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Despite considerable development in recent years, Romsey today continues to retain its comfortable small-town atmosphere. Young families and older people alike enjoy living in the town, which offers many facilities for all ages. In summer the town participates in the Test Valley in Bloom initiative, and abundant floral displays bring the magic of colour to enhance the scene. Markets are held in the Cornmarket on Tuesdays and Fridays, and a ‘Farmers’ Market’ operates on several Sundays during the year.

Until the 20th century, Romsey had only really expanded eastwards. Long contained by the river to the west, by the unviable marshlands to the north and by Broadlands to the south, the old town centre retains a closeness to the countryside at most points.

Romsey has also managed to retain something of its old identity, despite becoming part of the Test Valley Borough Council in the 1974 local government re-organisation. At that time Romsey Infra was granted the right to retain the titles of town mayor and town council and thus a measure of corporate pride. The splendidly refurbished Town Hall, with its central position in the Market Place, is an excellent focal point for many events, including civil weddings. The surrounding rural area of Romsey Extra has its own parish council.

A continuing community spirit manifests itself in numerous popular societies and in many sporting teams and organisations. The year is highlighted by events such as the Town Carnival and the Romsey Show, the latter being held each September in Broadlands Park. In 1987, a triennial Romsey Arts Festival was successfully introduced. The Town Hall, the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, the Tourist Information Centre and the Public Library act as liaison centres, providing useful contact addresses for established residents, newcomers and visitors.

The Town Council, The Romsey & District Society and The Romsey & District Chamber of Commerce and Industry keep a watching brief on developments affecting the town. Civic awareness is shown in the works of many charitable organisations of both national and local character. Tangible evidence of this can be seen in some older buildings that have been restored by the Romsey Buildings Preservation Trust.

The town offers traditional pastimes, such as allotments available for the use of inhabitants. In the modern idiom many enjoy The Rapids on the way out of town towards Southampton. Other sports facilities are found at Hunters Sports Ground, to the north of the town at Timsbury.

Drama, art and music groups are very active. In 1982 the Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society (RAODS) bought The Plaza, a redundant cinema at the east of the town. The Plaza Theatre, when not in use for RAODS’ own productions, is available to other groups wishing to use it. The Romsey Art Group also has a permanent base for exhibitions and studio work in the disused chapel at Lee, to the south of the town.

The LTVAS Group (Lower Test Valley Archaeological Study Group) researches and publishes the history and archaeology of the town. Its resource room is in the basement of the Town Hall, and it acts as honorary archivist for the Town Council.

Romsey Abbey itself is a popular venue for a programme of large-scale musical events organised by Music in Romsey, while the ambience of King John’s House is well suited to smaller ensembles; at times the pleasure of band music out-of-doors can be enjoyed in the Memorial Park.

The town is fortunate in having a local newspaper, The Romsey Advertiser, to report on all these local activities, and in which opinions can be, and are, well and truly aired.

Although local matters are very much to the fore, Romsey is outward looking, too. It has ‘twinning’ relationships with two compatible communities in Europe - Paimpol in France and Battenberg in Germany. Battenberg, the home town of Lord Mountbatten’s family, is a particularly appropriate choice. We are currently working to establish a new twinning link with a town in northern Italy.

Although many people choose to make their home in Romsey simply as a pleasant place to live, even though they have to work elsewhere, there is a growth in local light industry. Two established, unobtrusive industrial estates off the A3057 road north are now joined by Abbey Park, an even larger development behind a screen of trees on the Southampton road at Luzborough, whilst Belbins Business Park is on the north-east corner of town at the end of Cupernham Lane. Once again Romsey is turning in a new direction.