This is Alton

The Alton Health Fayre 22nd September 2012

Wilson Practice Patient Participation Group — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:55:52 +0000

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Tags: alton events

kindly sponsored by the Co-op Community Fund The 2012 Alton Health Fayre @THE ALTON ASSEMBLY ROOMS 10am -3pm

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Alton Buckle Receive £372,000 Lottery Award

This is Alton — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:45:28 +0000

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Tags: alton buckle alton news community

The Alton Buckle Project, based at Wootey’s School was recently award a £372,000 grant from the Reaching Communities Lottery Fund. We went along to their celebration day to speak with Alison Cliffe, the project manager and to see a session with the Rock School that is based there. For more information, you can contact Alison on Alison.Cliffe@bushyleaze.hants.sch.uk

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Feeling the Rhythm at Bell House Dance Studio

This is Alton — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:29:01 +0000

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Tags: alton news bell house dance studio Damian Hinds latin salsa zumba

Back in April, This is Alton was invited to visit the Bell House Dance Studio in Alton to find out what they do, how they do it and to witness some amazing demonstration dancing. Whilst we were there, East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds dropped in too to have a look around and learnt a basic Cha-Cha-Cha! Our video includes an interview with the owners as well as dance routines. Check it out below: For more information about the Studio, visit their website at http://www.thebellhousedancestudioalton.co.uk/

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Who can offer Arthur cat a loving, permanent home?

Farnham and Wey Valley Cats Protection — Sun, 06 May 2012 13:26:54 +0000

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Handsome black and white cat, Arthur, has been in the care of the local branch of national cat charity Cats Protection since February of this year. Despite his charming looks, no-one has shown an interest in adopting Arthur, and the charity is now urgently seeking a permanent, loving home for this gorgous cat. On coming into Cats Protection’s care, Arthur was quite nervous, but thanks to some caring TLC and a little patience from his foster carer, he has now really come out of his shell and actively seeks out fuss and attention. Arthur’s fosterer says: “Arthur has come out of his “hiding hole” quite suddenly and now he can’t get enough attention and cuddles!! It’s just amazing how much he has changed from one day to the next, and we are very happy for him. He’s sitting next to me on the sofa as I’m writing this email!! He seems much more comfortable around the house, with us and even the guests, as he was demanding cuddles from our friends who were visiting us yesterday!” Arthur will probably need a little time and patience to settle down properly in a new home, but at just three years old, he [...]

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Alton Local History Day – 19th May

This is Alton — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:38:09 +0000

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Tags: alton news event local history day

A couple of years ago, the ‘Alton and Villages’ Local History Forum’ was formed by interested people from Alton, Chawton, Beech, Kingsley, Froyle, Bentworth, Farringdon, Selborne, [East] Worldham, Holybourne and Binsted. Last May (Local History Month), they put on a Local History Day in the Large Hall of Alton Assembly Rooms. There were displays of pictures, maps, books and other sources with some villages having information on computer to help people with their queries. Despite the event being on Cup Final Day, over 250 people attended and everyone seemed to get something from their visit – finding out about their local and/or family history. The event, which will be free, is being staged again this year on Saturday 19 May – with the support of Molson Coors. Do come and find out about the history of your area and the people who lived there.

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Local Venue Pulls Off Extraordinary Musical Coup!

This is Alton — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:31:12 +0000

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Tags: alton news music ropley village hall virgil and the accelerators

Ropley Village Hall has pulled off possibly the musical coup of the year by coaxing one of the country’s leading musical talents to perform on Friday May 11th. Virgil And The Accelerators, a power trio fronted by 19-year old blues guitar prodigy Virgil McMahon have swept the board with plaudits since their debut album PhotoPRadium was released in 2010. Music critics have been scrambling for their keyboards to try and announce that ‘they saw them first’ because the circuit hasn’t seen anything quite like them for many years. For fans of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and the like, this is a show not to be missed. Here is a copy of their latest video They have recently toured the UK supporting former Dr Feelgood guitarist, Wilko Johnson and are now heading out on their own and selling out across the country. Ropley Village Hall’s music events co-ordinator Martin Evans has had the band on his radar for some time and made an approach for them to play. If you don’t ask, you don’t get – so Oliver Barnes of Wilson Digital Media did just that. He said ‘They are doing a few dates in May and June [...]

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Energy Alton – Public Meeting 8th May

This is Alton — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:20:44 +0000

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Tags: alton news energy alton public meeting

Energy Alton is hosting a Public Meeting on 8th May between 7.30pm and 9.15pm at Alton Community Centre for partners and members of the public to say what has happened over the last three months and how the £80,000 has been spent. Several parts of the project have already been successfully completed these include: Insulation of two solid wall homes in Alton 9 energy surveys of commercial and public properties in Alton Opening and operation of the Energy Centre in Alton High Street Regular public workshops on a Saturday on energy saving topics Collaboration with Insulate Hampshire to issue free insulation to residents Three workshops on renewable energy for planners, councillors and members of the public Other parts are ongoing these include: The Energy Centre will remain open through to the end of July Arranging for free loft insulation Saturday workshops Taking thermal images The Energy Alton Group is keen to report back on the highs and lows of the whole project. We want to engage with people to plan what comes next. What ideas do people have, what are the priorities for the town, what is it possible to do? Of course this will depend getting support from the [...]

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Below Stairs with the Edwardian Servants

This is Alton — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:14:17 +0000

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Events

Tags: alton news Chawton House Library edwardian servants events things to do

Chawton House Library is taking part for the first time in the annual ‘Museums at Night’ a national campaign, led by Culture24 on Saturday 19th May, when museums, galleries, libraries and heritage sites open their doors for special evening events. Staff and volunteers in late Victorian and early Edwardian costume will carry out domestic duties such as dressing fire places, laying the table, cleaning silver, doing the laundry and other tasks. Visitors will find the Housekeeper, scullery and kitchen maids, the Footman and others, busy with their daily work. There will be a Tea Parlour for visitors to take tea and children’s activities with Edwardian toys and games as well as an exhibition of period books on domestic matters, housekeeping and cookery. This all takes place on Saturday 19 May from This event is on between 2.00p, and 9.00pm. Entrance is £5.00 for adults and £2.00 for children. Please call 01420 541010 for more information or see the website: www.chawtonhouse.org.

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Alton Lions Easter Eggstravaganza Brings New Equipment & Toys For Bushy Leaze

This is Alton — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:06:07 +0000

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Tags: Alton Lions alton news bushy leaze

This year’s Alton Lions Easter ‘Eggstravaganza’ has resulted in a £1250 donation to Bushy Leaze Early Years Centre! The money raised will be used to buy digital cameras, remote controlled toys and building equipment to be used to help develop hand-eye coordination in the children. Pictured are Alton Lions President Peter Bacon with Lion Janis Chandler, Teacher Wendy Taylor and Bushy Leaze children and President Peter receiving tips on cake making from Bushy Leaze children. The Centre provides a nursery with 60 children, with fifty per cent of the places designated to children with learning difficulties and disabilities. Bushy Leaze also supports some 500 other children from the local area and operates a baby clinic. Wendy expressed her thanks to the Lions for organising the project and said it was very encouraging to know that there was so much goodwill in the local community for Bush Leaze. President Peter also thanked the local businesses in the area including Alton Golf Club, The Kings Head, The Wheatsheaf, Charwell House, Alton College, The Eight Bells & Bushy Leaze from Alton; The Star Inn at Bentworth; The Greyfriar in Chawton; The Three Horseshoes & Worldham Golf Club in East Worldham; The Rose & [...]

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Adult Learners’ Week at Alton College

This is Alton — Sat, 05 May 2012 23:49:10 +0000

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Tags: adult education adult learners week alton college alton news mature student

Alton College are pleased to be part of the UK’s largest annual festival of learning; Adult Learners’ Week, from 14th – 18th May 2012. The nationally themed week is an excellent opportunity to celebrate and promote the benefits of adult learning and all are welcome to join the college on one of their FREE taster sessions at Alton College. There are endless reasons why learning something new, developing existing skills or taking up a new hobby can be the start of a brighter future. Discover the positive impact that learning can have on your life, family and community by enrolling on a FREE taster session in: An Introduction to Accounting An Intoduction to working in a Health and Social Care/Children & Young People’s Setting English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Computing Basics Creative Writing Improve your English Psychology Book your place and keep an eye out for new sessions advertised through our Adult Education webpages. You may also be interested in attending our Adult Education Information Day on Wednesday 4th July 2012. The doors open from 10am – 8pm allowing you to discover exciting opportunities including the types of courses available and how to enrol. You might even find that you’re eligible for free or part-funded courses. Look out [...]

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Alton Comes to Life at Night!

This is Alton — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:25:58 +0000

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Tags: alton news curtis museum events Hampshire

The Curtis Museum is delighted to be opening its doors for an evening of nocturnal narratives, on Saturday 19th May in conjunction with the national Museums at Night initiative. Costumed actors will bring Alton to life through the ages by interpreting the history of the town. Tying in with the European event of the same name (La Nuit des Musées), this is a chance to enjoy a great night out and experience heritage and culture on your doorstep. Interpretive anecdotes will transport you directly to the past, demonstrating how life in Alton has developed through the eyes of those who lived here. Hop pickers, soldiers, regency ladies and many more will divulge their secrets to enhance your understanding of how different life was in their day. Authentic costumes and paraphernalia will complement the experience, as will the juicy gossip and tales of the unexpected. You will be enthralled and excited in different locations within the museum; there is something for everyone through the diversity of the characters portrayed. Come and celebrate the first event of its kind in your local museum, whilst having an interesting and alternative night out. This event runs from 5:30pm – 9:00pm. Contact Fleur Bowles on [...]

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Coronation Memories – Alton Drill Hall

This is Alton — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:11:53 +0000

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Tags: alton news coronation jubilee whitedown estate

This is Alton reader, Ian Quinnell sent us this picture of a celebration of the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 taken at the old Alton Drill Hall. Do you know any of the people in the picture and where they are now? Nine years old at the time, Mr Quinnell said ‘. . . we had a weekly collection and this went to the hiring of the hall, food and presents for all the children who lived around Whitedown Estate.’ and continued ‘we had a party with games and dancing and it was all organised by the families on the estate.’ Many years later, Mr Quinnell joined the Territorial Army and met at the drill hall that used to be at the end of Albert Road, just off The Butts in Alton. He remembers these people that are in the photograph: Ray Warren, Gary Tricky, David Brooks, Malcolm Brooks, Michael Dooley, Aludra Jackson, Alan Harden, Terry Bert, Tommy Nother, Hetter Cole, Rita Jackson, Shirley Jackson, Christien Mitchell, Chris Mitchel, Geoff Harden, Derick Compton. How many people can you spot that you know. Let us know on our contact page. Below, we’ve enlarged the image to give you a better look: Left [...]

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Bumper Summer Line-Up Marks the Last for Bandstand

This is Alton — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:16:37 +0000

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Tags: alton news bandstand Public Gardens summer entertainment

It looks like another busy summer in the Public Gardens, following the announcement of this season’s entertainment line-up. Each season Alton Town Council coordinates a programme of events in the town centre oasis, which this year kicks off on the 13th May with Alton College Jazz & Big Bands and runs throughout June, July and August. Amongst many highlights are performances from the town’s Eggars School, Bagshot Concert Band, Cactus Brass, Harpist John Corin and Alton’s very own Concert Orchestra performing at the town’s sixth open-air Last Night of the Proms. The bandstand will be playing centre stage literally on the 2 June when several local musical groups will come together for a concert called Saturday Night is Music Night, forming part of the towns Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Summer half term holiday sees the Proteus Theatre Company presenting The Mission on Friday 8 June from 2-3pm; in the event of bad weather, it will take place in the Assembly Rooms. “. . . the envy of many other towns” As usual parents and carers get an hour off every Friday afternoon for six weeks from late July and through August when, once again, an entertainer will be captivating young audiences [...]

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Poor Weather Postpones Fun Fair

This is Alton — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:38:25 +0000

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Tags: alton news fun fair postponed

Whilst many people would agree that we need the rain, Fun Fair fans will be disappointed this week as the Wall’s Fun Fair, due to arrive on The Butts this weekend, has been postponed until May. Deputy Town Clerk, Greg Burt said ‘With the continuing poor weather, the ground at The Butts is very wet, and the fun fair has had to be rescheduled until 11th – 13th May.’

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Alton and Old Wellingtonians Batter Each Other to a 22- 22 Stalemate

This is Alton — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:44:03 +0000

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Tags: alton news alton rugby club east hampshire news

A superb match! Alton and Old Wellingtonians battered each other into a stalemate in a thunderous, thrilling encounter at Anstey Park as the London 3 season reached its climax. Wellingtonians came desperately close to claiming a victory in the dying moments that would have seen them promoted to London 2 but they were thwarted by a magnificently resilient Alton side, more than half of whom were 21 or younger. ‘there was a youthful confidence about this Alton side. . .’ In the final analysis a draw was a fair result, although Alton were clinging on for dear life at the end as Wellingtonians produced some sumptuous running rugby in the final ten minutes and so nearly nicked it. Relegation was confirmed weeks ago but there was a youthful confidence about this Alton side and a wider repertoire that should serve them well if they can take reproduce it in Hampshire One. They probed patiently, played it short and simple as needed, but were clever, breezy and incisive in broken-field situations – no longer the urgency to score off first-phase ball or throw the impossible off-load. Wellingtonians were crushing 49-5 winners on the opening day of the season but here Alton [...]

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Alton Tennis Club

This is Alton — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 09:15:11 +0000

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Tags: alton news alton tennis club east hampshire news sport

Alton Tennis Club has secured £21,000 of Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund. The Inspired Facilities fund is part of the £135 million Places People Play legacy programme that is bringing the magic of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games into communities across the country. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark – celebrating the link to the Games. The project will go towards resurfacing the tennis club’s 2 remaining tarmac courts, greatly improving their facilities and allowing for an improved experience for their members. ‘We are delighted to secure the first Inspired Facilities grant. . .’ Sport England’s Chair, Richard Lewis, said: “This investment will create will be a fantastic sporting legacy for Alton. “This fund has really hit the mark with sports clubs in East Hampshire. It shows we’re offering the legacy that people want for their local community. For hundreds of clubs and tens of thousands of people, 2012 will be the year their local sports facilities got better.” John Hubbard, said “We are delighted to secure the first Inspired Facilities grant. It means that we now have first class facilities for tennis players of all ages in [...]

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Lorries Needed to Secure Carnival Success

This is Alton — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:58:21 +0000

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Tags: alton news alton town council carnival east hampshire news jubilee

Requests to Carnival organisers for help in securing vehicles to uses as floats in the revived Alton Carnival this June, has prompted Alton Town Council to put out a public appeal for any individual or company that can help, to come forward. ‘If any individual or company is willing to make available a lorry with driver, please let us know. . .’ The Council is leading on the plans for the crowd-puller on the 3rd June, one of the highlights of the town’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and whilst entries are coming in at steady rate, many are being held back from submitting the entry form because of a lack of suitable transport. The town’s public events are being overseen by an informal working party of Town Councillors and representatives of other organisations. Councillor Kevin Stevens, who chairs the Working Party said: “Whilst we are trying to get people to think about using smaller, more readily obtainable forms of transport such as trailers, prams, bicycles and shopping trolleys, we have been really taken aback at the number of enquiries we have had from groups still wanting to enter a more traditional float, which just goes to show how much enthusiasm there [...]

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Full steam ahead for Alton Fringe Theatre’s ‘The 39 Steps’

This is Alton — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:52:31 +0000

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Tags: alton fringe theatre alton news east hampshire news entertainment the 39 steps

Budding and seasoned Thespians are invited to come along to one of Alton Fringe Theatre’s workshop auditions for ‘The 39 Steps’ to be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 17th April and 3pm on Sunday 22nd April at Amery Hill School Drama Studio. The play is an affectionate spoof of the Alfred Hitchcock film, which was in turn loosely based on John Buchan’s famous book. This new adaptation by Patrick Barlow takes the audience on a journey of murder and mayhem as its hero, Richard Hannay, races from London to the Highlands and back again in a bid to unravel the mystery of ‘The 39 steps’. “We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to put on this production (which will run from 28th Nov – 1st Dec). Amateur rights have been restricted during its current West End run and will be again during 2013 when it goes on tour, leaving only a small window in which to put it on. With its sparse but innovative staging it is a good match for Alton Fringe Theatre, which is known for its inventive productions. Although written for a cast of four, Alton Fringe envisages a cast of up to 9 people playing [...]

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Weywater Easter

This is Alton — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:46:09 +0000

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Tags: alton news east hampshire news Home-Start WeyWater

Home-Start WeyWater enjoyed the fun of an Easter egg hunt on Tuesday 3rd April, the weather was kind and the rain held off. After hunting for their eggs and seeing the rabbits, chickens and sheep the children enjoyed crafts, face painting, and eating lots of cake! The Easter egg hunt was held at Jardinique, Old Park Farm in Beech. Sarah and Ed Neish of Jardinique has supported Home-Start WeyWater for the past 3 years, and on May 18th and 19th they will be holding an exhibition and sale of pictures, crafts, jewellery, plants and much more. The entrance donation is kindly being given to Home-Start WeyWater along with proceeds from the refreshments. Home-Start WeyWater gives many thanks to Kestral FM who kindly organised an Easter egg appeal and Newbury Building Society in Alton and Basingstoke for acting as collection points. Many eggs were given by individual listeners as well as Liphook Motors who generously gave 50 eggs! Home Start is a voluntary organisation in which volunteers offer support, friendship and practical help to families with at least one child under 5. They visit families in their own homes to prevent family crisis and breakdown. Home-Start WeyWater is growing the scheme [...]

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‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’? for Rugby Club Climbers

This is Alton — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:35:08 +0000

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Tags: 4 peaks challenge alton news alton rugby club east hampshire news

Eight intrepid Alton Rugby Club members are getting ready to climb tge British Isles’ four highest mountatins – in just two days! The group is raising money on behalf of the Wooden Spoon Society by competing in the 2012 Four Peaks Challenge, which begins on 28 June. Two teams of three climbers and a driver will be making a total ascent of over 14,500 feet – the equivalent of climbing halfway up Everest – and a total drive of nearly 1,900 miles. The group will pit their wits against Ben Nevis, Helvellyn and Snowdon, before then heading over to Ireland to take on Carantouhill. The Wooden Spoon Society is rugby union’s dedicated children’s charity and its challenges have raised many thousands of pounds for disadvantaged youngsters since its inception in 1983. The eight will be engaging in plenty of local fund-raising activities in coming weeks and are also partnering with local businesses to support them in what promises to be an extremely gruelling challenge. Donations can also be made through Virgin Money Giving, where they will be augmented by Gift Aid and passed to the Wooden Spoon Society. Alton Rugby Club is hosting a music quiz on Friday 18 May (7.45pm start) [...]

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