Article for the Village News – September 2012.

by lmphs | Dec 8, 2012 | News

What a superb summer of sport we have had this year! The Olympics were superb and I thoroughly enjoyed my day out at the Olympic Park. By all accounts, everyone also enjoyed their day out at this year’s village show with all the stalls doing well and the children’s games in full swing once again.

The Horti now has a well-earned break between events after spending a lot of hours putting the show together, but we continue to focus on our future activities. In support of the Victory Hall committee, our next major joint event is the annual fireworks display. This year, we will once again be at Old Tom’s Field on the edge of the village on Saturday 3^rd September. The Bonfire will be lit at 6.30 and the fireworks start at 7.00. Tickets remain at £6 adults and £2 children, but they can be bought at a discount (£5 / £1.50) from the Queens Head or direct from David Severs on 01296 661021.

The Hall itself will be hosting a special Halloween disco on Saturday 27^th October at 8pm. This is a ‘bring your own booze’ event with a door charge of £5 and promises to be a good night out.

My personal favourite event each year is the annual ‘Carols round the Tree’ this year being staged on Tuesday 18^th December. We are so fortunate to have the services of a small band that makes the evening so more enjoyable whilst trying to raise a lot of money for Help for Heroes and really brings home the spirit of Christmas. The free mince pies and mulled wine help as well!

November will also see the auditions being staged for next year’s pantomime, so let’s hope we get a good turnout, but more details will be available next month.

Millennium map re-issued

by lmphs | May 26, 2011 | News

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This month the Horti are re-launching a piece of local history.  On one of my walks recently, I visited my friend Oliver Matthews and bought one of his wonderful village plans he compiled just before the millennium.  This is an A2 sized print of the Ordinance Survey maps from 1796 and 1996 showing how Long Marston and the surrounding hamlets looked at the time, superbly drawn by Ken Peak, accompanied by some beautifully painted pictures of local landmarks by Phyl Thorpe.  With the ever changing village population, the Horti feel we should reissue these at £10 a copy.  Anyone interested should contact Oliver directly on 01296 662181.

From our Horti Correspondent

Memories.

by lmphs | May 13, 2011 | News

Everybody knows what the strange people in the Long Marston and Puttenham Horticultural Society do – they potter about in old clothes doing puzzling things to plants; a bit like a cross between Alan Titchmarsh and Miss Marple.  Well, there are some a bit like that, it’s true, but there are many other quite normal types who don’t have noticeably green fingers, and who spend a lot of their time helping to arrange, organise and run events in the village, like the May Ball and the Annual Village Show. 

Others help to maintain the web site (www.longmarston.org) which is a fascinating store of local information and well worth a visit.  Part of this web site covers all aspects of the history of our local area, and much of the information has been provided by local residents sharing their memories and stories.

We are always interested to hear from our fellow Long Marstonites and Puttenhamites, so if you have any recollections or family stories concerning any aspect of the villages we would love to share them.

Any subject is of interest – The Airfield, Village Pubs, Shops and Businesses, The Wars, Local Characters – anything.  Please contact us with your stories and memories either by post to: Martin Winship,13 Marston Court, Long Marston, HP23 4QS or by email: martinwinship@live.co.uk. 

Our aim is to produce a Long Marston and Puttenham booklet, in which all contributions will be acknowledged.

Article by Martin Winship.