Community news from Basingstoke and surrounding villages

Cliddesden

It’s the first day of June and therefore also the first Thursday of the month! This means that the Social and Entertainment Club (AKA ‘Film Club’) will be meeting at the Millennium Village Hall this evening, for a screening of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. This 1975 blockbuster stars Jack Nicolson and is based on a book; it won all five major Academy Awards, along with numerous Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards. The bar opens at 7.30pm and the film begins rolling at 8pm. More drinks and also ice creams are available during the intermission. The cost to attend the showing is just £2. Further details available on the Village Hall Website. Whether you are new to this film, or whether it is an old favourite, do come and enjoy what is considered by many to be one of the best ever made! Please note that Farleigh Playgroup is taking a break this week for Half Term; there will also be no playgroup meeting on Friday 16th June, to allow for the Cliddesden Players’ staging to be set up (more about this to follow next week.)

Helen Walker

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood

A30 Roadworks: there was a distinctly shaky start to the night-time closure of the A30 past the Golf Course last week. Poor signage and little advance warning led people to think they had been left with no access to their homes. I visited the site each evening until better arrangements were made. The works were organised by contractors employed by Bloor Homes, and I asked the County Council officers to intervene to improve the situation. It eventually settled down and, hopefully, the works will be nearing final completion by the time you read this. Many people will breathe a sigh of relief when the cones are removed.

Cycle Route: As I trailed last week, a consultation has opened giving residents the chance to comment on the proposed Cycle Route along Winchester Road. It will remain open until 2nd July. An information pack is available through the County Council website. A live, online question and answer event will take place for residents on 8h June, from 6pm to 7pm. Places are limited so please book in advance.

Successful Sponsored Walk: St Mark's school has posted its thanks to the Friends of St Mark's School for organising its recent sponsored walk. The event raised over £2,000 which will go towards outdoor improvements, amongst other things.

Instrumental Concert: St Mark's is holding an instrument concert on Monday (5th June) for everyone who learns an instrument at school or plays in the school orchestra. My experience of these events is that the standard of musicianship is remarkably high.

Annual General Meeting: A reminder that the Community Association's Annual meeting is on Wednesday (7th June) at 7pm. It is a hybrid meeting, meaning that you attend in person at the Beggarwood Community Centre, or on-line. Tickets are free but need to be booked. More details are on the Community Association website and Facebook.

Stephen Reid

Kempshott

A reminder that the Kempshott Village Hall has an open day on 4th June from 10 until 2. It’s obviously the season for open days, as Stratton Park Men’s She’d has one on Tuesday 13th June at the Scout Hut in the park from 10.30. Kempshott Methodist Church became familiar with Zoom during lockdown and now has a newly launched website https://churchlivingstream.co.uk. On this you can find details of Sunday services at 10.25, Wednesday Fellowship at 10.25, Ladies’ Group and Kombat for the gentlemen. Andover Mind will be at the Rugby Club on Friday from 11 till 1 for its Carer’s Support Group. This is a friendly group for carers, particularly those supporting people with dementia.

Diana Manville

Oakley

Note from Jill Gibson on behalf of the football club: Thank you to everyone who supported our Oakley FC Six-A-Side Tournament it was a fantastic weekend and the weather couldn’t have been more kind. Thank you all for your patience on Saturday lunchtime when the queue along Oakley Lane was quite impressive!! The school is a tricky site with its single lane entrance/exit, but our parking marshals did a great job and we hope the disruption was short.  Thanks to all the players, coaches, spectators, volunteers, run-all-over-B’stoke-doing-errands-ers, sponsors, suppliers and local residents, and, of course, to our amazing organising committee. Same time next year!

The next Oakley Health Walk will take place on Sunday, 25th June. All welcome.

Colour Youth Event: You may have heard that being a teenager in 2023 is more difficult than it was in the 1990s. Today's youth confront so many problems and obstacles that they are unsure who to talk to about them, how to deal with them, or what to do to overcome them. Social anxiety, self-image, self-harm, choices, well-being, and many other issues are among these concerns.

Some of our young people are currently dealing with these issues, and we understand how difficult this can be for any parent, especially when we don’t have enough information and skills to help our young children navigate these difficulties.

The Just GIRLS-JG and Just BOYS-JB festival have been designed to help our young people sail through this difficult situation. To address various perspectives and world views, we termed it colour.

We've invited experts to speak and answer questions on the following hot topics: peer pressure, weight, lifestyle, self-image, identity, faith, mental health, wellbeing, choices, relationship, friendships, sex, drugs, alcohol and academics.

There will also be time for fun activities, networking and food. Check out what we’ve got for you; pool party, disco, beach, photo booth, ice cream, souvenirs, cocktail and much more.

Time: 12pm - 3pm - just boys and 3.30pm-7pm - just girls. Age: year 8 + and dress code: beach/ pool theme. Register now! Invite your friends! Contact sochi@oww.church for any enquiries.

Oakley Ramblers June Walks on Sunday 4th June - Winchester, All Day 7.5 miles and Saturday 24th June - Mottisfont, Morning 6.5 miles. Find further details at oakleyramblers.org or email oakleyramblers@gmail.com.

Oakley Scout and Guide Premises Management Committee: This committee manages the Scout and Guide premises in St John's Piece, Oakley, meeting approximately four to six times a year.

The small committee comprises a chairperson, secretary and treasurer with representatives from the Oakley Scout and Guide organisations.

Are you someone who is looking for a voluntary post to help a village organisation? We are seeking two new trustees - a secretary and a treasurer, each with an average commitment of just two to three hours a month. Want to know more? To discuss or ask for the job description for either voluntary post please email the chair, Eric Askew on eric.askew21@btinternet.com

Don’t forget to register for this year’s Oakley Front Garden Stalls on Saturday 24th June Between 12noon to 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

Plans for the wonderful Old Basing and Lychpit Carnival on Saturday 17th June are well underway so save the date. More details next week. In the meantime the Scarecrow Festival is now taking place until the 17th June. It is not a competition but just for fun and the enjoyment of everyone. Although there is no theme the Carnival procession theme is ‘Golden’ so this could be a starting point. Once scarecrows are in place please contact: Old Basing and Lychpit Facebook or email: oldbasingcarnival@gmail.com so that they can be added to the checklist and map which will be constantly updated until the day of the Carnival.

Old Basing WI will be meting on 6th June at 7.30pm in the Parish Rooms at St Mary’s Church, Old Basing. The speaker will be Sophie Fryer who will talk about hats and millinery. All are welcome to attend.

The Ivy Club will be off to Swanage for the day on Tuesday 11th July leaving at 9.00am and returning at 4.00pm. Subject to availability guests will welcome to join the outing at a cost of £20 per person. Please telephone:01256 328196 if interested.

Elspeth Lee

Sherfield

Meeting to discuss potential development in the Parish of Sherfield was held on Thursday, May 25. Over 60 residents attended the meeting in the village hall on to hear about the impact on the village of potential developments listed by BDBC in their SHELAA (Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment).

The meeting was led by John Darker formerly leader of the Neighbourhood Plan working group. There were explanations of the process by local borough councillors. The meeting heard that building sites are being promoted by landowners throughout the parish - in the south, west and east, which could swamp the hamlet of Church End and the Village of Sherfield itself. The total

number of houses being suggested would be in the region of 1,900.

There were comments and questions from those present, especially about loss of agricultural land, congestion on roads particularly the A33, the loss of rural communities, coalescence with Basingstoke and sewerage capacity. It was suggested that residents form an action group similar to other local villages.

Tonight: NWR will be enjoying their annual ramble ending with a pub supper.  

Fete: There’s just over a week to go to our biggest annual event the Sherfield Village Fete and Dog Show.  The Sherfield Village Green and Hall will once again play host to this fabulous family day out.  Attractions include: The Old Basing RBL Corps of Drums, line dancing, Sherfield School Performing Arts, Basing Clog Morris dancing, Grand Raffle and the annual tug of war ‘Tussle of the Taverns’. There’s also great events for children with Juggling Jake’s circus skills tent, Hollycross Farm Pets, face painting, children’s races, teacup roundabout and the giant inflatable slide and bungees.  There’s also an array of great stalls - both commercial sellers and local talents, a classic car display, the much loved dog show, traditional fete games such as crockery smashing and coconut shy. There will be a fantastic array of food and drink is on offer with a beer tent, cider stall, wood fired pizzas, barbecue, loaded nachos and fries, quesadillas, tacos and toasties, premium coffee and waffles, afternoon teas and ice cream vans.  There’s live music on the green and a jazz band and folk duo in the village hall garden.   This year we are also proud to be joining up with the Village Hall Market where there will be many more stalls both in the garden and inside the hall.  The fete helps raise precious funds for our village as well as our chosen charity which this year is Basingstoke & Deane Young Carers. Free entry, plenty of free car parking. Come and join in the fun for everyone. 12-5pm. 

Chris Horton