This year the team of poppy volunteers will be collecting in Hambledon and Hydestile between Saturday 28 October and Remembrance Sunday, which is on 12 November. Please give either to your local collectors or, if you are out when they call, there are collecting boxes at Hambledon Village Shop and the Merry Harriers.

All contributions, large or small, are welcome. Last year’s total was £1,987.62, for which many thanks – and let’s see if we can hit £2k in 2017!

New for this year is a Poppy Appeal coffee morning. It will be held in Hambledon Village Hall on Thursday 2 November, from 10 am to 12 noon.

If you have any queries or would like any further information please contact Christine Campbell on 01483 861606 or 07860 463733.

The Remembrance Day service at St Peter’s Church is on 12 November and will start at 10.30 am.

As most of you will know, Catherine, Hambledon’s Associate Vicar, is moving on to pastures new. Her last Sunday will be 15 October, when she’ll be at both the 9am and 10.30am services at St Peter’s.

She’ll also be in the Merry Harriers on the evening of Thursday October 12th, so do drop in to say goodbye.

St Dominic’s School is currently undergoing a consultation process to convert it to Academy status in order to join Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (OHCAT) in January 2018.  This would secure a more certain long-term future for the school, as well as creating new opportunities to raise standards for our pupils and students.  The ever-changing education landscape and funding pressures are presenting challenges for Non Maintained Special Schools (NMSS) like ours and the Government is encouraging NMSS schools to convert to Academy status to safeguard their future.  OHCAT’s vision is entirely focused on pupils and students and is very much in line with St Dominic’s own ethos and values.  We therefore believe that converting to Academy status under the sponsorship of OHCAT is in the best interests of St Dominic’s and its pupils and students.  You can access further information from the Home page of our website www.stdominicsschool.org.uk .

If you would like to have your say on the conversion to an Academy proposal, you can pick up a Consultation Leaflet from the Village Shop.  The Consultation Leaflet contains a postage pre-paid reply slip for you to give your views.  You are also invited to attend an informal Drop-in session on Wednesday 18 October between 3.30pm and 6.00pm for families, staff and the local community.

UPDATE – Pidge has been found safe and well, thanks to all who hunted.

Pidge is a medium sized cross breed with curly white and brown coat. She was last seen near Alf Hammond’s yard by the Cricket Green at around 1pm Monday. She still has a lead attached to her collar. She is very timid and may not let you approach her. Any sightings please call the village shop on 01428 682176 or 07401 115952 if outside shop hours.

Karen Jones and family are moving away from Hambledon which means that Karen has had to resign as a Hambledon Parish Councillor.  You can find the notice of vacancy in the Parish Council section of the web site, on the “legislation” page.

On Saturday October 7th, the Village Hall will be hosting a production by Blackbox Theatre Company of John Godber’s “BOUNCERS” .

Tickets are £10 each and are now available at the Village Shop as well as on-line at www.fernehamhall.co.uk. The production starts at 7.45pm, the bar will be open at 7.00pm. All bar proceeds will benefit the Village Hall.