TICKET to ride: It's good to see the bright yellow Cango bus tootling around the village.

I'm seriously wondering if the council's new parking plans - introduced around The Lamb pub area - are specifically designed to encourage those of us who don't like multi-storey car parks to go by bus.

My first memories of Basingstoke go back to the early '60s when it was a gentle market town.

I never thought I'd see a traffic warden stalking those peaceful streets.

So, I'm going to register my house as a Cango stop and plan an outing. Anyone care to join me?

AT LAST: Good news - Ellisfield Parish Council has appointed Jacqui Matthews, of Mayfield, Lower Common, as deputy parish clerk, to assist chairman Paul Turner, who's also been acting clerk for the last year.

Jacqui and her husband Tony are relatively new to the village, but say they felt at home as soon as they arrived.

They've enthusiastically joined in all our village events.

Jacqui, who calls herself "a life-long learner", said: "I want to be part of the village and this is an opportunity to get involved in a positive way."

A warm welcome to her, we're most fortunate.

BEAUTIFUL game: Doreen Lonergan is rightly proud of son Tony, who runs Ludwig Leisure.

His football squads - nine teams ranging from youngsters to adults - have won the Football Association Charter Mark award, thought to be the first in Basingstoke and just one of six in Hampshire.