United Pre-Season Friendly

Come and support your local football team when Whitchurch United FC take on Frimley FC at Longmeadow starting at 1pm on Saturday 1st August.

Help Needed in Charity Shop

Naomi House has the shop from 30 July for 2 weeks and is looking for help. There are a number of volunteers lined up to help man the shop during this period, but Martin Efford could do with a few more. Even a few hours would be helpful and the hours can be arranged to suit the individual. Martin can be contacted on 01962 870810.

Railway Hotel Sold

The Railway Hotel has now been sold with exchange of contracts scheduled for August. The pub has recently suffered from a lack of trade and complaints from at least one neighbour causing action by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

There is a discussion on the subject and what should happen to the site on this site's forum.

Woodland Invasion

Many small and one or 2 large animals plus lots of visitors were in Whitchurch at the weekend. For the second time Rose Timbertop brought her Sylvanian Families to Whitchurch. Visitors came from all over the South of England to see some of the characters, fill shopping bags and depart smiling with their purchases and balloons.

Calling Radio Enthusiasts

Are you interested in ham radio, vintage tuners, or DXing in general?

Local resident Nick is keen to get in contact with anyone who is, there's more information on the forum.

Missing Cat

Poppy the little tabby cat has gone missing been returned. She was found in Bicester Close - not far from home!! She is 9 months old. Tabby on the back and white on the tummy. She jumped out of the window overnight and has never been out on her own. She is very shy and could be hiding somewhere.

She was last seen in the Lower Evingar/Clements Gardens area. Please contact Emma and Trevor on 0776 528 896.

Community Play - Auditions

T. S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral, the dramatic story of the assassination of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral on the orders of King Henry ll, is being presented in All Hallows Church, Whitchurch in October 2009. In addition to Eliot’s powerful drama, the production will feature aspects of Street Theatre, including Jugglers, Magicians, Dancers and Musicians in full medieval costume, as well as medieval themed catering.

Testbourne drama department will be taking a lead role in the production. The play is being directed by Stephen Wells, who has been a professional actor and director for over thirty years, and is the former Artistic Director of the award winning, Yorkshire based, Crossfade Theatre Company.

Auditions for Actors will be held on four Wednesdays in August. Wednesday August 5th at 8:00pm, and Wednesdays August 12th, 19th and 26th at 7.30pm in the Church Room adjoining All Hallows Church. Anyone wishing to help in any other way, catering, publicity, front of house, stage crew etc is welcome to come along to any of the above dates. For further information please see the play's website.

Class of 64 Reunion

Three members of the Whitchurch C of E Primary School are organising a reunion for the 1964 intake. Hilary (nee Pascoe), Jean (nee Kelland) and Rachel (nee Beattie) are inviting those who took the huge leap up to the ‘big school’ 45 years ago to get together with others to share memories.

The reunion is scheduled for Sunday 16th August in Arundel (Hilary's home), starting between noon and 12.30 for lunch. Please contact us as soon as possible for more information either on wcss64reunion@hotmail.com or by calling Hilary on 07771 624295. All this is offered for a contribution of £5 from each attendee to help with the cost of buffet lunch and afternoon tea & cake.

Pub to Close?

Rumours of the closure of the Railway Hotel have moved up a gear. The pub has had for sale notices outside for some time now but it was closed last evening (Wednesday) and the rumours have it that some of the fittings had been removed.

However the pub is still shown on Punch Tavern's website as being available for a 5 year tenancy with great opportunities to develop the food trade, it also states that there is a planned refurbishment. Whereas the website of Drake, the agency trying to sell the pub for Punch Taverns, shows that it is under offer.

Drakes would only confirm that contracts had not been exchanged, Punch Taverns have not rung back since a message was left on their answerphone number.

Whitchurch for More Entertainment

The Community Play, Murder in the Cathedral, will take place in All Hallows Church in the week beginning 19th October. Following a public meeting held on June 24th Kelvin Inglis, Vicar of All Hallows, has been appointed Chairman for the project and Stephen Wells, appointed Artistic Director. Stephen will be working in close co-operation with Peter Hallman, head of Drama at Testbourne to bring this exciting project to life. The play will include elements of Medieval Street Theatre to integrate with the drama. As it is a Community Play we will welcome all ages to work on the production.

Casting and auditions will take place in August and rehearsals will begin in earnest in September. The main acting roles consist of nine female roles and twelve male roles. In addition anyone with any other skills such as juggling, dance, magic etc will be more than welcome to contribute. If you can assist in any way with the Community Play as Actor, Stage Staff, Front of House, Catering, Publicity, Design or in any other way, all help will be gratefully accepted.

More details are on the production's website.

Whitchurch for Entertainment

Next weekend, 10 - 11th July will see loads to do in the Town. At 7.30pm on Friday night WADS will be performing three one-act plays under the banner title of Another One Night Stand. The show will feature Tennessee Williams’ “This Property is Condemned” for two actors, directed by Esther Privett and Alex Donovan, “Waiting for the Telegram”, an Alan Bennett monologue, and “Wife Required”, a farce by Falkland L Cary and Philip King, directed by WADS newcomer Sophie Robinson.

Tickets are £7.50, which includes a bread and cheese supper. Advanced bookings only - 01256 892514 or visit www.wadsweb.org.uk.

On Saturday there are 2 outdoor activities and time to visit both. Twangfest starts at 12noon and runs to 11.30pm Eighteen acts are confirmed including this year's headline the fantastic Bob Marley tribute, 'Legend' - worth the entrance fee on their own!

There are 2 live stages, a dance tent, tea tent and the ever popular 'open-mike' spot.
Most music tastes are catered for with Indie, Rock and Metal all well represented and once again all profits will benefit local charities. Local wannabes, The Plastix, are set to open on Stage left while Basingstoke band, The Veygers, take on Stage right.

Gates open at 11:30am, with licensed bars, BBQ and children's play area, it promises to be a great day. Tickets are available at the gate and cost £10 adult, U18s £5, U11s free. A 2 adult + 2 teen family ticket is £25.

More information is on the website www.twangfest.co.uk where you can also pre-register for tickets.

Possibly slightly quieter will be the All Hallows Church Fete held, courtesy of Prof and Mrs Denning, at The Lawn from 2 – 5pm. Amongst the attractions will be a Pimms stall, Tae Kwondo, face painting, a white elephant stall, duck races, tea and cake, WADS performing some Chaucer and ,at the other end of the intellectual scale, china smashing. The organisers promise “A perfect summer's afternoon”.

Adults £1, concessions 50p, accompanied children free. There’ll be a grand draw, tickets are also available outside the Town Hall this Saturday morning.