Mark Jones is partnerships manager at Destination Basingstoke. He has worked in Basingstoke for 26 years, including 13 years as editor of the Gazette and eight years as director of communications and fundraising at Ark Cancer Charity.

CAN I start by wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2024. May it bring you plenty of good times and memorable moments.

2023 has certainly been a memorable year for Destination Basingstoke (DB). The DB board and Team DB (Jane Stewart, Elizabeth Spencer and myself) are proud that, with help and support from sponsors, partners, volunteers, and like-minded stakeholders and supporters, we have successfully delivered five high-profile and positive events that have helped to put the buzz into Basingstoke and Deane.

DB is a not-for-profit organisation and our mission is to showcase and celebrate the amazing individuals, businesses, community organisations, and local charities in Basingstoke and Deane. DB is ambitious for the town and borough; proud of the town and borough; committed to connecting businesses to businesses and other local organisations, including charities; and we are proud to be an advocate of all things green.

This year, we were delighted to see 220 people take part in the Croudace Festival 5k run; to recognise and reward the winners at the 20th A Place to be Proud of Awards; to showcase and celebrate the best of local business at the Inspire Business Awards; and to have seen a big increase in entrants for the Destination Basingstoke Phillips Law Half Marathon and 10k. With partners, we were also proud to help organise the biggest Green Expo and conference that Basingstoke has held.

It is indeed the people that make a place, and in Basingstoke and Deane, we are blessed to have so many amazing people in many walks of life. This is a community with a can-do attitude to life and, in my long experience, it is also so often a kind and caring community where people want to make a difference and help others.

Team DB is proud to have launched its 2024 events – you can find out more at destinationbasingstoke.co.uk (including the early bird entry offers to our running events until December 31 – just saying!)

We are looking forward to helping more people to get on track with their physical and mental health and wellbeing in 2024 – running is a great way to boost both – and we are also looking forward to receiving lots of entries for the A Place to be Proud of Awards and the Inspire Business Awards, and to holding another big Green Expo and conference.

Basingstoke and Deane is a place to be proud of, and Team DB look forward to playing our part in making 2024 a marvellous and memorable year for the people, businesses, community organisations, and local good causes that are the heartbeat of our wonderful town and borough.