As well as many of our usual articles, our Spring 2012 edition asks “What is that big building next to Sainsbury’s?” Yes, it’s the Community Centre. Will Hawthorne, Chairman of the Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery Residents’ Association, writes:

The Community Centre is leased by The Badger Farm Parish Council to The Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery Residents’ Community Association. It was opened in November 1986. Since that time the Association has encouraged diverse activities within the building. Groups regularly using its facilities cover a wide age-range from babes-in-arms through to the more mature, and their activities reflect the diversity of interests enjoyed by our residents, such as art, dancing, exercise, sport, toddlers/pre-school, special needs and wildlife. There is also a thriving Social Club open to residents of both Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery parishes. Residents of adjacent communities may also be members.

County Councillor Charlotte Bailey reports that both Badger Farm and Oliver’s Battery have been refitted with energy saving lights. Not only will this save money for the County on their energy bills (and that means saving us money too) but it also opens up the night sky to us as the light is directed downwards. There have been both positive comments and some complaints about the quality of the lights. Yes it is certainly different from the old lights. The white light makes it easier to pick out colours but because it is directed downwards it rather pools the light in sections.

Stanmore Primary School’s older pupils have also been busy. Year 3/4 pupils braved the ‘Dragon’s Den’ to present their ideas for new board games. Successful entrepreneurs went on to design their games and invite their parents into school for an afternoon of ‘playing the game’. And as Year 5/6 have been finding out, life wasn’t always easy if you were married to King Henry VIII – divorce was the least of your worries – much better to try and hang onto your head! A visit to King John’s house in Romsey really made the subject come to life.

Being in hospital can be a bewildering and anxious time for people – not only adjusting to the medical environment and their specific reason for being there, but also coping with being away from loved ones, familiar surroundings and normal day-to-day routines. Taking people’s minds off why they are in hospital, making time for a chat, minimising any feelings of loneliness and isolation, and helping the time pass more pleasantly, are all things Winchester Hospital Radio try to do to help patients. Having a friendly conversation and hearing favourite music can be a tremendous boost to mood and wellbeing.

In unusual news from Oliver’s Battery, County Councillor Charlotte Bailey recounts that:

I am very grateful for the public spirited action of a resident who noticed someone digging on the bronze age bowl barrow on the field to the west of Texas Drive. The individual had clearly been working at it for some time, as when challenged by a WCC planning enforcement officer the excavation was 20 feet deep! The police have also been involved, as disturbance to an ancient site is a criminal offence.