News
“The perfect base for a Wind in the Willows weekend”
Tourism in Whitchurch and the surrounding area has received a boost from the Guardian’s Travel section today (14/04/2026). Whilst staying in a B & B at Hill Bottom, journalist Rhiannon Batten praises the location: “close to suburbia yet wrinkled with pockets of wildness.” She comments on the “alpaca-nibbled fields” while watching the red kites circling overhead. Our local landscape is described as “timeless”. Batten also describes “pretty cottages, ancient churches, a mossy-roofed mill and pubs with elbow-polished bars”. Although not news to any of Whitchurch’s residents, it’s gratifying to see the area’s charms recognised by the national press!
Extract from the article here.
Date/Time : Tuesday, 14th April 2026 09:03
Last orders at the Ferryboat?
Following weeks of unease about the state of the Ferryboat Inn, it has become apparent in recent days that the pub has ceased trading. Moreover, the inn’s owner, Star Pubs, has confirmed in writing to a neighbour that the current tenant’s lease will be terminated on 7th April. This comes only 6 months after the pub’s re-opening.
Whitchurch residents are particularly concerned about the large pile of rubbish in the pub’s car park, which has now been reported to Environmental Health at SODC. Neighbours have also contacted the council to investigate possible planning breaches on the site.
Star Pubs have been approached to clarify what is likely to happen to the premises in the future.
Additional picture.
Date/Time : Thursday, 02nd April 2026 11:51
Parish Councillor Appointed
Whitchurch resident, Bernarde Hyde, has been appointed as Parish Councillor to replace Frances Parkes, who resigned at the end of 2025. Bernarde has lived at the Old Forge in Whitchurch with her family for 24 years.
Having retired last July from her Chief Executive role at Southern Universities Management Services, Bernarde will be bringing her considerable business and management skills to the Parish Council table. In addition, she has plenty of experience in volunteering with local committees, as Chair of Governors at both Pangbourne Primary School, as well as the Pangbourne Playgroup. Alongside her Parish Councillor role, Bernarde will continue as Deputy Chair for the national charity, Affordable Accommodation for Students. For relaxation, she enjoys visiting the theatre and art galleries.
As Parish Councillor, she would like to be involved with the implementation and development of the Village Plan and has a particular interest in improving opportunities for young people.
Date/Time : Wednesday, 25th March 2026 16:55
Mystery Mailbox Topper
Easter has come early to Hardwick Road with a delightful “yarn bomb” display of happy bunnies on top of the post box. Rumours abound that it is the handiwork of talented crafter, Alison Livesey.
Bigger photo here and also here, courtesy of Laura Lucas.
Date/Time : Thursday, 19th March 2026 13:59
Whitchurch PC votes to support Bathing Water Status
The Parish Council voted in support of Pangbourne Meadow’s application for Bathing Water Status, at a recent meeting. During discussion it was felt that Whitchurch-on-Thames residents, sharing the river with Pangbourne, would benefit from improvements to water quality at the Meadows. Many individuals and groups regularly swim in the river, especially at the Mill Pond by the Toll Bridge and at Sheep Wash Lane near Hardwick. The PC would ideally like the entire stretch of the river to be the focus of improved water quality standards.
Pangbourne Parish Council has expressed concerns about anti-social behaviour on the Meadow, including bridge jumpers during busy times in the summer, but Whitchurch PC agreed that the designation of bathing water status would not necessarily worsen these situations. Feedback from Wallingford and other sites that already have Bathing Water status suggests that improving water quality has a positive outcome for all river users and best practices can be learned from their experience.
Date/Time : Sunday, 15th March 2026 13:40
Art and Craft Exhibition 2026: a Happy Place!
A lot of talent was on display at this year’s show: demonstrated across an amazing 236 exhibits. The theme posed by the tightly contested Joyce Voysey Prize was My Happy Place and this drew 77 entries alone. In all there were 120 exhibitors, 74 of whom were under 18 years old.
As usual there was a wide range of media entered: including woodwork, quilt-making, ceramics, book-binding as well as paintings and photography. Of particular note were the 6 film entries, more than ever before, vying for The Brazil Award. This was particularly touching because of the recent death of Nick Brazil, who donated this award in 2018.
The exhibition team of Eiliis Baty, Wendy Ferguson, Jean Marc Grosfort, Kate Lowe, Sarah and Adrian Dixon, led by Sally Woolhouse were pleased with the standard and number of exhibits, as well as how many visitors attended across the weekend. The visitors were able to choose the winner of the Popular Vote, which as you can see was David Robinson with his photograph, "Warm and Cosy".
Please view more pictures of this event in the site’s photo gallery, here and here .
A full list of prize winners can be seen here.
Date/Time : Tuesday, 03rd March 2026 17:19
Spire Team Secure Lottery Funding
The Save Our Spire fundraising team have recently learned that they will receive a substantial grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. St Mary’s shingle-tiled roof and 169 year old spire need urgent restoration, but now the Spire Appeal has been granted about £150,000, work at the church can begin. The scaffolding design is starting imminently, and the scaffolding is expected to go up after Easter.
Well done to the Save Our Spire Fundraising Team : James Leach, Graeme Pearce, Ken Baker, Rob Plumb and Sue Cockeram, currently working hard to achieve the final £25,000 needed to finish the project.
If you would like to make a donation, please contact Ken Baker: baker_kenneth2@sky.com
Alternatively, click here to open a QR code that you can scan.
There is also a link to the fundraising webpage here .
Date/Time : Thursday, 26th February 2026 21:02
Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace!
Parish Councillors are urging Whitchurch residents to make their views known on the planned reorganisation of local government in Oxfordshire. This restructuring is part of a national move from possibly inefficient and costly two-tier systems to new single-tier unitary councils.
Importantly, residents’ views are sought and you are invited to take part in an online survey by clicking the link below. You’ll also be able to view the three proposed areas using the same link.
The consultation period ends on Thursday 26 March.
Click for link to consultation.
Date/Time : Thursday, 19th February 2026 15:09
Whitchurch Conservation Area Appraisal Now Approved
The Conservation Area Appraisal for the village has now been adopted by SODC, following preparatory work by residents of the village, led by Cllr Katherine Higley. There has been a Conservation Area in the village for many years but this is the first document to formally define it. Conservation areas are places with special architectural or historic character that enhance the locale. Designating an area as a Conservation Area helps protect and preserve these features. The SODC links below take you to the appraisal and also explain what extra planning controls will apply.
Whitchurch Conservation Area Appraisal pdf
What happens when a conservation area is designated (SODC)
Date/Time : Tuesday, 17th February 2026 13:34
Pangbourne Meadow Shortlisted for Bathing Status
Pangbourne Meadow has been shortlisted by the government for bathing water status. Thirteen sites nationwide have been proposed as designated public bathing areas, which means the water would be tested rigorously by the Environment Agency. Local communities are being invited to have their say on the proposals in a six-week public consultation.
More information can be found here .
Click here for a link to the consultation.
Date/Time : Friday, 13th February 2026 11:52
Improved Head Clearance on Jubilee Footpath
Local volunteer group, the Green Team, were out with their chainsaws on Monday, 9th February, led by Pete Woolhouse (pictured). They set to work removing several low branches along the raised Jubilee Path. These overhanging limbs posed a hazard for walkers and may have been a contributory factor in the death of a cyclist last month. Team member, Sally Woolhouse commented, “It was not easy, trying to avoid falling branches and passing cars!”
Date/Time : Tuesday, 10th February 2026 11:01
Richard Wingfield 1942-2026
Richard Wingfield died on 26th January 2026 at the age of 83. He lived in Hardwick Road with his wife Diana for 52 years from 1974.
Richard graduated from Cambridge University in 1964, qualifying as a civil engineer. He was employed by the consulting firm Gibb for over 30 years, working on water resources projects. After working on a dam project in southern Argentina for four years, Richard and Diana returned to the UK in 1973 and moved into their newly acquired house in Hardwick Road, Whitchurch. Their son James and daughter Caroline attended the village school and Richard became involved in the Whitchurch Society.
Then in 1981 the family were posted to the Far East. This turned out to involve a series of projects over six years, with two years in Bogor, Indonesia, followed by four years in Bangkok, Thailand. Richard described this experience as “fascinating”.
Returning to the village in 1987, the children’s education was the priority and subsequent Gibb work overseas involved short visits. Richard also worked on consultancy projects for the Thames Region of the Environment Agency, and for National Power at Didcot. The family kept a boat at Sheepwash Lane on the Thames for many years.
Following retirement in 2001, Richard and Diana continued to play golf at Huntercombe, walked weekly with a group of friends and enjoyed many overseas and UK holidays, often in groups. Richard continued to play Real Tennis on the Oratory School and Hardwick courts until a shoulder injury intervened. He also studied for a Humanities BA degree with the Open University, awarded in 2012.
For the past fifteen years Richard was the news editor of Whitchurch Web, the village website, recruiting a team of residents who successfully run it today. He was well respected around the village as an intelligent and impartial editor. The team will certainly miss his wit and kind encouragement. Richard always enjoyed his involvement with the village. In the last few years he particularly looked forward to joining friends on Saturday mornings at the Art Cafe, an institution he thoroughly approved of. His last visit was just over a week before he died.
Having enjoyed good health for over 80 years, Richard had a surprise diagnosis of leukaemia in October 2024. He was treated with chemotherapy for a year, enabling life to continue fairly normally, but without golf, long walks or distant holidays. Throughout this time Richard demonstrated his characteristic fortitude and good humour.
Date/Time : Tuesday, 03rd February 2026 11:03
Nick Brazil 1946 - 2026
Nick was born in Looe, Cornwall on the 21st January, 1946 and died on his 80th birthday. He was the son of a businessman who founded the Brazil sausage company, later acquired by Bowyers. Educated in Somerset and Switzerland, he became a journalist and photographer. During a diverse career, he also worked in construction in the Middle East and later for British Telecom. He moved to Whitchurch with his family in the 1970s, living firstly in The Gatehouse and latterly next door at The Mount. He had a son, Peter and a daughter, Mandy and was later divorced from his wife, Diana.
Nick was a natural raconteur, through the media of film and print, but he was also a regular public speaker, mostly on the topic of travel. He published a number of books, covering a broad historical spectrum. Shortly before his death, Nick was shown the finalised cover of his most recent publication, “Articles of War”, which is based on reports previously written for the British Modern Military History Society website. Nick kindly offered to donate his royalties to the charity, Veterans with Dogs. The adjoining photo, from the book’s cover, was taken in the Greyhound by Jerry Cockeram.
As a film maker Nick took many videos of the village and its inhabitants, including a Christmas message from all the different native language speakers to be found in Whitchurch. This video is in the photo gallery, along with many other examples of Nick’s work, as he was the website’s “photographer-at-large”. Another of Nick’s films, “Wallingford - the Story of an Ancient Town” is being shown shortly at the Corn Exchange, Wallingford.
In 2018, Nick created a new award for the Art & Craft Exhibition. Called The Brazil Award, it encourages film and animation entries, to complement the traditional media of art, craft and photography. He was very keen to encourage the community, especially younger residents, to make short films. The award is quite unique – it is actually a real clapperboard!
Nick was well-known in the village and he drew a deep comfort from his community engagement. He held strong opinions, often reflected in his passion for local matters. In recent years he joined the Parish Council, where his views as a village elder were highly valued. His compassion for others was also evident in 1991, when, during turbulent political times, he delivered food and medical supplies in Albania for a small charity, driving a canary yellow Land Rover.
Nick will leave a lasting legacy through his many projects. Perhaps the most significant of these is the Whitchurch Maze. Back in 2003 Nick had an epiphany: to transform an unloved area of the village by creating a maze. Working with Pete Woolhouse, he developed a design and through the Whitchurch Society, the community were invited to buy personalised, engraved bricks. The Maze opened on a glorious day in June 2004 and has become a favourite quiet space for many in the community and also passing visitors. Nick was justifiably proud of this achievement for the village he loved.
Date/Time : Wednesday, 28th January 2026 09:35
Victorious Villagers
Following a hotly contested charity match on 30th December, the Whitchurch Village football team emerged triumphant over locals, Whitchurch Hill, with a final score of 3-1. This annual winter dads’ derby - Village v Hill - raised £330 for Whitchurch Primary School and ensured that the sporting honours remained down the hill.
Bigger photo here. (Thanks to Alex Hilton)
Date/Time : Saturday, 17th January 2026 10:14
Christmas Eve Torch Procession
Led by pipers Alastair and Ben, a large crowd made their way along Eastfield Lane, carrying flaming torches, holly and mistletoe. The seasonally atmospheric spectacle, following the Christingle service, culminated with mulled cider at the village green. Organisers Alastair Dunstan and Jim Donahue are pleased with the increasing popularity of the annual torchlit event.
There are more photos of this event in the Photos Gallery. Click here.
Date/Time : Friday, 26th December 2025 12:48
Happy Christmas!
The Whitchurch Web team wishes you a very Happy Christmas. We all hope you’ve enjoyed visiting the village website during the year. Thank you to the many people who have provided news, events, photos, messages, responses and material for our many pages.
We have a Christmas card for you to open – featuring a remarkable image by local photographer Dave Olinski of a December sunrise, taken from the Bozedown area.
Asked how he gets the sunburst effect, the early-rising Dave explains: “I shot the image using quite a small aperture which makes the star-like sun flares more pronounced as the light is diffracted more by the aperture blades inside the lens.”
Date/Time : Tuesday, 16th December 2025 11:57
The Art Café has raised £100,000 for charity
The Saturday Art Café in The Old Stables was started by Gill Williamson, Yvonne Kerevan, Pam Wilkinson and Sue Matthews in November 2015. In the ten years since then a remarkable sum of £100,000 has been raised for a wide range of charities.
Gill organised the event from 2015 to January 2022, with a break for Covid, and Geoff Weir has been in charge since then.
Last Saturday it was the turn of the Friends of St Mary’s & St John’s to provide the cakes and serve the coffee. The photo shows Geoff with Sally Woolhouse, Meryl Weir and Ken Baker.
Charities and local groups that have taken advantage of the opportunity to host an Art Café session have included Women’s Institute branches, twinning associations and national charities such as MNDA, Save The Children and The British Legion, together with choirs, schools, sports clubs and conservation groups.
Gill, who lives in Eastfield Lane, also set up and has run the village’s Crafty Knit and Stitch group which meets on alternate Thursdays. Their creative work has brightened up our surroundings on many occasions, such as the yarn-bombing of the bridge in 2017, the Pangbourne meadow totem poles (2018, see video), the decorated dinghy (also 2018) and currently the beautifully crocheted Christmas trees on the bridge.
Date/Time : Monday, 08th December 2025 11:49
Roy Rosekilly 1935 - 2025
We are sad to announce that Roy Rosekilly died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on 23rd November, aged 90 years. He was the dearly loved husband of Sylvia who died this time last year (see Obituaries page). A Funeral Service will be held at West Berkshire Crematorium on Thursday 11th December at 3.00pm. No flowers please. Donations will be collected for ‘Save our Spire’ at St Mary’s Church, Whitchurch, or can be sent to the Tribute page here.
Afterwards we will continue to celebrate Roy's life at the Ferryboat Inn.
Roy and Sylvia, whose home was in Swanston Field, were active with the Pangbourne & District Bowls Club and Roy participated in line dancing.
Date/Time : Thursday, 04th December 2025 17:02
Toll bridge decorated for Christmas
The Knit & Stitch group, with the encouragement of Gill Williamson, has been busy creating colourful, crocheted Christmas trees. The lamp posts on the bridge are now adorned with them.
Meanwhile, Chris Martin has created a new design for a Christmas card, which will be on sale at the Art Café this Saturday (6th December). The collage shows St Mary’s church with an unusual spire.
Here is a closer photo of one of the Christmas trees.
Date/Time : Wednesday, 03rd December 2025 12:14
Fire engines attend Whitchurch house fire (Updated)
Whitchurch High Street is currently closed as seven fire engines are dealing with a house fire this Sunday afternoon. From around 2 pm Whitchurch residents became aware of thick clouds of smoke billowing from the direction of a house, believed to be Walled Garden Retreat, located off the driveway to St Mary’s church. As well as the fire engines, two police cars are also in attendance. Another photo can be seen here. Further details to follow when available.
Update: as of 16.45 pm the High Street (and Toll Bridge) remain closed and are likely to remain so into the evening. Sadly the fire has caused substantial damage to the house.
Update 2: the High Street and bridge are now open. It has been confirmed that the house is Walled Garden Retreat. Neighbours have reached out to offer support.
Update, 4th Dec: See the message posted this morning on the Message Board on behalf of the family affected by the fire.
Date/Time : Sunday, 30th November 2025 15:06
Verge restoration begins next week
The long planned village project for restoration of the Hardwick Road verges will finally start on Monday. The picture shows the locations of some of the passing places that will be created. Here is a full length version. Sally Woolhouse and John Bradon, of the local wildlife group WoTHabs, explain:
This village project has been in the pipeline for many years but now the second phase is underway. Work will start on 1st December and is expected to take about a week. The road will not be closed but please be patient if you are driving along Hardwick Road during the working day – you may encounter a slight delay at times.
Way back in February 2015, the first phase was completed. Two surfaced passing places were constructed at the village entrance. Now, ten years on, the verges along the whole length of Hardwick Road from the village entrance to the Hardwick gates will be restored and protected from the gradual erosion by vehicles. Over the years, the erosion has increased, resulting in losses of the abundant wildflowers and different grasses from the unsightly worn and potholed sections. (Nature Notes No 9 – Wild Flowers of the Hardwick Road verges – shows the results of the botanical survey done on Hardwick Road by Sandra Parkinson of WoTHabs).
This project is part of the Village Plan and is supported by Whitchurch Parish Council and WoTHabs the local wildlife group. It is partly funded by the Parish Council, but the final trigger for getting it underway was the generous ‘Mend The Gap’ grant of £15,000 which was awarded last year. OCC Highways had to approve the method of working and give permission to the contractors before they could start.
The contractor Butler & Proctor based in Checkendon will install 30 wooden posts, in pairs, which will delimit each of the permitted passing places, following guidelines from OCC Highways. The posts will be fitted with reflectors so they are clearly visible in the dark. Soil will be banked up on the worn verges beyond the posts, and then re-seeded next spring with locally sourced wildflower and grass seed.
If you are one of the many residents who enjoy walking, running or cycling down this lovely country road, we hope you will see an immediate improvement to our environment.
Date/Time : Saturday, 29th November 2025 16:33
Ferryboat Inn sets sail again
After being closed for more than 3 years the Ferryboat re-opened its doors yesterday. Manager, Jason Paul said business had been steady since opening at midday. Jason has big plans for the village pub, including all day service, beginning with breakfasts at 6 am; an extensive lunch and evening menu; Monday Poker Nights, and live music acts.
Last night Whitchurch locals, Geoff and Meryl Weir were enjoying their dinner; Geoff commented that his pie was, “Fantastic, freshly cooked and piping hot.”
See What Else is New for a link to the Ferryboat facebook page.
Date/Time : Saturday, 01st November 2025 16:24