Sherfield

BREAST Cancer Now: To coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), The Coffee Shop is holding a “wear it pink” on Friday October 23, with local resident, Deborah Wyatt, who is a breast cancer survivor. The Coffee Shop Manager, Suzy, says “We are raising money by donation and raffle which is being held in the coffee shop. The coffee shop team will be wearing pink for the day to help raise money for a good cause”.

POPPIES: The Poppy Appeal is being done differently this year. From 22 October to 8 November (Remembrance Sunday), you can pick up your poppy from The Shop and Coffee Shop in Sherfield, Nisa at Sherfield Park, local supermarkets and businesses like the Garden Centres. There will be a Saturday/Sunday stall at the Shop, Coffee Shop or Village Hall car park. If you don’t get out and would like to donate and receive a poppy, a poppy cross or Gift Aid envelope please telephone Natalie on 01256 880075. You can donate online: www.britishlegion.org.uk Text: To donate £3 text POPPY to 70020**Cost £3 plus standard network charges.Plans are accurate at the time of going to print.

Chris Horton

Oakley

WATERSHIP DOWN HEALTH: Hopefully by the time you read this you will have had your flu jab if you are eligible. It has certainly been more of a logistical challenge this year for both staff and patients and weren’t we lucky not to choose Saturday 3rd October when it rained all day.

All the adult flu clinics are now fully booked and we have a waiting list.

OAKLEY STITCHERS UPDATE: Our drain bags etc are going down a storm and our Knitted Knockers are flying out like hot cakes! Making a true difference to people’s lives. If there are any knitters who would like to help us knocker knit or sewers that would like to get involved please contact Oakleystitchers@yahoo.com. The more the merrier! If you are able to make a donation to help us provide these service free to a survivor, please visit:www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/oakleystitchers

JUBLIOAKS WORK PARTY: When - Wed, 14 October, 10:00 – 12:00, Where - St John’s lay-by. Jubiloaks work parties resume as before from 14 October. In line with current risk assessments members, and potential new volunteers, are asked to let us know if attending via jubiloaks@btinternet.com or 01256 7814546. See website for full details www.jubiloaks.org.uk

ST LEONARD’S CHURCH: They have launched a new series on the book of Jonah.You may hear ‘Jonah’ and think ‘whale’ ... While it’s true that it does feature a rather big fish, this ancient story is about so much more! Jonah is a shocking, subversive, satirical masterclass in biblical narrative – a text unlike any other in the whole Bible. It’s not only a brilliantly crafted literary masterpiece, but also a deep and challenging exploration into the relentless, boundless mercy of God. Watch here: https://youtu.be/mACCPbMfc2w

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER 2020: We intend to hold a service at the Garden of Remembrance but we have to limit numbers very strictly and therefore will invite only a few representatives from the various village organisations. In addition to these, we would like to invite any service personnel and veterans who would wish to attend to let me know either by telephone on 01256 780886 or via email on oakleydeanepc@gmail.com. The numbers are limited, so please contact me as soon as possible, but definitely before 23rd October, when we will finalise the attendance. While we cannot promise that we can accommodate all requests we will do our best. Please note we cannot provide seating this year so if you are attending, and will need to sit during the service, please bring a portable chair or stool. For those of you who cannot attend there will be a recorded service on the St Leonard’s You Tube channel (more details will follow). Kind regards, Barbara Bedford - Parish Clerk.

Tiffany Wise

Old Basing and Lychpit

HALLOWEEN. Organising fun and games for Halloween could be something of a challenge with the current Covid guidelines to follow. But… help is at hand as Basing House is holding Ghost Walks during the Halloween week from Monday 26th to Sunday 1 November at 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm.

It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy hot chocolate and tempting treats in the Tudor Great Barn before hearing all about the deadly secrets of this ruined site. Hunting for ghosts in the grounds with Basing House’s expert guide in all things supernatural should prove suitably creepy as the Saxon war lord, infamous Tudors, Victorian canal diggers and of course the brutal fighting during the English Civil War will all have left their mark. At the end of the tour those who are brave enough might even dare to venture through the dark tunnel’

All walks will start in the Bloody Barn, so named after the horrific acts carried out in there during the Civil War. Barn doors will open 30 minutes before the walk begins, with additional Halloween activities and spooky refreshments inside.

These haunting walks are already proving to be popular and booking is essential as places are strictly limited to six people a walk as part of COVID-19 precautions. Tickets cost £13 per person. Please be aware that as this is a special evening event so annual membership passes are not valid and event tickets will need to be purchased. To book or keep up to date on the current situation visit: www.hampshireculture.org.uk/event/halloween-evening-ghost-walks

THE MILL FIELD NATURE RESERVE. Volunteers are needed to join the working party that maintain this popular and valuable green space. This first working party of the season is on Sunday 25 October from 10am until midday. No special skills are required but volunteers are asked to take their own gardening gloves, refreshments and a pen for signing in. Tools which will be provided are disinfected before and after use. Any last-minute changes due to Covid 19 will be posted on Facebook and on the field notice board.

Elspeth Lee

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood

There are two welcome additions to the Hatch Warren and Beggarwood leisure offer to report this week:

THE CAFE IN THE PARK at Beggarwood has started to serve customers indoors once again. During the summer they had offered a takeaway service and many people sat at the tables outside. But the weather has turned colder and that is no longer so attractive. So, after much agonising on how to keep you Covid-secure, the Association is now allowing customers to book a table inside the cafe. You are asked to reserve in advance by e-mailing office@beggarwood.org. Slots are available at 10 am, 11 30 am and 1 pm Friday to Sunday. The outside tables will continue to be available on a first-come, first served basis. When entering the cafe, you are asked to wear face masks and to use the NHS App to record your presence.

PORTSMOUTH ARMS: Hatch Warren's pub/restaurant has introduced a new service as well. It will be serving breakfast every day from 10 am to 12:00 noon. Full details are available on their website.

FRIENDS OF ST MARK'S SCHOOL have set themselves the target of raising £30,000 to help the school through these Covid-affected times. Details of their activities are on the St Mark's website.

HATCH WARREN JUNIOR SCHOOL took part last week in 'Walk to School' week as part of the annual Walktober challenge. Walking (or cycling or scooting) to school not only provides important exercise for parents and children but also reduces congestion around school gates and makes life safer.

DOG THEFTS: Police have issued a warning about people stealing dogs in the area. To avoid this tragedy, they advise owners to keep their dogs on leads at all times when they are outside.

Stephen Reid

Chineham

If all goes well, and subject to the absence of extreme weather conditions, Hampshire County Council will soon be carrying out some minor improvements to address shortcomings at both the upgraded Thornhill traffic lights and the Crockford Roundabout. In the case of the latter, the main aim is to provide a better link between the roundabout and the stub end of Reading Road so that the clash between pedestrians and cyclists currently experienced is at least reduced.

As regards the traffic lights, the proposals are to seek an improvement to the pinch point on the joint pedestrian and cycle path approaching the lights from the Thornhill end. Some of the puddles at the crossing points might also be reduced and the route slightly improved near the mini roundabout on Reading Road. The grassed areas are also to be re-seeded. County officers will also review the pedestrian phases on the lights in the hope that these might be adjusted to be more user-friendly, especially at school journey times.

Despite current funding shortages a further minor, but no doubt costly, undertaking is the placement of a traffic island along the link road between the Binfields Roundabout and Reading Road. It will doubtless be welcome to some residents in Minden Close.

Fiona Biermann

South Ham

The Mug and Biscuit Café at St Andrews Church, South Ham is looking to reopen on Tuesday 6 October 2020 with revised times and menu. The new opening times are Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 12 noon serving drinks and cakes only. There will be no hot food served. Numbers in the café will be restricted and current Covid restrictions will be in place. We look forward to welcoming old and new friends. The opening of the Mug and Biscuit will be subject always to Government

Westside Social Club is open for members and new members are always welcome. The Club and bar are open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 12pm, and Sundays 12-6pm. For further details contact Lesley on 4645717

South Ham Library has reopened with reduced opening hours. The Library is only open on a Tuesday and Friday.

South Ham/Berg Estate Councillors are still unable to hold Surgeries due to the Covid-19 crisis. However, if you require the assistance of a councillor please contact Cllr Colin Regan on 07796225618, Cllr Gary Watts on 07738710518 and Stephanie Grant on 07786512226.

Colin Regan

Silchester

CHURCHES our Parish Church continues with the Zoom services at 10am and the Methodist service starts at 10.30am. Everyone is welcome to join our groups, just listen in.

BOUNDARY WALK the walkers had a lovely, fine day and very much enjoyed being out and around our village boundaries. Social distancing was well observed!

SCARECROW TRAIL Have you started planning, or indeed already made your scarecrow for the display on the village trail? Dates 24-31st October. An option is a Jim Henson theme, but chooses as you wish. The main idea is to have the scarecrow on your property, where it can be easily seen from the road and within walking distance of the centre of Silchester. Entries will have clearly displayed letter which will create an anagram once all have been collected. There is no entry fee for this competition but you will need to buy a map for £2 to find where they all are living! Maps from The Calleva Arms, Pop up Café and the school grounds. Enter via Facebook.

SILCHESTER PHOTOGRAPHERS a Silchester calendar is again planned. There are 3 categories: Silchester Scenes and Landmarks; Silchester Wildlife, Flora and Fauna and Silchester Events & Village Life. You may enter up to 6 images to lesley@brewin.org.uk together with your name and contact by 31st October.

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING will be held on Sunday, October 18th at 11am via Zoom. All nominations for Wardens, Deanery representatives are open to ALL who reside in the Parish. Zoom details are on line under the Church website.

Nancy Jones