Tag Archives: Christmas

Events, What's On

Win guide to christmas

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Ho, ho, how did it get to a month before Christmas? Time flies in our fair city, but thankfully Winchester has a fantastic range of festive offerings to banish the bah humbugs and ring in the season.

Ice Rink

The Winchester Cathedral Christmas markets and ice rink are already open and looking splendid. Inspired by traditional German Christmas markets, the range of exhibitors offer a great opportunity to purchase a unique gift for friends and loved ones. You can also enjoy mulled wine, mince pies or perhaps a bratwurst as you shop. The markets will be open until 22nd December and the ice rink until 5 January 2020.

Whilst we are talking about shopping, don’t forget to take a short stroll from the Cathedral Christmas markets through to Kingsgate Village where you can visit the charming range of independent shops: Cornflowers Gift Shop, Kingsgate Wines & Provisions, Kingsgate Books & Prints and P&G Wells Booksellers. And to work off the mince pies, a walk up the hill to the top of the high street will lead you to Stardust Years for some vintage fashion gifts or perhaps some unique festive party wear.

The Christmas Lantern Parade is back on 28th November. If you want to join in, you will need to make your own lantern with Bella Crafts. To book a Lantern Workshop, please contact Bella Crafts, 02380517054 or visit www.bellacrafts.co.uk. Participants in the Lantern Parade should arrive at Winchester Cathedral between 5.30pm and 6.00pm. Enjoy festive Christmas Carols for all the family in the Nave, before the Lantern Parade begins at 6.30pm. Visit the Cathedral website for more details. You can also access a list of Christmas service times and details here.

Panto season is upon us, oh yes it is, so get ready for some light-hearted belly laughs. Dick Whittington opens at the Theatre Royal on 30th November and runs until 5 January 2020. Join Dick and his cat on their madcap adventures, as Dick seeks his fame and fortune in a London bedevilled by the sinister King Rat and his rabble of Revolting Rodents. Tickets are available to book online here.

Father Christmas has managed to make some time for visits at the Great Hall between 21 & 23 December. Ticket fees includes the opportunity to meet Father Christmas, a festive gift and some craft activities. For more details and ticket prices, visit the website here. He’ll also be making his usual appearance on the Watercress Line Santa Express between 30 November and 23 December. Details and booking is available here.

For some fresh air and exercise, take a trip to Hilliers Gardens and join in The Snowman and the Snowdog Winter Trail. Guides cost £5 and come with a special The Snowman™ and the Snowdog gift. Usual garden admission fees apply. The trail opens on 30 November and will be available until 5 January 2020. The Winchester City Mill also has a Christmas trail. Find all of the gingerbread people and solve the puzzle to help Santa Claus make his journey on Christmas Eve.

We’ll be bringing you more seasonal hints and tips throughout December on Twitter @Win_Guide. Meanwhile, wrap up warm and enjoy, one and all!

Events, Feature

Review of Peter Pan by Sophia, aged 6

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Sophia went to see Peter Pan with her primary school. Here is her review of this year’s Theatre Royal Winchester pantomime:

I went to the Theatre Royal and the show was called Peter Pan.  It was so fun!

So there were some characters and one of them was called Tiger-Lily.  I liked her because she was good and she had a costume that looked like a tiger.  There was a really amazing song that I really liked and it had the word ooh-ahh in it.

There was Tinker Bell and it was actually amazing because she really looked like a fairy, she was small and green and she glowed.  There was someone who was Peter Pan and it looked like he was flying.  There was a crocodile and it went on its feet and the feet were sideways.  It looked really good!

There was someone called Wendy and she had brown hair like me and she went to Netherland with Peter Pan.  Captain Hook had a golden bit in the middle and it was shiny.  He was funny and he had a beard.  And there was a disco ball.

At the end we sang a song and it was a really funny Pirate song.  If I could have been in the pantomime I would have been the ballerina.

Sophia and her class had a brilliant time at Peter Pan.  Don’t miss out! To book tickets, visit the Theatre Royal Winchester website here.

Welcome

2017 Macmillan Winchester PPP Race report

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2017 Macmillan Winchester PPP Race report

This year’s race went off without a hitch, guided by over 50 volunteer marshals along the race route. The weather was perfect with some cloud cover keeping the viaduct much cooler than previous years. Spirits were high, with over 400 of you making it to the start line, including over 40 teams.

The bike leg was the same as 2016 due to the continued closure of Barfield Close, coming in a little short of 20km, followed by a 5k loop along the Sustrans loop from Palmer’s Field to the Hockley Viaduct. Water levels were good and we had perfect paddling conditions for the 2k finishing kayak leg.

With none of the 2016 top 3 gents competing, Julian Mann won the men’s trophy with a total time of 01:02:38 after a close race with Matthew Robinson. They were followed in by Ed Chase in 3rd place. Lloyd Hoarton, managing partner of our main sponsor, Forresters, completed the cycle leg on a tandem with his stoker John Darlington in a very respectable 39 minutes.

Fran Upson relinquished her title to newcomer Charlotte Hoskins in the women’s race, completing the course in 01:12:23 to become the PPP’s first lady. Leanne Watters came in 2nd and Kate Pryde was 3rd (after doubling up on the 5k run after a chip malfunction!).

With a record 45 teams entered, the winning companies from the last two years battled it out again for the Creedon Cup, with AECOM Elite emerging victorious, finishing 3 minutes ahead of Forresters A team, with Procurement Heads finishing 3rd.

Heart-warming tale of the day were couple Rob and Jo Britton. Jo suffered a bike malfunction in Easton and ever the gentleman, Rob handed over his bike so Jo could finish the bike leg and proceeded to run the rest of the course with her bike on his shoulder. What a husband!

Male Individual
1st Julian Mann 01:02:38
2nd Matthew Robinson 01:03:21
3rd Ed Chase 01:06:27

Female Individual
1st Charlotte Hoskins 01:12:23
2nd Leanne Watters 01:13:06
3rd Kate Pryde 01:14:23

Team
1st AECOM Elite 01:06:21
2nd Forresters A 01:09:23
3rd Procurement Heads 01:10:07

Click HERE for provisional results.

For relay teams, please search by race number as some of those results still need adjusting.

As always, we couldn’t do this event without all our sponsors and partners so a big thank you to Forresters, Northgate Vehicle Hire, Alton Sports, Bovis Homes, Safe Access Solutions, Williams Ewan, CycleTours UK, Hargroves Cycles, Woodmill Kayak, New Forest Activities, Liquid Logistics, Import Services, Condor, Fitique, Kingsgate Tennis Club, Winchester College, Winchester City Council, the village of Easton and many more.

Upwards of £25,000 has been raised for Macmillan Cancer Support as of this week. We can’t track them all, but special mentions to : Import Services, Blue Jelly (> £3K between these two companies alone) Conor Logan, Matthew Cox, Brian Beagan, Peter Dobson, Mike Hill, Harriet McGarry for their efforts.

Provisional date for 2018 is Sunday 15th July