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March 2016 | Issue 15 | £1.50 where bought

Your handy guide to what’son, groups and clubs

RSPCAMore about fostering

Hearing Dogs for the Deaf

GOSPORT’S RAILWAY ORIGINS

THIS MONTH..

march issue 2016

COMMUNITY4 Holy TrinityAn amusing anecdote this month from ReverendAndy.

5 What’s onLocal clubs and groups in and around Alverstoke.

8 Hearing Dogs for Deaf PeopleWith a thriving community and regular events thisis a group to keep an eye on!

10 Gosport Diving MuseumFind out more about this Victorian battery.

15 Gosport Discovery CentreCheck out this huge range of activities for March!

19 Absolute RunningRunning, it’s the one constant isn’t it?

30 Local HistoryTake a look this month at Gosport’s railways.

MOTORING & TRAVEL14 Auto BiographiesSkoda Superb Estate - test driven by Tim Barnes-Clay. What did he make of this new car?

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL28 Martin LewisMartin Lewis gives us a few tips to help cut the costof travel.

FOOD & DRINK6 Smoky Bacon & Tomato PastaYummy, scrummy in our tummies!

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SmSmalal ltalkltalk

Pearl Publications01329 630630

Joint EditorsCoralie Todd & Sean Middletoneditor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

Advertising Salessales@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

DistributionThis Big Voice Bigazine is deliveredto residents and businesses inGosport, Elson and surroundingareas. For distribution enquiries

please give us a call andspeak to Sean.

Six other editions are alsopublished in Alverstoke,

Stubbington & Hill Head, Lee onSolent , Locks Heath, Warsash &

Sarisbury Green, Whiteley,Titchfield Park and Burridge.

Whilst Big Voice Directories aim to provide aquality publication for local reference, it cannotbe held responsible for the services, reputation orcost of any of the advertisers, and content ofadverts or editorial herein. Readers must maketheir own enquiries to establish the credentials ofeach entry. Reproduction in whole or in part isstrictly prohibited without prior writtenpermission from the Publishers. The magazinesare produced on paper sourced from FSCapproved paper mills and printed using vegetablebased inks. They love being recycled but pleasepass to a friend first!Magazine, adverts, design, layout and content© Copyright Pearl Publications Ltd

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Your work is going to fill a large part ofyour life and the only way to be trulysatisfied is to do what you believe isgreat work…

… and the only way to do great work is to love what you do” said the late SteveJobs.

Running a community magazine for as many years as we have can, occasionallyfeel a little monotonous. Not often of course, but like anything you doregularly there are times when it feels somewhat ordinary.

But this month has proven, yet again, that this is far from a “normal job”. It’snot just about printing, artwork and distribution. What we get up to in the dayto day course of putting Big Voice together is really quite marvellous.

For example, how many times do you get to speak to the UK Space Agency?Janet was thrilled that suddenly she went from calling estate agents to theESA! This month we were delighted to be able to publish a photograph thatwas taken by Tim Peake whilst in space, as he was spending a few minutesdoing something lovely for his Godmum, who is part of Locks Heath Rotary.And that has sparked lots of chat in our household about how easy is it tobecome a spaceman.

Then there’s the pleasure of supporting local groups like the Hearing Dogs forthe Deaf who work really hard to build a thriving community for those whodon’t have the privilege of being able to hear but instead rely on canine friendsfor support, companionship and safety. Our daughter Lucy is delighted wecan do this as she’s eagerly learning sign language at school.

We’ve had times where we have sampled restaurant food for review, tried outvarious beauty treatments, nearly drowned ourselves in a storm trying todeliver magazines, eaten a zillion sausages at networking meetings, reportedon raft races and duck races…. You name it, we get to try it.

Would we swap our world for a “proper job”?

Not on your nelly!

Much love

C oralie and Seanx

Advertise with us!

Reliably delivered by our local teams, reaching over 35000homes each issue, SEVEN editions of Big Voice provideexceptional monthly coverage of our area every single month.Call our friendly team now on 01329 630630, jump on ourwebsite and have a chat or link up with us on Facebook.

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…Press Two for the wronginformation………I’m sorry, yourcall is in a queue”

It is no good. I will have toaudition for a re-launch of thatseries called Grumpy Old Men onBBC2! A while ago I spent 25minutes on the phone, trying tofind out the answer to a questionso simple, it really just needed a‘yes’ or a ‘no’.

Instead I was offered up to fivemenu choices by an electronicvoice, followed by another three,then two (and then having – ofcourse – to go for the “for allother enquiries, please hold”option anyway). Then there aremore minutes passing……. oftinny sounding music. Mind you,it used to be something likeVivaldi’s Four Seasons, which,even though it sounded like itwas being played by an antquartet in the bottom of a bakedbean tin, was quitepleasant…..but this ‘music’sounded like something playedbackwards, and from the bowelsof a rusty cement mixer, left outin a hail storm, in a windy car-park.

I finally got through to a ‘callcentre’ and spoke to someonewhose conversation seemed tobe limited to “How may I helpyou today”, “no”, and “someonewill phone you back”. I ended upspelling EVERYTHING out, buteven that was not easy.

Also, people type on a computerwhilst they are speaking to you.This means that: a) they are notlistening to what you actuallywant to know; and b) if yourquestion is not found (withanswer) on their screen, youimmediately become a “difficult”or “troublesome” customer. Atthis point ,I am quite sure, amessage comes up on theirscreen saying “Tell themsomeone will ring them back andget off the line as quickly aspossible, and make sure you losetheir phone number”.

Or, you get a long list of reasonswhy something that youTHOUGHT was perfectlystraightforward, really isn’t atall.......and the person at theother end becomes a bit like thatrapid speech at the end of radioadverts, e.g. “offer-subject tostatus-special-conditions-apply-guarantees-may-be-required-not-applicable-to-anyone-who-isn’t-a-six-foot-high-florescent-pink-parrot.......”

Mind you, all this makes youvalue the simple pleasures in life.When you phone somewhere andget courteous, helpfulinformation, and someone DOESphone you back, or DOES mailyou the right information, it feelslike all your birthdays in one go!

I once married a bride who hadresigned from a call centre,because she couldn’t take it

anymore. She said that oneelderly lady, when she wasconnected to her said “ThankGod, it’s an actual human being!”– so at least all this reminds us –in a roundabout way – of howspecial human beings actuallyare!

The Revd Andy Davis, Vicar of ChristChurch and Holy Trinity, Gosportandy@christchurchgosport.co.uk orandy@holytrinitygosport.co.uk

PRESS ONE TO BE PUT ON HOLD...

Nave C ontemplation

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MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA“I get a Kick out of You”, “You’re the Top” and “ Blow GabrielBlow” are just three of the memorable iconic musical numbersfor “Anything Goes” which is to be staged at Ferneham hallbetween Tuesday 15th and Saturday 19th March by the awardwinning Fareham Musical Society. Performances start at7:30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2:30pm. For tickets pleasecontact the box office at Ferneham Hall on 01329 231942

EVENTS AT ELSON LIBRARYElson Library, 136 Chantry Road, Elson,Gosport. PO12 4NG

Hot Topic! Music Before the Fab Four!Friday 18 March, 10 to 11amCome along to our coffee morning and listen to aguest speaker at the same time. This month’s guestspeaker is Geoff Piper, who will talk about musicbefore the fab four. A nostalgic look at the US andUK pop scene, the music that inspired The Beatles.Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee for just 20pFree – no need to book, just come along. For moreinformation call 023 9252 4608

Krafty Kids – Celebrate St. Patricks DayThursday 3 March, 3.30 to 4.30pmJoin us and celebrate St Patricks Day by making arainbow and pot of gold sun catcher, a littleLeprechaun face and paper shamrocks.Krafty Kids meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday of eachmonth. 50p per child. Suitable for ages 5 – 10years. Parents/carers must remain in the libraryduring this activity.No need to book, but places are limited. For moreinformation call 023 9252 4608

Krafty Kids – Easter Rabbits!Thursday 17th March, 3.30 to 4.30pmGet ready for Easter by decorating a polystyrenerabbit with coloured tissue, make an easter cardand make a hanging rabbit.Krafty Kids meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday of eachmonth. 50p per child. Suitable for ages 5 – 10years. Parents/carers must remain in the libraryduring this activity.No need to book, but places are limited. For moreinformation call 023 9252 4608

Do you have a group, event or club that you’d like to promote on our pages for free? Just let usknow at wecare@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

ROUND THE HARBOUR CLEAN UP EVENT5 March 2016Solent Environmental Action and A Voice for Gosportare joining up with the UK Clean for the Queen tomark Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.Check out facebook page “What’s going on inGosport” for further details.

MEMORY CAFÉMEETINGSIn partnership with AgeConcern in Lee onSolent these meetingsare held on the firstThursday of everymonth between 2 and4pm at the MethodistChurch Hall, Lee onSolent. These meetingsare for people withmemory problems, andtheir carers and otherloved ones. Call 01329282469 for moreinformation.

JOB CLUBEvery Monday morning at the Wheatsheaf Trust from10am - 12pm. Independent job searching and supportfrom a trained adviser. Use of computers and phone.Free tea and coffee. Venue: The Old Chapel, StGeorge’s Barracks, PO12 1DH

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Food and Drink

This recipe is perfect if you want something that is not time consuming but also tastes very nice.You can serve this dish with garlic bread or without and also have the option to top it off with grated

cheese or parmesan.

Ingredients

400g of spaghetti120g of smoked bacon (cut intocubes)1 onion, finely chopped1 garlic clove, finely chopped1 400g can of chopped tomatoes500g of passata1 tbsp. olive oil2 tsp smoked paprikaGrated cheese or Parmesan(optional)

Equipment: Large pan, non-stick frying pan

Method: Fill the large pan with water (adding a pinch of salt) and bring to the boil.

Then cook the spaghetti following any instructions on the packet.

Keep checking throughout and turn down the heat when cooked.

While you leave that to boil, heat the oil in the frying pan and cook the bacon. Do this forjust under 4 minutes until the bacon is crisp. Then add the onion and cook until crispagain for 3-4 minutes before adding the garlic and the smoked paprika. Stir togetherwell.

Then pour in the chopped tomatoes and pasta, bring to the boil for 5 minutes until themixture thickens. Make sure to stir often to avoid anything sticking to the bottom of thefrying pan.

Then drain the passata before putting it back in the large pan and adding the tomato andbacon mixture. Stir the mixture and the spaghetti together. Finally, serve by addingeither grated parmesan or cheese on top depending on your preference.

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Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is theonly recognised National Charity,breeding, training and providingAssistance Dogs for profoundly deafpeople.

The Charity was set up in 1982 by vetBruce Fogle (father of TV presenterBen) and Lady Beatrice Wright (CEOof the RNID), after they visited aseminar in the USA were the ideawas first discussed.

The Charity breeds all their owndogs, or sources them fromreputable breeders. The breeds usedare:- Poodles, Cocker Spaniels,

Labradors and smooth coatedRetrievers, we also cross breedPoodles/Cocker Spaniels to produceCockerpoo’ s and Poodles/Labradorsto produce Labradoodles. The reasonfor this is the resulting crossbreedsare non-allergenic and suitable forthose people with allergies, as theydo not moult their fur.

Each dog costs between £40 -£45,000 to breed, train and maintainthroughout its working life and wereceive no public funding.

Training starts at 7 weeks, when thepups are placed with volunteersocialisers in their own homes, whoteach the dogs the basics and slowlyintroduce them to the sights andsounds they will encounter in theirworking life. At approx. 12/14months old they move to one of ourtwo main training centres, TheGrange at High Wycombe or TheBeatrice Wright Centre at Bielby,Yorkshire, where they continue withtheir advanced soundwork training.The usual sounds that they aretrained to alert to are:- Doorbell,Telephone, Cooker timer, AlarmClock and Smoke/Fire Alarms, othersounds can also be introduceddepending on the needs of therecipient.

Near the end of their training, thedogs are matchedwith a potentialrecipient and thebond and lifetimepartnershipbegins. As well asalerting therecipient tosounds they maynot hear, the dogsprovidecompanionshipand socialinteraction,

helping to integrate the deaf personinto society.

South Hants fundraising Branch ofHearing Dogs (SHHD)

SHHD was set up to raise the fundsneeded and to raise awareness of theCharity at a local level. The branch ismade up of Recipients, Socialisersand Supporters, who give their timefreely to give talks, attend shows andfunctions throughout the SouthHants Region. At these events wehave a Tombola/Raffle, sell brandedMerchandise, have collection bucketsand have leaflets and informationavailable. We are also able to talk tomembers of the public and they inturn can meet the dogs.

We are always looking for newpeople to get involved, so if you areinterested please contact us at thefollowing address www.hearing-dogs-southhants.org.uk

OUR UPCOMING EVENTS:

Saturday 12th MarchSHHD at ASDA Chandlers Ford - storecollection. - 10am to 4pm

Saturday 19th March SouthamptonCity College walk for Hearing Dogs -from Itchen Valley to Winchester -entry walk £3 adult £1 child - dogsfree.

More details please look at website -http://www.hearingdogs-southhants.org.uk/ or contact KimHarbut Event Co-ordaintor -bagpuss09smiley@yahoo.co.uk

Local Charities

Top photo - HD Puppy IggyBottom photo - SHHD Volunteers/Socialisers

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The RSPCA Stubbington Ark is wellknown in the area for re-hominganimals that have been put into theircare.

Unfortunately, some animals thatcome into the Ark are unable to copein kennels and some animals thathave been taken away from theirowners are facing a long-term stay inour kennels or cattery until their caseis resolved.

So, in late 2015 we set up theStubbington Ark Fostering scheme –this is where people living inSouthampton, Portsmouth andFareham areas can register with usto provide a temporary Foster homefor Dogs or Cats until we can findthem their Forever Home!

Daisy – a sweet loving Sharpei,through no fault of her own, foundherself at the Ark but could not copein kennels.

Pamela and Amelia Beards who areregistered on our foster schemewelcomed Daisy intotheir home to livealongside their own dog“Woody” for 3 monthsand as a result she hasrecently been placed inher “Forever Home”

Pamela said “this is oneof the most rewardingthings we as a familyhave ever done – Daisywas great fun and wewill miss her, but we areso happy for her”

The RSPCA Stubbington Ark is lookingfor more fosterers to join theirscheme – so if you have your owngarden, are at home most of the timeand would like to do something trulyrewarding in 2016 please contact usenquiries@rspca-solent.org.uk

Pets

Tom (the names have been changedto protect the innocent) was called tothe police station to pick up Spot hisdog. Spot had bolted on a walk whenhe picked up a female scent which heeagerly followed. Spot, normally a

model of good behaviour, did notrespond to poor Tom’s increasinglyfrantic calling. Spot was “arrested”while trying to break into the houseof the fair maiden. Spot was lucky!He managed to avoid being hit by a

car during his mad dash and as hehad a microchip which wasscanned, he was reunited withTom. Spot was soon neutered!

Neutering your pet is importantfor many reasons. Spayingprevents unwanted pregnanciesand means that there are lessunwanted puppies and kittens inthe world.

Did you know:

Neutered animals live longer thanunneutered animals as they are nolonger susceptible to manyproblems (and reducing thenumber of stressful vet’s visits).

A lot of unspayed female dogs go

through false pregnancy after everyseason. She will go through a lot ofthe same changes as pregnancy andmay even start producing milk!

Approximately 25% of entire femaleshave to have emergency surgery forpyometra – a life threatening wombinfection.

There is a link between early spayingand reduction in the incidence ofmammary (breast) cancer.

Entire Tomcats are much more likelyto get injuries from fighting. They arealso more likely to contract FelineAIDS or Leukaemia virus.

50% of entire dogs develop anenlarged prostate by six years old.Neutering can reduce aggressionbetween animals.

BarbaraAlver Veterinary Group

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The Historical Diving Society(HDS) has received £10,000 fromthe Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)towards an exciting project, toassess the work and costsrequired to restore No 2 Battery,on Stokes Bay in Gosport.

The work is planned to start lateJanuary and be completed byJune. The building is in adeteriorating condition sostructural consultants withexperience of ‘At Risk’ listedbuildings will be engaged toproduce a report on its conditionand what is required to carry outfull restoration. If restored, No 2battery will need to be self-supporting, so cultural, heritageand marketing consultants will beengaged to help the HDS developa plan to give the building a

sustainable future use. It ishoped to develop it into theNational Diving Museum, thuspreserving Gosport’s and thecountries’ rich diving heritage aswell as preserving its historicalimportance as part of thedefences of Portsmouth Harbour.

The HDS was formed 25 yearsago and is an all-volunteerregistered charity. It was foundedto preserve all aspects of divingheritage for future generations.Gosport is an important part ofthat heritage, as John Deane theco-founder of the diving helmetlived in the town for many yearsand sold the first commercialdiving helmet in the world to alocal merchant. As No 2 Batteryis in sight of where the RoyalGeorge and the Mary Rose both

sank and John Deane havingdived on both, it is an ideallocation to house such amuseum.

The Battery was built in 1861 aspart of Palmerston’s Folly (adefensive system of forts toprotect the Naval Dockyard inPortsmouth Harbour) and itspreservation is important as it isthe only remaining battery of 5from the Stokes Bay lines.

Kevin Casey, the HDS MuseumOfficer said: “We are thrilled tohave received the support of theHeritage Lottery Fund and areconfident the project will help usestablish a much better picture ofthe amount of work and fundingneeded to totally restore No 2Battery back to its former glory.”

C ommunity

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12 Some of the jubilant Under 7’s

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The new ŠKODA Superb Estate is theideal companion for everyday familyand working life.

Driving it on the UK’s roads recently, Idiscovered the fresh model has thelargest boot in the automotive mid-class. Although the Superb Estate is only23mm longer than its predecessor, theload area holds 27 litres more thanbefore with the rear seats up.

By putting the chairs down in the back,the capacity will increase to almost twocubic metres - 85 litres larger than thatof the second-generation model. Evencarrying long objects is possible; thefront passenger seat can easily befolded down when required. This allowsobjects of up to 3.10 metres in length tobe transported.

The new ŠKODA Superb Estate not onlytriumphs in terms of space, but also inits practical solutions. Up to 31 SimplyClever features are on offer for themodel – 11 of which are in the bootalone.

Just as with the saloon version, thelatest ŠKODA Superb Estate is optionally

available with a virtual pedal,which enables you to open theelectric tailgate hands-free witha simple foot movement aroundthe bottom of the rear bumper.

Another new addition making itsdebut on the new ŠKODA SuperbEstate is the practical tip-to-closefunction that initiates the electricboot closing mechanism with asimple pull. Additionally, foldingdown the rear backrests can bedone at the touch of a button,situated in the load area.

The variably adjustable falseboot floor offers the highestpractical benefits in the ŠKODASuperb Estate. Thisintermediate moveable surfacecan divide the boot in variousways, making it more flexible.The system also createspractical storage space: theboot’s coat shelf and the

retractable cover can be stored underthe double floor.

The roller cover has been designed as amanual retractable load covering. Byapplying gentle pressure, itautomatically moves back and the bootis free for loading. The cover also has anautomatic unlocking roller blind. Thismeans it will automatically move onenotch back when the boot door opens.

Another practical feature is theaforementioned new coat shelf, whichcan be found under the roller cover.

This can hold flat items, such as a jacket.Four folding hooks in the boot can helpto securely transport items that mightotherwise move around, for exampleshopping bags. The ŠKODA netprogramme is also useful here; onehorizontal and two vertical nets cansecure items when required.

Finally, in the boot you will also find aremovable LED torch, which can be usedoutside the vehicle. The flashlight ischarged automatically in its holder asyou drive, and is also magnetic.

The ŠKODA Superb Estate I drove - andhighly recommend - is the SE L Executive2.0 TDI 190PS 4x4 DSG. It offers bags ofpull, up to 55.4mpg - and 0-62mph in aquick 7.7 seconds.

It's obviously a larger, heavier version ofits latest hatchback sibling, but thisdoesn't affect its dynamic ability. What’smore, grip is fantastic in poor weather,thanks to this particular model’s all-wheel drive system.

All the key controls feel smooth andwell-weighted – hearteningly classy,even. And the Superb goes about itsbusiness in a hushed, unruffled manner,irrespective of the engine you choose.

FAST FACTSSE L Executive 2.0 TDI 190PS 4x4 DSG)

Max speed: 142 mph

0-62 mph: 7.7 secs

Combined mpg: 54.4

Engine layout: 1968 cc, 4 cylinder, 16valve turbo diesel

Max. power (bhp): 187

Max. torque (lb.ft): 295

CO2: 135 g/km

Price: £31,420

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Practical √

Voluminous √

Comfortable √

Handsome √

Getting Pricey X

Auto biographiesSKODA SUPERB ESTATE

Tim Barnes-Clay @carwriteups

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WWhahat’s Ot’s On ...an ...at Gosport Gosport Dit Discscoverovery Cy CenentretreDaily Life in Dickensian LondonTuesday 1 March 7.30pmWe all love period dramas and are often nostalgic for timesgone by. Inspired by an interest in family history, Geoff and JanePiper will take a step back in time to Dickensian London. Comealong and join them as they explore the often gruesome andhorrible daily experiences of our ancestors rich and poor. It isnot for the faint-hearted. Look at the best and worst of housing,health and working life. Find out about common crimes and thepunishments given for them. Afterwards ask yourself whether ornot you really would want to live in Dickensian London?Tickets £3. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463

Books Alive!Thursday 3 March 4 to 6pmA drop-in event for World Book Day in the Children’s Library.Enjoy hands-on activities linked to famous books and stories,using real museum collections from SEARCH Museum. TheGruffalo, Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderland and others.Suitable for age 4+. Children must be accompanied by an adult.Free, just turn up.

Around the World with FairtradeSaturday 5 March 10.30am to 3pmFun for all the family as you travel around the world withFairtrade at our interactive event celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight2016. There will be games, quizzes, competitions, opportunitiesto get creative and more.FREE! Just turn upGosport Fairtrade Action (GFA), a voluntary organisation, helpsto promote Fairtrade in the Borough of Gosport.

Don’t go into the Cellar! Theatre Company presents …Dracula’s GhostThursday 10 March 7.30pmWhen Bram Stoker’s widow welcomes lawyer Mr. Leech into herhome, there begins a tale of the most feared vampire of alltime, of his un-dead life and times and the remarkablecharacters he has met through the centuries. An original stageplay concerning the actual story of Count Dracula: prepare fornothing but the bloody truth!Tickets £5. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463

Be an ’Ologist!Local & Naval Studies Centre @ Gosport Discovery Centre, HighStreet, Gosport. PO12 1NSSaturday 12 March 10.30am to 2.30pm (last entry 2pm)For British Science Week come along to a drop in workshop atSEARCH Museum. Biologist, Zoologist, Geologist,Palaeontologist and Archaeologist… get into character and gethands-on with our museum specimens in lots of ‘ologyactivities!Just drop in, no need to book. £2 per participating child,accompanying adults free.

Crazy Contraptions Storytime SpecialSaturday 12 March 11am to 12 noonLeonardo is a little owl with BIG ideas! He makes incredibleinventions to help out his friends: Spring-Stomping Boing-Boots

for Rabbit, a Whizzy-Wheeled Skate-Banger for Tortoise and aNatty Nut Grabber for Squirrel! But then, one dark and scarynight, it’s Leonardo who needs a hand… To celebrate the end ofBritish Science Week, come and get creative and make your ownbrilliant invention! Suitable for children aged 3-10 and must beaccompanied by an adult.FREE No need to book but places are limited.

Celebrating ShakespeareSaturday 19 March 10 to 11amRichard Cuddington is the author of the Easy ReadingShakespeare series of books. The three volumes present theComplete Works of Shakespeare (all 39 plays) in an easy to readand entertaining verse format, making them a helpful and funintroduction to Shakespeare for children and adults alike. Listento the stories and then make your own Shakespeare pencil top,suitable for ages 10 years and over and adults too!FREE! But please book a space. Telephone booking line 0239252 3463

Kill or Cure – Just how bad was Tudor Medicine?(A case study from the Mary Rose)Tuesday 22 March 7.30pmTrevor Sapey from the Mary Rose Trust talks about the gory anddownright outlandish practices of Tudor medicine, withreference to the bones of the men found on the Mary Roseitself. A light dinner beforehand is recommended!!Tickets £3. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463Friends of Gosport Museum FREE!

‘Eggciting’ Circus SchoolTuesday 29 to Thursday 31 March9.30am to 3.30pm (Please bring a packed lunch)The Circus School here at the Discovery Centre is the place to bethis Easter! You will learn egg-mazing circus skills includingjuggling, balancing, diablo and lots, lots more! At the end of theweek take part in the Eggs Factor Show in front of friends andfamily…book soon as this always sells out.Suitable for children aged 7 to 12Tickets £40. Telephone booking line 023 9252 3463

Gosport Discovery CentreHigh StreetGosportPO12 1BT

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RUNNING - THE ONE CONSTANTAlready we’re hearing ‘where hasthis month gone?’ and we have toagree. We all lead such hectic livesthat time passes more quickly itseems. New Year resolutions havealready become history for many andmost of us are back in the old routinewith gyms becoming less hectic andfast food outlets resuming businessas usual.

The one constant seems to berunning. Everyone is doing it or so itappears and races are being filledmore quickly than ever. As we allwithdraw into our humdrum lives theone constant is the weekend sportingactivities where we meet our friendseither during our long runs or at anevent.

Photos and blogs describing ourweekend activities fill social mediaand records from a variety of activitytrackers are proudly uploaded to our

PC’s and devices to be sharedamongst the world wide sportingcommunity.

But there is the key word.Community.

Everyone likes to belong to onecommunity or another andcommunity is a force for good.Community is powerful. Communitygets things done. If we feel part of acommunity we share in the collectiveachievements and failures.

Community will be our salvation ifused positively and we take pride inour businesses and parks, beachesand public spaces. All those thingsthat we have come to take forgranted but are threatened by ourapathy. We live in a beautiful part ofthe country with great coastline andopen spaces right here on ourdoorstep.

Alverstoke Valley, Stokes Bay, StanleyPark, Hillhead and Meon Shore toname a few of the more obviousplaces but all used by our community7 days a week all year round. Weshould be grateful but we should alsodo our bit to maintain these areas.

The amount of dog fouling and litteris bordering on the ridiculous andgoes unchecked as its someone else’sproblem right? It’s not really. Theyare our public spaces and its up to usall to do our bit to help maintaintheir beauty & hygiene. Collectivelywe make a difference.

We should care.

One of these public playgrounds willbe the focus of much of what we atAbsolute Running do in 2016.

Gosport’s Golden Mile returns for it’s4th consecutive event with the

ABSOLUTERUNNING

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addition of a wheelchair 800 metrepromenade race and the excitingpossibility of a new course record inour main race, the senior GoldenMile.

The Bayside Cabin are once again ourhosts and they increased theirsponsorship to a very generous £750to be shared as cash prizes tocategory winners. This sort ofinvolvement allows us to attractinternational athletes to racealongside club and fun runners over achip timed Mile dash.

Without local businesses being partof our day, these events couldn’thappen so we are obviously thrilledthat our community chooses to getinvolved.

Have you ever taken part in suchoccasions by running or marshallingor even as a sponsor? If not, wouldyou? As a volunteer Marshall you will

be amazed by how grateful the raceparticipants will be. It’s a real ‘feelgood’ factor. As a sponsor, you willbe added to our race website andbanners and possibly invited to shareour race village on the day so thatyou can see up close and personallyjust how much of a positive impactyou will be having on yourcommunity. It’s pretty much a winwin thing.

Schools can win a £300 cash prizeand GAFIRS will bethe beneficiaries ofour CorporateTeam race so ifyour workplacefancy a go,now’s the time toget your colleaguesgalvanised. Eitherpop into AbsoluteRunning for a chatand collect anentry form or log

onto our race website for more info.www.gosportgoldenmile.uk

If your New Year resolutions are indanger of expiry, Gosport’s GoldenMile is local, it’s fun and it’s ‘only aMile’ therefore achievable.

We hope that you can join us onSunday 19th June when we can bringthe community together for a greatday out in Gosport’s back garden.Keep it local & get involved.

Mizuno have been producing quality running shoesfor decades and the latest version of their WaveInspire 12 will certainly not disappoint fans of thebrand. Light and supportive, the fit around the anklehas been made a little more snug which seems toappeal to more than not but other than this, Mizunohave stuck to their winning formula and we atAbsolute Running expect the brand to enjoy anotherstrong year regards sales and customer satisfaction.For those who want to try first hand beforecommitting, Mizuno's tech team will be joining us atour 545 RunClub on Wednesday 17th February andtheir will be an opportunity to take a pair for a test run.We think that those who are already Mizuno fans willremain so whilst one or two yet to have that Mizunoexperience may be pleasantly surprised.

ABSOLUTE SCRUTINY:MIZUNOWAVEINSPIRE 12

REMEMBER! At Absolute Running we are all about community, so pop in for a chat

ABOUT MEI was carefully engineered to add support withoutadding weight. I have a redesigned midsole platform togive you a softer touchdown every step, and myimproved upper construction gives me a soft yetstructured fit that will support you for miles and miles.

I WEIGH10.6 ounces (men) and 8.9 ounces (women)

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Is your car really locked – did you check it?Picture the scene .... you get out of your car, close the door behindyou and walk off casually clicking your car remote fob behind your

back or over your shoulder as you go. That’s got to be the ultimate inmotoring cool, right? Er .... Wrong! You could be putting your car and

its contents at risk.

Like all technology, car remotes can fail. Perhaps it’s simply becauseyou didn’t depress the button properly. Perhaps your remote fob isfaulty and needs to be replaced or repaired. Whatever the problemwe recommend you always check your vehicle is locked properly.

Simple message ‘Click it – Check it’

On the 23rd January 2016 members of Gosport Neighbourhoodpolicing team and special constables conducted a proactive operation.

Sixteen streets/roads were covered in Gosport.Checks were carried out on unattended vehicles with a total of eleven

vehicles found to have been left unlocked.

Officers spoke to the owners of these vehicles. The majority did notrealise they had left their car unlocked; they trusted their central

locking device to do the task.

To contact Gosport Neighbourhood Watchwww.gosportnhw.co.uk or call 07946 678264

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Martin Lewis @MoneySavingExpert

Some folks drive a lot for variousreasons be it business or personal,here a few tip to help cut the cost oftravel.

Free tank of fuel via extremecouponing trick.If you're planning a big spend at anyone of 50+ retailers (including Houseof Fraser, Homebase and PC World),buy the gift card in Morrisons andyou get 1p/litre off fuel per £10spend. So £100 gets 10p off and£1,000ish gets a free tank.

The real trick isn’t to use them asgifts, but that if you’re planning a bigpurchase in that store anyway, firstpop into Morrisons and buy the giftcard. Then a few days later, once it’sactive, go and use it to buy yourplanned purchase, giving you apotentially whopping petroldiscount. There’s a full list of retailersand more info atwww.morrisonsfuelsaver.co.uk.

Turn your heating down, but not offif you're going awayIf it gets cold, no heating risks burstpipes. So much so that some insurerswon't cover you for damage if yourhome's unoccupied for more thanfive days and you turned the heating

off. The rule of thumb is keep it to aminimum 14 degrees.

Buying two tickets for one trainjourney can save you £100sSplit ticketing makes about as muchsense as Chewbacca, but it works. It’swhere you buy tickets for a journey’sconstituent parts separately to slashthe price. It’s allowed by theconditions of carriage – the only ruleis that the train must call at thestations you buy tickets for.For example, a single fromManchester to Cornwall costs £158,but the train stops at CheltenhamSpa. Buy a £52 ticket fromManchester to Cheltenham Spa, thena £58 one from there to Cornwalland the total's £110. That’s the sametrain, the same time – possibly eventhe same seat.

To help find if you can do this foryour journey, use my freeTicketySplit tool at mse.me/ticketysplit. As Justine tweeted me:"Genius - tickety split has just savedme £50, no effort, exact samejourney."

Cheap boiler cover - you don't needto stick with your energy firmBoiler cover is a free market, yetenergy firms like you to think youneed to stick with them. You don't.While British Gas charges £12/month, you may be able to getsimilar cover for as little as £6. Myquick tips:

a) Renters usually don't need it, astheir landlord's likely responsible.Check.

b) Ensure you know what cover youneed. Choose between boiler-only,the cheaper option that covers yourboiler and its controls, or centralheating cover, which includes full

central heating cover on top(including radiators, pipes, etc).

c) To find the cheapest, compareprices via uSwitch.com and add inEnergyhelpline.com if you’ve time.

Get a year's breakdown cover for£17.If your car has had trouble during thewinter season, it can be costly to payit back in the Spring. Thankfully, ifyou know what you’re doing you canget super cheap cover. There arefour things you need to know:

- If you’re renewing, haggle. 84% ofAA and 76% of RAC customer whotried reported success.- If you’re new then for basic coveruse a cashback site. A standard RACpolicy is £28 online and an AA policy£35, but sites like Topcashback.co.ukand Quidco.com give around £10-£15 back so the effective cost to youis £18ish. This usually works, thoughdo note the cashback isn’t 100%guaranteed.- If you have Tesco clubcard pointsyou can swap them in for RAC cover,so £16 of vouchers gives you basicbreakdown.- For full service,Autoaidbreakdown.co.uk is a pay andreclaim polcy for £42/year, whichcovers you and your spouse forhome start, breakdown and onwardtravel. A local delivery firm is sentout, and you pay then send inreceipts to get the cost back.

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The story of Gosport always seems,one way or another, to have involvedwhat I’d call ‘unfulfilled promise’ – alegacy that shows no sign of goingaway even now. Think it through –by 1753 we’d already got HaslarHospital, Priddy’s Hard Magazinewas ready in 1777, Burney’s NavalAcademy in Clarence Square openedin 1791; The Royal ClarenceVictualling Yard was opened in 1828;by 1831 Robert Cruickshank hadcompleted phase 1 of The Crescent,with The Anglesey Hotel opening in1830 to cope with the expectedinflux of visitors to the town, whowould not only have been able tovisit the baths & reading roomopposite, but on 28th August 1832,could have gone to the first races atStokes Bay racecourse. Sadly, phase2 – a mirror image Crescent,stretching from the east end of StMark’s Road (then called NorthTerrace) south-east towards Haslar,never materialized.

Cruickshank was also instrumental inopening the Haslar toll bridge (1stApril 1835), and the floating bridge(1840). Over a number of years, andlargely due to a degree of animosityfrom our French neighbours, military

presence was notched up severallevels, with Forton Barracks beingbuilt, as well as Forts Gilkicker,Gomer, Grange, Rowner, Brockhurstand Elson being completed by 1863,with Fort Monckton already there.Other fortifications had sprung up,and moats were everywhere. StokesBay Pier station opened on 6th April1863, with connections to the Isle ofWight.

On 15th June 1865, the railwaytriangle was completed from LeesLane to Daisy Lane, which enabledtrains from London or Bishopstoke(Eastleigh) to travel directly to StokesBay without having to faff about atGosport station.

Between 1884 and 1894, Lee-on-Solent had Marine Parade built, andthe pier opened on 3rd April 1888;expecting Great Things, a railway linefrom Brockhurst station (opened 1stNovember 1865, renamed FortBrockhurst on 17th November 1893)to Lee-on-the-Solent opened on 12thMay 1894. So then, much wasexpected of both Gosport and Lee,from a tourist AND military point ofview; on 1st June 1903, the MeonValley railway line was opened – one

of the last significant new lines built;although only single track, tunnelswere built to facilitate double track,should the need arise, and all stationplatforms were built long enough toaccomodate 11-coach express trains.

The line was encouraged by themilitary, as an alternative (extra)route to Portsmouth and Gosport,and of course, the public wereexpected to travel in their droves. Asit turned out, it was all rather a dampsquib, and the line closed topassenger traffic on 5th February1955. Goods services continued torun between Fareham to Droxforduntil 1962, and likewise, betweenAlton and Farringdon until 1968,West Meon viaduct (a steelstructure) having been demolishedand sold for scrap soon after closure.

Originally, the line saw expressservices between London (Waterloo)and Gosport/Stokes Bay, but suchservices ended in 1915, perhaps notentirely unconnected with theclosure of the Stoke Bay line on 30thOctober of that year. It’s beencalculated that the five main stationson the Meon Valley line (Tisted,Privett, West Meon, Droxford, and

Local history

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Wickham, with goods facilities atFarringdon and Mislingford) were“the most expensive stations perhead-of-population-served to bebuilt in the United Kingdom”.

During WW2, on the run-up to D-Day, a large number of army tankswere transported by train toMislingford, and unloaded in thegoods yard for Canadian troopsencamped in the Forest of Bere, localroads having been widened &strengthened to deal with the tanks;from there, all moved by road toGosport, and off to the Normandybeaches.

To the left is a photo of West Meonviaduct (credits to Dave Rowland)and a map showing the Meon Valleyline (see right), so its significancewith regards to Gosport can be seen;in 1907 a halt (small, unmannedstation) was opened at Knowle, toserve Knowle Hospital and the villageof Fontley; it’s interesting to see thehospital on the map described as‘lunatic asylum’….

And so, everything had been inposition for an influx of almostanything; but the tourists nevercame, and neither did the French.

All gong, and no dinner,ultimately….

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