20052021

Thursday, May 20, 2021 33

Newbury Weekly News

NORTH HAMPSHIRE NEWS

Lib Dems lose two seats after borough elections Boundary changes meant party was fighting for votes in Conservative strongholds

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TWO Liberal Democrat council- lors who lost their seats in last week’s borough council elec- tions have said ward boundary changes in the borough gave them an uphill struggle. Warwick Lovegrove and Mike Bound were the two ward mem- bers for Baughurst and Tadley North, which was absorbed into the larger Tadley North, Kings- clere and Baughurst ward, featur- ing villages like Kingsclere, Head- ley, Ashford Hill and Hannington. The wards were changed after a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission, set up to ensure each councillor represents roughly the same number of vot- ers. Mr Lovegrove opted to stand in the new Tadley North, Kingsclere and Baughurst ward and finished fourth behind the three Conserva- tives, Ken Rhatigan, Stuart Frost and Geoff Poland. Mr Rhatigan and Mr Frost were previously councillors for Kingsclere and Oakley and North Waltham respectively, while this was Mr Poland’s first election. Mr Bound stood in the new Tad- ley and Pamber Ward, which en- compassed the old Tadley Central ROYAL British Legion branches in Basingstoke and Deane raised their standards at a celebration to mark 100 years of the or- ganisation at the weekend. The mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, Diane Taylor, wel- comed representatives from Basingstoke and Overton, Old Basing & District, Bramley and District and Tadley & Dis- trict branches at the war me- morial outside the civic offices on Saturday. After a socially-distanced outdoor reception and a speech from Mrs Taylor, all four standards were displayed on parade together. In attendance were Bramley president Tony Evans, Tad- ley chairman Walter Langer, Old Basing chairman Ian Greenway and Basingstoke and Overton president David Buttle. The event commemorated the founding of the Royal Brit- ish Legion in 1921 to act as a voice for the ex-service com- munity following the First World War. This merged members of four wartime associations – The National Association of Discharged Sailors and Sol- diers, The British National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Sol- diers, The Comrades of the Great War and The Officers’ Association. The Royal British Legion is the UK’s leading armed forces charity and one of its largest membership organisations. Nationally, more than 450,000 members get togeth- er through the network of branches and clubs all over

climb next time.” Mr Bound, a borough council- lor since 2008, said: “Certainly the change to the ward boundaries made a huge difference. “If you take Tadley North, it was a fairly closely contested seat pre- viously without Kingsclere, Head- ley, Ashford Hill and Hannington being added, and they’re predomi- nantly Conservative areas. “I think Warwick did pretty well to get over 1,000 votes. Obviously we’re disappointed not to have got one of those seats, but we will live to fight another day.” Both Mr Lovegrove and Mr Bound said they were considering standing next year when a third of the seats – the seat with the lowest number of votes in each ward – come up for re-election. Mr Bound said: “It’s possible I’ll stand – it depends on the branch. “We have a couple of new mem- bers, they’re particularly keen and younger than I am. “I think we need to encourage younger people to be taking the reins, so we’ll see in the future.” Mr Lovegrove said: “I haven’t retired from politics is the answer to that one.”

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New headteacher for The Clere THE Clere School in Burghclere has a new headteacher. Jon Beck, who is also the headteacher at Testbourne Community School in Whitchurch, has taken over from Benjamin Bond. Mr Bond had been headteacher of the secondary school since January 2017 after moving from The Wellington Academy in Tidworth, Wiltshire. He took over from Felicity Martin. The school has been approached for comment.

Mike Bound

Warwick Lovegrove

Liberal Democrats’ cause. He said: “Our vote went down because we were given areas where we weren’t so strong, where the Liberal Democrats hadn’t tra- ditionally had a strong vote. “These are areas where we hav- en’t established as our own. Han- nington is right out in the sticks, and there’s all the rural hamlets. It’s a vast area. “We were disappointed with the amount we lost by – between 400 and 600 votes. “That’s quite a gap we’ve got to

and Tadley South wards, as well as Pamber Heath. He finished fifth behind fellow Liberal Democrat candidate Jo Slimin and the three elected Con- servatives, David Leeks, Kerri Carruthers and Derek Mellor. Mr Leeks and Mrs Carruthers were previously councillors for Tadley South, while Mr Mellor is also Hampshire County Council- lor for Tadley and Baughurst. Mr Lovegrove, who has been in local politics since 1982, said the ward changes hadn’t helped the

Legion celebrates 100 years

Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Diane Taylor and consort Dr Andy Taylor, with representatives from Basingstoke and Overton, Old Basing & District, Bramley and District and Tadley & District RBL

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the country and overseas to participate in social, fundrais- ing and welfare activities. It provides financial, social and emotional care and support to all members of the British Armed Forces – past and pres- ent – and their families. The Legion also safeguards the Military Covenant between the nation and its Armed Forc- es and is best known for the an- nual Poppy Appeal. The Tadley & District branch was founded in 1925. The Queen is patron of the British Legion, bestowing the title of Royal into its name in 1971. Mrs Taylor, accompanied by her consort Andy Taylor, paid tribute to all Royal British Le- gion members for their fund- raising efforts and support for

those members of the Armed Forces, past and present, who are in need. She said: “The borough is very fortunate in having four very dedicated branches of the Royal British Legion working to support others in the community and pro- viding wonderful comrade- ship to each other. The Royal British Legion is a national treasure and we are proud to mark its centenary with the attendance of all four borough branches and their standards at the war memorial. “Legion members ensure that Remembrance is kept alive and that the sacrifices our brave service men and women have made are never forgotten.”