Ashtead & Leatherhead May 2017 by Ashtead Leatherhead

ashtead-leatherhead.com

Issue 139

May 2017 Never underestimate the importance of community

Help your GP to help you! Mid Surrey Mediation Service Leatherhead Drama Festival 2017 Warning - pinhole cameras on ATMs Ashtead Rye Meadows Centenary Field Free computer courses for the over 55s Do you own a cherished car for Village Day? Paper ÂŁ5 notes out of circulation on 5th May Church Street, Leatherhead â&#x20AC;&#x2022; works timescale Arts Alive & Heritage Open Days - register your events Leatherhead Drama Festival 2016 - image courtesy Andy Newbold Photography

The truly local magazine produced by a Leatherhead resident for our community

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What’s in here this month? Ashtead Residents’ Association

Arts Alive 2017 - register your event

Leatherhead Residents’ Association

Free computer courses for the over 55s

Fetcham Residents’ Association

Abigail Bruce - update

Ashtead Community Vision

Leatherhead Women’s Institute

Sudokus

Leatherhead & District Angling Society

MV Police Column

Leatherhead Bowling Club

Simple Crossword

Mole Valley (Fetcham) Women’s Institute

Quiz - Days of the Week

Leith Hill Place - Wedgewood collection

Where the hell is ‘x’? A story

Leatherhead Community Association

Ashtead Rotary Club

Ashtead Rye Meadows - Centenary Field

Gardeners’ World at 50

Leatherhead Drama Festival 2017 (66-67)

Book review

What’s on in May? Pages 59 - 71

Quiz - Biopics

General knowledge crossword

Village Day Cherished Car Run

Church Street, L/head works timescale

Recipe - Thai Curry Paste

Local history article

Heritage Open Day registration

Mole Valley Youth Showcase Awards

Pictograms

Cryptic Crossword

How to help your GP to help you!

Transition Ashtead

£1k for Epsom Medical Equip. Fund

STEM careers for young people

Look out for hidden cameras on ATMs

Paper £5 out of circulation on 5th May

Mid Surrey Mediation Service

Gardening - Slug survival

Give a cat a home

Leatherhead Horticultural Society

From the Publisher

I have

to say that I had a very quiet and enjoyable Easter, I deliberately kept away from the pooter and just re-charged my batteries. I think people are beginning to turn Smartphones, pooters, iPads into masters instead of the slaves that they ought to be. I can’t tell you how often on the street I have to step out of the way of someone who is so engrossed in their Smartphone that they are blissfully unaware of everything around them. Statistics for 2014 show a staggering 446 pedestrians were killed on the roads due to ‘lack of attention’ and a recent poll of 24,070 AA members found that 72% of them witnessed a pedestrian stepping onto the road whilst distracted by their mobile phones. Sobering statistics indeed. I know I’m from a different age, but I don’t remember anything being so mind-blowingly important that one walks under the path of a moving car. Another jam packed little edition, with lots to read about what’s happening in the area for May. Plans for the Ashtead Rotary Village Day on 10th June are well underway and if you have a cherished car that you’d like to show on the day, go to page 38 for details on how to enter. It’s that time of year again and the Leatherhead Drama Festival gets underway on 1st May, finishing with the Gala Evening on Saturday 13th. There’s a super double page spread on the event, and information on how to book tickets, on pages 66 and 67. Many patients make appointments to see their GPs when in fact the Practice Nurse, or even the local pharmacist, can help. The Ashlea Patient Participation Group has sent through some guidelines about how we can help our GPs to help us, and this can be found on p.44. Another scam (not only do these never end, but they seem to be increasing) involves criminals placing pinhole cameras on cash machines which read our card information. More on what to look out for on ATMs appears on page 46, but be warned, these really are pinholes... If you’re over 55 and you’d like to know more about using an iPad/tablet/laptop, ‘surfing the net’ or setting up emails or Skype accounts then Age Concern is running free courses in Leatherhead or Dorking just for you. More details on Advertising page 53. The Ashtead & Leatherhead Local provides local businesses with affordable, quality advertising. Ads cost from £58 +VAT per month, per quarter page for a 10,000 residential distribution (yes, really!) and can be designed where required.

Technical & Legal stuff Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this magazine is accurate, the Publisher cannot accept, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form electronic, mechanical, recording, photocopying, or otherwise - without prior permission of the Publisher. All in-house artwork and editorial presented in this magazine remains the copyright of The Ashtead & Leatherhead Local Limited. © Zen George All rights reserved 2017

Now is the time to register your events for Heritage Open Days (page 42) and Arts Alive 2017 (page 50), both are well-regarded annual events and are always very well subscribed. There are some serious works being undertaken by Mole Valley District Council in Church Street, Leatherhead over the coming months and a timescale of these works can be found on page 74, but please bear in mind that these may be subject to change and are correct at time of going to print. Have a super May - it’s a great month with not one, but two Bank Holidays! See you in June, and don’t forget to make a diary note for the Ashtead Rotary Village Day on the 10th June. Cheerio ducks, Zen George Publisher 01372 376420 leatherheadlocal@btinternet.com www.ashtead-leatherhead.com 6

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ASHTEAD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Working for Ashtead since 1945 www.ashteadresidents.org.uk ARA’s year: Regular meetings and events

picking and cleaning up their own roads but the group event is always fun and rewarding and the pile of rubbish bags and carelessly discarded larger items are a testament to how very worthwhile it is.

The Association’s combined Annual General Meeting and Spring Meeting is held in April, which is very much a “here we are and this is what we have been doing” month. The Association’s Hon. Secretary, Pam VenthamSmith, arranges the formal part of the evening, ensuring that correct procedures are observed and masterminding the nomination process for those standing for election to the ARA Standing Committee (currently 11 members, 5 short of the maximum allowed under our constitution). The Events Secretary arranges a guest speaker for the second half of the evening who presents and takes questions on a topic relevant to Ashtead.

In June, as you will know, the Rotary Club of Ashtead runs Ashtead Village Day, a hugely popular event, which draws crowds from all surrounding towns and villages. The Association always has a stand at the event to meet with residents and publicise some of the work that we do. Last year, we celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday, which was a popular attraction and this year we will mostly be devoting the stand to the work of the newly formed Tree Wardens group.

In July, we hold a Summer Meeting for the ARA Road Stewards, to brief them on key areas of In October, the Autumn Meeting is the second our work and to provide them with an opportunity to meet with the Committee and formal public meeting of the year. A guest each other to exchange ideas. We also speaker is invited for the first part of the sometimes call special meetings with our road evening but the second half takes the form of a Question and Answer session with, subject to stewards to enlist their help with particular projects and the Association is hugely grateful their availability, all seven of our Mole Valley District Councillors and our County Councillor. for their support. Kate Morris edits the Association’s Spring and Formal Standing Committee meetings take Autumn newsletters, which include reports of place on the second Monday of each month the Committee’s work and carry a and regular agenda items include reports on considerable number of contributions from Planning, Highways & Rail, Finance, Tree Ashtead’s sports clubs, charities and special Wardens, Membership, Events and interest organisations. Area Distributors Communications. Two Independent Mole deliver packs of the newsletters to ARA road Valley Councillors attend for the first part of stewards, who, in the Spring, also deliver The each meeting, as does Chris Townsend the Ashtead Resident, which is the formal record Independent Surrey County Councillor, to of our AGM and Autumn Meeting, edited and update the Committee on the latest Council produced by Pam Ventham-Smith. initiatives and progress on ongoing work and issues affecting Ashtead and its residents. I hope that this has given you an idea of where some of our activity is focused but it all takes March this year saw Ashtead’s 12th Spring a lot of work. Could you be one of the 5 Clean: committee member Chrissy Kerton people missing from the Standing Committee? originated and runs the event in Ashtead, Could you be a Road Steward or an Area which we have usually held in April or late Distributor? We need the help, please! March but which we moved to early March to coincide with the nationally run Great British Jean Bradley Spring Clean. Many residents join in by litter Events Secretary

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The Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH April 3rd saw the AGM and a good number of interested members attended. Our town always seems to have a number of controversial schemes hanging over it and this year is no exception. The chairman made reference to Church Street where the improvements are about to start, to Clare and James House at the bottom of Bridge Street which have recently been purchased by Mole Valley and to the Red House Gardens. In both of these latter sites, much taller buildings are proposed, the idea being to increase the population of Leatherhead and, thereby, also to increase the revenue for the Council whose grant from the Government is shortly going to dwindle to nothing. The Red House Grounds site (also known as Bull Hill) is of particular concern as it has recently had some extensive re-planting of trees which complement those already there and is well used as an informal recreation and exercise area. Our guest speakers were Mr Jack Straw, Head of Corporate Service at MV, and Ms Lucy Quinnell, Chair of the Leatherhead and District Countryside Protection Society. Mr Straw explained the need for a new Local Plan and the progress they are making on it with a finish date anticipated for April 2018. He was subjected to several very pertinent questions, in particular one concerning the seeming general approval for the schemes, gleaned from a questionnaire filled in by visitors to the exhibitions. There was no space on this questionnaire to voice outright disapproval and fear was expressed that the apparent agreement (to the height of the proposed buildings in particular) would be fed into the Local Plan and thus pave the way to acceptance of them.

After over forty years of litter picking Lucy Quinnell still dreams of a "Litter Free Leatherhead". Her lavishly illustrated talk underlines the fact that we are quite a distance from that goal. However, she is inspiring and she does have many good ideas. In fact, her inspiration led the Friends of the River Mole (FoRM) to tackle the discarded rubbish near the edges of the river between Thorncroft Bridge and the Leatherhead-Guildford railway bridge on April 10th. We are very grateful to our residents who apply their time, energy, and ingenuity to dealing with a problem which we optimistically hope will soon go away. "Thank You" Caroline Cardew Smith and Alan Thornhill for organising this work. Meanwhile, we are noticing a general disregard for trees and hedges wherever some financially rewarding development is about to take place. We feel that it would be very useful to have a Tree Officer for Leatherhead who is prepared to attend the meetings organised either by Mole Valley or by the officers of Bookham, Fetcham or Ashtead. Such a person does not need to be an authority on trees in general, just someone who cares about our environment and who is prepared to go and look at vulnerable sites. Date for your diary: The next LRA Open Committee Meeting is Monday 8th May at the Institute at 7.30pm Leatherhead Open Gardens Sunday 9th July Caroline Brown LRA Chairman

If you would like to join the Leatherhead Residents' Association • •

Provide your name, address, telephone number, and email address Enclose your cheque for £2.50 for one year or £6 for three years payable to the Leatherhead Residents' Association

Please send to: LRA, Letherhead Institute, 67 High Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8AH Telephone: 01372 373 090 | Email: secretary@leatherheadresidents.org.uk www.leatherheadresidents.org.uk 10

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Fetcham Heritage Trail With Spring truly now here, why not discover and enjoy our new Heritage Trail of Fetcham, download from our website www.fetchamresidents.co.uk/heritage-trail.htm 13

1 2

12 13 - THE READING ROOM 3

14 - THE MILL POND 14 4 5

10 9

FETCHAM started out as a small farming village. Census data from 1801 shows a population 271. Although Fetcham has altered a great deal over that time there are still elements of the village it once was to remind us of its rural past.

8 7

STARTING AT NO 1, Sky Newsagents - Park outside the shops in the village. Progress up The Street, curve right at “The Bell" pub into Bell Lane, head straight across the roundabout into The Ridgeway, then turn left into the Church Drive. Go down the steps to Fetcham Park House following the drive to the left out onto Lower Road. Cross diagonally to The Old Street. At the end of The Old Street turn right onto School Lane and left onto Cobham Road to arrive back into the village where you started. Options could also include visiting; No 13 the Reading Room or going down the footpath off Cobham Rd (on the right by the bus stop) and visiting the Mill Pond No 14.

Fetcham Village Heritage Trail Map and full instructions are FREE to download from our website www.fetchamresidents.co.uk Produced by Fetcham Residents Association.

Find out more about Fetcham village, the houses and the people who lived here, there’s lots to see. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

St Clements Yew & Tea Tree Cottages Fetcham Lodge Home Farm Infants’ School Fetcham Cottage St Mary’s Church

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 12a. 12

Fetcham Park House The Salt Box The Well House Ballands Hall Orchard Cottage The Reading Room

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Ashtead Community Vision Your plan needs YOUR vote When you go to the polls on May 4th you’ll receive ballot papers for both the County Council election and for the referendum being held on the Ashtead Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). The NDP is an important planning policy document that, if adopted, will affect development decisions in Ashtead for the foreseeable future. It contains policies and explanatory text covering character (both built and green), housing, the local economy, infrastructure and the environment. If adopted, the NDP will become Mole Valley District Council’s (MVDC) first point of reference when considering future planning applications in Ashtead. MVDC formally designated Ashtead’s Forum in July 2013 following an Ashtead-wide public consultation that sought residents’ views about its proposed members. The Forum has carried out wide engagement with Ashtead’s residents and businesses throughout the preparation of the NDP and the development of its policies. This has included a number of public consultations, regular press articles, use of social media and the delivery of regular newsletters to every household in Ashtead.

authorities, for example: schools planning, road infrastructure, transport and healthcare, which are within the County Council’s remit. So don’t look for these issues in Ashtead’s plan. The new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is now in place and developers must make a contribution to infrastructure of £175 per sq. metre on all new homes being built. Local communities will be allocated a percentage of the CIL to spend on projects in their area that will be chosen following consultation between MVDC and the community; at present the local allocation is 15% of the CIL but should the NDP be adopted this allocation will increase to 25%, which could mean some £50,000 per annum available for these projects. The last step before the NDP can become part of the planning policies for Ashtead is the referendum on 4th May. The referendum question will be: “Do you want Mole Valley District Council to use the neighbourhood plan for Ashtead to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?” If 50% or more of those voting say YES, then the plan will be adopted as part of MVDC planning policy. Tony Tuley

An NDP must generally conform to, and positively support, the strategic policies of MVDC’s Local Plan for the area. Ashtead’s plan has been developed in line with MVDC’s current Local Plan and the NDP seeks to strengthen the Council’s existing core policies. It has passed a formal review by an independent planning inspector, who said that “The Plan …. seeks to bring forward positive and sustainable development in the plan area.” The NDP is specifically about land use and cannot be used to stop development. It also cannot dictate policy on a number of development activities covered by other

Please support YOUR Village Development Plan and vote “YES” on 4th May You can read or download the Ashtead Neighbourhood Development Plan on the Ashtead Community Vision (ACV) website at: www.ashteadcommunityvision.org.uk/ or read a printed copy at Ashtead Library 14

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Sudokus

Solutions on page 92

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Saturday 6th MAY 9am-5pm LOCAL PARKING

Mole Valley Police Column Noise Nuisance / Littering / Thefts from Cars

he spring and summer months should be a time to be enjoyed by everyone but, sometimes, things can be spoiled by a few people behaving inconsiderately. It is easy to assume that this is all the fault of young people on school holidays but that is not always the case. Parties and barbeques in gardens are an enjoyable feature of summer (when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not raining!) but they can cause annoyance to neighbours if they carry on into the late evening and night on a regular basis. Some people have young children who need their sleep! As a general courtesy, do consider telling your neighbours if you are planning a party, or perhaps invite them to come along too!

Littering can also be a problem on recreation grounds and on local streets in general. If reported to police we normally refer the matter to the relevant person at Mole Valley District Council. It is tempting on occasions to challenge littering when you see it happening but do consider your own safety and we would never recommend anyone putting themselves in a position where they could receive abuse. If you have any concerns with regards to littering please contact Mole Valley District Council on 01306 873540. At the risk of repeating myself, do please remember to remove any valuables from your car when you are out and about for the day. Opportunist thieves are known to target car parks at beauty spots and they know it is common practice to hide things under the seats and it the glove compartments. Please take all your valuable items with you if you are on a day out - hiding them in the boot is not an option!

In most cases, noise nuisance is not really a police matter and should be reported to Environmental Health Officers at Mole Valley District Council. We do, however, receive a number of calls every year from disgruntled neighbours and members of the public when a party gets out of hand and could result in a breach of the peace. Alcohol is nearly always a contributory factor when police have to get involved. If young people are out and about going to parties, please try to ensure that these events are supervised by adults and that there is a control on alcohol being available. It is not a good idea to give young people a few beers to take to a party as it is illegal for them to be in possession on alcohol under the age of 18. If police were to stop them, the alcohol will be confiscated and poured away. Parks, recreation grounds and open green spaces are also intended to serve the whole community and it can be intimidating if large groups of people gather on them without warning and behave inconsiderately. If anyone feels intimidated or threatened in any way, do call the police on 999. Some communities have already asked police to consider anti-social behaviour on local

recreation grounds as priority issues and we will always try to attend if possible.

Neil Clarke, 13363 Crime Reduction Advisor - Eastern Division PO Box 101, Guildford, Surrey GU1 9PE To contact Neil Clarke direct, please call: Tel: 101 Extension 30809 or 01483 630809 / 07467 3367783 or email: Neil.Clarke@surrey.pnn.police.uk Call 101 for all non-emergency policing matters. Call 999 if you have a genuine emergency requiring the attendance of the police (e.g. a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger). Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you have information about crime and don't want to leave your name.

For more crime prevention advice visit www.surrey.police.uk 18

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Simple Crossword

Across 7 Scratch (6) 8 Lower spine (6) 9 Settee (4) 10 Very young frogs (8) 11 Normally (7) 13 Closes (5) 15 Not heavy (5) 17 Moves up (7) 20 Keeps you dry (8) 21 Coffee shop (4) 23 Aggravates (6) 24 End (6) Down 1 Repeat (4) 2 Yellow fruit (6) 3 E.g. snake (7) 4 Scottish river (5) 5 Level (6) 6 Skilled (8)

13 14

19 20

12 14 16 18 19 22

Dieting (8) Mortified (7) Terror (6) Getaway (6) Dental care (5) Blaze (4) Solution on page 92

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Answers on page 92

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‘Frozen’ Eggs for Breakfast! A couple of weeks ago, around twenty members of Dorking Business Breakfast Group attended the group’s weekly breakfast meeting at Betchworth Park Golf Club to hear group member Charlotte Perren, the founder and owner of Dorking-based letting agents, Perren Property, give an excellent presentation about her company. Unfortunately, however, Charlotte was somewhat upstaged by fellow group member, Sharon Felton, the new owner of Dorking Domestic Appliances, who turned up at the meeting dressed as Princess Elsa from Disney’s ‘Frozen’, to explain to the group the different star ratings on domestic freezers before giving everyone present a ‘Frozen’ Easter Egg!

Pictured left: Sharon Felton, the new owner of Dorking Domestic Appliances, with Charlotte Perren 24

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Call the mediator When someone has died and the content of his or her Will comes to light, it can feel to those who are grieving like a statement of the deceased’s love and affection for them. When a child, sibling, spouse or other family member is excluded from a Will, any reasoning the testator may have had for that decision is all too often lost, which can leave the disappointed beneficiary feeling resentful. When a person becomes aware that they have been excluded from, or left less than they might have expected in a Will, their feelings of inadequacy or of being unloved can appear to others to be attributable to greed. People feel guilty that they are even thinking about contesting the Will of a deceased loved one, but it is not greedy to want to feel equal to your siblings, or loved by your late spouse; nor is it unreasonable to want to investigate any suspicious circumstances surrounding the preparation and execution of a Will which seems irrational or unfair. At TWM Solicitors we are passionate advocates of mediation in order to settle the family disputes which can arise in these circumstances. We find that mediation can help to uphold relationships that would have broken down had the case gone to court. Mediation helps maintain the estate’s assets better than engaging in emotional and financially costly litigation which can cause further friction amongst beneficiaries in an already fraught

situation. Mediation can also, unlike protracted litigation, stop the matter being dragged out for longer than necessary, enabling family members to benefit more quickly from certainty and closure. Conversely, mediation can also assist when family relations have broken down to the point where members of the family really do not want to see one another any more. At mediation, parties generally sit in their own private rooms with their legal teams and the mediator ‘commutes’ between them. This means that the parties never actually meet at the mediation, and in turn ensures that there is no need to endure the uncomfortable ‘evil eyes’ that are so often seen in the court room. TWM Solicitors’ Contentious Trusts and Probate team have promoted many successful mediations, with the settlements benefiting both parties. If any of the above strikes a chord with you, or you have any queries or concerns about your own situation arising out of this article, please contact Candy Stockton who will be happy to assist you. Candy Stockton: candy.stockton@twmsolicitors.com

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Where the hell is ‘x’?

The room was huge. There were rows and rows of wooden desks stretching forward until they disappeared into tiny dots in the distance. Ruth looked around her. She was floating in a sea of desks. Chairs scraped on the wooden floor, setting her teeth on edge. The windows were at a high level and the tops of green-black fir trees were pointing their way into the blue sky and fluffy white clouds above.

Ruth looked at the first question. “If a man was walking down the road at 3 miles per hour and was overtaken by another man on a bicycle travelling at 10 miles per hour, what time would he reach London?” She read the question over and over again but couldn’t put down an answer. The second question was as confusing as the first. Measure the angle below and state whether it is acute, obtuse or adjacent. Adjacent to what? Ruth reached for her protractor only to find that it was completely clear. There were no measurements on it at all – it was just a transparent semi-circle of plastic!

The chairs were populated by teenagers in navy blazers with large knotted blue ties sitting several inches below their correct positions. Beautiful girls with long wavy hair flicked their curls and fluttered their eyes at smirking boys at nearby desks. Sour body odour mingled with cheap ‘Charlie’ perfume and even cheaper ‘American Tan’ tights.

Ruth looked around her. Everyone was focused on his or her work. They were all smiling and every few seconds, a student would punch the air with excited satisfaction. Ruth started to sweat. Her pen was now leaking over her desk and a deep stain had appeared on her white shirtsleeve.

Ruth looked down at her clear plastic bag containing all her carefully chosen equipment. There was a protractor, ruler and compass together with HB pencils, rubber, sharpener and a fountain pen with spare cartridges. Ruth opened the bag and took out a pencil. She suddenly realised it was completely blunt. In fact, all the pencils were blunt. She found the sharpener and got to work. The pencils went round and round as long strings of curly sharpenings collected on the desk. The points kept breaking off. She kept turning and turning until only tiny red stumps remained. She placed them in a line at the top of the desk, took out her pen and opened the lid. A thick globule of blueblack ink seeped out of the nib and onto her fingers.

The next question was even more perplexing. It just said ‘Find x’. Find ‘x’? Where the hell was she supposed to find ‘x’? Where was it? Where had it gone? She looked everywhere but it was nowhere to be seen. She rummaged through all the papers, trying to find the elusive ‘x’. There were hundreds and hundreds of questions. There were percentages, venn diagrams and long division, there were logarithms and bar charts and pie charts and probabilities. There were fractions upon fractions but no sign of an ‘x’ anywhere… Ruth turned over the last page of the exam paper and there it was. She took her stubby pencil and wrote her answer.

The head teacher, Miss Trimble, took her place at the front. She seemed so far away that it was difficult for Ruth to hear what was being said. She picked up something about the seriousness of the occasion, the need for silence and the perils that would befall anyone caught looking at their neighbour’s desk or interacting in any way. She thought she heard something about prosecution and going to prison but perhaps she was mistaken. After a few minutes of warnings and information about fire alarms and time keeping, teachers floated round the room, distributing pale yellow exam documents to every student. A sheaf of papers fluttered their way onto Ruth’s desk and lay waiting for the instruction to “turn over and commence.”

She heard the fire alarm sound. It wouldn’t stop. It was loud and piercing. She hadn’t finished the exam! All her answers were wrong! Ruth opened her eyes. The alarm clock was flashing 7am. It was Monday morning and her son Ben had a Maths exam to get to...

Copyright Sarah Lott April 2017 Website: www.thememorybook.co.uk Email: sarah@thememorybook.co.uk Telephone: 07957 598348 Facebook: The Memory Book

Mrs Trimble gave a dramatic pause as she waited for the huge wall clock to read exactly nine o’clock. “You may now begin and God have mercy on your soul…” Ruth turned the paper over. It was a Maths exam. For some reason she had been expecting history. She had revised history… A wave of panic spread from her feet to the top of her head and she felt faint.

The Memory Book Company – Helping you preserve precious family memories. 26

Another Bag-a-Sand* from Ashtead Rotary *Bag-a-Sand, (rhyming slang, a Grand, £1000)

Back in March, our President Julie Haines presented a Cheque for £1000 to the Conservatory Club, Leatherhead [part of Mid Surrey Dementia Care Trust]. While thanking the Rotary Club of Ashtead, Chairman of Trustees, Glynis Peterkin said how valuable this donation is to the Conservatory Club in maintaining the services it provides especially in the face of recent severe financial challenges. Based at the Fairfield Centre in Leatherhead The Conservatory Club is a self-help group. The Club offers a friendly, social environment for a small number of people with early and mild dementia and memory problems, helping them to retain their communication and social skills. It also provides respite for carers – a welcome break from the demanding responsibilities of caring. Activities are organised such as playing cards, doing puzzles, quizzes, having a sing-song, reminiscing about earlier times, very occasionally escorting people on a local walk to the shops and sometimes further afield on a group coach outing. Lunch, tea and coffee are provided each day. The funds, which Ashtead Rotary provide, come from the charitable activities which occur through the year. The next, most importantly, is Ashtead Rotary Village Day on Saturday 10th June. We need volunteers to help us. Please contact Sharon via Facebook, Twitter, www.ashteadrotary.org, even if you can offer only one hour. Thank you. The most fun, enjoyable and rewarding work you will ever do.

Ashtead Rotary President Julie Haines with members of The Conservatory Club and Trustees John Kester (centre back), Glynis Peterkin & Rob Rennie right of him and Mary Hutchison left 28

Shops & Services

Gardeners’ World at 50

RHS Wisley, 1st - 30th June 2017 In 1967, the BBC took the decision to launch a brand new programme, a half hour each week on BBC2 dedicated purely to gardening. Broadcast from a real allotment in Birmingham, the show featured tips and advice from expert gardeners and inspired the public with full colour footage of new plants and flowers. It was an instant success, Gardeners’ World was born. 50 years on, Gardeners’ World is now Britain’s longest running gardening show. This exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of the programme, celebrating five decades of broadcasting and heralding many more to come as gardening continues to hold its place as one of our most beloved national pastimes. The exhibition, at RHS Garden sites around the country, will explore changes in gardening trends over the lifetime of the show from the 1960s to the present day. It will bring together material from the BBC archives and the RHS Library collections to look at the events and innovations that have transformed the way we garden and how we feel about the role of our gardens as part of our everyday lives.

RHS Garden Wisley, Mon-Fri: 10am - 6pm Sat-Sun: 9am - 6pm

Geoff Hamilton, presenter 1979-1996, courtesy and copyright Steve Hamilton 30

Shops & Services

Help for you at home I offer the following helpful services: • Help with shopping / trip to hairdressers • Lift to/from Doctor / Hospital appointments • • • •

can stay with you Companionship Local outings Light gardening / looking after pets Reasonable rates

Call Lynn on

01372 383001 / 07713 132546

IRONING SERVICE Prompt & Reliable Service Collected & Delivered Competitive Rates

Call Tracey 01372 200583

Freephone 0800 999 2900 or 020 8661 9671

Relationships This month’s books are all about relationships, from first loves and families to fleeting friendships. Lucky Boy –

Shanthi Sekaran

Mexican Solimar risks everything to start a new life in America, but as an illegal immigrant she has few rights. When she’s thrown into a detention centre, her son is placed in foster care. Kavya is an American-Indian chef desperate for a child. When she’s given Solimar’s toddler to care for it seems like a dream come true. One boy – two mothers, both of whom will do everything in their power in order to keep him. An emotional rollercoaster of a read, this looks set to become one of this year’s bestsellers.

The Lonely Hearts Hotel – Heather O’Neill

Pierrot and Rose grow up together in a Montreal orphanage. They bond over a shared love of entertaining people, but go their separate ways as teenagers. Reunited years later, they set out to realise their childhood dream of running their own stage show. Their path isn’t an easy one, however. They both have demons to face, and Rose’s wants her dead. A highly entertaining read, with beautiful, lyrical prose and characters you’ll be rooting for from the beginning.

A Big Dose of Lucky (Secrets) – Marthe Jocelyn

When the Canadian orphanage they live in burns down in 1964, seven teenage girls set out to discover the secrets of their pasts. Seven authors have each chosen one girl’s story to write. The result is the Secrets series. In A Big Dose of Lucky, Malou heads to a small town in Ontario, hoping to find her birth parents. Malou is mixed race, shy and desperate to fit in. The truth of her birth may give her the family she craves, even if it’s not the one she imagined. An enjoyable read that will leave you eager to read the rest of the series.

A Gentleman in Moscow – Amor Towles

The gentleman of the title is Count Alexander Rostov. Following the Russian Revolution, the Count is sentenced to house (or in this case, hotel) arrest, indefinitely. Given work as a waiter in the hotel restaurant, he forges close friendships with some of the other inhabitants. While his view is mainly confined to what he can see out of his tiny window, Rostov is able to observe and ruminate on a tumultuous Russia over the course of four decades. You’ll savour every word. 32

My Sweet Revenge – Jane Fallon

When Paula finds out her husband is having an affair, she decides to win him back – so that she can be the one who breaks the marriage up. She befriends his mistress, Saskia, and sets out on a mission to lose weight, get fit and become the woman he wants. Paula recruits Saskia’s husband, Josh, to help and together they set out to make the cheaters’ lives a misery. An easy read that’s perfect for lazy sunny afternoons.

See You in the Cosmos – Jack Cheng

11 year old Alex loves everything to do with space. So he builds a rocket and sets off for a rocket festival in Mexico. His plan is to launch his rocket into space, attached to an iPod on which Alex is recording his thoughts and feelings about his family and the people he meets on his journey. While it’s been catalogued as a children’s book, See You in the Cosmos definitely has crossover appeal. Fresh, imaginative and full of energy, this is perfect for fans of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Shops & Services

Talk to Extra Help for the complete solution We can help with: • • • • • • • • • • •

Cleaning & tidying Ironing Gardening Dog walking Household maintenance Shopping Meal preparation Elderly companionship Respite for carers Personal assistants Computer / IT support

Family run business Est. 1998

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Fully Insured Free Estimates

Call Rhys on

07957 209708

...and so much more! From £13 per hour.

rhyscleaneasy@gmail.com

We do our utmost to offer continuity of the helper, whilst maintaining a high level of care and support.

Tel: 01372 285285 www.extra-help.co.uk

Shops & Services

Thank you for publishing the information about our trueCall Care initiative, Zen. We have already had enquiries from local people who have read about the project in The Ashtead & Leatherhead Local. Thanks and regards. Katherine Preston, Senior Trading Standards Specialist, Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards

Answers on page 92

Shops & Services

Barry O’Leary

Carpet & Flooring Specialist With over 38 years in the carpet and flooring trade, I can offer you an affordable, reliable and quality service, of which I am very proud. Carpet Carpet Tiles Karndean Moduleo Vinyl Wood Laminate

Single Oven £45.00

• • • •

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Call for quote

www.barryoleary.co.uk

01372 276665

76 The Street, Ashtead, KT21 1AW www.profilecleaning.co.uk

Shops & Services

L. HAWKINS & SONS LTD FUNERAL DIRECTORS

Personal 24 hour service from a privately funded family business SERVING LEATHERHEAD, ASHTEAD, BOOKHAM AND SURROUNDING AREAS

01372 372435 HIGHLANDS ROAD, LEATHERHEAD, KT22 8ND

WE SELL & REPAIR • WASHING MACHINES • DISHWASHERS REFRIGERATION • COOKERS • TUMBLE DRYERS, ETC YOUR LOCAL FAMILY RUN BUSINESS

We’re on our way!

01372 748275 29 Waterloo Road, Epsom, KT19 8EX

email: info@suddies.co.uk website: www.suddies.co.uk

Shops & Services

Bargain 80/20 Wool Twist - was £37.50m² - now £19.99m² 100% Wool Loop, Natural Shades - an absolute bargain at £15.99m²

e’

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The Rotary Club of Ashtead

Village Day Cherished Car Run - Saturday 10th June 2017 Do you have a special, cherished, vintage, veteran, classic, 'super-car' or restored commercial vehicle? Then please do join us for our magnificent 34th annual Rotary Village Day. Cars will assemble at 11am with coffee and biscuits for all entrants in front of the grand house (a great photo-opportunity) at the City of London Freemen's School, Ashtead Park KT21 1ET

ST922 is the sole survivor of a Tilling ST with open staircase, c. 1930 and will be on display on the day. (Courtesy of Cobham Bus Museum)

The Procession will leave the school at 11.50 to parade through The Street, Ashtead at mid-day. From there we will proceed en route to the Queen Elizabeth II Recreation Field, Barnett Wood Lane. On arrival vehicles will be met by Rotary Stewards who will escort the Procession through the grounds to parade in front of 6000 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8000 people. Then they will join the static display on the grassed area next to the entrance and the road. Any entrant who is unable to stay for the duration of the show may leave easily from there.

The 2016 procession was led by a beautiful 1901 Mors (courtesy of The Royal Automobile Club) with our principle guest Miss Surrey, Sophie King.

Every year Ashtead Rotary Village Day draws enthusiastic crowds of people of all age groups from Mole Valley and greater Surrey. This year as an additional attraction we will have a circus with its own big top, clowns, jugglers and trapeze artists. With arena events and over 100 stalls we will bring a big appreciative audience to your prized vehicles.

Further details and application form from Procession Co-ordinator Sarah Brown at sarahbrown@cantab.net or Tim Ashton at ashton.tim1@ntlworld.com 38

Technology

Keep Your Services Secure More and more of us rely on online services, such as Apple’s iCloud, Google Accounts or Microsoft Accounts. And those services are great, but you really don’t want them to fall into the wrong hands. For example, if someone can get into your iCloud account they can spend your money in iTunes, the App Store and the Mac App Store, access your email, get into your photo library and access anything you’ve stored on iCloud Drive. The answer: add an extra layer of protection with two-factor authentication, or 2FA for short. 2FA takes your existing username and password and then adds an extra bit of security, most commonly a text message with a one-off code that’s sent to your phone. Even if someone knows your password, they can’t get in without the code. Google, Apple, Microsoft and many others support 2FA, and it’s definitely worth using.

FOR ALL YOUR COMPUTING NEEDS Friendly Local Service For SALES - REPAIRS - UPGRADES REMOTE ASSISTANCE - CALLOUTS TELEPHONE : 01372 801545

THE STREET - FETCHAM - SURREY - KT22 9RD

www.tekmate.co.uk 39

Food & Drink

Heritage Open Days 2017 Event Registration Open

Residents, businesses and organisations in Mole Valley eager to take part in England’s largest festival of history and culture, are being encouraged to come forward with ideas for events. This year’s Heritage Open Days will run, under the theme ‘Wheels in Motion’, from 7 – 10 September and celebrate the district’s diverse heritage. Last year, hundreds of residents and visitors delighted in uncovering hidden history, exploring fascinating exhibitions and opening doors – all free of charge – at 70 events across Mole Valley as part of the four-day festival. During last year’s event, visitors arrived in their droves to explore a wide range of events. Thorncroft Manor, The Grange, Dalewood House and Flint Cottage all proved particularly popular, but there were so many other hidden gems people enjoyed too.

If you are interested in registering an event for the September 2017 festival, please email rod.shaw@molevalley.gov.uk For more information on the festival go to www.heritageopendays.org.uk.

Jane Austen at Thorncroft Manor, Leatherhead 42

Art, Jewellery & Gifts

∗ Bespoke Framing ∗ Framed Originals & Limited Edition Prints ∗ Gifts & Jewellery ∗ Cards ∗ Ready Made Frames & Mounts

22 Bridge Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8BZ

Tel: 01372 377363

Answers on page 47 43

Health & Beauty

How to help your GP to help you! With summer on the horizon, there is much to look forward to and there are useful points to remember in an endeavour to keep well and healthy without the need to visit your GP.

•

• • •

Summer brings for many, the discomfort of Hay Fever. However, there are many medications available over the counter but it is wise, primarily, to take advice from your local Pharmacist. We all look forward to summer sun and much has been mentioned of the need to have good Vitamin D levels but it is most important to remember to wear a hat and apply a good sunscreen. Keeping well hydrated is also high on the list and this is particularly important for an elderly relative or friend as they often "forget" to drink as much as they should. If you are travelling, it is very important to visit the Practice Nurse at least 6 weeks before you travel to ensure you have time to complete all the necessary vaccinations! The Nurse is more up to date than your GP. Last but by no means least, try to walk at least 30 minutes a day and consider joining a walking or rambling group - of which there are many, in order not only to enjoy our beautiful countryside but also to improve our health as walking is great for cardiovascular, mental health, osteoporosis and much more...

We all, from time to time, become unwell and ask ourselves "should I go to the doctor?" To answer this question, knowing that appointments can, on occasion, be hard to book we took the opportunity to ask the Practice for a few useful tips and this is what we discovered:

• •

• • • • •

For the first 7 days of illness, you do not need a sick note from the GP - your can selfcertify. Both Ashlea surgeries have a blood pressure machine in the waiting room. This means you can take your own BP and hand the readings to the receptionist. All readings are reviewed by a nurse and you will receive a phone call from the Practice should you need a follow up appointment with a doctor. This often means that a further appointment is not necessary. Your GP has no training in dentistry. If you have a dental problem, please go to a dentist and not your GP! Should you need an appointment for minor injuries, change of dressings, scalds etc, you need to book with the Nurse and not the GP. Nurses are much better at dealing with these problems. For advice on contraceptives, female issues, HRT etc, please book an appointment with the Well Women Clinic Antibiotic eye drops/cream is available, for both children and adults, from your pharmacy and a GP appointment is not necessary. Among the more common ailments, a sore throat will last up to 7 days, a common cold 10 days and a cough or bronchitis 21 days. Your GP will be unable to help during these early stages of the virus but advice is available from your Pharmacist should you wish to be reassured.

Issued by the Ashlea PPG

Health & Beauty

• Well-Established Modern Practice • Fully Air Conditioned • Same Day Emergency Service • Cosmetic Dentistry including Tooth • • • •

Whitening & Advanced Facial Aesthetics Full Disabled Access Hygienist Service NHS For Children Easy Parking

Dr Sue Taylor

Dr R Woodriffe

Dr M Talbot

Dr T Than

Phone Now for an Appointment 01372 363670 135 Cobham Road, Fetcham, KT22 9HX 45

Health & Beauty

£1,000 is Just Grand from The Epsom Club! Big hearted members of the Epsom Club have been filling the charity collection boxes on the bar for a year – and when Epsom Medical Equipment Fund organiser Bess Harding was invited to see the result, she was “absolutely delighted”. Over a buffet supper with members and presentation by Bess, the club’s finance manager Ray Welsh handed over a cheque for £1,002.89p (pic left). Raffles and other fund raising events helped boost the figure. “It was a pleasure to help Bess’s valuable work to go on,” said Ray. Bess who is currently raising £60,040 to purchase an anorectal scanner which can assess and treat patients with incontinence added:”It is a wonderful result and so kind of people.” The registered charity has raised over £4 million since Bess launched it in 1979.

Fraudsters are using tiny pinhole cameras on cash machines to steal your details, police warn The Police are warning the public about tiny cameras being placed in cash machines by fraudsters. The warning came after a pinhole camera was discovered by one eagle-eyed member of the public at a cashpoint in London. The Police said, ‘The image on the left shows a fraudsters’ camera bar recovered from an ATM near St Paul’s London. Please remember to shield your pin number when using a cash machine.’

Pinhole camera concealed behind this strip

Pictograms: 1. Breaking News

2. Spread The Word

3. The Coast Is Clear

Health & Beauty

Leatherhead Podiatry Volunteers Needed!

Love your feet!

Help keep the Leatherhead NCT Branch running to support local parents.

Lesley Pennington S.R.Ch., D.Pod.M., B.Sc.Hons., HPC reg

No experience is required to help out!

25 years experience

• Corns • Calluses • Orthotics • Ingrowing Toe Nails • Verrucae

We understand that you are busy with

• Problematic Nails • Athlete’s Foot • Bunions • Sports Injuries • Heel Pain

family life and other commitments. We have roles to suit you no matter how much time you have to give from helping at Nearly New Sales a couple of times a year to helping to coordinate the branch team. All roles can be shared, so why not

10% off your first appointment on production of this ad (offer ends 31st May 2017)

get together with a friend to share a particular role - it makes it more fun!

01372 374125

Email: leatherhead@nct.org.uk

63b High Street, Leatherhead

Facebook: NCT Leatherhead & District Branch

Summer is on its way! How do you look forward to the arrival of lighter evenings and warmer days? With joyful anticipation or dread? Does it bring thoughts of relaxation or of your neighbour’s noisy BBQs, loud radios in the garden, kids kicking their football against your car or continuously knocking on your door for retrieval of their ball? Does your garden fall into the shade of an overgrown tree or hedge, or your neighbour’s weeds infiltrate your garden? If so, Mediation may be able to help you resolve your conflicts. Mid-Surrey Mediation Services has been set up to help you reach an acceptable solution. It has a high success rate and is independent of the Police, Local Council, Housing Associations or any other authority. Mediators, with permission, will visit all parties individually to listen to all concerns and then with everyone willing, will set up a meeting at a neutral venue with the aim of reaching resolution. The Mediation Service is offered at no cost to you, so really there is nothing to lose!

Find out more at www.msmediation.org.uk or telephone 075132 524 241 48

Health & Beauty

Cookie “Hello, my name is Cookie and I am an all black, small, friendly, 9 year old female cat (the white 'bib‘ you may see is just the flash!). Sadly I can no longer live with my owner so I am now in care looking for a permanent new home. I love my chin and head being tickled and have an unusual meow; apparently I sound like a lamb!! I love company and with a little TLC I will make a wonderful companion for a family – but I would need to be the only pet. Why not come and visit me or phone to find out more details?” If you feel you could give Cookie the loving home she so deserves please call SUE on 020 8390 3165 for further information. Epsom Ewell & District Branch http://www.epsom.cats.org.uk

If you cannot adopt a cat but would still like to help us please go to: www.justgiving.com/Epsom-Cats-Protection www.cats.org.uk

Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

Arts Alive 2017 - Register your event by 12th May The festival will be launched in September with creative celebrations in Dorking and Leatherhead. There will also be a closing party for the first time in the festival’s history.

restaurants, pubs and shops.

Arts Alive is a month long community arts festival running in October 2017. Typically the festival runs from 1st - 31st October, however we are more than happy to include arts events in September and November. It’s a great way to support the local economy by encouraging more people to visit our cafés,

Whether you are a choir, visual arts, theatre group or any other creative arts group, we would love to have you involved in Arts Alive! You can have participated in previous years, and we also encourage new faces to be involved too! Registration fees: £20 for 1 event listing, £10 for subsequent listings. Please note that we also offer grants for not for profit organisations registering their event with Arts Alive. The grant request form can also be found on the website listed below. Follow @ArtsAliveMV on Twitter and @molevalleyartsalive on Facebook for all the latest news.

Please do get thinking of how you would like to participate in the festival and this will then be listed in the Arts Alive 2017 brochure, which will be distributed across Mole Valley. Registration forms can be found in http://www.arts-alive.co.uk 50

Health & Beauty QUALIFIED COUNSELLOR

Margaret Spice

MA, BA (Hons.), MBACP, BICA • • • •

Abuse Anxiety Depression Bereavement

• • •

Loss of Confidence Relationships All aspects of Infertility

Ashtead Practice Tel: 01372 277802

www.surreycounsellor.co.uk

Your magazine is one of the best local magazines ― it is a credit to you. Credit where credit’s due Zen, you obviously work hard. Gill Kassar, Aspen Live in Care Service

The small, local, friendly, GREAT VALUE garage between Leatherhead and Guildford

Specialists in all VW Group vehicles, large and small. Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda.

Servicing & Repairs • ABS brakes • Clutches • Tyres • Exhausts • Diagnostics • Air conditioning

All Makes Welcome We also service and repair other makes so please call with your enquiry

Performance Tuning Increase your engine’s efficiency Free Loan Car Available while we work on your car Tel: 01483 285792 Email: info@ct-cars.co.uk www.ctcars.co.uk

Where to find us Open View Farm, Epsom Road, West Horsley, Surrey KT24 6AP

Taxis & Garages | Education & Tuition

WATERCOLOUR CLASSES With Frances Jordan BA (Hons) Fine Art

Always wanted to paint but not had the confidence? Small friendly classes beginners welcome. Still life, flower & landscape watercolour techniques Mondays 1.45pm - 4pm at Fetcham Village Hall, The Street, KT22 9QS Thursdays 9.45am-12pm & 1.45pm - 4pm at Old Barn Hall, Church Rd Great Bookham, KT23 3PQ

Please contact

Frances Jordan

Tel: 01372 377079

E: francesjordan@talktalk.net W: www.francesjordan.com

Free computer courses for the over 55s If you are over 55 and live in the Mole Valley area, you can use Age Concern’s free computer courses based in either Dorking or Leatherhead. The course runs once a week for 6-8 weeks with the option of additional weeks to reinforce and build on what you’ve learned. Topics covered will include: internet browsing, basic keyboard and mouse skills, using an iPad/ Tablet, setting up and using your own email or Skype accounts, and how to shop on the internet as well. Those who already own a laptop or an iPad/Tablet are encouraged to bring it to learn on, but computers will be provided as well – it’s up to you!

Before coming to the course, you must register your interest by telephoning 07442 017169 / 01306 899104 or by emailing us on: info@ageconcernmolevalley.org.uk Charity No 1111678

‘Our’ Abi - going from strength to strength! European Youth Olympic representation Overall U21 Inter-Schools Champion

Abi joined her school mates in March for the Artemis BSA InterSchools champs in Pila, Italy. St John's School Leatherhead finished joint 8th out of 120 schools including some international schools - a fantastic achievement. Abi then went on to the British Championships in Tignes. With a punishing schedule of eight races over six days, Abi had set her sights on achieving a few U18 podiums. After the first four events, the SuperG and Downhill National Champs and National Junior Races, Abi was leading the U18 overall standings as well as the overall Junior (U21) title chase! First the National Championship races were concluded. Winning and dominating the U18 NC downhill, SuperG and Slalom Events and coming second in the GS, saw her crowned Overall British U18 National Champion! Abi was presented with her trophies by HRH Prince Edward. Next it was the battle for the National Junior series. This was strongly contested with several of Britain's top U21 racers which came down to the final event (Slalom) on the last day. Abi was lying in second place with 200 points from the downhill, SuperG and GS events whilst one of her older Ambition team mates led with 245 points. After a week of glorious sunshine, the weather changed and the snow came down - it was all about who fought the hardest to finish the race. In the end, Abi triumphed, battling into third place and finishing with 260 points whilst some, including the championship leader, crashed out. Abi finished every run of every race over this gruelling week. In the process she put in 2 x personal best times and also scored a second place result in slalom to lower her FIS points further. Winning the Overall National Junior Championship in her first year of FIS is an incredible achievement and certainly hasn't been done by any other female athlete in recent history.

With an awareness of the devastating effects of cancer within her own family, Abi decided to donate 13" (33cm) of her hair to the Little Princess Trust, an organisation which provides wigs for children who are suffering from cancer. If you would like to text a donation of £5, you can by texting WIGS01 £5 to 70070 which goes directly to Little Princess Trust. Heather Bruce

To follow Abigail’s story to date, please visit: www.abibruce.co.uk 54

Clubs & Activities

Leatherhead Morning WI March Meeting A varied selection of goods have been arriving for the WI Sale at Marthaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market, we hope this will be a regular feature to raise much-needed funds. Our speaker for March was Kevin Crawley, from the Wey and Arun Canal Trust. He gave a fascinating history of its progress, from the early development to the present day, illustrated by projected photos. It showed the back-breaking and poorly paid work at the beginning. Nowadays, it is backed up by the enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers, who make a great contribution. Thanks to Kevin for giving us an insight into a mammoth project. Kevin was one of our many very interesting speakers. In addition to this, trips are arranged throughout the year. There was to be one to Worthing in June and a further one to Beaulieu in Hampshire in September. Come along to one of our meetings and see for yourself what we have to offer. A reminder that our meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month at Leatherhead Parish Hall at 10.15am and visitors are always welcome. For further information please ring 01372 374570. 55

Clubs & Activities

Remember how much fun it was to catch a fish? ...did you know all this and more is on your doorstep?

Membership gives you access to some of the most beautiful stretches of the River Mole, local ponds and concessionary rates to commercial fisheries within Surrey and Sussex.

Wildlife pond, Ashtead Park

Long Copse, Fetcham/Bookham border

Our new season has just started - join now!

The weir at Norbury Park, River Mole

For more info, call the Leatherhead & District Angling Soc Membership Secretary (Matthew) on 07940 892841, email: matthew@leatherheadangling.co.uk or visit: www.leatherheadangling.co.uk 56

Clubs & Activities

Mole Valley WI April Meeting Meriel Sexton, our President, welcomed members and visitors and wished members, with April birthdays a Happy Birthday. She then passed on news items for various events taking place soon. Meriel reported that the March Jumble Sale, raised an amazing ÂŁ1,100, with some money still to come. A superb result. Pat Hunt reported on the annual Council Meeting, held at Dorking Halls on the 27th March. Pat gave an interesting and detailed report. The guest speaker had been Jo Salter, the first UK female fighter pilot. Pat gave some amusing insights into Joâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s career. After refreshments our guest speaker, Jane Muddle, enlightened and enthralled us a with her tales of Madagascar. Not only did she give us a geography lesson but fascinated us with her stories of the people and their lives. Jane had a display of beautiful bags and hats made from raffia and dyed with natural dyes made from roots. The results were fabulous and four members modelled them for us. Jane judged the craft competition, a very hard task. Pam Gilbertson won with her magnificent tailored trouser suit. Our next meeting is on Tuesday 9th at 7.45pm. More details can be found by visiting our website: www.molevalleywi.btk.co.uk

Clubs & Activities

What’s On?

Leith Hill Place: Wedgwood at home A collection of Wedgwood ceramics will be on display at Leith Hill Place this year, returning to the house for the first time in over 50 years. Assembled by Ralph Wedgwood, cousin to the well-known composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, the collection contains over 140 pieces of Wedgwood ceramic ranging from tea sets to vases, beads and even a pair of earrings. Whilst most people associate Wedgwood china with the distinctive blue colour of the jasper ware, a kind of stoneware invented by Josiah Wedgwood in 1771 after countless experiments, the diversity of wares has always been a significant feature of the production. Jasper itself comes in a variety of colours as can be seen in the exhibition along with black basalt, creamware and even ‘first period’ bone china. Vaughan Williams inherited Leith Hill Place in 1944

Beads and a year later passed it to the National Trust, for

the benefit of the nation. The house was then let to Ralph Wedgwood, who made it his family home and proudly displayed his collection of Wedgwood ceramics.

Wedgewood basketweave dish

The exhibition is being held in memory of the late Sir Martin Wedgwood and will run from 28 April to 29 October Friday-Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 11am-5pm. Entrance to the exhibition is free, but admission charges for Leith Hill Place will apply. National Trust members receive free entry. A series of special events will be held throughout the year and will be advertised on the National Trust website:

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill-place

Wedgewood blue

What’s On?

Leatherhead Community Association Over the past few months organisers within the LCA have been planning their Summer programmes to start from the beginning of May. Now that the warmer weather is at least on its way first on the list are the walks that have been organised by Peter Humphreys. To quote Peter: ‘The walks are designed to be gentle and jolly; at modest pace, with few stiles, and easy gradients. The morning, 34 mile (“Short”) walks, lasting about 2 hours, alternate with 4-6 mile (“Longer”) walks. The latter incorporate a lunch or picnic break, but we usually adjourn for a snack after the short walks too.‘ The walks take place on the first and second Wednesday of each month and they start at 10.30am from a specified meeting point. This Summer they will visit many places in Surrey from Gomshall and Abinger, Bookham and Ashtead, Wisley and Shalford, but not all on the same day! These are just to whet your appetite, and Peter is always happy to give you much fuller details of a walk on any particular day. Please ring him on 01372 378347. Rosanna and Janet have already planned visits to Arundel Castle (pic right), the Bluebell Railway and the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park, and Gwen has planned very varied recorded music afternoons on the third Wednesdays of each month with a Desert Island Discs afternoon chosen by members in August. Don’t forget ‘Tea and Talks’ the first of which is on 12th May when Michael Gilbert continues his journey down the Thames, to be followed on 9th June when the daughter of John Noel, who was the official photographer for Mallory and Irvine’s ill-fated attempt to reach the summit of Everest in 1924, will talk about her father. Table Tennis and Snooker can be played every Monday afternoon and the Social Bridge Group and Book Club continue during the Summer months. Most of the activities in the Institute are free to Members, but non-members are always welcome for a small charge. Membership of the Institute is only £5 a year and it is well worth a visit to see all that goes on in the building, it is on the left at the top of the High Street, just by the traffic lights. There you can pick up the Newsletter which has full details of all the Summer events, and there is nearly always a cup of coffee or tea available in the library which is open every morning where you can borrow books as well as DVD’s.

Sarah is in the office every weekday morning from 9.30 - 12.30, and she is always very happy to give further information about joining a walk, a visit or tell you what the Institute is all about. Tel: 01372 360508 Email: lca2@btconnect.com. 60

What’s On?

Ashtead Rye Meadows Wetlands

Opening Ceremony Centenary Field Wednesday 24th May - 2pm

The ceremony will include contributions from many local schools in Ashtead (City of London Freemen’s School, Downsend School, The Greville School, West Ashtead School, St. Andrew’s Catholic School and St Peter’s Catholic School) that are recording profiles of the fallen soldiers, and this will be played during the day. The recordings will be in the first person as though a mother, wife, son or daughter were reading them. Also present will be Hugh Riley JP DL, Deputy Lieutenant for Surrey, Colonel (Retired) Patrick Crowley, MA, CIPR, Imogen Middleton from the Surrey History Centre, and representatives from the Surrey Infantry Museum. We also hope to show a film demonstrating the conditions in which the troops operated during the conflict prepared by the Surrey History Centre. We are very grateful for the assistance from The City of London Freemen’s School in making the recordings.

The Ashtead Rye Meadows Wetlands are 14 acres of meadow land spanning the Rye Brook from Ashtead Woods Road almost to the M25. Since work commenced on the land in 2011, volunteers have achieved a huge amount. In addition, working with professional contractors we have cleared stretches of the Rye Brook, widened the river and realigned the banks. One major piece of work was to create a wetland area with a new pond and several shallow depressions. At the same time we placed all the Rye Meadows under the umbrella of Fields in Trust which means that the land is protected in perpetuity and cannot be built upon.

We would like to welcome Ashtead residents to the opening ceremony and to visit the Centenary Field afterwards. Rye Meadows Volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions. Access is gained via the public footpath from Fairholme Crescent (off Bushey Shaw & Links Road) and there is parking in local roads, though please do park considerately so as not to annoy our neighbours.

Alongside this action, we have designated one field a Centenary Field to commemorate those 62 residents of Ashtead who fell in the Great War. The opening ceremony to commemorate this field will take place at 2pm on Wednesday 24th May 2017. Those present will include all the generous sponsors of Rye Meadows and these include A Plant, Thames Water, The Community Foundation For Surrey, Mole Valley District Council, The Thomas Flack Fund, Surrey County Council, Cllr. Chris Townsend, The Lower Mole Partnership and Surrey Wildlife Trust. Of course nothing could have been done at all without the support of George & Daphne Burnett, the land owners. Daphne Burnett has managed the land for 25 years and it was her original vision to create a Jubilee Wood and wildlife habitat on the Rye Meadows.

David Baker Chairman

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On?

What’s On?

Music on Thursdays

Leatherhead Methodist Church, Church Rd, KT22 8AY (LMC)

(Parking in the Swan Centre car par, behind Waitrose or car park off Church Road)

Music on Wednesdays Christ Church United Reformed Church, Epsom Road, KT22 9ST (CC)

12.30pm lunchtime concerts Featuring international students of the Royal Academy of Music, recent graduates, professional musicians, local musicians of similar standard and organists from around London, SE England and France

Concert admission is free with a retiring collection to cover costs Full details: musiconthursdays.org Thursday 4th May - LMC

The return of professional cellists Jacqueline Phillips and Julian Metzger with duos by cellist-composers Barrière and Klengel.

Songs from the Shows Friday 19th May

Concert with Sir Richard Stilgoe, Orpheus soloists and Guildford School of Acting Singers, Old Barn Hall, Bookham KT23 3QA. 7pm for 7.30pm. Organised by Bookham Rotary in aid of The Grange, featuring their patron and musician, Sir Richard Stilgoe. Tickets £16 (including light refreshments) from Grange@No5 shop, Church Road; The Vineries and Wishing Well Card Shop, all in Bookham or email: pandasimons15@yahoo.co.uk

Thursday 11th May - LMC

Soprano Nicola Berg's concert is titled Songs of the Countryside, her accompanist is Lynda Chang, with violinist Roland Appel

Thursday 17th May - CC

Organ concert by recitalist Gillian Lloyd, who is organist of Guildford URC, plays music by Bach, Stanley, Mendelssohn, Cocker and Vierne. Free concert with a retiring collection. Plenty of on-site parking. Details: musiconthursdays.org/organconcerts.html

Thursday 25th May - LMC

We welcome Lithuanian accordion player Aurimas Goris, from the London College of Music. 63

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On?

Change of venue for Topic of Cancer Support Group

Topic of Cancer is pleased to announce that they are relocating the Bookham/Horsley Support Group back into Bookham village after a couple of years away meeting at Thatcherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hotel. "Local charity Topic of Cancer was founded in 2009 to provide support groups for patients and their families experiencing cancer. Since that time they have set up groups across the south of England and as far away as Edinburgh. There are no fees and they offer an opportunity to meet with others who fully understand and are prepared to share their stories and discuss treatments in a casual and social environment. Sometimes there are guest speakers from science, medical, entertainment and charity organisations to educate and inspire members. The Bookham/Horsley Support Group has now moved to The Old Barn Hall in Great Bookham from 7.30pm and will meet there every 2nd Monday of each month afterwards. They would welcome anyone with an interest to call in and see what the group is about and enjoy some light refreshment. For more information email support.groups@topicofcancer.org.uk or contact Nigel Lewis-Baker on 01372 456025 to find out more."

What’s On?

Bookham Open Gardens

Sunday 18th June - 10am-5pm Enjoy looking at some lovely gardens and pick up ideas in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. At least 10 private gardens, the Grange Centre, Manor House School and Little Bookham Allotments will be open. Tickets on sale from May 19th : £5 in advance, £6 on the day, from the Old Barn Hall, Bookham KT23 3PQ (open Mon, Weds, Fri 9.30am-12pm) and other local outlets. You can also buy them at the first garden you visit. Proceeds go towards the upkeep of the Old Barn Hall where on the day there will be refreshments, a grand raffle, and some stalls. Free minibus transport around the garden route. For more information visit www.bookhamopengardens.co.uk, look for ‘Bookham Open Gardens’ on Facebook, or contact Tina Hutton on 01372 457598 / Email: tina.hutton@btinternet.com BOOKHAM COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Registered Charity No. 1148881

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Dorking Halls - Friday 12th May

Opening the concert will be two of Mozart’s best-known pieces; the Overture to The Marriage of Figaro and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. The Orchestra will be joined the by the outstanding soloist Raphael Wallfisch for a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme. Closing the concert will be one of the most instantly recognisable pieces of classical music; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5. Opening with four imposing chords, this piece has been sampled in every genre and here is your chance to hear it in its full, imposing glory. Tickets: £30.50, £26.50, £2150, £15.50; Friends of Dorking Halls: £2 discount; Students & Under 16s £10.00 (Maximum 50 tickets); Schools: £10.00 per tickets, Teachers go for Free (Maximum 50 tickets). Book online at www.dorkinghalls.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01306 881717. 65

What’s On?

The Leatherhead Drama Festival Bank Holiday Monday 1st May till the Gala Awards Night Saturday 13th May at the Leatherhead Theatre Still the biggest amateur Drama Festival of its kind in Britain!

VARIED & EXCITING PROGRAMME The two weeks of drama will feature 17 Junior and 11 Adult plays. The programme looks very exciting and includes eleven completely new plays. Local groups performing include: Applause Youth Theatre , Dorking; St. John’s School, Leatherhead; Reed’s School, Cobham; Cobham Players; Akemi Theatre, Ashtead; Leatherhead Performing Arts, and Showroom Arts, Leatherhead with other local groups from Epsom, Ewell, Woking, Reigate, Chipstead, Claygate and Croydon. This year we also have return visits from groups from Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Basingstoke and Milton Keynes! With two or three plays each evening you are assured of a good night out, each and every night!

THE TROPHIES

The Drama Groups will be competing for the unique “Sir Michael Caine Drama Awards”,also Best Play, Best Actor and Best Actress, the “Richard Houghton Awards” for outstanding contribution, the “Fire & Iron New Writers Awards” and the new “Directors Awards”.

ADJUDICATION The Festival is a competition and the plays will be performed in front of the audience and a professional adjudicator, Paul Fowler, GoDA, (Member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators) who will assess each play and give his verbal adjudication at the end of each evening.

The Junior and Adult Winning plays will be re-performed at the Gala Awards Night on Saturday 13th May. Check the Festival web site for the programme and up-to-date information. leatherheaddramafestival.co.uk 66

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On?

What’s On?

WHAT’S ON IN MAY? Mon 1st Sat 13th

Annual Leatherhead Drama Festival, see pages 66-67 for more details and how to book.

Wed 3rd

Ashtead Flower Arrangement Group - Blooming Marvellous Show - see opposite for info.

Friday 5th

Friends of the former Stoneleigh Dancing Club, May Ball at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall 7.30pm. Ballroom and Latin dancing to Andrew Varley's Keyboard music. All welcome. Tickets in advance £16, M&S Refreshments, bar, dress formal - Details: Sue & Pat Hunt 01372 277938 or Ricky Lesser 01737 819699. Please respond by 30th April.

Monday 8th

Leatherhead Residents’ Association, Open Committee Meeting, Letherhead Institute, 7.30pm.

RHS Wisley Bat Walk, Wisley Lane, Woking, GU23 6QB. 8.15-10.15pm. Meet outside the main entrance at 8.15pm. Prepare for all weathers, wear sensible footwear, bring Thursday 11th bottled water and a torch - and use insect repellent! Free parking, please use car park 1. Adults £9, child £5, book by 9th May, call 020 3176 5830 quoting ref 14306. Saturday 13th

Bookham Flower Club will hold its Floral Design Show 'Spring Symphony' at the Old Barn Hall, Church Road, Great Bookham, KT23 3PQ, 12.30-5.30pm. Admission £3, under 12s free. Free parking and refreshments.

Saturday 13th

The Guild of Enamellers’ Open Day, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 11am-4pm, free entry. You are once again invited to try your hand at enamelling. Make your own coloured kiln-fired key ring or pendant for £5. We look forward to welcoming you.

Wed 17th

Leatherhead Horticultural Society hosts a talk by Vicki Cooke, Head Keeper on “The History and Development of the Royal Kitchen Garden at Hampton Court Palace” at Leatherhead Parish Hall at 8pm. Admission £3 includes refreshments.

Wed 17th

Nescot College Adults’ Open Evening, 6pm-8pm, North East Surrey College of Technology, Reigate Road, Ewell, Epsom, KT17 3DS. www.nescot.ac.uk/may2017

Saturday 20th

Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 7.30pm, Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Mark Fitz-Gerald. Weber, Overture Der Freischütz; Gordon Jacob, Violin Concerto; Soloist Clare Howick. Dvorák Symphony No.9 "New World". Tickets £14 (under 18s & students £9) from 01372 275907 www.surreyphil.org.uk

Wed 24th

Ashtead Rye Meadows Wetlands - Opening Ceremony Centenary Field, 2pm, see page 61 for more details.

Wed 24th

‘Woodman Five’ five mile trail on Ashtead Common (hosted by Run to Live Running Club with Ember Inns Woodman PH) to raise money for local charity www.interaktive.org.uk. A multi-terrain event, finishing with a quiz in the Woodman.7.30pm-9pm, Entry £12/ £14, www.runtolive.org.uk/woodmanfive

Saturday 27th

Leatherhead Horticultural Society host a Plant Sale & Coffee Morning at 19 The Mount, Fetcham from 10am to 12 noon. Entrance £2 includes refreshments. Attractions include Plant Sale, Cake Stall, Raffle and other activities.

SAVE THE DATE IN JUNE Saturday 10th

Ashtead Rotary Village Day - look out for details in next month’s edition.

Sat 17th & Sun 18th JUNE

Live Shakespeare Weekend at Dorking Deepdene, £3pp, see opposite for more info. If there’s an event in June that you’d like mentioned, please contact Zen (details p.6) before Friday 12th May. All entries appear on a first come, first served basis. Details of the above events are correct at time of print. 68

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s On?

What’s On?

WHAT’S ON IN MAY? - REGULAR EVENTS Tuesday 2nd

Tuesdays 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd (weekly)

Probus social events for retired men, three course lunch with speaker at Tyrrells Wood Golf Club, speaker Brian Tutty, Aerospace Resources on “Drones Uses and Abuses”. We also arrange lunches, theatre visits, and outings for family and friends. Booking essential, email membership@probusclubleatherhead.org.uk or contact Jon McCarthy on 07947 361406 ‘Simple Scones Cream Teas’, The Grange, Rectory Lane, Gt Bookham, KT23 4DZ. Simply Scones tea room is run by people with disabilities who are learning catering skills. Enjoy freshly-baked scones or cake. £3.50 pp. Booking essential on 01372 452608. Scones and cakes also made to order.

Wed 3rd

Ashtead Flower Arrangement Group Club Show “Blooming Marvellous”, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall. 2pm - 5pm. Visitors welcome. (Plus see special charity evening event on 18th May, details opposite). Di Stirling 01372 279501

Wed 3rd (monthly)

Ashtead WI, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 7.15pm for 7.30pm. Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands Experience, by Rosemary Stark. Info from Sandra Brown 01732 276737

Wed 3rd

10am - 12noon The Wednesday morning Baby & Toddler Group for all under 5s with a carer - lots of toys and coffee too. Parish Church Hall, Church Rd, Leatherhead. New members welcome.

(monthly)

(weekly termtime)

Thurs 4th

BLOOD DONOR SESSIONS: Dorking Halls, Reigate Rd, Dorking, RH4 1SG. Sessions at 1.30pm-4.30pm and 5.20pm-8pm

Thurs 4th (weekly)

Ashtead over 60s Lunch Club meets every Thursday in the Ralli Room APMH, for a freshly prepared hot lunch and dessert. Doors open at 10.30am for a cup of tea or coffee. More information call Brenda (chairman) on 01372 813276.

Thurs 4th

Leatherhead Barn Dance Club. 8pm-10.15pm. First Thurs of month. Abraham Dixon Hall, Letherhead Institute, £2.50. Ruth Gwilliam. 01403 750844

Thurs 4th

Sequence dancing, Leatherhead Parish Church Hall, Church Rd. 7.45pm-10.15pm. More info from Mrs Gibson, 01372 374160

Friday 5th

Ashtead Friday Market, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 9am-12.30pm, free entry. Lots of stalls, cakes, jewellery, plants, collectables, bric-a-brac and much more, for the RNLI

Friday 5th

Morning coffee and scones served in the Ralli Room, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall. Prepared and served by volunteers to raise money to help run the Hall.

(1st Thurs mthly)

(weekly)

(monthly) (weekly)

Friday 5th (monthly)

Friday 5th (weekly)

Sunday 7th (weekly)

Sundays 7th & 28th

Soup Lunch held in St Michael's Church Hall, the Marld, Ashtead. Homemade soup, bread and pudding, served with tea/coffee, between 12 noon and 1.30pm, all for £5. In aid of Princess Alice Hospice, CAFOD (CAtholic Fund for Overseas Development) and BESOM. Enjoy a great meal and raise funds for three charities. Martha’s Market 10.30am-11.30am, Leatherhead Parish Church Hall. We look forward to welcoming you as a stallholder selling almost anything and paying just 10% to Hall funds or as a customer buying anything from cakes to crafts and enjoying a cup of coffee too. Contact Janine 01372 374914 Leatherhead Parish Church welcomes you to all its services. For full details of May services and events including Dancing in the Aisles flower and music festival (see page 62) and check out www.leatherheadparish.co.uk Charity Car Boot Sales in aid of Epsom Medical Equipment Fund at Epsom General Hospital, Dorking Road, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7EG. Cars £10, Small Vans, larger cars, MPV and 4 wheel drive £12, Larger vans from £15. 70

What’s On?

REGULAR EVENTS ctd Monday 8th

(2nd Mon mth)

Monday 8th

(2nd Mon mth)

Tuesday 9th Wed 10th (2nd Wed)

Wed 10th (monthly)

Monday 15th

Topic of Cancer is a support group for those with a cancer diagnosis and/or their supporters at their new venue at The Old Barn Hall, Church Rd, Great Bookham, KT23 3PQ, at 7.30pm. Contact details on the website or just come along to a meeting. Leatherhead branch, Royal British Legion, Women’s Section, Leatherhead Community Centre, Kingston Rd, 8pm, 2nd Monday of the month. Interesting speakers and events. For more info and to book please contact Jane on 01372 811422 Mole Valley WI (Fetcham), Fetcham Village Hall, The Street, KT22 9QS. 7.45pm Resolutions meeting and Charades. For more info contact Meriel Sexton via email on merielsexton@hotmail.com Tylney Lunch Club for ladies, Leatherhead Leisure Centre. Three course lunch followed by a speaker, membership £10 pa and £16 for lunch. Info from Pat Date on 01372 454879 Leatherhead DFAS illustrated lecture on the art of posters; they have informed, entertained and instructed for over 100 years. 7.15 pm in Leatherhead Parish Church Hall, KT22 8BD. Guests welcome: please contact info@ledfas.org.uk or John Andrews on 01372 373083. (First & third Mondays), Bookham Folk Dance Club, Harrison Room, Rear of Old Barn Hall, Church Road, Bookham, 8pm–10pm, £3. Beginners welcome. Contact Jan on 01306 889329 for more info.

Ashtead Decorative & Fine Arts Society lecture, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, coffee from 9.45am. Lecture on The Spirit of the Industrial Revolution: Joseph Wright of Derby Tuesday 16th given by Val Woodgate BA. Anyone on the waiting list for membership is welcome to (monthly) attend, £5 payable on door. More details from Pat Anderson, Membership Secretary, email pat@junct9.demon.co.uk, or mobile 07958 560707 Wed 17th (monthly)

Ashtead Friendship Centre, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 2pm. Our AGM. Info from Don Butt 01372 274288

Thurs 18th

‘Stepping Stones’ Club, meets at Ashtead Baptist Church, Barnett Wood Lane at 2.15pm. Varied programme of events, £2, over 55’s welcome. Brian Chandler 01372 275206.

Thur 18th

Ashtead Flower Arrangement Group, CHARITY EVENING “Crazy for Daisy” an entertaining evening of flowers with Annette Urquhart, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall. 7pm for 7.30pm. Tickets £15 from Di Stirling 01372 279501

Friday 19th

Leatherhead and District Local History Society Lecture, “The History of Eastwick” by Professor Peter Edwards. 8pm at the Letherhead Institute. Coffee served from 7.30pm. Non-members are most welcome. Admission £2

Wed 24th

Ashtead Townswomen’s Guild, Ralli Room, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 7.30pm. Speaker, Lorna Maye on ’The Lavender Fields’. For info contact Di James on 01372 273948

(3rd Thurs mthly)

(monthly)

Thurs 25th

Leatherhead Morning WI, Leatherhead Parish Church Hall, Church Road. 10.15am. Resolutions meeting. Visitors welcome. For info contact Betty on 01372 374570

Thurs 25th

Open Monthly Meeting of the Ashtead Cancer Group, a support group for cancer patients, their families, friends and carers, providing support. Free. 7pm-9pm St George’s Christian Centre, Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead. Workshops and occasional speakers. Call

(4th Thur mth)

(last Thursday monthly)

Friday 26th

11am and 7.30pm. 18th C Venice: Why was Venice so popular with the British Grand Tourists? We will look at the art, architecture, music & the culture of the time. £10 inc refreshments: 01372 272235 or ashteadartlovers@gmailcom to book. 71

House & Garden General Knowledge Crossword Across 1. Female relative (4) 3. One of a number of closely spaced supports for a railing (8) 7. Courses offered for small groups of advanced students (8) 8. Allan ___, former test cricketer (4) 9. White heron (5) 10. Descriptive word or phrase (7) 13. Nap in the early afternoon (6) 15. Beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptians (6) 18. Of the appetites and passions of the body (7) 20. Occurring at regular intervals, seven times per week (5) 22. Knowledge gained through tradition (4) 23. Disallow, declare invalid a previous decision (8) 24. Salad sauce (8) 25. Warm tubular covering for the hands (4)

Down 1. Localised ulcer or sore (7) 2. Skeletal muscle having three origins (7) 3. Broken husks of the seeds of cereal grains (4) 4. Bugle call sounded at funerals (4,4) 5. Lengthwise crack in wood (5) 6. Computer-controlled machine (5) 11. Geological period of time (3) 12. Pasta in the form of slender tubes (8) 14. Nickname of US president Eisenhower (3) 16. Word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another (7) 17. Dried part of the laurel tree used as a flavouring in cooking (3,4) 18. Firm and hearty (5) 19. Outstanding players in a tournament (5) 21. Mass of ice (4) 72

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Start Date and Phasing Plan for Church Street Following commencement of works in Church Street on 10th April, there will be two weeks of drainage installation, during which time there will be potentially short-term road closures and a night-time closure of the car park. When confirmed, the dates of these closures will be published on www.tranformleatherhead.com, in addition to the Twitter and Facebook accounts of Transform Leatherhead and MVDC. The works will be carried out in phases, beginning with the area in front of Barclays Bank, the Theatre and Englishman’s Castle and on the other side of Church Street from the junction with The Crescent to the car park entrance. The phased approach has been adopted to minimise disruption to residents and businesses. The works are expected to be completed by 25th October. Throughout the duration of the work, all on-street parking in Church Street will be suspended. However, the Church Street off-street car park will remain open, apart from a few spaces allocated to the contractor. Jack Straw, MVDC’s Corporate Head of Service, said: “We are delighted to announce the commencement of works in Church Street and look forward to working with Kier and their sub-contractor Murrill to deliver the first phase of Transform Leatherhead. We know that there will be periods during the construction when the normal life of Church Street will be disrupted, but the team will be working closely with local residents and businesses to ensure the works are carried out with as little inconvenience as possible to the local community.”

Full details of the plans can be found on www.transformleatherhead.com. For any information regarding works on the highway, residents can call 0300 200 1003.

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Leatherhead & District Local History Society Potted Histories No 99

St Clements, The Street, Fetcham

Fetcham Horse Pond, Cobham Road, late 1890s St. Clements, The Street, Fetcham (in the distance) seen from across Cock Green and the horse pond that was in Cobham Road where Orchard Close now adjoins. Built in 1865 by James Luff and his son John for their growing blacksmiths business, it provided accommodation for the forge and workshop on the left, their respective houses in the centre and another ‘shop’ to the right. A sign states ‘Alfred Blaker Shoeing General Smith and Water Fitter at Leatherhead’. (Alfred Blaker Ironmongers were in North Street, Leatherhead) Alfred took over on John Luff’s death but St Clements today eventually the forge closed and in later years with some alterations the buildings were converted to the shops that are there today. (Spring Electrical, Streets Ahead and Sun News). However, Pound Cottage which can also be seen on the right was demolished in the 1950s. Extracted from Leatherhead & District Then & Now by Linda Heath & Peter Tarplee ISBN 0752436805 (2005) Goff Powell

For information regarding Membership, Lectures and Museum opening hours contact: Leatherhead & District Local History Society, Leatherhead Museum, Hampton Cottage, 64 Church Street, Leatherhead, KT22 8DP Tel: 01372 386348 mail to: staff@lheadmuseum.plus.com Website: www.leatherheadlocalhistory.org.uk 76

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Full House for Youth Showcase Awards Now in its thirteenth year, the ceremony took place on 24 March at Dorking Halls, organised by Mole Valley District Council and Youth Voice, Mole Valley’s Youth Council, organise the event. Performances included an elegant, contemporary routine from Box Hill School Dance Company, and music from local rock group The Estevans and talented singer-songwriter Joss Malcomson. There was also a beautiful performance from songstress trio OneThreeFive and an inspiring reading from 16year-old published author Farhan Chughtai. Just over £250 was raised for the youth councillors’ chosen local charity, Challengers, which provides play schemes for disabled children, and leisure schemes for disabled young people. Katie Ledger from the charity said: “Thank you so much for choosing Challengers. The money will go towards organising some of our many trips out and activities like bowling, skiing and swimming. It was a really fun evening, so thank you.” Following hundreds of nominations from across Mole Valley, the award winners are as follows

• • • • • •

The Enterprise Award went to Grace Broom, aged 16, for her expanding T-shirt business. Presented by Danesh Amin, CEO of Brocks Chocs. The Volunteering Award went to Ajwad, Nabilad and Zakiya (ages 16, 14 and 12) for raising money for cancer charities and regularly helping their grandparents. Presented by Katie Ledger from Challengers. The Sporting Achievement Award went to Ben Burge, aged 12, for his achievements in swimming. Presented by Armand Roux from Dorking Rugby Football Club. The Creativity Award went to actor William Boagey, aged 15, for his commitment to dramatic productions at his school. Presented by Mary Huggins, Chairman of the Arts Alive Festival Committee. The Teamwork Award went to a group of eight young people from Leatherhead Youth Project for helping run day camps for disadvantaged gypsy children in Romania. Presented by Joey Cleary, Chairman of Mole Valley Youth Voice. Outstanding Achievement Award went to Emma Adsett, aged 14, for her many achievements in school and life generally, while at the same time battling mental illness. Presented by Councillor David Mir, Chairman of Mole Valley District Council.

Visit the Council’s Facebook page @MoretoMoleValley for all the best bits from the night

House & Garden

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Emergency 24hr service available 79

Cryptic Crossword Across 1.

City boy over short girl (6)

Musicians a note helps (8)

Did Theodore get very drunk? (6)

10. Undone Croatian garment (8) 12. Fish cut over forcefully (8) 13. Rita, singer turned rubbish speaker (6) 15. Ardal emptied this as well (4) 16. Claims about anxiety â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a first! (7) 20. Country Greg reduced to nothing (7) 21. Furniture as yet unfinished (4)

25. Wily little animal dropping lead (6)

No catalogue, no interest? (8)

17. Page author's moving stealthily (8)

26. Abuse interrupted by a stateside lag (8)

Girl heartless hearsay upset (6)

18. Contribution held back by Antonio, oddly (8)

28. Otis gets around vain people (8)

Some reveal asylums sadly (4)

19. Battle later recreated in court (8)

29. Excitement that starts with a small brook (6)

Bust notaries miss in Spain (8)

22. Judge fools solicitors initially (6)

30. Lazy sort glad rug's put out (8)

Athletic sailor's left in Shrewsbury (6)

23. Alloy loo? Rum accommodation (6)

Turn as orbiting planet (6)

24. Angus? He refined some oil well (6)

31. Expert not buckling quickly (6)

11. Gift people start to take 27. Mix it up in this and umbrage at (7) liquor lasts (4) Blue toy to make light of 14. Prominent nag and idle sort (7) (8)

Down 1.

Solution in next monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition

House & Garden

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Transition Ashtead Working towards sustainable consumption Turn your energy bills green Background Do you care about your household's impact on the climate? Then you could consider switching your electricity supplier to either a “Green company” or a “Green Tariff”. The structure of the electricity supply industry has been extremely complex since privatisation. In the early years one could get sound advice from Friends of the Earth. However they soon gave that up and haven't resumed, I think because it was too complicated and unclear what was best. The proportion of the total UK electricity supply from renewable sources has gone up from about 1% at the millennium to about a quarter now. But recent changes have reversed that trend – green investment has declined drastically and even the renewables proportion of total generation may be declining. If so, we might well be the only country in the world where that is the case - though the USA could soon follow. The rules are now a little simpler, as virtually all the incentives in favour of renewable-energy electricity generation have been removed. Meanwhile the number of suppliers and of their tariffs has exploded. Choosing a Supplier As I am not qualified to give advice on this issue, please check for yourself all the assertions below, they are intended as a guide only. The first two green suppliers, Ecotricity and Good Energy, were founded in 1996 and 1999 respectively. For a long time Ecotricity was unique in that it used its profits primarily to invest in new renewable generation plant, and made all the electricity that it sold. That is still true but now it's no longer alone. Good Energy has, possibly uniquely, always supplied 100% renewable energy and they worthily buy from a huge number of micro-generators as well as from more conventional sources. Nearly all of the over twenty supplier comparison sites seem to think that cost is not merely the primary choice criterion, but the only one. Most have very little info even about customer service, and none about where the electricity comes from or its greenness. However there is at least one helpful and seemingly independent site, Green Electricity Marketplace, (greenelectricity.org). The following is based solely on their website, which says: “GEM is … a specialist in renewable energy [and] provides its own perspective on green tariffs.” GEM now list, alongside the two mentioned above, a further 7 companies as possible green suppliers for the KT21 and KT22 areas. Some of these have other, non-green tariffs, but they could still be worth supporting. My view is that backing investment in new renewable generating capacity is the most important aspect – that's why I've both invested in Ecotricity and buy from them. There is plenty of information in GEM to enable you to decide based on your own priorities Gas Most of these suppliers also supply gas which is partially “green” - sourced from biomass. If you want to change your gas supplier, you might as well go to the same provider as for electricity, but the green case for doing so, though real, is much weaker. Tony Cooper www.TransitionAshtead.org.uk email info@transitionashtead.org.uk 82

House & Garden

M D Edwards & Son Kitchen Specialists

Friendly Family run local business established over 25 years. Kitchens supplied and installed to a very high standard. Excellent Portfolio and local references. We also have a complete team of qualified tradesmen: Builder, Plasterer, Electrician, Heating Engineer, Tiling and Flooring Specialists Fully Insured for your peace of mind Project managed by us from design to completion Kitchen facelifts also undertaken, Choose from large range of bespoke door styles, Granite, Engineered Stone, Corian, laminate and wood worktops, sinks, taps and integrated appliances. We also undertake remedial jobs - new hinges, drawer runners, etc.

Telephone Beverley Edwards for a free estimate M D Edwards & Son Cressida House, 10 Humphrey Close, Fetcham, Surrey KT22 9PZ web: www.mdedwardsandson.co.uk e: beverleyedwards586@btinternet.com

Tel: 01372 450677 83

Inspiring Young People to take up STEM Careers Big Bang Fair - Wednesday 28th June

South of England Showground, Ardingly, W Sussex RH17 6TL STEM Sussex, the outreach department at the University of Brighton, is encouraging more companies from across the South East to come together and take a lead in improving skill levels for the UK’s future workforce. Part of the nationwide Big Bang programme led by Engineering UK, the Big Bang Fair South East aims to raise awareness, improve perception and inspire the next generation of young people to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Engineering UK recently issued a report (20 February 2017) *‘The State of Engineering’ which although announces positive signs that engineering and technology degrees are up in the UK by 9% and increasing numbers of 1116 year olds would consider a career in engineering, there are still real concerns to improve STEM education. The report states that the demand for graduates for engineering roles outstrips the supply, and there will be an annual shortfall of at least 20,000. It also addresses that more effort needs to be made in attracting girls and women into engineering roles. The Big Bang Fair South East, the biggest STEM event in the region is taking place on Wednesday 28 June 2017 at the South of England Showground. The Fair will showcase around 200 interactive activities, workshops and demonstrations aimed at young people wishing to discover more about STEM initiatives. Event organiser, STEM Sussex is working in partnership with businesses and schools from across the South East to enthuse the scientists, technologists, engineers and

mathematicians of our future. STEM Sussex is also looking to engage with more businesses to finance this year’s event to fulfil the growing demand for student places. Jo McKinney-Green, STEM Sussex Acting Operations Manager, said: “We are urging more companies to think about the lack of STEM skills and come together to support young people who are seeking vocational pathways to their future careers. “There needs to be more integration between the worlds of work and education, more apprenticeships and work experience made available to young people to become an integral part of their education. We aim to do this at the Big Bang Fair and rely on the support of many businesses from across the South East and encourage them to come forward and join us for a fun-filled day of activities to support the many students looking to find out more about STEM subjects and future career options.” The Big Bang Fair South East is the culmination of Crawley STEMfest, a partnership between STEM Sussex (the outreach department at the University of Brighton), Central Sussex College and Crawley Borough Council. 84

House & Garden

To do this, you will either need to spend them or pay in/exchange the notes through your bank.

The old paper £5 notes will cease to be legal tender on Friday 5th May 2017, meaning you will need to get rid of them before then.

Now that the new polymer £5 notes are in circulation, the old £5 will soon stop being accepted as payment.

Old £5 paper notes will be out of circulation on 5th May 2017

House & Garden

Ashtead based building company offering: Loft conversions Extensions Renovations Planning Service Liaison with Building Control throughout Fixed price quotations Workmanship guaranteed Please contact us to discuss your project

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House & Garden

Slug Survival By Pippa Greenwood

Whether your garden is big or small, or you have just a few planters in a back yard or on a balcony, the chances are that slugs will cause you grief. There are about thirty species of slug in the UK and most feed throughout the year, especially after dark and when the soil is wet or moist – and now that spring is here, they’re out in force! However, most slugs actually do little damage to living plants, instead preferring to feast on dead and dying material. Typically it is smaller slugs like the greyishblack keeled slug and the pinkish-beige-grey field slug which are more likely to wreak havoc. With estimates of there being about 200 slugs per average cubic metre of average garden soil, the situation can soon get out of hand. Keeled slugs in particular love to feast below ground, as well as on plants above the soil surface. In no time at all slugs can eat through the base of a young stem, killing the plant in the process, or eat seedlings even before they have had a chance to emerge above the soil surface! Later in the year, they will begin to tunnel into potato tubers and carrots too. They breed quickly and very efficiently, and you’re most likely to spot the clumps of eggs on the soil surface, beneath flopped foliage and amongst moist organic matter. Each egg is about 1-2mm in diameter and a clear, milky or off-white coloured sphere. So what can you do with these squidgy little menaces? •Go on an evening slug hunt, in particular after it has rained or you have done some watering. •Choose vegetable varieties which have useful resistance to slugs. With potatoes, main crop varieties usually suffer most, so try to grow mainly earlies. Choose varieties such as Charlotte, Kestrel, Sante or Wilja to give a better chance of success. •Encourage natural predators such as hedgehogs, frogs, toads, slow worms and

ground beetles. If you keep hens consider letting them clear the ground for you – but obviously only before you start planting and sowing! •Use the Nemaslug nematode control, a treatment I like because it is harmless to everything except slugs. It works swiftly and silently too and, if you’re a potato grower and you drench the soil around the potato plants about six weeks before anticipated harvest, the nematodes soon get to work and your potatoes should be virtually slugdamage free. Use it to clear a slug-infested raised bed or planter and apply selfadhesive copper tape around the rim of the container to keep the contents slug free. Find out more about Nemaslug and copper tape at www.pippagreenwood.com/ products/protect-your-crops. •Barriers such as crushed shells, wool pellets, soot, pine needles or copper-impregnated fabric can also work well, but may need replacing regularly and results seem to vary. •Traps filled with beer can reduce slug numbers in your garden dramatically. You can buy ready-made traps or make your own using inexpensive plastic beakers plunged into the soil, the rim protruding 1-2cm above the soil surface and filled with a well-flavoured beer. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com to buy UK grown vegetable plants accompanied by weekly advice emails from Pippa, or to peruse the really useful selection of Pippa’s favourite gardening items including SpeedHoes, SpeedWeeders, raised bed kits, Nemaslug and copper tape, pull-out EasyTunnels, signed books and lots more besides. 88

House & Garden

Please contact Tom for a FREE estimate Tel: 07949 349463 Email: tomprice.gs@gsmail.com 89

House & Garden

Leatherhead Horticultural Society Do you have a garden or an allotment? Then come and join us at Leatherhead Horticultural Society, where you can get helpful advice for free and all your horticultural needs at very competitive prices compared to other suppliers. We have seeds, bulbs, seed potatoes, onion and shallot sets together with young plants (grown by our members) and everything to promote stronger growth and to treat weeds, pests and diseases. We also sell all sorts of composts, potting mediums, fertilisers and whatever you need to support your fruit, vegetable and flower plants throughout the year. All this for just ÂŁ3 per year. You can also enter our annual spring or autumn shows, or our allotment competition; or come along to our Plant Sale Coffee Morning held at the end of May in aid of local charities. For more information call Jane Sinclair or visit our website at www.leatherheadhortsoc.org.uk, or visit our Store any Sunday morning until19th November, from 9.30am -12.30pm, which is located on By-Pass Road (between the westbound M25 junction 9 and the Plough Roundabout), where you will always be given a warm welcome. 91

Ashtead Handyman No Job Too Small Free Estimates, Fully Insured Decorating, Gardening, General Maintenance

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Simple Crossword Across: 7 Scrape, 8 Lumbar, 9 Sofa, 10 Tadpoles, 11 Usually, 13 Shuts, 15 Light, 17 Ascends, 20 Umbrella, 21 Cafe, 23 Annoys, 24 Expire. Down: 1 Echo, 2 Banana, 3 Reptile, 4 Clyde, 5 Smooth, 6 Talented, 12 Slimming, 14 Ashamed, 16 Horror, 18 Escape, 19 Floss, 22 Fire.

Quiz - Days of the Week 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

April Crossword Solutions

Thursday's Dynamo (an anagram of "Monday") 47 Phileas Fogg (in Around The World In Eighty Days) Staying Alive Thursday b) Fat Tuesday Tuesday Christina Ricci Sunday Girl (by Blondie)

Across: 1 Shandy, 4 Hassling, 9 Afloat, 10 Vigilant, 12 Friction, 13 Manage, 15 Ruhr, 16 Seville, 20 Finally, 21 Fear, 25 Apollo, 26 Ginsberg, 28 Cassocks, 29 Harare, 30 Talisman, 31 Select. Down: 1 Stanford, 2 All right, 3 Dearth, 5 Axis, 6 Suitable, 7 Isaiah, 8 Gather, 11 Polecat, 14 Mislaid, 17 Billions, 18 Renegade, 19 Fragment, 22 Mascot, 23 Morsel, 24 Estate, 27 Okra.

Quiz - Biopics 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Raging Bull - Jake La Motta Creation - Charles Darwin Lady Sings The Blues - Billie Holliday Mommie Dearest - Joan Crawford The Aviator - Howard Hughes La Bamba - Ritchie Valens Finding Neverland - J.M. Barrie Evita - Eva Perรณn Somebody Up There Likes Me - Rocky Graziano 10. W. - George W. Bush

Across: 1 Czech Republic, 7 Seraph, 9 Au pair, 10 Are, 12 Radon, 13 Chablis, 14 Physicist, 16 Seethes, 18 Proms, 20 ENE, 22 Enzyme, 23 Alpaca, 24 Self-satisfied. Down: 1 Cash registers, 2 Erred, 3 Ruhr, 4 Uvula, 5 Leaflet, 6 Christmas card, 8 Pansy, 11 Eclipse, 14 Pretzel, 15 Impel, 17 Humus, 19 Okapi, 21 Nazi.

House & Garden

USEFUL NUMBERS Ashtead Art Group 01737 357263 (Jenny Lister - Mem Sec) Ashtead Bowling Club 01372 278538 (Anne Wallace) Ashtead Chess Club 01372 813487 (Richard Jones) Ashtead Choral Society 01372 272835 / 278359 Ashtead Community Vision 07530 373975 (Andy Ellis) Ashtead Cricket Club 01372 276286 (Sarah Culhane) Ashtead Day Centre Over 60s Lunch Club 01372 813276 or 375640 Ashtead Decorative & Fine Arts Society 01372 275605 (Pat Anderson) Ashtead Flower Arrangement Group 01372 279501 (Di Stirling) Ashtead Friendship Centre 01372 274288 (Don Butt) Ashtead Good Neighbours 07752 665066 Ashtead Horticultural Society 01372 373348 (Jennie Pilfold) Ashtead Library - 0300 200 1001 Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall 01372 272921 Ashtead Players/Young Players 01372 279614 Ashtead Residents’ Association 07804 026577 (Glynis Peterkin) Ashtead Squash & Tennis Club 01372 272215 Ashtead Tennis Players Club 01372 721104 Ashtead Townswomen’s Guild 01372 273948 (Di James) Ashtead Women’s Institute 01372 276736 (Sandra Brown) Carers’ Support Mole Valley 01306 640212 Childline - 0800 1111 Citizens Advice Bureau - 08444 111444 Cruse Bereavement Care 020 8393 7238 Electricity (UK Power Networks) 0800 783 8866 (powercut information line) Epsom General Hospital - 01372 735735 Fetcham Residents’ Association 01372 375212 (Marion Doherty) Fetcham Singers (ladies choir) 01372 276736 (Sandra Brown) Gas (Transco) 0800 111999 (minicom/textphone for deaf/hard of hearing 0800 371787)

Leatherhead Decorative Fine Arts Soc 01372 373083 (John Andrews) Leatherhead Choral Society 01372 372553 (Cathy Smith, Secretary) Leatherhead & District Angling Society 01372 377654 Leatherhead Helpshop - 01372 363385 Leatherhead Community Association 01372 360508 Leatherhead Horticultural Society 01372 373493 (David Wells) Leatherhead Leisure Centre 01372 377674 Leatherhead Library 0300 200 1001 Leatherhead Lions Club 01372 274618 (Jim Malynn) Leatherhead Museum - 01372 386348 Leatherhead Residents’ Association 01372 370091 Leatherhead Theatre - 01372 365141 Mid Surrey Community Mediation 07513 524241 Mole Valley District Council 01306 885001 Police - Non-emergency 101 Probus Club of Ashtead 01372 272595 (Peter Waterhouse) Probus Club of Leatherhead 01372 450930 (Andrew Crawford) Rotary Club of Ashtead 01372 727573 (Keith Allardyce) Rotary Club of Leatherhead 07753 821964 (Simon Edmands) Royal Association for the Deaf 01306 881958 Royal British Legion Leatherhead/Fetcham Branch 01372 811422 Samaritans - 01372 375555 Shopmobility Leatherhead 01372 362400 Surrey County Council 03456 009 009 (8am-6pm weekdays) Surrey Trading Standards - 01372 371717 U3A: Leatherhead & District 01372 375756 Ashtead 01372 274388 Trumps Bridge Club Leatherhead 01372 722177 Volunteer Centre Mole Valley (based in Dorking) 01306 640369 (10am-1pm, answerphone) Water (Sutton & E Surrey Water) Emergencies/general 01737 772000 Wildlife Aid 09061 800132 (24 hr helpline)

M.P.S

Garden & Estate Machinery Established 1952

• Large selection of new and second hand machines • Part exchange service offered • Comprehensive hire fleet • Manufacturer trained mechanics • Servicing on garden tractors, cylinders and rotary mowers, 2-stroke machinery and shear/secateurs sharpening. • Collection and delivery service • Large spares department Tel: 01372 453411 Email: enquiries@mpsgardenmachinery.co.uk

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D.B

Garden Services

Established 1985

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