NEWS FROM 2004

DELICATESSEN DELICACIES
A graduate in Business Management Jo Huntsman and a top hotel chef Mark Thompson have got together to create one of the most interesting contemporary delicatessens in Ringwood and in the New Forest as a whole.
The Food Shed is open now selling a delicious variety of exotic foods and home cooked delicacies such as Local Dorset Ham, award winning patisseries, wild boar terrine, organic walnut strudel, White chocolate and fig biscuits, and a wide range of olives, olive oil, smoked salmon and everything that could make Christmas eating that little bit more exciting.
The Food Shed is now open but had it's official opening launch by the Mayor of Ringwood on December 16th 2004.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON DATE CHANGE
There is a change of date for the Switch on of the Ringwood Christmas Lights. This will now be Thursday December 2nd at 6.00pm in the Market Place. The switch on will be done by the Ringwood Mayor Cllr Michael Thierry and the two Furlong Snow Princesses Jayde Carter (8) and Katie Pope (6).(Originally the Date was set for Friday Nov 26th.)

FRENCH STREET MARKET
There is to be a French Street Market following the Ringwood Christmas Reindeer Parade and Late Night Shopping. The French Market is on December 4th & 5th in the Market Place from 8.00am - 6.00pm. Christmas specialities from France will be on sale including genuine French bread, cheeses, a wide range of olives and special French biscuits. Crepes to eat on the spot with take away chicken a la Provencal. There are mustards, perfumes, and jams, A wide variety of Continental sausages, French knickers and lingerie, cashmere pullovers, garlic and hand made baskets, wooden roses and crystals, plus bags purses and belts. An Ooh la la shopping bonanza for those unable to cross the Channel for those exclusive and extra special Christmas goodies.

DISCOUNTED CHRISTMAS HAMPERS FOR CHAMBER MEMBERS
Ringwood Brewery are offering Ringwood Chamber of Trade & Commerce 10% discount on their Christmas gift Hampers.
Members phone their order through to Ringwood brewery. They show their Chamber discount card when they collect their order, two will be issued to each business, with an authorised user for each card. More...

EXTRA LATE NIGHT SHOPPING FOR RINGWOOD
Ringwood is to have three extra late night shopping evenings this year. After a survey carried out by the Ringwood Chamber of Trade and Commerce, it was agreed that extra shopping nights would benefit both the shops, customers and the town. More...

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2004 REPORT
At the Annual General Meeting of the Ringwood Chamber of Trade & Commerce, held 6th October at the Ringwood Conservative Club, the Chamber Vice President Belinda Charlton presented the Geoff Eales Cup for "Outstanding Contribution to the Business Community of Ringwood" to Nigel Welsh of Ringwood Brewery. More...

FIRE AND WATER IN THE FIREPLACE ROOM
Ground Force star Charlie Dimmock dropped into the new shop in the Ringwood Market Place last week. To show that fire and water do mix, Charlie opened the Fireplace Room assisted by Ringwood Councillor Belinda Charlton who was representing the Mayor.
The owners of the new Fireplace Shop are Steve and Rachelle Randall. Rachelle said: "We are thrilled to be in Ringwood. My husband has worked in the fireplace trade all his life and now we have achieved our dream of owning our own Fireplace business. The weather forecast says there is a cold winter ahead of us, but we hope we will be keeping the Ringwood people warm. We are so pleased that Charlie Dimmock and Belinda could come along today."
Pictured: Charlie Dimmock, Steve and Rachelle Randall and Belinda Charlton. 18 October 2004

STONE STATUE STARTLES SHOPPERS
A life sized stone garden statue gave hundreds of shoppers a fright last week as they entered the Ringwood Surplus Stores in Meeting House Lane, when the stone statue suddenly moved. More...

RINGWOOD CHAMBER COMEDY NIGHT HEART STARTING SUCCESS
The Chamber of Commerce Comedy Night went with a fantastic bang as 80 people at the Ringwood Conservative Club tucked into a luxury champagne buffet with fresh salmon and cold meats finishing with strawberries and cream. Rated by everyone who attended as the best value for £10 they had ever known. More...

FORMER WELLWORTHY SITE
Morrish Builders will be holding a public exhibition entitled "Your Chance to Choose" giving local people the opportunity to register their preferred choice from four development options. The exhibition will take place at Unit 21, Furlong Shopping Centre (formerly Roberts Jewellers) on Wednesday 14th July (10am - 5pm), Friday 16th July (11am - 7pm) and Saturday 17th July (11am - 5pm).

Road Closure
There will be road closures in the town during the afternoon and evening on the 18th September for the Carnival procession.

Pocket Park, Bickerly
Ringwood Town Council are in the process of improving Pocket Park (at the end of Strides Lane, off the Market Place) on the Bickerly. As well as replanting shrubs they intend to improve seating arrangements. For those who have never visited the park, on a sunny day it is a very pleasant and tranquil place to spend a lunch time, even more so when you are having one of those 'difficult days'.

CHAMBER SECRETARY
The Ringwood Chamber of Trade & Commerce has appointed a new honorary secretary. She is mother of three Janet Dowthwaite from Corfe Mullen. She replaces Geoff Eales who was Chamber secretary for many years. Janet was a Marketing Research secretary for many years in Middlesex before switching to a secretarial post with Estate Agents.
She and her husband Frank who is a policeman in West London, moved to Corfe Mullen from Ickenham in Middlesex a year ago. more...

CHAMBER WORKSHOP AT THE MILL
The Ringwood Chamber of Trade & Commerce is having the first of many workshops in Frampton's Mill restaurant on the top floor on Thursday July 8th from 11.00 a.m. - 2.00 p.m.
The Chamber is inviting traders to pop in to have a coffee and a chat. Said Chamber President Nicki Woods. "We want every trader in Ringwood to feel they have a voice. We want to know want they want from us, what we can do for them." more...

CLASSICAL STAR AT RINGWOOD CHURCH
Celebrated Cellist Natalie Clein (27) will be performing at the Ringwood Festival classical concert in Ringwood Church on July 7th. She will be performing with the Salisbury Sinfonia conducted by the talented young musician Tim Murray who at the age of 21 made his BBC Proms debut as second conductor for the premiere of Nancarrow's Study for Orchestra.
Natalie won the BBC Young Musicians of the Year competition in 1994 and then became the first ever British winner of the Eurovision Competition for Young Musicians in Warsaw. more...

RINGWOOD GETS INTERIOR DESIGNER
A sparkling party launched the new RT interior design shop, in Strides Lane, Ringwood. Mayor Michael Thierry formally opened the shop and congratulated the owners Andrew and Rebecca Player on creating a delightful occasion and welcomed them to the town. Interior Designs specialises in two areas, they make and sell soft furnishing, curtains, cushions, and fabrics for all purposes, and they also offer an exclusive interior design service. more...

VITAL NEW PRESIDENT FOR A VITAL NEW CHAMBER
The new President of the Ringwood Chamber of Commerce is 36-year-old Nicki Wood owner of Ringwood Surplus Stores. She replaces Ted Leigh of the Railway Hotel, and is only the second President who has been a woman since the Chamber's inception 40 years ago. (Kay Duncalf was president in the 80's). Newly appointed vice president is Belinda Charlton from Avon Castle. Belinda has a marketing and public relations company with accounts in Ringwood. more...