All posts by Alastair Walton

Classic Cars season kicks off

Our Classic Car Summer kicks off this weekend, with a welcome return to a collection of stunning vehicles from private collectors around the Meon Valley.

PRE-1990 CARS WELCOME
NO NEED TO REGISTER – JUST TURN UP
DOORS OPEN 1000 to 1230

With up to 50 cars expected at each event, we’ll be in the main car park opposite Barnaby’s. If you are attending, you may arrive any time from 0945, when a marshal will show you to a space where you can display your car. The event will be supported by Barnaby’s “popup” coffee shop, serving coffee, tea and yummy homemade cakes made by our friends at Bishops Waltham Country Market. Barnaby’s will nominate  a charity on the day, and all our proceeds will go to that charity.

Head to https://barnabys.coffee/classiccarsummer for details of all our gatherings this year.

Our Spring clean is now on

Barnaby’s is closed until 10am on Saturday 23rd April, while the BBT undertake our annual spring clean. At the same time, we are fitting some new equipment paid for by a grant from Winchester City Council in an effort to keep us as Covid-free as we can.

Our re-opening will be celebrated by the return of our Classic Cars @ Barnaby’s events, with some 40 classic cars expected. Full details can be found at barnabys.coffee/classiccarsummer. We look forward to seeing you.

Red Cross Buns for Easter Week

In support of our donations to the work of the International Red Cross in the Ukraine, our friends at Bishops Waltham Country Market have made us some fabulous Red Cross buns! They will be in Barnaby’s on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only, so grab yours while you can!

We’ll be closed from 4.30pm on Thursday to start Barnaby’s Annual Spring Clean. We’ll be back at 10am on Saturday 23rd April to welcome the return of our Classic Car weekends.

SADS Box Office is open!

Swanmore Amateur Dramatic Society (SADS) was formed in 1959, and has run continuously ever since. Later this month, the team will perform “The Hound of the Baskervilles”. This is Danny Jeffs debut as Director, using his acting, artistic and musical knowledge to turn his ideas into real life.

Get your tickets from the SADS Box Office outside Barnaby’s on Saturday 2nd April and Saturday 9th April from 10am.

The show itself runs Thursday 28th to Saturday 30th April 2022.

We loved it!

Barnaby’s hosted “Hamish” and “Mouse” from local charity Helping Hooves on Saturday. Loads of you came out to meet, brush and love our two new furry friends, and donated almost £200 to the cause!

Speaking to Abbie at the end of the morning, she said “We loved it! Thank you so much for having us, and for helping to raise our profile.”  It was Abbies birthday too, which made the whole thing all the more special. Apparently, she particularly enjoying having Alastair (BBT) and Gary (Village CSO) singing “Happy Birthday” to her quite loudly across the car park…

Over £850 raised in first weekend

We are collecting for two causes closely associated with events in the Ukraine. They are:

  1. UNICEF – supporting the half a million children in Ukraine who have already been affected as the conflict enters its eighth year under heightened circumstances.
  2. ASSOCIATION OF UKRAINIANS IN GREAT BRITAIN – working with HM GOV to deliver diplomatic, cultural, economic, financial and sporting responses on an international scale.

For those who feel able to support these causes, please use the collection tin or the Tap n’Go pad.

Charity Awareness Scheme gathers pace

Barnaby’s commitment to community outreach ensures that we share our proceeds with local causes through a Charity Awareness Scheme. This scheme has been on hold for almost 2 years, so we have recently been working hard to re-start the program.  Pop these dates in your diary:

Saturday 19th March
‘Helping Hooves’
Based in Swanmore, Helping Hooves provide a wonderful home to a number of therapy horses. Abbie and the team will be outside Barnaby’s with some of their ponies for you to meet!

Saturday 9th April
‘Meon Valley HomeStart’
Being a parent, whatever the circumstances, can be challenging. That’s were HomeStart steps in, and we’re pleased to be able to raise their profile today.

Saturday 17th May
‘Meon Valley Lions’
The Meon Valley Lions are part of a service organisation that has over 1.4 million members in 205 countries. Their aim is to provide assistance in our community for those in need. We’re delighted to support them.

Saturday 18th June
‘Hounds for Heroes’ (see pic)
Come and meet some of the wonderful dogs in training to assist injured and disabled men and women from the UK Armed Forces and Emergency Services.

Saturday 2nd July
‘Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity’
Come and meet those from the RNRMC who help Service personnel face extended periods of time separated from loved ones, often with very little opportunity for communication.

Head to barnabys.coffee/charityawarenessscheme to find out more, or apply.

Free shortbread!

Barnaby’s will go a bit Scottish this week, in support of the mighty wordsmith Rabbie Burns. Your favourite coffee will come with a yummy (and free) piece of delicious Scottish shortbread!

Born in 1759, Burns is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland – a fact celebrated on the date of his birthday – 25th January. We’ll be dishing out the shortbread on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Looking back at 2023

Right from the outset, a core principle of Barnaby’s was that it should put money back in to the community it served. This is, in large part, achieved through the fact that it is run by volunteers who gladly give up their time to serve the village. Grab a coffee and read their stories here (5 min read). Thanks to them, and through our symbiotic maintenance agreement with St Barnabas, we were able to put close to £14,000 back in to the community in 2023.

Of the local charities and good causes that we supported last year, you’ll recognise some familiar names:

  • Meon Valley Food Bank
  • South Central Ambulance Charity
  • Trinity Winchester
  • Jubilee Sailing Trust
  • Meon Valley Lions
  • Youth Options Meon Valley
  • Southampton City Mission
  • Prevent Breast Cancer
  • Royal British Legion
  • Wonky Heart Foundation
  • Helping Hooves
  • St.George Foundation
  • Hampshire Homestart
  • Hounds For Heroes
  • Macmillan
  • Christian Aid

Use this link to read how we supported each of these great causes last year (10 min read).

We have also supported Swanmore Primary School with numerous projects over the years, most recently a Year 6 mission to make their own honey in a joint venture called “Barnabees“.  They will update us of their progress in the summer.