A TRAVELLER has been forced to move two ponies that he was keeping on the central reservation of Basingstoke’s ring road. For a week, Maurice Smith kept a cob and a Shetland pony tethered to trees on a patch of grass between the carriageways of the A340
AFTER the party comes the time for payback, apparently. As if January couldn’t be any more depressing, what with its grim weather, its length – 31 long days in which to get into debt and wait for the next month’s lifesaving wages to arrive – and it being
SO here it (almost) is, Merry Christmas! As much as I don’t like living far away from my parents, what it does mean is that I have always enjoyed a particularly fulfilling Christmas build-up before our anuual visit, a heightened excitement that comes
I CANNOT wait to go home to Northern Ireland for Christmas at my parents’ house. Despite being 30-something and married with one child, I plan never to miss it and all of its associated traditions. There’s the Christmas Eve nip of Baileys with mum
AS A resident of Kempshott, I am generally glad to live in a such a place. It’s that underrated thing these days – nice – and its inhabitants are usually helpful and polite to each other. But occasionally, like everywhere I suppose, you bump into
SENSITIVE souls should stop reading now, as this week’s column dwells a little too much on the delightful subject of...vomit. But it’s inescapably on my mind as first my daughter was bitten by the bug and then, a week later, its cousin or other more
MORE than 200 young rugby stars took part in an inaugural tournament hosted by a village club – and it was a good day for the home teams. Overton Rugby Club hosted its first Spring Cup for children aged between seven and 11. Players from Overton, Tadley
PERMIT me, if you will, to mention the C-word. The commercial countdown to Christmas has begun in earnest, bringing with it the campaigns from all of the country’s biggest retailers – and thus the unofficial annual competition to see who can win over
I HAVE seen the future – and I am scared. First there was some crying, then some screaming, before a little fist shaking and a touch of foot stamping, before a full-on collapse wailing and flailing on to the floor. And that was just me. I jest –
BASINGSTOKE and North Hants captain Dan Coombs believes that he has a team capable of competing for the Thames Valley League title. The Bountymen get their season under way on Saturday, when they are due to host local rivals Reading. They missed out
HELPING hand: Local county councillor Marilyn Tucker will be in Sainsbury’s on Saturday, from 11am until 1pm. If you would like to know more about what Hampshire County Council does, how it affects you, or if you need help in any way, do stop
SCARECROWS: The 2012 Scarecrow competition at The Vyne takes place this month and the entries will be on view from Saturday in various parts of the grounds and house. Schools and local organisations have been encouraged to enter on the Olympic
BOLLYWOOD Fun Day: Will take place at St Michael’s Hospice Shop, in the Brighton Hill Centre, on Saturday throughout the day. Come along and join in lots of fun activi-ties including henna tattoos, Bollywood dancers, jewels from the East, street
ELECTIONS: In case residents have not already heard, Conservative Elaine Still was voted back in as Chineham Ward’s representative on the borough council, with 900 votes. Her main challenger was independent Jo Walke, who came in 165 votes behind
BASINGSTOKE Astronomical Society: Will be holding a practical meeting tonight, at Cliddesden Primary School from 7pm. MAY Fair: On Saturday, the school will hold a May Fair. There will be all manner of lovely things on offer, from hand-made
FANTASTIC Forties: Ellisfield Memorial Hall was transformed for a night to remember. The hall was packed and from the siren at the beginning we were transported back to 1940s England. Theresa Webb had organised the entertainment and everyone
PARISH Council meeting: This evening, at the Newfound Pavilion, with the public session starting at the new time of 7.30pm. WPC Beat Surgery: Barbara Bradley will be in Jolly Olly’s Coffee Shop on Monday, from 9.15am to 10.15am, to discuss any
PARISH Council news: The annual meeting starts at 7.30pm on Tuesday, in the Parish Room. The parish award for volunteering will be presented to Sandie Rice for her many years of commitment to village events and organisations. Local historian
PLANTS and cakes: Percy’s Plant and Cake Sale is on this Saturday, in the village hall from 10am. This year, the proceeds will be distributed between St Leonard’s Church, the village hall and the gardening club. Sandy says: “It would be
HOW does your garden grow?: Hopefully well enough to help our schoolchildren out! Whitewater School Landscape group are holding a plant sale next week on Thursday, May 17, from 3.30pm. If you have any seedlings or extra cuttings you could spare
HE WAS a big hit when he appeared in last year’s Anvil panto – and Waterloo Road star Ben-Ryan Davies has now given a boost to the Mayor’s Charity Appeal by appearing at a fundraising event in a town centre restaurant. Ben-Ryan was master of ceremonies
CRICKET call: Players and learners of all ages are needed to join our club in the village. Contact Nigel Jones, on 0118 9701481 for details of membership and net practices. All league matches are on Saturday afternoons. DIAMOND Jubilee
HAPPY Retirement: Gerry Traynor, after 24 years of continuous service as councillor for South Ham (plus Berg from 2008), stood down from the council last Thursday. Gerry was also a popular mayor in 2003-04. I am sure all in the South Ham
ELECTIONS: Thank you everybody who came out and voted on such a miserable day last week, and I am glad to say I was re-elected. JUMBLE Sale: On Saturday, at St Mary’s Church, Newchurch Road, starting at 11am. Please take donations tomorrow,
BAD weather may have grounded flights, but visitors to Popham Airfield were still able to browse stalls and enjoy a classic car show on Bank Holiday Monday. It was hoped that dozens of pilots would fly in for the annual Aero Auto Jumble, but hundreds
BASINGSTOKE Festival was given a high-profile launch at the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane’s Business Networking Lunch. The festival, which runs from June 22 to July 15, was the focal point of the gathering on the tenth floor of Barclays’ Churchill Plaza
NEW Basingstoke Bison defenceman Alex Symonds believes that coach Doug Sheppard is building a team capable of challenging for the English Premier League title. The 23-year-old Welshman has become the latest player to follow Sheppard to Basingstoke
Dark Shadows (12A) Starring: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green Director: Tim Burton Running time: 113 minutes In a word: Fun Our verdict: Watch it READING the notes I scribbled during the screening of Dark Shadows
