A Message from Whitchurch Police
Whitchurch Police would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Best wishes for the New Year.
If you are celebrating in the town over during this period please remember to drink responsibly, be respectful of other people and organise your transport home prior to the day.
On New Years eve, the last trains to Andover and Basingstoke respectively is at 11.24 pm and 10.52 pm.
Folk Singers Bring Carols to Whitchurch's Pubs
Whitchurch Folk Singers and Friends made their annual carol singing tour of the town's pubs on Monday. They were collecting funds for Kingfisher.
This year, in a break from tradition, they stopped to sing carols to late night shoppers at Tesco!!
Christmas Cheer from the Whitchurch Welfare Trust
The Whitchurch Welfare Trust has made its annual Christmas Cheer distribution to individuals and organisations based in Whitchurch.
Individuals, including the elderly and people who have been recently bereaved, have been sent small gifts of money, flowers or fruit. Organisations including both local schools, the CAB, The Kingfisher Trust, the Day Centre, the Ambulance and Fire Stations, Rising Fives, Scouts and Guides groups, and the Testbourne Teapot, were awarded varying donations towards their funds. The total distribution to individuals and organisations amounted to £5,680.
The Trust is an amalgamation of a number of charities set up over the years “to relieve hardship or distress within the parish of Whitchurch”. It provides emergency support to people in temporary financial hardship, and help for students towards the costs of their further education or training courses.
The main income of the Trust derives from The Richard Woollaston charity, which was founded over 300 years ago, “to clothe poor people, who really need clothing”. The objectives of the Welfare Trust are now directed to relieving many other forms of need.
The Trustees welcome applications from organisations or individuals. Applications should be made, in writing, addressed to the Whitchurch Welfare Trust, c/o Whitchurch Town Hall, Newbury St., Whitchurch. RG28 7DW
Christmas in Whitchurch Winners
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Winners of the children's shop window competitions and the best dressed window received their prizes from the Mayor and Mayoress, Steve and Suzie Robbins in a very minor snow storm on Saturday.
The presentations were followed by carol singing from the Singing from Fun team despite the intense cold.
Town Hall staff, with helpers, completed the town centre activities by running their annual charity tombola which raised £106.00. This will be split between the Kingfisher Day Centre and the Testbourne Day Centre.
Many thanks to all those who helped on the day or contributed to the prizes, including local residents, groups, HSBC Bank and Lloydspharmacy. |
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Full Results:
Children Under 8: Winner, Jack Othen; Runners Up, Mack Lethaby & George Lloyd
Children 8 - 12: Winner, Tommy Boxal; Runner Up, Oliver Hutchings
Best Dressed Shop Window: Winner, Street Video; 2nd G Dowling & Sons; 3rd= Clacy's and Newbury Building Society |
Town Centre Improvement Plans
The designs for the improvements to the Town Hall frontage and the Bell Street Car Park area are now available for viewing in the Town Hall. Copies are here.
The works are concentrated on those areas which were highlighted as most in need of improvement in the Health Check process started in 2002. In the last 6 months the Programme Steering Group has worked with Hampshire County Council Environment Department planners to create the designs. Your comments will be welcome and will inform the Steering Group's meeting with the designers on 17th January. This should result in detailed planning which will pave the way for the works to start in Spring 2008.
Comments can be handed in at the Town Hall or the new e.office at 1 Winchester Road until 15th January.
Whitchurch is Lit Up
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In addition to the Town Centre illuminations and decorated shop windows, several houses are decorated with lights as usual.
Micheldever Road and Queens Road both have festive lights. |
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Christmas Market Makes Money for Local Groups
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Father Christmas took a break from his heavy schedule to spend a couple of hours at the the Primary School and then Whitchurch Silk Mill to see and speak with local children. He received their present wish lists which this year included an unusual wish for teeth.
Whether the presents handed out with the assistance of two little helpers included teeth we shall never know. To add to the festive occasion, the Harmony Choir performed carols and festive songs whilst mums and dads tucked in to delicious mince pies.
As Santa jumped back on to his sleigh he waved and smiled and was heard saying "Ho Ho Ho!"
Pictures by Mike Summehayes |
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Christmas Market Makes Money for Local Groups
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Many local small businesses were selling their goods at the Christmas Market organised by Working4Whitchurch in the Gill Nethercott Hall on Saturday.
Whitchurch Scouts, Whitchurch Youth Project, Help for Heroes and the Mityana Project all took part and raised funds for their groups. |
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Meanwhile lunch was being served to Saturday morning shoppers in the Methodist Church. |
Scouts African Drumming
Following Friday's downpour, brilliant sunshine greeted the shoppers on Saturday morning. Their day was brightened up even more by Whitchurch Scouts' African Drumming.
All the different groups in Whitchurch, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts took part and the money raised will go to to Naomi House.
Christmas Lights Switched On
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A downpour greeted the Singing for Fun carol singers and the Mayor on Friday night but the, now traditional ceremony went on. Singing was inside but the Mayor braved the elements to declare that Christmas had arrived in Whitchurch |
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| Whitchurch's Mayor, Steve Robbins, managed to avoid the traditional snow and was shielded from the rain by Mayoress Susie Robbins as he told the small crowd that had braved the weather about the Christmas programme for Whitchurch. The Town Hall's lights came on at the appointed time and Christmas had arrived! |
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