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

Chineham

This coming Saturday, being the third in the month, means that the Chineham Repair Café will be taking place at Christ Church in Reading Road. The team is able to analyse and possibly repair computers, small, electrical appliances, furniture, garden tools, clothes, or even toys (old and modern). The team is available from 10am to 1pm. Why not give it a try?

What has also proved to be a great success was Martin Biermann’s call for surplus/outdated medicines. He now has several boxes ready to be taken to conflict zones where there is often a desperate shortage of medication and equipment. if you have medicines stashed away which are never likely to be used, why not give Martin a call on 01256 352434?

Chineham WI is not having a meeting during August and the next one will be September 25, which also happens to be their birthday party. Keep the date clear as visitors are always welcome to drop in and get a flavour of their activities. There will be more information in a future column.

Another evening worth keeping clear is 14th September from 1930 to 2100 when there will be a presentation by a member of the Greener Basingstoke team on the topic of climate change in Chineham. A very informative event is promised and more details will follow in due course.

Fiona Biermann

 

Cliddesden

Cliddesden WI meet on the third Monday of the month, at 10.30am in the Millennium Village Hall. All are welcome and no charge is made for your first visit.

On August 21st, visiting speaker Dave Levy will give a talk entitled “The Gambia: A Birding Treat”. Then, on September 18th (also the WI’s 101st anniversary), there will be a beeswax candle making workshop, alongside speaker Brian Graham; please note that there will be a £4 charge for visitors on this occasion, but members go free.

Contact Julia Ross (ukjuliaross@gmail.com) for further information.

Helen Walker

 

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood

Weekend Pong: There was a heavy smell hanging over Hatch Warren and Beggarwood last weekend. To me, it didn't seem like the odour that comes from the Anaerobic Digester. My money (without any evidence) would be on a local farmer muck-spreading. It seemed to ease off by Sunday night.

Patient Participation Group: The PPG has reported that the CGH and Beggarwood surgeries are organising another baby immunisation clinic on Saturday (19th August) and a member of the PPG has volunteered to attend and help where needed. There will be both flu and Covid immunisations taking place in the Autumn. The surgery is waiting to hear when this will happen from NHS England but it will be after 11th September as this is when the flu vaccinations will be received.  Members of the PPG will volunteer to help with marshalling.

Hatch Warren Runners are advertising their 10k Farleigh Wallop Trail Race, which will be held on Sunday 24th September. This event will take place on the glorious countryside trails and in woodland in and around the picturesque villages of Farleigh Wallop, Cliddesden and Ellisfield. The runners have been granted permission by the Portsmouth Estates to use their beautiful, listed ‘Home Farm Barn’ as race HQ (Home Barn Farm, The Avenue, Basingstoke RG25 2HX).

Lager Festival: A reminder that the Community Association is holding another of its popular Lager Festivals on 9th September. Tickets are £6 - but half price to members.

Fireworks Spectacular: The Community Association is advertising 'early bird' tickets for sale in September for its annual fireworks display, which will be held on Saturday 4th November. This is one of the best, if not the best, show in the area and it is worth buying your tickets well in advance: they normally sell out!

Stephen Reid

 

Kempshott

The Kempshott Village Hall Sunday Market was quite busy last week. There were a number of first time stall holders, so it’s always worth checking it out on the second Sunday of the month from 10.30am till 1pm. On Monday this week there’s the Basingstoke Horticultural Society’s meeting in the Hall at 7.30pm. This month Nigel Choat is presenting about Wetlands and Waterways. There’s no WI meeting in the Hall this month as there’s a members’ cream tea in a local garden, but they’ll be back in the Hall in September when visitors will be welcome.

Diana Manville

 

Oakley

Oakley Community Association would like to thank everyone who braved the weather to attend the village show. Stall holders, our wonderful volunteers who put up, take down and generally keep it all going. Those who baked, crafted, drew, painted, photographed, grew fruit and veg and flowers, wrote poems, stories and limericks ( and yes, I bet I have left out some of the classes, so apologies for that!)  - and, of course, all the members of the community who came along, despite the rain. And also thanks to John Glasscock and his band who played all afternoon. Your incredible generosity resulted in donations of almost £250 to OCA, for which we are really grateful.

Barbara Bedford, Treasurer of Oakley Community Association

Hamper Collection: Just to confirm that the winner (154) has claimed and collected the prize

Bee Fayre Celebration on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August in Wootton St Lawrence:

Buzz is that this weekend is one not to be missed! One highlight worth mentioning is on Saturday afternoon at 3pm - MC John Lauwerys Hampshire Beekeepers Association will present The Bee Story Part 2: Charles Butler - Parson, Musicologist, Beekeeper - a truly enthralling finale to bring you the legacy and influence of Charles Butler - father of English Beekeepers - in words, music and song. The Archbishop of Canterbury will open this session with a special Charles Butler video message, followed by the 12 singers Stile Antico who will be performing Charles Butler Bee Madrigal and other pieces, in his pastoral home to celebrate 400th anniversary the publication of “Feminine Monarchie” in 1623.

To reserve your seats please visit charles-butler400.co.uk

Wootton St Lawrence Church - Charles Butler Celebration Service on Sunday 20th AugusT: Please join for this special celebration at 10:00am led by Revd Ben Kautzer: Area Dean of Basingstoke, Rector Oakley with Wootton.

All Welcome to give thanks, listen and hear a video message from the Most Revd Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury, Revd John Owen: Charles Butler ”The Feminine Monarchie” - Stile Antico performing Charles Butler: Melissomelos Bee Madrigal - Beekeeper blessing.

Calling all budding detectives and would-be sleuths!

The Oakley Pantomime Society presents, Murder in the Village Hall. This is your chance to watch the action unfold on stage, while you use your powers of deduction to work out “whodunnit” as well as “whodidn’t.”  Plus, you get supper!

Murder in the Village Hall takes place on September 9th, 8pm at Andover Road Village Hall.

Will you dare to come to the Village Hall? £8 to include supper (bring your own drinks)

Tickets are available from Murray Simmons Murraysimmons@hotmail.com or call 782916.

Tiffany Wise

 

Old Basing and Lychpit

If you have a planter or hanging basket that is particularly attractive this year then don’t forget to enter it in Class 1 in the Village Show which will take place on Sunday 3rd September. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be kept in peak condition until then, all you need to do is to take a photograph and email it as an attachment to: contact@oblvs.org.uk no later than midnight on 23rd August. Emails must include entrants name and address which must be in Old Basing or Lychpit. The Committee will judge the photographs and the winner will be announced at the show. All photographs will subsequently be posted on the OBLVS gallery page with names only.

Lots of talented artists will again be showing interesting and inspirational work during Hampshire Open Studios this year. It allows them to showcase their work and provides an ideal opportunity for visitors to chat to the artists and perhaps even buy an original piece of work. Our local artist Aileen Mayers who works with glass fusion in her garden studio will be opening again to welcome visitors old and new to browse her colourful glass artwork, homeware and jewellery. The Glass Studio, 8 Almond Close, Old Basing RG247DW is open every day from Monday 21st to Wednesday 30th August from 11am to 5pm.

Elspeth Lee

 

Sherfield

Sunflowers: If you fancy doing something different, pop along to ‘The Flower Pot’ – just off the A33 towards Reading, well signposted. You’ll find fields of sunflowers. You can pick your own or sit on a hay bale and have coffee or an ice cream (including ice cream for dogs!). There’s an adventure playground, viewing platform and fun props for photos well as tractor rides. And after you’ve seen thousands of sunflowers, you can walk past the pigs – Clover, Boy, Rosemary and Ginger on your way back to your car.  Check their website for opening hours as it’s closing soon! www.flowerplot.co.uk

Village Market: This Sunday, the village market is at the village hall – inside and out with crafts, superb local foods and fabulous gifts #Farmersmarket. The market is open from 11am till 2pm – free entry and all welcome.

NWR National Women’s Register held their book discussion meeting last Thursday in glorious sunshine in a member’s garden.  Gill says “We had a lovely time talking about the books which included ‘A View Across the Rooftops’, ‘Tulip Fever’ by Deborah Moggach and ‘The Girl with the Pearl Earring’ by Tracy Chevalier. 

Chris Horton