Don’t forget it’s the annual Hambledon Village Show this Saturday 31st August.

On the day of the Show, please drop off entries from 9.30am-11.30am at the Village Hall. It is FREE to enter your items! At 11.30am the Hall Closes for judging. After judging, the Show will be open to all from 2.00pm-4.30pm. Best in Show and the Underwood Cup is announced at 4.00pm. Then it’s on to the Village Shop BBQ….

The full category list is as follows:

Section 1: Flowers

1.   1 Flowered rose, with own foliage

2.   3 flowered roses, of different varieties

3. 3 dahlias, medium or small, any type

4.   1 Sunflower

5. 3 stems Marigolds, any type

6.   6 stems Sweet Pea

7.   3 stems of any type of flower not mentioned in this section.

8.   3 stems of any type of berrying or flowering shrub, any variety

9.   6 Fuchsia Floret, of the same variety (a mirror tile will be provided to display your florets)

10.   6 Flower Heads of the same variety floating on water (provide your own bowl/dish)

11.   5 stems of Grasses or Sedges, of different varieties

The Shop will be hosting its annual End of Summer BBQ on Saturday 31st August from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. 

Tickets are available online (click here) and at at the shop: £12:50 for adults and £5 for under 16s.

The ticket price includes BBQ food (with vegan option), salads and an ice-cream plus live music from the J’s (Hambledon’s own Jo Kirkland and John Canham). There will be licensed bars for you to purchase your favourite tipple and soft drinks.

Bring picnic tables and chairs or blankets (let’s hope we won’t need rain brollies)!

Please purchase your ticket by FRIDAY 23rd AUGUST so we know how many we’re catering for.

On the same day The Village Show will be in full swing at The Village Hall. The Hall will be open for setting up exhibits from 9.30am to 11.30am. After judging the show will be open to the public at 2pm to 4.30pm, entry is free. Best in Show will be awarded at 4.00pm. A full list of available categories can be found on the show web site at: http://hambledonvillageshow.co.uk.

A familiar and much-loved landmark has disappeared from Hambledon. The magnificent, spreading oak on the edge of Cricket Green by the entrance to The Hurst has been felled.

This became necessary after a large and low branch fell onto the track below, exposing the serious decay which made the tree dangerous. The oak was so tall and with such a wide spread that it posed a danger to nearby properties, including Oakhurst National Trust cottage, as well as a risk to pedestrians and vehicles.

It has taken tree surgeons several days to fell the tree, such was the scale of the task.

Although not a native species – it was a Turkey Oak, native to south east Europe and Asia minor, and introduced into Britain in the 18^th Century – it will be missed.

We’re nearly there. If you are attending Jazz On The Green this evening, here are a few things you need to know.

• the event opens at 6:00pm and food and drink stalls will be open from this time (please do not bring your own refreshments), live music will start shortly after 6:00pm, the event will close at 10:00pm
• the event is for ticket holders only, when you arrive you will need to swap your email confirmation or paper ticket, or e-ticket for a wrist band (if you have not already done so)
• please come by foot or bicycle if at all possible
• free parking will be available in a field close to the Cricket Green and will be clearly signposted with parking stewards in attendance, there will be no parking alongside the Cricket Green
• there will be some seating available, but please bring picnic blankets and or deck chairs if you can
• please do not bring dogs
• food will be on sale from the Cara Gorda Cantina, they provide Turkish inspired food suitable for adults, kids and vegetarians and from a locally based Pizza van
• several bars will be selling drinks, including a kids bar, Pimms, Gin and Tonics, Ale/Lager/Cider and a wine bar, you will need to be wearing a wrist band in order to be served
• the bars are being operated by a combination of The Merry Harriers and volunteers from the village, card payments can be used
• all proceeds for the evening will be going to local charities and village community organisations

Look forward to seeing you this evening.

The Hambledon Festival Committee

Over the years I have noticed that there a little signs for things like the shop or Oakhurst Cottage dotted around the village. Hambledon is quite spread out for a village, and people who don’t know the village wouldn’t know where the shop or church or cricket green are.

So I’ve wondered if it would be more useful, and in keeping with the village to have fingerposts instead. Following the 1964 standardisation, most old-style signs of all shapes and sizes were ripped up and replaced. But a lot of rural areas still have fingerposts, especially Hampshire. (though a personal favourite is Buttermere in the Lake District) As you can see below, Hampshire’s are often only shoulder height, but I’ve made the images below a more standard road sign height.

Many Hambledon residents are registered at either Chiddingfold Surgery or Witley and Milford Medical Partnership, even more now that the Guildford Rivers Practice in Milford is closing.

Those using Chiddingfold Surgery, or who are interested in community health and welfare services, may be interested in attending a Living Well event on August 7th. Please see the flyer below.

In the meantime, if you are still registered at the Guildford Rivers Practice at Hurst Farm Surgery, Chapel Lane, Milford, you should seek an alternative medical practitioner. Advice on what to do can be found at www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery.

Many people place great value on having a church and a vicar in our little village. For some, it is because they are regular worshipers, others maybe attend on special religious occasions such as celebrating Christmas or Easter. Some simply enjoy visiting St Peter’s in its beautiful rural setting on top of a hill overlooking the village, a place for quiet reflection. Others are glad that it is there for family weddings, Christenings and funerals.

And many appreciate its Ministry to the village, maybe in times of need, illness or bereavement and having a vicar living in the village to be a familiar and welcoming friend.

For all of these reasons, and more, the church and its outreach is important, whether you are a regular member of the congregation or not.

In modern times however, none of this can be taken for granted. Even small churches are expensive to maintain, as a building and as a ministry. Hambledon is no exception. Several years ago, local residents responded magnificently when its became clear there was a real risk that services could be curtailed and a resident vicar no longer afforable.

Some gave one-off donations, others set up standing orders or other methods of making regular contributions to safeguard the future of St Peter’s. Over the years some of those generous people are no longer with us or have moved away.

As many will know, Hambledon is in need of a new associate minister to be our village vicar. The stark warning is that recruitment cannot begin unless new fundraising takes place. A meeting is to be held at the Village Hall on Thursday April 11, starting at 7.30pm, when the Church will outline all the issues it faces and invite residents to consider if they can help financially.

Please come along, whether you are a church goer or not. And please read on for a detailed explanation of the current situation from Andrew Dunn, who is treasurer of St Peter’s.