[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0_yL48sz1Q&w=560&h=315]
Other videos by Ethan Urquhart, including ones for the Fleet Food Festival 2014 and Fleet Half-Marathon 2014, can be seen here.
Many thanks to Sue Tilley for bringing this interesting clip to our attention.
Jim Storey (left) and Rachel Jones (centre) being interviewed by Eagle Radio
Rachel Jones of Hart Countryside Services and Jim Storey of Fleet Pond Society did interviews with 96.4 Eagle Radio last Friday that will be used in their broadcasts during the ‘Love Tour 2014‘ of Surrey and N Hants.
The tour visits a different town every day for two weeks, starting in Guildford on Monday 23 June. It will be broadcasting from Fleet on Thursday 3rd July, 6 am – 8 pm at the Civic Offices. If you’re around then, why not drop in?
Picture credit here.
From left to right: Claire Lloyd, Terry Austin and Rupert Younger
Cathy Holden writes:
Fleet Pond Society are thrilled that their Vice Chairman, Terry Austin, has been the recipient of the Hampshire High Sheriff’s Community Award for North East Hampshire. This prestigious award is given to members of the community who deserve special recognition for their community activities.
Terry is a tireless worker for the Pond, responsible for the planning and implementation of several innovations such as the Fleet Pond Clearwater Campaign DVD, Kenilworth Road boat launching platform, the dipping platform at The Flash and the History Board and leaflet amongst a myriad of other projects. He also leads the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ team of volunteers on a Friday morning; this team, nicknamed because several of them are retired, complete numerous jobs to help keep Fleet Pond and its surrounding Nature Reserve a site of great benefit to the local community.
Terry is pictured with his award, alongside Rupert Younger, High Sheriff of Hampshire, and Claire Lloyd, the Award Panel Chair for North East Hampshire.
The ceremony took place recently in the historic atmosphere of the Great Hall at Winchester, where the winners and their guests enjoyed a champagne reception in the shadow of King Arthur’s Round Table.
Terry himself is extremely modest about his win and said: “I feel honoured, delighted but also slightly embarrassed as I could not have done the things attributed to me without the ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ team and others.”
The High Sheriff and his team visited Fleet Pond on one of the wettest days in February and Terry gave them a tour and updated them on the Pond Restoration project.
Photo credit: Jason Allen, courtesy of Hampshire Life.
Ed. Further information on Terry’s impressive achievements at Fleet Pond can be found here.
Stephen Gorys with Phill Gower (right)
Cathy Holden writes:
Phill Gower, the recipient of the Chairman of Hart District Council’s Award for Fleet Pond Society’s ‘Volunteer of the Year’ has been a long term supporter of Fleet Pond Society.
Phill is Managing Director of local business Cove Industries, and his work behind the scenes at Fleet Pond, through the generous donation of his time and expertise, has enabled many important projects to come from the drawing board to fruition.
Phill was presented with his Award by Hart District Council Chairman, Stephen Gorys at the Society’s recent AGM (see picture above).
The Executive Committee of Fleet Pond Society gave a lot of thought to who was the most deserving person to receive this Chairman’s award. The committee wanted to recognise a person who has given most help and support to the Society and whose work has provided the most benefit to the nature reserve and to the many people who enjoy its peace, tranquillity and wildlife experience.
Phill (left) helping construct the dipping platform on The Flash
Colin Gray, Chairman of Fleet Pond Society, said: ‘Without Phill’s generosity the Society would not be fully equipped with hi-vis jackets for the volunteers, without his technical skills and engineering help visitors would not have had the new bridge at the end of Wood Lane, the pond dipping platform on The Flash and the new viewing area on the eastern side would have still been a dream rather than in its final stages of construction.’
Working on assembling the platform for the new viewpoint (see here)
Phill said: ‘I am thrilled to have even been considered for this award, especially considering the dedication and commitment of so many others. Maddy & I are lucky enough to ‘do a lap’ at least weekly if not more, and it is not often that a visit goes by without noticing new conservation work by the volunteer network within Fleet Pond Society and the work of Hart Countryside Services. The accumulation of all this effort provides a truly special amenity, accessible to all inhabitants of Fleet and Church Crookham. Whilst feeling rather undeserving of such an award, I feel greatly honoured and thankful to the Society for the accolade.’
Phill’s community contribution does not end with Fleet Pond he also provides voluntary support to Fleet Lions, Fleet and Church Crookham Society and Fleet Town Council.
Colin Gray said: ‘Fleet Pond Society felt it was time this modest man, who has never sought any thanks or reward for his voluntary service, was recognised.’
Photo credits: Michelle Salter (top) and David Pottinger.
Liza Toth’s winning entry for the 2013 FPS Photographic Competition
The certificate winners; from left to right:
Mark Hodson, Michelle Salter, Simon Smith, Alison Acred, Ron Acred and, front, the overall winner Liza Toth (Max Stevens was not present)
Rather than reproduce the photos on the blog directly, it’s better to see them as an impressive slideshow via Get Hampshire: see here. There’s a summary poster below.
As interesting background, Vicki Jull (the competition organiser) writes:
“Fleet Morning Townswomen’s Guild is part of a wider network of Guilds within the Hampshire North area, and operates under the National Townswomen umbrella.
For many years the Guild has undertaken fund-raising for charity as part of its activities, and was delighted to support the appeal for the construction of a dipping platform at Fleet Pond.
I am told that this was the second highest amount raised within the Guild, and the Fleet Morning Townswomen’s Guild dipping platform is now resplendent in The Flash between Hemelite Bay and the station car park (see picture below).
The pond-dipping platform near Fleet Station
Because of the amazing support that the Guild gave to Fleet Pond Society, our Committee asked their Committee to judge our ‘Woods, Water & Wildlife’ photographic competition.”
Barbara, Nancy and Vivien of the Townswomen’s Guild
At the FPS AGM, Barbara Billinge, Nancy Sparrow and Vivien Shoesmith of the Townswomen’s Guild (see picture above) presented the six Highly Commended certificates, and the Rose Bowl prize for the Best Photograph.
The Rose Bowl is an annual presentation that was donated by Fleet Photographic.
Once again, if you’ve not done so already, it’s well worth having a look at the impressive slideshow of the winning entries! See here.