Hampshire ALC celebrates Hampshire Day: Tuesday 15th July

15 July is St Swithun’s day, and, with the saint buried in the Cathedral at Winchester, it has been designated as ‘Hampshire Day’ – which has been celebrated by the County Council since 2019. St Swithun was Bishop of Winchester between 852 and 862, and was buried near his Cathedral; however, Bishop Aethelwold – on 15 July 971 had his predecessor re-interred within the Cathedral in a more prominent location, but from where rain and footsteps would no longer fall upon his grave.

The sun has shone on Hampshire throughout most of the summer, and continues in July 2025. Parish and town councils across the county demonstrate the depth of the communities that they serve. On this day when the county is celebrated, here are a few examples of just what this looks like over the course of the last few months.

At the end of last month, Odiham parish council conferred the Freedom of the Parish to RAF Odiham, to symbolise the strong relationship which the village has with its military neighbours – recognising a century of aviation at the site. There are three members of the RAF currently serving on the parish council, which reflects their commitment to being part of the local community. The Chinook helicopters based at RAF Odiham have become an emblem of the wider parish: featuring on the Parish Council logo through to Christmas baubles on display in the high street during the festive season.

In Botley, the recent ‘Revels on the Rec’ was a big success, a family and dog-friendly event popular with local residents and attracting visitors from across the broader area. The event included live music, activities for children and young people, stalls and local businesses, and charity fundraising.

The Bishops Waltham Festival is a popular and much-loved part of the town’s calendar, and, operating for more than twenty-five years, the 2025 event started with the commemorations of the eightieth anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.170 children participated in a ceilidh at the palace, followed by an evening ‘regal rave’ attracting some of the best DJs in the country. This was followed-up by some theatre in the grounds on the Sunday.

Chandlers Ford featured on BBC South to demonstrate the positive impact that town and parish councils can have in their communities. The featured broadcast highlighted the range of activities and involvements which local councils can provide and support to enable their communities to thrive, including the beauty of Hiltingbury recreation ground and the sports hall.

Finally, there was the Fleet Carnival, which, as in previous years, involved a procession through the town before a series of activities, stalls and music in a nearby field. This event, which has been held since 1956, raised money for Stepping Stones DS – providing a range of activities and services for children and young people with Down syndrome to enable them to fulfil their potential. This year’s theme was ‘Rio de Janiero’, and was a big success.