Choice Magazine for Stubbington & Hill Head - March edition 2026
3 3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3 3 3 3
& ting
The clocks change this month and I couldn’t be happier! I’m slightly obsessed with tracking sunrise and sunset times through the darkest days, willing them to edge earlier and later. Now, with a huge sigh of relief, the days - and my mood - are set to brighten.
Consulting Medical Herbalist Louise Courtney explores the idea of spring clearing at this time of year and the benefits of using burdock to support the process. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful plants can be. You’ll find her article, including details of a decoction, inside.
Love a quiz? Partial to a bit of bingo? Fancy a fascinating talk on the story of men’s tailoring over the past 200 years? Or perhaps a mooch around a fair? You’ll find all these - and plenty more - listed inside.
If you’re organising an event or have something you’d like us to share, we’d love to hear from you - details are below.
Rita’s article focuses on periwinkle - a delicatelooking flower with surprising strength. Its alkaloids have been used in chemotherapy treatments for a range of cancers, helping to block rapid cell division. Turn to page 14 to read more.
Reverend Colin Prestige reflects on Lent this month. We often think of it as giving up something we enjoy for six weeks. But what if we
approached it differently? He suggests focusing instead on doing something positive. You’ll find this thought-provoking piece on page 20, whatever your beliefs.
Whenever Meera Sodha shares a cookie recipe, I know I’m in for a treat. You’ll find it on page 10. These cookies are easy to make, properly delicious and guaranteed to satisfy any chocolate craving. Even better, they’re veganso everyone can enjoy one!
Are you a local business looking to reach more customers? Book an advert in our next editionwe’d love to help, and you’ll love our prices.
Not receiving your copy each month? Visit stubbingtonchoice.com to subscribe and have it delivered straight to your inbox.
Happy Mother’s Day to my lovely mum and to all our wonderful mum readers. I’m also thinking of those mums who are no longer with us but always in our hearts.
Wishing everyone a fantastic March - and I’ll report back on the hot cross bun taste test next month!
Our family run company have been manufacturing windows since 1989! We supply and fit Windows, Doors and Conservatories and are here to help you to design and project manage your new project from start to finish.
We can replace your existing conservatory roof, enabling you to use your conservatory all year round! If you would like a new conservatory, we can also deal with all necessary building work.
Whenever Meera Sodha shares a cookie recipe, I know I’m in for a treat. These are easy to make, properly delicious and guaranteed to satisfy any chocolate craving. Even better, they’re veganso everyone can enjoy one!
Ingredients:
• 200g plain flour
• ¾ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• ½ tsp sea salt, crumbled
• 150g golden caster sugar
• 125g 70% dark chocolate
• 85ml sunflower oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extractt
Method
Preheat the oven to 190˚C / 170˚C fan / 390˚F / gas 6 and line two large baking trays with baking paper.
Put the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and sugar into a large bowl and mix well. Add the chocolate chunks and stir to combine.
Recipe
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
In a small bowl, briskly whisk together the oil, vanilla extract and four tablespoons of water until emulsified. Pour the liquid into the dry ingredients and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until the mixture comes together into a soft batter. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 mins.
Using a small scoop - such as a tablespoonspoon the dough onto the prepared trays, spacing the rounds about 10cm apart as they will spread during baking. (Alternatively, roll the dough into balls roughly the size of ping-pong balls, about 40g each.)
Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies have crisp, golden edges and are just set in the centre. Leave to cool completely on the trays.
If you can’t wait, the chocolate will be irresistibly gooey. If you do wait, they’ll be perfectly crunchy. I tried them both ways - purely for research, of course!
Find everything Meera at meerasodha.com
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nash, our Centre Manager doing diagnostic work
Jake our Apprentice
HIDDEN TREASURES HIDDEN TREASURES
51-53 HIGH STREET LEE ON THE SOLENT
We urgently require your broken and unwanted gold, jewellery and antiques.
Any amount, any condition- top CASH prices paid!
PRE 1947 COINS (SILVER) WANTED
WANTED gold - silver - jewellery of all kinds medals (any militaria) - cuff links - studs - tie pins pocket watches - wrist watches antiques - moorcroft - clarice cliff - old postcards
WANTED - rolex, breitling, omega etc
Please call in to see us. Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm. Alternatively, call to arrange a home appointment
TELEPHONE: 023 9255 3428 MOBILE: 07767 304495
If you walk along terrace walk in Crescent Garden to the middle of that path, just behind the fountain, there is an entrance with stepping stones into a small enclosed garden where, on your left, you will see a shady area covered with a mound of dark green leaves scattered with star-like white flowers. This is lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor). The leaves are glossy with a smooth outline and they stay on the plant throughout the year making a good show at all times. In addition the plant continues flowering for a long time from very early spring to midsummer and even a few flowers into the autumn. The flowers are white with five petals and about 2-3cms in diameter and there are plenty of them at this time of the year. This is a versatile ground cover plant for shady areas; it is also good on slopes and banks to stabilise the ground and prevent erosion. It prefers deep shade and is certainly not happy in full sun, but it will tolerate partial shade. Like many plants it does best in fertile well-draining soil, but is not fussy and will grow in almost any soil conditions. As you see, it does very well where it was planted in Crescent Garden and has spread from its original position. It is a trailing plant, sending out long flexible stems, producing roots at intervals where those stems touch the ground. The Latin name, Vinca, means to bind or wind round, not because the plant itself winds round or climbs up anything, but the flexible stems were used a lot in the past for wreath making, to help hold other plants in place. In another part of the garden there is a small patch of a different variety of periwinkle with purple flowers.
Vinca minor is a native of the sultry climes of southern Europe, Turkey and the Caucasus, but has adapted well to the less predictable and hospitable weather in Britain. It has been mainly
Crescent Garden
MARCH
used in gardens and parks, but it is to be found in the wild, naturalised in hedges and light woodlands, where it has escaped from gardens. In the past it was often used in graveyards, so where there is an abundance of Vinca minor, it might indicate the presence of graves whose other markers have disappeared. It can be invasive, so if you think of planting any in your own garden make sure that you put it in the right place, as it has a deep and spreading root system and can be difficult to dig up. It can be kept under control by cutting it back thoroughly when it has finished flowering in the Autumn. Periwinkle has become an invasive species in some parts of USA, where it forms dense mats on forest floors displacing native plants. Although Vinca minor is a good garden plant in UK, its near relation Vinca major is not so readily controllable. As its name implies it is larger than V. minor, with larger leaves which have hairy edges; it can spread very vigorously and be difficult to dig out. So if you think of introducing periwinkle into your own garden, make sure you get V. minor not V. major!
Parts of Vinca minor can be poisonous to cats, dogs and horses, but the copious nectar in the flowers attracts bees and butterflies at the peak of its flowering season. V. minor also contains a variety of alkaloids which have been found to be effective in chemotherapy for a range of cancers as they block the rapid cell division typical of some cancers. The plants experience very few problems with insect pests or fungal infections, so all in all a very easy plant to cultivate both in Crescent Garden and in your own.
Come and join in the fun, bring some friends and enjoy the company. There’s cash to be won so eyes down and good luck! Fee is £2 pp per game. We play 4 games per night.
LEE PLAYERS – DIRTY BUSINESS
20th & 21st March. Doors 7pm, curtain 7:30pm. Crofton Hall Theatre, Crofton Community Centre. Tickets, £10, from 01329662128 or the centre or on the door on the night… Don’t miss this brilliant comedy by Derek Webb.
ST EDMUNDS (CROFTON OLD CHURCH) Services
9.30am every Sunday. 1st & 3rd Sun Holy Communion (BCP). 2nd & 4th Sun Morning Service. 5th Sunday will be a Communion Service with hymns in the Common Worship style. Coffee is served after the Morning Services and the 5th Sunday Service. 18th Mar 10am-12pm Open for visitors/private prayer.
STUBBINGTON AND HILL HEAD HISTORY SOCIETY
Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane, Monday 9th March 7.30pm The Fareham Area
Clay products industry - Pottery, bricks, chimney pots and more 1760 to 1960 - speaker Martin Percival. Guests welcome for a £5 admission charge - cash on the night. Annual membership fee £15pp. Info www.shhhs.co.uk
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT
Visit stubbingtonchoice.com and head to the ‘submit an event’ button from the menu.
Local Events
STUBBINGTON STITCH AND KNIT GROUP
Meet Fridays 2-4pm Foster Room, next to Holyrood Church. We make garments and gifts suitable for all ages, to sell and raise funds for 15 local Hampshire charities. Our next sales are: 14th March 9.30am-12pm Stubbington Library
Do come and browse and support us, but we are Cash only please.
St Columba's Church 10am-12pm on the last Saturday of each month. Many thanks for any donations, these are all much appreciated. They can be taken to the Library or to the Foster Room on a Friday afternoon. For info call Chris 07970 826044.
MEAT RAFFLE AT THE GOLDEN BOWLER
Drawn every Friday 9.30pm. 122 Stubbington Lane, Stubbington. Enjoy the music of our local musicians who love to play a selection of traditional folk melodies and songs.
STUBBINGTON LIBRARY FAIR
Every Friday 9:30-11:30am
Come along and enjoy a wonderful selection of home-baked cakes, jams, and chutneys from our talented local cooks!
Browse our unique handmade crafts:
-Cards & gift boxes
-Jewellery (repairs possible)
-Bags & make-up bags
-Cushions & embroidered items
-Fresh plants & vegetables (seasonal)
Find something different for Mother’s Day, cards available. Flower Arrangements on request. Come support your local makers and find something special every week!
Lent is to Easter what Advent is to Christmas. It is a time of reflection and preparation, traditionally marked by prayer and fasting. Lasting six weeks, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and ends on Maundy Thursday, and equates to the forty days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted – six weeks minus the Sundays. In the past much would have been made of the day before it begins, Shrove Tuesday, or more commonly, Pancake Day. This is the day that the people of the past would have used up all their eggs, fats and luxury foods to spend the next six weeks with a more basic diet.
In the 21st century, such hardships seem remote and antiquated, and for most people, Lent passes virtually unnoticed. So, what are we to make of Lent in our modern world? In all the busyness, does it still have a place? I believe it does. Lent offers us an opportunity to stop and take stock, to reflect on our lives and to see if there are ways we can ‘live better’. For our forebears, Lent often spoke of self-denial or giving up some luxury, such as chocolate or cake, which can appear to be rather negative, though there is still a place for such things. Today, many think of Lent as an opportunity to do something positive.
Possibilities are endless, it’s good to be creative. For some, it could be visiting friends or those on their own, doing small acts of kindness that help others in some way. This
A TIME OF REFLECTION
takes the focus off ourselves, and enables us to consider the needs of those around us. It could be spending a small part of a day reading a book rather than watching television, or perhaps spending time in quiet reflection. It could include taking up a new hobby, such as playing a musical instrument or painting – the list is endless! For others, it might be spending a little time each day praying or reading the Bible – the Psalms or the gospels are a great place to start. Others still might consider going to church, perhaps for the first time; there are services to suit everyone. I look after our 10am Thursday morning service, which caters largely for an older congregation. Why not join us and see what you think?
As we journey towards Easter, we are reminded of Jesus Christ who was crucified for our sins and rose again to bring us new life. Though his lifeless body was laid in a tomb, yet now he was unmistakeably alive! The story of Easter is mirrored by the natural world. After the winter months, where all seems dead, gradually there are signs of life once more - longer days, buds on the trees and birds building nests. The world is literally being reborn. Lent can be a time for us to be ‘reborn’ and to live a ‘new life’. Maybe Lent could be a time of blessing for you.
Revd Colin Prestidge Assistant Minister – Crofton Parish
I’m on a mission to have incredible sweetpeas this year. I love the smell and if you pick them, more come. My kind of gardening! If you’re on this mission too and haven’t started yours yet you can sow undercover now and directly into the ground during April and May.
Here is more of what we can be doing:
Around the garden
• Sow wildflower seeds in trays
• Plant lilies and other summer-flowering bulbs in pots and borders.
• Sow sweet peas in deep pots and keep them frost-free in a greenhouse or sunny windowsill
• Pinch out tips of winter-sown sweet peas to encourage sideshoots.
• Pick off any developing seedheads on daffodils and other spring bulbs, but leave the foliage to die back naturally
In the Garden
DURING MARCH
In the greenhouse and on the veg patch
• Sow courgettes, leeks, peas, beetroot and cucumbers under cover.
• Now’s your last chance to sow tomatoes!
• Plant asparagus crowns and onion sets
• Sow broad beans direct outside
• Plant early potatoes
• Sow salad leaves
• Thin your carrot seedlings
House plants
• It’s time to water indoor plants regularly
• Dust and clean the leaves of your plants
• We can start repotting rotbound plants
• Inspect for pests. Use neem oil and sticky tape to manage infestations.
Grinding
Shrubs:
At this time of year, I encourage a gentle Spring clear out by supporting the body’s organs and systems of elimination including the liver, kidneys, lymphatic system (a network of tiny pipes that help to clear out waste and debris) and skin, that can become sluggish, stagnant and congested. During winter, as like our homes, some dust or clutter may have built up in some areas and this time of year is perfect to tidy up the areas between the cells, and medicinal herbs act as an additional cleaning crew to make this process quicker and more effective.
One of the key herbs in my cleansing armoury is Burdock (Arctium lappa) which is a relatively common weed that can be found on verges, waste ground, and in woods and fields. It can grow up to 2 metres tall and is biennial, flowering in the second year. The flowers, or burs, are purple and thistle-like with hooked seeds that stick to everything! Burdock contains a variety of medicinal constituents such as inulin (for blood sugar control and a great pre-biotic to encourage good gut health), bitters to gently stimulate the bowel, and antibacterial constituents. It was traditionally combined with dandelion as a cleansing and detoxing liver support drink.
As a medical herbalist I use the root of the Burdock plant both in dried and tincture form to treat skin eruptions that are scaly and dry, congestion or irritation in the urinary system, a lethargic digestive system, and slow moving and congested lymph (think swollen ankles). Burdock root has an alterative action, helping the organs of elimination to process and disperse of metabolic waste. To create a
THE VELCRO PLANT FOR CLEANSING & DETOX
free-flowing stream rather than a stagnant pool helping to resolve conditions such as gout (inflammatory joint conditions), skin conditions, hormonal imbalance, digestive issues, swollen glands and fluid retention. It helps to stimulate the release of waste products from cells and their elimination from the body. Dandelion helps with this process too as a diuretic for the kidneys and stimulant for the liver. Burdock breaks down uric acid in the joints which leads to gout and other painful arthritic conditions. It is a stimulating and pushy plant, if gentle and safe, so it is wise to start slowly with Burdock.
Energetically, it is a grounding, stimulating and protective plant that can be carried in a pouch to ward against negativity!
Dandelion, burdock & liquorice root decoction Simmer 25g chopped dandelion, 25g burdock root, 1 tbsp of liquorice (to sweeten if required) and 750ml of water for 20 minutes. Divide into 3 or 4 parts to drink throughout the day either hot or cold. Start gently with one per day and work your way up to 3 cups over the course of a few days.
For short term use. This detoxing and purifying drink can help alleviate symptoms of eczema, boils, psoriasis, acne. It can form part of a spring detox ritual. The use of burdock can sometimes make symptoms worse before improving, if you can manage it, persevere for a week or so and then start seeing improvements, if not halve the dose.
Louise Courtney - Consulting Medical Herbalist Tel: 07551 854262 louise@wildsidehealth.co.uk www.wildsidehealth.co.uk @wildsidehealth Wildside Health Clinic & Dispensary 18 South Street, Titchfield
Do you have important legal documents in place to protect your interests and make life easier for you and your family, whatever the future brings?
If you have received a diagnosis of dementia, or are concerned about becoming ill and unable to cope with paying your bills, wouldn’t it be helpful for a family member to be able to step in and deal with your finances? If your family member needed to make decisions for you, instead of just acting on your instructions, they would need your formal written authority to do this.
Formal authority can be given by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney. This document will allow your family member to take over managing your money, either temporarily or long term.
You can also create a Lasting Power of Attorney which allows your family member to make decisions for you about medical treatment, if you are unable for any reason to make your own decisions. This is not the same as an Advance Decision, which is a document which sets out your decision to refuse medical treatment in the future, under specific conditions.
If you are caring for an elderly relative, or are likely to be doing so in the future, a Lasting Power of Attorney will mean that you can provide the support your relative needs and access services on their behalf, without the difficulties, stress and resistance you would otherwise encounter.
Having a Will gives you peace of mind that your money, property and personal possessions will be going to the people you have chosen to benefit. An out of date Will can cause problems within the family or mean that a chosen beneficiary receives nothing.
If you have any unanswered questions about Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney, Christine will be pleased to help, so do please get in touch for a free, no obligation, chat.
Call Christine Davies Solicitor on 07860 772274 or email: christine@winterbornelegal.co.uk
Christine is a Fully Accredited Member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a Dementia Friend. Christine will visit you in your own home and aims to provide a warm personal touch to every meeting.
Christine Davies Solicitor
QUIZ NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN BOWLER
11th & 25th March. Starts at 8:30pm 122 Stubbington Lane, Stubbington Battle it out for cash prizes with topics including current affairs, music & general knowledge. Max team of 6 and £1.50 per person entry fee.
STUBBINGTON VILLAGE W.I.
Meet second Thursday of each month, at new venue Baptist Church, Jay Close, off Cuckoo Lane at 7.15pm We have a very active group who get involved in a variety of activities and sub groups. We arrange outings to interesting places. If you would like more information, please ring Chris on 07970 826044.
CROFTON PROBUS CLUB Monthly lunch at Leeon-the-Solent Golf Club. Are you a retired gentleman, missing social contact? Come to a trial meeting. New members welcome 07508711299 morton.wouter@gmail.com
CROFTON WI 2nd Wednesday of each month 2-4pm Baptist Church, Jay Close, Stubbington Our speaker next month will be talking on ‘how to get the best out of your air fryer.’ We are a lively WI who have the following clubs as well as our monthly meetings: a book Club, craft club, lunch club and coffee mornings. Visitors and guests are warmly welcomed.
CROFTON GARDENING CLUB MONTHLY TALK
16th Mar 7.30pm. Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane Popular speaker Carol Watson gives an illustrated talk entitled ‘A Journey to Japan.’ Tea and Coffee available, there will be a raffle and plants for sale. We will also have our Flower of the Month Competition. Visitors welcome.
Local Events
SPITHEAD ARTS MONTHLY LECTURES
24th Mar 7pm. Bay House School, Gosport. The Men Who Made Menswear by Russell Nash. Everyone welcome. Guests £7 per lecture, £1 for students. Annual subscriptions £50pp. www.spitheadarts.co.uk
FOLK NIGHT AT THE GOLDEN BOWLER
19th March. 8pm. 122 Stubbington Lane, Stubbington. Enjoy the music of our local musicians who love to play a selection of traditional folk melodies and songs.
STUBBINGTON & HILL HEAD WI 25th March 2pm. Baptist Church, Jay Close, Cuckoo Ln. Speaker is Andrew Elms from Lordington Lavender. We have a monthly Lunch Club in addition to a Book Club, outings, theatre trips, picnics, Summer and Christmas lunches. Quizzes, day trips. Visitors can come to two meetings before deciding to join.
INTERNATIONAL FOLK/CIRCLE DANCING March 10th, 24th 10am-12noon, RC Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington. No Partner required & all dances are taught. New members welcome. £7 Contact Bob & Mary 01329 609589, 07748009838 neal.bob61@gmail.com
STUBBINGTON BELLES WI 2nd Monday of the month at The Crofton Club, Titchfield Rd, Stubbington from 1.30-3.30pm. Small, friendly group, enjoy a varied programme of speakers and demonstrations, lunch club and coffee morning. Come to our meeting 9th March. Speaker Jackie Dimmock gives an entertaining talk on her life as a former police officer. stubbingtonbellessec@hampshirewi.org.uk
HVR GARAGES
With 3 sites in the local area, all of our Garages are high ranking members of ‘The Good Garage Scheme’ and ‘Checkatrade’. Our Garages
MOTs | Servicing | Repairs
All Makes and Models catered for.
Solent Airport MOTs, Unit il1-3, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX
Specialists in VW’s, we also cover many other makes and models in the full or part conversion of camper vans, kombi vans and caddy’s. We manufacture and design custom built camper interiors for Volkswagens and other makes.
Full
&
Part Conversions
VW Transporters, Campers, Kombi’s and Caddy’s
HVR Customs, Unit il3-4, Illustrious Daedalus Park, Daedalus Drive, Lee on the Solent PO13 9FX
CARS AND VANS ALWAYS IN STOCK FOR SALE!
Specialising in transporters and small low mileage cars. (The cars are ideal for first time drivers.)
