1

THETHETHETHETHE

RARARARARATEPTEPTEPTEPTEPAAAAAYERYERYERYERYERMAGAZINEMAGAZINEMAGAZINEMAGAZINEMAGAZINE

Vol. 50 No. 5 OCTOBER 2007

ISSUED FREE OF CHARGE Circulation 9,000

Published by the Waterlooville and District Residents' Association (Covering the Wards of Cowplain, Stakes, Waterlooville and Hart Plain includingpart of Lovedean). Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the contributors. The Publishers do not accept any liability foradvertisements, statements in articles or letters published. The Association reserves the right to withdraw or refuse an advertisement if, inthe opinion of the Association, the actions of the advertiser reflect badly on the Association and/or the Ratepayer Magazine. All articlesherein may be reproduced only in their entirety and must acknowledge their source.© 2007 W.& D.R.A.

MIKE ATTRIDGE'BRICKWORK'

Free estimates with no obligationHorndean-Lovedean-Cowplain

Clanfield-WaterloovilleTel: (023)92 232280

DECORATIVE GARDEN WALLS,PATIOS AND ALL OTHER

BRICKWORK UNDERTAKEN

Waterlooville and DistrictResidents' AssociationThe next meeting is on

Thursday 4th October at 7.30pmat the Waterlooville Community Centre

Table Map in Ops Room - See page 4

Portchester Castle

For information about the castle andother places of interest, go to the

English Heritage websitewww.english-heritage.org.uk

ARTHUR BRILEYIn the May magazine we published Arthur’s obituary.

His son, Peter, has written the following letter to David Pinkexpressing his thanks.

Dear David,I wanted to thank you for the obituary in the

magazine, it summed up my father very nicely and Iknow that he would have really appreciated it. Also, Iwould be grateful if you could pass on my thanks toeveryone who attended the funeral, it was so nice tosee so many people there and very re-assuring to seethat people thought so highly of him. He was lucky toknow so many kind people through The Ratepayer,MURA and the many helpful neighbours in the area.Both my mum and dad were very enthusiastic abouttheir involvement with the Ratepayer and were alwayshappy to make time for it. I wish you continued successwith the magazine.

Thank youPeter Briley

4

During WWII an Underground Headquarters (UGHQ)was built beneath Fort Southwick on Portsdown Hill, toprovide a bombproof Naval, Army and Air Force OperationControl and Communication Centre, for the proposed alliedinvasion of Europe; Operation Overlord.The headquarters main role on D-Day, 6 June 1944, was tocollate and evaluate all the information that was receivedfrom shore, air and seaborne operations. This informationwas then plotted on a large table map in the Operation’sRoom of the UGHQ, and was passed to the alliedcommanders at nearby Southwick House. On the 6 June1944 there were 700 staff working underground; most ofwhom were women: WRNS and WAFFs; their average agewas 19.The UGHQ was excavated by 172 Tunnelling CompanyRoyal Engineers. Work was started on 16 February 1942,probably as a direct result of the Washington Conferenceheld in December 1941, when the USA committed itself toprepare for landings on the European mainland. Work onthe complex was completed during December 1942. Theone-mile of operational tunnels are 100 feet beneath thesurface, and additional galley facilities were provided in thenorthern Central Caponier of Fort Southwick. Air conditioningand gas filtration were installed as well as fresh waterstorage. Access was via three notorious staircases fromwithin Fort Southwick; there was no lift.Because of its D-Day connection the UGHQ was a veryclosely guarded secret, and a cover story of anunderground hospital still persists today. Southwick House,located in the village of Southwick a mile north from the Fort,was used as the headquarters for SHAEF (SupremeHeadquarters Allied Expeditionary Force) although theactual HQ during and for some time after D-Day, was a tentin nearby Creech Woods.During the Cold War, the UGHQ was the home of NATOand Royal Navy communications centres. The latter wasclosed in 1974 due to fears over fire safety and moved to apurpose built building on the Parade of Fort Southwick.When the Fort closed in 2003, this operation was transferredto HM Naval Base Portsmouth. Fort Southwick was ownedby the MoD since it was built in the 1860s, and in 2003 it wasput up for sale and bought by the Fort Southwick CompanyLimited.

FORT SOUTHWICK UNDERGROUND HEADQUARTERSAs part of the Fort Southwick UGHQ construction project, asecure Underground Radio Station was built in the nearbyPaulsgrove Chalk Pit. The purpose of this facility was to actas a transmitting and receiving station for the UGHQ. Theidea was to keep the highly visible aerial arrays well awayfrom the UGHQ in case they attracted the attention of theLuftwaffe.The 172 Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers started thiswork in May 1942. They were quartered in the VictoriaBarracks, now demolished, at Old Portsmouth, and broughtup to the site daily. A section of 179 Company RoyalEngineers and a section of 183 Company Royal Engineers(Specialist Well Boring Tunnelling Company) were sent toassist them. This radio station still exists and can be visitedwith some difficulty.

Bob HuntPortsdown Tunnels

www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk

Bob Hunt has lived in Portsmouth all his life and has beeninterested in Portsdown and what lies underneath it sincethe age of 8.He was amazed to find that the subject had virtually noother presence on the Internet – or the Library – especiallywhen you look at what has been documented for other UKcities.Bob is not an archaeologist, but it seemed odd to him thatmore was known about a Long Barrow, from 2000BC, thana World War II (WWII) deep tunnel shelter.Hence the Portsdown Tunnels website was born.Bob kindly agreed to the publication of selected parts ofthe website in the magazine over the coming months. Thoseof you without a computer who want to view Bob’s websitecan visit Waterlooville library where Internet computers areavailable.

www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fort Southwick

8

Old photos and news cuttings - I am always willing to givea good home to any of these and can promise they will bewell looked after. Tel: 9224 0653.RE-ACTION (Tools for self-reliance) - If you have any toolssuitable for refurbishment, or scrap lead, copper or brassto help raise money to dispatch the tools abroad, pleasecontact Bob Ginger Tel: 9226 8762.St George's Church Hall, Waterlooville, holds CoffeeMornings every Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 12noon in St George's Hall. All proceeds to charity. Also aMarket every Thursday from 9.30am to 11.30am. Homemade cakes, produce, cards, crafts, eggs, plants, etc.Refreshments also available.Gospel Hall, Mill Road, Waterlooville, holds CoffeeMornings each Friday from 10am to 12 noon.Waterlooville Town Market - each Friday in the Precinct.Age Concern, Cowplain hold Coffee Mornings on Friday5th Oct and 2nd Nov, from 10am to 11.30am at the BorrowDay Centre, London Road, Cowplain (Opposite Co-op).Raffles, etc. All welcome. Also a Christmas Fayre onSaturday 24th November from 10am to 12noon. Tel: 92266423 for details.Ark Angels are holding Table-Top Sales with refreshmentson Saturday 6th Oct at St George's Hall from 10.30am to3.30pm and on Saturday 20th Oct at Lovedean Village Hall,from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. All proceeds to supportStubbington Ark Animal Shelter. Tel: 9278 7233 for moredetails.SNAP (Say No And Phone) Disco - will take place on Sat27th Oct from 7pm to 11pm at Havant Leisure Centre. Theseevents enable 11-17yr olds to enjoy a good night out in adrug/alcohol free environment. Entry by ticket. £4 in advance.Tel: 9247 6026 or visit Havant/Waterlooville Leisure Centres.Supported by Neighbourhood Watch and Local Police.Waterlooville and District Philatelic Society meet on Thu18th Oct at Westbrook Hall, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Subject:Members interests - any material. Sat 20th Oct - a HAMPEXtakes place at Wickham.Waterlooville Community Board Meetings - 'SouthMeeting' on last Wednesday of month at 6.30pm. 'NorthMeeting' on the first Monday of each month at 6.30pm.Open to public. For details of venues Tel: 9244 6416.Waterlooville Information Centre is situated insideWaterlooville Library – whatever your question about publicservices in Hampshire you can visit the team, contact themby phone on Tel: 9224 1677 or e-mail: info.wat@hants.gov.uk.St George’s Ladies Group meet socially to hear visitingspeakers on a variety of topics. 2nd and 4th Thursdays,September to July, 8pm St. George’s Church Hall,Waterlooville.OAP Bingo – every Tuesday between 2pm – 4pm at StGeorge’s Church Hall. Other attractions include tea and araffle.Townswomen Guild – Waterlooville meet 1st and 3rdMons at 2pm at St George's Church Hall. For details contactthe Secretary Tel: 9278 7045.Lovedean Village Hall hold a Car Boot and Tabletop Saleon Sun 7th Oct starting at 2pm. Tel: 9259 3904 or 9259 6636for details and bookings.Rowans Hospice support events can be found on websitewww.rowanshospice.co.uk.Coffee Morning for the Rowans Hospice - Sat 13th Oct,from 10am to 12 noon at the Age Concern, Cowplain. Variousstalls. 50p entry imcludes a coffee and biscuit

EDITORIAL NOTICES

The Age Concern Cowplain, Borrow Centre, LondonRoad, Cowplain, will be holding an Open Day on Saturday8th September from 11am until 1pm.This is an opportunity for the local retired population to seefor themselves the extended Centre, and find out informationon all the activities and services provided. Anyone whowould like to volunteer is also welcome to pop in and findout about the volunteering opportunities. Light refreshmentswill be provided.For further information please call Amanda Mockler on Tel:9226 6423 or email ageconcerncowplain@tiscali.co.uk

Cowplain Friends - The next get-together of the group isat 7:30pm on Saturday 3rd November at St. Wilfrid’s ChurchHall in Padnell Road, Cowplain. Geoff Salter will give a talkon the childhood of Edith Ellen Blackman as told to herdaughter Grace when she was a girl. It is followed a fishand chip supper. Contact Sonia Passingham Tel: 9225 4703.The cost is £5 per head.Cowplain WI - will be holding an Art Exhibition andCoffee Morning at 10am on Saturday 10th Novemberat the Scouts Hall, Padnell Avenue. Proceeds will go toNaomi House Children’s’ Hospice.

Thinking about Christmas yet? No! Well Michael and Iare because during the latter part of this month we will beputting together the December edition of the magazine. Ifyou are responsible for a Christmas function, gathering orsome event that you wish to let others know about, then weneed to know by the 25th of this month. Details as to howyou can submit an article or information you want printedare on Page 9.Something different about the magazine! It actuallyappeared last month as well. The answer is at the bottom ofthis column.

Answer - All the adverts are now surrounded by a solid lineinstead of a broken line.

The Royal Hospital School Association now hold monthlymeetings on the first Thursday of each Month (except August)at Waterlooville R.N.A. Starting at 7.45pm. Contact Mr AndyPope (Secretary) on Tel: 9275 5397 for details.

SHOULD WE JUST BE SCARED,OR BE VERY SCARE?

With flooding, rising mortgage rates and the recentimposition of ‘home information packs’ (HIPs), can thehomeowner suffer anymore bad news? Well unfortunatelythere is more. A recent newspaper article informs us thatthe eight English regional assemblies (ours is SEEDA)responsible for housing and planning are to be scrappedand their powers and responsibilities handed over to anun-elected quango.The assemblies consist of councillors and representativesof industry that have blocked several housing developmentsin the South East in recent years. Hot on the heels of thatannouncement is news that one of the recommendationsfrom the recently published Housing Green Paper is theestablishment of a ‘local delivery vehicle’ which will be abody set up by local authorities charged with securingsites for the construction of affordable housing.Is this then an open invitation to property developers andhouse building groups to push through developmentswithout any due regard to local concerns? We will have towait and see. It seems those of us who advocate the housingprinciple of Nimby (not in my back yard) will have to findanother cause to support.

9

WATERLOOVILLE AND DISTRICTRESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

(Covering the Wards of Cowplain, Stakes, Waterloovilleand Hart Plain including part of Lovedean)President: D. Foyle I.S.M., Tel: 9225 7467Vice President: F Rozzell, Tel: 9259 3198Chairman: Mr. D. Pink, 74 Cherry Tree Avenue,Cowplain, Hants. PO8 8AP. Tel: 9224 0653.Vice Chairman: Mrs. J. Rea, Tel: 9225 8261Hon. Treasurer: Mr. N. Chedzey, 103 Sutton Road,Cowplain, Waterlooville, PO8 8PT, Tel: 9242 6575Hon. Secretary & Minutes Secretary: Hazel Matthews,Tel:9226 8780Distribution Manager: Mrs Walker, Tel: 9225 7305

ADVERTISING AND MAGAZINE ARTICLESAt present there is no advertising space available. Forgeneral enquiries, comments, and corrections or tosubmit an article please contact the Business Manag-er/Magazine Compiler at 11 Ruskin Way, Waterlooville,PO8 8JX or email: business@theratepayer.co.uk.

NEXT BLOOD DONATION SESSIONSTuesday 2nd October and 6th November, 1.30pm to 3.25pmand 4.30pm to 7.15pm at Waterlooville Community Centre(Behind ASDA).Thurday 11th October, 1.30pm to 3.25pm and 4.30pm to7.15pm at St Wilfrid's Church Hall, CowplainNational Blood Service Website - www.blood.co.ukYou can pre book appointments via Tel: 0845 7 711 711.

USEFUL INFORMATIONWaterlooville Police Station: Swiss Road, Waterlooville,Hants. PO7 7FX. Tel: 999 in emergencies, 101 for non-emergency calls or leave information-only messages,in strict confidence, on Crimestoppers Tel: 0800 555 111.Registrar of Births and Deaths: “Fernglen” Town HallRoad, Havant. Tel: 9248 2533. Hours: Mon - Fri 9am - 1pm.Mon and Tue 2pm - 3.30pm.Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Swiss Cottage, 9 St. GeorgesWalk (Hambledon Road) Waterlooville. Tel: 9271 7699.Drop-in sessions Wed, Thu and Fri, 9.30am to 2pm.Telephone advice line, open 1pm to 3pm, Wed and ThuTel: 0870 126 4858. Online Advice Guide:www.adviceguide.org.ukDisabled Information and Advice Line (DIAL) Tel: 92824853 (answer phone when closed).Good Neighbours Schemes: Cowplain Tel: 9225 4090.Waterlooville Tel: 9226 6005. (Help line 9am - 6 pm. Monto Fri. For assistance with collecting prescriptions, lifts,small odd jobs and errands.)Community Centres and Halls:

Westbrook Hall (No telephone)The Acorn Centre, Wecock Tel: 9225 8423Waterlooville Tel: 9225 6823Cowplain Tel: 9226 7029Merchistoun Hall Tel: 9259 7114Lovedean Village Hall Tel: 9259 3904Deverell Hall Purbrook Tel: 9243 0217Havant and District MENCAP, Anders House, MiltonRoad. Available for hire. Tel: 9225 7636Springwood Community Building Tel: 9223 0330

Help in Bereavement - Trained visitors to stand by youwhen you need a friend. Tel: 9266 8884.Street Lighting Defects These should be reported onTel: 0800 50 60 60 quoting the number on the lamp post.

BT & PO Pensioners meet 1st Tue 1.30pm - 3.30pm atCosham Community Centre. Tel: 9247 5593.Cowplain and Horndean Sunshine Club: AgeConcern, Borrow Day Centre, alternate Fri at 2pm. Tel:9234 3709.Renaissance Social Group meets monthly on Thuevenings in a local pub. New unattached members aged55+ and from a professional background welcome tojoin this non-profit making group. For details Tel: 92522324 or e-mail keith.mills167@ntlworld.com.Waterlooville Scottish Country Dancers: Meet atScouts and Guides HQ, Widley. Mon 8pm. Tel: 92252978.C.A.M.E.O. meet at Waterlooville Community Centre,10am to 12 noon, on the third Tuesday of the month. Tel:9226 9291 or 9226 5685. New members welcomed.Waterlooville and District Neighbourhood WatchAssociation. For information Tel: 9289 2627 or visitwww.wdnwa.org.uk.Bon-Amis - Singles Social Club (25-60) - meet Tueevenings at Cowplain Activity Centre. Make new friends,varied social and leisure activities. Details from ChrissyTel: 9278 1902 or Steve Tel: 9278 9380.Denmead Bridge Club meets Monday evenings at theDenmead Community Centre, School Lane, Denmeadfrom 7pm to 10pm. Contact the Secretary, David White,on Tel: 9261 7201 for further information.Cowplain Social Bridge Club meet on Thursdays, 7pmto 10pm at the Borrow Day Centre, Padnell Road,Cowplain. Tel: 9225 7978 for details.Horndean & District Amateur Radio Club meets firstand fourth Tue at Lovedean Village Hall from 7.30pm -10pm. Further information Tel: 9261 2687 or 9247 2846.Hampshire Wildlife Trust (South Downs Branch) Tel:9259 2317 for details of membership and meetings.Havant Cage Bird Society meets at Bedhampton SocialClub, Bedhampton Road, Bedhampton 1st Wed from8pm. Tel: 9259 5064.Havant & District Writer’s Circle meets at Havant ArtsCentre on the 3rd Wed at 7.30pm. All writers frombeginners to advanced welcome. Tel: 9259 3057 fordetails.Waterlooville Womans Luncheon Club meets 3rd Wedat The Mead End, Denmead. Contact Tel: 9263 2620.Blendworth Brass Band meets at Blendworth ChurchCentre, Thu 7.30pm - 9pm. Experienced and newplayers welcome. Tel: 9259 3309 for details.BINGO takes place each Wed at 7.15pm at AgeConcern Hall, Padnell Road, Cowplain. Tel: 9234 3709 forfurther information.Horndean Garden Group - meet 2nd Tuesday at 7.30pmin Lovedean Village Hall (Small). For details Tel: 9264 8671.Purbrook Harmony Chorus - Ladies Barbershop meetsevery Wednesday from 7.30pm – 10pm at ChristchurchHall, Widley. New members welcome. Tel: 9241 2750 fordetails.Family History Group – If you want to learn how to traceyour ancestors then go to Staunton Park School, LeighPark on 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 7.30pm – 9pm. Fordetails visit www.stauntoninfo.co.uk.Mill Hill Children's Centre - Mill Road, Waterlooville, PO77DB. Tel: 9224 0077.

www.theratepayer.co.uk

13

ASSOCIATION NEWS

The Portsmouth Chorus will be appearing at TheMountbatten Centre, Portsmouth on Saturday October 13that 7.30pm, when they will be singing Bohemian Rhapsody,music from Chicago, Sunset Boulevard and more!Appearing with the Chorus will be a young dynamic groupcalled “Stringfever”. Tickets can be obtained from TheMountbatten Centre or Tel: 9234 2257.

HORNDEAN HOPPERS PRE SCHOOL‘Nearly New Sale’ of children’s clothes, toys &

equipment, Lovedean Village Hall 2pm to 4pm, Saturday6th October. Want to be a seller? Tel: 9259 1263 amweekdays only for details. Autumn Fair, Napier Hall 2pmto 4pm, Thursday 25th October. Activities and stalls forchildren of all ages!Christmas Craft Fayre and Fun Day - Oaklands CatholicSchool, Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville. Saturday, 17thNovember, 12 noon to 3pm. Tables can be booked bycontacting the School Office on Tel: 9225 9214. The cost is£10 for one table, £15 for two tables or £20 for three tables.

AN ENTRY FOR YOUR 2008 DIARY?A Charity Evening will be held at The Kings Theatre,

Southsea on Friday 4th January 2008 at 7pm in aid of thePortsmouth Hospital’s £3 million Rocky Appeal for Three(Keyhole Surgery) Laparoscopic Endoscopy Theatres.The evening’s entertainment will be the Pantomime SnowWhite and the Seven Dwarfs. “Oh no it won’t, Oh yes it will!”All seats are specially priced at £12-50 for Dress Circle, £10for Stalls and £8 Upper Circle. For more details ‘phoneMick Lyons at the Appeals Office (QA Hospital) on Tel:9228 6487.

THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST TIPSTER SCAMHampshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service

is warning residents to beware of letters inviting them to joinbetting syndicates or tipster schemes.The warning comes following a recent upsurge in thenumber of complaints from people in the county who havesubscribed to these services, only to find they are notgenuine tipsters. After paying large sums of money somepeople have found that the tips are very poor and they areno longer able to contact the companies they paid.The latest example involves a company that sent regulargamblers a glossy brochure, with a Winchester address,offering them large returns for subscribing to a bettingscheme that promised a strike rate of 88%. Punters werethen contacted and asked to put bets on behalf of the scamoperator using their own money. When the horses lostsubscribers could not get refunds of their stakes despitebeing offered a money back guarantee.Hampshire Trading Standards intervened by targeting thepostal address in Winchester and prevented mail from beingpassed to the scammer. This mail contained in excess of£26,000 in cash and cheques, which were later returned tothe punters. Investigations are continuing into this scam.Anyone who receives one of these mailings and is unsurewhether it is a scam should call Consumer Direct for adviceon Tel: 08454 040506 before parting with any money. Anyonewho has been a victim of a betting tipster scam and lostmoney should contact their local police and report it toTrading Standards or the Office of Fair Trading.

Por

tsdo

wn

(loca

lly re

ferr

ed to

as

‘The

Hill

’) is

loca

ted

to th

e no

rth

of P

orts

mou

th. I

t is

a ch

alk

hill

390

feet

(120

met

res)

hig

h an

d ru

ns fr

omW

est t

o E

ast f

or 7

mile

s. M

ost o

f the

five

mile

s of

tunn

els

wer

e du

g du

ring

WW

II, w

hen

the

sout

h-fa

cing

slo

pe o

f the

hill

was

cou

ntry

side

. Sin

ceth

en re

side

ntia

l hou

sing

has

bee

n bu

ilt o

n a

larg

e pa

rt o

f it,

form

ing

the

hous

ing

esta

tes

of W

ymer

ing

and

Pau

lsgr

ove.

The

re a

re n

umer

ous

redu

ndan

t cha

lk p

its o

n th

e hi

ll. T

he 2

maj

or o

nes

are

at P

auls

grov

e an

d W

ymer

ing.

On

top

of P

orts

dow

n ar

e 5

Vic

toria

n fo

rts

and

a R

edou

bt, c

olle

ctiv

ely

know

n as

the

Pal

mer

ston

For

ts.

For

t S

outh

wic

k

The local Support Group for the Rowans Hospice holdsan Autumn Fair on Saturday 20th Oct at SpringwoodCommunity Centre, Springwood Avenue, Waterlooville from10am to 12.30pm. Variety of stalls, Tombola and FacePainting. Refreshments will be available.