On this week’s Winchester Now:
- It’s ‘Dementia Action Week’ and Winchester Radio has been heavily involved as part of ‘Dementia Friendly Winchester’ – a network of local charities, businesses, churches, community groups, councils, doctor’s surgeries and the hospital, all working together to raise awareness of dementia and to let people know about the support available to help those affected.
- Over 20 events are taking place across the Winchester area to support people living with dementia, and their carers. Anna O’Brien spoke to Louis Paddington about the County Council’s Home Library Service.
- A number of Information Fairs have taken place during the week, to help people gather useful resources on services and activities that regularly happen locally for people living with dementia to enjoy. We asked Fenella what had brought her to the event at Winchester Baptist Church.
- News-in-brief:
- Tributes have been paid to a popular Winchester teacher who died following a medical incident at Kings’ School last week. Sam Bamford has been described as lovely, caring and dedicated by pupils and staff. Hundreds of flowers, cards and messages have been left at the school gates, and tributes shared in an online book of condolence opened by the Hampshire Chronicle in her memory.
- A new fleet of mobile camera vans, fitted with the most up-to-date technology, is being rolled out across Hampshire, to catch speeding motorists. The current fleet of vans covers over 250 different locations, with sites chosen because people have suffered serious or fatal injuries there, or to meet concerns from residents. The introduction of the new vans follows 700-thousand pounds of funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones.
- Police say they have received several reports from Hampshire residents who’ve lost money, due to fraudulent orders placed via their online shopping accounts. Criminals take over a victim’s account and place large orders using the stored bank card details. Officers advise people to use strong passwords, to change them regularly, and not to store payment details on online shopping accounts.
- Around 150,000 people have received their Spring Covid vaccination in Hampshire, but doctors say half of those eligible are yet to book. People aged 75 and over, care home residents and those with weakened immune systems can have the jab. The programme closes at the end of June.
- Winchester has a new Mayor. At the annual mayor-making ceremony at the Guildhall on Wednesday evening, Councillor Jamie Scott was elected as Winchester’s 827th Mayor. The new Mayor is keen to visit local organisations that have never had a Mayoral visit before, and he encourages people to get in touch with the Mayor’s office to arrange this. During the Mayoral year, his 2 chosen and supported charities are Winchester Hospice and St. John Ambulance.
- And, a ceremony has marked the official opening of the new River Park Pavilion. Representatives of community organisations joined city councillors, officers, and the design and build teams, for the official cutting of the ribbon. Construction of the new facility began last year, and has cost 2.3 million pounds – with investment from the council, grant funding and developer contributions.
- The 22nd annual Alresford Watercress Festival took place last Sunday and delighted visitors from far and wide. The community event had lots of street entertainment, activities for little ones, stalls, cookery demonstrations and farm visits. Around 500 bags of watercress were given out, and the whole event raises a lot of money each year for local charities. Among those giving a cookery demonstration this year was inspirational 14-year-old Dexter Olejarka. Anna O’Brien spoke to Dexter and his mum, after his time on stage, about his passion for cooking.
- Shout-outs:
- To fundraisers for Cancer Research UK: the charity having a number of ‘Race for Life’ events taking place across the country, including here in Winchester. Over 400 people turned-up for the 3km and 5km ‘Race for Life’ runs held at North Walls Recreation Ground last Sunday, and well over £50k was raised for the charity. A huge well done too, to young Ella who did a 21-mile walk and raised an amazing £954 for the charity, alongside her sister. And ‘Slimming World Badger Farm’ members, alongside attendees at ‘Slimming World Bishopstoke,’ collected 120 bags of unwanted good-quality clothing for Cancer Research UK to raise vital funds for research for the charity.
- To Sparsholt College, who are celebrating growing success at the Chelsea Flower Show! They won a Silver-Gilt Medal for ‘Washday Hues’ at the prestigious event. This accolade is Sparsholt College’s eighth Silver-Gilt medal adding to the collection of ten Gold medals and three Bronze medals, alongside seven ‘Best in Category’ awards. The 2026 garden is designed by Sparsholt’s multiple-medal-winning-team including several full-time and part-time mature horticulture learners.
- To the Winchester and Eastleigh Diabetes UK Support Group who received a gold award at the BBC’s recent Gardeners’ World Spring Fair. Katy Pomeroy used a garden to show the confusion and anxiety people often feel when they’re first told they have diabetes. The garden was called ‘Navigating the Jungle of Diabetes’.
- To 7-year-old Max, who has raised more than £1,000 for Emmaus Hampshire after taking on two exciting 5km fundraising challenges in support of people experiencing homelessness. Max was inspired to help the cause by a school assembly talking about the effects of homelessness. He met several ‘Companions’ at the charity too – formerly homeless people supported by Emmaus – who personally thanked him for his efforts.
- To young Lillia who has also been kindly raising money for a local cause. She completed a sponsored silence for 48 hours, raising an incredible £905 for Shepherds Down School in Winchester. The school operates to support the needs of primary aged pupils who have a wide range of complex learning needs.
- To the members of the maternity team at Hampshire Hospitals, who recently undertook a ‘Tough Mudder Challenge’ to raise money for the Hampshire Hospitals Charity, and the purchase of upgraded CTG machines. The team of 19, made up of staff from both maternity units at Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals, family and friends, have so far raised over £2,500 to support their patients, through their efforts.
- To ‘Winchester City Flyers’ – our local women’s football team – who end the season on a high, with a 3-0 win over Fleet Town F.C. The results elsewhere mean it’s a guaranteed second place for the Flyers – their best season ever!
