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

Cliddesden

Next Saturday (March 25) is the annual Village Spring Clean. Organised by community litter pickers and the Cliddesden community conservation group, everyone is welcome to gather at the pond at 10am and play a role in keeping Cliddesden beautiful and clean. Bags and pickers will be supplied. Please contact Alison Mosson for further information: alison@abe.co.uk

Helen Walker

 

Old Basing and Lychpit

There are still some tickets left for the Friends of St Mary’s summer quiz which takes place at 7pm on Saturday, March 25, in the Parish Room. Teams of will consist of six people but tickets can be can be bought individually and you’ll be included in a team on the night. Players should take their own refreshments and the organisers will provide the prize, a raffle and of course the quiz. Tickets cost £8 and are available from 01256 355500 or igfkershaw@btinternet.com.

The following information was sent by Sue Wilson the organiser of the Ivy Club which meets every Wednesday in Old Basing’s Royal British Legion.

How lucky we are that we are able to meet weekly and enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company. In February we enjoyed a delicious cream tea and cakes provided by The Village Cafe who did us proud; even making heart-shaped shortbread biscuits as we called it a Valentine Tea. Thank you so much to them.

We are planning a trip to Gunwharf Quays and the Spinnaker Tower on Tuesday, May 9, leaving our first pick-up point in Belle Vue Play area at 9.30 am, then the Royal British Legion Car Park and lastly, Oakfields. 

The cost for this will be £19 for non-members. The option of visiting the Spinnaker Tower is an additional £9.75 for seniors and there is also an option to partake in a cream tea costing £5.50 (a scone, cream, jam and tea). Both of these need to be pre-booked and paid for prior to the visit. 

There are places available currently, but please note there will be a £5 non-refundable deposit. If you would like to go on this outing, please contact me direct on 01256 328196.

The book and jigsaw exchange programme is still going well. Our members are able to buy a jigsaw for £1.50 and a book for 50p. Bargain.

We are hoping to introduce a gentle exercise class which you can do either seated or standing, we all need to keep our joints supple.

Always pleased to see new faces 1.30 till 4pm weekly entrance £2.

Elspeth Lee

 

Chineham

The National Women’s Register (NWR) has a full programme for the year ahead. Included in their plans are discussions on food waste and carbon footprint, order of birth, old sayings, and pioneering women. They will also have a games afternoon, annual wine tasting and a poetry workshop to discover their inner poet, a Coronation Picnic, an afternoon tea, an evening supper, and a walk around the Roman walls of Silchester followed by lunch.

They meet in members’ homes, usually 2pm on the first Monday of the month. If you would like further information, contact the local organiser, Dusty Brough, (01256) 357276 or e-mail dmbc861@gmail.com.

As usual, Chineham Library is involved in British Science Week which is a 10-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. It runs from March 10 to 19. This year's theme is "Connections!". Titles can be found on BorrowBox for "ground-breaking science to expand the mind." https://bit.ly/3y1H0Yv and for children, #loveyourlibrarymonth for budding scientists https://bit.ly/3ZfuOPC.

Fiona Biermann

 

Oakley

OAKLEY KIDS EASTER EGG HUNT: Friday, April 7 - 10.30am until 2pm

Just follow the clues around Oakley. Download your answer sheet from ocaoakley.org.uk or pick up a sheet on the day from OCA table in Barley Mow car park. Claim your Easter treat from the OCA table in Barley Mow car park before 2pm on the day.

Oakley front Garden Stalls: Saturday 24 June 2023; 12 Noon to 4pm

Visit a wide range of stalls all around Oakley. Full details and booking form on ocaoakley.org. Book your stall by Saturday, June 17. Village map available of stalls in the following week.

Interested in Photography?

Oakley Camera Club meets most Monday evenings at St Leonard's Centre Oakley from September to May. We are a small, friendly group of photography enthusiasts.

There are regular visiting speakers, tutorial opportunities and competitions. If you’re new to photography or already an accomplished photographer we have something for everyone. 

Take a look at our Programme at oakleycameraclub.weebly.com for more information. New members are welcome to visit us or contact us via our website for more information.

Twelve Hours  -  The story of Jane Austen’s engagement. 

Performance at St Lawrence Church, Wootton St Lawrence, Basingstoke, Friday, April 14 at 7.30pm.   

Promoter: Friends of St Lawrence; Contact Teresa Bates on 07771540709 or email friends@oww.church 

Tickets are £15, available from TwelveHoursPlay.eventbrite.co.uk

Oakley Scouts Jumble Sale take place on Saturday, March 18 at East Oakley Village Hall, The Green Hut, Hill Road Oakley.  The sale starts at 1.45pm. Donations are welcome at the hall from 10.30am. There will be bric-a-brac, books clothes toys etc. Cash only, entrance 50p.

Next Oakley Health Walk will take place on Sunday, March 26 at 2.30pm from Beach Park Car Park for a walk to Malshanger.

Tiffany Wise

 

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood

OVERNIGHT NOISE: On Tuesday morning, March 7, households reported being kept awake by an unexplained noise. Investigations revealed that it was caused by resurfacing works in the Sainsbury's supermarket site, improving the entrance road that leads down past the petrol station.

I visited the store and spoke with the duty manager. Apparently, the works were not planned by the supermarket itself, but by external managers. The supermarket staff were simply told to expect two nights of resurfacing work and to plan their deliveries accordingly.

The duty manager asked me to pass on Sainsbury’s apologies for the disturbance caused.

DEFECTIVE STREETWORKS: I have received confirmation from Hampshire Highways that they have raised defect notices against the utility contractor who carried out work in the Beggarwood Lane area.

I had reported incorrect replacement of security barriers and poor infilling of the trenches that had been dug. The contractor has been requested to return and rectify the defects. The streetworks inspector is in contact with them and is liaising to get the issues resolved.

BRIGHTON HILL ROUNDABOUT: I have received notification of upcoming night-time work on the Brighton Hill roundabout.

Work will be taking place to install drainage and undertake resurfacing works across the entries and exits at the roundabout, and this will be done at night to minimise traffic disruption. The lane closures will be in place from Monday, March 20 to Thursday, March 23 from 8pm to 5am. Diversions will be signposted. More details are on my blog at reidaboutbasingstoke.co.uk

BROADMERE ROAD ADOPTIONS: With the problem of access to a soakaway now resolved between Taylor Wimpey and a local property, the next stage towards adoption is to bring the roads up to the necessary standard.

To that end, officers are inspecting the issues next week with a view to agreeing the improvements that the developers need to complete to bring the roads up to an adoptable state.

ST MARK'S SCHOOL WINS: The Key Stage 1 Choir, KS2 Choir and Ensemble took part in the Basingstoke Music festival last week. The KS1 Choir took first place, as did the Ensemble. The KS2 Choir were outstanding, too.

Stephen Reid

 

Sherfield

MOTHERING Sunday: Thirty years ago on Mothering Sunday I brought my son, Phillip, home from Basingstoke Hospital, so it's always been a special time for me.  

This year, there’s Café Church at Sherfield Community Centre at 10am and there’s also the Village Market, with an Easter theme at the Village Hall. 

This is a great opportunity to treat your mum and maybe pop into the market café for refreshments. All welcome. The village market is open from 11am to 2pm.

NWR National Women’s Register held their March meeting last week and discussed drugs. The evening opened with some statistics being quoted and then the discussion moved on to a variety of aspects including ‘should alcohol be banned’ and statistics relating to the damage that alcohol abuse causes. 

There were discussions about CBD, the treatment of certain illnesses with cannabis and the relaxing of the cannabis laws in the Netherlands.

Gill said: “We also celebrated one of our member’s special birthdays with some bubbly and a lovely cake that our host, Catherine, had baked”.   

REPAIR Café is coming to the village soon. If you have anything that needs repairing, so you can reuse it and save the planet by reducing waste, see the website nhrc.uk or look out for posters. The repair café will be in the Village Hall on Saturday, March 25. The repair café is supported by HCC, BDBC, Hart Rotary and others.

Chris Horton

 

Kempshott

The Sunday Market last week was well supported. The next one will be on the second Sunday of April.

On Monday, March 20 at Kempshott Village Hall, there’s a meeting at 7.30pm of Basingstoke Horticultural Society. The speaker is Jacqueline Aviolet and her subject is Asters - History and Propagation.

She will also have plants for sale. The competition on this occasion is threefold - a single daffodil, three mixed daffodils/narcissi or a 6 by 4 inch photo of a sea view.

Don’t forget to let me know when your Coronation celebration plans are sorted if you want them publicised.

Diana Manville