| 2009 South of England regional winners |
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Businesses from Hampshire, Berkshire and two from Oxfordshire are celebrating winning a regional title in the fifth annual Countryside Alliance Awards. The four businesses now go forward to the Grand Final and are up against fellow regional winners in a bid for the British title. The Countryside Alliance Awards celebrate the characters, skills, traditions and enterprise of the countryside through the people who work so hard to make it tick. This year’s Southern champions are: 1. Local Food Award: Foxbury Farm, Brize Norton, Oxfordshire 01993 844141 http://www.foxburyfarm.co.uk Head Judge Sara Rutherford says: “Foxbury ethics are: Foxbury first, local second, British third and there is no fourth. And that is the sort of passion and commitment that we are celebrating through these Awards. Colin and his team have impeccable credentials. He supports only British producers in his shop; supplies meat into local schools and often goes into the school to see the children and talk about his farm. This is a genuine, no frills local food business based on a real working farm, and Colin’s passion is the main ingredient to his deserved success.” 2. Village Shop / Post Office Award: Chadlington Quality Foods Ltd, Chadlington, Oxfordshire 01608 676 675 http://www.chadlington.com/ Sara says: “This is a community initiative that is brimming with good produce, good humour and community spirit. Nine years ago the village store was unprofitable and on the market, so more than 50 villagers joined forces to become shareholders in what is now a huge success story. The shareholders do not take dividends but the profits are such that CQF is now also able to contribute funds to village projects, which makes it the thriving heart of the community.” Highly Commended: Enham Alamein Village Shop, Andover, Hampshire. 3. Daily Telegraph Traditional Business Award: Calcutt & Son, Sutton Scotney, Hampshire 01962 760210 http://www.calcuttandsons.co.uk/ . Sara says: “This saddlers and outfitters is a perfect example of what this category celebrates: traditional skills honed and upheld in a modern setting with great customer service values. Calcutt & Son have a devoted customer base that appreciates quality and see them as an integral part of country life in Hampshire.” 4. Rural Enterprise Award: The Wasing Estate, Aldermaston, Berkshire 0118 971 4140 http://www.wasing.co.uk/ : Sara says: “The Wasing Estate itself has been around for hundreds of years, and within its 4,000 there is now a wedding and conference venue in a sympathetic and enterprising re-working of an old estate. One of Wasing’s main objectives was to bring the community together through holding a variety of events such as the film club, Christmas carol concert and functions for local schools and fundraising events for charities. Not only this but local produce is used where possible, many local people are employed, and Wasing even appeared in the BBC TV series, Cranford! This is a truly impressive enterprise, and has breathed new life into a rural estate that was in need of some tlc.” |
