Potato Day Success Spills Over into the Town
More visitors than ever came to the 11th Hampshire Potato Days at the weekend. Just under 2,000 gardeners from all over the South of England, with some from the Midlands and South Wales descended on Testbourne Community Centre to take home seed of the 120 different varieties of potato on show. Richard Stevenson of Charlton Park Garden Centre is responsible for scouring Europe for the seed. Despite 20 of his varieties from France being held up by DEFRA inspectors, the number is the most available to growers in one place in the UK (and almost certainly the world).
Over 1,100 arrived on Saturday completely filling the Sports Hall and stretching the parking facilities to the limit - the organiser apologies to anyone who was trying to use Micheldever Road between 10.30 and 12! Those who did manage to park and get into the hall saw many other items of interest to gardeners, including a seed swap - an increasingly popular feature. Suppliers of specialist potato and gardening items from as far away as Somerset, Lincolnshire and Shropshire mixed with those from Whitchurch and Overton to make the event the popular one that it has become. Many visitors were returning for the 11th time. Even the BBC came back, after featuring the event on BBC TV South 's Inside out last year, Radio Solent came along and recorded the views of those attending, you can hear and see them at www.bbc.co.uk/hampshire/content/articles/2009/01/25/potato_day_feature.shtml.
Children were well catered for by the ladies of FOWPS with painting and competitions as well as going home with a free Smile potato - hopefully they will return in years to come as gardeners in their own right!
Encouraged by the staff from the White Hart and promotional material on the entry ticket, quite a few visitors went on to visit the Town afterwards. Town centre businesses reported many more customers than usual - the Village Bakery sold out on Saturday and the White Hart was completely full of diners on both days.
The large number of visitors will mean a large donation to the groups who provided helpers on the day; last year 4 groups shared over £2,000 being the surplus of income over running costs. The organiser would like to thank particularly the Hampshire Organic Gardening Group and FOWPS for their support, without which the event would not be possible.
If somehow you did miss the event then there will be another next year, 30 - 31 January (2010), put it in your diary now!
Community Arts Project
Following the very successful workshop on Saturday at which those attending were given a preview of the full rules and timetable for the project. This information is now available to all.
You have until 20th February to come up with an innovative community centred public art initiative that will create added media interest and further raise the Town’s profile. These are the words from the bid that obtained a grant of £6,000 for this project. If you need any help there are drop in sessions on 31st January and 14th February in the Parish Hall from 10am to noon.
Visit www.whitchurchartsproject.org.uk for the full details and show Whitchurch (and the world) what you and Whitchurch can do. What is needed at this stage is your ideas, not fanatsic presentation skills!
Fatal Crash in Laverstoke
Police are appealing for witnesses after a Basingstoke woman died in a collision in Laverstoke at around 7.40pm on Sunday 18th Jan.
A silver Peugeot 306 driven by a 20-year-old man from Basingstoke was travelling along the B3400 from Basingstoke towards Whitchurch.
After overtaking another car, the Peugeot left the road and collided with a tree.
An 18-year-old woman from Basingstoke, who was a front seat passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver suffered serious injuries and is being treated at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone who saw the vehicle prior to the collision should contact police quoting Operation Scat on 0845 045 45 45 or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity line on 0800 555 111.
Anyone for (Table) Tennis
A newcomer to Whitchurch is looking to play table tennis in the Town; are there others who would be interested? Facilities exist in Andover and Basingstoke but that requires travel and additional cost. The idea is to arrange for sessions in the mornings/ afternoons and/evenings. If you're interested, press this this and send your details, which will be passed on.
He and his wife are similarly interested in forming a mixed choir in Whitchurch, again to obviate the need to travel to Overton of Andover.
Art Workshop Success
Whitchurch now has over 20 more people who can "do art" following Corinne Marsh's workshop. Starting with a group some of whom challenged Corinne that she couldn't make them draw she had them represently feelings and sounds in only three hours.
Corinne started by asking those present to draw a ball, then moving through drawing with the left hand, drawing a room with eyes closed, drawing what salt falling on your hand felt like, with eyes closed, to finally representing a silent room! (again with closed eyes). At the end all the (now) artists believed they were capable of expressing themselves on paper and several are looking to put entries forward for the Community Art Project.
Corinne would like to thank all those who took part and looks forward to seeing them, and anyone else who is interested, with their ideas at drop in sessions in the Parish Hall. The session will run from 10am to noon on 31st January and 14th February.
Music in the Parish Hall
A new music night will take place in the Parish Hall on 7th March. Two local bands are booked for what is hoped to be a regular event. If you can't wait that long, there'll be an acoustic music session in the Bell from about 4pm on Sunday 18th Jan.
Too Many Good Citizens
The Town Council has been inundated with nominations for the annual Community Awards. The Council has asked that everyone be told:
"We have received a larger-than-usual number of nominations for the Award 2008 - 2009. This is good news as it indicates just how many people have their community’s interests at heart, and also that their efforts do not go unnoticed. However, in order to maintain the “specialness” of the award, there is a maximum of six certificates presented each year, including where appropriate, a Youth Award for achievement."
"An independent selection committee will be asked to name those who will receive the awards this year. If you have nominated a worthy recipient, who is not included, please do not give up, but try again next year, and thank you for letting us know about the caring people who live in Whitchurch. " |
