by phone on 03444 111306. The Adviceline and website is www.gosportcab.org.uk.. ROYAL ANTEDILUVIAN ORDER of BUFFALOES: The RAOB, (Buffs) meet at our club, 33 Stoke Road, Gosport, Hants, PO12 1LS, tel 2392581071. The club is open Mon to Sat nights from 7.30pm until 11pm and on a Sunday afternoon, from 11.30am till 3pm. We are a fraternal organisation That raises money for national and local charities. From Tuesday to Saturday nights and Sunday lunchtimes we have Lodges for gentlemen to meet up with like-minded gents to raise a few quid for charity. We also have a ladies section called the Glades which meet at the club on the second and forth Tuesdays of each month. We hold social nights and various fundraising events through out the year. All monies raised go directly to the cause nominated. BRENDONCARE CLUB HAMPSHIRE: Clubs for older people meeting in Gosport throughout the week, with activities including games, quizzes, exercise classes and singing. Tel Karen Seale on 01962 857099; website www.brendoncare.org.uk/clubs; email: [email protected]. CEDAROAK: CedarOak offers support, information and counselling for those experiencing unintended pregnancy, miscarriage, baby loss or coping with pre or post abortion issues. We provide non-judgmental, professional counselling for women of any age, their partners and families, within a safe and confidential setting. Pre-abortion counselling provides opportunity to think through options so that an informed decision can be taken. We are able to supply details of local abortion providers but we do not refer women directly for terminations. CedarOak Centre is above Cornerstones bookshop at 9 Bemisters Lane, Gosport PO12 1HB. We are open on two days each week: Monday 12-4 (except Bank Holidays) and Thursday 10-2. Contact us by phone on 02392 523735 or via the link on our website www.cedaroak.org.uk. CedarOak is a registered charity (No: 1011476) and is affiliated to the Association of Christian Counsellors. The Gosport Globe Listings/Events Friday, March 18, 2016 15 Continued from Page 14 GOSPORT DIS-PLAY CLUB: A charity offering friendship, fun and support to people with physical disabilities in the Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent areas. It is now recruiting new members in the 25 to 65 age bracket. Meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Masonic Hall in Clarence Road, Gosport, during the daytime. A hot, two-course lunch is included in the attendance fee and some transport is available if required. Gosport Dis-Play Club members are a friendly group enjoying many different social activities, speakers, music and quizzes. It also gives carers a little respite and time to relax. If you would like further information about our lively group, telephone Jacqui on 01329 315241 or Marg, 02392 589607. CATS PROTECTION, Gosport Town Branch, Lost & Found service, phone Carole on 07946 678264. Website: www.gosport.cats.org.uk. Facebook: www.facebook.com/CatsProtectionGosport. Email: [email protected]. OAKLEY WATERMAN Caravan Foundation: The charity provides respite care for families with children suffering from life-threatening or terminal illnesses. Dougie Leask, [email protected]. HARBOUR CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE: A warm, welcoming and safe place for any person affected by cancer. It offers practical and emotional support services for patients, relatives, carers and friends. Opening times are: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm; Saturday, 10am to 12.30pm. A Registered Charity (1102055). It is based at The Bus Station, South Street, PO12 1EP, tel: 02392 501503; [email protected]; HASLAR HEART SUPPORT GROUP: meets at Gosport War Memorial Hospital on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm. Telephone 02392 581267. HAMPSHIRE CARDIOMYOPATHY SUPPORT: The group offers help and advice, with regular talks and presentations at locations around the county. Contact Sarah Dennis at Cardiomyopathy UK, helpline 0800 0181 for contact details — free from a landline. FRIENDS OF LEESLAND PARK have acted as the interface between owners Gosport Borough Council and the public since the site’s redevelopment in 1998. They hold volunteer workdays on the last Sunday of each month, meeting at 10.30am to undertake a range of husbandry tasks. Further details can be found on their website at: http://leeslandpark.btck.co.uk or find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ leesland.park?fref=ts. New volunteers are always welcome. Contact the secretary by email for full details: [email protected]. BIPOLAR UK support group covering the Gosport area meets at the John Pounds Centre, 23 Queen Street, Portsmouth, PO1 3HN on the first Wednesday of every month, from 7pm until 9pm. Groups are free to attend and are open to all individuals affected by bipolar, including those with a diagnosis, those prediagnosis, their family members, friends and carers. You don't need a referral and you don't have to let us know you're coming - just turn up! Our support groups are intended for people aged 18 and above. If you are aged between 16 and 18, you can attend a support group if accompanied by a parent or guardian. THE AMERICAN MODEL RAILROAD GROUP: Based in Gosport, we hold regular meetings twice a month for both chatting and the more serious business of running trains. Further details can be obtained from our website http://gosportrailroadgroup.webs.com/ where up-to-date information can always be found. You do not have to have an interest in American trains, any interest in trains will do and we are always ready to accept new members with a friendly welcome. GOSPORT.INFO: The website, originally set up as GosportLife.co.uk, was first published in April 2001 after 18 months of me learning how to produce websites. The idea was to have a site where Gosport people could see business and organisation details as well as be able to look out for events in Gosport and some photos of places in Gosport past and present. Over the years a number of visitors to the website suggested other section such as the Family History, Request for Gosport information and Photos and the 'Are You There' section where you may be able to find people you knew in Gosport in the past. I even received an email from someone in Latvia to trace someone they knew in Gosport when young. Five days later, I received an email from someone in Australia who said the person being looked for was their next door neighbour. I hope you find something on Gosport.info that is useful to you. Contact: www.gosport.info Ian Jeffery; [email protected], telephone 023 9252 3358. SURGERY SIGNPOSTERS: Surgery Signposters in Gosport is a pilot service to see how you can benefit from being put in touch with the voluntary and community services who can help you improve your health and wellbeing. The volunteer Surgery Signposters play a crucial role in ensuring that people don’t miss out on all of the help and support available locally. Anyone can visit the service. GPs will also recommend the service to people they feel would benefit from it. More information is available online www.gosport-voluntaryaction.org.uk or ‘phone: 023 9258 3344 after 12 noon. FAREPORT TALKING NEWS: This service is produced weekly, on memory stick, for blind and visually impaired listeners in the Gosport and Fareham areas. Recorded every Monday morning by volunteers at the studio in Stubbington, it contains news taken from the Portsmouth News, Southern Daily Echo and Gosport Globe, as well as features, entertainment and information relating to visual impairment. Fareport Talking News enables those who have difficulty reading the words on a printed page to keep up with local happenings. And it is free! If you know anyone who is visually impaired and who would benefit from receiving these weekly broadcasts, please tell them about Fareport Talking News. They can register by calling our studio on 01329 664364 or you could telephone us on their behalf. Volunteer Awards TIME TO SAY THANKS: The first week in June is National Volunteers’ Week. In honour of this, Gosport Voluntary Action and Gosport Borough Council are coming together for their annual Volunteer Award ceremony to celebrate people who give their time to help and support people and organisations in the borough. If you know of anyone who has done great work as a volunteer helping others in their community, then why not nominate them for a Voluntary Service Award by contacting Gosport Voluntary Action? Organisations can also nominate volunteers who have completed one year, five years, 10 years or 20 years and should contact Gosport Volunteer Centre on gosportvb@gva. org.uk for details on how they can do this. Entries close on March 29 and the Award Ceremony will take place in the Council Chamber at Gosport Borough Council on June 9, at 6pm. Contacts PEOPLE responsible for different projects at the Gosport Volunteer Centre, Martin Snape House, 96 Pavilion Way, Gosport, PO12 1FG, include: Development, Nicky Staveley 02392 604693; Volunteer Centre, Ian Johnson 02392 588347; Befriending, Jean Legg 02392 604681; Dustbusters/DART Nicky Williams 02392 601314; Advocacy, Janet Roebuck 02392 604696; Supported Volunteering, Peter d’Agostino 02392 604686; Give, Gain and Grow, Sue Greene 02392 604694; Shopmobility, 07952 312546; Community Transport Terry Gingell 07757 349592; Loud and Proud, Nicola Ure 07895 939510; Website: www.gosportvolunteercen tre.org.uk, Email: gosportvb@gva. org.uk, telephone: 02392 588347. Awards Volunteers NOMINATIONS for the FA Community Awards, presented by McDonalds, close on March 31. They aim to recognise and reward people who make a difference to grassroots football in their community. Parents in Gosport will know at least one volunteer who devotes several hours a week to the grassroots sport. The awards offer a chance to shout about people making a real difference. Winners are awarded at a local, regional and national level, with the latter chosen by a panel featuring McDonald’s Director of Football Sir Geoff Hurst. Categories include: FA Charter Standard Club of the Year; Charter Standard Community Club of the Year; Charter Standard Development Club of the Year; Charter Standard League of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. For further details, see www.thefa.com/myfoot ball/community/fa-community-awards/nominate? utm_source=Awards201 6&utm_medium=allCFA &utm_term=CFA&utm_ content=awards &utm_campaign=promo. GOSPORT Citizens Advice Bureau is appealing for volunteers to help run its support network. It is offering the chance for applicants to: make a difference to people’s lives; help their community; use their experience in a productive way; develop new talents and skills; increase their confidence; join other volunteers and make friends; keep active; find a way back to work. Anyone looking for a new challenge which is both interesting and rewarding can phone CAB on 02392 520112. Email [email protected]. org.uk for more details. SAFER Gosport Community Day is on Saturday, March 19, 11am-2pm, outside the Town Hall. Alongside emergency, marine and rescue services, this year’s event will include Avalon, Citizens Advice Bureau and the Toothbus and the Cop Car project displaying the Goodwood race winning F24 kit car. A large digital screen will feature displays by a range of organisations. 16 Friday, March 18, 2016 Celebrating Shakespeare Saturday, March 19, 10am to 11am RICHARD Cuddington is the author of the Easy Reading Shakespeare series of books. The three volumes present the Complete Works of Shakespeare in an easy to read and entertaining verse format, making them a helpful and fun introduction to Shakespeare for children and adults alike. Listen to the stories and then make your own Shakespeare pencil top, suitable for ages 10 and over. Free! But please book: 023 9252 3463. Kill or Cure – Just how bad was Tudor Medicine? (Case study from the Mary Rose) Tuesday, March 22, 7.30pm TREVOR Sapey from the Mary Rose Trust talks about the gory and downright outlandish practices of Tudor medicine, with reference to the bones of the men found on the Mary Rose itself. A light dinner beforehand is recommended! Tickets £3. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463. Friends of Gosport Museum free. ‘Eggciting’ Circus School Tuesday, March 29, to Thursday, March 31 9.30am to 3.30pm. (Please bring packed lunch.) THE Circus School here at the Discovery Centre is the place to be this Easter! You will learn egg-mazing circus skills including juggling, balancing, diablo and lots, lots more! At the end of the week take part in the Eggs Factor Show in front of friends and family… Book soon as this always sells out. Suitable for children aged seven to 12. Tickets £40. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463 The Wreck of the Titanic Thursday, March 31, 7.30pm AUTHOR Rupert Matthews presents answers to all those unsolved mysteries and misconceptions about the greatest shipwreck of all time. The talk explains why so many died, why the Titanic was travelling at high speed when icebergs were present and exactly why having too few lifeboats was commonplace in this era. Tickets £3. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463. Don’t go into the Cellar! Theatre Company presents… Dracula’s Ghost Thursday, March 10, 7.30pm WHEN Bram Stoker’s widow welcomes lawyer Mr Leech into her home, there begins a tale of the most feared vampire of all, of his un-dead life and times and the remarkable characters he met down the centuries. An original stage play concerning the actual story of Count Dracula: prepare for nothing but the bloody truth! Tickets £5. Telephone booking: 023 9252 3463 Ugly Duckling Storytime Special Saturday, April 2, 11am to 12 noon “ONCE upon a time there was a mother duck who had Coming Events seven little ducklings. Six of them were soft and fluffy and yellow. The seventh duckling was different . . .” Hans Christian Andersen would be 210 years old today, so help us mark his birthday and his most famous fairy tale by making your own duck mask. Suitable for children aged 3-10 and must be accompanied by an adult. Free. No need to book but places are limited. Ashley Morgan, Archivist of the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust (FAST) Film Archive presents: Test Pilots Tuesday, April 5, 7.30pm BRITAIN has played a major role in the development of both civil and military aviation. Working alongside the scientists and engineers from the RAE at Farnborough, were the test pilots who often risked their lives pushing aircraft to the limit. This The Gosport Globe presentation, illustrated with film clips from the FAST Film Archive, looks at the remarkable work of some of our most famous test pilots and the aircraft they flew including John Cunningham, Peter Twiss, Bill Bedford, John Derry, Geoffrey DeHavilland, Brian Trubshaw, and Eric `Winkle` Brown. Also features some `famous firsts`. Tickets £3. Telephone booking 023 9252 3463. Right Royal Drop-in, Local & Naval Studies Centre @ Gosport Discovery Centre Thursday, April 21, 10.30am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 5.30pm MARK the Queen’s 90th birthday by exploring royal memorabilia and museum objects from each decade of her life and reign. Many artefacts can be handled and our friendly volunteers will be there to talk to. Plus dressing up and a make and take art activity. Just drop in, no need to book. Free, donations appreciated. The 100-year refit of Steam Pinnace 199 Thursday, April 28, 7.30pm STEAM Pinnace 199, a 50 ft naval gunboat, was built in 1911 but a hull survey in 2010 indicated the need for some urgent restoration. Group 199 at The National Museum of the Royal Navy operate and maintain her for her owners. They set about fund raising for a task that was to take over three years and absorb over 13,000 volunteer hours. This talk describes the highs and lows of the project. Tickets £3. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463. Be an ’Ologist! Local & Naval Studies Centre @ Gosport Discovery Centre, Saturday, March 12, 10.30am to 2.30pm (last entry 2pm) FOR British Science Week come along to a drop in workshop at SEARCH Museum. Biologist, Zoologist, Geologist, Palaeontologist and Archaeologist… get into character and get hands-on with our specimens in lots of ‘ology activities! Just drop in, no need to book. £2 per participating child, accompanying adults free. SEARCHing for Spring Local & Naval Studies Centre @ Gosport Discovery Centre Tuesday, April 5, 10am to 1pm AN EASTER holiday drop-in workshop at SEARCH Museum; hands-on natural history activities with real museum specimens on a spring theme. Who’s arriving? Who’s waking up? Whose baby and whose egg? Plus a make and take art activity. Just drop in, no need to book, £2 per participating child, accompanying adults free. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463. Gallery@Gosport Discovery Centre Walpole Road, Gosport. PO12 1NS OPEN 10am to 5pm – Monday to Saturday (please note closed on Sunday and bank holidays). Free admission. See www.hants. gov.uk/gosport-gallery. ELSON LIBRARY: 136 Chantry Road, PO12 4NG Hot Topic! Music Before the Fab Four! Friday, March 18, 10am –11am COME along to our coffee morning and listen to a guest speaker at the same time. This month’s guest speaker is Geoff Piper, who will talk about music before The Fab Four. A nostalgic look at the US and UK pop scene, the music that inspired The Beatles. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee for just 20p. Free – no need to book, just come along. For more information, telephone 023 9252 4608 Krafty Kids – Easter Rabbits! Thursday, March 17, 3.30pm to 4.30pm GET ready for Easter by decorating a polystyrene rabbit with coloured tissue. Make an Easter card and make a hanging rabbit, 50p per child. Suitable for ages 5-10 years. Parents/carers must remain in the library during this activity. No need to book but places are limited. For more information, telephone 023 9252 4608. Hot Topic! Curiouser and Curiouser Friday, April 22, 10am to 11am COME along to our coffee morning and listen to a guest speaker at the same time. This month’s guest speaker is Geoff Watts, whose talk takes you through a number of unusual stories relating to monuments and personal headstones, some from Hampshire. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee for just 20p Free – no need to book, just come along. For more information call 023 9252 4608 Krafty Kids – Robots Thursday, April 7, 3.30pm to 4.30pm COME along and make some robots, such as a climbing, balancing or flip book robot and make a junk robot. Krafty Kids meets every first and third Thursday of each month, 50p per child. Suitable for ages 5-10 years. Parents/carers must remain in the library during this activity. No need to book, but places are limited. For more information call 023 9252 4608. Krafty Kids – Earth Day Thursday, April 21, 3.30pm to 4.30pm CELEBRATE Earth Day by making a wreath, save electricity light switch cover, Earth Day tree and plant a seed. Krafty Kids meets every first and third Thursday of each month, 50p per child. Suitable for ages 5-10 years. Parents/carers must remain in the library during this activity. No need to book, but places are limited. For more information call 023 9252 4608. Rhymetime NEW for Elson Library. 1.30pm-2pm every Tuesday in the children’s library. Free toe-tapping, hand-clapping, knee-jogging fun for babies and toddlers. It’s fun, free and friendly - just drop in. During term-time only. Parents/carers to remain with their children. The Gosport Globe G OSPORT MP Caroline Dinenage has welcomed the Chancellor’s commitment in the Budget to grant £190,000 for the Southern Domestic Abuse Service to provide support to victims of domestic abuse in South East Hampshire. SDAS provides services to women, children and men who have experienced or who are experiencing emotional, physical or sexual abuse in their Charity News relationships. It manages refuges offering support and temporary accommodation to women and children who are escaping domestic abuse as well as offering outreach to women, children and men not staying in the refuge but still in need of advice, support and information. Caroline had visited both the Gosport and Fareham refuges to meet with the support and outreach workers who Concerts to raise funds for children and hospital clinic A CONCERT is to be held in Stubbington, later this month, showcasing HMS Collingwood’s Volunteer Band’s talent in a bid to raise funds for charity. HMS Collingwood Volunteer Band continues a long tradition of military music and is comprised of both uniformed and civilian personnel serving at Collingwood. The band provides musical support for the establishment and works with various charitable organisations, including Friends of St Francis School, which supports St Francis Special School for youngsters aged between two and 19 with severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties. The event is in aid of Friends of St Francis School and will be held in Holy Rood Church on Saturday, March 26. From 7pm there will be live music, a raffle and refreshments with all proceeds going towards the school. GOSPORT Royal Naval Association is running a ‘Night of Entertainment’ to raise funds for the Muscle Research Clinic (Muscular Dystrophy), Southampton General Hospital and Gosport Sea Cadets. It will be held on March 26, at 7pm, in the RNA Club, Gosport Road. Compere will be singer/musician Ricky James, from Hayling Island and planned entertainment acts on the night are: 'Red Hot Rod', Live 'n' Kickin' tribute to Rod Stewart and 'Turn Back Time' a tribute to Cher by Portia. The intended target is £1,000. Tickets are available at £5 each from Gosport Sea Cadet Unit, Royal Clarence Yard, Weevil Lane, any Tuesday or Friday 7.30pm-9pm and the RNA Club, 66 Fareham Road, at the bar, open 7pm - 11pm, Monday to Thursday; Friday, 7pm - 11.30pm and Saturday, 12 noon - 3pm and 7pm 11.30pm; Sunday, 12 noon until 10.30pm. support domestic abuse victims. She is a keen supporter of the charity and wrote to Chancellor George Osborne in February endorsing the SDAS application for Tampon Tax funding. After the Budget announcement on Wednesday, the MP said: “I am delighted that the Chancellor has recognised the incredibly important work of the Southern Domestic Abuse Service in protecting people in our local area who Friday, March 18, 2016 17 are vulnerable to domestic violence. “The services they provide can be life -saving and it is right that we ensure victims are safe and can access emotional and practical support from staff who understand what they have been through.” If you are affected by domestic abuse you can contact SDAS on 01329 285375 or for more information please visit http://www.southerndas.org/. 18 Friday, March 18, 2016 Pets Corner All about cats and dogs The Gosport Globe The Gosport Globe Literature Friday, March 18, 2016 19 EXCLUSIVE to Gosport Globe readers… storyteller AB King serialises one of his popular children’s books, a tale of fantasy to delight young and old alike Chapter 2: Grandfather’s Story J OHN looked up from the box, his face clearly showing the extreme puzzlement he felt. Seeing his expression, his grandfather smiled. “I know what you are thinking,” he said. “Why should a dried twig, a brass ring, and a broken dish be kept locked away in an old box for years? Why should such things be looked upon as being so valuable? How can they possibly be of help in ridding Happy Valley of Morgan and his men?” It was indeed exactly what John had been wondering, and he watched Grandfather as he settled himself more comfortably in his chair, his face looking thoughtful in the reflected light of the fire. “Well, John,” the old man continued at last, “the answer to these questions, and others, lie in something that happened many, many years ago when I was still a young man, and long before even your father was born. In those days I was much like you; young, adventurous, and keen to try just about anything. Almost from the time that I took my first steps I took to roaming all over these mountains and soon prided myself that I knew every inch of them. It was idle boasting really, because no one can possibly know every rock and cranny that surrounds us, but I venture to say that I eventually came to know more than most. “During the course of my wanderings I discovered many secret gorges hidden away, looked upon forgotten rivers, and found gloomy caves and secret lakes that no one had ever visited before. Perhaps you remember the tale I told you of being trapped by a brown bear in one of those caves?” “Yes Grandfather, I remember the story well,” John answered, wondering what was coming. “In those days,” the old man continued, gazing into the fire, “although barely into manhood, I was considered to be the strongest man in the valley. I could beat any man at wrestling, at hunting, or in running. Ha, if Morgan had come amongst us in those days I would soon have shown him that we were not people to be taken lightly! But no matter, I must now tell you the strange story of the Three Gifts and how I came to receive them, and how I think they will help you in your purpose. “It was in the late summer of the year of the great wind. I had been searching in the mountains for a certain type of tree that I knew existed in one of the high gorges of the northern peaks. I wanted the timber for a special carving that I was resolved to occupy myself with during the coming months of the winter after next. (By which time I considered that the wood should be seasoned and ready for my purpose.) As was my habit, I travelled lightly, silently, and alone, for I always loved to see nature as it should be seen. On that trip I had with me my spear, the hunting knife that I always carried, together with a small axe with which to cut down and trim the tree that I was seeking. It was a long day's journey, but I was used to travelling fast, and I reached my destination in good time. Having found a tree that was exactly right for my purpose I felled and trimmed it ready for towing it back to my home. It was arduous work, and when all was ready I paused and ate some of the bread and cheese that I had brought with me, intending to make an early start in order to be home THE SWORD, THE RING, and THE MIRROR Part One John and the Three Gifts By AB King before the sun vanished behind the mountains. “It was a warm and sheltered spot, and being rather tired from my exertions, I fell asleep. I rarely do such a thing, even now as an old man, but the hard work, the soft grass and the singing of the birds all lulled me into that lovely half and half state that is as near to sleep as makes no difference. How long I rested like this I cannot say, but quite suddenly I was shaken into full wakefulness by the most dreadful sounds that I had ever heard in my life!” He looked down at John who was now listening with wide eyes to the story he was being told. “I was almost deafened by hideous bellowing and roaring such as is impossible to describe,” he continued. “I sprang instantly to my feet as I heard these awful sounds fast approaching the hollow within which I had been resting, and looking in the direction from which this terrifying noise came I saw the trees and bushes being dashed aside by something I couldn’t quite make out at first. Suddenly, my astonished eyes beheld the fleeing form of a young maiden, and only yards behind her came a monster such as one might only ever see in a nightmare!” He paused and looked once more at the rapt expression on the face of the boy who sat so close to him. “To be honest, John,” he said, “I wouldn’t know just how to describe what I saw that day in the mountains. It looked a bit like a man, yet such a man as has never existed. It was huge, nearly as high as this cottage. It was covered in hair like a goat, with long muscular arms, and a horrible face that I can still picture to this day. It had enormous yellow tusks protruding from a gaping mouth and the most terrible eyes I have ever seen, peering out from under a shock of hair that stood up from its head like a broom. It was the most frightening creature I had ever beheld, and for a second I felt rooted to the spot. “As I looked, the young woman tripped and fell headlong upon the ground. Seeing her fall, I suddenly knew that I had to act quickly if I was to save her from a terrible fate. I seized my spear and cast it full at this creature as it came lumbering towards her.” He paused again with a distant look in his eyes, his ‘One huge foot sank into the turf only inches from my head as we passed and I had a brief view of those terrible arms reaching out to grasp the air where I should have been’ mind once more in those far off days. John leaned forward eagerly already spellbound by the tale. “Go on Grandfather,” he cried excitedly, “did your spear kill this terrible thing?” “Alas, no,” the old man admitted, “although it is true that in those days I was considered the best spear thrower in Happy Valley, there was no time in which to take proper aim at a vital part of the monster that was even then reaching down for its victim. My spear struck it high in the shoulder, and as it pierced the thing’s tough hide, it gave a tremendous shriek of rage and pain from this unexpected attack. “The monster reared up to its full height and, still bellowing, tore the weapon from its flesh as if it were but a dart, throwing it high over the trees and out of my reach. It stood there over the body of the young woman, searching round for its attacker as it screamed and roared its defiance. I tell you John, in all my life I had never been faced with anything so frightening! I wanted to run; to run as fast as I could to get away from that awful creature, yet I knew that I couldn’t leave that poor young woman to her fate. I had to do my best to distract it so that she would have a chance to escape. Uttering my loudest cries, which were as nothing compared with the noise the creature itself was making, I ran towards it, waving my arms around, hoping to confuse and distract it with my wild antics.” “Oh Grandfather!” John exclaimed, his eyes now wide in excitement, “how could you be so brave?” Grandfather smiled. “Yes, it does sound a bit rash doesn’t it?” he admitted. “But you see, it wasn’t at the time. I simply didn’t have any chance to think. If I had, I would certainly have run, as would any other sensible person, in completely the opposite direction! It was all happening so quickly, and people often do things in the heat of the moment that they would never do if they had time to think. So there I was, running straight for this horrible thing, shouting my head off, and waving my arms like a madman. It spotted me within a split second, and ignoring the inert figure lying at its feet, started running towards me in its heavy, lumbering way, with its huge arms spread out ready to engulf me. I could see its hideous jaws gaping wide, showing all of those savage tusks ready to rip me apart, and I knew that all I had to help me was my speed and agility. As I ran, I pulled my axe from its place in my belt ready for just the right moment. “It was almost on me when I dived to the ground and rolled to one side, just like I have often shown you how to do in wrestling bouts. I had banked on the thing being too big and heavy to be able to move and react as quickly as I could. One huge foot sank into the turf only inches from my head as we passed and I had a brief view of those terrible arms reaching out to grasp the air where I should have been. As I rolled I struck out at that foot with the axe, intending to cripple it if I could, and then I sprang to my feet a few paces behind it. “As I looked back I could see blood spurting from the deep wound my axe had made. Not red blood like yours or mine, but horrible black stuff. The thing was maddened by pain and rage, and its bellowing and screaming were enough to deafen a wooden post! The very peaks of the mountains rang with those horrible sounds I can tell you! Still, I could see that the blow I had dealt it had come close to disabling the creature as I had hoped. I prepared to do the same thing again as it turned and staggered towards me, its eyes bulging with insane ferociousness. “As I dived down to roll over, it swung a powerful blow at me with its open hand, which, if it had landed, would have crushed me to death in an instant. It grazed my side, tearing the skin away and sending blood spurting over the grass. I struck out with the axe at the other leg, but my weapon was wrenched from my hand as it wedged into the bone. I knew that I now only had my Continued on Page 20 20 Literature Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe CHAPTER TWO: Grandfather’s Story (continued) CHAPTERS From Page 19 hunting knife with which to defend myself. I sprang to my feet in time to see the monster twisting round and bearing down on me once more, blood spurting unheeded from the two terrible wounds I had inflicted. I dodged to one side at the last possible second, and then sprinted back a few yards to where I had placed the wood that I intended taking back to the village. One of the stakes was quite long and pointed at one end. I snatched this up and turned to face the nightmare that had turned to pursue me again, determined to slay the puny creature that had dared to oppose it. Sprinting directly towards it, I dived for a third time, barely quick enough to avoid those monstrous searching hands, thrusting the point of the stake into the ground between its legs as I went, then twisting the end round with me as I rolled. “Its huge legs smashed into the stake exactly as I had intended, its sheer weight tearing the wood from my grasp. But the check I had given it was enough for my purpose, for it tripped in its headlong charge, and crashed heavily forward to strike the ground with an earth-shattering crash. I wasted not a split second before leaping full upon its back, plunging my knife again and again into its foul body, seeking a vital spot before it could roll over and crush me with its weight and strength. It heaved itself up, bellowing and struggling as I clung like ivy to its back, and then; well, then a very strange thing happened!” “Go on Grandfather, what did happen?” “Well John, I know that you will find this hard to believe, but after one final enormous bellow of rage and pain it just, well, it just vanished!” There was silence for a moment. “Vanished?” echoed John. “You mean; it disappeared? Completely?” “Yes, it disappeared as if it had never existed! One moment I was clinging desperately to its hairy back, knowing that if it once got a grip on me I would be finished, and the next moment I was flat on my face in the trampled grass. I simply couldn’t believe my eyes. The last echoes of its cries were still reverberating around the hills, but of the thing itself there was not a sign. If it hadn’t been for the churned up ground and the shattered trees and bushes I might have thought that it was all a bad dream. I leapt to my feet, looking this way and that, but there was neither sight nor sound of it. I must have stood like that for several seconds, expecting that at any moment it would reappear and attack me all over again, but there was nothing. It had all happened so suddenly, waking me from my sleep, that I even started to wonder if I had dreamt it all, yet the torn up ground around me showed that it could never have been a dream. I was still staring in disbelief at the evidence at my feet when I became aware of the sound of approaching footsteps from behind me. I spun round on the instant; my knife ready to deal with whatever new danger threatened. “It was the maiden that I had seen being chased by the monster. In all of the violence that had followed I had quite forgotten her very existence. As I turned to face her, she stumbled, and then fell forward once again upon the grass. Heedless of my own injuries I immediately ran to help her. As I knelt at her side I could see that she was cruelly battered and scratched, but there were no serious wounds in evidence. There was a large bruise on her forehead, and her breathing was slow and laboured like that of a man who has been struck severely on the head. Her eyes were closed, and it seemed as if she had fainted. Common sense suggested that it might not be a good thing to try and move her until I was knew more about her injuries, and so I set about doing what I could to soothe her hurts where she lay. “When I had done what I could, I constructed a rough shelter about her to protect her from the coming night. I built a small fire, and covered her with bracken to keep her warm. From time to time I moistened her lips with water but she gave no sign of being aware of me. I remained extremely vigilant all the time that I was doing this in case the same terrible creature should suddenly return, but there was no sign of it. For two days I tended her thus, bathing her brow and ap- 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12 13. 14. The coming of Morgan Grandfather’s Story Through the Underworld Damon The Garden of Pleasure The Thing in the Pit Across the Ravine The City of the Rainbow The Ogres The Curse Through the Forest of Death Across the Swamp, and After In Morgan’s Lair The End of the Adventure plying mountain herbs to her injuries, hoping and praying that there were not more serious internal hurts that I could do nothing about. At the end of the second day, when I was close to despair, she briefly opened her eyes, smiled at me, and then passed into a deep and natural sleep. I knew then in my heart that she would recover. I felt so relieved that I even slept myself. “I tell you John; she was a truly fascinating creature. In many ways she was the most wonderful woman, apart from your grandmother, that I have ever met. I knew from the first moment that I saw her that she was not of the valley; she was a being of an entirely different race. She was perfect, indeed exquisite, in every detail, but so small. In height she was only a little taller than Copyright Can Stock Photo you are John, yet quite the most perfect person you have ever looked upon. I was at once both captivated and intrigued by her, and could scarcely contain myself until she was well enough to talk. “On the morning of the third day, as I returned from the nearby stream with fresh mountain water for her to drink, and some wild berries to augment the little food I had left, I was delighted to see that she had finally awoken, and was actually sitting up. As I approached, I noticed that she was combing her hair and doing her best to make herself look clean and tidy. Believe me John that is always a sign that a woman is feeling better! She smiled a friendly greeting as I approached, and accepted the berries and water gracefully. “’I want to thank you for saving my life,’” she said as I squatted down beside her. “’It was a tremendously brave thing for you to do.’” “Her voice was soft and wonderfully melodious, yet her words, and the way that she said them, had a strange ring to them that I could not identify. I was more than ever convinced that she was not of the valley, nor did she sound in the least like any of the visitors who had come in from the outside over the years. “I am just happy that I was able to help,” I assured her truthfully. “’Never-the-less, it was a most courageous deed that you performed,’” she insisted, and then she smiled at me, a dazzling beam that showed her perfect teeth and bathed me like spring sunshine. To tell you the truth, John, her gratitude embarrassed me. “It was nothing,” I protested, but she brushed my words aside with a musical, tinkling sort of laugh. “’Nothing, you say!’” she exclaimed, clasping her hands together on her lap. “’Is it nothing that you have slain an ogre, and without any sort of help from anyone?’” “Ogre?” I echoed stupidly, “You mean……..?” “’Surely you recognise an ogre when you see one?’” “Well…..” “’I can see that you do not. Then whatever did you think it was that you were fighting?’” “I really don’t know. It was indeed something monstrous, the like of which I have never encountered here in the mountains before, and yet?” “’Yes?’” she prompted, still smiling in that dazzling and captivating way that she had. “Well, to be honest, just as I thought I was getting the better of it, it vanished. It just disappeared, like a summer mirage. I thought perhaps that the whole business was nothing but a dream, but the ground was all torn up, many trees were broken, and you were still here, so I suppose it couldn’t have been a dream after all?” “’I see that you do not know that all of the faerie folk vanish when their time on this plane is done,’” she explained patiently. “’When you slew the ogre, it naturally vanished. It is the right and proper thing to happen.’” “I suppose that my expression must have told her that everything she was saying, indeed everything that had happened, was all too much for me to take in. I mean, I’ve heard tell of the faerie but I had never believed in the tales, yet how else could I explain the unbelievable events of the last few days? She gave a small sigh, and moved over to sit right beside me, and then took my hands into her incredibly small and exquisite ones as if to emphasise what she was saying. “’You really have been so good and kind,’” she said, “’I feel that I should explain certain things to you so that you can understand. Maybe you will not be able to make sense of everything all at once, but, in the fullness of time, I promise that you will. To start at the beginning; my name is Fay, and I am one of the faerie, just as, in a way, the ogre was. I can see that you still doubt what you are hearing, but don’t let that worry you. I am one of the Inner Circle in the land of the faerie and, as such, I do have certain powers and responsibilities.’” She watched me for a moment, yet I still wondered if I was dreaming. “’Look, if I show you something, maybe you will find it easier to believe in what I am telling you?’” “She closed her eyes for a second, and I remember thinking just how beautiful she looked, and then she vanished! I tell you, I was more than just startled, I looked this way and that and there was no sign of her. I couldn’t believe it! Then suddenly I heard her tinkling laugh and there she was, sitting on the grass a few yards behind me! As I looked, she vanished again, and in the next instant was sitting beside me once more! It was magic, and no doubt about it; which meant that what she was telling me had to be true! “’Does that help you to believe me?’” she asked “I nodded, being speechless with amazement. “’Good,’” she continued. “’Now, as I said a few moments ago, I am one of the Inner Circle, and I rule over a vast territory in a wise and just manner, as is fitting. In many ways the land is as happy and good as your own Happy Valley. The folk who live there go about their business with light hearts and a happy song on their lips. It has been that way for a long time. However, as in the world of man, so in the land of the faerie, evil is never that far away, and we of the Inner Circle need always to be on our guard against it. And so it was that evil came to my land in the form of a black and evil faerie by the name of Zin. For countless years she has plotted and schemed against me, but always I have been able to counter her moves. In truth, I never realised just how evil and devious she was, in spite of the warnings given to me by my friends in the Inner Circle, a fact that has been all but my complete undoing. The contest between us had been long, yet she made no headway, and after one of her nastiest attempts had failed, and failed in a way that was very costly for her, she graciously admitted defeat, and asked for peace between us. In my trusting innocence I granted this willingly, for it is not in my nature to harbour ill will against any.’” “Tell me,” I asked, trying to hide my embarrassment, “why did you run from that creature? Why did you not Continued on Page 21 The Gosport Globe Literature Friday, March 18, 2016 21 CHAPTER TWO: Grandfather’s Story (continued) From Page 20 do what you did just a moment ago, and vanish to some -place else?” “’Because I wasn’t able to; as I have said to you, my power was all but exhausted. Magic power is a bit like a lamp in a way. When the oil starts to run out, the light flickers, and will go out altogether if more oil is not put in. My own powers had been drained away from many days of trying to escape everything she could throw at me, and Zin knew this. She knew that when the ogre appeared, I would simply no longer have the power to deal with it. I have been as near to death as one can come and still survive. “’There is no doubt that without your selfless care after you had slain the ogre, I would have died. Now that I have slept for so long under your protection, my power is returning, and all the time I am resting here, it grows ever stronger. Because the help you have given does not involve magic, Zin does not know of it. She will assume that the ogre has done what she told it to, and only when she realises that it has not returned will she discover that she has failed. When I feel strong enough, then I shall return to the land of the faerie and resume my struggle with the evil one.’” “But surely that will be a most foolish thing to do?” I protested. “If this evil faerie Zin is as determined to kill you as you say, she will only hunt you down again. Come with me instead to my village in the valley. You will be safe there, I promise you.” “She laughed her magical tinkling laugh. “’If only I could,” she said. “Sadly, there are things I cannot tell you about which I have to do, and I owe it to my people to go back and fight Zin in any way I can to win back their freedom. But your concern touches me deeply. I am truly indebted to you, so now you must tell me how I may reward you.’” “Reward me?” I repeated stupidly, “but what for?” “’Since time began,” she explained patiently, “it has been the custom for a mortal who has saved one of the faerie to claim a reward for their services.’” “But I only did what any man of the village would have done,” I protested. “’Oh, come!” she said with mock disapproval in her voice, “Never have I beheld such bravery. Name what you will and, if it lies within my power, I will grant it!’” “My Lady Fay,” I said at last, “it is such a strange tale that you relate that I am really at a loss for words. I truly do not seek reward beyond the smile that is upon your lips, and the colour that is returning to your cheeks.” “’A crock of gold?’” she ventured, and I could see the mischievous look in her eyes which told me that she was teasing, “’A thousand slaves? The power to make other men do as you will?’” “I tried to explain to her that here in Happy Valley we have no need of gold, that all men are free, that we have good weather, the soil is rich, the crops plentiful. There was nothing I coveted. “’I know,’” she said, “’and you must forgive me for teasing. Look now into my eyes, for then I will under- stand how I may reward you best.’” “I did as she bid, for in truth there was no way I could resist. Such eyes, John, as you have never seen. They were quite large for her tiny delicate face, slightly almond shaped and a vivid deep blue like a mountain tarn. Those eyes held mine like twin magnets, drawing me in so that I found that I had no power to resist. In gazing into those wonderful eyes I simply forgot about everything until she suddenly closed them and looked away. “’I know now how I may reward you,’” she said, “’I have looked into the future, and I have examined the skeins of fate. I have seen much that will come to pass. I have seen that one day, many years hence, you will have real need of me. On that day, my debt to you will be repaid.’” “I don’t understand,” I said truthfully. “Can you not tell me what it is that you have seen?” “’It is not given that I should tell you in what form and manner things will happen, for this will change the course of events for the worse, but this I will say. You will enjoy a long and prosperous life, admired and respected by all. At times, things will happen that you do not understand, but you will have the spirit and the wisdom to do what is right. Yes, the time will come, but not for many years yet, when you will have urgent need of me, for I now see that our destinies are strongly interwoven. When the time comes, you will know, and you will then send me a messenger. Yes, you will send me a man, a real man. Not in age or in size, but a man of true spirit who will be your equal in courage and determination.’” “She paused, and looked at me thoughtfully for a moment. “’Yes, that is what will happen,’” she repeated, “’In a way, you have opened my eyes too, and I know now what I must do also. Yes indeed, it as a long and hazardous path I must tread, but no matter. In a strange way, our destinies are more entwined than you can ever imagine, and many strange things will come to pass before all is done.’” “She paused and looked at me again, and I tell you John, I would willingly have done anything for her, if only she would smile at my efforts. “’I am now going to give you three things,’” she said solemnly, “’which I want you to promise me you will guard with your life until the time comes when you will know beyond all doubt that the day has finally dawned when you truly have need of me. On that day, you will pass these three gifts to the messenger that you will send. Promise me this?’" “I promise,” I said, even though I didn’t understand what she was asking of me, “I will gladly do anything you say. But tell me, how will I know who to send?” “She smiled at me in that way she had that made my heart dissolve within my breast. “’Have no fear,’” she assured me, “’when the time comes, you will just know who the messenger is!’” “Then I will do as you say, and willingly.” “’It is good. In the fullness of time I promise that my debt to you will be repaid, and the bravest man I know will finally have his just reward.’” She reached behind herself as she spoke, and picked up some objects that I had not seen before lying there in the grass. “’These are the three gifts that you must guard with your life,’” she added solemnly, and passed over these three things that you now see before you. “’Be not amazed,’” she cautioned, no doubt seeing the bewildered look in my eyes, “’for they are not what they may seem. Keep them safely and when the time is right, give them to the messenger. Tell him to come with them to this tree that stands here close behind us. It will be many years from now, yet no matter how much time has passed this tree will still be here. When he comes to the tree, he must strike it three times, and the way will be revealed whereby he will come to me. The way will be hard and dangerous, and only the right messenger will be able to follow it.’” “I have never forgotten those words John, even though they were spoken to me so many long years ago. There have been times when I thought that the moment was right, and yet I hesitated, because I wasn’t sure, but today, that last doubt has been removed; I know in my heart that this is the time. “There is little more to tell you now. My lady Fay and I talked at great length throughout the remainder of that day, and her strength grew rapidly with every hour that passed. She rose and walked with me through the trees; a wonderful person who filled everything with light, and I was as one enchanted. I tried several times to persuade her to return with me to the village, but her mind was made up. That night, as I slept, she vanished away as if she had never existed, and, although I have visited the site of our meeting many times, I have never seen the faerie Fay since. “So, that is my story John. I now have no doubt that you are the man of whom she spoke; a man not in years or in size, but a man in spirit as she told me. You are the messenger that I promised to send. These are the three gifts she asked me to pass on to you when the time was right. It is all as she foretold; now it is all up to you.” For several moments John stared into the box and then, coming to a decision, he reached in carefully with his hand and picked up the old brass ring. Next week: Through The Underworld 22 District Focus Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe Crossing the harbour to take a look down Pompey’s Memory Lane... Gosport’s Pictorial Past G OSPORT born and bred, the Globe’s Associate Editor, Peter Maguire, has an extensive archive of old photographs showing borough life from Victorian times right through to the digital age. This week, he takes a look across Portsmouth Harbour to the city that for centuries has provided a place of work, further education, commerce and entertainment for many people who make the short crossing from ‘God’s Port’. Over the coming weeks, Peter will be moving up and down the decades as he picks his way across the peninsula. If you have any old family snapshots that will interest other readers, let him know by sending an email care of [email protected]. Credits to the original photographers RIDING THE RAILS: A Portsmouth city centre tram in 1932 COMMERCIAL HUB: Queen Street, Portsmouth, in 1906 ON THE WATERFRONT: Children exploring The Hard, Portsea, in 1905 AT THE JUNCTION: Commercial Road, Portsmouth, in 1954 SUNSPOT: A busy Sally’s Port in the early 1950s The Gosport Globe Features Friday, March 18, 2016 2016: Spring The pedestrianised Gosport High Street 1950s: Gosport’s bustling High Street, full of vitality and character 2016: Haslar Bridge looking towards the town’s tower blocks 1965: An earlier Haslar Bridge coming to the end of its lifespan 2016: Gosport’s North Street, complete with pavement parking 1900s: North Street, Gosport, in the early evening sunshine 23 24 Friday, March 18, 2016 Features Conqueror’s playground is ideal for all seasons T HE New Forest is one of the most unspoilt and glorious parts of Southern England. This unique area, full of picturesque villages, bustling market towns and winding country lanes, is perfect for a short, relaxing break at any time of year. In 1079 William the Conqueror set it aside as a royal playground for the hunting of deer. Today, the National Park is a well cared for mix of forest, pasture and heathland. The environmental impact of many visitors has to be carefully balanced and the forest has a 40mph speed limit with lots of dedicated car parking. Here you’ll give way to animals grazing freely as they have done for centuries with plenty of opportunity to see the famous ponies at close quarter. Deep in the wooded areas you’ll also spot the deer. The New Forest is a wonderful spot for walkers and cyclists alike, with miles of splendid walks and cycle routes. BEAULIEU: A wealth of attractions to visit includes the famous Beaulieu National Motor Museum. From the earliest motor carriages to classic family saloons, it boasts one of the finest collections of cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia in the world. More than 250 vehicles tell the story of motoring on the roads and circuits of Britain, from pioneering origins to the present day. The stylish, the elegant, the fast, the famous and the plain functional are all on show at the most well renowned motor museum in the UK. This is a rather special place and definitely worth a visit when you’re in the area. BROCKENHURST: One of the largest villages in the New Forest, Brockenhurst retains its old world charm and is a delight to visit. Famous for the watersplash at the bottom of the main shopping street where animals ‘Forester’s cottage in 1650 from reclaimed ships’ timbers, handmade bricks and sand, the accommodation has been extended into a superb B&B’ stop to drink, just beyond is open heathland and some fantastic woodland walks. COTTAGE LODGE: Owned and run by Christina Simons, Cottage Lodge is a perfect location for a well-earned break. Christina’s attention to detail, her commitment to conservation and customer service is outstanding which has led to many awards over recent years including the AA top 5-star Bed and Breakfast rating. Constructed as a forester’s cottage in 1650 from reclaimed ships’ timbers, handmade bricks and sand, the accommodation has been extended into a superb B&B, although you can still experience the original building and beams in the charming Snug. A former hotel in years gone by, Cottage Lodge has a hotel-style arrangement with a range of Superior rooms and Standard en-suite rooms, three with patio access. The Morant room is ‘dog-friendly’ with wooden floors and an enclosed patio garden. A disabled room is also available with many essential features including room for wheelchair movement and a super kingsize bed. While all the rooms at Cottage Lodge are delightful, some are particularly romantic rooms like the King William with The Gosport Globe RURAL RETREAT: An essential aspect of life in The New Forest National Park, its world-famous ponies can be seen throughout the area and horses are also available for hire by visitors its four-poster bed and small lounge area. There are also a number of eco rooms such as the first-floor James Hill Room. It is warm and welcoming, overlooking the front of the building with a Romeo and Juliette balcony and kingsize four-poster bed hand-carved from sustainable sources. All rooms have excellent facilities including tea and coffee trays and a DVD player with a wide selection of discs to choose from. I also had the opportunity to see the Exbury Room with its bed made from a 200-year-old fallen New Forest oak, and the unusual Standing Hat Room constructed from local Douglas fir. After check-in you can come and go as you please and the Snug is a comfortable cosy lounge and sitting area for guests to enjoy. DINING: It had been a while since my last New Forest breakfast and I certainly wasn’t disappointed with my first meal of the day here - excellent! Cottage Lodge prides itself on the use of fresh local ingredients wherever possible as a traditional breakfast. FALLEN TREE RESTAURANT: Christina runs the Fallen Tree Restaurant as a dinner dining experience based on local fresh produce. Dinner was reasonably priced and superbly prepared and served in relaxed comfortable surroundings. The restaurant is fully licensed, nothing was too much trouble and the quality of the meals and service was outstanding. I had dinner here and can highly recommend this restaurant. Fallen Tree is a highly appropriate name as Cottage Lodge has a strong eco theme and some of the bedroom furniture has been beautifully crafted from a fallen ash tree by local wood sculptor Rob Dyer. The tables in the restaurant are made from a rare black poplar tree, which had to be felled for safety reasons. And if you line them up in the correct order you can recreate the tree! BUCKLER’S HARD: On the now tranquil and picturesque banks of the Beaulieu River, Buckler’s Hard was once a hive of shipbuilding activity - providing warships for Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. With the oaks of the New Forest on its doorstep, Buckler’s Hard was founded by John, 2nd Duke of Montagu in the 1720s as a centre for trade and shipbuilding. Its most celebrated launch, HMS Agamemnon, was famed for being Admiral Lord Nelson’s favourite warship. Since then little has changed and today it remains unspoilt by the passage of time. Here you can enjoy the peaceful riverside surroundings of this historic village and tour the reconstructed cottage interiors for a taste of 18th Century life. Explore the Maritime Museum to learn more about the village history and its residents before taking a relaxing cruise on the Beaulieu River (seasonal times of the year). CONCLUSION: Escape to Cottage Lodge at any time of the year and I’m sure Christina and her team will make you feel most welcome. If you come by car, parking is no problem as there’s a large car park out front and if you want to you can prebook your own spot in advance. Arriving by train and the station is just five minutes walk away. Cycles can be hired in Brockenhurst and horse riding stables are nearby. Cottage Lodge is located at Sway Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7SH, telephone 01590 622296. More information is available at: www.cottagelodge.co.uk; www.beaulieu.co.uk; www.thenewfor est.co.uk; www.bucklershard.co.uk. IDYLLIC SURROUNDINGS: Donkeys enjoying the spring sunshine while welcoming visitors to the New Forest, left; ample car-parking at the entrance to Cottage Lodge, centre and that hand-carved, four-poster bed in the B&B’s James Hill Room, right Rugby The Gosport Globe GLOBE SPORT Friday, March 18, 2016 25 Gosport Bowling Club – Anglesey Road, Alverstoke The game of bowls is truly an outdoor sport for all. It can be played by all ages, abilities and gender, making it the perfect sport for all members of your family. Why not contact your local bowling club and TRY FOR FREE? For more information: [email protected] - 02392521745 http://www.hugofox.com/community/gosport-bowling-club-10588/about-us ALL SYSTEMS GO: Gosport & Fareham RFC prop Ben Lanigan battling on, left; Kieran McRoberts about to touch down, centre left; the outstanding Chris Thompson scores his first try, centre right and adds a second, right. Pictures by Roger Smith G OSPORT & Fareham will be without brothers Wes and Wayne Dugan for tomorrow's important league match with Medway after they were red-carded in last Saturday's derby defeat against Tottonians. It's certain both will miss further games after they were automatically suspended by the club this week while officials waited to receive Hampshire Society referee Dewald Swart's report. The Dugans, who have been star performers and regular fixtures in the 1st XV over several years, will be replaced by Sean Taylor, who ably stepped up as scrum half at Chiswick for Wes Dugan. The return of Jack Brawn at full back allows Sam Foster to move into the centre for Wayne Dugan. Foster will forge a strong partnership with new Navy rugby league centre Max Boyce who has impressed in the first two games since making a Gos debut in his birthplace, Dover, a fortnight ago. David Cleary, who has shone on the wing this season but missed the last seven games with what was — fortunately — wrongly diagnosed as a broken leg, is also an accomplished number 9. He is fit and on the bench tomorrow and another option after standing in for Wes Dugan at Brighton this season, scor- CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS: Gos skipper Tim Snowden scores his try ing a wonderful try. Said Head Coach Neil McRoberts: “We need to make sure we build on the improving performances in the last two weeks to a point where we are clinical throughout our play for 80 minutes if we are to beat a very strong Medway side. It is well within our capability to get a win from the game tomorrow. "We have showed in the last two weeks that when we get our big carriers running in the right areas of the park we look dangerous as our ability to play off front foot ball is great. Tomorrow is another 'cup final' for us as we then head into the last four games. Points from tomorrow will leave us well positioned to get out of [relegation] trouble." Gos produced another strong performance against Totts as they did at Dover. In each game they picked up a single bonus point - at Dover where they lost 25-19 and against Totts, having scored four tries in losing 29-38. Gos are 11th in the table with Dover four points ahead. Charlton Park have 19 points and Twickenham 15 points. Against Totts, poor game management let Gos down in addition to playing without the Dugans from the 66th minute onwards. In what was a fiery derby, the Dugans were given their marching orders following the Totts fourth try when a brawl broke out. By the time the conversion was kicked six minutes later, referee Swart had decided only the Dugans were worthy of red cards although he did issue a yellow to one Totts player. In the 76th minute a Totts player saw red after a second yellow card and 13man Gos scored their fourth try in the 80th minute when the outstanding Chris Thompson crossed for his second, which Sam Foster converted with a drop kick. It was 29-31 but within two minutes Totts scored again when an attempted clearance kick was charged down and it fell perfectly for Totts to get their fifth and final try which was converted. After 91 minutes and 10 seconds it was all over - the final card tally was three reds and five yellows. Gos had gone in front with a Wayne Dugan penalty after 80 seconds but then a yellow card for second row Max Page (12 minutes) was followed by two converted tries on 13 and 17 minutes whilst Gos were down to 14 men. On 28 minutes, fly half Kieran McRoberts, who had a second outstanding game in a row, was put in by Wes Dugan for the first Gos try on 28 minutes. When Totts got their first yellow card (37 minutes), skipper Tim Snowden cashed in with a second try that Wayne Dugan improved after 41 minutes. The lead was short-lived as Totts converted their third try in the fifth minute of first half extra time. Snowden was binned seven minutes into the second half and Totts kicked the penalty for 17-24 but number 8 Thompson pulled that back to 22-24 with his first try on 55 minutes. It was a derby battle that both sides were determined to win and then it spilled over into the fracas. McRoberts' comments on the referee provoked the ire of the Hampshire Rugby Union Referees' Society and have been removed from the club's website after an intervention by a Society representative. 26 Football Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe Concord turn tables to net 3-2 win in closing moments Goalmouth scramble robs Boro’ robs Boro’ of points of a point ON THE BALL: Gosport’s Brett Poate taking a 2-1 lead. Picture by Keith Fuller I N A topsy-turvy contest Gosport crashed to a 3-2 defeat against Concord despite Brett Poate's 86th minute goal appearing to have earned them a point. Alex Pike was left rueing the Saturday afternoon defeat which put a massive dent in Boro's play-off hopes. Boro’ had led a fairly quiet game 1-0 through Dan Wooden's early goal only to be quickly pegged back by a leveller from Steve Cawley. By JEREMY FOX The second half, despite being fairly uneventful for the most part then saw an explosive finale in which the visitors took the lead for the second time through John Easterford. But Poate appeared to have earned a point for Pike's team with his equaliser. Then, in a surprising late twist, it was the Essex side who stole the win with an astonishing goal from captain Steve King leaving Boro crestfallen and facing an uphill struggle to make the play-offs. Gosport made a lively start to this National League South encounter and Perry Ryan fired just wide after a promising build up after just two minutes. Gosport had only made one change to the team that lost 2-0 at Ebbsfleet and the skipper had the ball in the back of the net with a powerful header with 12 minutes in. Unluckily for him and Gosport the offside flag was raised and the goal didn’t count. Gosport continued to create the better chances and Perry Ryan tested Concord keeper McNamara with a powerful free kick which the visiting keeper saved. Concord almost broke through with 21 minutes on the clock. A storming run down the left by Greenhalgh caught Gosport unawares. Greenhalgh then squared the ball across the face of goal to the arriving Taaffe who would surely score. George Legg, making his home debut produced a terrific reaction save to keep the scores level. Justin Bennett was the next to test McNamara’s concentration with a half volley which the keeper saved well. Bennett had earlier spoken of his desire to break a lean spell in front of goal and took every opportunity to do exactly that. And Gosport did make the breakthrough just after the half hour. Bennett unselfishly laid the ball off to Dan Wooden who made no mistake in tucking it underneath McNamara and in. As the first half progressed there was an undercurrent of ill feeling with a number of small flashpoints which eventually resulted in bookings for players on both sides. Confusion in the Gosport area led to Steve Cawley tucking home an equaliser from close range, with the first half almost over. Dan Wooden opened the second half with a terrific shot from just outside the area which McNamara saved comfortably. Both sides had half chances as the half progressed but none of them clear until Wooden was brought down giving Gosport a strong case for a penalty. Referee Venamore wasn’t interested. An uneventful second half unfolded with neither side looking likely to win the game. Greenhalgh was allowed far too much room and time to carve a path through Boro’s defence and get a shot away which Legg did well to sae with an outstretched leg. However, Concord soon turned a good spell of pressure into a goal. John Easterford’s powerful header from a corner sailed just under the bar and in to give the Essex side the lead with 10 minutes left. Substitute Adam Wilde tried his luck with a free kick from around 20 yards which was too close to McNamara who made a decent save. But a determined Gosport were not to be denied as Poate was picked out beautifully by Carter and he gleefully smashed the ball past McNamara. Suddenly it was all Gosport and Bennett headed just over as the home side went in search of the winner. Astonishingly, Concord managed to find the winner with Steve King making the most of a goalmouth scramble and tucking the ball home at the far post. The ill feeling that had surrounded the game exploded in a stoppage time flashpoint as a melee saw Wooden booked for his part. GOSPORT: Legg, Cuthbertson, Poate, Carter, Woodford, Pearce, Ryan (Wilde 80), Harding, Wooden, Bennett & Williams. SUBS NOT USED: Wilde, Brice, May, Hoare and Duffin. CONCORD: McNamara, Hammonds, Stephen, Dowie, King ©, Easterford, Taaffe, Collins, Greenhalgh, Cawley & Bantick (Lampe 70). SUBS NOT USED Topley, Newell, Ranger and Young. REFEREE: Lee Venamore (Kent). [Reports courtesy of Gosport Borough Football Club. For latest news, see http:// www.gosportborough fc.co.uk/] ‘As the first half progressed there was an undercurrent of ill feeling...’ Ice Hockey The Gosport Globe Friday, March 18, 2016 27 Devils snatch sixth place after weekend wins at home NET RESULT: Richard Facey having some trouble in the Oxford goal from Joe Oliver, with Tom Annetts behind him PROUD MOMENT: Ralfs Circenis receiving his Man of the Match award from young fan Corey. Pictures courtesy of Jennie Fitzpatrick Agony and the ecstasy S ATURDAY night was a rare game for the Solent Devils, as it was worth double league points. However, to get them they had to defeat the previous weekend’s rivals, Streatham Redskins. Unlike the earlier game, net minder, Christian Cole, was back in goal and, after missing two weeks, raring to go The referees, right from the start, caused confusion for everyone: first contradicting each other with an icing call, then having a role reversal with an icing call the other way, finally for making the players retake a face off in the Devils zone for no apparent reason. All of this came in the first three minutes. And strange behaviour from the men in stripes didn’t get any better. Devils managed to get over the odd and inconsistent refereeing and fought their way through the Streatham defence with a long pass from the middle of the rink in to the Redskins zone, which was picked up by Alex Trendall, whose shot was deflected by keeper Will Sanderson. But Richard Brown was there to pick up the rebound and, with Sanderson on the floor, lifted the puck over him and flicked it in to the net. Less than a minute later, Richard Facey was against the boards just inside the Redskins end, fighting the tremendous pressure from three Streatham players. He flicked the puck out towards the waiting George Norcliffe, who had his back to the goal, managed to spin on the spot and used the momentum to shoot past Sanderson’s shoulder. Streatham went on the attack, and were obviously upset about being two down in under five minutes. But there was a turnover in the Devils zone and the puck was taken back to the Redskins end. Devils, however, couldn’t keep control and as the puck was being passed back out towards centre ice, Facey intercepted and a quick wrist shot made the score 3-0. The first – and only – Devils penalty of the game came as Ralfs Circenis was invited to the penalty box for delay of game. His clearance back out across the Devils blue line bounced off the netting and over the side of the rink. Having the extra man on the ice was clearly the boost the Redskins needed ON SUNDAY, the Solent Devils were still in Gosport and this time played host to the Oxford City Stars. Head Coach Alex Murray was still in hospital, recovering from his operation that morning. The Devils were obviously tired from the strenuous night before and the game ahead proved it was going to be physical right from the start. Nearly halfway through the first period, the Devils made a breakaway out of their zone with a pass from Mason Wild to Mitch Murray. He was tackled on the centre line but somehow stole the puck back and took it all the way to the Stars’ goal. A quick cross to Andrew Magee, who seemed to appear from nowhere, got them off to a good start. They followed this up just before the break, as Richard Facey passed to Murray deep in the Oxford zone. Murray’s shot was knocked away by Tom Annetts in goal but Wild was out at the blue line and with a one-timer as the puck fell to him, smashed it straight into the net. Just 44 seconds into the second period, the Stars clawed a goal back. The play all happening in the centre of the rink, the puck was passed out to Ondrej Pekarik on the Devils’ blue line and he beat Cole at range. Devils responded, however, as Rudkin passed out to Facey, who went on a run down the wing. Magee was found in front of goal again, ready to flick in the oncoming cross, making the score 3-1 Oxford had a response of their own. Boris Ruzicka’s shot from a tight angle was slowed by the leg pads of Cole, who thought the puck was frozen under him. But the puck was still loose and managed to slide over the line. Jamie Fitzpatrick brought a gasp of despair from the crowd as his shot from range went high and rang the crossbar of the Stars’ goal, like a bell being struck. While Murray was sat out following a cross check in the corner, Tom Avery and Pekarik went on a rush down the wing. Once again, Pekarik beat Cole and put the puck into the Devils’ goal. Minutes later, Pekarik scored his hattrick and pushed the Stars into the lead for the first time. His shot first hit the post but rebounded of Cole’s skate and was knocked into the goal. Coming out for the third period, Alex Cole’s pass to Murray was so fast it left people asking what had happened but just 12 seconds in the score was 4-4. The period saw the teams trading penalties, with both having someone in the sin-bin for almost the entire period. But with less than 10 minutes left in play, while on a power play and following a face off in the Oxford zone, Facey won the puck from the drop and flicked it out to Circenis. He backed his way across in space until a gap opened up between Annetts and the post, using it to put the Devils back into the lead. Then the Devils lost two players for penalties, leaving three on the ice against five Stars for well over a minute. Devils managed to hold on to their one-goal lead, for the rest of the time, despite Annetts being pulled for most of the last two minutes, resulting in them winning for the second night in a row and picking up the six–point total. Their last game of the season is at home in Gosport on Sunday, when they will play host to the Cardiff Devils. By STEVE BREEN and they were firing shot after shot at the Devils’ goal. While Alex Cole was picking himself up after a knock against the boards, David Savage finally gave the away fans something to cheer about. Play resumed and the action moved to behind the Redskins’ goal, Ralfs Circenis battling to keep a pair of defenders off the puck. Coming out from behind the goal, he spotted Mitch Murray poised in front of the net. A quick pass and a one - timer from Murray shot under Sanderson’s outstretched arm. Heading towards the end of the period, Callum Best was sent to the visitors’ side of the sin-bin, for holding Shaun Rudkin. Devils couldn’t capitalise, though, and the period ended 4-1. Best made it back on to the ice, just after the start of the second period, but it wasn’t long before Steven Fisher was sent to the penalty box for boarding Alex Murray and Joe Johnston obviously let the referee know what he felt about it. He was given 10 minutes to rest in the penalty box too. It took the Devils 59 seconds to make use of this power play, Facey taking the puck behind the Redskins goal and Mitch Murray once again parked in front ready to drive the puck home. Christopher Wiggins earned himself two penalty minutes, for tripping while attacking, but the visitors managed to hold the score at 5-1 until he returned. Just a minute-and-a-half later, there was a face off in the Devils zone. Kamil Kinkor won the face off and a quick pass to Johnston was sent on to Dominic Hopkins and Cole was beaten for the second time that evening. Two-and-a-half minutes before the end of the period, Alex Murray was flying down the wing, heading for the Streatham goal, when he met 6’5” Dominic Hopkins. With a high check, which some have called an illegal cross check, that caused Murray’s feet to carry on, while, from the shoulder up, he lost all momentum, which resulted in him landing hard on his back. Clearly something was wrong, as the Devils bench coach and Streatham physio were across the ice and at Murray’s side in seconds. Play was stopped as they tried to pick him up, and he spent several minutes sat Continued on Page 28 28 Puzzles/Sport Friday, March 18, 2016 The Gosport Globe Chance to recapture Cup glory ENJOY The Gosport Globe’s Puzzle Corner, with these free, canny conundrums for you to tackle. Crossword addicts can get a fresh daily dose by clicking on the grid throughout the week. Sudoku allows the user to create as many puzzles as often as they like. They can also change the degree of difficulty and layout design. SOLE SCORER: Gosport’s Justin Bennett at the Aerial Direct Stadium. Picture by Keith Fuller J USTIN Bennett hit the winner in Boro's 1-0 quarter final against Ian Saunders' Petersfield on Monday and booked a semi final with Havant & Waterlooville. Boro's narrow win on a bitterly cold evening at the Aerial Direct Stadium ensured Alex Pike's team will make the short trip to West Leigh Park, taking on the Hawks for a place in the Portsmouth Senior Cup Final at Fratton Park. Bennett's 25th minute winner By JEREMY FOX eventually decided the tie after a game of many chances for both sides. Rory William's exquisite cross was headed firmly past former Boro’ keeper Anthony Ender by the prolific marksman and, surprisingly in such an open game, it was the only goal. A 69-strong turn-out watched a vastly altered Gosport team take on the Southern League side. Jack Higgins kept goal and there were starts for Adam Brice, David Jerrard and Connor May while an experienced backbone ensured continuity. The date of the semi final is yet to be arranged, but for Boro, should they manage to beat the Hawks, the prize would be a return to the home of Portsmouth F.C, where they last season won the Hampshire Senior Cup and a shot at some more silverware. Agony and the ecstasy for Devils From Page 27 where he had landed, and then on his hands and knees, blood freely flowing from his mouth and covering the ice. The blood on the floor was so much, it took the ice resurfacer two passes to clear it and the remaining time from the period had to be added to the start of the third. Referees Blaine Evans and Ryan Thrower had apparently missed the incident, or felt that nothing untoward had happened, and no penalty was given. Murray was taken to hospital, where he was kept in overnight and underwent an operation on Sunday morning to repair a jaw that had been broken in two places. A penalty was given, two minutes into the third, when Wiggins was on the attack and appeared to kick Rudkin’s legs out from under him. The Redskins then had an icing call against them, which is usually an odd occurrence when a team have a penalty against them, but it was just another way the referees found to keep the fans confused. Ten seconds after Wiggins returned to the ice, Jack Tarczycki got up close and personal with Rudkin, getting hold of him from behind so forcefully, they both ended up on the ice. As play continued, the man who operates the sin bin door received a scornful look from the referees. Wiggins hit Richard Brown so hard the door popped open. Fortunately it was closed quickly and both skated off still in the game. Redskins had now built some momentum and with the puck being moved around the Devils’ zone, Wiggins and Savage managed to get assists, as Fisher knocked the puck under Cole’s leg. Less than two minutes later, James Warman passed to Savage, who was on the Devils’ blue line, and his shot flew past Cole into the net, taking them just a goal behind. Minutes later, Savage was again on the blue line but as he struck the puck Best collided with Cole and the referees waved the goal off due to net minder interference. Fisher, upset by this, let the referees know and managed to get a two plus 10 and game penalty. After a shot was stopped by Cole, the puck was taken to the face off circle. This time Kinkor said something that the referees disagreed with, and he was given a 10-minute penalty, with less than three minutes left in the game. Somehow, as the final buzzer went, Best was given a two-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. It didn’t alter the fact that the Devils had won a crucial game 5-4. The Gosport Globe is published online every Friday from 48 Homer Close, Gosport PO139TL by My Free News Ltd for the borough and constituency of Gosport.