hamble interactive

Plenty of Room at the Inn

The spirit of Christmas was once again alive and well at St. Andrew's Church in Hamble, where a band of volunteers opened the doors of the Priory Centre behind the Church to host a Christmas lunch for 40 members of the community who would otherwise have been on their own.

Funds for the event are raised all year at the Place 2 B “pop-up” café, which opens on the last Saturday morning of each month, from 10.00 to 12.00 in the Priory Centre. Further donations were very kindly made by BP, CooperVision, Hamble Parish Council, Co-operative Funeralcare and also from a number of individuals. The ham, turkey and vegetables were donated by Owtons Traditional Butchers and Pickwell Farm, with members of the community and congregation providing other necessities such as bottles of wine and sherry, trifles, Christmas puds, cranberry sauce, mints, crackers and table decorations, not to mention transport both there and back.

After a glass of sherry , a delicious Christmas lunch was served, once again prepared by the loveliest chef you could hope to meet. Our Steve is so calm and reassuring that one volunteer referred to working with him as being in Angel’s Kitchen. Take note Marco Pierre and Gordon, you don’t have to shout to produce meals fit for kings! And guess who made an appearance after the pudding and trifle? That’s right, Santa Claus stopped by on his way back to the North Pole, bringing gifts for all the guests. Then the revellers rounded the afternoon off with a medley of Christmas carols.

A big thank you goes to the many volunteers who helped with preperation, on the day and with the clearing up. There were so many acts of kindness from members of the wider community and the church congregation which made this such a warm, happy and friendly event, bringing so much pleasure to the guests who attended. We are also grateful to all those publications and organisations that help us with advertising.

There will be another lunch next year and the team would be happy to hear from anyone who can help out with driving, catering, sponsorship or any other support – and also from anyone wanting to attend. Why not come along the Place 2 B one month and talk to us. This has turned into a lively social occasion for local residents and passers-by, all of whom enjoy the home-made cakes, coffee, tea and good company to be found.

Hamble Centre of Excellence Open Evening

A new £6.7 million-pound purpose built post-16 facility will be holding its first Open Evening on Thursday 19 January.

Hamble Community Sports College is in partnership with Fareham College to provide courses at the Hamble Centre of Excellence. As a result, the College moved their BTEC Sports provision to the site this year. It has state of the art workshops and classrooms and students have full access to the nationally recognised sports facilities. These include a swimming pool, tennis courts, gym and astroturf.

The Centre is the only one of its kind in Hampshire dedicated to providing unrivalled sporting facilities, as well as provision for Engineering (including aspects of Marine Engineering, and Construction.

To take a look at these first class facilities, come along to the Open Evening from 4-7pm. Visit www.hambleskills.co.uk or call (023) 8045 7608 for more information.

The switchover to digital TV for the Meridian area starts on 8th Februray 2012. Help and advice can be found on www.digitaluk.co.uk or by telephoning them on 08456 50 50 50

A Hamble pensioner could lose his home after fraudsters tricked him out of £4m. The elderly man, who is not being identified because he is vulnerable to con artists, spent the money on fake shares and investments acording to the BBC website.

Pudsey visited Hamble Interact Club this week, raising awareness and money for Children in Need!

The Interact Club have organised a whole school ‘Dress Down Day’ which raised over £1,000 for Children in Need. They were very fortunate to have had a visit by Pudsey Bear himself on Thursday November 17th 2011 and he waved at the students handing over their donations to participate in the dress down day!

On November 11th 2011, as part of a series of very moving whole College Assemblies for Remembrance Day, the Interact Club collected money to support the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

The Interact Club are now organising their next charity event for Christmas, raising money for their chosen International Charity, Ferndale Township School in South Africa.

It may not have been the best year for growing squashes and pumpkins but that didn’t dampen the organisers or crowds that made the 2011 Jubilee Sailing Trust Pumpkin Festival the most financially successful ever. Over 8000 people and 640 scarecrows (a record number for one place in Hampshire) travelled to the Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley for the event celebrating all things autumnal.

Whilst there weren’t any pumpkin records this year, the top two, 1334lbs grown by Mark Baggs from Wareham and 1173lbs grown by Stuart and Ian Paton from Lymington, were taken over to Virginia Pumpkin Festival in Ireland in a 1000 mile round trip. Event organisers Sonja and John Davison chaperoned the two pumpkins which following their success in Netley were the stars of the Virginia Pumpkin show.

Sonja Davison said, "With sponsorship from a number of high profile companies including BP Hamble, who not only believe in the aims of the Jubilee Sailing trust, but also believe in the community side of this family event, we were able to offer an enjoyable family day out. And, the festival itself is another glowing tribute to the hard work of all our wonderful volunteers”.

There are two elements to the Jubilee Sailing Trust’s mission: one is to overcome prejudices and misconceptions about disability amongst able-bodied people and the second is to enable people with a disability to show to themselves and to others what they are really capable of when the environment is designed to be inclusive. The JST use two specially designed tall ships ‘Tenacious’ & ‘Lord Nelson’, to break down barriers for a better, more inclusive world.

Beginners Badminton at Hamble Sports Complex starts 8th January 2012, Sundays 9.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.

We have had information from the Hampshire Constabulary that Rogue Traders are currently cold calling/leaflet dropping in the Hedge End and surrounding area offering to clear out and clean guttering and down pipes.

Trading Standards would advise consumers not to agree to work that is instigated as a result on a cold call or via a leaflet drop. Consumers should obtain at least 3 written quotes from reputable businesses or traders who belong to a recognised trade association, such as the Hampshire County Council Buy With Confidence Scheme. Details of this scheme can be obtained by telephoning 01962 833620, via email at buy.with.confidence@hants.gov.uk or via the website www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk

Traders who agree work at the home of an individual or at a place other than their usual business premises are required by law to provide consumers with a Notice of Right to Cancel, which gives consumers a 7 day cooling off period. Work should not commence until this period has ended, unless written agreement is first obtained from that consumer beforehand.

If anyone has any information about traders who are cold calling or requires any advice on doorstep crime they can contact Hampshire County Council's

Quick Response Team on 01962 833666

(Monday – Friday 0900hrs to 1700hr)

Specially trained officers are on hand to provide assistance.

If urgent assistance is required outside of these hours please contact Hampshire Police on 101

Hampshire County Council have approved the plans which will enable Hamble Community Sports College to play host to an Olympic team in the run up to the 2012 Olympics following approvalk to extend the school gym.

The works have come about following a successful bid, for funding from British Gymnastics, by the Dynamo School of Gymnastics, which is based at the College, to provide enhanced gym facilities. These may be used as a pre Olympic Games training facility by one of the international teams.

British Gymnastics have pledged £220,000 to the scheme, which has also had significant backing from Eastleigh Borough Council who have granted £157,000 in funding to the project. The remainder of the cost of the project is being shared by the College and Dynamo Gymnastics who are contributing £40,000 and £41,000 respectively.

The proposed two-storey extension will include an extended vault run-off area and a separate tumbling area which can be used by pre-school children, providing a safe and separate place for children and families to use. A viewing gallery to enable coach training, as well as spectator facilities for the local community to use, will also be included in the project.

The extension will be open to the wider community when not needed for the College curriculum or gymnastic training.
An existing link area which joins the gymnasium and sports hall will also be refurbished.

Works will begin in November to ensure the facilities are complete and ready in good time for the Olympics. Councillor Perry said:

“I am happy to approve this very exciting development of sports facilities at Hamble Community Sports College. The College is already a very vital hub for a sports partnership of four secondary schools and 20 Primary schools in the Eastleigh area, as well as being a learning centre for the wider community, having a specialism in physical education and sport. This is a very important development of the College’s sporting links. It has already attracted Lottery funding for its sports hall, health suite and movement studio. This latest funding will enable it to develop its Sports Lottery funded Gymnasium Centre of Excellence further, gaining it a place in Olympic history but also leaving a legacy of enhanced facilities which can be used by the local community which the College serves.”

The Principal of Hamble Community Sports College, Mrs Geraldine Halley-Gordon said,

“This is a fantastic, ‘once in a life-time’ opportunity for the College to realise a truly elite facility. Students, staff, parents and the wider community will gain invaluable benefit that this development brings to the College campus.”