DEAR editor, if you could allow me a little room in the Andover Advertiser to say how much Ken and I enjoyed the ‘Stride and Ride’ we took part in for historical churches.

We met with the team at St Peter’s Church and it began to rain hard,but it ceased as we began our walk and it stayed dry throughout.

We walked from Fyfield to Thruxton by way of the tiny track. The scenery over there is amazing. I have lived here for most of my life and never been into the churches we visited including Weyhill and Kimpton church, but we couldn’t go into that one as a wedding was being held there and I felt disappointed. A big thank you to all who sponsored us and I was amazed how many did. Kind regards to all at the staff at the Advertiser, God bless.

Also might I have some space in our local tabloid to praise the organiser of the Shipton Shorts competition who is Tim Bancroft and his dear wife. To say congratulations to Michael Crabb winner of the short story with his story OMG, and to Sophie Rutland for her poetic piece called Tranquility and I managed to get third place with Elgar the Saxon Boy, a short story about a Saxon boy that lived here in Shipton Bellinger in the time of Celts, Romans, Vikings, and Normans.

Thank you for my awards of a medal, certificate, and book token. Thank you to the judges of the competition and for feedback. I am proud to have taken part and will do so again, next time I will work harder to be first. Many thanks Tim it’s a pleasure to know you. Thanks for the support by colleagues and friends and faithful daughter Leslie.

God bless you all and thanks for printing my Shipton Bellinger news.

Josie Smith, Shipton Bellinger