Winchester District shines in Hampshire Village of the Year competition. (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Winchester District shines in Hampshire Village of the Year competition.

3:22pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Winchester By Wesley Rock

IT'S BEEN another successful year for the Winchester District in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Village of the Year competition.

Wickham took the award for Best Quality of Life, while Compton and Shawford scooped the prize for the village offering the best community initiatives during the Olympics. Last Year's Best Village winner, Bishop's Sutton, took runner up in the Best Small Village category this year, with Vernham Dean deemed to be the best small village.

A special award also found its way to Compton and Shawford, as Una Stevens picked up the award for Inspirational Individual. In the main event, overall Village of the Year went to Vernham Dean near Andover, with Compton & Shawford runners up and Wickham taking third place.

Judge Louise Channell said: “This competition shows the very best of Britain, and I am proud to have been involved, and having had the privilege to meet so many wonderful local people.” Organiser Steven Lugg explained that no Isle of Wight villages won because none were entered, something he said he'll look to rectify next year. Mr Lugg said: “The awards ceremony went really well and the villages involved enjoyed it but the sponsors Fuller's enjoyed it too. Richard Fuller lives in Hampshire so he has that real attachment to it.”