HAPPY Faces Playgroup was handed a cheque from Toyota, Inchape, Basingstoke after applying for its community grant. The award of £1,550 will be used to help fund the playgroup’s ongoing visitation programme with a local care home, Cherry Blossom Manor in Bramley, allowing around six children and two staff members each month to travel to the care home where they will participate in craft and gardening activities, games, puzzles and sing songs with the elderly residents, bringing a little bit of entertainment and laughter with them. Viv Allaway, one of the managers of Happy Faces said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for Happy Faces to build better links with the community and provides a positive experience for both the residents and the children'. The cheque was presented to Viv on Friday, 13 June at Cherry Blossom Manor care home by Andy Hollis and Karen Watters from Toyota, Inchape Basingstoke. Also present were some of the residents and staff of Cherry Blossom alongside Happy Faces children, committee and staff."

CONCERT: Tickets are now available for an evening of outstanding music from the Basingstoke Concert Band. The Around the World in 80 minutes-ish summer concert will be at the village hall on Saturday, 7 July at 6pm. Tickets are £12 (£10 concessions) to include barbecue supper in the interval. Please call 07503 881241 or at the village hall on the evening.