AT a meeting organised by the New Alresford Town Trust, trustees announced that the constitution of the trust is to be updated.

Via a trust membership scheme, helpers and supporters will be recognised and involved with the future planning of the trust activities, and will also be asked to elect some of their number to become future town trustees.

This is seen as a way of opening up the trust activities, encouraging new blood, new ideas, and involving the community in maintaining the town in the way everyone would want it to be.

The first to be confirmed as a new member was MP?Steve Brine, who has always been a supporter of the trust’s activities.

He said: “In any small town there are many different views about how to maintain the character of the town, and this is true of Alresford, but the people involved all have the best interests of the town at heart.

“While many MPs think of Hampshire as an affluent area, a strong local society does not follow. It’s good that this exists in Alresford.”

Mr Brine also commended the recently-elected town councillors in Alresford “who are younger and so have the energy to move forward”.

He added that attracting new, younger members would also be a good move for the future of the trust.

Mr Brine wished all future trust members good luck and said he was “delighted to be member number one”. He was presented with a framed copy of his membership application, his membership card, and the £5 note he sent in as the fee to join as a trust member.

Also pictured are chairman Robin Atkins and Pam Stevens, trustee and secretary of the trust, with one of the Alresford craft owls. These toys and dolls, made in Alresford, form a major part of the Alresford museum artefacts from the town, collected by the trust.