1

January 2016 | Issue 99| £1.50 where bought

2

3

4

THIS MONTH..

HOUSE AND GARDENS

22 Planning Matters......it really does. Whether you’re applying or livingin a neighbourhood, what goes on (or up or isremoved) can be important to our community.Take a look at the latest applications.

BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL

8 Martin Lewis

Winter tips from Martin this month - he asks us todust off your long johns, grab a cup of Bovril andsnuggle up with his checklist to keep your costsdown and the heat up.

MOTORING

18 AutobiographiesThe all new Mazda MX5. Smooth lines, roof off andiconic goodlooks. What did Tim make of this newroadster?

COMMUNITY

6 St Faiths’ ChurchAlan Millard finds out just who Sandy Penningtonis. And even if you know, read on, this is a greatpiece about a great lady.

CHILDREN, PETS & EDUCATION

14 It’s all child’s playSome lovely suggestions from Sue of things to do inthe cold weather with your little people.

january issue 2016

516

SmSmalal ltalkltalkPearl Publications

01329 630630

Joint Editors

Coralie Todd & Sean Middletoneditor@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

Advertising Sales

sales@bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

Distribution

This Big Voice Bigazine is deliveredto residents and businesses in Leeon the Solent and Cherque FarmFor distribution enquiries pleasegive us a call and speak to Sean.

Six other editions are alsopublished in Alverstoke, Whiteley,

Titchfield Park and Burridge,Gosport, Locks Heath, Warsash &Sarisbury Green, Stubbington &

Hill Head

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

Follow us on Twitter@BVDirectories

Visit our Facebook pageBig Voice Directories

Visit our websitewww.bigvoicedirectories.co.uk

“What’s your idea of success”?

This was a question that we asked our kids on one ofour longish jaunts in the car recently.

We were on our way up to see my Auntie Lynda in Derby who, according toour little people, “lives in a mansion and must have lots of money”.

Auntie Lynda, a successful children's author, is a literary genius and modestwith it. Her house décor is traditional yet homely and everything needs tohave history or a story to pass the gates and be kept treasured.

The 20ft or so Christmas tree in the stone floored hallway has the children ingasps every year and when they run up and down to the cellars or come hurt-ling around the sweeping staircase it’s no wonder they feel like they’re on theset of a classic film.

So knowing they were travelling to such a wonderful venue it got us onto thesubject of what they’d like to achieve or own when they were ‘grown up’.

Lucy is pretty easy to guess. Aged 9 she’s developed a passion for sign lan-guage and will no doubt be happy living out of a VW camper van, with a guitar(yet to learn), painting things and training hearing dogs for the deaf.

The boys quickly listed all the material possessions they would need (includinga ten bedroom mansion, Olympic size swimming pool and an Apache gunshipon the driveway) and Ava didn’t know, as long as cake featured somewhere.Although she’s only 7, Sean and I couldn’t help feeling this was actually a cov-er for our wide-eyed youngest who is likely to become a Lara Croft/JamesBond type character with her Teflon skin and obsession with noticing whensomething has changed.

Sean and I, on the other hand, have a different view of success. But it wasn’tone we wanted to share with the kids until we achieve it one day, in a ‘ta dah’sort of way. The New Year is a good time to re-evaluate where you are andwhat you might want to achieve.Have a go as you never knowwhere you might end up, Apacheor no Apache.

Stay healthy, safe and look aftereach otherMuch 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.

6

St Faiths’ C ommunity

So just who is Sandy Pennington?I wonder how many regulars atSt. Faith’s church know whoSandy Pennington is. If they’relike me, very few I suspect. I’vebeen a regular for several yearsnow at both the 8 o’clock and 10o’clock services. I also serve onthe P.C.C. However, until a monthor so ago, I’d never heard ofSandy who’s been at St. Faith’sfor sixteen years and can be seenon the site almost every day ofthe week. So, who is Sandy?

A clue can be found by anyonewho comes to the church orParish Centre during the weekand notices how clean everythingis. You won’t see Sandy at any ofthe services but you might bumpinto her dashing around with aduster or mop if you call between

Lunch Club and Zumba Gold orbetween any other of the manygroups that use the building.Sandy is the person who, withGlynn Burrell the caretaker,keeps everything in tip-topcondition. I accidentally bumpedinto her at church one day andI’m glad I did since Sandy is oneof the friendliest people I’ve evermet at St. Faith’s.

One of six siblings, two boys andfour girls, Sandy was born inOldham, Lancashire. Her dad wasa turner engineer and her mum,as you might imagine, had morethan enough to do bringing upthe children. On leaving schoolduring the recession she wasaccepted on a Y.T.S, scheme atTesco and later worked in various

factories including Harvey’sOveralls folding blankets onpiecework and Failsworth Hatswhere her task took the skin offher hands! She was eventuallyrescued by her brother’s mate,Mark, who was in the Royal Navyand whom she married in 1987.They moved into marriedquarters at Fareham andeventually settled in Lee where,apart from a three-year postingin Gibraltar, they’ve been eversince.

Unlike her parents, Mark andSandy have only one child,Michael, who graduated fromChristchurch University,Canterbury and is better knownnow as “Jackal", famedinternationally as an E.D.M.

7

(Electronic Dance Music)producer and DJ. He lives in LosAngeles, travels the world and iscurrently preparing for a festivalin China later this year. If youGoogle ‘Jackal Producer’, you’llsee why Sandy and Mark arejustifiably proud of their son’sachievements.

Sandy’s involvement with StFaith’s began when, saving up fora holiday, she needed to earnsome money. She describesherself as feeling like YosserHughes in Alan Bleasdale’s B.B.C.TV series, Boys from theBlackstuff. It was a case of ‘gizzajob’ when she knocked on thevicarage door in 1999 and askedPeter Sutton, then priest incharge, if he had any work.Fortunately for her the Bulson

Hall had just been built and, withno cleaner or even cleaningmaterials for the building, the jobwas hers. She has had other jobsthat have kept her busy includinghousekeeper at the vicarage andfull-time employment at theGosport War Memorial Hospitalon the older persons mentalhealth ward. But Sandy nowthinks of herself as being ‘semi-retired’ and is more than contentwith her 10 hours a weekkeeping the Church and ParishCentre clean and tidy.So, if you didn’t already knowwho Sandy is, you do now and,thankfully, so do I. One of thethings I love about writing for St.Faith’s is that it gives me theopportunity to meet people I’dotherwise never have met – andmeeting Sandy has been one of

the peopleI reallyenjoyedmeeting,so muchso that Ithink ofher now asa friend.

Oddly enough, when I firstsuggested an interview, Sandy’sno-nonsense reply was a definite‘NO!’ I’m glad I persisted andeven more pleased that,eventually, Sandy changed hermind.

Alan

Our wonderful St Faiths contributor, Alan Millard canbe contacted via St Faith’s Church, Lee on the

Solent.Parish Office

Mondays - Fridays 10:30am - 12:30pm023 9255 6445

alan.millard@talktalk.net

Dates for your diaryThursday, December 24th Crib services, 3 pm and 4.30 pm (Bring children dressed as

Nativity characters – sheep, wise men, shepherds etc.Midnight service 11.30 pm

Friday, December 25th Christmas Day services: 8 am and 10 am.

2016, New Service Times 8 am (Communion). 9.30 am (Parish Eucharist)11am New Service – Sundays@11 Details on the church website: stfaithslee.org

8

@MoneySavingExpertMartin LewisDust off your long johns, grab a cup of Bovriland snuggle up with my checklist to keepyour costs down and the heat up.

Save £250+ on energy bills.

Winter is of course the highest-use energyperiod. So the key is to ensure you’re on thecheapest possible deal – that may bechanging tariff with your existing provider, itmay be switching. The move across takes 17days, so do it now to ensure you’re on theright deal before the cold snaps.

Those who worry about this, don’t – it’s thesame pipes, gas, meter and safety, and youdon’t lose supply. The only difference is priceand customer service. But savings can behuge.

About 70% are on their provider’s standardtariff – across the big six this is an average of£1,095/year based on typical usage. Yet thecheapest open market’s deal is around £830a year – that’s £260 a year saved, much ofthat in the winter months.

However, as your exact cheapest depends onwhat you use and where you live – to findout, always do a comparison. Just make sureyou select ‘all tariffs’ on a comparison site.You can use my www.CheapEnergyClub.comwhich also gives switchers up to £30cashback and then monitors you tariff afterto check no one beats it, or anyOfgem.gov.uk approved comparison site.

Switch energy now and you could get £100sback.

If you pay by direct debit, it’s likely you’re incredit after the low-use summer. Mostproviders give it back automatically, but ifthey don’t, call and ask. If you’ve switched inthe past five years, your old supplier may stillowe you too.

Asking for it back is simple and here’s asuccess to encourage you: “The balanceowed to me from 17 months ago (which theynever got back to me about) was £1,364.22.A brilliant result but I do feel an idiot for notknowing how much I'd overpaid, so I urgeeveryone to do the same as me and check.” –Col.escargot.

Free winter car check.

Halfords.com is offering a free £15 winter carcheck, which includes checks to your battery,bulbs, wiper blades, oil and screenwashlevels. You don’t need to book in advance,

though you can online if you want, and thecheck should take about 15 minutes. There isno obligation to buy anything, but beprepared that staff might try to upsell you.The winter car check is on until spring 2016.

Are you entitled to any extra winter help?

Winter is a tough time for many as the coldsets in. But there are funds which may help…

Winter fuel payments. If you were born on orbefore 5 January 1953 (and met otherqualifying criteria throughout the weekcommencing 21 September 2015), you’reeligible for the up to £300 winter fuelpayment. If you get certain

benefits, eg, state pension, pension credit orjobseeker’s allowance, you’ll usually get itautomatically – otherwise you may have toclaim it. You do that by calling 03459 15 1515.

Cold weather payments. Anyone on certainbenefits, eg, specific income support,jobseeker’s allowance, pension credit, gets£25 for every seven days where there aresub-zero temperatures. It’s paidautomatically from 1 November 2015.

Choosing between heating and eating? Ifyou’re seriously behind, or in generalfinancial hardship, you may be eligible forspecial tariffs/help. Try theHomeHeatHelpline.org.uk on 0800 33 66 99.

Do you know where your water cock is?

Everyone should know where their mainwater off-switch is, otherwise known as astopcock. Frozen pipe bursts create anaverage of £4k of damage, worse if you can’tfind the off switch as your home floods. So ifyou don’t know, spend five minutes nowfinding out – typically it’s under the kitchensink, in the boiler cupboard, or outside.

Full service car breakdown cover £41, basicfor £16 – and if you’re renewing, haggle.

Problems are more likely in winter and theconsequences are more severe. Forbreakdown, home start and onward travelcover, AutoAidBreakdown.co.uk charges£41/year, though if it sends a truck anddriver you pay, then reclaim.

Or if you’ve got cover and are at renewal,haggle. In a recent poll I conducted, 84% ofAA and 78% of RAC customers who tried gotlower rates, like Graham did: “Thanks for the

haggling advice. Just spent five minutes onthe phone to the RAC and got my renewalslashed from £252 to £151. Just over £100for about five minutes’ work – that’ll donicely!” Full help to do this in www.mse.me/breakdown

For basic policies, buy through a cashbacksite like Topcashback.co.uk or Quidco.comand you can reduce the cost, eg, RAC basic is£27.99 a year and you get around £12cashback, AA is a little more.

Free loft/cavity wall insulation, open to all.

Energy firms face sanctions if they don’tmeet Eco quotas, so some, eg, BritishGas.co.uk, EDFEnergy.com and Npower.comgive free insulation to anyone in England,Scotland or Wales with a suitable home (youdon’t have to be their customer or on a lowincome). If you paid for this commercially, itcould cost around £700.

The savings can be huge. The Energy SavingTrust estimates you’ll see a reduction in billsof £300 a year compared with a typicaluninsulated home. On average it takes 3-4weeks to book a survey and a further twoweeks for the insulation to be fitted (thoughit can take longer).

9

10

11

12

13

14

Picture a grey January day and kids goingcrazy from being cooped up indoors.Children it seems are immune to ‘badweather’, but without sun or snow totempt us out of our cosy centrally heatedhomes, we adults sometimes need anudge. If you’re looking for someinspiration on those cold grey Januarydays, then mother of two and author SueGascoyne is on hand with some tried andtested fun ideas for things to dooutdoors:

Make a mud pit as this is great forsplashing in; experimenting withconsistency for creating mud pictures;mixing up hearty concoctions with oldpots and pans; and of course, makingmud pies.

Make ice sculptures to hang on the trees.Simply arrange holly and other foliage orsliced citrus fruit in transparent plastictakeaway containers. Add a loop of stringfor hanging, fill with water, put the lid onand leave to freeze over night. Freezingaccentuates the colours in the leaves,berries and fruit creating a trulymesmerising display guaranteed to melteven the frostiest heart!

Use icicles as magic melt in your handpens!

Collect sheets of ice form a puddle andadd slowly drops of food colouring towatch the colour spread like fingersthrough the ice.

Go puddle jumping as there’s somethingirresistible about cracking the glass-likelayer of ice on a puddle. Add powderpaints for some fun welly printing!

Fill an old ice cube tray with mud andleave outside overnight to freeze. Turnthe mini bricks out for lots of building fun.Add small toy animals for firingimagination.

If you don’t fancy getting messy, makefrozen mini ice bricks instead to buildigloos with or to create a polar landscapecomplete with frozen shaving foam snow,glass cubes, a safety mirror andpolystyrene pieces.

If it’s damp and cold outdoors then whynot create a fire pit for charcoal making,toasting of marshmallows and warmingchilly fingers by the fire? Share a flask ofhot chocolate for the best snack ever!

Go on a family walk, armed with a list ofthings for you all to spot. Include a mix ofunusual as well as unexpected things thatwill add challenge and excitement.

In Winter time birds can really struggle tofind enough food to eat so why not makebird cakes and encourage an interest inbird spotting? Heat up some lard andcarefully mix with bird seed. Use thewarm mixture to fill coconut shells, smallterracotta plant pots or recycled yoghurtpots. (You will need to make a small holein the bottom of the containers and insert

and knot a loop of string to hang it.) onceset cut away the plastic containers if usedthen hang in a position where you canspot which birds it attracts. Children cancreate a tally to record and identify thewinged diners or why not get involved ina national Birdwatch campaign.

If your New Year resolution was recyclingmore why not upcycle your old deadChristmas tree into a didgeridoo? You’llneed to be patient as the wood needsseveral months to dry out, but what anawesome project to do with an adult. Ifthat’s too much machinery and time youcould craft a bird feeder instead. Simplycut the tree into smaller pieces, about 30cm long would work well. Drill out thetrunk to create a hole for the bird seedand prepare to watch the birds flock toyour garden sculpture. If these projectshave whet your creative appetite there’salways coaster making or sculptures, togive you a head start on Christmaspresents!

One of the best things about getting coldoutdoors is the pleasure of warming upafterwards with a cup of hot chocolateand a roaring fire. There’s nothing like thetingle of cold cheeks to make you feelalive, so what are you waiting for, theoutdoors awaits!

Sue GascoyneFor fun sensory play activities, Sue’s latest

research, resources and training go towww.playtoz.co.uk.

sue@playtoz.co.uk 01206 796722

It’s al l child’s playJanuary Blues

15

16

17

18

The all-new Mazda MX-5 rocks. It reallydoes.

And it’s not just me that thinks it - theawesome sports car has already beennamed Roadster of the Year in Britain.

But why does the MX-5 rock? And why is itawesome? Well, quite simply, the car is abrand icon. It is brilliant fun to drive – andthat has been the case in all of itsincarnations over the last 25 years.

Having made its British debut at the 2015Goodwood Festival of Speed, the all-newfourth-generation Mazda MX-5 has anexcellent power to weight ratio, rear-wheeldrive, perfect 50:50 weight distribution and

more comfort and tech than everbefore.

The MX-5 is offered with a choice oftwo petrol engines, and with ninemodels across five trim levels, themighty yet minute Mazda looksalready set to repeat the Japanesemotor manufacturer’s influence withinthe reasonably priced sports carsector.

Maintaining the driver-focused naturethat has made the MX-5 the best-selling two-seater sports car of alltime, it is obvious the engineeringphilosophy behind the up-to-the-minute model has allowed Mazda toretain the dexterity, enjoyment andengagement that has alwayscharacterised it.

The lightest MX-5 since thecelebrated original, the fresh car isshorter, lower and wider than theoutgoing one, with the smallestoverhangs and lowest centre ofgravity yet. These dynamicproportions combined with Mazda’sKODO: Soul of Motion design valuesensure that the model’s styling reflectsits emphasis on driving pleasure in anunmistakably contemporary andenergetic way.

Featuring Mazda’s award-winningSKYACTIV technology, theMX-5’s ultra-efficient lightweight petrol poweredengines deliver new heights ofperformance and economy. Across theline-up the MX-5 features alloy wheels,LED headlights, a leather steeringwheel, as well as a light and sleekfabric hood.

SE-L models add LED daytime running lights,climate control air-conditioning, DAB radio,Bluetooth and cruise control, plus Mazda’sconnectivity and infotainment system withseven-inch colour touch-screen display andMultimedia Commander. SE-L models withthe 2.0-litre 160ps engine are distinguishedby 17-inch Gunmetal alloy wheels and pianoblack door mirrors, and benefit from a struttower bar and limited slip differential.

Step up to Sport trim and both the 1.5 and2.0-litre cars feature rain sensing wipers,rear parking sensors, smart keyless entry,Premium Bose Surround-Sound and heatedleather seats. With the 1.5-litre engine,Sport trim MX-5’s come with 16-inchGunmetal alloy wheels and piano black doormirrors. Sport models with the 2.0-litre160ps engine benefit from adynamic set-up that includes Sportssuspension featuring Bilstein dampers, alimited slip differential and strut tower bar,while visually, they are marked out by their17-inch Bright alloy wheels and bodycoloured mirrors.

But perhaps the most amazing aspect of theMX-5 is that when the original model waslaunched in 1990, it cost £14,249 (equal to£31,687 in today’s money), yet quarter of acentury later with far more standardequipment, the all-new Mazda MX-5 costsfrom £18,495. This means, more than ever,the car sets the benchmark as the one of theworld’s best and most affordable sports cars.

Indeed, it seems with its lightweight design,cool cabin, exquisitely engineeredmechanicals and balanced handling the all-new Mazda MX-5 is ready to further boostits place in the hearts of automotiveaficionados.

FAST FACTS

Max speed: 133 mph

0-62 mph: 7.3 secs

Combined mpg: 40.9

Engine layout: 1998cc, 4cylinder, 16 valve petrol

Max. power (bhp): 158

Max. torque (lb.ft): 148

CO2: 161 g/km

Price: £18,495 - £23,295

PROS ‘N’ CONS

Fun √Handling √Looks √Equipment √Limited room X

Auto biographies All New Mazda MX-5Tim Barnes-Clay @carwriteups

19

20

21

22

P lanning MattersGOSPORT BOROUGH COUNCIL

REF LOCATION PROPOSAL STATUS

P/15/1179/RM Daedalus - HCA UnitDeadalus Airfield CharkLane PO13 9FL

Application for approval of the reserved matterof Landscape for plot DE 05/06 following outlinepermission (P/11/0436/OA) and Reserved MatterApproval for all other matters (P/15/0073/RM)for a light industrial warehouse / workshop unitincluding mezzanine offices and associated exter-nal parking, service area, access and landscapedarea (to include approval of details pursuant toconditions 06 (Hard Landscaping), 07 (ExternalMaterials), 09 (Levels), 14 (Construction Environ-mental Management Plan), 16 (Foul and SurfaceWater Drainage), 20 (Japanese Knotweed), 21(External Lighting), 24 (Noise Mitigation/Management & Building Sustainability), 25(Boundary Treatment), 26 (Tree and Hedgerowretention)and 30 (Mud on the road network) ofthe outline planning permission P/11/0436/OA).

Undecided

N/15/0008 Daedalus Park Lee onthe Solent PO13 9FU

Variation of conditions 2 and 11 of Planning Per-mission 15/00247/FULL to amend approved sitelayout and soft landscaping scheme.

Approved

A monthly round up of planning applications submitted since 1 November 2015

For more details go to:eoc.fareham.gov.uk/ocellaweb/planningsearch

23

171 - 173 High StreetLee-on-the-Solent

PO13 9BX

24

After Christmas day, don’t pile up empty gift boxes from your new computer, DVD player,or stereo receiver on the street for the bin men.

Burglars appreciate knowing that you have expensive gifts inside for them to steal. Breakthe boxes down or cut them up to conceal the items better.

Be extra cautious about locking doors and windows when you leave yourproperty even if only for a few minutes.

Find your local Neighbourhood Policing Team www.hampshire.police.uk

Need the police? Dial 101 or 999 for crime in progress101 makes it quicker and easier to contact the police when you don’t need an emergency

response.

Keep up to date with crime news with Neighbourhood Watch www.facebook.com/GOSPORTNHW

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

25

26

In house chat DETAILING YOUR IDEAL HOME

Mark Rowe,MD & Owner of RPS Estate and

Letting Agents

First things first, myself and theRPS team wish everyone in Lee onthe Solent a very Merry Christmasand hope that the time spent withloved ones is happy and not tootiring! ;-)

In a recent article I discussed howthe team in my office go the extramile when it comes to findingcertain homes for our sellers, thisworks extremely well when buyersare looking for something specific.There may be specific locations,right down to specific roads thatyou would be very interested tobuy in or perhaps there’s a style ofhome that’s only available incertain parts of the area.

The more information you’re ableto give when registering to look forproperty, the higher the chance

you will have of finding your idealhome. Highlighting thisinformation also opens upopportunities for off markethomes.As a buyer, the perception is thatyou only ever have the option ofwhat’s available on the market atthe time you’re thinking of moving.However, there’s a marketplacethat goes unnoticed, and it’s notjust for the select few at the higherend of the market or propertiesbased in London!

What most people don’t realise orperhaps expect, is that quite a fewproperties are never seen onwebsites or in estate agencywindows simply because they aresold entirely off market. So, themore information you’re able togive when registering to look for

property, the higher the chanceyou will have of finding your idealhome.

From a seller’s point of view,selling your property off marketcan be a very positive experienceand ideal if you would preferdiscretion. It also perfectly suitsthose that don’t relish the idea ofviewer after viewer tramplingthrough their home on a dailybasis.

27

28

29

30

SSTTANDAND OUTOUT FROM TFROM THEHE CROWD!CROWD!

BBEE SEEN - ISEEN - IN A BIGAZIN A BIGAZINE!NE!CCALL TALL THE BIG VHE BIG VOICE TOICE TEAMEAM ON 0ON 01329 61329 63063030630

31

32