Every week and in every edition of the Gazette, we include community news from around Basingstoke and surrounding villages.

Chineham

At last week’s local elections, Chineham retained its current councillor, Paul Miller (Conservative), with Jonathan Jenkin (Green) coming a close second.

Christ Church Chineham will be holding a charity plant fair on Saturday 20th May. It takes place at the church from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The charity being supported is Wheels for the World. Wheels for the World is a branch of the charity Through the Roof and seeks to change the lives of disabled people and their families in developing countries through the gift of a wheelchair. If you have some plants to spare in your garden, perhaps you could put them aside ready for the plant fair and then take them along to the church from Sunday 14th May.

If you haven’t already done so, it is time to start thinking about re-registering your library card, which will need to be done by 1st June, and can be done at Chineham Library.

Fiona Biermann

 

Cliddesden

It will not have escaped your attention that last Saturday saw the Coronation of Charles III. Not only is he King, but he is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. To celebrate the occasion, a Coronation Thanksgiving Service was held at St. Leonards on Sunday 7th, with music and crafts for children. This was followed by a brunch.

The Jolly Farmer pub also held an event on Saturday 6th, featuring live music, crafts and an afternoon tea. This was set against the backdrop of a live stream of the events from London.

Coming up this week (and changing topic slightly): Tomorrow (12th May) is the Annual Parish Assembly, held in the Millennium Village Hall from 7pm. This is a short and sociable event, with wine, snacks and the opportunity to discuss issues relating to the parish. You may also give feedback, raise questions and suggest projects for the coming year. All are welcome.

Helen Walker

 

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood

Brighton Hill Roundabout: A reminder that some longer-term restrictions in the use of the roundabout are in place from this week. They may involve drivers in diverting along the A30 to the Kempshott or Winchester Road roundabouts. The restrictions are designed to facilitate the resurfacing work on the new layout.

Broadmere Road Adoptions: I am pleased to report that the tree under threat in the Broadmere Road area was not felled, though it has been trimmed back. Hopefully it will grow again. The work is being done to clarify the boundaries of highway land, to allow access to soakaways used for drainage. This is an essential step towards the adoption of the roads in the area.

St Mark's School has posted its thanks to Tesco shoppers who voted for it to win a community grant. The scheme has now finished, and the school was delighted to have come second, which meant it has been awarded £1,000. 

Pothole Repaired: Drivers will be relieved to see that the very wide pothole in Cliddesden Lane, just past the Portsmouth Arms, has been repaired. It was causing drivers to swerve to avoid it.

Election: In the borough council elections on 4th May, Cllr Dan Putty was re-elected to represent hatch Warren and Beggarwood for the next four years.

Stephen Reid

 

Kempshott

Kempshott marked the Coronation with the planting of a young rowan tree in the grounds of the Village Hall on Friday 5th May. It follows the tradition established at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, and that tree is now a huge presence in the car park. If it ever stops raining, I’m sure the children of Shooting Stars Nursery, which is based in the hall, will be happy to ensure that it doesn’t go thirsty. Also, based at the hall, the Sunday Market takes place on 14th May from 10.30am to 1pm. Regular attenders will know that it’s well worth visiting. Basingstoke Horticultural Society will be there with a selection of goodies for the garden, at just the right time of year to be thinking about the summer display.

There’s a new opportunity on its way for residents of Kempshott and surrounding areas. Kempshott Robins will shortly to be found a couple of Wednesday afternoons a month from 1.30pm to 3.30pm in the Community Room. The idea will be to provide a welcoming environment for those suffering from dementia or cognitive impairment, using the medium of predominantly sixties music to stimulate reminiscence and enjoyment. The idea has long been cherished and now Maria Wheatley, one of the organisers of Kempshott Daytime Club’s Wednesday morning session, having seen in her own family experience the benefits, is set to make it happen. If you know someone, or indeed, care for someone, who you think would enjoy the Robins, do make contact with Maria on kempshottrobins@yahoo.com.

While on the subject of dementia, I need to apologise that my intention to mark The Big Help Out in Kempshott has been delayed by my husband’s terminal illness, but I promise it will happen - just later in the year.

Diana Manville

 

Oakley

What a lovely weekend to celebrate a Coronation. We Brits don’t let the rain stop us! 

The Coronation Celebration at Peter Houseman was not what we expected. We’d hoped to have hundreds of people sat out on picnic rugs sipping on Pimms! Unfortunately, the rain put a stop to that but as a steady stream of villagers started to arrive with their gazebos we knew that nothing could quell Oakley’s community spirit. 

With entertainment from John Glasscock’s Jazz Band, Puppetry and Balloon art from Scratch Built Productions, a fabulous disco from DJ Scotty and a visit from the Mayor there was plenty to see and do. 

The catering costs were covered by Oakley Community Association and the BBQ and cakes were enjoyed by all. Thank you to the teams who gave up their Saturday making that work so well! The team from Barley Mow offered a bar for those seeking a stronger drink and local children made the event more regal by parading their homemade crowns. 

We were most honoured to be visited by Lady Porter who is one of the Deputy Lieutenants of Hampshire who brought with her a wonderful message from the newly crowned King. 

Thank you to all of the volunteers who came together to make this event the success that it was. We couldn’t do it without you.

Oakley Gardening Club Plant Sale on Saturday, 13th May, 10am-1pm at 9 Oakley Lane.

Don’t forget to register for this year’s Oakley Front Garden Stalls on Saturday 24th June between 12noon and 4pm. Visit a wide range of stalls all around Oakley. Full details and booking form can be found online at ocaoakley.org.uk. Book your stall by Saturday 17th June.

I will send a confirmation to those I have email addresses for in the next few weeks.

Village map available of stalls in the following week.

Tiffany Wise

 

Old Basing and Lychpit

Save the date. There will be a Quiz night on Friday 19th May in Lychpit Community Hall. This is being organised by a group of volunteers to help create a sense of community by bringing residents together for social events and use any profits to maintain the upkeep of this wonderful building. More details next week.

Another building that residents in Lychpit and Old Basing are rightly proud of is St Mary’s Church, a Grade-1-listed building. The Friends raise essential funds for maintenance work such as the drainage work which is about to be carried out as soon as possible. Their next fundraising event is on Tuesday 16th May at 7pm when Alan Turton will give a talk Hunting the Golden Calf after a short AGM. Alan’s talks are always fascinating but can be oversubscribed. To reserve a place please contact: igfkershaw@btinternet.com

Basing House sees the return of the Sealed Knot Civil War re-enactors on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th May. This will be the biggest event of the year and will take place in the grounds of Basing House with an admission fee chargeable. It is likely that here will be several hundred re-enactors involved so parking is at a premium. Local people are asked to walk to the event if they are able to do so. These events generate lots of bangs, crashes and explosions so if you live locally and would like to be warned of forthcoming events, please join the data base: Lizzy.Chenery@hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk.

Elspeth Lee

 

Sherfield

Something to look forward to after all the Coronation celebrations is Percy’s Plant Sale: This is a village tradition, started by Percy Sims, hence its name! Dan says: “Our Annual Village Sale to be held at Sherfield Village Hall on Saturday 20th May from 9.30am-12pm.  Come along and enjoy the morning. A wide variety of plants will be available ready for your spring planting and offered at very keen prices.

“If you would like to contribute to our sale please bring your plants along, duly labelled, on the day 9am – 9.30am. There will be a huge selection of both vegetables and flowers, everything from tomatoes, beans, cabbages, courgettes, strawberries and bedding plants, perennials, geraniums, pelargoniums, dahlias, all ready for planting out.  This is a regular local village event held jointly by Sherfield Village Hall, Sherfield Gardening Club and St Leonards Church.” Further details contact Dan Farrow 01256 882680.

Coronation: There were lots of festivities and they began with the chance to watch the Coronation Service on the big screen in the village hall. My friend Anthea and I enjoyed watching it with others who joined us and we shared tea and cake and many enjoyable and emotional moments. On Sunday, the Old Reading Road outside the Village Hall was packed and the sun came out for the Coronation Big Lunch. Music was provided by Derek Tarrant and there was a fun quiz and word search. The Mayor came along and judged the best-dressed table and the one with the Candelabra was awarded a bottle of fizz! There were two further prizes, one for the quiz and another for the Wordsearch – won by our table! At 2pm there was a toast to the new King and the fun continued into the afternoon. With several smaller parties around the village including one in Northfield Road. 

Chris Horton