Neighbourhood Watch

Does anyone know if there has ever been a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Woodley, Woodley close in particular? If there already is I for one have never heard of its existence and if there isn't then I wonder how many people would be interested in joining? Answers on a postcard please? Or Email perhaps

Many thanks, Stuart Thorpe

Tudor Rose under new management

Romsey's Tudor Rose pub has new licensees. Barry Harvey and Lisa Moore took charge behind the bar recently for the first time. Lisa said “We want to bring back the character of the Tudor Rose as it was years ago, a traditional down-to-earth family pub,” Lisa met 58-year-old Barry eight years ago. On their second date Barry took Lisa to the Tudor Rose where she fell in love with it straight away. Lisa, 49, who moved to Romsey 35 years ago, originally came from Portsmouth. Barry is Romsey born and bred and had his first pint in the Tudor Rose as a teenager.  When the previous landlord Pete Langren offered them the pub it was an offer they couldn't refuse.  They want to start  men’s and ladies’ darts teams and will be introducing traditional pub games.

Podge Gunner Dies

Well known Romsey business man Roger Gunner died recently. Rodger fondly known as Podge ran a shoe repair shop in the Hundred opposite what is now Coralls betting shop. Roger also ran a weightlifting club which was situated behind his shop.  In 1960, the British Olympic team came to Timsbury Manor to prepare for the Rome games and Podge assisted in their training. Among the strongmen coached by Podge was Romsey’s Gary Windebank, who earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for lifting tyres. Another product of Podge’s gym was Ben Read, who became the world record holder for bending nails. John Porter, of North Baddesley, trained under Podge to take the British Championships in his weight at power lifting. In 1997, Romsey Conservatives Club surprised Podge with a party to celebrate his 50 years in weightlifting. Podge was presented with a special award and  received messages from many former club members from around the world. Roger was a very well respected man about town and will be greatly missed.

See photo BELOW  and more HERE

Funeral takes place at Romsey Abbey on March 11th at 2pm.

Another fire at Chatter Box pre-school

 A Romsey-based pre-school has been targeted by arsonists for the second time in three years. Play equipment replaced in the first attack on Chatterbox Community Pre-School at Montfort Hall was wrecked in the latest blaze early on Tuesday morning. Bosses at the pre-school are devastated and were forced  to close the pre-school for the day.

The equipment that included bikes, trampolines, books, paperwork, was stored in a large metal container in the grounds of Montfort Hall at Benedict Close in the Romsey’s Halterworth area.

The hall, damaged in an arson attack in April 2007, was not affected on this occasion.

Woodley Village Hall future brightens

Woodley Village Hall has a bright new future, thanks partly to the Romsey Advertiser. Last year there were fears that the hall, which was in need of refurbishment and more volunteers to join the management committee, could close. In June, the then committee vice-chairman, Rod Simpson, made a plea in the newspaper for more to help to run the hail, which has always been well used by community groups. There was a good response and a new management committee was formed, with Mr. Simpson as its chairman. The new committee quickly set about raising funds for improvements. Top of their list was a new heating system and a proper disabled toilet. About £69,00O has since been raised towards the cost of the first phase of improvements and work, is due to start shortly, said Mr. Simpson. He was pleased to have the funding in place ready to get started. MORE

Romsey Line Dancers TV debut

Line dancers from Romsey enjoyed a brief moment of fame recently on national television, courtesy of the BBC’s The One Show. They found Sherree Bell, of Romsey Line Dancers, for a feature they were preparing about ants. The 12 dance class members were used to show how ants follow their leader, In this case Sherree.

The filming took place last March in Southampton’s West Quay shopping centre. “They spent all afternoon filming us, but if you blinked, you would have missed us on the programme,” said Super fit Sherree, who started out as an aerobics teacher, runs 17 classes in the Romsey and Southampton area at venues including Woodley Village Hall, Romsey Comrades’ Club, North Baddesley Village Hall, Chandler’s Ford Scout Hall and Chandler’s Ford Age Concern Hall. For details, call -her on 01794 368233.

New videos on Woodley Net

There are now lots of new YouTube videos on Woodley Net. Steam train in Romsey railway station, Romsey Pageant of Motoring, Romsey Town football, Romsey Line Dancers and many more. To view player please click HERE

Green Flag go ahead!

Time to celebrate! At long last Test Valley’s southern area planning committee has  given  Romsey War Memorial Park the green light to fly the prestigious green flag it first won nearly two years ago. Recently, planning committee members voted in favour of the flagpole, The award made by a consortium including Keep Britain Tidy and British Trust Conservation Volunteers, recognises the nation’s top green spaces. Councillors  previously turned down the first application in October, 2008, claiming that the flag, which will be flown from six-metre pole, would be too noisy when it flapped in the wind and would be “detrimental to visual amenities and the character” of the park. Romsey War Memorial Park was the first open space in Test Valley to be awarded the green flag, a status which is reviewed annually.