Every week and in every edition of The Gazette, we include community news from around Basingstoke and surrounding boroughs.

Here's what our community correspondents have to report this week (September 16-22).

Sherfield

COFFEE Shop: Well done to all at The Coffee Shop who have won the Basingstoke Gazette Café of the Year. Suzy says: We are so thrilled, this is a great achievement considering we’ve been open just over a year. I’d like to thank those who nominated us and when we got down to the final ten, the people who voted for us. We will hang the Certificate very proudly in the Coffee Shop.

MACMILLAN Coffee Morning is on Friday September 24 from 10 till midday. Please go along to enjoy some coffee and cake and contribute to a great cause. If you can donate a cake, that would be great. For more details please contact me, Chris Horton, on 01256 882426 or cshorton0@gmail.com or see the posters around the village.

NWR : Tonight’s meeting is a discussion on the books the members have been reading Gill says “In keeping with our theme this year of ‘Spain’ we will be talking about ‘Guernica’ by Dave Boling and ‘As I walked out one midsummer morning’ by Laurie Lee.

SCARECROWS: Richard says: “As part of the recent village celebrations, Janet Johnston and Chris Horton took part in the Scarecrow trail and both are to be commended on the hard work they put in. Janet chose ‘Veronica the Vaccine Volunteer’ as a National Treasure and Chris chose a Self Portrait.

VILLAGE Market is on this Sunday, September 19 from 12 midday till 3pm at the Village Hall. Hazel says “There will be lots of delicious food stalls - cheese, potatoes, apple juice/cider, pies , cakes, chutneys. There will also be beautiful crafts and the refill stall - so save the planet.

Chris Horton

Buckskin and Highfields

It is all happening at Buckskin’s Ridgeway Centre. As local groups return to their activities, the Ridgeway Centre in Blackdown Close is holding an Open Day on Saturday 25th September 2021 between 12pm and 2pm. This is in partnership with NHS Hampshire, Southampton and IOW CCG. On the programme are free children’s activities; BBQ; Pets Corner; Sports Zone with Smoothie Bike; other stalls; representatives from BWCA and Buckskin Residents’ Action Group and Healthier Communities Engagement Group, who are seeking to assist to develop community based activities.

Both BWCA and BRAG are seeking volunteers to assist with their activities.To get involved contact Dee at bwcaridgeway@gmail.com.

BRAG has ongoing communication with Urban & Civic, the company overseeing the Manydown Project. They state that residents and local walkers may see some activity on the Manydown Site. This includes some survey works with a range of archaeological trench digs and excavation, as well as utility and drainage evaluations.This initial archaeological trenching is expected to last for up to four months and follows earlier surveys. Any archaeological evidence will be carefully recorded, collected and shared with the local community.

Highfields residents are no doubt noticing the change of traffic flow and suffering some inconvenience due to the closure of Worting bridge. If residents have any comments or observations on this closure they are asked to email buckskincag@hotmail.com. The closure is expected to last well into October.

Pete Dimond

Cliddesden

The Cliddesden WI meets this evening, 7.30pm Village Hall, for their 99th birthday celebration. Speaker will be Joyce Meader, the talk being “Knitted comforts for the services from 1850 to present day”. New faces always welcome. The number of knitters has apparently increased since Tom Daley’s on-screen efforts were seen by millions. I’m hoping it may lead to something that I’ve yet to actually witness other than on the news - yarn-bombing. Cliddesden could be trend-setters here…

A Harvest Service will be held at St Leonard’s Church on Sunday 19th September, 11.15am. The service will be held outside and all proceeds will be donated to Basingstoke food bank.

A free seated exercise class for the elderly and anyone with mobility concerns will be held at the Village Hall on Monday 27th September at 10.30am. It is organised by Basingstoke ‘Home Instead’ who are hoping to run the class on a regular basis, dependent on demand. They do seated exercises along to music, all designed to be safe, fun, and aimed at the older generation to improve fitness, memory, and wellbeing. It’s free to attend and free refreshments will be provided.

Rachel Beresford-Davies

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood

PASS WIDE AND SLOW: as part of a national event organised by the British Horse Society, you may see groups of horse riders in the area on Sunday (19th September). The theme of their ride is ‘Pass Wide and Slow’ and the objective is to encourage motorists to give horses and their riders a wide berth and consideration on the roads. On average two horses are killed each week on UK roads. The vast majority of incidents occur because cars pass too close to horses or startle them by travelling too fast. Almost 200 rides are planned for Sunday and in this area the riders will leave from the Kennel Farm area (over the motorway bridge on Garlic Lane) at 1030 a.m.. Cyclists and walkers are invited to attend on Sunday morning in Hi Viz.

DEFIBRILLATORS: the local Community Association has confirmed that external cabinets to house defibrillators will be installed at both the Beggarwood and Hatch Warren Community Centres on 28th September. This initiative has been progressed very quickly and thanks go to everyone who has contributed and driven it forward.

FIREWORKS: Remember, remember the 6th November! Tickets are now on sale for Hatch Warren’s fireworks display. With so many organised shows no longer running, Hatch Warren’s event is Basingstoke’s highlight. If you are a member of the Community Association, you can buy tickets during September at a discounted rate before they go on sale to the general public. Please use this link to purchase tickets www.ticketsource.co.uk/hwca.

ANAEROBIC DIGESTER MEETING: the AD liaison panel meetings will restart on 28th September. Biogen, the operators, have completed a programme of improvements to address the odour problems that were being reported last year. Members of the panel will be able to review the situation, monitor it and discuss any other options for making the plant a ‘good neighbour’. The panel will now be chaired by County Councillor Juliet Henderson.

OLD DOWN: I have written to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Borough Council raising again the hope that Old Down can be designated a Local Nature Reserve. As the next local plan is under active consideration and will designate which fields should be developed, this seems a good time to state which assets should be protected as well.

Stephen Reid

Kempshott

The monthly Kempshott Village Hall Sunday market last week was a great success. The available pace for stall holders was fully booked, with more awaiting their turn on the rota. It was interesting to see so many locally based enterprises, several of which began life as a result of lockdown. There were numerous offerings of handmade gifts and, if you are thinking of the anticipated Christmas shortages, there are several more opportunities to find something original and individually crafted before the end of the year.

The new Friday Coffee Morning is starting in the Community Room of the Village Hall on 17th September at 10.30. If the main door is shut after this time, entry is at the side of the hall. The Basingstoke Horticultural Society meets in the Village Hall at 7.30 on Monday 20th. Kempshott Women’s Institute meets on Monday 27th at 2.30 in the Hall. After several purely social gatherings after the last 18 months, there is a speaker on the ghosts of Hampton Court, as things get back to normal.

Diana Manville

Oakley

Oakley Community Care restarted their service in May and are assisting those in the village unable to get to their medical appointments and other daytime social activities. Unfortunately the number of volunteer drivers has fallen since the Covid lockdown so we are now in need of more drivers. To get involved, contact 01256 781660.

Oakley Village Show returns on Sunday, September 18. It’s at the Scouts and Guide Premises. Entry from 10am-12am. Parking is limited. The show opens 2-00pm and parking will be for Blue Badge holders only in the afternoon. Trophy presentation is at 4-3pm. Safety requirements will involve a one-way system and we will ask you to wear a mask. There are no stalls or entertainment this year but there will be lots of brilliant exhibits to admire. So, come along and be amazed!

Temporary road closure on Highland Drive, Oakley. All traffic will be prohibited from travelling along Highland Drive, Oakley, between Oakley Lane and Park Close, for three months from September 13, except for a five-week exception which is listed on the council’s website basingstoke.gov.uk.

Tiffany Wise

Chineham

Not to be beaten during lockdown, Chineham WI have been holding their monthly meetings on Zoom, with speakers such as Chris Burroughs introducing things many didn’t know about the Vyne House NT house and Tracy Sinclair who talked about organ donation. They recently held two outdoor events, a socially distanced picnic in Eastrop Park and another in Longbridge Mill’s garden which they opened for free. At ’normal’ monthly meetings they run a fun-based competition, a raffle and book stall as well as a speaker or special evening event. They enjoy a varied programme of events each month, and also have both a thriving Lunch Club and a Scrabble Evening for members. Events coming up include a visit, with afternoon tea, to Whitchurch Silk Mill for the annual outing at the end of August and their 12th Birthday Party on 27 September. If this sounds like your type of activity, do call 02380 616712 or e-mail secretary@hampshirewi.co.uk

A Newborn to Parenting course will be running at Chineham Library from Wednesday 22 September to 20 October 2021, 1pm to 2:30pm. The course is designed to help to build confidence and support the emotional well-being of parent/carers of babies aged 0–6months, to promote bonding and good communication between parent/carer and baby. A 5 to Thrive and Post-natal depression guest speaker may be invited along to a session. Booking is essential. Just call the Library Service on 0300 555 1387 or go to the county council’s website at forms.hants.gov.uk. You will be contacted prior to the course to explain procedures for keeping you safe in their Covid secure setting.

Fiona Biermann

Old Basing and Lychpit

The Village Café at St Mary’s Church is opening on Friday 17 September from 2-4.30pm. If anyone has some spare time on Friday afternoons once or twice a month and would like to join this friendly team serving cake and drinks to our lovely local community whilst helping to raise money for local charities, please contact Lesley 07917 762687 or Deb 07841 650503.

The Friends of St Mary’s Church are holding their AGM in the Church on Thursday 23 September at 7.30pm. All are welcome. The agenda and a report on activities in the last two years is on the Friends website or by Googling Friends of St Marys Church Old Basing. The AGM will be followed by a talk by Alan Turton on the Sieges of Basing House. Entry is free but donations would be appreciated.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the London Festival of Opera which was due to be held on Sunday 19 September in the Tudor Great Barn in Basing House has been cancelled. Existing bookers will be contacted directly.

Elspeth Lee

South Ham

A ‘Nearly New Sale’ will be held on Sunday 3rd October 11am to 1pm at Westside Community Centre. A range of Baby and Children’s clothing and toys will be on sale. Refreshments will be available and for further information ring 464571.

The Mug and Biscuit at St Andrews Methodist Church is pleased to announce that it has reopened. The Café will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10.00am to 12 noon serving drinks, home made cakes and toasted tea cakes. Other activities are also opening. Pick up a leaflet from the Church when you come.

The popular Bingo nights returns to Westside Community Centre on Sunday evenings. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30 start.

Food Pantry for those on low incomes is in operation at Westside Community Centre. For £5 you can purchase12 food items. The Pantry operates Monday/Tuesday 10 – 12, and 10 to 2pm Wednesdays and Thursdays. For further details ring Nicky on 464571

Walk and Talk: Open to all the walking club meet again on Tuesday 28th September. Meet at Westside Community Centre at 10am. After the walk you are invited to stay for tea and cake and have a chat. For details contact Vicki on 01256 464571.

Colin Regan