Link Magazine

‘Link’ was started, in April 1961, so is now almost 60 years old. Its original purpose was to ‘serve as a means of communication between Church and village life’ according to its first editor, Mr Earnest Cook. It was originally a parish magazine, with strong links to the church and drawing its committee from church members. Now the Church has its own newsletter so Link has become a community magazine covering the villages of Oakley, Deane, Newfound, Malshanger and Wootton St Lawrence. The current editor, Chris Wassell, has been involved with Link for 25 years.

Link is produced entirely by volunteers, from the submission of articles, through proof-reading, formatting and the production of the print-ready pages. The content is mainly about our villages: forthcoming events, reports and photos of those from last month and the opinions of residents, expressed in letters and articles. The topics covered range from news from the Parish Council, Community Association, local clubs and WIs, schools, Scouts & Guides and village playgroups, to sports and conservation groups. We also include a Local History article each month, contributed by local residents and until his untimely death, Ken Smallbone.

Link appears monthly and is free to residents of Oakley, Deane, Newfound, Malshanger and Wootton St Lawrence. 2400 copies are produced and delivered to homes around the village, but each copy is probably read by all of the household. It is distributed by volunteers around the village. For a regular copy of Link, send an e-mail to finance@oakley-link.org, giving your address, so that you can be added into the correct delivery round.  The magazine is also available at Jolly Olly's coffee shop, Hair Beauty in Meon Road and the Manydown Farm Shop.

We are a non-profit making organisation so the printing costs are subsidised by about 120 valued village and local advertisers. The advertising and subscription year runs from April to the following March. If you would like to advertise, you can find out about advertising costs by e-mailing bruce@oakley-link.org.

All contributions to Link should be sent to editor@oakley-link.org by the 10th of the preceding month.

A copy of Link is included in the Welcome Pack given to new residents.

The latest edition can be viewed on the Link website