Basingstoke's 2016 in Review: Part One

Reporters TIM BIRKBECK and CLIVE HAMMOND look back on what has been an eventful 2016 in the borough. 

JANUARY 

THE year got off to a bit of a wet start as flash floods left roads being closed and cars seriously damaged. Residents living in Ellisfield witnessed a torrent of water gushing along Green Lane as the heavy downpour turned the road into a flowing river. This led to resident living in Green Lane calling for run-offs, which only cleared once a year, to be cleared more frequently by Ellisfield Parish Council and that a ditch should be built to take away some of the water from the fields. However, the problem was played down by chairman of the parish council, Cllr Tim Guinness. 

JANUARY also saw the first 24-hour strike action carried out by junior doctors surrounding safer work conditions and better pay, broke down. More than 60 junior doctors gathered outside Basingstoke hospital, in Aldermaston Road, as the walkout began and as cars passed by they beeped their horns in support, as the junior doctors waved placards with slogans such as ‘Save Our NHS’ and ‘Tired Doctors Make Mistakes’. The national strike came after communications between the British Medical Association (BMA) and health secretary Jeremy Hunt MP could not reach an agreement over a new contract which worked for the junior doctors.

WORK finally began on transforming Basingstoke Fire Station as part of a £6million revamp, The current facilities used by the town’s fire crew date back to 1966, but after nearly six years of planning, the West Ham Close station is finally getting a facelift. As previously reported in The Gazette, the new £6million station will accommodate improved modern living quarters, a training tower and smoke training building. The modernised building is expected to be completed and operational by February 2017.

ONE of the biggest talking points at the start of the year was the proposed plans for Basingstoke Football Club to be given a new home. After years of debate the decision to throw out plans to build a £10 million stadium in Basingstoke was met with cheers of elation from campaigners. More than 120 residents piled into a Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council cabinet meeting to hear the verdict that the Old Common, in Eastrop would remain undeveloped. The club had planned to construct a new 5,000 seater stadium in the borough, but it was met with objections from residents, which resulted in the cabinet making its decision.

FEBRUARY 

RESIDENTS had an unusual sighting in War Memorial Park in February when they witnessed a giant inflatable dinosaur running around the park. The spectacle was part of the fundraising antics of Emily Merrick who came up with the idea of the ‘T-Rex Hates…’ 5km runs as a way to raise money for The Christie Charity, which funds projects and services that lie outside the scope of the NHS, such as pioneering new research projects. Emily, joined by friends and family, completed the run in just under 45 minutes, raising more than £1,000, with the total still growing.

HISTORY was made with the official opening of a brand new primary school in Basingstoke. Headteacher John Martin cut the ribbon to the £4.35 million Castle Hill Primary School Rooksdown Campus, which will eventually provide 210 school places for children aged four to 11, once it reaches full capacity. The new build, in Park Prewitt Road, opened its doors to its first 30 pupils in September last year. Councillor Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council’s executive member for education, told those attending: “It’s a special and historic day for Basingstoke and this school.”

THERE was some monkey business at a popular Top of The Town restaurant to honour the Chinese New Year. Diners at the Mayflower Chinese Restaurant, in May Place, were treated to a spectacular lion dance to mark the Year of the Monkey, accompanied by a cacophony of drumming and some cymbals. It was performed by members of the Lau Fat Mang World Eagle Claw Kung Fu Association, inside and outside the popular restaurant which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

COMEDIAN Adam Hills impressed his fans after a Basingstoke show when he appeared wearing a dressing gown to collect money for a hospice, after reading in The Gazette that a fundraiser for them had been cancelled. Rather than trying to flog his merchandise after the performance at The Anvil, the Australian encouraged his fans to donate their spare change to Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices instead. Adam had requested a copy of The Gazette to use in his show, and read a story about an annual Easter Egg hunt normally held for the hospice at Highclere Castle being cancelled this year. So he decided to help the charity out by raising money for them following his Basingstoke show.

MARCH 

A VIRAL star was born as a Basingstoke dentist began singing his patients to whiter teeth with his hilarious online education videos. Dr Milad Shadrooth, a specialist at Chequer Street Surgery, is making his name as ‘The Singing Dentist’ – the man behind the eyebrows and funny quips in a series of videos. The former London MC is surprised by his success. Dr Milad has reworked classics by the like of chart-toppers Pharrell Williams, Michael Jackson and Omi into smooth skits including Gappy, Wanna Do Some Teeth Whitening, Filler and Sweet Eater. Although droll and smartly written, there is a sincere meaning behind each of them.

THE memory of a Basingstoke teenager who died of a heart attack was kept alive by his fellow pupils who held a special memorial event in his honour. Year 10 and 11 students from Everest Community Academy paid tribute to Blake Cook, who lost his life after suffering problems with diabetes. The 15-year-old had been off school for a few days before his death because of his diabetes, and he suffered a heart attack at his home in Popley. Pupils from Everest, in Oxford Way, Popley came together at a special assembly to remember the teenager, before forming a line outside for a minute’s silence, facing a pear tree that was planted last year in Blake’s memory.

THE Basingstoke and Deane Sports Awards again proved to be a great evening as 21 awards were given out to people from right across the local sporting world. The annual evening was a glittering affair and once again hosted by the Apollo Hotel and was organised by the Basingstoke Sports Council. This year the Gazette Sports Personality of the Year award was presented to The Commonwealth and British Masters powerlifter bench press champion Beverly Rodgers. This year the award was an open vote for the readers and Rodgers came out on top despite stiff competition from other sports.

SHE has endured more than 60 operations in her life, but now new mum Alexandra Robinson has reason to celebrate following the arrival of her baby against all odds. Alexandra, from Basingstoke, was born with the rare Pierre Robin syndrome, which meant the lower part of her jaw was smaller, resulting in difficulties breathing and eating. She also had a cleft palate which meant her mouth did not have a roof, so she had to be fed via a tube for several months. Her condition is so rare, affecting just one in 10,000 people that no research has ever been carried out on anyone having such a baby. Thankfully, Penelope Paramour arrived perfectly healthy.

APRIL

IN APRIL we reported the sad news that police had launched a murder investigation following the death of Dean Evans. The 31-year-old was found suffering from serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to Basingstoke hospital after police officers were called to Benham Road, in Popley, Then in October the man responsible for stabbing Mr Evans to death, Liam Darvill, 20, of Beaconsfield Road, in Fairfields, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in jail. Floral tributes were left for Mr Evans, a former Richard Aldworth pupil, at the scene, propped up against a lamppost.

A BASINGSTOKE mum has appeared on a reality television show in the hope of finding love. Fran McRoberts, a 47-year-old, mother-oftwo, took part in Channel 4’s First Dates, where she was paired up with 46-year-old Colin from Essex. But the single mum from Beggarwood was less than impressed with her blind date, and declined meeting the violent crime writer for a second time. Fran was seen opening up on the show about her loneliness, and said she struggles to get out because of having to care for her 12-year-old son Alex, who was born with a tumour.

MUMS, children, grandparents and Basingstoke and Deane borough councillors gathered outside Popley Fields Community Centre, in Carpenters Down, to protest the closure of 10 Sure Start centres in the borough. Hampshire County Council had put forward proposals to close 10 of the 11 centres in the borough with the Honeycomb based at Chiltern Primary School, remaining open as a Family Support Service Hub. Campaigners however, had a very clear message: “No ifs, no buts, no Sure Start cuts.” The Save Our Children’s Centres Hampshire campaign is being run by Catherine Overnden who told The Gazette she will fight tooth and nail to save these vital centres.

TEAMS of six people whizzed around the grounds of Basingstoke hospital in fancy dress raising money for charity. The inaugural Bed Push time trail, organised by the North Hampshire Medical Fund, saw 11 teams racing around the designated course on Saturday, trying to clock up the fastest time. Cops and robbers, pirates, knights and midwives were among the teams who dressed up their hospital beds to raise more that £6,000 for the charity. The aim of the game was for five people to push a hospital bed around the course while a sixth competitor acted as the patient.

MAY

IN MAY residents went to the tolling stations to vote at the local Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council elections. With two seats gained, the Labour party claimed to be the big winners of the elections. As well as holding all six party seats which were being contested, Labour now have an additional presence in Brighton Hill South and Whitchurch. Despite the Conservatives increasing their overall majority on the borough council from four to six, Labour councillors had much to celebrate, with newly elected Chloe Ashfield narrowly winning in Whitchurch and Cllr Jack Cousens retaining his seat in Brookvale and Kings Furlong getting the biggest cheers at the count.

IT WAS the act of kindness which has been shared around the world, but for Morrisons check-out lady Lin Lisle-Fenwick it was just another day. A Facebook post of Lin – who lives in Winchester Road – helping a blind girl scan through her mother’s shopping went viral after Amanda Wilkins praised the supermarket worker for helping calm her daughter down. Ms Wilkins was shopping at the Worting Road store with her two daughters – who are both blind and have autism – when her daughter Holly became overwhelmed in the store. However, Lin knew exactly what to do to calm her down and allowed the young girl to take over scanning the shopping.

THE sun shone down on hundreds of runners who took part in an annual event to raise money for a Basingstoke hospice. About 650 participants ran, jogged or walked around Down Grange playing fields, in Pack Lane, in the St Michael’s Hospice event, tackling either a 5k or 10k route. Team spirit helped many participants reach the finish line as large groups of runners came together to take part, including teams from Unum, Clarke and Son, Barclays, Hatch Warren Runners, Chineham Park Runners and Sherfield Park Runners. Those taking part were warmed up before the start of the race by instructors from Beechdown Health.

TWO women from Basingstoke went on a golden trip across England to raise awareness for their brain aneurysm awareness group Soul Sisters UK. Michelle Williams, from Hook, and Lisa Slaymaker will embark on an England wide tour, visiting each of the celebratory golden post boxes decorated to honour the gold medallists of London 2012. From each post box, Michelle and Lisa will then post a letter to the then Prime Minister David Cameron, urging him to support and introduce a Brain Aneurysm Awareness Day.

JUNE

FRUSTRATED residents held a tongue-in-cheek ‘celebration’ for their non-existent GP surgery three years after the planning application was approved. NHS Property Services had been granted £1.7million to develop the new medical centre in Park Prewett Road, Rooksdown in 2013. However, three years later there is still no sign of any construction work starting at the site, and residents wishing to see their doctor porter cabin, with cramped conditions and more than a month’s wait for an appointment.

THE number 2 Stagecoach bus crashed into Chapel Hill Bridge leaving scenes of destruction after the collision. The bus, which had two passengers on board at the time of the crash, was heading towards town from Baughurst when it smashed into the bridge and the top half of the vehicle was torn away. The roof of the double-decker was ripped clean off, blocking Kingsclere Road, with shattered glass covering both sides of the road. Police closed the road near Chapel Hill bridge in both directions while a recovery team dealt with the clean-up.

MORE than 30 firefighters and six engines from Basingstoke, Tadley, Kingsclere and Odiham were called to a blaze at an empty office block in Basingstoke, and spent two hours at the scene using an aerial ladder platform to fight the fire from outside, whilst firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the building to tackle the flames.An investigation was launched to determine what actually caused the blaze at Normandy House. The office block has been empty since IBM moved its staff to offices in Farnborough and Hursley in 2013.

PARTIES fit for royalty were held across the borough to mark The Queen’s official 90th birthday. Red, white and blue bunting could be seen waving in the wind, as people gathered to mark the special occasion.

A GIANT moving robot made from recycled materials wowed the crowds at a carnival parade which launched this year’s Basingstoke Festival. The 10-foot high robot, named Binbot, made its way through Basingstoke town centre, followed by a colourful carnival procession. Hundreds of people lined the streets to cheer on the spectacular opening parade, which included local and professional performers, schoolchildren, giant puppets, giant kangaroos and pecking pigeons. The procession, created by Proteus Theatre Company and funded by Anvil Arts, marked the beginning of the fifth Basingstoke Festival, coordinated by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.