LAST week, The Gazette reflected on the first six months of 2018 across the region. This week, we look at what was hitting the headlines between July and December.

July

The month got underway with the community rallying around to support Gemma Kent, pictured below.

The Tadley resident was told she had just a few months to live without chemotherapy for her cancer and only as long as a year with the treatment if her body accepted the chemicals.

However, friends and family launched a campaign to raise £60,000 to fly Gemma out to Turkey to undergo treatment.

It took nearly six months for her to go get a diagnosis after being told by her GP, without any investigations or scans, that her pain was not related to her pancreas or liver.

Six months later, the total has been exceeded with donations still coming in as the 41-year-old continues to go through treatment.

Also in July, users of Basingstoke’s ice rink held a protest outside the offices of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in a bid to secure the facility’s future.

The group let their feelings be heard ahead of a community, environment and partnerships committee meeting, where an update was given on the future of Basingstoke’s rink.

The Planet Ice-run facility is facing significant structural problems in the short-term, and Planet Ice has previously said it does not see a future for the arena in its current guise.

This had been an ongoing battle between ice rink operators, Planet Ice, the forum and the borough council.

Inside the meeting, supporters and councillors quizzed Councillors Simon Bound and John Izett on the future of the rink.

Cllr Bound said at the meeting that the parties involved – long leaseholder Standard Securities, Planet Ice and BDBC – were currently liaising to set up meetings and they were in conversation about the future of the ice rink.

July also hosted the town’s newly rebranded two-day music festival B Love which returned to War Memorial Park.

Music lovers and families enjoyed the scorching temperatures as the nation proclaimed, “it’s coming home,” on a day when the England football team reached the World Cup semi-final.

As previously reported in The Gazette, there had been a concern on whether the introduction of an entrance fee could impact on visitor numbers, and it did seem numbers were down on previous years where the event had been free.

Headliners Wilkinson and Reef did draw a crowd, but at points the heat was unbearable as revellers dashed for any glimpse of shade they could find.

The Gazette also celebrated the outstanding work being carried out by schools across Basingstoke and Deane by launching its inaugural Education Awards in the month of July.

The ceremony itself was hosted by Gazette publisher Bill Browne, who introduced each of the awards, which were then presented to the winners by the sponsors of each prize.

After the presentation, video interviews were played with the award winners, where they spoke about their pride at being nominated, their approaches to the world of education and moments which sum up why they teach.

Mr Browne said: “It is a pleasure to be presenting these awards to these inspiring teachers.”

At the end of the month, the two men who stood trial for the murder of Jason Williams were acquitted.

David John Henwood, 34, also known as David Brewer, and Kasey Wayne Rolfe, 37, were in the dock at Winchester Crown Court during a three-week trial, during which time jurors heard how both of the accused struggled with drug addiction as well as money problems and the events leading up to the death of Mr Williams of a single stab wound.

The jury retired to deliberate their verdict on Wednesday, 18 July and spent more than 11 hours deliberating, during which time they were told by the judge a majority verdict would suffice.

The jury eventually found both Mr Henwood, of Edmund Court, Popley, and Mr Rolfe, of no fixed abode, not guilty of all charges.

AUGUST

Life-affirming words started popping up around Basingstoke and Deane in the month of August.

A new Facebook group called 'Basingsigns for Mental health' was launched with the aim being to post positive, hand-written messages on bridges in the town to try to stop people contemplating suicide from jumping.

The scheme is the brainchild of Natalie Smith, from South Ham, who has had her own battles with mental health.

The 33-year-old said: “I actually attempted to jump from a bridge a few years ago. I know if I saw a sign like these, it would make me stop.

“When you are in that dark place, you don’t think and you feel no-one loves you. That’s what these signs are for, to show someone they are loved. If this helps just one person, then it will be worth it.”

Hundreds of Volkswagen fans from in and around Basingstoke shrugged off the threatening skies to join in the Endless Summer VW Show.

While it looked like it might rain, more than 1,000 people went to enjoy the show, all in the name of a good cause.

It was the fourth annual show, which is run in aid of children’s hospice Naomi House and Jacksplace. So far, the shows have raised more than £10,500, and this year saw a total of around £1,500 raised.

There were tears and laughter as a little girl crossed the finish line of a para triathlon, marking a milestone moment for the four-year-old, who two years ago faced life in a wheelchair.

Little Emmy King was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy Spastic Dipliegia when she was just 20-months-old, which caused her muscles to be constantly stiff. But thanks to the kindness of strangers, family and friends, Emmy was able to go to America for life-changing treatment called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), which enabled her to stand independently and learn to walk.

The treatment was not available on the NHS at the time, and Emmy’s family raised an incredible £85,000 to pay for the surgery and after-care.

Almost two years after the surgery, Emmy took part in the Superhero Tri at Lake Dorney, where she was pulled in a dingy 150m across a lake, pedalled 3k on a trike and ran 1k to the finish line, cheered on by spectators.

Throughout the summer, music lovers and festivalgoers have been enjoying live tunes at a huge number of events across the country.

But for one happy couple, the festival season ended on a high for a completely different reason. Matt Parsons and Kayley Parker, both from Brighton Hill, headed to the South West Four festival in Clapham Common over the Bank Holiday weekend to see one of their favourite bands, Disciples.

But, unbeknownst to Kayley, 32-year-old Matt had come up with a cunning plan to use the event as the perfect opportunity to pop the question to his girlfriend of a year-and-a-half.

Rather than just getting on one knee at the festival, Matt wanted to use the platform to make a grand gesture to his now fiancée and managed to get the band involved.

SEPTEMBER

September started on a sad note as a beloved children’s attraction has held its last party as JJ’s soft play centre closed its doors for the final time.

For 15 years, the centre in Morse Road, Brookvale, has hosted children’s parties for families.

However, according to a Facebook post from the company, it has been forced to close, appearing to cite external pressures.

The post read: “After 15 fun packed years, it is with great sadness to announce JJ`s has now closed. This is not our choice, but being a profitable independent business is not always enough in a corporate world.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed hosting over 20,000 parties, well over a million children running around.”

Changes were afoot at a Basingstoke secondary school. Cranbourne school, formerly Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College, started the new academic year early in September with a new uniform, new logo, new name and, school chiefs say, a new ethos.

The last two years have been a busy time for the school in Wessex Close, from raising its Ofsted rating, to amalgamating with Fort Hill Community School, making it an interesting introduction to life at the school for headteacher Jane Aplin.

However, Mrs Aplin said the new changes signify a fresh start for the school.

“The school was ready for a fresh start,” Mrs Aplin told The Gazette.

“We are already sensing a change in the children’s learning and we have focused on what we do good at Cranbourne and turbocharged those elements.”