(^46) Hampshire Life: February 2019
Heidi plays hockey there, and we’ve
loads of rugby friends, too. Even
on a cold, wet winter evening it’s
a hub of activity. We’ve also got
some amazing community running
and cycling clubs like Hatch Warren
and Old Basing. These brilliant
Basingstoke sports clubs welcome
all ages and abilities – I’d recommend
joining a club over a gym any day.”
SIAN STOREY, ARTIST
Artist Sian Storey (sianstoreyart.
com) specialises in paintings
that combine the beauty of
the natural world with vivid
colour and pattern. Her work
hangs on walls round the globe
from New York to Melbourne.
High profile commissions have
included The Green Party
and Marwell Zoo and she’s
currently planning a solo show
in Winchester in April 2019.
Sian’s local life:
Basingstoke secret: “Jane Austen!
She spent the first 25 years of her
life in Steventon, a tiny village just
outside Basingstoke, however
until 2017 you might not have
known it. That changed with the
fantastic Jane Austen 200 events
throughout town, including the
unveiling of a Jane Austen statue
outside the Willis Museum.”
Something quirky: “Pop-up art
gallery, THAT Gallery, run by local
artists. It’s unusual because it’s
based in Festival Place - not the
sort of place you’d expect to see
an independent art gallery! It’s
been running and growing for four
years now, popping up in a new
location every few months, which
keeps the exhibitions fresh and
exciting. They also offer artist-led
workshops and painting events,
so it’s become a creative hub.”
Best things: “I’ve lived here for over
10 years and seen so much positive
change in that time. This is an up and
coming town with plans to develop
a new cultural quarter. It’s not an
obvious place to be an artist, but I
really enjoy being part of helping to
build a creative movement here.”
Best event: “Basingstoke Festival
is growing each year and brings
so much energy and excitement
to the town. This year the theme is
‘Discover art in unusual places’ so
there are great opportunities for
creative people to get involved.”
Best attraction: “The Anvil is a gem
of a venue, right on our doorstep.
There’s always something worth
seeing. It attracts some big acts, but
is small enough to still feel intimate.”
Favourite Walk: “Beggarwood
Park is a favourite - it’s close to
where I live with a vast expanse
of green space, woodland trails,
outdoor gym and play park for
my toddler. I believe it’s one of
the highest points in Basingstoke;
you can see for miles. On a
summer’s evening you get this
uninterrupted view of big blue
sky and setting sun. Stunning.”
MICHELLE PICKARD,
ACCOMMODATION
MANAGER,
WELLINGTON ARMS,
STRATFIELD TURGIS
Recently refurbished and
reopened, Wellington Arms
(wel ling tona r msha mpsh ire.
co.uk) is run by award-winning
Surrey and Hampshire-based pub
company, Red Mist Leisure, who
invested £2.5M to turn it into a
family-friendly destination pub
with 25 boutique bedrooms. It is
located on the Wellington Estate -
7,000 acres of farmland, parkland
and woodland owned by the
Duke of Wellington, including
Wellington Country Park where
you can walk off a delicious
meal and a G&T (or two).
Michelle says: “I’ve loved
north Hampshire ever since
my first day at Wellington
Riding, where I was a working
student back in the day!”
Michelle’s local life:
Favourite pub: “The Wellington
Arms, of course, where there is an
emphasis on fresh, seasonal, local
food and local ales and gins.”
Spare time: “I love playing rugby for
Basingstoke Ladies at the weekend.”
Best event: “Lowde Fest in Hazeley
Bottom - a festival in a day with 12
hours of non-stop live music, real
ales and a great atmosphere.”
Family day out: “Millers Ark, on
the Earl of Malmesbury’s Estate at
Hook. The home farm specialises
in rare breed cattle and sheep,
pygmy goats, miniature donkeys
and kunekune pigs. Open days are
opportunities to tummy tickle piglets
and cuddle gentle goats.”
BASINGSTOKE
ABOVE: The life
size bronze of
the author Jane
Austen was
commissioned by
the Hampshire
Cultural Trust,
stands in
Basingstoke’s
Market Place, in
front of the Willis
Museum, and was
unveiled on the
200th anniversary
of her death
BELOW: Dogs
enjoy a warm
welcome at
the recently
refurbished and
reopened The
Wellington Arms
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