News Archive
M4 to shut this weekend
The M4 will be closed between junction 10 and 11, in both directions, for three days from tonight. It will shut from 9pm this evening, 18th September until 6am on Monday, 21st September.
The closure is due to repairs that need to be carried out on a storm-hit electricity pylon. Apparently, a replacement tower was built in July and tonight work will begin to restring it with high voltage cables.
Information on closures may be found at National Highways.
Date/Time : Monday, 16th February 2026 10:28
Most spectacular solar eclipse of a generation, visible from Whitchurch
9th August 2026
Starting around 6:15 pm on Wednesday, 12th August, and reaching its maximum at 7:12 pm, the sun viewed from Whitchurch will be over 90% obscured by the moon. The village will become bathed in an eerie and subdued atmosphere, a little short of total darkness.
A solar eclipse occurs because the sun is 400 times wider than the moon but is approximately 400 times farther away. This is why they appear the same size and the moon is able to obscure the sun.
To view this cosmic event you will need to find somewhere with a good view towards the northwest horizon, where the sun may be seen descending towards sunset. Astronomers warn that it is very important not to look at the sun with the naked eye, as this could cause permanent damage. Eclipse sunglasses can be bought cheaply online, although it’s essential they have the ISO 12312-2 safety standard.
As if this isn’t enough celestial excitement, the annual Perseid meteor shower will follow the eclipse within a few hours.The best way to see the Perseid meteor shower is to go out after midnight, face northeast and look 45-60 degrees above the horizon.
It is worth trying to experience the partial eclipse this week as there won’t be a repeat of this extraordinary event until 2050. Sadly, the next full eclipse visible from the UK will not occur until September 2090.
Photo by Jongsun Lee
Date/Time : Thursday, 08th January 2026 08:40
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