You only need to walk from Petersfield station into the town centre to get a very visible reminder of the year’s biggest story.

Scaffolding remains in place on the corner of Lavant Street and Chapel Street as work continues on the block ravaged by fire on July 3. The fire which affected the likes of One Tree Books, Snappy Snaps, House of Boo, Lavant Dental and residents above was probably the biggest in the town since the mid-1990s.

Ruby & Montys Petersfield
There were a few changes in the town centre with Ruby & Monty’s being replaced with Miso Asia. (Marcus McQuilton)

Staying in the town centre, there were plenty of comings and goings with Miso Asia replacing Ruby and Monty’s, White Stuff moving into NatWest’s old building and Lloyds about to cheque out. And that’s before we mention the lack of festivals with Hometown putting its programme of events on hold.

Horndean Pirates Northfield Close
Horndean couple Steve and Lynnette Coombs hope EHDC won't make them walk the plank over their pirate ship. (Tindle/Paul Ferguson)

Planning stories and the Station Road murder sentencing dominated our early year editions with plans for hundreds of homes – and not to mention an Aldi – in Horndean, Catherington and Clanfield making the headlines.

The spectre of the planning inspector also loomed large, as one of their kind settled the Battle for Bakery Lane and plans for a hotel off the Buriton B2070 roundabout.

Left to rightL Kristina Cousen of The Blacksmith_'s Daughter and Bilsen Gonul of Bazaar restaurant outside the Blacksmith's Daughter. Bakery Lane, Chapel St, Petersfield. LDRS
Kristina Cousen and Bilsen Gonul outside The Blacksmith's Daughter before a planning inspector settled the Battle for Bakery Lane. (LDRS)

Spring began with a car crashing into Fat Face and ended with John “Portsmouth Football Club” Westwood losing his wig ahead of a South Coast derby snoozefest. Big stories between included a menagerie of animals being stolen from a school in Liss, an arrest and de-arrest after a car overturned on The Spain, and shock at bricks being thrown off an A3 footbridge in Steep.

John PFC Westwood Pompey Petersfield wig
John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood with his beloved blue and white wig, stolen by a naughty Saints fan ahead of a South Coast derby. (Robert Sansom)
Fat Face collision Petersfield
A car crashed into the front of Fat Face in The Square in May. ((Image supplied by Post reader))

A life sentence was handed out in November for the murder of a Liss pensioner while Petersfield’s wonderful signal box was closed over well over a century of action.

The month also brought us the incredible conclusion of the Petersfield Poppy Project, with around 18,000 knitted and crocheted poppies being draped over the porch and parts of St Peter’s as an incredible backdrop to Remembrance.

St Peter's Petersfield Poppies
The stunning poppy covered porch of St Peter's. (Tindle/Paul Ferguson)

And that’s before we mention the Pirates of Horndean and boars roaming Stoner Hill. Well, it is panto season.

(A longer version of this article will appear in next week’s Post)