Category Archives: Fund Raising

FPS and Fleet Half-Marathon

Events, Fund Raising, People

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A photo from last year’s Fleet Half-Marathon

David Pottinger writes:

In a previous post I mentioned that Roxanne Lewington and Tara Skinner, from the Fleet-based marketing team at Mackenzie Smith, are busily training for the very popular Fleet Half-Marathon. We’re very grateful that all the monies raised for this event will go to Fleet Pond Society’s Clearwater Campaign.

If you’d like to support Roxanne and Tara, and in so doing help fund improvements at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, please donate on their Virgin Money Giving page here.

You can read more about this on a recent post on the Mackenzie Smith blog, which includes the following comment from Roxanne:

“I haven’t entered into anything like this for a while, years in fact. The last big physical challenge I can remember is climbing Mt Toubkal in Morocco back in 2009 which was a completely different experience. It’s been tricky to stick to a training regimen but I’m making progress. On the day the energy is going to feel very different to running on my own, with the streets lined at start and finish and with those running around me as examples to spur me on I’m determined to finish the 12 miles.”

Everyone at FPS wishes them both the very best on the day!

Full details of the Fleet Half-Marathon on Sunday 22 March can be found here. Why not come along and cheer the participants on – it’s a really good event!

A Half Marathon For The Pond

Events, Fund Raising

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Runners at the 2014 Fleet Half Marathon

David Pottinger writes:

Some months ago I mentioned the Photography Competition organised by the Mackenzie Smith Estate Agency. It focused on scenes from the North Hampshire region and the winning entries were presented as a calendar for 2015. It was great to find that the picture for July was one of Fleet Pond (see below).

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The calendar entry for July, Fleet Pond by Chris Straker

Following on from this, two members of the Mackenzie Smith marketing team, Roxanne Lewington and Tara Skinner, have bravely decided to run in the 2015 Fleet Half Marathon with all financial donations going to the Clearwater Campaign for Fleet Pond.

Roxanne comments (see here):

I have never run a half marathon before and am quite daunted. Having signed up just 8 weeks before the event and with no pre-existing exercise regime the training has been a bit of a shock to the system, but I’m determined to finish it, even if it does mean training after a long day at work.

The event will take place on Sunday 22 March 2015.

If you’d like to support Roxanne and Tara, and in so doing help fund improvements at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, please consider donating on their Virgin Money Giving page here. So far, over £120 has been pledged!

The visionary Clearwater Campaign was initiated by Fleet Pond Society (FPS) and you can read all about it on the FPS website here:

It is a campaign to restore Fleet Pond Nature Reserve to a healthier and more valuable amenity for wildlife and people.

The campaign will be a partnership between Fleet Pond Society, Hart District Council, Natural England, the Environment Agency and other interested parties. Its purpose is to try and raise enough money to fund a major restoration of the Pond. The restoration programme would include projects of benefit to local people and visitors, by providing additional seating areas, a variety of new information boards, improved footpaths and bridges, and the installation of new fishing jetties.

There’s also a useful video (from 2010) featuring Chris Packham, who is the Patron of Fleet Pond Society, that explains the original motivation for the campaign:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBtVcLvioIE&w=560&h=315]

Incidentally, the Fleet Half Marathon has an interesting background and is well worth watching on the day, both for the range and numbers of runners (including some ‘characters’, eg see below) and for the excellent friendly atmosphere.

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Late for the office!

Details of the event, including the route and timings, can be found here, from which:

Sunday 4th April 1982 saw a new experience greet the town of Fleet. In the midst of the 80’s running boom Fleet & Crookham Athletic Club, sponsored by the Star Newspaper and with assistance from local businesses, launched the first of many successful half marathons. Chris Brasher (founder of the London Marathon) gave permission for the event to be titled “The Pre-London”…

Entries rose to 5,000 a year with a regular 3,000 completing the course. For many years the race was closed for entries by Christmas, such being its popularity. We now accept just 3,500 runners due to the restrictions of the course. The race still reaches its entries target with it normally being full well before Christmas despite competition from other major half marathons on the same day/same month.

Celebrities and TV/film personalities are regular visitors. Elite athletes gracing the event have included Steve Jones (former marathon world record holder), with internationals Steve Brace, Garry Staines, Bernie Ford, Marion Sutton, Ann Ford, Paula Fudge. Club and local athletes continue to use the race as a warm up for the London Marathon as well as for a personal best opportunity in its own right.

We all wish Roxanne and Tara the very best in their training and for a great result on the day!

Photo credits: top and bottom, David Pottinger.

The Co-op And It’s Customers Help Fleet Pond

Fund Raising

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Alex (lhs), the manager of the Co-op shop, together with two staff and Colin Gray (rhs) of FPS

The Chairman of Fleet Pond Society (FPS), Colin Gray, was pleased to present a certificate to the manager and staff of the Co-op Shop in Kings Road, Fleet in gratitude for selecting FPS as their charity for 2014. During the year the boxes raised a princely sum of £550.53 for the Clearwater Campaign to provide further benefits for the visitors to Fleet Pond Nature Reserve.

Colin said: “FPS is very grateful to the Co-op Shop for selecting us as the charity for the year and would like to express our sincere thanks to all the Co-op customers who have generously donated this very welcome addition to our funds”.

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Fantastic FPS Feast In Fleet

Events, Fund Raising, People

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From left to right: Colin Gray (FPS Chairman), Terry Austin (FPS Deputy Chairman) and Jamie Balfour (High Sheriff of Hampshire).

As seen in the poster below, there was a fund-raising feast organised by Fleet Pond Society (FPS) held in the WE restaurant in Fleet last Monday.

Jim Storey, Committee Member of FPS, writes:

“And what a feast we had! Lots of lovely food served by very friendly staff. Jamie Balfour, the current High Sheriff of Hampshire joined us and shared some of his wide experiences with us. We had 130 members, friends, local business people, councillors and Lions join us for the dinner. And weren’t they generous too! Our guests bought lots of raffle tickets and weren’t disappointed with their winnings.

Sue Tilley, who organised the evening, had also been donated some very smart prizes by local businesses and restaurants. When we finished counting the money, we’d raised £1,750 from the evening. We’ll find some very worthwhile things to invest this in for the Pond.”

Many thanks to everyone who attended the meal for supporting FPS in it’s aim of helping maintain and improve Fleet Pond.

FPS Dinner WE

Feast Yourself For FPS – 13 October

Events, Fund Raising

FPS Dinner WEEd. Some fascinating background on the current High Sheriff of Hampshire, Jamie Balfour, can be found here and some interesting information on the history of the Office of the HIgh Sheriff is here, including:

The post has developed over a thousand years or more of continuous existence and devotion to the Crown. The duties of the High Sheriff have been adapted and moulded to the particular needs of each century. In a period of huge social change, the High Sheriff of the 21st century still fulfils the ancient role of supporting the shire, upholding its peace, encouraging loyalty to the Crown and stimulating its communities and voluntary societies to work for the common good. The Office lasts for a year.

Regarding Fleet Pond Society (FPS) and the High Sheriff, you can read about Terry Austin‘s recent prestigious award for his conservation work at Fleet Pond over many years, greatly benefiting the local community.