ONE WEEK after the widow of a Basingstoke coffee merchant was brutally murdered, police officers have been back at the scene in the hope of gaining vital information to help catch the killer. The body of 77-year-old Georgina Edmonds was found at her
A PLAN to transport compressed gas in tankers to an oilfield near Basingstoke "has all the ingredients of a national disaster", fear local residents. Star Energy applied in November for planning permission to transport compressed gas from the Singleton
DESPITE being hit by injury and suspension, Francis Vines is confident that his Basingstoke Town side can come out on top at Maidenhead United this weekend. Town make the short trip to Berkshire tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) hoping to secure their fourth
MY HUSBAND knows that the only man I'd contemplate leaving him for is Tim Burton. Such a scenario is highly unlikely (!), but I should admit that I have a collection of memorabilia devoted to Mr B, as well as his entire back catalogue on DVD. And so
THE residents' meetings called by Basingstoke MP Maria Miller regarding her M3 campaign begin tonight at Hatch Warren Community Centre, from 7.30pm. Another meeting takes place tomorrow at Old Basing Village Hall, at 10.30am. Incorrect times were given
A GRANDMOTHER from Old Basing found herself at the centre of a culture row this week after she claimed to have been refused service by a Muslim shop assistant. Sally Friday, of Cavalier Road, Old Basing, tried to buy the book First Bible Stories for
JIM Dixon says that the next month will "make or break" Basingstoke RFC's season and is looking to get it started with a win over bottom-of-the-table Thanet Wanderers tomorrow. 'Stoke face four of the five sides they are battling to avoid relegation
SOCCER legend Sir Trevor Brooking - the Football Association's director of football development - will be the star guest as the curtain goes up on a major football complex in Basingstoke. Brooking will be among the audience when the Mayor of Basingstoke
MOTORISTS in Basingstoke could be fined by supermarket managers if they wrongly park in disabled and family spaces. ASDA, in Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, will ask drivers for £60 if they're caught parking in the wrong bay from January 28. All profits
OPPONENTS of a controversial proposal to build hundreds of small flats in Basingstoke are appealing to the developer to withdraw its bid. Their move comes after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's Cabinet decided to pursue negotiations to sell
THE flower club: Meets at Heath End Village Hall today, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. For more details, ring Rose on 0118 9813600 or Margaret on 0118 9812787. MOBILE library: Today, the mobile library will call at Heath End Village Hall, from 10am to 10.20am
PARISH council: The next meeting of the parish council will be held on Monday, at 7.30pm, in the Bramley room at Bramley Village Hall. Members of the public are invited to attend, and the agenda will include a 10-minute session when the public are permitted
U3A meeting: U3A stands for University of the Third Age. There is a meeting at the Church of Christ the King next Tuesday, at 2.30pm. For further information, contact 01256 323015. ACTIVITY centre at Raglan Court, Dankworth Road: Age Concern volunteers
THE Buckskin pub: At long last The Buckskin pub is getting a facelift. Work started on Monday and will continue for about seven weeks. The grand opening is scheduled for February 29. BUS passes: An early reminder - bus pass renewals and travel tokens
PARISH council: At the meeting held on Monday, newly-appointed head of service Tim Boschi made himself available to discuss leisure, recreational and landscape issues relating to Chineham. The main thrust of the discussion was around the perceived lack
PARISH council: Writing well in advance of publication of The Gazette sometimes means that events overtake my copy. The scrapyard bund is an example, as the parish council meeting on Tuesday, January 8, had a full and, at times, heated discussion on
LUCKILY: No one was hurt in either of the two accidents in Axford Road last week - two more examples of the dangers caused by traffic travelling too fast for the road. Although no one was injured, parish councillor Peter Hopwood has advised the police
CHARITY success: Carol singers from Immanuel Church, in Hatch Warren, lent some seasonal cheer to shoppers at Sainsbury's just before Christmas. At the same time they also made a collection for charity NCH Action for Children. They raised £285. OLD
"SALE of the Century": Brian Spicer, who was agent for Hackwood House for much of his life, brings the third of his talks to the Heritage Association at the Village Club on Thursday, January 24, at 7.30pm. The topic is the sale which dispersed the unique
Adult Learning classes: At The Vyne Community School begin on Monday, with part one of introduction to floristry, from 7pm to 9pm. This is for five weeks and costs £52. Part two begins on February 25. On Tuesday, it is ballroom and Latin American dancing
John Harrocks, the chief executive of North Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes 2008 should be an interesting year. "THIS year will undoubtedly be interesting for business, in both the Chinese meaning of challenging and the broader
CONGREGATIONAL hymn practice: This Saturday, from 10am to 11am, in the parish room. This is an opportunity to sing through some new hymns and some old favourites. Refreshments available to lubricate those voices. EDUCATION Sunday: This Sunday, St Mary's
SEVERE weather causing flooding, an office fire or even an influenza pandemic would seriously disrupt the smooth running of any business. But what would happen if your IT department was taken out of action because of one of these problems? Local businesses
ST LUKE'S window appeal: Kicks off the new year with two events on Saturday, January 26, at St Luke's Church. There will be a coffee morning with a book sale, from 10am to noon, followed by a quiz evening, beginning at 7pm. Teams of up to six people
BRIDES-TO-BE who are looking for a unique wedding dress need go no further than Whitchurch, thanks to a former BCOT lecturer. Bridal wear designer Pauline Forster opened her Church Street store in style last Saturday by welcoming visitors with a glass
MELROSE Hall garden: A big thank you to everyone who turned up and helped on Saturday, and to those who passed by and gave advice. As you can see, some major movement is going on and we will be very busy replanting over the next two to three months.
DRIVING Miss Daisy: According to the National Trust calendar of events, Rotherwick's own James Hague is officially "charismatic"! Daisy's Dairy will be the subject of the first in a series of February "Lecture Lunches" at The Vyne, near Basingstoke.
BARN dance: Please support the fundraising barn dance being held in the village hall on January 26, where there will be dancing to "Pitchfork" and a fish and chip supper. Tickets are £13.50 from The Shop, the post office and from 01256 881979. LODDON
SILCHESTER school: Congratulations to Year R for their "Wriggly Nativity" and to the choir who sang so well at Tadley Community Centre over the Christmas period. Julie Reynolds, school caretaker, has retired after many years and will be much missed.
THIS was my first visit to The Academy in Basingstoke, and having heard so many positive things, my expectations were high. One nagging concern, however, was the lack of promotion for what should have been a biggish show. A second nagging concern was
THIS was a nice safe metal show to start the year, and a mixture of unknown and familiar acts. Proceedings started with a young band from Portsmouth by the name of Only Heroes Die. It was, therefore, a little disconcerting that they were so heavy. Don't
BROWNIES: The district commissioner for Rainbows, Brownies and Girl Guides now has vacancies for girls aged seven to 10 years in one of their Brownie units, which meets on a Thursday, in South Ham. For further details, contact 01256 398043. COMMUNITY
SHE wanted to fly the Jolly Roger in her garden for a bit of fun - but Carol Clark's plan to run the flag up the pole has been shot down in flames. Mrs Clark, 47, from The Rookery, Whitchurch, received a letter from the borough council after someone
THEATRE: A coach is leaving the community centre for London's West End on Thursday, January 24, at 11am, for a matinee performance of Hairspray, and will return around 10pm. The cost is £52. To book, or for more information, call 0118 9814538. VALENTINE'S
MANY theatregoers in Basingstoke have been waiting with bated breath for the show that will run in The Haymarket from February 1 to 16 - Guy Slater's Cyrano de Bergerac. As the first artistic director of the Horseshoe/Haymarket Theatre Company, Guy ushered
GIVEN Steve Carell's standing as a key member of the comedy fratpack, it may be wise from the off to warn fans of his well, less cranial comedy, that Dan in Real Life is much more serious than they might have expected. It's more along the lines of Carell's
FILM fans are in for a treat in the next few weeks. It's awards season, and whether the Oscars are cancelled or not, the films that have been released in America in time to compete are now hitting these shores. The fabulous Sweeney Todd, French film
FROM the pen of The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin comes a very different political animal, following in the wake of last year's glut of Iraq movies. Instead of having a look at relatively current events, it harks back to the days when greed and excess
JUST a reminder about the AGM of the Alliance of Basingstoke Churches this Sunday, at 4.30pm, at the Wessex Christian Fellowship, Wessex Close, Basingstoke, followed by a Service of Unity at The Salvation Army building, in Wessex Close, at 6.30pm. All
