On Winchester Radio this week:
- This month is the final one as Chief Executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for Alex Whitfield; she has been in the role since April 2017. Anna O’Brien met up with Alex to talk about new developments and projects at Hampshire Hospitals, and to reflect on the Trust’s recent AGM, where some of the challenges and achievements of the Trust were presented.
- News-in-brief:
- A new parcel delivery scheme is being trialled in Winchester, based from a hub at the Friarsgate Car Park, and will see deliveries switching from vans to electric cargo bikes for the last leg of their delivery – in a test to see if this will cut congestion on Winchester’s roads, and improve air quality in the city centre.
- An organised crime gang has been sentenced for stealing more than 100 vehicles across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. The vehicles, worth around £2m, and including 8 from Winchester, were mostly taken from driveways in the middle of the night.
- Winchester Hospital is supporting the national Stoptober campaign, to help people give up smoking. As part of the campaign, a special litter pick called ‘Bin the Butt’ takes place at the hospital on Tuesday, between 12 noon and 3pm.
- The University of Winchester has a new chaplain. Rev’d Vanessa Lawrence will help care for the spiritual and mental wellbeing of students. She was previously vicar of Ampfield, Chilworth and North Baddesley.
- TV and film star Hugh Bonneville delighted fans when he paid a visit to Winchester, signing his new children’s book at P & G Wells bookshop. People of all ages packed into the children’s department, to hear him read from the book, which is partly based on his childhood memories.
- The inaugural Churchill Living Local Hero Awards in Hampshire were held at the end of last week, at Austen Lodge in Basingstoke. Anna O’Brien was there to find out more and speak to the organisers and winners.
- Shoutouts:
- To all the wonderful people, such as Physiotherapists, Radiographers and Occupational Therapists, who work as Allied Health Professionals in our hospitals, our surgeries and our communities.
- To the 377 young people who finished the “Story Garden” themed Summer Reading Challenge at our local library in the city-centre. A special Display Wall is currently on show to mark the 377 finishers’ reading achievements. Catch it soon though, if you want to see the names of all those who took part…as the library says that, with Halloween and Christmas coming, it will not stay up for long!
- To all the volunteers working hard across the family of organisations who put on the city’s annual community Bonfire and Fireworks and raise thousands of pounds every year for local good causes. The Winchester Round Table Bonfire and Fireworks takes place this year on Saturday 8th November.
- To all the volunteers who rallied in response to Bishops Waltham Parish Council’s recent community call-out for a community Clean Up Event last Saturday. There was a fantastic turnout!
- To everybody taking part in the Great South Run this weekend. 2025 marks the 35th anniversary of this much-loved race, and around 23, 000 runners are expected to take part in the Great South Run in Portsmouth on Sunday, many of them running to support and raise funds for charities.
