VantagePoint Magazine May 2015 - Guildford & Villages by VantagePoint Magazine

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Guildford & Villages • May 2015

VANTAGEPOINT The local magazine produced by local people for the local community

MAGAZINE

Bumblebees of the South East

Inside: GROWING ASPARAGUS HASLEMERE EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM GUILDFORD CHORAL SOCIETY SEASONAL SPRING SALADS WIN A SPA PACKAGE FOR TWO

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TO THE POINT Humphrey writes... As I write this, the sun is shining and it feels like summer is visiting us early, although by the time you read this all could have changed. It has been lovely seeing young children out playing with balls and other things for me to chase or steal. A new favourite is to go and seek out the ﬁshermen on the banks of the River Wey or at Frensham Little Pond, with their packed lunches not so well hidden in their small tents. Not so sure about those wiggly yellow things they have lying around however.

Humphrey Chairdog

Martha’s and Newlands Corner. The Ed is also promising me a trip to the seaside, either the Witterings or Climping, both within easy reach. Sounds like there might be lots of children to play with there too I hope and the odd picnic lying around, although I’m not sure I fancy the summer salads in this edition...

On that note, the Ed and I are writing a feature on best places in the local area to walk dogs safely and pleasurably, so please email and let Stefan Reynolds us know your favourite walks for all seasons Editor & Publisher and and we will try and incorporate them in the article. If you can recommend any dog Now the weather is getting better and the evelocal magazine friendly pubs, the Ed would also love to hear nings are lighter, we have lots of excursions The produced by local planned now that I can walk a bit further. Box people for the local from you! Hill and Blackdown are certainties as are St community, Contact the editor: stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk

VantagePoint is published by Vantage Publishing, a Godalming based local magazine business which was first established in 2009 when we launched our first community magazine. We now publish five community magazines which are delivered monthly by Royal Mail to 107,714 homes across the South East, which gives us the largest local circulation in this area, all with guaranteed delivery by your postman.

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For more articles and Jottings, visit it us online at

vantagepointmag.co.uk THE VANTAGEPOINT TEAM

May 2015

Marcus Atkins Sales Director marcus@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Liz Godfrey Sales liz@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Carol Martin Sales carol@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Nick and Angie Crisell Jottings jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Contributors: Sarah Bain, Jack Hebden, Bob Moores Beth Otway, Kirstie Smillie, Kendra Smith Print: Buxton Press Cover: Red-Tailed Bumblebee by Amanda Slater

CONTENTS Rugmart 0315_Layout 1 06/02/2015 14:34 Page 1

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6 Jottings Your local community noticeboard

8 Bumblebees of the South East A sadly declining species

13 Haslemere Educational Museum We profile a local jewel

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26 Growing Asparagus 30 Once Upon a Time A local, first-time author tells her story

34 Garden A couple of book reviews

38 Food Seasonal spring salads

42 Walk Bepton, Chilgrove and the South Downs

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45 Profile Guildford Choral Society

46 Business Cards Small ads for trades and services

47 Win Enter our competitions

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The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing can be reprinted without prior permission of the publisher. The publisher has tried to ensure that all information is accurate but does not take any responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We take no responsibility for advertisments printed in the magazine or loose inserts that might be delivered alongside it. © Vantage Publishing Limited.

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Jottings

- YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

We’re really enjoying the longer days and, at last, the warmer weather and are looking forward to having the ﬁrst BBQ. It’s only a couple of weeks to go until the General Election; but I shan’t be sorry when it’s all over, whichever way it goes. Many thanks for all your Jottings and for sending attachments in the ‘Word’ format, which has really helped. With half- term and two Bank Holidays coming up in May, there’s quite a lot going on for us all to enjoy. A new children’s nature trail featuring the collectable toy brand Sylvanian Families, is to open at Hatchlands Park, the National Trust property in Merrow, on Friday 1st May as part of the global 30th anniversary celebrations for the toy range. Free to all National Trust members or paying visitors to Hatchlands Park, the Sylvanian Families Nature Trail leads families with young children through an area of recently planted woodland. Equipped with an activity sheet collected at the entrance to the park, budding young nature-goers can have fun spotting the familiar Sylvanian characters Freya Chocolate Rabbit and Ralph Walnut Squirrel, who appear on specially designed signs along the trail. For further information on Sylvanian Families 30th or activities that are going on to mark the anniversary visit http://sylvanianfamilies.pr.co/. The Sculpture Garden runs from Saturday 2nd – Sunday 31st May. In its seventh year and with over 150 exhibits in a wide variety of media, this is the largest temporary sculpture exhibition in Surrey. Exhibits are set within the beautiful gardens of Birtley House, which are not normally open to the public. It’s open daily from 11am–5pm. Entrance and parking are free (donations to the Community Foundation for Surrey who support local voluntary and community projects). Refreshments available and all sculpture is for sale. There is also a children’s quiz. Some areas are suitable for wheelchairs and dogs on leads are welcome. Birtley House in Bramley GU5 0LB is just 5 miles south of Guildford on the A281. For further details call 01483 899513 or

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email sculpture@birtleyhouse.co.uk. Website: www. birtleyevents.co.uk. With spring flowers in full bloom, warmer weather on the way, Bank Holiday weekends and half-term school holidays to look forward to, May is the ideal time to get outdoors, discover new locations and try new things. This May there is a raft of activities for all the family with the National Trust as well as plenty of 50 things to do before you’re 11¾ adventures like kite flying, den building and rock pooling. Find out more and take the 50 Things challenge at www.50things.org.uk. For more information on National Trust events, visit their website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events. Guildford Rambling Club is meeting on Sunday 3rd May at 10.15am in Elsted (Hants) for an 8 mile figure of 8 walk and on Sunday 17th May for a 9 mile walk, meeting at Shalford. The Club is also meeting at the Punch Bowl café in Hindhead at 10am on Thursday 21st May for a 5 mile morning walk and at 10am on Sunday 31st May near Arundel for an 11.5 mile walk. Visitors are welcome. For details of these and other walks, see www. guildfordramblingclub.org.uk. The Teddy Bear’s Picnic at Abinger Hammer (RH56QX) will be on Bank Holiday Monday 4th May from 12 noon4pm. It’s in aid of Peaslake School and Surrey Hills School. There will be lots of stalls and attractions for the family, with a range of refreshments including the ever-growing BBQ stand, Pimms, gorgeous home-made teas in the Abinger cricket club’s pavilion. Family favourites include the popular teddy bear fancy dress classes which this year has the theme of Star Wars, a coconut shy, the Pooh stick championship and duck racing on Tillingbourne Stream. There will be face painting, a bouncy castle, pony rides and both an adult and children’s tombola. All children will have an opportunity to take part in some fabulous arts and crafts on the day. Don’t forget to take a picnic blanket and some cushions with you to make yourselves comfortable on the

Jottings is your community noticeboard for local events and information, edited by Nick and Angie Crisell

To feature here, please email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk

GUILDFORD & VILLAGES DELIVERED TO 20,711 LOCAL HOMES Like us on Facebook at Vantage Point Magazine

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May 2015

Bumblebees Bumblebees are endearing and familiar insects. Their animated behaviour and deep buzz as they fly from flower-toflower makes them a delight to watch, says Jack Hebden.

quite untroubled by them as they zoomed about their business. They happily ignored me completely.

Sadly though, our bumblebees have been declining because of changes in agricultural practices that have largely removed ﬂowers from the landscape, leaving the bumblebees with little to feed upon. Most UK species have declined greatly in recent years, and two have become extinct in the UK since 1940.

I think that ‘my‘ decking bumblebees were Buff-tailed bumblebees which are apparently quite common. I hadn’t realised until recently just how many different bumblebees there are and some are quite rare and threatened. There are 250 different species worldwide but there are six or so that we are likely to see here in the South East.

Last summer, to my consternation, I discovered that I had obviously got a bumblebee nest under some decking and another nest in the front door porch roof. In both places there were frantic comings and goings all the time. As it turns out I needn’t have worried and I found sitting outside watching the action fascinating and entertaining; it was like a non-stop miniature Heathrow. Those taking off quickly climbed away to a good height, at least house roof height, and then they seemed to get their bearings and head off to their chosen pollen source. I thought that their flight paths would be random but no, there seemed to be two distinct directions and they were quite different. Some went one way and some the other but they didn’t just fly around aimlessly. The hive under the decking had prompted my interest because I could sit there almost on top of them watching and yet be 8

If you look at the following pictures you will, I hope, be able to identify the bees in your garden. They are so busy gathering pollen that they won’t trouble you at this time of year, but they may become a bit more of a bother in late summer when they have less work to do and are looking for mischief. Our ﬂower and fruit gardens are becoming increasingly important to wild bees as the necessarily commercial management of farmland makes that less and less attractive to them. Take the time to look at the bees in your garden. They are really worth it. vantagepointmag.co.uk

Bumblebees of the South East – 6 Common Species Buff-tailed bumblebee, Bombus terrestris Queens are very large and common in early spring. Workers have a largely white tail, but usually with a hint of buff at the front margin. Yellow bands are slightly darker/dirtier than in the White-tailed bumblebee. Early bumblebee, Bombus pratorum A small bee, often nesting in bird boxes for tits. The yellow band on the abdomen is sometimes missing in females. Colonies are very short-lived producing males as early as May. Rarely seen from July onwards. Common carder bee, Bombus pascuorum Abundant everywhere, the only common all-brown bumblebee. Can generally be distinguished from the much rarer Brownbanded carder by the presence of some black hairs on the sides of the abdomen. White-tailed bumblebee, Bombus lucorum A common bee, often nesting under garden sheds. Distinguished from the similar Buff-tailed bumblebee by pure white tails and lemon yellow bands.

Red-tailed bumblebee, Bombus lapidarius Very common on chalk downland, frequently found in gardens. Distinguished from the much rarer Red-shanked carder bee by black hairs of pollen basket on hind legs.

Garden bumblebee, Bombus hortorum A very long-tongued species preferring deep ﬂowers (such as foxgloves, delphiniums, honeysuckle). Distinguished from the generally smaller Heath bumblebee by much longer face when viewed from the front.

For more information do visit the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website at www.bumblebeeconservation.org. Membership of the Trust costs £20 for adults.

May 2015

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

green, and remind your children to bring their Teddy Bears for the picnic! Entry to the event is free however there will be a parking charge of £2 per car. May is a very busy month at RHS Wisley GU23 6QB. The Spring Craft Fair runs from Thursday 30th April to Monday 4th May, 10am–5pm. Meet some of the ﬁnest craftspeople in the UK and browse a range of contemporary and traditional crafts, which have been inspired by the beauty of the garden at this time of year. These include jewellery, wood craft, glass, pottery and ceramics, clothes and art. It’s free once you have entered the garden. There is an Early Photography Morning on Saturday 23rd May from 8am. Capture the garden as it comes alive in the early morning light with early summer blooms in May. Book in advance on 02031 765830 (weekdays 9am-5pm), at no extra cost. Normal garden entry applies. For further information and full details of what’s on, call 08452 609000 or go to www. rhs.org.uk/wisley. Wonersh and District Garden Club’s next meeting will be on Tuesday 5th May at the Wonersh Memorial Hall. Doors will be open at 7pm for the meeting at 7.30pm and this month they will be welcoming Mr. Leo Jennings as the guest speaker. His talk entitled ‘Work in Wonersh Parish’ will no doubt be of interest to all. Looking ahead, on Tuesday 2nd June, the meeting will include a talk by Mrs Jean Griﬃn entitled ‘Propagating in the Garden Shed’; sounds interesting! Visitors and guests are welcome and if you would like more information please contact 01483 893808.

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As part of Clandon Park’s craft season, the members of the West Surrey Spinners will be exhibiting and demonstrating their crafts there from Tuesday 5th to Sunday 17th May. There will also be the opportunity for you to try your hand at spinning fleece into thread and weaving thread into cloth! Normal admission applies. See www.nationaltrust. org.uk/clandon-park. or call 01483 222482 for details. Also look out for the new special craft workshops coming in June – calligraphy, bookbinding and screen and block printing. More details can be found on the website. On Tuesday 5th May, The Electric Theatre Jazz Café features Trudy Kerr. Trudy is renowned as one of the UK’s finest jazz vocalists and has released ten albums on the Jazzizit Record Label. She has collaborated both live and in the studio with world class musicians. Appearing with Trudy for her gig at the Jazz Cafe are Andrea Vicari on piano and Sebastian de Krom on drums. It takes place at The Electric Theatre, Onslow Street, Guildford GU1 4SZ. Music 7.30pm Tickets £12. Call the box office on 01483 444789. The Guildford Astronomical Society recently had an enjoyable evening with a large number of the public on their free evening at Newlands Corner. There were excellent views of Jupiter and its moon, the Great Orion Nebula and of course our own moon. On Thursday 7th May, Dr Leigh Fletcher, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, Oxford University, will be giving a talk entitled ‘Realm of the Giants: New Views of the Outer Solar System’ including upcoming missions to Jupiter and our

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Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

view of Saturn after a decade of Cassini exploration. They will be meeting in the University of Surrey Lecture Theatre block and the talk will start at 7.30pm. All are welcome but visitors will pay an entrance fee of £4 to help defray costs. The Guildford Homemakers group is welcoming guest speaker Trevor Sapey for a talk on the ‘Mary Rose’ once the flagship of Henry VIII’s impressive fleet on Thursday 7th May. The group meets at St. Catherine’s Village Hall, Chestnut Avenue from 8pm. New members are always welcome. For further details contact Marian Homar on 01483 573665. Four aquathlon (swim/run) events will take place at Guildford Lido on the 8th May, 5th June, 10th July and 7th August 2015. Organised by Guildford’s Phoenix Triathlon Club, the swim takes place in the heated 50m Guildford Lido, with the run element of the event taking athletes around the scenic Stoke Park. A Triathlon England sanctioned event, the Phoenix Aquathlon events will see adults will complete a 500m swim followed by a 5km run, whilst children from 8 to 14 years will complete distances appropriate to their age. To find out more and enter online: http://aquathlon. phoenixtri.co.uk, Twitter: @PhoenixTriGU or Facebook: www.facebook.com/PhoenixTriathlon. Onslow Village Garden Club is holding their 10th Annual Table Top Sale on Saturday 9th May at Onslow Village Hall, Guildford GU2 7QR from 9.30am-12.30pm. There will be stalls selling plants, cakes, books, jigsaw puzzles, brica-brac, wood-turning, jewellery and much more. There

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will also be a raﬄe and refreshments will be available. For enquiries/table bookings please phone 01483 563421. A couple of events from the Surrey Wildlife Trust. On the 9th May, there is ‘Chestnut, Chops & Chinthurst’ – it’s easy to buy wood and meat without a moments thought as to how its produced, so discover how traditional methods like coppicing and pig-pannage not only help wildlife but provide sustainable produce on this morning walk around Chinthurst Hill Local Nature Reserve with ranger Leo. 1.5 miles, meet at Chinthurst Hill car park, Wonersh Common Rd, GU5 0PR 10.30am – 12.30pm. Adults £3, children £1. Call 07968 832504 to book. Then on the 29th May is Wild Play from 10am-3.30pm. Join the Outdoor Learn Team for woodland Wild Play adventures. Woodland Crafts, den building, along with traditional games are all part of this Wild Day out! Suitable for children 7-11. Please bring a packed lunch, booking essential and costs £15. Call 07968 832509 to book. Ewhurst Horticultural Society’s Plant Sale is on Saturday 9th May in Ewhurst Village Hall and runs from 10am till noon. There will be a good selection of plants and bedding plants can be pre-ordered with 10% discount to members - contact John on 01483 271812 or email dyball@ ewhursthortsoc.org.uk. Any spare plants/cuttings you have would be much appreciated for the Members’ Table. The seventh Wellness Day organised by the Guildford Woking Complementary Health network, will take place

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Haslemere Educational Museum

Sarah Bain, a Trustee of Haslemere Museum, reﬂects on the Museum’s contribution to the local area and the challenges of running it. Haslemere Educational Museum, now over 125 years old, was founded in 1888 by Sir Jonathan Hutchinson FRS, an eminent London surgeon who lived in Haslemere. By travelling widely and purchasing at auction, Sir Jonathan built up an extraordinary collection of artefacts. Having some very progressive ideas on education for the time, he was convinced that the best way people could learn was by seeing and handling objects, and wanted to make his collection Above: A view through the Natural History Gallery Below: Haslemere Educational Museum from the High Street

accessible to as many people as possible. His first museum was in an outbuilding at his private home, but his Sunday afternoon guided tours became so popular he had to move it to a dedicated site, originally on Museum Hill. We have occupied our imposing Georgian building on Haslemere High Street since 1926, and our collections, started by Sir Jonathan and now drawn from all over the world, are so extensive that we are sometimes, rather flatteringly, referred to as a mini-British Museum. But if to you the very word ‘museum’ conjures up an image of somewhere children need to be on their best behaviour and adults quiet, knowledgeable and rather earnest, then read on and perhaps you will think again. Our Collections and Special Treasures: For a start, our collections really are extensive with a staggering 400,000 objects. It is unusual for a provincial museum to hold important collections unless their origins are local. But Haslemere Museum holds three broad categories of significant merit: Natural History, Geology and Human History: each has its own dedicated gallery. Our Natural History collection is the largest in South East England and includes some outlandish taxidermy specimens. These include a 3m crocodile, our mascot, a Siberian Brown Bear known as Arthur, and a Giant Japanese Spider Crab, pictured overleaf, which is 3ft high and very scary. Just as captivating, but less alarming, is our fabulous butterfly collection with specimens from all over the world. Our Geology collection is largely of minerals and fossils. The gallery is organised on a timeline explaining topics such as the

May 2015

solar system and formation of fossils. Prize exhibits include a meteorite, a Burgess shale fossil, a Moa skeleton (an extinct New Zealand bird) and, closer to home, an intriguing 3-D model of Haslemere’s Black Down hills. A star feature of the Human History collection is the Ancient Egyptian collection which includes a genuine Egyptian mummy. We also have an extensive archaeological collection which includes Stone Age tools and an important European Peasant Art Collection which was the inspiration for Haslemere’s Peasant Art industry based along King’s Road in the late 19th century. This gallery is also organised on a timeline. But it is not just our extraordinary collections that make Haslemere Museum so special. Education at our Heart: Our educational programme, particularly for schools, sets us apart. Actually, the clue is in our name: Haslemere Educational Museum. It reflects the importance Sir Jonathan Hutchinson placed on education and it is education which is at the heart of all our work. So we not only have a large, dedicated Education Room but also a full-time, qualified education officer. Drawing inspiration from the collections, we have developed a diverse range of interactive educational programmes. Our schools programme supports the National Curriculum and includes sessions on the Egyptians, the Romans, rocks and fossils, dinosaurs and modern-day invertebrates. In addition to having 3-5 visiting school groups almost every week of term-time, our education officer organises children’s activities in the school holidays and half-terms as well as regular groups designed for the under 5’s, for children aged 5 to 11 and for those over 12. ‘Early Years’ children, accompanied by a parent, meet fortnightly, while the ‘Museum Explorers’ 14

group, for children aged 5-11, learn through imaginative craft activities linked to key museum exhibits. For the over 12’s our HYPE (Haslemere Young People’s Exhibition) Team meets monthly. Participants run their own curating and research projects and learn diverse creative skills such as music-mixing and animation. Activities for families include quizzes, trails and puzzles with magnifying glasses and torches available to show those extra details of our collections. We are enormously proud that our wide range of family activities and welcoming atmosphere won us the accolade of most ‘Family Friendly Museum’ in 2012. A Gold Mine for Local Historians: For anyone interested in local history our local archive is a real treasure trove. It has wonderful collections of photographs dating back to the mid 19th century, countless old maps of the area, archive copies of local newspapers and parish magazines and extensive records of local societies. Our library has a huge collection of books, mostly now out of print, many of which were written by or about people who lived here or in the area. As the arrival of the railway, in 1859, brought an influx of writers, artists and academics, such as Lord Tennyson, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the renowned physicist, Professor Tyndall, our archive is a particularly rich source of information. So it is not surprising that we receive inquiries not only from local people, wanting to find out more about the history of the town or their houses, but also from academics. The library is open on Tuesdays when our volunteer librarians and archivists can help with research and find photographs. Reproductions of photographs are available to order. For those more interested in the present day, we are also home to Haslemere Visitor Information Centre which is fully funded by Haslemere Town Council. Information officers are available to advise during our opening hours on local events and amenities. Exhibitions and Events: Formerly a beautifully proportioned private home, Haslemere Museum has retained much of the building’s vantagepointmag.co.uk

old-world charm, making us an excellent location for meetings, exhibitions and events in the centre of town. We have two exhibition rooms, the Haslemere Room for major exhibitions and the Waverley Room for smaller ones. Exhibitions are either museum-curated to show objects not on permanent display, such as our recent Polynesian exhibition, or external exhibitions put on by artists or groups. Our Lecture Hall, with its minstrels’ gallery, is the perfect venue for local clubs and societies to hire for lectures or public meetings. As it adjoins the Waverley Room and opens onto our gardens it is also ideal for private parties and wedding receptions. Making Ends Meet - a Perennial Problem On his death, Sir Jonathan Hutchinson left his museum to the town and it has been run by townsfolk ever since. But, as an independent museum, we receive virtually no public funding: it is only through the generosity of generations of Haslemere people that our museum still exists. Although we have a full-time curator and education officer, other staff are part-time and we could not offer a fraction of the exhibitions, events or services we put on without the efforts of a small army of hard-working volunteers who give their time extremely generously. Almost everything we do, from manning the reception

Events in May Plant Sale - May 9th 11am – 2pm: Don’t miss our superb Spring Plant Sale sponsored by Transform Landscapes. All types of plants from trustees’, volunteers’ and Museum Patrons’ gardens will festoon the Lecture Hall from 11am, with a splendid array for both rare plant and bargain hunters alike. Entry free, café open. Haslemere Festival - 15th -31st May: Haslemere Museum will host Haslemere Festival lectures and the Haslemere Art Society’s festival exhibition. Lectures include topics such as this year’s anniversaries – 1215, Magna Carta, 1815, Battle of Waterloo - the History of Haslemere and the archaeology of Black Down. www.haslemerefestival.org.uk Box oﬃce: 01428 642161. Book on-line: www.haslemerehall.co.uk or email boxoﬃce@haslemerehall.com May 2015

Images from far left: A giant Japanese Spider Crab; a line drawing of Arthur, the Siberian Brown Bear, by local artist John Davis, and a design extract from the Ancient Egyptian mummy coﬃn lid.

desk and shop, to running the library and archive, to cataloguing our collections is dependent to some degree on volunteer help. Yet despite our constant vigilance on costs, and the amazing support of local people and businesses, every year there is a stubborn gap between our income and our outgoings, partly because, for all it offers, our building is expensive to run. So fund-raising is crucial to us. In February 2013 we launched our ‘Museum in a Million’ appeal to raise a £1.5 million endowment to plug our funding gap. To date we have raised almost £1.0 million, which is a fantastic achievement, but we still have a way to go. But while we grapple with completing our appeal, there are many easy ways you can support us, from something as simple as attending events, or becoming a member or a volunteer, to organising a small fund-raising event for us or making us your chosen charity next time you run a marathon! However modest, all contributions are very gratefully received and help make sure our museum, which has so much to offer, is safe for future generations. More a museum for Haslemere than a museum of Haslemere, we are also a centre for education, for exhibitions, for meetings and for research, located in one of the finest Georgian buildings on the High Street: Haslemere Educational Museum is probably Haslemere’s finest gem.

FIND OUT MORE

Haslemere Educational Museum, 78 High Street, Haslemere Surrey GU27 2LA 01428 642112 www.haslemeremuseum.co.uk. Opening hours excl bank holidays: 10am to 5pm Tuesday – Saturday. Admission by donation. Disabled access to public areas. 15

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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on Saturday 9th May at G Live in Guildford. It will give you the opportunity to meet over 35 different complementary therapists and 20 retailers of health and beauty products, over all three floors of the G Live’s foyers, from 10am4.30pm. There are therapies ranging from Reiki, Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Cranio Sacral Therapy, Angel healing, Crystal reading, Acupressure, Shiatsu, Thai Massage, BodyTalk to Reconnective Healing, Bowen therapy and many more! Try 20 minute sample treatments for only £10. Those with questions about their future can book a full Clairvoyance, Palmistry or Tarot reading session. Find out about healthy nutrition with free samples as well as round the clock cooking demonstrations. Also offered are a free chiropractic assessment and a free tongue and pulse analysis. There will be free 30 minutes seminars and workshops on a variety of topics from Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Breathwork, Stress, Nutrition and Wellbeing. The Wellness Day is raising funds for The Fountain Centre which offers complementary therapy and support for cancer patients who are receiving treatment at St Luke’s Cancer Centre at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. More info at: www.gwch.org.uk/wellness-day. Recovery from Separation and Divorce. Restored Lives is a course designed to support those experiencing separation and divorce and to help you through this time, whatever stage you are at. Each evening begins with supper followed by a talk, with opportunities for discussion in small groups. Relaxed and unthreatening, it is both practical and supportive. The course starts on Monday Bourne Buildings May 14_Layout 1 10/03/2015 08:56 Page 1

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11th May and, with a break for half- term, will run over eight Mondays from 7pm-9.45pm in St Saviour’s Church, Woodbridge Road, Guildford. For further information ring 01483 575248 or contact Sue Wavre, email swavre@ btinternet.com. The next event of Onslow Village Residents’ Association is on Tuesday 12th May in the Village Hall, Wilderness Road, Onslow Village, Guildford GU2 7QR. Trevor Sapey, who will be in period costume, will give a PowerPoint presentation on the history, the sinking and raising of the Mary Rose and the continuing conservation work at the new Mary Rose museum in Portsmouth. Complimentary tea and coffee will be served from 7.15 pm. Entry is free to OVRA members, £3 to non-members. Waverley Dowsers are very much involved with the community and are looking for projects in a fifteen mile radius of Godalming to use in their training schedule. They have recently run two dowsing rod and pendulum skills courses for the public. As part of their meetings programme, members have had talks on archaeology, alternative medicine and the ground energy lines which run through the UK. Members give talks and attend outdoor events. They are affiliated to the British Society of Dowsers which in turn is part of an international fraternity. The meeting on the evening of 12th May will be a field event, held in Farnborough and relate to the dowsable reasons why trees bend or become deformed. For further information call Michael Haxeltine on 01252 541639. THE LARGEST SHOWSITE IN THE UK OVER 200 BUILDINGS, 5000 STONE ORNAMENTS & 100 FURNITURE SETS ON DISPLAY

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TOBY JUGS Bob Moores, from NestEgg Antiques in Petworth, takes a look at early English Toby jugs. A brief history When you hear the words ‘Toby jug’ you may well think of the thousands of 20th century character jugs produced by numerous potteries, most notably Royal Doulton. Whilst these are widely collected and can be very attractive, our passion is for the earlier late 18th century and early 19th century Toby jugs produced primarily in Staffordshire and the North of England. Whilst no-one is absolutely certain, it is likely that the first Toby jugs were produced around 1750 by John Astbury. These were the group of ‘Midshipmites’ including the tailor, soldier, fiddler and Lord Rodney. Charmingly naïve, the creamware bodies are decorated with translucent running glazes in the limited palette of ochre, manganese, green and cobalt blue. There was no black available until around 1800 and thickly applied manganese was used for the colouring of hats and shoes. My thanks to Bonhams for this picture left of the Tailor Toby jug which sold in 2009 at their Bond Street saleroom for a record price of £36,000. Although few of this group were produced, it is clear that the affection for Toby jugs was established and by 1790 numerous potteries in Staffordshire were producing a wide variety of different jugs. This golden period continued up to around 1820 and included potteries in Leeds, Scotland and Yorkshire.

see they were made in many variations. From left to right: a Neale & Co c.1790, Ralph Wood Long Face c.1780, Ralph Wood Shield c.1780, Yorkshire c.1810 and Pratt ware (this refers to the colours) c.1780. Values on these are between £1-2,000 with the Shield Toby being in excess of £8,000. The addition of a potter’s impressed name (rare on 18th century pottery) or some unusual feature such as the shield, a raised pipe or perhaps a dog between his feet can raise the value of a Toby considerably – eg the Shield is a lovely Toby which might normally (without the applied shield) sell for £2,500! The more unusual Toby jugs – see Plates 2 and 3 Apart from the Ordinary Toby there are many quite diﬀerent and often rare Toby jugs. Plate 2 below shows, from left to right: a Lord Howe c.1790; Hearty Good Fellow c.1800; Squire c.1780; Ralph Wood Sailor c.1790 and Martha Gunn c.1780. Martha Gunn found fame in bathing the young Prince of Wales at Brighton. Values on these vary between £750 and £4,500.

Production of Toby jugs declined after 1820 but as the earlier Toby jugs became more highly regarded many potteries began copying them. These later copies (c.1850 onwards) were of relatively poor quality The ‘Ordinary’ Toby jug – see Plate 1 The traditional Toby jug is called the ‘Ordinary’ and as you can 18

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Plate 3 above shows, from left to right: the Thin Man c.1780; Step Toby c.1770; Drunken Sal by Davenport c.1850; Large Pratt ware Postillion c.1790 together with a smaller (rarer) Postillion c.1800. Values on these vary between £1,800 and £4,500. Continental Toby jugs – see Plate 4 Many countries followed England’s example and produced their own Toby jugs – copying our designs but also creating new versions. Below from left to right: medium sized Dutch delft c.1880; naïve 18th century Delft; large Portuguese Hearty Good Fellow c.1820; Portuguese Reading Toby c.1820; Dutch delft c.1800 and centrally a tin-glazed money box Toby, probably Dutch early 19th century. Values on these vary between £120 and £3,500. The Reading Toby is one of several ﬁne Toby jugs which for many years were regarded as English and very rare. Examples sold in both London and good provincial auction houses were catalogued as English. Wonderful Toby jugs but these were in fact Portuguese! Wilkinson WW1 Toby jugs – see Plate 5 We rarely sell Toby jugs made after 1850 but make an exception for the excellent set of

11 Toby jugs depicting the WWI political and military leaders made by Wilkinson’s between 1915 and 1920 and designed by the eminent cartoonist Sir Francis Carruthers Gould. Most of these were produced in limited runs of between 250 and 500 and sell for approximately £700. However, General Louis Botha was deemed to be the least popular and only 150 were made – ironically this is now the rarest and a collector wishing to complete the set will have to pay £4-5,000 for him. A similar set of Toby jugs depicting 12 WWII allied leaders has just been launched in a limited edition of 100. They are priced at £300 for each Toby and Nestegg Antiques have been appointed UK distributor. Collecting can be addictive! Many collectors start by acquiring attractive post 1850 Toby and character jugs and quickly amass quite a number - then they buy a late 18th century Toby jug and their beloved collection is put to shame! Our advice is to start with fewer but better early Toby jugs as these are much sounder investments. Whilst some early Toby jugs are costly, it’s perfectly possible to acquire good 18th century Toby jugs for just a few hundred pounds. Once you have acquired your ﬁrst early Toby jug you may develop a strong desire to buy others and even reach the stage where you need to hide each purchase from your spouse. This is quite normal so don’t be alarmed! In addition to collecting being a source of great enjoyment (often for your spouse as well), it is also potentially an excellent form of investment – the value of good early Toby jugs continues to increase. FIND OUT MORE

Bob Moores and his wife Debbie Serpell run NestEgg Antiques, the leading provider of early English Toby jugs and work with collectors and museums around the world helping them to enhance their collections. Please have a look at the website and you will ﬁnd approximately 150 early Toby jugs. Feel free to contact them as they are very happy to meet both existing and new collectors and oﬀer advice where necessary.- www.nesteggantiques.co.uk. May 2015

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Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

On Wednesday 13th May, Jazz at The Pavilion features Alex Garnett. Son of acclaimed British sax player Willie Garnett, Alex is one of the most exciting young tenor players in Europe and one of the most in-demand UK session players working with just about everyone you can think of. He is joined by Mike Gorman on piano and Tristan Mailliot on drums It takes place at Guildford Rugby Club. Guildford Road, Godalming GU7 3DH. Doors 7.30pm. Music from 8pm. Tickets £12 in advance from www.guildfordjazz. org.uk ‘Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) ‘sa musique et ses sources d’inspiration littéraires’ is the title of Emilie Capulet’s talk on Thursday 14th May at 7.30pm. It takes place in the Baptist Church Hall, Queen Street, Godalming. This is the latest event in Les Amitiés Françaises’s series of lectures in French, organised for members in Godalming, Guildford, Cranleigh, Farnham and Haslemere. Non-members are very welcome at the group’s lectures (£6 at the door). June will see a visit to Chartwell on Saturday 4th. Then on Saturday 18th, there’s a talk by Thierry Viennois on ‘Napoléon – not just Corsica...’ Appropriately on the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo! The talk will be preceded brieﬂy by the group’s AGM. As well as a programme of lectures, members enjoy convivial dining occasions together and visits to Historic Houses and Gardens, all with a French connection. For further information, contact John Petty, membership secretary on 01483 861974, or john.petty@ which.net and on www.amitiesfrancaises.com.

On Tuesday 14th May, The Guildford Society will hold a members only visit to The Brooking National Collection in Cranleigh http://thebrookingcollection.org/ which has featured on TV in the property programme The Restoration Man and in 2014 had a display in the British pavilion at the Venice Biennale. For anyone who cares about the architectural history of Britain, this is a vital resource. For decades it has been used as a teaching resource by conservation professionals, universities, schools, architects and their students, designers, crafts apprentices and private individuals. On Friday 19th June, the Society will be holding its AGM for members only, to be followed by a talk given by Amanda Masters about the work of Experience Guildford for the promotion of Guildford’s retail outlets and service companies and also about the BID - Guildford’s Business Improvement District. You can follow them on their website http://www.guildfordsociety.org.uk or on Facebook or Twitter and sign up to their news bulletins or better still join as a new member. The Therapy Garden in Normandy is inviting local people recovering from a stroke or a brain injury to join them for a free day on Friday 15th May from 10.30am onwards. This charity oﬀers gardening therapy to a wide range of clients with varying needs and groups are led by experienced horticulturists, with activities catered to individual mobility needs. The gardens are wheelchair friendly and activities can be taken indoors in heated poly tunnel classrooms or our main centre building, where refreshments will be available. The therapeutic beneﬁts of gardening are well documented: please contact 01483

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Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD 813846 or email admin@thetherapygarden.org for more information. Compton Village Fete takes place on Saturday 16th May. It has a well deserved reputation for being a friendly traditional event aimed, in particular, at families with children. Stalls include Plants, Books, Bric a Brac, Children’s Farm, Face Painting, Splat the Rat, Coconut Shy and two Bouncy Castles. There is also a BBQ, Bar, Tea Tent, Grand Draw and Tombola. This year’s entertainment includes clown ‘Juggling Jake’ a Fencing Demonstration, Ferret Roulette, Punch & Judy, live music, children’s races and dog races. It takes place 12noon-4.30pm and is held on the green in the centre of Compton Village on the B3000 just oﬀ the A3 south of Guildford. Free admission and parking. For more information contact Richard Paxton at paxtonrichard@gmail.com or call 01483 415390. Give your garden a spring lift - plant sale at Holy Trinity Church, High Street, Guildford on Saturday 16th May 10am to 2pm. They shall be selling home-grown seedlings and plants in pots: sweet peas, lupins, geraniums, cosmos, pulmonaria, iris, courgettes, basil and much more. Refreshments will be available inside the church. You can leave your purchases in our plant ‘nursery’ until you’ve done your other shopping. All proceeds go to the church restoration fund. Surrey Hills Singing School celebrates 10 years of song with a special anniversary concert to be held at the

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Anniversary Halls, St Catherine’s School in Bramley on Saturday 16th May performed by singers past and present, in a rich and varied programme that charts their journey from their ﬁrst ever rehearsal to their awardwinning success of today. The anniversary celebrations include two concerts. The family concert 6-7pm features predominantly the children’s choirs with performances from the adult choirs too. The second concert is for the adult choirs only and commences at 7.30pm. Tickets for the Family Concert are £12 for adults and £4 for under 16’s. For the Adult Concert, tickets are £15 for adults and £5 for under 16’s. Ticket price for both concerts are £18 for adults and £5 for under 16’s. Available from www. surreyhills-choirs.co.uk. If you are interested in joining any of the choirs, contact Debbie at debbie@surreyhillschoirs.co.uk. The Chamber Choir is an auditioned choir and currently has spaces for two sopranos, a tenor and a second bass. On Saturday 16th May, Cranleigh Choral Society’s popular Summer Concert, will take place in the Cranleigh Village Hall at 7.30pm. The programme features a feast of works, joyful and sad, by the great English Baroque composer, Henry Purcell, including the highly entertaining and dramatic opera, Dido and Aeneas. The Society will be joined by The Harlequin Chamber Choir and Julia Doyle, Soprano. Conductor: Catherine Beddison. Tickets £12 from 07973 772812, choir members or on the door. For more information, visit their website www. cranleighchoralsociety.org.uk.

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MOB - Mother of the Bride or Moment of Bewilderment!

For mother’s of the bride or groom, choosing ‘the outfit’ can be a very stressful experience with the worries of warmth, size, colour and comfort...

Great boutiques for special Occasions:

A lot of the doubt stems from trying on styles that are alien to our every day life. ‘Posh’ clothing, these days, has fewer outings. Unless you are a regular at the races or have plenty of dressy evening ‘dos’, most of us are so comfortable in jeans and jumpers that tailored pastels just feel wrong. Then there’s the hat!

Select collection of sophisticated dress and jackets or dresses with chiﬀon layers. Blush, 2b High Street, Haslemere, GU27 2LY. Tel: 01428 656412

So, here, from experience, are the most frequently asked questions from anxious MOB/ MOG’s and a few answers to help.

Designer boutique with luxury collections including stunning scarves by Mala Alisha. Courtyard, 5-6 Angel Gate, Guildford GU1 4AE Tel: 01483 452825

“I’m worried a guest will have the same outfit” This is a concern, but there are ways to avoid it. Visit independent boutiques for your outfit as they often only buy one per size to keep it unique. They would also know who bought the other dresses to double check with your guest list. Shops like Blush in Haslemere, have beautiful exclusive brands so they are unlikely to be duplicated. If you are buying from a high street, try and mix it up. A dress from Phase Eight, a jacket from Hobbs, shoes from LKBennett and bag from Anthropologie. All great brands but aim to make one piece your statement, maybe the hat or shoes. Just avoid buying the whole look from one place, even though it’s the easy option sometimes.

Classic dress and jacket collections, including Gina Bacconi and Condici. Serendipity, 52 New Road, Chilworth GU4 8LU. Tel: 01483 577475.

Stunning alternatives to the classic MOB looks, including soft suiting by Isabel de Pedro. The Gate, 57 North Street, Guildford GU1 4AE. Tel: 01483 453466 Modern designer, including dresses by Milly and divine cocktail hats by Layla Leigh. Sloanes, New Street House, New Street, Petworth GU28 OAS Tel: 01798 343747 Beautiful, feminine dresses with sleeves or cropped jackets, tailored plains or pretty ﬂorals. Ordri Boutique, 38 Downing Street, Farnham GU9 7PH Tel: 01252 891555 Huge range of upper end brands, tailored separates and dresses: MaxMara, Hauber, Bernshaw. Mulberry Silks, 14 Downing Street, Farnham GU9 7PB Tel: 01252 714171 For wear-again dresses and separates by brands including Josef Ribkoﬀ. Ben Vestito, 1 The High Street, Dorking, RH4 1AR Tel: 01306 898040 Superb range of accessories for that ‘wow’ factor. Luigi, 50 High Street, Haslemere GU27 2LA Tel: 01428 651250

“Do I choose a hat or a fascinator?” If you are comfortable in a full-brimmed hat, then the overall look will be very striking. Otherwise consider a fascinator that can stay on all day and during the meal, but avoid the very small comb and feather decoration. Guests can get away with it, but not the head table - enjoy an excuse to be more flamboyant. It’s much easier to choose your outfit first and then your hat, making an appointment with shops like The Mad Hatter in Guildford, which have a changing area for you to try on the full ensemble. Decorated pillbox styles work well as they are dramatic but not overpowering. This style pictured by Beverley Edmondson can be made in many different colours to work with your outfit and is neat enough to stay on all day. The Mad Hatter, 12 Castle Street, Guildford GU1 3UW. Tel: 01483 566845 Beverley Edmondson Millinery, 27B the Borough, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7NJ. Tel: 01252 715039 22

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FASHION FOOD

“Should I change in the evening?”

This all depends on the venue. If you are staying at the venue, changing for the evening is a great idea to feel fresh and also dazzle the guests a second time around. You can also have a change of shoes for comfort and decide if you can really wear heels any longer. If you are not staying at the venue, a tailored jacket could be exchanged for a little bolero (www.edenblu.com), a change of shoe and new clutch. If you are beginning to feel the pinch (toes more than purse) buy a backup pair of ballerina pumps that roll up in a little bag (Kurt Geiger, Mia £25 or check out www.rollasole. com for lots of colour choices from £10 and even a boxed multi-pack for guests)! Sleek bolero, £49 Edenblu

Roll up sparkle ballerinas, £19.95 Rollasole

What’s your look…? Think out of the box. - Try not to fall into the same looks you think a MOB/MOG should wear. - If you end up with an outfit you are not comfortable in, you won’t enjoy the day. - Think about trouser suits or soft separates in luxury fabrics, or try a jumpsuit or culottes. - If you are not so confident, go for a simple silhouette but have fun with the accessories. - Start with heels but have a backup comfort shoe for later on. - Avoid a full-on linen outfit, a jacket yes, but the dress ideally shouldn’t crease too much or you will regret it later on. - Remember, for those with a tighter budget, a little creativity can make a huge difference: changing the buttons on a high street jacket to contrast with the dress or adding a fabric corsage to a classic clutch can make all the difference and add a unique twist.

MODERN Culottes by Tibi Net-a-Porter

CLASSIC Rafell coat and dress Ted Baker

“I don’t often wear much make-up, is it that important?” “A little make-up is definitely worth it for the big day”, says celebrity hair and make-up artist, Hanna Wildman. “A light foundation and eye definition will make you look fresh in the photos. A soft pink on the lips is often enough with a layer of shine. My favourite is L’Oreal Glam Shine 6 Hrs, perfect on occasions when you want your make-up to stay put all day and available in lots of nudes and brights.“ Hanna offers make-up on the Day, £60 and oneto-one lessons from £95. Email hanna@hannawildman.com Tel : 07831 353317

TAILORED DRAMATIC Ocean suit in Oyster Larna lace dress Reiss Monsoon

“I never photograph well in photos, how can I look my best?” Photographer, Anna Saverimuttu, suggests some top tips: - Turn your body about 45 degrees from the camera - it’s much more ﬂattering than facing it squarely. - Don’t forget that a natural smile starts with the eyes and that it’s not all about showing your teeth for the camera - if you’re enjoying yourself, then your smile will be genuine! Learn more from Anna at www.annasaverimuttu.co.uk Tel: 01483 571119

Kirstie is a fashion stylist and can advise you on all areas of image with wardrobe edits and shopping days, email her on kirstie@kirstiesmillie.com or telephone 07773 234947. May 2015

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Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

The Southdowns Group of the 7mm Narrow Gauge Association are pleased to announce the Swing Model Railway Exhibition. It takes place on Saturday 16th May from 10am-4.30pm at Felpham Community College, Felpham, Bognor Regis, PO22 8EL. (On the A259, east of Bognor Regis). Adults £4.50. Kids Go Free (under 16, with fee paying adult). Association members, (7mm NGA, 009 Society and Gauge O Guild) £4. Refreshments. Free parking and disabled access. New larger venue, 18+ layouts, hands on demonstrations, ‘have a go’ shunting puzzle layout, ride on railway, weather permitting (small extra charge). Specialist model railway manufacturers and traders and society stands, 7mm NGA sales and second hand. LGB sales, Squires tools, Standard and narrow gauge model railways. For information contact Richard on 07970 556651 or go to www.swing.model-railway.org.uk To mark Dementia Awareness Week (18th – 24th May), the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s Charitable Fund is launching a photography competition in aid of the ForgetMe-Not Dementia Fund. The twelve winning images of the competition will be used in a limited edition 2016 calendar. Entries should be sent as an email attachment to royalsurreyphoto@gmail.com. Please note: Files should be a jpg of between 1mg and 3mg and may be in colour or black and white. Each entry requires a title and should represent the theme – ‘Royal Surrey: Our county at its most majestic’. All images may be used by the charity. The closing date is Monday 5th October. For competition rules and further info, please contact their fundraising events

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manager, Eleni Bainbridge, by emailing eleni.bainbridge@ nhs.net or phone 01483 464146. There is still space available for anyone who would like to take up Circle Dancing. It’s suitable for men and women of all ages and you don’t need a partner. The dances are international folk dances to beautiful ethnic music from many diﬀerent countries such as Greece, Russia, Romania, Israel, Bulgaria and many more. They are performed in a circle mostly holding hands and everyone attempts to do the same steps at the same time. Lynn Frances is an experienced teacher of 32 years and runs the following classes. Pirrie Hall, Brook on Thursdays in three ten-week terms, 7.30pm-9.30pm. St Catherine’s Hall, Guildford on the 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7.30pm-9.30pm. WI Hall, Hartley Wintney on the 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm-9.30pm. You can contact Lynn on 01420 474881. Wonersh History Society has a meeting on Tuesday 19th May at 7.30pm in Lawnsmead Hall, Wonersh. There will be a short AGM followed by an interesting and amusing talk by Esther Carpenter. ‘Some of life’s little diﬃculties’. Not to be missed. Wine will be available and everyone is welcome. Onslow Village Garden Club’s Spring Show at the March meeting went well. There were over 90 entries, some of them from new members. They are looking forward to visiting the Grace and Flavour Gardens at Horsley in May and a coach trip to Borde Hill Gardens in June. At the meeting on Wednesday 20th May, the speaker, Mr Barrie Arminson

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If you are determined to have a go, you will need to prepare the bed well by digging in lots of well-rotted farmyard manure and removing all weeds. Once the soil is prepared, dig a straight trench approximately 30 cm wide by 20cm deep, then pour soil into the trench to form a mound the length of it that is around 10cm high. Position the asparagus crowns so that they are perched on top of the mound with the roots spread out either side. Set the crowns roughly 30cm apart and then cover with about 5cm of riddled soil.

Growing Asparagus from the team at Secretts Farm Shop, Milford According to Queen Nefertiti it is the “food of the Gods”…. and to the peasants in ancient England it was known as ‘Sparrow Grass’. Regardless of whether you rank as royalty or pauper, there is little disputing that asparagus is an utterly delicious and highly sought-after vegetable. The short harvesting season typically runs from 1st May until Father’s Day in June and this only goes to heighten the excitement and desire to enjoy it while it lasts. In fact, amongst the more passionate foodies, there’s a deﬁnite tendency to gorge on it! And why not? Perhaps the earliest reference to the crop can be found on an ancient Egyptian frieze dating back to 3000BC. There are also records of Roman Emperors commissioning Asparagus Fleets to gather the ﬁnest spears and deliver them back to the royal kitchens.

As the young plants begin to grow, you will need to keep covering the shoots with more riddled soil until the autumn, by which time the entire trench should be full. Keep the plants well watered and resist the temptation to harvest any succulent young spears that might peep through the soil. Now the hard bit - you must continue to resist the urge to harvest for a further two years. Instead allow the plants to form lots of ferny foliage. Each autumn cut this foliage back to around 5cm above the ground. As you nurture your precious crop you must also keep an eye out for the pesky asparagus beetle. These little critters are 6-8mm long with red and yellow bodies. Left unchecked they can cause a great deal of damage to the plants by stripping the outer skin from the spears which in turn causes the plant to turn yellow and brown. In the third year you can ﬁnally harvest your long awaited bounty. Cut the spears when they are about 12cm long, with a sharp

In modern times most of the world’s asparagus is produced in Peru, Mexico or the United States and in many ways it is rather a shame that it can now be found on the supermarket shelves for all 12 months of the year. Having said that if you really want to enjoy the very best ﬂavour and the excitement of the ﬁnest asparagus straight out of the ground and on your plate within minutes then why not have a go at growing it yourself? A word of warning though. You will need a fair bit of space in your vegetable plot or at the allotment and a good deal of patience before you see the fruit of your labours. 26

vantagepointmag.co.uk

serrated knife just below ground level. Rush indoors to cook and eat as quickly as possible.

Montgomery Cheese & Asparagus Tart

If this all sounds like it requires far too much effort and the patience of a saint, then visit Secretts Pick Your Own Farm in Milford and you can experience the same wonderfully fresh asparagus without all of that hard work. The Secrett family have been growing asparagus on the farm in Milford for 27 years. Greg Secrett, the Farm Manager says: “Asparagus is one of our favourite crops as it creates such a buzz in the Farm Shop and at the PYO where it heralds the start of the season. Despite having an area of 9 acres set aside for the crop and producing a whopping 4,000 kilograms of the crop every year, the demand always outweighs supply”. He goes on to say: “We supply many of the top London restaurants with our other produce and they are always desperate to get their hands on our asparagus, but we never have enough for them. Surrey’s discerning food lovers and local chefs take every spear we grow”. The varieties grown at Secretts Farm are Franklim, Boomlim and Jersey Giant, all known for excellent flavour and consistently good yields. When asked how he enjoys his asparagus, Greg Secrett recommends boiling it for five minutes, adding lashings of butter and a good grind of black pepper. Serve on a thick slice of granary toast with parma ham and a lightly poached egg. Greg’s father, Charles Secrett, has a simpler approach, preferring to sauté in a hot pan with a generous knob of butter, a splash of water and lots of seasoning. This method allows you to stop cooking at just the point when the spears are perfectly tender with just the right amount of crunch.

VantagePoint Reader Offer For those that want the true field-to-fork experience, there is nothing that comes close to visiting Secretts PYO and harvesting the spears yourself. Secretts are offering a special offer to VantagePoint readers of £1 off per kilo of PYO asparagus. Simply bring along your copy of this article to get the deal. May 2015

Ingredients: • 140g plain flour • 85g cubed butter • 185g Montgomery cheese (finely grated) • 5 eggs • 175ml milk • 300g asparagus, trimmed and cut in half Method: Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas Mark 4. Put the flour into a bowl and rub in the butter until it resembles bread crumbs. Add 85g of the cheese and 3 tablespoons of water and mix until the pastry forms a ball, wrap in cling film and chill for five minutes. Grease a 20cm loose-based tart tin and line with the rolled out pastry. Chill in the freezer for a further 20 minutes then line with parchment and baking beans and bake blind for 15 minutes. Remove parchment and beans and pop back in the oven for a further 10 minutes. In a jug whisk the eggs and milk together. Sprinkle half the remaining cheese and the asparagus into the pastry case and then pour over the egg mixture and the remaining cheese. Bake in the lower half of the oven for around 35 minutes until the egg is set and golden brown. Serve with a green salad and boiled new potatoes. FIND OUT MORE

Secretts PYO is open for asparagus picking on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9am until 1.30pm and the Farm Shop is open seven days a week. The start of the asparagus season does depend on the weather so it is always worth checking the Secretts website for updates before making a special trip www.secretts.co.uk. 27

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<24

takes Watercress as his subject. All their meetings are held at Onslow Village Hall at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of the month. Visitors £3 and new members (£12 annual subscription) are welcome. Enquiries to the secretary on 01483 577035. The Reduced Shakespeare Company is bringing their latest tour The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) to G-Live, Guildford on Thursday 21st May. The Reduced Shakespeare Company is a three-man comedy troupe that takes long, serious subjects and reduces them to short, sharp comedies. Since 1981, ‘The Bad Boys of Abridgement’ have created nine stage shows, two television specials, several failed TV pilots and numerous radio pieces – all of which have been performed, seen, heard and translated into Klingon the world over. For tickets call G Live box office on 0844 7701 797 or go to www.glive.co.uk. The Wey Valley Decorative and Fine Art Society‘s next lecture, by Ms Caroline Rayman, is entitled ‘The Mistress in History.’ Why not join them at Shalford Village Hall on Thursday 21st May for a fascinating look at the power, influence and role of the ‘Royal Favourite’ and the paintings they inspired from Fair Rosamund Clifford in the 12th century to more recent companions from the 20th century? Refreshments are available from 9.45am and the lecture starts at 10.45am. The Society offers a monthly programme of varied and fascinating talks by first class speakers. Beritaz 14/08/2014 11:45and Page There are0914_Layout also special 1interest days, visits an 1annual tour for members. New members and visitors are warmly

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welcomed. Annual membership is £40 and visitors pay £6 per talk. If you are interested, contact the membership secretary on 01932 355113 or visit their website at www. theweyvalleydfas.org.uk. I want to mention this again as it would be great to raise as much as possible for a very good cause. Over 300 musicians, inspired by a very special little girl, are coming together on Saturday 23rd May at Guildford Cathedral to raise money for local charity the Rainbow Trust. Rowan Todd, who lives in Guildford, was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was just ﬁve years old and she and her family have been supported by the Rainbow Trust throughout years of treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Rowan’s dad, Will, is an internationally-recognised composer, whose Mass in Blue has been performed all over the world and is a well-known ﬁgure in Guildford. Under conductor Jeremy Backhouse, it will be a concert full of toe-tapping jazzy music with the power of massed-group singing. It will be an evening to remember and the organisers are expecting a full house, with all proceeds going towards the valuable work of the Rainbow Trust. Tickets, priced from £16 to £28, are available from www.vivacechorus.org and the Guildford Tourist Information Centre on 01483 444334. St Catherine’s School, Bramley is, as you can imagine, extremely proud and honoured that The Duchess of Cornwall has agreed to take up the position of Patron of the school. Her connections with the school date back to 1885, through her great-great grandfather, the 1st Baron

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How long does it take to get published? Pull up a seat. It’s a long journey, says local author, Kendra Smith, whose first book, Jacaranda Wife, is out now. Joanna Trollope once famously told a journalist – quite crossly – that it had taken her 20 years to become an overnight success. I know what she means. I am certainly not likening myself to the wonderful writer, but I can sympathise with those sentiments. My first novel, Jacaranda Wife, is due out in April (details to come). Those acquaintances who don’t know me terribly well and whom I hadn’t driven to wanting to stab themselves in the eyes with chopsticks when I mentioned my ongoing journey – have said, ‘Oh, I’d like to write a book!’ when they’d found out about my publishing success. ‘How long did it take you?’ I’d look them straight in the eye and say, ‘Six years – maybe seven if you count the time crying’ – this certainly was a conversation stopper. From penning my first few scribbles in 2009 to finally being published in 2015, according to my maths that’s about six years. The germ of it started back in 2003 when I picked up Allison Pearson’s fantastic novel, I Don’t Know How She Does It, and read it in about a week. I’d just had my second son, and felt the book had been written, ‘for me’. After a while, a tiny voice in my head said: ‘Maybe you could write a book too?’ However, life got in the way. I’m a journalist by profession and was juggling a toddler, a new born and some part time work at the time. After that we did a few crazy things like move out of London and then emigrate to Australia, because life wasn’t busy enough – and that’s when inspiration hit. Frustrated that my creative outlet was being used to separate my whites from my coloureds, I started to type. And type. And didn’t stop. OK, I did stop when people needed feeding and stuff like that, but there was a bit of forgetting to collect children from school when the typing flowed. My best friend at that time was the word count. Once I had hit something like 20,000 words, I suddenly realised that I was about a third of a way through a book. An actual book. So I kept on going. I went to a few workshops on writing and I bought about 643 books on how to write. I read them all. OK, maybe I flicked 30

to the main bits I needed, and read all those chapters. I was lucky enough to secure an agent (from the UK) the first time round – the Aussie agents felt the book was for a British market. It did involve staying up to midnight and beyond on many nights as I made calls to the UK in a different time zone. She loved my writing, loved the book. Finding a publisher, however, proved harder. By this time, we were planning on returning to the UK, so the book took a backseat. Replanting a whole family back to the UK after five years abroad takes supreme effort, so my writing brain was engaged elsewhere for a while. But still ‘the book’ would tap me on the shoulder at night and demand to know what was going on. Agent #1 and I had a great relationship and she did suggest some changes. I did them; but then there was the tiny problem of an economic crisis. Publishers tightened their belts - when you’re in the business of selling anything and a recession is on, you’re going to go for the sure thing. Debut authors were too risky. After a while, my agent and I parted company on very good terms. Both of us decided that I needed another steer. I then used the services of the wonderfully helpful Writers Workshop to find a mentor/book doctor, who gave me a – let me remember – 17 page analysis of my book, warts and all. There were 17 pages of how to improve my writing. But, the one shining light was that she did say, ‘You can clearly write.’ Thank goodness for that. I needed to re-hone my novel. It was now 2012, and life with three children and a house to run didn’t stop, but I made time for the vantagepointmag.co.uk

book. I would say no to coﬀee mornings, put oﬀ the ironing, and sit down and re-edit my book. We were back to nearly forgetting to pick up the children. The popping sound of plastic being burst on ready-meals became commonplace.

a voicemail saying she loved it. That was it. I had someone on my side.

After a while, I felt it was ready to go ‘out there’ again and I spent the next 12 months looking for an agent. The standard form is to send out three chapters and a synopsis and then W-A-I-T. The rollercoaster ride began: I would send out my chapters and then each time there was a ping on my phone, I would leap up, forgetting sometimes that I was, say, at the dentist, and check it. I had several agents ask for the full manuscript, and each time my heart soared. One agent asked for the full book after three hours. It was a high adrenalin ride. Would this be the one?

After a few incredibly nice no’s (I have one stuck to my oﬃce wall, it’s so encouraging), Endeavour Press said yes. So here the current journey ends. I’m delighted to say that Jacaranda Wife will be available on Amazon and other platforms.

Let me tell you, I have had some incredibly nice ‘no’s’ … but ultimately my agent, Annette Crossland from A for Authors rang and left

But, still no happy ending – yet. Annette had to then ﬁnd a publisher for my shiny re-edited book. Here we go again. Mummy was back to strapping her seatbelt onto the next ride on the theme park called ‘Getting Published.’

So, to anyone who wants to know if they should write a book? Pull your sleeves up, take a deep breath and dig in. It’s a long way to basecamp. And to answer the next question, yes, I am writing another book. The word count is ﬂickering on a happy 20,000 at the moment. FIND OUT MORE

Kendra Smith has been a journalist, wife, mother, aerobics teacher, qualiﬁed diver and very bad cake baker. She currently lives in Surrey with her husband and three children. Find her on www.aforauthors. com and www.kendra-smith.co.uk or follow her on Twitter @ KendraAuthor.

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<29

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Ashcombe who was a benefactor and co-founder of the school. The duchess visited the school in February 2014 when she opened the 125th Anniversary Hall and the Speech Hall for 6th Form studies. There is a folk music session every Monday at the Star in Church Street Godalming at 9pm and at the Harrow at Compton every Wednesday at 8.30pm. Also every first Sunday at the Queen Victoria in Shalford starting at 8.30pm and the Royal Oak in Sydenham Road Guildford on the third Sunday at 8.30pm. All musicians, singers and audience welcome. Free just turn up. For more information phone Kevin Gorton on 01483 415962. May means bluebells and many people look forward to their annual pilgrimage to their favourite bluebell woodland to see these delicate beautiful flowers. This year at Hatchlands Park, they are holding special Bluebell Evenings every Thursday throughout the peak bluebell season. This is your chance to enjoy the sweet evening scent of the glorious English bluebells after hours and without the crowds. Places are limited so booking is essential. £8 per person (tea and cake included). To book, call 01483 222482. Also, on Thursday 28th May between 8-10pm, Hatchlands Park are organising a Bat Walk. Enjoy a guided walk at dusk through the parkland and see how many bat species you can spot. £5 adult, £2.50 child. To book your place call 01483 222482. Have a look at the Hatchlands website to find out what else is on during May, especially around half-term. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatchlands.

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Are you a fan or real ale? Join the Guildford Institute this month for an introduction to brewing from Surrey’s largest independent brewery, The Hogs Back! An hour-long talk on Thursday 21st May, by popular Hogs Back Brewery tour guide, Mel Rees, will give you an insight into the brewing process and the chance to sample some ales yourself! The Institute is also offering something for those interested in numbers: next month, scientist Nicholas Cann will run a Statistics course, taking a light-hearted look at the wide-ranging use and abuse of statistics in today’s world! For more information, or to book a place on one of the Institute’s courses, visit www.guildford-institute.org.uk. Alternatively, call 01483 562142 or email info@guildfordinstitute.org.uk. Merrow Methodist Church, Bushy Hill Drive, GU1 2SH are holding a Coffee Morning on Thursday 21st May from 10.30am-12.30pm. All proceeds to Christian Aid Week. More details at www.merrowmethodistchurch.org.uk. Paul Merton’s Impro chums will be coming to G-Live Guildford on Friday 22nd May. Following the publication of his autobiography, Only When I Laugh, and over a decade of sell-out seasons at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Paul Merton has taken to the road again in 2015 with his world renowned Impro Chums. Paul and his Chums are wonders of nature; they take audience suggestions and create cascades of fantastic tumbling laughter, most of the time! For tickets call G Live box office on 0844 7701 797 or go to www.glive.co.uk. Writers’ Retreat! Just can’t find the time to write? Join write time’s next Writers’ Retreat on Saturday, 23rd May from 10am- 5pm, at Guildford’s Bar des Arts. Hide away for a full day and make headway on your work-in-progress or get started on that burning idea. The cost is £45 which includes lunch and refreshments. More information at www.write-time.co.uk, or contact info@write-time.co.uk or 07989 038143. As part of the National Trust’s 50 things to do before you are 11 ¾, go along to Clandon Park this May half-term and see how many activities you can complete to claim your prize. Takes place from Monday 25th to Thursday 28th May and also Sunday 31st May, from 11am-4pm each day. Normal admission plus £2 per child. ‘Pevsner in Surrey: Nikolaus Pevsner and the Buildings of England’ is the title of the May lecture of West Surrey Decorative and Fine Arts Society on 26th May. How did a German refugee from Hitler become the ‘Grand Old Man’ of English art history? The answer lies in his extraordinary one-man survey of all the architecturally significant buildings in the country, county by county. Susie Harries, biographer of Pevsner, explores what he said, rightly or wrongly, about buildings in Surrey, including churches, houses, shops, town halls and tower blocks. The Society meets in Shalford Village Hall on the fourth Tuesday in the month at 9.45am for coffee. Lectures start at 10.30am. New members and visitors are very welcome. Details of their programme of lectures, visits and holidays for 2015 can be found on their website or more information ring 01483 811671.

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May 2015

GARDENS

A couple of

book reviews

With Beth Otway

Straw Bale Gardening by Joel Karsten

deners all the information and guidance they need to create a successful SBG, whatever their circumstances.

This is Joel’s second book on Straw Bale Gardening; an updated version of his 2013 edition containing additional information for potential straw bale gardeners. Straw bale gardening (SBG) is a revolutionary gardening method which Joel has enthusiastically perfected and trialled over the last 15 years; his passion for the subject, as well as the beneﬁts of gardening using this technique are truly inspiring and exciting to read. Joel promises that straw bale gardeners will not need to weed their straw bale gardens – this in itself will be quite an incentive for many gardeners to give this method a try! Other beneﬁts of SBG include greater harvests, extending the growing season, saving money; it’s an easier non-dig technique for gardeners to try.

Joel’s passion and enthusiasm for straw bale gardening is evident throughout the book, and you can’t help but feel inspired to ﬁnd a local farmer, order some straw bales, and give it a try!

(Cool Springs Press, £15.99, paperback)

I love making gardening accessible to everyone and this is certainly true of SBG. The bales create immediate raised beds that can be easily arranged to suit the gardener. The height of the bales allows room for those gardening in wheelchairs, making gardening easier for disabled or elderly gardeners. A SBG can easily be created on top of concrete or hard standing, giving gardeners without direct access to the soil a new way to garden. Straw Bale Gardens Complete is a comprehensive book, which details everything you need to know about how to create, maintain and design your own SBG. Every aspect is covered – from sourcing the bales, how to set them up in your SBG, conditioning the bales, and even making your own bales if you can’t ﬁnd a straw bale source locally! There are clear instructions on planting, outlining which plants will thrive using the SBG technique, and which crops aren’t as well suited to it. There are plans and designs as well as photographs of successful gardens. This book gives potential straw bale gar-

Epic Tomatoes by Craig LeHoullier (Storey Publishing, £14.99, paperback)

The author of this book, Craig LeHoullier, is a tomato adviser for Seed Savers Exchange. This is an American non profit organisation, established to save and share the seeds of heritage varieties of seed with the aim of conserving and promoting America’s culturally diverse, garden and food crop heritage through future generations. Don’t let this put you off. Although you couldn’t purchase every tomato variety suggested at your local garden centre, you might be surprised to find that a quick internet search will help you find many of your favourites online with UK suppliers. The ‘problem solving’ section of this book would have been greatly improved by the addition of photographs or illustrations to clearly depict every tomato problem the author identifies. Additional images would have made this section far more informative, interesting and useful for the reader, I felt. Both seasoned tomato growers and beginners can learn a great deal from this book. With a lot of the information centred around heritage, and American varieties that aren’t as well known here, it gives a real and welcome opportunity to expand the tomato varieties we grow and the flavours we enjoy. This book has certainly inspired me to grow some of the tomatoes the author recommends. I can’t wait to try them!

For more book reviews and monthly gardening advice, visit Beth’s website - www.pumpkinbeth.com. 34

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Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

<32

Do you want to learn to dive? Come along to a free taster session at Star Diving Club. Star is the top performing spring board diving club in Surrey. Based at the Spectrum in Guildford, the club welcomes divers of all abilities from beginner to elite. A variety of sessions run throughout the week, to cater for all abilities together with regular holiday courses. The next holiday course will be during the May half-term: Tuesday 26th May to Friday 29th May. For holiday courses please contact Eileen at info@stardiving. org. For taster sessions and term time courses please contact. kirsteen@stardiving.org. Further information can be found on website www.stardiving.org. Guildford Opera are currently recruiting chorus members for their next production - I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Bellini’s Romeo and Juliet). Chorus rehearsals start on 27th May at Merrow Methodist Church hall at 7.30pm. They will be performing this work in English at the Electric Theatre, Guildford on 24th, 25th, 27th and 28th November. Please come along and ﬁnd out about joining our company. For more information, check out the website www. guildfordopera.com. This month, on Thursday 28th May, St. Catherine’s Flower Arrangement Club welcome Kathryn Goddard who will demonstrate ‘Tea for Two’ and the Club Competition will be ‘Floral Duet’(two placements). They meet at 1.15pm for a 1.45pm start at Shalford Village Hall. New members and visitors are always most welcome. For further information, phone 01483 578368.

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Do you like to listen to all types and styles of popular music, played live? If so, why not go along to one of West Surrey Organ & Keyboard Club’s monthly concerts, where a top professional keyboard artiste will play a two hour concert. You will be assured of a warm welcome, in a friendly atmosphere. Refreshments are served in the interval and a raﬄe is always held. The concert is on Friday 29th May and starts at 7.30pm. Admission for visitors is £6. If you want to bring a group of people along, call the number below, regarding reduced admission costs. The venue is Shalford Village Hall, Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford GU4 8JE and has good parking on site and full disabled access and facilities. Contact Brian Isom on 01252 266270, or email pambry@talktalk.net. On Saturday 30th May at 7.30pm, internationally renowned concert pianist John Lill performs in Holy Trinity Church for Bramley Music’s Celebrity Recital 2015, on the wonderful Steinway Grand Piano. Proceeds will go to supporting charitable work in South Sudan. John will be playing Mozart’s Sonata in F, K332, Schumann’s Carnaval de Vienne, Prokoﬁev’s Toccata in D minor, two Brahms Rhapsodies, and Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata. Tickets are £15 each (under 18s and students £5) – to include a free glass of wine or soft drink – they are expecting a sellout! Accordingly tickets need to be purchased in advance in person from Robertsons in Bramley High Street, or from Stuart White in person. Alternatively you may send a cheque to Stuart at Bramley Mill, Mill Lane, Bramley, Surrey, GU5 0HW, payable to Stuart White, with your email

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May 2015

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Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

address or telephone number and he will acknowledge payment and reserve your ticket(s). Please also note that Stuart’s email will be changing at the end of April to stuartwhite@waitrose.com. If you have any queries, or wish to enquire about ticket availability, please call Stuart on 01483 892645. Guildford Choral Society celebrates its 175th anniversary this year and their programme culminates in a performance of Berlioz’ ‘Te Deum’ at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 3rd June at 7.30pm. Supported by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Jonathan Willcocks. Written originally to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte, the ‘Te Deum’ was ultimately dedicated to Prince Albert. For their performance in June, Guildford Choral Society has invited The Chichester Singers, Portsmouth Choral Union and the City of London Choir to join its celebration. The children’s choir will be composed of young people from Francis Holland School, from The Royal Grammar School, Guildford and the children of the Guildford High School Junior Choir, numbering some 200 young people in all. Tickets are available from the Royal Albert Hall box oﬃce (www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/ royal-philharmonic-orchestra/berlioz/default.aspx) www.royalalberthall.com and from Guildford Choral Society’s Ticket Master on 01494 675571 or boxoﬃce@ guildfordchoral.org. Guildford Choral Society will also be running coaches to London. Inclusive coach packages (including transport from Guildford, ticket and programme) will be from £45 and coach only fares will be £20. More details are available on the choir’s website: https://www. guildfordchoral.org .

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on the websites www.shalfordvillage.co.uk or www. shalfordscouts.org.uk/fete. Brooklands Museum has been awarded a grant of £200,000 from Arts Council England’s Museum Resilience Fund, towards the Museum’s ambitious Brooklands Aircraft Factory and Race Track Revival Project. Coming on top of the recent grant of £4,681million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, this latest contribution means that the project is 95% funded, leaving the Museum with around £370,000 still to raise. Good news indeed. Here’s a bit of news for any TOGS out there (Terry’s old gits!). Broadcasting legend and national treasure, Terry Wogan, heads for G Live on Monday 8th June, in what will be one of a handful of very special theatre appearances. He’ll be discussing stories from his long running BBC chat show, BBC Radio 2 breakfast show and more. Tickets cost £29.50 or a Platinum Ticket is £49.50 to include one of the best seats and a two course meal in the Mezzanine Restaurant. Call 0844 7701 797 or go online to www.GLive. co.uk . Horsley Decorative & Fine Arts Society meets at East Horsley Village Hall on the second Wednesday of the month from October to July for lectures on a wide variety of subjects. The lecture on 10th June will be Posters of the Belle Époque: The Great Age of the Poster by Charles Harris. Coﬀee 9.45-10.15am. Lecture from 10.30-11.30am. Visitors £5 and new members welcome. For more information and the full programme visit their

Guildford Design Awards 2015 are open for entries and the search has begun for the best new designed buildings, developments, conservation projects and spaces within the borough. The awards, sponsored by Linden Homes, started in 1987 and are held every two years. The awards are free to enter and anyone can submit an entry, from architects who have designed a development, to schools, colleges, developers, businesses, home owners, individuals or local groups. All schemes must be located within the borough (although the entrant does not). All projects need to be completed between June 2013 and 5th June 2015 and the closing date for submissions is Friday 5th June. Entries will be judged and shortlisted by an independent panel of judges and winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in the autumn where they will be presented with a certiﬁcate. For more information about the awards, and how to enter visit www.guildford.gov.uk/GDA. Shalford Village Fete takes place on Sunday 7th June at The Cricket Field from 12 noon–4pm. This year’s Village Fete theme is ‘Celebrating the Wonderful Wey’ and there will be lots of entertainment and competitions, some with a watery theme! Also, stalls, sideshows and children’s activities. Last year the fete was a real success, but they are always looking for more local clubs and groups in Shalford to take a stall. They are particularly in need of people to run stalls and also need plants to sell, if you are growing any, or splitting some in your garden, could you put some aside for the fete please? Further details May 2015

Seasonal spring salads With hints of warm weather appearing, what better time for a lovely salad made with the best seasonal ingredients that May has to oﬀer.

Asparagus and Feta Salad Ingredients 1 tsp sesame seeds, 150g asparagus, 50g cooked peas (cold), 200g sliced courgettes, 1 tsp sesame oil, couple of handfuls of Secretts rocket leaves, 30g feta cheese and grated zest of half a lemon.

May is the time for the best English asparagus and this recipe comes from Secretts in Milford. Look for the oﬀer on Pick Your Own asparagus on page 30.

1. Lightly toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan and set aside. 2. Steam the asparagus for 3-4 minutes then drop into a bowl of iced water to cool. Drain and then dry using kitchen paper. Cut spears to 5cm lengths. 3. Heat a griddle pan until very hot and brush with the oil, cook the sliced courgettes until striped with dark brown. 4. Combine all the above ingredients along with the rocket leaves, feta and lemon zest. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and drizzle with oil just before serving.

Jersey Royals with Hot Smoked Salmon and Watercress Salad Ingredients 500g Jersey Royal new potatoes, 100g crème fraîche, 1 tsp creamed horseradish, juice of 1 lemon, 2 spring onions, finely sliced, 2 hot smoked salmon fillets, skinned and flaked, 1 bunch watercress, rinsed

If you can’t ﬁnd hot smoked salmon use local smoked trout from Tillingbourne Trout Farm, or you could also use smoked mackerel, smoked salmon and even roast beef. This recipe is from www.jerseyroyals.co.uk and serves 2.

1. Bring a pan of water to the boil. Add the potatoes and reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the potatoes for about 15 minutes or until tender 2. Mix together the crème fraiche and creamed horseradish. Add enough lemon juice and black pepper to taste. 3. Drain the potatoes and leave to cool slightly. Add the spring onions and salmon. Stir in the crème fraîche mix until all the ingredients have a light coating. Toss in the watercress and serve, either slightly warm or cold. 38

vantagepointmag.co.uk

FOOD Broad Bean and Bacon Salad Ingredients 250g shelled broad beans, 1 tbsp olive oil, 175g pancetta or bacon, 1 tbsp chopped parsley, salt and pepper.

This dish is simple and easily prepared and makes for an excellent supper dish. You can however turn it into an excellent salad side dish by adding a simple sherry vinegar dressing and serving it warm. The original recipe comes from Elizabeth Luard’s Tapas: Classic Small Dishes from Spain and serves 2 or perhaps 4-6 as a salad side dish.

1. Blanch the beans in boiling, salted water for 2-3 minutes, unless they are old ones in which case they will need 6-10 minutes to become tender. 2. Warm the oil in a small pan. Add the chopped pancetta or bacon and fry for a few minutes until golden. 3. Stir in the parsley and the beans. Put a lid on the pan and cook gently for 5 minutes. Taste and add salt and pepper as required.

Chilli and Lime Crab Salad with Ciabatta Toasts Ingredients 4-6 ciabatta slices, cut diagonally from a small loaf, 75ml extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for brushing, juice of 1 lime, plus lime wedges to serve, 3 spring onions, finely chopped, 2 tbsp good quality mayonnaise, handful each fresh chives, deseeded and finely chopped , 1 red chilli, finely chopped, 300g fresh white crab meat, any shell discarded (from your local fishmonger or supermarket), mixed baby salad leaves, to serve.

To make this light crab recipe into a more substantial meal, toss through 400g cooked and drained pasta. This recipe is taken from www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk and serves 6.

1. Preheat the grill to medium. Put the ciabatta slices on a large baking tray, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and brush all over with the extra olive oil. Grill for about 1 minute each side, until golden. Set aside on a wire rack to cool. 2. In a bowl, mix together the remaining 75ml oil, lime juice, spring onions, mayonnaise, fresh herbs and chopped red chilli. Season to taste and set aside to infuse for 5 minutes. 3. Put the crab meat into a large bowl and gradually mix in the herb and chilli mixture to combine. Season to taste. 4. Place a handful of the salad leaves onto 4-6 serving plates and spoon the crab mixture alongside. Serve with the ciabatta toasts and extra lime wedges.

May 2015

Jottings - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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website www.horsleydfas.org.uk or phone Chris on 01483 280021. The sixth annual Guildford Beer Festival will be held this year on the 12th and 13th June. The festival will as usual be held at Guildford Cricket Club on Woodbridge Road, Guildford and will once again offer the thousands of visitors who attend a wide selection of beers from within thirty miles of Guildford alongside many ciders and wines. A fantastic selection of bands will also be playing at all sessions, all to be enjoyed within the setting of the cricket ground. Tickets are £10 for each of the 3 sessions. CAMRA members receive tokens for a free pint on production of their current membership card. Tickets from www. guildfordbeerfestival.co.uk or in person at the Guildford Tourist Information Office. Guildford Scrabble Club is looking for more players to join them for an enjoyable ‘night on the tiles’ (not my pun I should add!). They meet at Shalford Village Hall on Wednesday evenings from 7.30-10.30pm. It’s just £2 per session to include tea, coffee and biscuits. All tuition and equipment is provided and everyone is welcome, whether beginners or seasoned players. You can just turn up on the evening or call Barbara on 01483 579873 for more information. You will be sure of a warm welcome. Guildford Cathedral Appeal, which has a final £500,000 left to raise of its £7m1 target for urgent Crawley Clinic_Layout 11/07/2013 14:29 repairs Page 1 and development, has received a boost from students at the University of Surrey who have made a documentary

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about the Cathedral and its appeal. As part of their undergraduate media studies course, Samantha Jewiss, Jade Small and Nicole Cheng produced a ten minute documentary, and short one minute clip which will be used to help promote the Cathedral Appeal. The documentary, which includes interviews with the Dean, Archivist and Chief Guide, highlights the amazing story of the People’s Cathedral. To see the documentary visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ucSCrCntOY To make a donation visit www.guildfordcathedralmym.com, TEXT MARK02 £10 (or any amount) to 70070, or send donations (payable to Guildford Cathedral) to Guildford Cathedral, Stag Hill, Guildford GU2 7UP. Guildford Walking for Health, offering free short health walks to everyone, is going from strength to strength! They now have three walk groups, and in addition offer walks from the Fountain Centre at the Royal Surrey Hospital at 11am on Mondays and Fridays. Members number well over 100, and they have new walkers joining all the time. What a great idea to walk and talk. Clare Balding talks about the benefits of walking with friends in her book ‘Walking Home: My family and other Rambles’. They want everyone to find out how absolutely lovely it is to go on their short walks! Guildford in Bloom 2015 Public Competition is free to enter and open to anyone who loves gardening and wants to help make Guildford a beautiful place to live, work and visit. The Public Competition has seven categories: Best Front Garden, Allotment, Garden for Wildlife, Business in Bloom, Container Garden, Vegetable/Kitchen Garden and Neighbourhood Project. The closing date is Sunday 14th June and Judging takes place between 29th June – 17th July. It is not possible to advise individual entrants of the exact day and time of judging (with the exception of the Vegetable/Kitchen, Wildlife Gardens and Neighbourhood Project Categories). Judges will not be available to discuss individual entries; the judges’ decision is final. Winners will be notified by email and invited to attend the Awards Ceremony which takes place on 23rd September. A list of winners will be published on their website and photographs of garden entries may be used for marketing purposes. For more information and how to enter, go to www.guildford. gov.uk/guildfordinbloom. In addition to the above, there is also a ‘Blooming Schools 2015 Novel Container Competition’. The competition is free to enter and open to all schools in the local area. Celebrating 150 years of Alice in Wonderland, children will be planting up novel themed containers. The closing date for entry is 29th May and judging takes place between 8th to 19th June. They will confirm the exact date with all entrants nearer the time. Up to four novel containers will be judged for each entry and the Awards Ceremony will take place on Wednesday 24th June. Getting involved is free and easy. Simply email the name of your school, your name and your contact details to the Guildford in Bloom Coordinator at parks@guildford.gov.uk.Alternatively, you can download a copy of the application form from www.guildford.gov.uk/guildfordinbloom. vantagepointmag.co.uk

A very brown hedge indeed! Does your hedge look like this?

REGINALD D HUNTER

WED 27 & THU 28 MAY

STARRING

A Complete and Comprehensive Tree Care Service since 1907

MARCUS COLLINS

Tree & Shrub Pruning | Planting | Tree Removal Tree Stock Surveys | Woodland Management Health & Safety Reports | Disease & Insect Control

THU 4 JUNE

OXFORD PHILOMUSICA & VLADIMIR ASHKENAZY

For a free consultation please contact your local arborist Tom Holliday

01483 546 582

SAT 6 JUNE

guildford@bartlettuk.com | www.bartlett.com

This is caused by the troublesome Cypress Aphid. A combination of treatments carried out by our qualified technician can achieve a good level of control ensuring your trees and shrubs do not deteriorate further.

At the first sign of brown patches telephone Bartlett Tree Experts for a free consultation and professional advice on 01428 682043.

AN EVENING WITH TERRY WOGAN MON 8 JUNE

JOHN BARROWMAN SAT 13 JUNE

FRI 19 JUNE

01428 682043 guildford@bartlett.com www.bartlett.com

May 2015

Bepton, Chilgrove and the South Downs A Norman church, a secret orchid hillside and a Bronze-Age burial site are among the surprises of this lovely walk, along with two excellent country pubs. Although this walk can be done with good walking shoes in the drier months, you will be glad to be wearing boots on two or three of the tracks. Since the few stiles on this route have left a gap, your dog can come too and can run free for much of the way. I did this walk in late February and it was muddy in places but the views from Linch Down were spectacular and well worth the trip you might make to do this walk. Both pubs also heartily recommended. Ed. This walk is supplied with thanks from www.fancyfreewalks.org, from where you can download this walk with larger and more detailed maps.

The walk 1. From the side of the car park, follow a wooden rail and a little tarmac path to go through a wooden swing-gate past a bench with views, reaching the side entrance to the church. This little church is usually open and is definitely worth visiting. Continue down a path from the side entrance to exit through a wooden swing-gate onto the approach lane. Turn right, going past a small pond, and turn left at a T-junction onto Bugshill Lane. You pass the Old Rectory and a farm and reach a junction in 400m with Bepton village on your left. Instead turn right on a signed byway. Follow this stone-lined path for 500m. If you encounter some mud here it should soon be gone and should not return until just before the end. As the path curves left into trees you come to a marker post on your left. 2. Turn right at the marker post, as indicated by the blue arrow, steeply uphill, in 30m going under a tall beech and a yew tree. After the yew tree you need to measure exactly 100m (150 paces). The path rises for 60m, then flattens out under ash trees. After 25m, it rises a little, zigzagging slightly left-right over roots. Immediately look for a faint path very sharp left. (In fact it is a crossing path.) The path runs straight up a long gently rising contour. Take this path, almost reversing your direction. The path becomes clearer as you proceed, although you will need to step over the debris of small fallen branches. After 170m, your path comes into a lighter area of shrubs and curves right up to a small metal gate. Go through the gate onto Bepton Down. Keep ahead up the sloping meadow on a faint path, but keeping just to the left of the brow of the hill so that you get the best advantage of the fine views to your left. You pass a solitary round beech about 30m on your left. The views are of Black Down and Bexleyhill. Keep following the path into the far corner where there is a large 42

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  metalgate. Go through a wooden swing-gate beside it and turn   very sharp right on a broad track.   3. The grassy slope of Bepton Down, with fine views beyond, is   now on your right, with steep woods on your left. Stay on this   chalky path, soon avoiding an unmarked path on your left. The   path curves left, flattens out and runs between fields, leading to a 4-way fingerpost. The crossing track here is the South Downs   Way. Cross straight over on a grassy bridleway and, in 350m, at  a 3-way  fingerpost, turn right. In 25m, turn left on a horse track    slightly downhill. In 150m, go straight over a wide forestry track  on what may be a rather muddy patch. In just 20m, leave your straight downward path by forking right on another wide forestry track through Bepton Wood. You shortly pass a 2-way fingerpost,   confirming that this is an official bridleway. Your path descends gently, then more steeply and afterwards suddenly up again between plantations. You reach a junction of several paths by a 3way fingerpost. 4. Turn left on a signed bridleway and follow this stony path for 450m where the bridleway goes over a crossing path near a wooden gate on your left. You shortly pass notices for Sussex Wildlife Trust’s West Dean Woods and a rather worn picnic corner. On your left is a long wattle fence. After an inspirational walk, you emerge by open fields with views ahead. Tall oaks and ash trees are your escort along a narrower grassy path. Finally our path ends at a

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WALK

wooden gate beside a large metal gate. Turn right here on a tarmac lane. 5. At a road junction, veer right, signposted Chilgrove, passing Staple Ash Farm and its thatched farm house. At a sharp left bend by a drive and wooden gate, keep left, staying on the lane. Just before Yew Tree Cottage, ignore a footpath on your right. Your undulating lane goes under grid lines and curves right: avoid a footpath on the left here. At a 3-way fingerposted junction ignore a drive on the right for Brooks Farm and keep left passing several picturesque houses and cottages with their gardens. Soon the lane zigzags leftright and reaches the White Horse in Chilgrove, which is a lovely, if slightly upmarket pub. 6. After a refreshment break, continue to the main road and turn right, using the grass verge where possible. In a short distance, go over a stile on your right and turn immediately left on the grass parallel to the road. As the meadow opens out, veer slightly right to go over a stile and straight across a crop field. An avoidable stile, a drive and another stile lead you along the right-hand side of a pasture. After a line of trees, you are walking beside another pasture similarly. At the other side, go over a stile by a fingerpost and veer right onto a bridleway. At a fork with two large wooden gates, take the left fork as indicated. After a pleasant 500m, keep ahead at a diagonal crossing path by a 4-way fingerpost. Eventually, 1km after the fork, you reach the hamlet of Hooksway opposite the Royal Oak. The Royal Oak is one of the celebrated pubs of the area, more rustic than the White Horse. As well as food and drink, it has quite a history. 7. After your break, facing the pub, turn right and keep straight on avoiding a bridleway through the car park on your left. There are now three possible routes ahead. Avoid the footpath by the wooden gate on your right and the track curving off to the left and take the middle option, passing a sign for a restricted byway uphill. DISTANCE: 10 miles OS MAPS: Explorer 120 (Chichester) STARTING POINT: The walk begins at Church Farm, Bepton, West Sussex, postcode GU29 0HX. This is approached from the village of Cocking just south of Midhurst and the day’s adventure really begins here as you follow a narrow country lane under an old railway bridge and through the best Sussex farmland to an ancient village hidden beneath the

Your path continues on a straight course, gradually uphill. After more than 1km, you reach a 4-way fingerpost: keep straight ahead, thus joining the South Downs Way (SDW). You will be following the SDW for most of the rest of the way. Soon there are meadows visible on either side as you go under large beeches. Soon, on your left is a sign for the Devil’s Jumps, a Bronze Age monument and a short diversion not to be missed. 8. Continue along the SDW and shortly ignore a stile and footpath on your left. You are now on a beautiful wide path through a luxurious woodland of tall ash trees. The path curves right imperceptibly. Suddenly you are out of the woods with terrific views on both sides. At the end of the long meadow on your left, ignore a bridleway sharp left. The path rises with a view of Linch Down ahead. At the end of a fence, just after a 3-way fingerpost, turn left on a path that curves right down into trees. The path makes a shallow descent down the side of the hill with Didling Hanger on your left. The path becomes sunken under all beeches and ash. At a junction of paths near a meadow on your left, keep straight on downhill. The path continues between banks and you finally arrive at a drive in front of Linch Farm, through a large metal gate. Turn right and veer right on a tarmac lane, Bugshill Lane again. After some houses, the church comes into view on your left. The lane bends left under maple and beech. Turn left on a cul-de-sac lane leading back to Church Farm where the walk began.

South Downs. Bepton’s 12th-century church is at the end of a short branch lane. There is a large space provided by the farm for visitors to the church and they welcome walkers. REFRESHMENTS: Both these pubs are on the route. The White Horse, Chilgrove (01243 519444) and The Royal Oak, Hooksway (01243 535257). Image: Linch Down © Copyright Dave Spicer

Neither the publisher nor the author can accept any responsibility for any changes, errors or omissions in this route. Diversion orders can be made and permissions withdrawn at any time.

May 2015

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The Unattached Group (T-U-G) recently enjoyed a leisure weekend away in the Somerset countryside experiencing every aspect of English weather as well as the splendid food and entertainment. T-U-G is a Guildford based group of 70 – 80 single people between 49 – 69 years who enjoy times together including a weekly pub meet and chat night, regular meals, theatre trips, walks and quizzes, together with a bridge club and book club. Events such as a day on the River Wey, a sailing day, BBQs and a summer party are being planned for the summer months. New members would be most welcome and information can be obtained at www. theunattachedgroup.co.uk or Maggie on 07855 008897. Home-Start Guildford is a family support charity covering the whole of the Guildford Borough plus Bookham and Fetcham in Mole Valley. They provide home-visiting volunteers with parenting experience to support families who are struggling to cope, with at least one child under five. Examples of difficulties might be: post-natal depression, illness/disability (of parent or child), multiple births, family breakdown, and financial worries. They believe that parents are key in creating a secure and happy environment for their children. They may need emotional or practical support to give their children the best possible start in life. That’s where they come in – and you could too! Can you spare a few hours each week to help a family with young children? Are you interested in learning new skills on their friendly, free, volunteer training course? The next Volunteer Preparation Course starts in September 2015, and they are recruiting now! If you are interested, please call Harriet on 01483 511181, or email office@hsguildford. org.uk for more information. Are you having a clear out at home, replacing your old sofa, getting rid of unwanted furniture, beds, electrical items, a washing machine or microwave etc. ? Maybe you are moving home or just downsizing and need to dispose of unwanted household items? If you can’t give them away to family or friends, then please think of some alternatives before rushing down to a local tip when you could be doing something more enjoyable with your precious spare time. Surrey has numerous furniture reuse charities that will collect your unwanted furniture

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electrical and household items usually for FREE! Just ring your local charity. Contact Surrey reuse network www. surreyreusenetwork.org.uk or you can ring 0800 082 0180. If you live anywhere in the UK outside Surrey, visit www.frn.org.uk. On Thursday 25th June, there’s A Midsummer Evening of Classical Piano by award winning pianist Emilie Capulet within the Great Hall at Loseley House, Guildford. It’s in aid of Shooting Star Chase. This includes private viewing of the Walled Garden from 6.30pm, a glass of Prosecco and canapés at 7.15pm and the concert begins at 7.45pm.Tickets are £20 for adults - £10 for children (16 years and under).The music will include Gershwin, Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Ravel. Emilie is a knowledgeable musician and will introduce each of the works performed. Tickets and enquiries to Louise Healy on 01483 898539 or email louise.healy605@btinternet.com. Planning permission for a new bridge just granted by Waverley Borough Council will enable more than a mile of the Wey & Arun Canal to be re-opened for use by small boats. The bridge is to be built at one of the entrances to Dunsfold Aerodrome, at the end of Three Compasses Lane in Alfold, replacing a wartime concrete causeway which currently blocks the waterway. It is part of Wey & Arun Canal Trust’s plan to revive the 19th Century canal between Tickner’s Heath in Dunsfold and Fast Bridge on the A281 at Alfold, its first navigation restoration project in Surrey. It is hoped to officially re-open the restored section next year in time for the 200th anniversary of the northern part of the 23-mile long canal being declared open at the Compasses site in September 1816. Although much of the work to be carried out by contractors is fully funded, around £280,000 is still needed to complete the £700,000 restoration project. To make a donation, or volunteer to help with the finishing work, visit www. weyandarun.co.uk. Free service for people with NHS Hearing Aids- In an initiative by Guildford Diocese, in partnership with the NHS and local Parish Churches there is now a free local service for people using NHS hearing aids. This includes basic maintenance, battery supply, cleaning and re-tubing, trouble shooting and advice. Sessions are held in the Octagon at Godalming Parish Church in Church Street on the mornings of the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month from 10.30am-11.30am. Just drop by but do bring your brown NHS book and your hearing aid. For more information contact Derek Randell on 01483 428240.

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PROFILE

Guildford Choral Society 175 years of singing to celebrate Guildford Choral Society celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, culminating in a performance of Berlioz’ ‘Te Deum’ at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, 3rd June 2015 at 7.30pm. Founded in 1839, at the start of Queen Victoria’s reign, under the Patronage of Lady Noel Byron and the Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, the Earl of Lovelace, Guildford Choral Society is one of England’s oldest established amateur choral societies with an unbroken history. They are proud to be sponsoring a performance of Hector Berlioz’ monumental work – his ‘Te Deum’, at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Jonathan Willcocks. Written originally to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte, the ‘Te Deum’ was ultimately dedicated to Prince Albert, the Queen’s Consort. For their performance in June, Guildford Choral Society (numbering over 150 singers) has invited The Chichester Singers, Portsmouth Choral Union ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA PRESENTS

Wednesday 3rd June 2015, 7.30pm Royal Albert Hall A colossal work featuring massed choirs, performed in the spectacular Royal Albert Hall

Parry Blest Pair of Sirens • Elgar ‘Enigma’ Variations Berlioz Te Deum Jonathan Willcocks conductor • James Edwards tenor Guildford Choral Society, Chichester Singers, Portsmouth Choral Union, City of London Choir, Upper Voice Choir from Guildford and London schools Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of Guildford Choral Society This tour de force concert plays host to one of classical music’s most remarkable scores, Berlioz’s Te Deum. Requiring additional brass, percussion, massed choirs totalling over 450 voices, and the magnificent Royal Albert Hall organ, this work is nothing short of breath-taking. Also featured in the programme are two quintessential English works: Parry’s Blest Pair of Sirens, and Elgar’s ‘Enigma’ Variations, the famed musical sketch that includes the much-loved and moving Nimrod. BOOK NOW! Ticket Prices: £49 - £12 Prices include a card handling fee of 2% of the total booking and a £2.50 per ticket transaction fee when booked over the phone or online Telephone Bookings: 020 7589 8212 Online Bookings: www.royalalberthall.com

For further details visit www.rpo.co.uk Information correct at time of going to print.

May 2015

and the City of London Choir to join its celebration. The children’s choir will be composed of young people from Francis Holland School, The Royal Grammar School, Guildford and the children of the Guildford High School Junior Choir, numbering some 200 young people in all. The orchestra will be proportionately large and Guildford Choral Society’s Chairman, Sheila Bennett, says: “The excitement of singing such a huge work, with such a large orchestra and singers whose ages range from junior school children to senior citizens, is immense. This music is a fitting climax to our 175 year history.” Jonathan Willcocks will be masterminding this huge performance. Appointed in 2012 as Guildford Choral Society’s Music Director, Jonathan has an international reputation as a composer and choral director and is no stranger to conducting big events at the Royal Albert Hall. He recently premiered his composition; ‘In Praise of Singing’, written to commemorate Don Monro, the founder of The Really Big Chorus, at Singday 2014. Jonathan says: “ The Royal Albert Hall is a magnificent concert hall of truly monumental proportions, and we felt that to celebrate this major landmark for Guildford Choral Society we should choose a similarly epic choral work. Berlioz’ – Te Deum is stirring, heroic and extraordinarily fulfilling for performers and audience alike and I look forward with excitement to conducting this very special concert.” Tickets are available from the Royal Albert Hall’s box office (www. royalalberthall.com/tickets/royal-philharmonic-orchestra/berlioz/default.aspx), www.royalalberthall.com and from Guildford Choral Society’s Ticket Master on 01494 675571 or boxoffice@ guildfordchoral.org. Guildford Choral Society will also be running coaches to London. Inclusive coach packages (including transport from Guildford, ticket and programme) will be from £45 and coach only fares will be £20. More details are available on the choir’s website: www.guildfordchoral.org. 45

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Based in Godalming, Surrey. Est 2009

Office No. 266 • Guildford • Surrey • GU1 2AG • Company Reg. 8847883 • Dance

classes for adults and children and Yoga for adults • Daytime, evening and Saturday classes • Beautiful studio with barres and mirrors • Children’s ballet classes from 3 years old • Pilates

We also have a dedicated treatment room for holistic therapies - please call or email for further details.

We look forward to welcoming you! Contact details - welovetodance.net@googlemail.com or telephone

Wills Etc_Layout 16/08/2011 Page 1 Rachel on 07946 3631556. Our website is12:36 www.welovetodance.net.

Jessica Pilates Offering small matwork classes in Guildford, Normandy, Worplesdon, West Horsley, Bookham, Chiddingfold and Dunsfold

First taster session FREE! For more details contact Jess Curnier on 07789 176416 or email jess@jessicapilates.co.uk www.jessicapilates.co.uk

Wills. Lasting Powers of Attorney. Estate Planning. Court of Protection. Home visits, lunch time meetings. We come to you.

01483 564833 helen@wills-etc.co.uk www.wills-etc.co.uk

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: By entering these competitions you agree to receive periodic emails from VantagePoint Magazine,Vantage Publishing Ltd and the originator of the competition you are entering.You can opt out of receiving these at any time and your data will never be passed on for use by third parties.The prizes are non-transferable and have no cash alternative. Only one entry per person per competition and prizes will only be sent to homes with a GU, KT and RH postcode. 46 vantagepointmag.co.uk

WIN WIN TWO PLACES ON A MUSHROOM GROWING COURSE

WIN TWO TICKETS TO SEE REGINALD D HUNTER AT GLIVE

This is an opportunity to learn how to grow a variety of mushrooms, familiar and exotic, at home. Full details of methods and techniques will be given during this one-day course, together with an opportunity to put these into practice. The course, being both instructive and hands-on promises to be useful and entertaining. Participants will learn how to prepare different substrates for terrestrial mushrooms like Wood Blewits and Shaggy Ink Caps and how to inoculate logs for wood-growing species such as Shitake and Lions Mane. Participants will also be served a three course lunch featuring wild mushrooms. The course will be held in London on Saturday June 6th and run by Forest Foragers. More details of the course can be found on our website, www.forestforagers.co.uk . To win, please answer the following: Q: Name an edible mushroom variety Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 29th May 2015.

Reginald has been in the UK for just under two decades and in that time he has become one of the UK comedy industry’s best-known performers for his distinctive take on subjects including race and sexuality. His work can be brutally honest and is often considered to be controversial but it is always meticulously thought out and he has never been afraid to face challenging issues head on, even when the focus is on his own principles or beliefs. He is coming to GLive on the 27th and 28th May as part of a 45 date tour. To win a pair of tickets on the 27th May, please answer the following: Q: How many dates is Reginald performing on this tour? Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 20th May 2015.

WIN A SPA PACKAGE FOR TWO AT THE SPA, GUILDFORD Located in the heart of Guildford town centre in the Radisson Blu hotel, The Spa offers a tranquil retreat from the stresses of everyday life. The Spa’s luxurious facilities include a jetpropelled pool encased in frosted glass, a crystal steam room and a spacious gym. Rejuvenate in the stone oven sauna and unwind in the relaxation room but not before indulging in one of the spa’s luxury pampering treatments using ESPA products.

For your chance to win a spa package including 30 minute treatment and choice of either Afternoon Tea or Steak & Lobster for you and a friend, simply answer the following question: Q: Whose products do we use in the spa? Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 29th May 2015. Terms and conditions apply – 2 hours spa use before treatment; 1x 30 min treatment per person; choice of food either lunch, afternoon tea or dinner; must be redeemed MonThurs only.

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk unless otherwise stated. Postal entries can be sent to us at the address given on page three. TERMS & CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: By entering these competitions you agree to receive periodic emails from VantagePoint Magazine,Vantage Publishing Ltd and the originator of the competition you are entering.You can opt out of receiving these at any time and your data will never be passed on for use by third parties.The prizes are non-transferable and have no cash alternative. Only one entry per person per competition and prizes will only be sent to homes with a GU, KT and RH postcode.

Selling Your home this Spring?

01483 304344 â&#x153;¤

Guildford &The Villages

pewleys.co.uk