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I acquired another Nikon during the year to avoid the need to swap lenses during a session, and with more computing power I was able to process most of my community output from RAW data for better image quality.

22 Feb 2018: Naked Grape - Publicity shots at the wine merchants in town for the prize presentation from a competition held in a recent edition of The Adviser.

21 Mar 2018: Annual Town Council Meeting - The annual Town Council meeting to review progress in the last year. One of the display boards features photographs which can be seen elsewhere in this archive!

30 Mar 2018: Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race - This year's Devizes to Westminster canal race passed through Hungerford in unpleasant conditions, although it looks like a cold and wet activity even in the best of weather!

8 Apr 2018: Litter Pick - A good turn out again for the annual 'clean up the town' morning.

9 Apr 2018: Ale Tasting - Early in Hocktide people enter into the spirit of the occasion as the Tuttimen declare the quality of the traditional brews available at the Ale Tasting.

9 Apr 2018: Tutti Poles - Fiona Hobson invited me to see her preparing the Tutti Poles ready for tomorrow's Tuttiday celebrations.

10 Apr 2018: Tutti Day - Stewart Hofgartner stepped up to stand in for Bellman Julian Tubb recovering from illness. The weather was inclement bringing extra 'cheer' to time spent in the properties on the High Street. TV cameras were again on hand.

10 Apr 2018: Hocktide Lunch - Kathy Bossom asked me to record the set up for the luncheon, and as I was privileged to be invited by the Constable I was able to capture some of the action. The Guest of honour was local MP Richard Benyon.

15 Apr 2018: Constable Sunday - The annual parade for the church service celebrating the role of the Constable and the Town & Manor in the community. The Vicar resorted to visual aids to get his message across - with you there Mike having spent many years as a teacher and trainer.

21 Apr 2018: Queen Elizabeth's 92nd Birthday - Rod Desmeules has got the Union Flags out in the High Street to celebrate HM Queen's 92nd birthday.

22 May 2018: Freedom of the Town Awards - Presentation of the this year's Freedom of Hungerford awards in the Corn Exchange by the High Sheriff of Berkshire.

22 May 2018: The Mayor and Deputy Mayor - Publicity shots of the new Mayor and her Deputy - until they can get a proper job done!

7 Jun 2018: Church Recording Group - Winding up party for the local Arts Society Church Recording group after their successful delivery of the record for St Lawrence's Church. Hosted by Project Leader Dr Hugh Pihlens and photographed by their Honorary Photographer - your truly.

9 Jun 2018: Church Fête - Annual fund-raising church fete held at the Croft Field. The Hungerford Arts Festival team were present publicising the upcoming festival and selling tickets - to themselves by the look of it!

15 Jun 2018: Library under local management - Celebrations on reaching agreement with West Berks DC on the handover of the day-to-day running of the Library building to a local group - in readiness for the establishment of the Hungerford Hub community facility.

30 Jun 2018: Armed Forces Day - Including
- the dedication of a Memorial Tree on the Common, with an army chaplain officiating, then
- the main Parade started from the football ground before marching down the High Street, where there were displays from various army units. The salute was taken by the High Sheriff of Berkshire, accompanied by the Constable, the Deputy Mayor, and the President of the RBL Hungerford Branch. The Parade was led by the Band of the Royal Logistics Corps who looked very distinguished in their dark braided uniforms and distinctive helmets (I’m sure I’ve seen that shape somewhere before).
- Proceedings were brought to a close with a BBQ event hosted by the army at the RBL club, during which a small wreath-laying ceremony was performed by the local dignitaries.

29 Jun - 15 Jul 2018: HADCAF.

2 Jul 2018: First IEP bi-mode train through Hungerford - The arrival of the first stopping service on the new fast Paddington to Bedwyn trains operated by IET bi-mode diesel and electric 5 car trains, due to replace the old Turbo Diesel Multiple Units. A reception party of dignitaries was waiting at Bedwyn.

15 Jul 2018: Mike the Vicar's 60th Birthday - Garden party at the Vicarage to celebrate Rev Saunders' 60th birthday party, after the church service during which Dr Pihlens for the Church Recording group presented the Vicar with the final bound copy of its Church Record.

28 Aug 2018: Bank Holiday Rail Closure - The rail route through Hungerford was closed over the late summer Bank Holiday to allow the track to be re-laid - again. The passage of 4000 tonne stone trains takes a heavy toll on the 'permanent way'.

Aug 2018: Clearing the railway embankments - During late Summer, Network Rail decided to blitz the trackside vegetation they had allowed to grow out of control. Used to the leafy avenues obscuring the railway as it crossed the Common, not many were pleased with the scenes of devastation left behind.

8 Sep 2018: Launch of the Hungerford Hub - The Mayor was on hand to officially launch the Library building as the new Hungerford Hub.

9 Sep 2018: Hungerford Carnival - A bright sunny day (for once) for the annual carnival parade featuring the 'usual suspects'.

28 Sep 2018: MacMillan Coffee Morning - The MacMillan cancer charity fund-raising event held at the URC, one of very many held country-wide on the day.

28 Sep 2018: Masai Warriors in St Lawrence's Church - A group of Masai warriors performing at St Lawrence church on a publicity and fund-raising visit to the UK.

29 Sep 2018: URC Flower Festival - The URC flower show - not to be outdone by the HADCAF/St Lawrence's Church event. Nigel and Helen were giving a virtuoso recital to entertain visitors.

Oct 2018: Cow Bridge replaced - The insignificant-looking Cow Bridge joining the Common where it is bisected by the railway had become life-expired, but a major project was required to replace it, involving intrusive access for the heavy machinery involved.

8 Nov 2018: Canal Towpath improvement - A local effort co-ordinated by the Rev Saunders as Water Chaplain working with the Canal & River Trust who supplied the materials and know-how to improve the state of the towpath between the town and the church. The Canal & River Trust provided materials, manpower and skills while Mike the Vicar mobilised local community support to improve the state of the towpath between the High Street and the swing bridge by St Lawrence's Church. My pics cover the initial assembly of the team for the day, their briefing by Simon Kirby for the Trust and signing on. Activities portrayed include, sweeping out the potholes to provide a dry base, ‘barrowing’ loads of ‘scalpings’ from the flat-bed truck to site, trimming the material to profile ready for the ‘whacker’ to provide a finished surface

11 Nov 2018: Remembrance Parade - Over the years I've tried different ways of covering the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Bridge Street. This year I'm implanted at the back of the crowd getting close to the action, but trying not to make a distracting spectacle of myself. Up to the memorial at Bulpit Lane for the small wreath-laying ceremony. Later there was a beacon-lighting event at the Triangle Field commemorating the Centenary of the WWI Armistice.

2 Dec 2018: Christmas Lights switch on - The usual event preceded by musical items from the Town Band, local schools and other performers. Guest of Honour this year was Sally Taylor MBE and the High Sheriff made yet another less formal appearance in the Town

8 Dec 2018: New Kitchen at Youth & Community Centre - A new kitchen has been installed at the Youth & Community centre and those involved in funding and delivering the project gathered at a launch party for the new facility.

9 Dec 2018: Santas Fun Run - Working with Rotary Club's own photographer, an ex-professional, to get some all round coverage of people on their charity Fun Run. One of those occasions where being mobile on two (self-propelled) wheels adds flexibility to what is possible.

16 Dec 2018: Mayor's Carol Service - The Deputy Mayor opened proceedings with a solo rendition of Once in Royal David's city. Readers included the Head Girl and Boy from John O'Gaunt School. Small social after attended by the Chair of West Berks DC.

Trains: Collection of steam and heritage haulage passing through the town including a visit by steam celebrity 60103 Flying Scotsman.

Local Views: A few local scenes and oddities, and some 'stock' shots of the Library requested by The Adviser (according to my notes). The loss of the conifer screen hiding the Thames Water works will take some years to make good.