A FUNERAL service is being held for, former Sparsholt Parish Councillor, Andrew Osmond ‘Oz’ at St Mary’s Church in Crawley on Monday, March 11 at 2pm. The respected farmer died on Friday, February 16, aged 57. The parish council said: “He was a much-valued member of the parish council and will be greatly missed. We send our sincerest condolences to his family.”

Funeral guests have been advised not to bring flowers and to wear a dash of green. Donations, if desired, can be made to Bowel Cancer UK and Countess of Brecknock Hospice at steelsfunerals.co.uk.

THE Friends of Sparsholt School are planning an Easter Eggstravaganza for the last day of term on Thursday, March 28 from 3.30pm to 4.45pm. The Friends are asking any parents who can help with ideas, set up or manning a stall to email friendsofsparsholtschool@gmail.com.

MORE than 80 more joined the pancake party at Easton Village Hall last month, with three volunteers cooking more than 240 pancakes for the hungry guests. Organisers have already confirmed that it will be happening again next year.

ITCHEN Abbas School is hosting a quiz night on Friday, March 8. Tickets cost £15 per person and cover food, a welcome drink and the quiz at Itchen Abbas Village Hall. The event starts at 7.30pm. All funds raised will go to the school. For more go to itchenabbasparents.org.uk/quiz.

VALLEY Lent Lunches are underway. Around 40 people attended the first event and heard about the work of this year’s chosen charity Youth Options from Mike Gretton, former chairman.

Lent lunches are held at various homes throughout the Itchen Valley, with soup bread and cheese on offer from midday until 2pm. The next lunches will be on Friday, March 8 and Friday, March 15. For more information contact judemezger@gmail.com or mumgod@aol.com.

THE Itchen Valley Litter pick returns on Saturday, March 16. From 10am volunteers are invited to meet at the usual five starting points of Avington War Memorial, Itchen Abbas Village Hall car park, The Cricketers at Easton car park, Martyr Worthy War Memorial and the top of Chilland Lane.

Tea, coffee and cakes will be available at Martyr Worthy Village Hall from 11.30am.

THE Worthies Sports and Social Club, in Loader Close, has welcomed a new bar manager. The club posted on its website: “We’d like to wish Donna well in her new role. I'm sure you will all provide Donna with your support as she gets used to her new surroundings.”

As well as bingos and live music, the club is welcoming back the craft and makers market on March 24, April 21 and May 19 from 10.30am to 2.30pm. Free entry and free parking.

LITTLETON and Harestock Parish Council has received multiple reports from Littleton Recreation Ground users on under control dogs. The parish council, in its latest newsletter, advised anyone who has had a similar experience of dogs jumping up at them inappropriately to contact the clerk so that the council can monitor the scale of the problem.

There will be some new signs to encourage dog owners to keep control of their pets but the council is willing to consider further measures if needed such as lead-only dog walking.

Hampshire County Council has approved the renewal of Littleton and Harestock Parish Council’s cultivation license for three years, which allows the parish council to maintain the Littleton pond and the wooded area opposite it.