April 2014 - Issue 87

Month: April 2014 Issue No: 87 Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

Delivered free each month to homes in Berrylands, plus Surbiton or Tolworth

Inside this month:

Article on Domestic Violence Our local Farmers’ Markets Recipes for Easter Puzzles Community pages and Events New articles: Hobbies: Home Brewing Beer of the Month Alternative Therapy, Reiki

Happy Easter

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Hello Readers

T

hank goodness the worst winter ever, is over!!

Hopefully we can look forward to better weather now.

YMCA, following the death of her sister at the hands of her family. I hope that you will read it and support her campaign.

In this issue we have some new articles, which I hope will interest you. There is a piece on Reiki, an alternative therapy that is helping some people.

We also have a new series on Hobbies, starting this month with making beer, and as well we have this month’s beer of the month!! Not that I am encouraging alcohol, you see.

In time for Easter, we have information on both our local Farmers’ Markets, in Surbiton and New Malden. Lots of lovely fresh food and delicacies to delight over the celebrations. Why not take a wander through all the stalls at each?

There seems to be a chocolate theme through the magazine this month! As it’s Easter time, we have an article on Chocolate and Easter, plus not one, but two recipes using chocolate! What can be better for us chocoholics? I admit it!

Karen

With best wishes for a Happy Easter,

With the hope of Spring and Summer, the fairs are starting with the Lamb Spring Fair, with all local produce and hand made items. I hope that other Summer events will be sent in for the What’s On page.

A thought provoking article is reproduced on page 50, from the YMCA website. It is about a very brave woman who has set up Your Voice at Surbiton

Useful Numbers Kingston Council www.kingston.gov.uk Trading Standards Refuse Collection Electoral Registration Council Tax Citizens Advice Customs & Excise (VAT) Inland Revenue Helpline Environmental Agency Surbiton Library Kingston Police Non Emergency Police Emergency Services Non Emergency NHS Transport: National Rail Enquiries Public Transport Traveline Gatwick Airport Heathrow Airport

020 8547 5757 020 8547 4654 020 8547 5560 020 85474630 020 8547 5196 0870 126 4019 0845 010 9000 08459 000 444 0870 850 6506 020 8547 6444 020 8541 1212 101 999 111 08457 484 950 0870 608 2608 0844 335 1802 0844 335 1801

Emergencies/Utilities: Gas Emergency Electricity Emergency Water Emergency BT Fault Line Virgin Media Crimestoppers Kingston Hospital NHS Direct (24/7) Childline Samaritans Age Concern Kingston Relate www.relatekh.org Domestic Violence Helpline www.victimsupport.org.uk Surbiton Safer Neighbourhood Team based at YMCA

0800 111 999 0800 783 8866 0845 920 0800 0800 800 151 0845 142 0000 0800 555 111 020 8546 7711 0845 4647 0800 1111 0845 790 9090 0800 00 99 66 020 8549 3318 020 8547 3202 020 8721 2518

A Berrylands Companion

18 Kingsdowne Road, Surbiton, KT6 6JZ 020 8274 0096 karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk www.berrylandscompanion.co.uk Please mention A Berrylands Companion when responding to adverts

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Spend Now, Save Later These days, we’re all being urged to return to ‘make do and mend’; to reduce, reuse and recycle because it’s economical and ‘green’. But sometimes this can be false economy – and false ecology, too. Some things may be worth replacing or investing in.

Cars

Ever hung on too long to a car that’s eventually cost more in total repairs than it did to buy?

Buying a new (or even relatively new!) car is expensive, but in the long run it may save you money – depending on what car you buy.

ECONOMY: A new car should be more fuel efficient, saving you money on petrol or diesel costs. Treat it well and it shouldn’t need major maintenance for years, plus a brand new car won’t need an MOT until it’s three years old.

ECOLOGY: Greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions mean newer cars tend to be greener.

Boilers

Once again, we can hang on to boilers too long and they can be expensive to repair, particularly if you need to call someone out overnight or during a holiday.

Maintenance contracts aren’t always cheap either.

ECONOMY: Boilers account for around 55% of your energy costs; replacing your old one with an A-rated condensing boiler and modern heating controls will ensure your home and water are warm when needed but aren’t wasting energy when not, and could save you up to £305 a year on

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energy bills.

ECOLOGY: A new boiler will reduce your energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.

Water softeners

About 60% of UK households have hard water that can damage and lessen the efficiency of appliances and heating systems; just 1.6mm of scale build-up can cause a 12% loss in heating efficiency. Shower heads, toilets, taps, pipes, radiators, boilers, kettles, dishwashers and washing machines will all need more frequent repair and replacement, not to mention the cost of limescale removers for appliances, sinks and toilets, and the greater quantities of detergent, shampoo, shower gel, washing-up liquid and toilet cleaner required.

ECONOMY: British Water estimates that a water softener could save the average 4person household around £200 a year.

ECOLOGY: Softened water can remove existing scale deposits over time in heating systems. Fewer chemicals and less energy are used, and appliances will need less frequent repair or replacement.

Solar Panels

The government’s FIT (feed-intariff) scheme offers 20 years of

guaranteed, tax-free, indexlinked payments to households that produce their own electricity from renewable technologies.

To make the biggest saving, use as many appliances as possible in the daytime when generating your own power.

ECONOMY: You’re paid for every kilowatt of energy you create, and every kilowatt you don’t use, which feeds back into the National Grid; and of course the bills from your supplier will drop dramatically too (solar panels create about two thirds of the energy necessary for a family of four). On average, installation costs around £7000 and you may need to replace the inverter, which links the panels to your domestic supply, once every 20 years. It takes around 10-12 years to get back the cost of installation. Bear in mind that the FIT has dropped dramatically over the past few years, but then installation costs are dropping too.

ECOLOGY: Your household will be producing renewable energy and none will be wasted, as it’s fed back into the Grid when unused.

Always research any major purchase to ensure you get the best deal for you.

By Alison Runham www.alison.runham.co.uk

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OVER

Life Begins The Call To Collect

by Kate McLelland Collecting rare and interesting objects is a great way to spend your leisure time and, with any luck, you may even make a profit when you finally sell your collection on. It’s up to you whether you choose to collect conventional items or whether you start a completely new and original collection of your own. You will find plenty of bizarre examples online to give you inspiration.

So what should you collect? If you’re short of ideas right now, don’t panic. Just read on and see what appeals to you.

Philately – or stamp collecting – is going through a bit of a crisis at the moment, with only the rarest items attracting the interest of serious buyers. However with fewer and fewer stamps actually in use these days, there may come a time when the pleasure of collecting stamps is matched by the financial reward it brings.

Fifty years ago children used to be keen collectors, but nowadays young enthusiasts are a rarity. That doesn’t, however, mean that numbers are declining: the Royal Philatelic Society of London claims that its membership has increased recently and there are a number of thriving stamp collecting clubs throughout the UK. Thimbles are available

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at reasonable prices and they can be easily kept and displayed.

The earliest known thimble dates from the Han Dynasty (206BC - 202AD) in China. In the UK, thimbles made from cast brass were in widespread use by the 14th century.

Not all thimbles are suitable for sewing. Some, made of early Meissen porcelain or even gold - were given as keepsakes and in the 19th century thimbles were even used to measure spirits.

Coin collecting - or ‘numismatics’ – is one of those hobbies that unites the generations in a shared fascination with the past. We can all identify with handling coins and it’s fascinating to own one that may have rattled in somebody else’s pocket five hundred or even a thousand years ago. An increase in metal detecting means that buried coins are constantly being discovered and traded.

Collectors can join a wider community of enthusiasts who

are usually happy to share information and expertise.

It is rather overwhelming to choose from the enormous range of coins available so beginners would be well advised to specialise in a single country or historical period. Thematic collections are also popular – such as coins depicting female monarchs only, or coins that come exclusively from Commonwealth countries.

Wine collecting can be an expensive business, but the rewards are considerable if you invest wisely. A selection from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s wine collection recently sold for £3.5 million at auction, attracting bidders from all over Europe and Asia.

The advice of wine experts is to buy more ‘blue chip’ wine than you would normally drink, and keep the remaining bottles as an investment. If the wine goes up in price, you will make a profit. If it fails to increase in price, you can simply drink the rest.

Collecting is a hobby like no other. There’s real excitement to be had in tracking down that special object, beating off your rivals and bringing it home to enjoy pride of place in your collection. If this article hasn’t already fired you up, here’s hoping you discover your collecting passion soon.

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The Better Life His and Herbs

by Derek Thompson And, like so many herbs, the bees absolutely love it when it’s in flower. Our cat is a fan as well, if that’s any recommendation.

From time to time, a chat about plants or local history will develop into a neighbourly cuppa. Over the years, I’ve grown accustomed to that bewildered look when I reply, “Peppermint tea for me, please.” Especially when I follow it up by producing - magician style - a little bag of dried leaves. I used to buy it in bulk, but it’s so easy to grow that there’s really no need for most of the year. I’ve become a bit of a devotee, preferring a 50 / 50 blend of peppermint and Moroccan mint, and have been known to wax lyrical about the history, benefits and uses of mentha piperita and its horticultural cousins. It’s the point at which Anne will often look at her watch and drink up.

Another easy herb to grow - because it too has all the enthusiasm of a weed on overtime - is marjoram. An old wooden vegetable box, lined and filled with soil, makes a great portable container.

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I favour other perennials - chives, tarragon, thyme and sage (although I’ve never found a regular use for it), because they seem to grow without the need for encouragement. Hand on heart, I haven’t much of a clue when it comes to herbs and cooking. To my jaded sinuses, everything pretty much goes with anything - which might explain why I prefer the garden to the kitchen.

Curly leafed parsley seems to do well in pots, so long as it’s not over-watered; likewise for lavender (very nice in shortbread, but make sure it doesn’t become too woody by trimming it back at the end of the year) and rosemary, which is great for roast potatoes (see, I can be taught).

We did try growing coriander a few times, but it never really worked out, so we transferred our allegiance to Vietnamese coriander. The plant needs a lot of water and I find it has an absolutely gorgeous aroma with a hint of lime.

The other herb that, frankly, has let us down many times is basil. It doesn’t seem to matter what we do, whether it’s more watering or less watering, indoors or outdoors, feeding the soil or leaving it undisturbed. The basil always seems to check out early.

However, the fact that it’s

another ‘plant of interest’ to the cat may be a factor.

Most herbs have also been traditional remedies. In my quest to elevate peppermint beyond the humble humbug, I’ve learned it is caffeine free, has a calming effect on the stomach and digestion, and can be used for soothing headaches. I also read - in the library, no less - that steam from peppermint tea is good for the sinuses, which is not to be sniffed at. (Not until you’ve inhaled the minty steam, anyway.)

There’s more: peppermint has antiseptic properties and is a remedy for travel sickness (when you don’t have ginger to hand). It’s also great for cooling skin irritations or inflammations. Do try it on a small area of skin first to check there’s no adverse reaction.

I draw the line at chamomile tea, though. Is it just me or does it taste like straw?

Derek Thompson is a writer and humourist based in the West Country. His writing blog can be found at www. alongthewritelines.blogspot.com and he is also a regular at www. strictlywriting.blogspot.com

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What’s The Alternative: Reiki

beginning with an initial discussion about the patient’s health issues. Then the patient lies down or sits on a chair in a relaxed position.

They remain fully clothed while the practitioner transfers energy by lightly placing their hands on the patient’s body (or holding them just above) in a series of non-intrusive positions, starting from the head and working down the body. They don’t use massage or manipulation, and while some patients report feeling sensations, others do not. Some practitioners offer distance healing, prearranging a time when the patient lies down comfortably to receive treatment.

Origins and Principles

Reiki (pronounced ray-key) loosely translates as ‘life force’ or ‘spiritual energy’, and is a natural healing practice developed by a Japanese Buddhist, Dr Mikao Usui. Since its introduction in 1922, different traditions and forms have developed.

Reiki practitioners believe they access a lifeforce, of which we are all part, and transfer this energy to their patient during treatment.

They claim that this helps patients reach a state of equilibrium and stimulates their natural regenerative abilities, allowing them to begin healing themselves of any physical, mental, or emotional dysfunction. Every practitioner must be ‘attuned’ and taught by a Reiki master.

Efficacy and Evidence

As yet, there is no scientific proof of Reiki’s efficacy. The Reiki Council state that Reiki shouldn’t be regarded as a cure for conditions, but rather as a natural form of healing that can support and enhance other treatments; practitioners aren’t trained in diagnosis. There are now National Occupational Standards for professional Reiki practitioners, which are available at https://tools.skillsforhealth.org. uk/competence/show/html/id/2809/.

Having a Reiki Treatment

A Reiki session usually lasts up to one hour,

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Beauty Fight Premature Ageing

By Helen Taylor

for sunscreen when you’re lying on the beach, but you might not realise that you need to use it every day. That’s because skin-damaging UV rays are present even when the sun isn’t shining.

If you can’t live without an all-year-round tan, then you’ll need to find an alternative to regular visits to the sunbed.

Sunbeds are equally - if not more - damaging than the sun and they’ll leave your skin looking coarse, leathery and wrinkled.

And sun-lovers really must be aware of the damage to their skin, because it doesn’t end there.

Image: Courtesy of Next Squinting in the sun can, over time, cause crow’sAgeing is unfortunately an feet, so always wear sunglasses inevitable process for us all, but and ensure that they offer proper if you take steps to protect your protection for your eyes or you skin now, you’ll benefit in the may become more prone to future. cataracts in later life.

Apply sunscreen liberally to Environmental factors play every part of your body that’s an enormous role in how well exposed to the sun. Don’t rely - or not - you age, so it’s really on SPF-enhanced make-up important to look at how your current lifestyle might affect your alone for your face, it’s likely that you don’t apply enough of the skin in the future. Those bad product to fully protect your skin. health and beauty habits you have now could be exposing you And remember the dangers of UV rays go far beyond wrinkled to long-term skin damage and accelerating the ageing process. skin, over exposure puts you at risk of developing skin cancer.

But don’t worry, if you take time to Quit notice of our tips, you’ll stay Another lifestyle factor that you looking youthful for longer. need to address for the sake of Keep Your SKin Safe in your skin - and your health - is the Sun smoking. It’s hard to quit, but if The sun is one of the biggest you want to curb or prevent the factors in premature ageing, signs of premature aging then so you need to ensure that you it’s a must. properly protect against it.

The free radicals in cigarette You’ll be well aware of the need smoke break down collagen,

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slow the skin’s ability to heal and make it look sallow, dull and lifeless, because smoking inhibits the blood supply that keeps skin looking healthy.

Wrinkles prematurely begin to form and you start to age quickly compared to your non-smoking friends.

Even if you don’t smoke you are still at risk of these effects if you spend time in smoky atmospheres, so it’s best to steer clear of second-hand smoke altogether.

Don’t pull Your face Your mum probably told you that if you pull your face that way it’ll stick that way… well she was right. Repetitive movements - like frowning and raising your eyebrows can encourage lines to form earlier than they should.

It’s good to express yourself, but if you find yourself frequently pulling the same expression make a change now, or expect wrinkles in the future.

Get into a routine Start a skincare routine today.

There’s no better time to start dedicating time in your day to your skin. Invest in a variety of skincare products to help you in your quest to stay looking youthful. Eye creams, moisturisers and exfoliators are essential.

And don’t forget the value of living a healthy lifestyle. Eating a diet that’s rich in vitamins A, C and E (found in brightly coloured fruit and vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids (from fish, nuts and seeds) will boost skin from the inside out.

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Bank Holidays I don’t know – you wait for weeks and weeks for a day off work and then four come along all at once. And I blame the Pope.

By Ted Bruning

Pope Francis seems happy about the forthcoming bank holidays.

He is, after all, the man who decides the date of Easter.

This year it’s on 20 April – which is almost as late as it can be and means that we have four Bank Holidays (Good Friday, Easter Monday, the Spring Bank Holiday – except in Scotland – and the May Bank Holiday) within the space of six weeks. So if you like your precious days off well spread out, you might ask the Pope: why is Easter so late this year? And he’ll tell you the following: “The date is calculated thuswise. The ancient Jewish feast of Pesach or Passover, for reasons best known to ancient Jewish people, falls on the full moon on or immediately after the vernal equinox. The Last Supper was held on Passover, or so it says in the New Testament; the Crucifixion took place on the following Friday; so ipso facto the Resurrection – which is why we have Easter – was on the first Sunday after the full moon that followed the vernal equinox. Which this year happens to be on 20 April.

Geddit?”

Got it.

But the dates of public holidays have always been

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contentious, with various people having various reasons for wanting them shifted. Some don’t want them at all: patriots to the bone they may be, but many industrialists really didn’t like the Government awarding us extra hols for the Royal Wedding in 2011 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. “Two days’ lost production!” they wailed.

“That’ll cost us a bomb!” On the other hand the retailers of beer and bunting were over the moon.

Bank Holidays, you’d think, would be fairly firmly fixed. Not a bit of it. Until 1834 the Bank of England used to observe all 33 Roman Catholic Holy Days of Obligation. “This is daft!” said the directors eventually, and cut it to four – Good Friday, May Day, All Saints (1 November), and Christmas Day. But come on, that wasn’t enough. So in 1871 the Bank Holidays Act added Easter Monday, Whit Monday (the seventh Monday after Easter), the first Monday in August (instead of All Saints), and Boxing Day. And for nearly a century that seemed to suit. We all went on charabanc excursions to the seaside or (if posh) had long

weekends in the country or just stayed home and sorted the garden, and until 1965 we were very happy. That year, the August Bank Holiday was moved to the end of the month. In 1971 Whit Monday, the last moveable feast apart from Easter, was fixed as the last Monday in May. In 1975 Harold Wilson made New Year’s Day a Bank Holiday in England and Wales (it already was one in Scotland); and in 1978 Jim Callaghan, dyed in the wool leftie that he was (!) made May Day – which had been left out of the 1871 Act – official.

Now the tinkerers are out in force again. Some want national Saints’ days – St David’s Day and St Piran’s Day (is Cornwall a nation? You decide) in March, St George’s Day in April, St Andrew’s Day in November – to be made official holidays. There’s also a move to scrap one or other of the May Bank Holidays and move it to October to mark Trafalgar Day. Someone even proposed a Margaret Thatcher Day… I’ll say no more!

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Mini Cryptic Crossword Across 1 2 3 4 5 6 3. Attack of fury in a pub? (7) 7 7. Snake that finds maths easy! (5) 8. Conflagration, or some kind of non8 fire (7) 9. Parts needed to make snares (5) 9 10. Step with the French foot-lever (7) 12. Sexy top making someone rash! (7) 10 11 16. Canoe around a body of water (5) 17. Good day across the Channel (7) 19. Picture that’s spotted, we hear (5) 12 13 14 15 20. Difficulty when Burt and Leo are agitated (7) 16 Down 17 18 1. Sweat about superfluous material (5) 19 2. One trade is perfect (5) 3. Short stiff hair to react in an 20 offended manner (7) ©puzzlepress.co.uk 4. Airmen initially far back (3) 13. Turn brown in the sun off (5) 5. Card I find unpleasantly bitter (5) and get out for a dance 15. Beneath sheltering in 6. Run off seen in level opening (5) (5) thundery conditions (5) 11. Seer Don turned back (7) 14. Verse strangely cut 18. Ball Rob kicked (3) 12. Monk’s dress custom (5)

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Word Ladder

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

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Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go. Some numbers are already given.

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49

34

39

33

167 Surbiton Hill Park, Surbiton, Surrey, KT5 8EJ 250 yards from main line Berrylands Station Providing a service for our local community

Hidato

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26 3

1

43

24

15

25 5

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Telephone:

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Pet Projects Pet owners are famously free with their cash: nothing’s too expensive for a beloved dog, cat, budgie or Vietnamese pot-bellied pig. It’s taken a while for the technology industry to notice, but now they have and there are all kinds of high-tech gizmos for your furry or feathered friends.

Forget automatic pet flaps and anti-bark collars: the new wave of pet tech includes health monitors, cameras and even exercisers.

The star of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show or its pet division at least - was Voyce, which is essentially a fitness tracker for dogs. It isn’t cheap - it’s around £200 for the collar and another £10 per month - but the pitch is that by monitoring your dog’s activity, breathing, heart rate and calories it’ll give you early warning of any potentially dangerous and expensive health problems. Voyce will go on sale later this year, and it’s entering a market that’s already looking a bit crowded: in addition to Voyce there are pet fitness trackers including Fitbark (around £60) and Whistle (also around £60).

If you think that’s a bit odd, wait until you hear No More Woof: the £50 No More Woof

16

gadget promises to convert doggy brainwaves into human speech. Don’t expect to engage in scintillating conversation with your ShihTzu, though: the repertoire is currently limited to “I’m hungry”, “I’m tired”, and “who are you?” The developers say that No More Woof is a work in progress, though, and early sales of the device will enable them to make it smarter, more useful and - we hope - more comfortable. We can’t imagine our own dog putting up with a No More Woof headset for more than a few seconds.

Another way to get an insight into your pet’s life is to shell out for an Eyenimal camera.

The Petcam is available for cats and dogs, attaches to your pet’s collar and records whatever he or she sees; you can then transfer the footage to your computer. Expect to pay around £60.

Some pet gadgets appear to be practical jokes, but the GoDogGo is perfectly serious: its Automatic Ball Thrower is a £99 gadget based on the automated tennis ball machines that tennis players use in training. The GoDogGo will happily hurl tennis balls 5 to 10 metres, exercising your dog while you sit back and

relax.

Have you ever wished you could take your pet bird for a walk? The people behind the Feather Tether hope you have, because their £12.99 bird harness means your bird can go wherever you are without fear of injury or “the tragedy of fly-aways”. The harness comes in five sizes and a range of colours.

If you can’t always be with your pet, Petcube might be the answer: it’s a smartphonepowered gadget which contains a wide-angle camera and microphone for streaming high definition video and audio to your iPhone or iPad. There are speakers and a low-intensity laser pointer to transmit your voice and amuse your cat respectively. It’ll cost around £160 when it goes on sale in May. If you don’t have a pet, the iPhone/iPad app also enables you to log into other people’s public Petcubes (with their permission) and annoy their pets instead - and if it’s just the laser pet toy you want, the Frolicat Bolt automatic laser toy is currently £20.01 on Amazon.

Images left to right: Voyce fitness tracker for dogs, Eyenimal Petcam, GoDogGo Automatic Ball Thrower, Petcube

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European Countries

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Find the names of different European countries in the grid and the remaining letters will spell out a related phrase

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17

What happened in... ...April 1968? innocent and that the FBI was involved.

“…it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop…And I’ve looked over and I’ve seen the Promised Land.

And I’m so happy tonight; I’m not worried about anything…mine eyes have seen the coming of the Lord.”

From the last speech, on the 3rd April 1968, of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.; Nobel Peace Prize winner, Baptist minister and spokesperson for non-violent protest in the Civil Rights Movement.

The next evening, while standing on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, he was assassinated with a single bullet to the head. An escaped convict, James Earl Ray, was arrested and convicted of his murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison; although many, including some of King’s family, believed that Ray was

2nd: The premiere of 2001: A Space Odyssey took place in Washington.

The Stanley Kubrick film was a British-American production, made almost entirely in England, with the screenplay co-written by Arthur C Clarke.

7th: Jim Clark, Formula One driver, from Scotland, was killed in an accident in Hockenheim, Germany.

Aged just 32 he had twice been World Champion and had won more GP races (25) and achieved more GP pole positions (33) than any other driver.

10th: Two storms merged over Wellington, creating Cyclone Giselle, the worst

Average cost of a house was £4,350 A gallon of petrol was about 28p

Three of the bestselling singles this year were: What A Wonderful World/Caberet - Louis Armstrong Delilah - Tom Jones If I Only Had Time - John Rowles

storm in New Zealand’s history, with winds of 170 mph. Three ambulances and a truck were blown onto their sides during rescue attempts. At about six o’clock in the morning the ferry TEV Wahine tried to enter Wellington Harbour but was blown off course and onto a reef and badly damaged before being swept away. After several rescue attempts and false hopes the vessel eventually capsized at about 2:30 pm. 53 people were killed, including many who had taken to lifeboats and rafts.

20th: “People often blame the predictions of troubles for the actual troubles that eventually arrive”.

“Politicians who shirk their duty deserve the curses of those who come after”.

Just two of the points made

by Enoch Powell in his lengthy ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, for which he was demonized.

23rd: The first decimal coins were issued in Britain: the tenpence and five-pence pieces.

Patrick D Cousins is the author of Rainbows, Dreams and Angels, a double novella available from Amazon at £6.99, and Short Shorts, a £1.99 Kindle ebook

18

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020 8399 4945 www.tolworthmotorcompany.co.uk

A genuine “fresh� approach to used vehicles Tolworth Motor Company is jointly owned and managed by Andrew Hawkins and Nick Kift.

Between them they have more than 50 years experience in the motor trade and finance industry.

Throughout their working lives they have gained a wealth of knowledge and are renowned for their extensive contacts and expertise. This has enabled them to hand pick the finest cars from around the country.

Their experience allows them to give honest advice and valuations. The finance service is extensively utilised by a range of garages, companies and private individuals the service is exceptional, providing a finance brokerage which has access to more than 40 finance companies

covering all products and has the ability to fund vehicles and most business assets.

Cars are purchased and the money immediately transferred to your bank. Cars can be re-financed to raise cash or alternatively re-structure your existing finance agreement to suit your needs.

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

19

Hobbies Home Brewing Revival

Maybe it’s the rubbish they put on the telly these days. Maybe it’s because it’s expensive to go out.

Who knows? One thing’s for sure, though: crafts and hobbies are making a big comeback.

Not unnaturally, if you’re going to spend all your evenings and weekends honing your amateur expertise, you want the end result to be something that you can be proud of. And nothing beats beer really, and that’s why home brewing is enjoying a great revival.

In days of yore, the main reason why people brewed their own beer was that they were either broke or miserly.

Hobbyists who brewed their own would gloatingly tell you how little their beer had cost compared to the price of a pint in the pub. “You’d have to be mad to pay that much” they would cry, before forcing you to drink some of the stuff.

20

by Ted Bruning

And as soon as you’d managed to escape, guess where you’d head...

However, these days it’s more to do with lifestyle, and home brewing guru Nigel Sadler puts it down to what he calls the Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall effect. Chelmsford-based Nigel runs a training company called Learn2brew and says he’s seen interest in home brewing skyrocket in recent years.

“Crafts in general have a much wider appeal now than they used to,” he says. “Home brewing, home winemaking, and home cidermaking have really taken off. Partly it’s because there are now so many microbrewers that people have the chance to try many different beers and are getting generally more interested in the whole subject.

Partly it’s because TV chefs and lifestyle presenters like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Heston Blumenthal are encouraging a have-a-go attitude.”

To that combination has to be added the miracle ingredient of the modern age: the internet. Twenty years ago, Boots – the only national retailer of home brew supplies – reluctantly decided to pull out of the market. Then the mail-order firms, quickly followed by the independent shops, discovered internet trading. The whole craft took off again; and now Wilkinson, the 400-strong high street discount chain, has taken up where Boots left off.

So now it’s easy to get start-

ed. And at entry level, it’s an easy craft to pursue: you don’t need anything more than a brewing bucket with a tight-fitting lid, a kettle, and a brewing kit comprising a packet of ready-hopped malt extract and a sachet of yeast. If you just follow the instructions you’re pretty much bound to get a more than passable beer for your efforts.

But be warned! Once you’ve started it’s hard to stop. It’s perfectly possible to bump along at this most basic level for ever and be perfectly satisfied. But brewing is a seductive business, especially if you’re the type who enjoys browsing the market and sampling different beers.

From brewing with kits you venture into trying your own recipes then before you know it you’ll have graduated from using malt extract into buying whole grains.

It can be a sociable hobby, too. The local home brew shop (where there is one) tends to turn into a bit of a social centre, as specialist shops so often do; and in most areas there’s a home brewing club that holds troubleshooting sessions and competitions. There’s a UK Craft Brewing Association as well, which holds its own competition; so one day you might well find yourself being crowned national champion... and toasting your triumph in your own beer!

• To find out if there’s a home brew shop nearby, visit www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk or www.homebrewshops.co.uk

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21

Beer of the Month Spring is here, spring is here, Life is skittles and life is beer. So sang the great Tom Lehrer. Let’s prove him right.

First, a little mise-en-scène. Doing the weekly shop, I often see bewildered gogglers in the beer aisle, clearly wondering what on earth all this stuff is. Thanks to a misspent middle age, I know. Allow me to share. I promise not to patronise.

Anyway, it’s April. A chancy month – could be hot, could be cold. So to be safe I’ve chosen two beers, one for each eventuality. Both, by pure coincidence, from Marston’s; but I promise, they’re not paying me.

The nice-weather beer is one of the bestknown and possibly best-selling best bitters in

Britain (“best bitter” being one notch up from session bitter, ie 4-5% alcohol by volume).

Pedigree (4.5%) is a fairly easy-drinking beer, which is what makes it the ideal choice to welcome the return of better weather. The nose is faintly biscuit; the body is creamy; the palate is – shall we say, not aggressive?

The finish is quite short with hints of caramel.

Norralorra hop; but the right beer for the first day out in the garden.

The bad-weather beer is Wychwood Hobgoblin: darker, fruitier, richer, and a wee bit stronger at 5.2%. This is the one you pour when you’ve been caught in an April shower. It’s quite rich and even sweetish, which is what you want when April is being the cruellest month. It’s a bit chocolatey too – an Easter egg for Dad? – but there’s a compensating undercurrent of green fruit right the way through.

My final recommendation? Try both.

By Ted Bruning

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22

CJM Plumbing and Heating

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Qualified electrician

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23

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ST R N NO YLE AN EW W S & GE AV C OF AI OL LA OU BL RS E

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The long and the short of curtains A well-designed set of curtains can complement your architecture, provide a starting point for an interior design scheme and, in general, give your room a sophisticated feel. But choosing curtains can be confusing.

Katherine Sorrell explains all.

Headings and hangings The way in which a curtain hangs is determined by its heading, often created by a tape which is sewn onto the back of the curtain and pulled to form gathers, pleats or a variety of other styles. Some headings are only suitable for certain weights of fabric and sizes of curtain. For a less formal look, however, there are plenty of alternatives.

Tab- and tie-tops are often found on ready-made curtains, though they can be fiddly to draw. Curtains can also be hung from a deep hem which is simply slid over a pole, from large eyelets punched in the top, from clips (magnetic ones are easy to use) or even just from hooks.

Poles, tracks, wires and rods The most straightforward way to hang curtains is from a pole, ideal for short, straight runs. Poles might be fixed or extending, made from wood, wrought iron, steel, brass, bamboo, acrylic or glass in various diameters (for various weights of

26

curtain), and are usually circular in profile, though reeded and fluted styles are also available. Designed to be on show, they require a certain amount of clearance above and below to look right (if space is limited, a ceilingmounted track is probably a better option).

To finish off the pole at either end, and also to prevent the curtains sliding off, there’s the option of a plain cap or a pair of finials. If you choose very distinctive finials, ensure that they co-ordinate with the overall style of window treatment and the decoration of the room.

On narrow windows or dormers, portiere (or swingarm) rods are an alternative to fixed poles, while for a modern effect you could use tension wire, fixed taut within the window opening.

A more subtle effect can be achieved by using a track rather than a pole; this is usually a better option for bay windows, too, as they can be bent around to fit.

Tracks may be made from plastic (inexpensive) or

metal (better-looking) and be mounted either on the wall or the ceiling above the window.

Window disguises Curtains will cover tracks but only, of course, when they’re closed. When open, if you can’t stand the look of a bare track, you’ll need either a pelmet or a valance, usually about one-sixth of the depth of the curtain and slightly wider than the track. Hung high above the window, they can also make it seem taller; the opposite if hung low.

Pelmets, normally made from wood or medium density fibreboard, can either be painted or covered in a fabric to match or co-ordinate with your curtains. Opt either for a simple rectangle or a fancy shape that complements the architecture of the room.

A valance is a set of ruffles made entirely from fabric and attached to a track, pelmet board or rail.

Length and width To let maximum light into the room, fit a pole or track that overhangs far enough each side to allow the curtains to

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be drawn right away from the window. Very full, thick curtains need more ‘stack back’ space than light, thin ones. If there is space on one side only, fit a single curtain. Floor-length curtains are more fashionable than sill-length these days, though shorter curtains can be practical when radiators or window seats are in the way, or in stairways or kitchens. In-between lengths can look odd, unless specifically designed to disguise awkward window proportions.

Fabric Curtains can be made of practically any fabric, from cotton and linen to velvet, silk or wool. As well as the conventional fabrics, consider unusual ones such as tweed, fleece, mohair or

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denim, or perhaps a sari, a length of vintage embroidery or a lovely chintz quilt. The heavier the fabric, the better it will hold a fold, though very heavy fabrics will be too bulky for smaller windows.

Very light fabrics will look floppy unless supported by a lining. Bear in mind, too, that a large window will require metres of weighty fabric; check that your track or pole can support it.

Lining Lining is recommended for all curtains except sheers, as it helps fabric hang neatly and protects it from fading, dirt and condensation. It is usually made from a tightly woven fabric (cotton or polycotton) that resists shrinkage and creasing, and is often white or cream, though coloured linings are also

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

available.

Thermal linings are coated on one side to reflect heat back into the room, and can be almost as effective as double glazing when they are closed. Blackout lining has the same properties, but also blocks out light and, to a certain extent, noise.

Inter-lining, as its name suggests, is sewn between the fabric and the lining to improve drape, body and heat retention. It’s worth knowing that linings can shrink at a different rate to curtains when washed, so either have them detachable or prepare to have the whole lot dry-cleaned.

Image: Made to measure, full-length dress curtains with single pinch pleats, lightweight interlining and blackout lining in dusty pink linen union fabric with embroidered corn ear motif, £232 per pair, Moghul Interiors.

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

27

Chocolate and Eggs: Easter Food Superheroes or Arch-villains?

It’s Easter, the season of eggs and chocolate. But what’s the latest advice about these foods? Do they harm or heal?

Eggs Research and improved understanding means eggs are no longer a nutritional Big Bad Wolf.

Packed with goodness A medium egg is very low in carbohydrates and supplies over 10% of our daily protein needs. Containing just 66 kcals and 4.6g of fat (only one third saturates), it’s a great source of nutrients often scarce in UK diets; around 20% of us are Vitamin D deficient. Eggs provide a third of daily Vitamin D requirements, around half our required Vitamin B12 and selenium, and Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, folate, biotin, iodine and phosphorous.

What about cholesterol? And salmonella?

Research shows that cholesterol found in eggs and other foods has a negligible effect on our cholesterol levels.

Our body makes cholesterol and levels are raised by many factors. Saturated fat was the main suspect until recently, when a fresh look at the evidence cast some doubts.

Regarding salmonella, the Food Standards Agency recommends, for now, that vulnerable groups should only eat hard-boiled eggs. However, a massive increase in chicken vaccination has more than

28

halved infection cases. All eggs with the Lion Mark come from vaccinated chickens and all 150,000 tested during the last two years were salmonella free.

Chocolate Chocolate has been accused of causing acne, obesity, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes, among others. But it’s not necessarily guilty, and may have beneficial effects.

• Acne. There’s no scientific proof that chocolate causes acne; research suggests foods with a high glycaemic load may be guilty.

• Obesity & diabetes. Due to high sugar and fat, overindulgence may show on the scales. However, recent studies show chocolate can lower your insulin resistance (potentially reducing diabetes risk). A study of 1,500 teens showed that those eating 1.5oz of chocolate daily had less body fat and more energy than those eating 0.16oz daily, so some scientists say 1.5 ounces a day may be beneficial (that’s just a square and a half). Experts say diabetics can eat chocolate, but should monitor their total carbohydrate intake.

• Cardiovascular health, cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Many studies suggest that cocoa has beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, improving blood pressure, vascular function and blood

flow and reducing clot risk. It may lower cholesterol slightly, but only as part of a low fat diet.

• stroke. A study involving 44,489 people concluded that chocolate eaters were 22% less likely to suffer a stroke and 46% less likely to die from one.

• Brain function. Chocolate can help preserve the brain’s blood flow and prevent memory decline in older people, and could be important in diseases like Alzheimer’s.

• Mood. Chemicals in chocolate can raise our serotonin levels and affect other receptors in the brain that trigger feelings of well-being.

• Migraine. While chocolate contains chemicals believed to be migraine triggers, recent data shows that some cocoa compounds may be beneficial in migraine treatment.

• Osteoporosis. The bad news: chocolate may contribute to osteoporosis. One study of women aged 70-85 found that daily chocolate consumers had lower bone density and strength.

Proper comparisons haven’t been done between white, milk and dark chocolate, but most beneficial effects come from cocoa content. So choose high cocoa content varieties low in sugar and fat, and eat chocolate in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

By Alison Runham

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29

Will it be Lamb for Easter? asks Alan Jennings

W

inter’s moving away from us now, or at least we hope so, and soon we’ll be enjoying Easter and the Easter break once again.

The actual date for Easter dates varies each year, as you will know. This year Easter Sunday falls on the 20th April, which is one of the latest possible dates. So we’ve plenty of time to plan our celebrations, especially the food part!

Not just in Britain, but right across the Continent, the traditional meat for Easter is lamb, usually with a big joint for family and friends on the Sunday.

So here at Jennings we will be stocking up heavily with prime lamb, ready for the demands of our customers. At the moment all our lambs come from the Scottish highlands, and magnificent quality they are, too. But as Easter is later this year than last, we may be able to offer our customers some of the first salt-marsh lambs of the year, which come from England’s Romney Salt Marshes. These lambs are highly sought after, especially in France, as they have a sweeter, juicier taste than other lambs.

Of course, if you really want to show off, there’s always the fabulous Crown of Lamb, but you’ll need plenty of time and dexterity beforehand if you’re going to set it up yourself.

Ask about Crown of Lamb at Jennings, and we’ll be able to help with some good advice.

Or we can make one up for you, given reasonable notice. Whatever cut of lamb you decide on, it’s worth letting us know in good time so that we can make sure to supply you with exactly what you want. Why not pay us a visit soon, so that we can advise you in good time?

All at Jennings wish you a Happy Easter, with the hope of some excellent weather over the holiday time!

Best wishes, Alan C.D.Jennings and Sons Traditional Quality Butchers since 1962 146 Ewell Road Surbiton KT6 6HE Tel: 020 8399 4870

What should you buy for your Easter table?

Will it be a leg of lamb to roast for a sizable gathering, or a more modest half leg for a couple on their own? Or could it be a shoulder, for those who like to cook slow and long, to bring out all the flavours of young lamb? Or there’s rack of lamb, another good choice for a roast.

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C.D Jennings & Sons Surbiton’s High Class Traditional Family Butchers Meat of the Highest Quality from the Finest Sources

Serving Surbiton for over 50 Years C.D Jennings & Sons Easter 2014 Specials Call us on 020 8399 4870 Scotch Highland Lamb Legs, Shoulders, Loins, Best Ends Free Range Corn Fed Chickens 21 Day Dry Aged Scotch Beef Fore Ribs, Sirloin, Fillet, Rump

Visit our shop at 146 Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6HE (Opposite The Victoria pub) or call us to place an order on 020 8399 4870

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

For more information view our website www.cdjenningsandsons.com email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Chocolate Ripple Cheesecake Serves 10

Ready in 1½ hours, plus chilling & cooling

This baked cheesecake is a must for chocolate lovers – it has a really rich flavour without being too sweet. It’s perfect to serve as a dessert or sweet treat over the Easter weekend as you can make it in advance. Keep the cooled cheesecake covered in the fridge for up to 2 days. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before serving.

Mix together the crushed biscuits, melted butter and cocoa powder and press evenly into the base of a well buttered 23cm round spring-form or deep fluted flan tin. Chill the base in the fridge.

Ingredients: • 225g digestive biscuits, finely crushed

• 75g unsalted butter, melted • 1 tbsp cocoa powder • 200g good quality plain

Preheat the oven to 170C, 325F, Gas 3. Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water then remove from the heat and leave to cool for 10 minutes.

chocolate, broken into pieces

In a large bowl beat together the soft cheese, caster sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs then fold in the soured cream. Spoon about half the mixture over the chilled biscuit base.

• 400g soft cheese, such as Philadelphia

• • • • • •

100g caster sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract

Gently fold the melted chocolate into the remaining mixture (it will be quite thick) and drop spoonfuls of this mixture on top of the vanilla layer.

3 medium eggs, beaten 300ml soured cream Cocoa powder to dust

Using the blade of a thin knife gently swirl the chocolate mixture through the vanilla mixture.

Place the tin on a baking sheet and bake for 45-55 minutes, until the filling has just set.

Turn the oven off and leave the cheesecake to cool in the oven.

Chocolate sauce, to serve (optional)

TIP For a chocolate orange version add the zest and juice of � orange to the soft cheese mixture instead of the vanilla extract.

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6

Serve the cold cheesecake sliced, lightly dusted with cocoa powder and with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, if liked.

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On the

go

On your

lap

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

On your

desk

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

33

Gardening Bringing Up Babies

by Pippa Greenwood or 7.5cm) are fairly inexpensive, usually somewhere around the £1.50-£2.50 mark and great value.

They’re packed full of potential and within a year or two will have formed really good sized plants.

A visit to any nursery or garden centre at this time of year will reveal a brilliant array of herbaceous perennials. True, right now they may not look particularly enticing as they usually show little growth and seem to be unbelievably small but just take a look at the illustration on the label and you will see that these small plants have great potential. At this stage, before they put on their fabulous foliage or flowers, herbaceous perennials, particularly those grown in relatively small pots (3in

34

In order to make sure that newly planted herbaceous perennials not only survive but thrive, it’s essential that you give them that little bit of extra tender loving care. Small plants such as these are more likely to be prone to any weather extremes such as drought or waterlogging and even plants in larger pots should be well established.

When you ease the plants out of their pots, if you see a really plentiful supply of roots that usually means you have purchased a good plant. Unlike woody plants such as shrubs and trees, a crammed in root system tends to mean that the plant has been growing well and is unlikely to lead to

problems in the future.

Check the plant labels to see the ultimate spread of the plant and then this will give you an idea of how far apart you should space them. For the best effect you generally want to grow several individuals of the same species and I suggest you choose an odd number, perhaps three, or five for a much larger garden, as this invariably makes a better display than if even numbers of plants are used.

It may be tempting to plant too close and although this will provide a better looking display initially, over-crowded plants are less likely to become well established, will have to be moved in the near future and in the meantime will be more prone to numerous diseases including grey mould and powdery and downy mildews.

It’s also essential to plant at the correct depth. With herbaceous perennials you need to make sure that you place the plant in the ground to the same depth that it was in the container and although you may decide to mulch the soil afterwards, do remember not to mulch right up to or over the crown of the plant, as this is likely to lead to poor growth and maybe even dieback.

Weed control is essential and you can either hoe

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regularly between the plants to prevent the weeds causing competition or you can use a deep mulch or perhaps even place squares of landscape fabric or black polythene around each plant. Do remember however, that if you use polythene, rain will not be able to penetrate through it and so the plants are more likely to suffer from drought.

With landscape fabric this is not a problem. I’m a great fan of copper-impregnated and coated fabrics as these help to keep weeds and slugs and snails at bay.

Once you have dug over the whole bed, then it’s well worthwhile adding a general fertilizer at the rate suggested on the packet; this will help to start the plant off well. If you notice

that the soil is on the heavy side and unless you have chosen plants which are only likely to thrive under these conditions, it would be advisable to attempt to improve the soil conditions by incorporating plenty of bulky organic matter and grit. Similarly, if the soil is excessively dry, then you could try to improve its texture by incorporating large quantities of any good bulky organic matter. Once the plants are in position, firm the soil thoroughly and do take care not to compact it if it’s on the heavy side. Regular watering is essential and if the ground is not already quite moist, you should water the plants in well. Although they should have been in good condition when you purchased them,

do check them regularly for signs of any pests or diseases as it will be much easier to stop something in its tracks if you start to take action early on in the season.

Pippa loves growing gorgeous veg and wants to persuade you to as well; visit Pippa’s website www.

pippagreenwood.com for the ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system where she will send you garden ready plants and weekly advice and tips emails, making veg growing easy, productive and fun.

LOCAL CARPENTER GARDENER CITY & GUILDS QUALIFIED

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If you're thinking of letting or selling your home, please contact us on Surbiton:

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37

Spring into the Lamb Fair Sunday 13th April 2014

Made In Surbiton present their spring fair “Spring into the Lamb”, Spring into the Lamb Fair into the Lamb Fair on Sunday 13th April from 1pm-6pm, atSpring the Lamb pub on Brighton Road. th th Sunday 13 April 2014 Sunday 13 April 2014 Made In Surbiton presentbe their spring fair “Spring into the Lamb”, Sundayselling 13thpresent April fromtheir There will a variety of stalls loads of“Spring different things, ranging Made InonSurbiton spring fair into the Lamb”, on Sunday 13th April from 1pm-6pm at the Lamb pub on Brighton Road.

1pm-6pm at the Lamb pub on Brighton Road.

from crochet to metal work, jewellery to chocolates, flower bouquets to

There will be a variety of stalls selling loads of different ranging from crochet to cordials, which have allthings; been Surbiton.

Therethings; willranging be from activities There will bemade a variety ofin stalls selling loads of different crochet to metal work, jewellery to chocolates, flower bouquets to cordials, which have all been made metal work, jewellery to chocolates, flower bouquets to cordials, which have all been made for the kids to enjoy, including an Easter egg hunt and cookie decorating. in Surbiton. There will also be activities for the kids to enjoy including an Easter egg hunt in Surbiton. There will also be activities for the kids to enjoy including an Easter egg hunt Allcookiesituated in inthe Lamb garden. and decorating. All situated the Lambs beer garden.beer Saucalicious Hotdogs will also Sausalicious Hotdogs will also be and cookie decorating. All situated in the Lambs beer garden. Saucalicious Hotdogs will also be cooking up some of theirsome fantastic hotdogs homemade relish. cooking up ofandtheir fantastic and homemade be cooking up somehotdogs of their fantastic hotdogs and homemade relish. relish.

Come along and see what’s made on your doorstep alongmade and seeon what’s on your doorstep Come along and seeCome what’s yourmade doorstep www.facebook.com/madeinsurbiton www.facebook.com/madeinsurbiton www.facebook.com/madeinsurbiton

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Is April our busiest month?

T

Without doubt, says Roy Staniland

he days are lengthening fast, and Summer’s nearly here. This means a vast amount of extra activity in April at Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club.

There’s certainly a lot going on. Our eleven superb grass courts, which we have carefully nurtured all through the winter, now need their final preparation in readiness for the grass season in May. And that’s not just keeping the grass mown to the right length everywhere, although that’s a basic essential. People may possibly forget all the other necessities, such as a last programme of weed control and fertilisers.

Then there’s the marking out of the courts, which has to be an exact science. Then finally we can bring out the nets, posts and other court furniture. And our ground staff need a run of good weather in April if all these tasks can be fitted in to time!

But if the weather is unkind, and the grass courts are not ready for early May, we can continue with our nine fast-draining hard courts. Three of these have been laid with synthetic clay and these have quickly become first choice for our Members.

Of course, there’s plenty more happening this month at Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club.

Our four squash courts, which are heated and air-conditioned, are well-patronised as ever.

And our own Squash Coach is ready to give professional advice for those who feel the need to improve their game.

Our Fitness Suite is an important feature of the Club, all the year round. There you’ll find some of the latest fitness apparatus, from cardio-vascular aids to resistance machines and free weights.

40

Another major attraction is our Studio. We have regular classes which range from Pilates and Yoga to Zumba and Indoor Cycling.

After you chosen activity you can always relax in the Clubhouse bar, which is open all day for coffee and other drinks.

If you’re thinking of join us - and we hope you are - there’s no better time than April, so that you can enjoy your first Summer with us.

No other local Club can offer our range of activities, so why not come along and see for yourself? There’s no obligation. Just call in when it suits you, or ring me on 0208 399 1594 to suggest a time. You’ll be very welcome!

Roy Staniland is Director of Surbiton Racket and Fitness Club, Berrylands, KT5 8JT. 0208 399 1594 www.surbiton.org Our Coaching Programme As a major British club we are committed to the development of tennis in our area, and particularly among the youngest players. Our coaching programme is run in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association and the Tennis Foundation.

We are also a Disability Hub, working with children and Adults with a range of disabilities.

We have no less than twelve professional tennis coaches, and our training and coaching programmes run all the year and involve more than 250 pupils a week, from age 3 right up to the over-80s. Nor is our coaching limited to the Club premises; we visit eleven local schools on a regular basis for coaching sessions.

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Windows • Doors • Conservatories Orangeries • Garage Doors • Roofline

Add a New Dimension to Your Home

Our Conservatories, Orangeries and Bi-Folding Doors will completely change the way you enjoy your home.

7 Grand Parade, Ewell Road, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7BE www.warmlite.co.uk Tel: 020 8399 3377 To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

43 43

Short Story The April Fool Gemma Paterson insisted her husband Larry agree to a total embargo on April Fools’ jokes following the events of last year.

After hiding the cling-film behind the ironing board, just in case, she embarked on her daily commute. Stuck in irritable traffic, Gemma fantasised about the house she would buy if they could afford to move closer to her work. Larry seemed to idle away his days in pyjamas now he was self-employed.

Gemma suspected he invested more time surfing the net than chasing contracts.

She was at her desk, opening the mail when Larry called.

“Thank heavens you picked up,” he gasped. “You’ll never guess what’s happened.”

“Surprise me.” Gemma wedged the handset under her chin.

“There’s a chap at the door called Mr Dalwinnie. He wants to buy our house, and guess what Gem, he’s willing to pay twice the market price.”

Gemma sighed with disappointment; so much for the embargo. Knowing how dearly she wanted to move, Larry’s lame joke seemed a little cruel. She resisted the urge to hang up.

“Put him on,” she said mildly.

Another man came on the line.

“Greetings Mrs Paterson,” a voice said jovially. “I’m Frank Dalwinnie, perhaps I should explain?”

“Go ahead,” Gemma yawned.

He was putting on an

44

by Jackie Brewster awful accent, but it was unmistakeably Larry’s Uncle Tony; another joker with too much time on his hands.

“I recently won the lottery,” he continued.

“How wonderful for you,” Gemma said dully.

“Indeed.” He took a deep breath. “It’s always been my dream to buy back the house I grew up in. I’m a sentimental old fool, but I’ve so many happy memories there.”

“That’s sweet,” Gemma said, glancing at the time.

“Er, yes,” he replied uncomfortably. “I’m willing to pay twice what it’s worth for the inconvenience.”

“Fine, it’s a deal.” She yawned.

“But it has to be cash and it has to be today.”

“Wonderful,” he gasped. “Shall I put your husband back on?”

“Not necessary,” Gemma said curtly. “Just tell him what I’ve said.” She hung up the phone and chuckled to herself. Larry must be losing his touch if he thought she would fall for that. She was grateful at least that no cling-film had been involved and the bathroom floor didn’t need mopping. For six months after last year’s April Fools Day, Gemma’s poor embarrassed mother refused to visit them or their facilities.

Her 4:30 meeting overran and she crawled home in rush hour traffic. As she pulled into her street she was surprised to see a self-hire van parked on the drive with Larry and Uncle Tony manhandling the sofa into it.

“What are you up to now?” she asked suspiciously.

“Thank heavens you’re home.”

Larry slumped onto the sofa in exhaustion. “I’ve been on the go all day. I thought I was the impulsive one, but you definitely win the prize.”

“What are you talking about?”

Gemma asked, locking the car.

“You know, selling the house in one day,” Larry said, a note of uncertainty creeping into his voice. Gemma remembered the April Fool and groaned, “Not funny, Larry. I just want to go inside and put my feet up.

It’s been a long day”.

He laughed nervously.

“But I’ve already handed the keys over to Mr Dalwinnie.”

“We’ve had to empty the house, and find you somewhere temporary to live,” Uncle Tony grumbled, mopping his brow. ”All in eight short hours.”

“At first I thought it was revenge for the cling-film, but then I remembered you’d banned April Fools’ jokes.”

Larry handed Gemma a thickly stuffed envelope. “Here, you’d better look after the cash.”

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KINGSTON, SURBITON AND THAMES DITTON T: 0208 224 3971 E: kingston.surbiton@monkeymusic.co.uk

Virgin Active, Kingston on Mondays St Nicholas Church Hall, Thames Ditton on Weds Surbiton Hill Methodist Church Hall on Thursdays St Luke's Church, Kingston on Thursdays YMCA Surbiton on Fridays St John's Parish Hall, Surbiton/Kingston on Saturdays

Group discounts for NCT members when 3+ people join together at the same time.

Do you want an outstanding education for your child?

SCCN offers free 15 hours funded nursery places from the age of 3 Extended hours also available We are currently taking applications for September 2014

Closing date 21st March

See our outstanding Ofsted Report http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspectionreport/provider/ELS/102560

For further information or to arrange a visit please contact our school office: 020 8390 2555 Email: office@sccn.rbksch.org Website: www.surbitonchildrenscentre.org Address: Alpha Road, Surbiton, KT5 8RS

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

45

It IS Easy Being Green

Get clued up this month ahead of Earth Day on the 22nd. Kermit actually had it all wrong: with so many great books around to help us be more environmentally aware, it’s just a matter of making some simple changes, and finding the right books to help us along the way.

The Green Book by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen This book is packed with information about small efforts that can make a big difference.

It has thought-provoking facts and figures for when you’re standing there cleaning your teeth with the tap running.

There are celebrity hints and tips including pearls of wisdom from Robert Redford, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Timberlake to name but a few.

1960s. This hugely-influential work, and Carson’s findings on the destruction caused by pesticides changed laws and helped to get harmful substances banned from use in the USA and many other countries. She opens the book by quoting Keats: ‘The sedge is wither’d from the lake, and no bird sings.’ Thanks to the pioneer of the ‘Deep Ecology’ movement, the Carson revolution lives on within every new reader.

Last Chance to See… by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine Bestselling author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams has teamed up with zoologist Mark Carwardine for a round the world voyage in search of some of the planet’s most critically endangered species.

On their journey they encounter some bizarre and astounding creatures that are perilously close to being wiped out altogether. Adams’ reactions are often those of someone coming face to face with an alien species and it’s often hilarious.

How Bad Are Bananas? : The Carbon Footprint of Everything by Mike BernauLee We talk about our giant, trampling, carbon footprints, but exactly how bad is it to take a transatlantic flight, or use a plastic carrier bag, or buy bananas? This book takes us, step by step through around 100 everyday items and occurrences to show the impact our daily existence is having on the planet. It’s an entertaining, though sometimes disturbing, read.

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson Silent Spring was a revolution when it was published in the

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An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It by Al Gore Former Vice President of the United States, Gore is an

articulate and prolific ‘green’ campaigner who has long been on a mission to raise awareness of global warming. Gore writes in a succinct, passionate and compelling way about the need to halt climate change and react now, rather than thinking it’s something that’s happening at a glacial pace. He brings urgency and momentum to the debates, insisting that governments need to stop ignoring this most inconvenient of truths: that our planet is heating-up and we have a critical situation on our hands.

Mates, Dates and Saving the Planet by Cathy Hopkins If you’re like, totally into saving the planet and stuff (and you’re a teenage girl) then this edition of Cathy Hopkins’ popular teenage series is ‘totes amazeballs’ for sorting out your carbon footprint. Lucy, Izzie, TJ and Nesta have loads of great top tips on how to make a difference, one knickers drawer at a time. There’s plenty of advice on how to look good whilst being good and showing you actually care about our planet. If you’re not a teenage girl, but live with one, then this book could help drastically reduce household bills. Saving the planet has never been so cool.

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Mrs Jones EDUCATION 11 PLUS TUITION & Mock Exam Practice West & South West London

Y3 (pre-Plus), Y4 and Y5 (11 Plus) State Grammar and Private Schools Bursaries and Scholarships Mathematics, English, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, Exam Practice, Interview Technique Highly Experienced Graduate Teachers EXCELLENT RESULTS

TEL: 0208-390-6076 www.11plustuition.co.uk CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

23 25

7

23 15

16 21

17

16

22

13

26

3

12

26

26

16

10

10

26

7

5

L

9

22

15

2

2

15

19

3

4

15

23

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

15 17

2

13

11

6

24

14

26

3

22

18

7

7

15

13

22

23

14

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15 20

26 24

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1

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25

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21

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PROOF B

3

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17 23

3

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8

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16 14

15

24

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

47

“I’m still independent, but a bit of help wouldn’t be a bad thing...”

• Housework • Shopping • Meal preparation • Companionship • Trips out

020 8399 3388 www.121surbiton.co.uk

One to One Homecare is the trading name of Halo Homecare Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales: 6686170.

Regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

nd_A6_2.indd 1

48

9/5/13 10:24:57

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Cake and Bake Banana, Walnut & Chocolate Cake Bananas ripen so quickly that it’s easy to find yourself with several left over needing to be used up. Many people don’t like the taste or smell of ripe bananas though so they often go to waste. However, when baked in a cake they lose their slightly sour smell and give a subtle taste, which is particularly delicious when combined with chocolate and walnuts.

Ingredients:

1.

• 100g butter at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 180C, 160C for fan oven or gas mark 4.

2.

Grease a 900g loaf tin and line with greaseproof paper

3.

Cream the sugar and butter together until fluffy

4.

Add the eggs and the vanilla essence and then the bananas and mix in well

5.

Carefully mix in the flour and bicarb, baking powder and cinnamon so there are no lumps, then fold through the dark chocolate and most of the walnuts.

6.

Pour the batter into the loaf tin and bake for 45-55 minutes until a skewer through the centre comes out clean.

• 100g Walnuts (Chopped or whole)

7.

Leave on a rack until cool before serving to allow time for the chocolate to set.

• 75g Dark chocolate chopped or coarsely grated

8.

Sprinkle with icing sugar and a few more chopped walnuts.

• 100g light brown sugar • 25 grams caster sugar (white or golden) • 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla essence • 3-4 ripe bananas (depending on size), mashed • 175g plain flour • 1� tsp baking powder • 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda • � tsp cinnamon

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

49

A chilling tale of life,death and mutilation taken from the YMCA website, with permission.

L

ast month was International Women’s Day on 12th March, and at Surbiton YMCA a Coffee Morning was held to mark the establishment of Your Voice, an organisation with the goal of supporting victims of domestic abuse, honour based violence, forced marriages and female genital mutilation, and is based at the centre.

This time of the year is crucial”, says Sarbjit Athwal.

“The summer holiday is coming up and some parents are starting to plan to take their girls abroad. The young daughters will be told that they are going to grandparents or other relatives in the parent’s birth country, or that they are going to a family wedding.

In reality, some of them might be taken there to be married against their will, or to be circumcised.

Then, after they return home to the UK, they will be kept isolated within the home for the rest of the summer and told not to talk about this with anyone, because it is a ‘cultural thing’ which the British society doesn’t understand”.

Even though this is her story and doesn’t represent anyone else, Sarbjit Kaur Athwal knows very well what she is talking about. Her own sister in law, Surjit Athwal, was sent off to a “family wedding” in India in the winter of 1998.

She never came back.

Shame and honour Instead, days before she was due to fly back Surjit was taken shopping where on the way she was drugged, strangled and thrown in the river. She was accompanied on the trip by her mother in law, who together with Surjit’s husband had decided to have her murdered for bringing shame upon the family.

The Athwals were highly respected in their local community. In their eyes, Surjit brought the killing upon herself when she started going out with friends, wearing Western clothes and disobeying her controlling and violent husband. They talked openly about the murder in the family.

It was known within the family what the trip to India was really about, but only Sarbjit tried to do something. Risking her own life, she tried to alert the local police several times over the years before and after Surjit’s disappearance. They did not take her seriously.

“If the police and the Crimestoppers had listened to my calls for help about the murder plans, Surjit could have been alive today”, she says.

But her voice was silenced by the family, by the community, by society.

50

For seven years Sarbjit lived with the family she knew had committed a murder. She also knew that at any moment, she could be next.

The investigation Finally, the stress of living under such conditions got the upper hand on Sarbjit. She was hospitalised for stomach ulcer and was told by the hospital staff that she was lucky to have made it through. Whilst hospitalised, she told her father the whole story.

“I made him promise never to tell anyone. However, one day my parents asked me to come over to their house and there sat Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll in their living room. I was so terrified and could not look the DCI in the eye; I was shaking and feeling very scared. I thought: This is it, my life is over. I’ll be thrown in prison for not telling.

Instead, the DCI actually listened to me. He asked me if I was absolutely sure about what I was saying and he asked me to repeat myself several times.

Then, he gave me his word that he would protect me and my children and I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders”.

Under DCI Driscoll’s lead and with Sarbjit’s help, an investigation into Surjits killing was started. During the investigation, the first letters Sarbjit had sent to the police were found lying on a shelf in the local police station.

All the while this was going on, Sarbjit was still living with the family, and when media reported that Surjit’s case had new leads, the family started suspecting Sarbjit’s involvement. Her life was now in grave danger.

“The day I made a statement to the Police, my mother in law insisted on staying the night at our house. All night I lay awake, fearing she and the family had planned to have me killed. I thought of escaping, but couldn’t leave my kids behind. What I didn’t know at that point was that the police had a helicopter hovering over the back garden and police cars stationed at the front entrance. They too, feared for me and thought I might be murdered that night.

When my mother in law the next morning told me that since I had never met her family in India, she would like to take me there this summer, I felt sick to the pit of my stomach. I could not take it anymore.

I knew this was it – my time had come. When I told DCI Driscoll about this, the police took action.

Soon after, my mother in law and brother in law was arrested and charged with murder and I took my youngest child and got out of the house”.

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YMCA Surbiton Being a key witness in an honour murder trial, the police offered Sarbjit full witness protection. This, however, would mean that she would have to change her name and leave her family behind. “That was not an option”, says Sarbjit. Instead, she was offered police protection. She stayed in hotels and bed and breakfasts. Ultimately, Sarbjit came to the hostel at YMCA Surbiton.

“I came to the YMCA in 2006 and I spent all my time up in my room, crying and thinking ‘why have I ended up here’ and ‘what will happen to me now’”, she explains.

“Now I feel that if I had had someone to talk to, someone who understood about the cultural issues and the issues I was facing with my family, that would have helped me through this though period”, Sarbjit says. “It tears you apart to be in that situation.

It’s difficult to explain, but without support it is so hard to carry on but so easy to think of the worst.

I wish I had someone to talk to, because really, I thought my life was over”.

Support Sarbjit also had to face her mother in law as a witness in the trial. Even though the family tried to break her and called her a liar, she stood strong and firm and with the support from the DCI and his team finally got justice.

Her mother in law and her brother in law were jailed for life. Sarbjit, on the other side, had to rebuild hers.

She is now divorced and living with her children in the Kingston area.

And what’s even more important; she has dedicated her life to give others the support she never got herself.

“Many young girls and women who experience forced marriage and/or domestic abuse have the same experiences of being silenced and not having anyone to talk to that I had”, she explains.

“And that is what I am trying to do something about with the organisation Your Voice”.

Breaking the silence She calls Your Voice a “breaking the silence organisation”. The aim is to give support to victims of domestic and honour based violence, forced marriages and female genital mutilation - to stand by them and say it’s “Your Voice”.

“I chose to base my advocacy group here at YMCA Surbiton so that I could give back for the time I spent here myself”, she says. “I think I can make a difference because I know how it is to be a young mother with small children who is forced to flee because of a violent husband or a family that wants to control you or force you to marry”.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

She has been taking part in the weekly “snack and chat” a residents meeting forum hosted by YMCA LSW’s chaplain Jacky. “Jacky has been great”, Sarbjit says. “The YMCA has really recognised the work I do so far and supported me a lot in setting up Your Voice”.

Female Genital Mutilation Recently, Sarbjit has had a growing interest in issues relating to Female Genital Mutilation. She feels that this correlates with her work because it can be seen as another way for parents to enforce their control upon their children, labelling it a ‘cultural tradition’ and thus making it hard to fight.

“It is not a cultural thing”, Sarbjit says. “It’s a form of child abuse and it’s illegal. However, schools and society haven’t really picked up on it – until now”.

Sarbjit is now in contact with local schools where she is working with headmasters and teachers on raising awareness about honour based violence and FGM. “And as for what I started out saying – now is the time to act. This is the time of the year when the parents in question start booking holidays and planning on getting their daughters married against their will. This is the time to act and to care. What FGM, forced marriage and honour based violence have in common, are that they are ways of controlling and silencing women”, she says. “And I will not let that happen”.

Support Your Voice Sarbjits story is gruesome and heart breaking, but it is also one of bravery and courage. She has told it herself many times now, both to the press and in the book Shamed: The Honour Killing that Shocked Britain. Last year, she was also awarded the Ultimate Warrior Women’s Award by the women’s magazine Cosmopolitan.

Today, Sarbjit’s work continues through Your Voice.

If you want to support the organisation in getting women’s voices heard, please get in touch via email: sarbjitathwal@ymcalsw.org.

On Wednesday 12th March, Sarbjit and Your Voice hosted a coffee morning at YMCA Surbiton to celebrate and honour women’s efforts for freedom all over the world, in relation with International Women’s Day. Need help?

If you are a victim or know someone who is a victim of FGM, forced marriage or domestic and/or honour based violence, please contact Sarbjit Athwal/Your Voice.

Email: sarbjitathwal@ymcalw.org Telephone: 0208 339 4637 ext 4637 Mobile: 07737 557307

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

51

New Malden Farmers’ Market The market is situated at the Fountain Pub car park Every first Saturday of the month from 9am - 2pm New Malden Farmers’ Market is to embark upon a free community advertising project.

Local food businesses and residents in the New Malden area are being invited to give food demonstrations on market event days Market Manager ‘Paul Wright’ explains: “Most residents now know that the market is a community project, run by volunteers and that all of our proceeds go to charity.

However, people are unaware that the market also regularly assists new traders with the safe and legal setting up of their new food businesses and has been doing so for some time. Now we would like to go a step further.

This will be done by way of practical food demonstrations, held once a month, at each market event.

The offer is open to anyone currently in the food industry or intending to start up, as long as they are based in the local area.

The new project has been set up in order to provide a platform for much needed free advertising for the community, which everyone can benefit from.

Should anyone wish to apply, they should contact the market via our website.” www.nmfarmersmarket. co.uk New Malden Farmers’ Market is a non- profit making, community project run solely by volunteers

The Market is offering local food businesses and residents a unique opportunity to showcase their culinary talents and expertise.

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Maple Road Surbiton Farmers’ Market

Organised by and for the community Farming folk defy storms to celebrate market’s 50th ‘Keep Calm and Visit Surbiton Farmers’ Market’ is the slogan on the award-winning community market’s latest poster. Shoppers, stallholders and volunteers did just that as they defied storms and heavy showers to celebrate Maple Road’s 50th market in style.

very friendly. And that big chocolate birthday cake was just wonderful!’

Sara Coward, star of Radio 4’s The Archers, paid a visit to the market and cut the anniversary cake. ‘Ambridge doesn’t have a farmers’ market anything like as posh as the one here in Surbiton. It’s frightfully classy,’ she said.

Visit the market online at

‘I really enjoyed being part of the 50th market celebrations, chatting to people about life in The Archers and discussing my book, Dialogues with my Dog, to raise awareness about rescue dogs. Everyone was so

The market is held every third Saturday of the month and the next market runs on Saturday 19th April from 9am to 1pm.

www.surbitonfarmersmarket.co.uk and take a virtual tour of Maple Road on market day. Join us on Facebook at Surbiton Farmers’ Market or follow Twitter at #surbitonfarmersmrkt.

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email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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53

Kingston’s Untold War Stories 1914: Remembering Kingston at War 1914 saw the start of a war on a scale that had never been seen before. Over the next four years, millions of people across Europe and the wider world would be affected by this conflict and the residents of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames were no exception.

As part of the commemorative events for the Centenary of the First World War and to recognise Kingston residents’ involvement in the war, Kingston Museum will be holding an exhibition from 16th May - 16th August. The exhibition will tell the often forgotten stories of the war: including those of men and women working long hours to produce plans used on the Western Front, young soldiers who enlisted to fight in Europe, despite being under age, those who spoke out against the war, doctors and nurses who cared for the injured officers returning from the Front, to recuperate in Kingston, and the families who came to Kingston from Belgium, looking for a safe place to live.

The exhibition is a result of an original research project funded by HLF, which seeks to research and record the experiences of Kingston’s community in the war supported by an appointed project leader, Lucy Harris, and a team of volunteers.

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Explaining the importance of this exhibition, project leader, Lucy Harris said: “This compelling exhibition seeks to add local stories to the larger narrative concerning the war, reminding us that this was a war which involved members of the community who lived and worked in similar ways to us today” Once the exhibition closes at the museum, it will then tour local libraries, ensuring its message reaches as wider audience as possible.

Kingston Museum, Wheatfield Way, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2PS Tel: 020 8547 6463 www.kingston.gov.uk/museum

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Wordsearch phrase: Europe is more than a song contest. Anon

FOOT 56

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Tesco withdraws Tolworth application what next?

by Edward Davey, M.P

T

he news that Tesco has withdrawn its planning application to build a large supermarket by Tolworth roundabout has inevitably led to the question – so what happens now?

I hope we can persuade or if necessary force Tesco to give up their supermarket plans and let this vital piece of land be used for what the Borough’s local plan always zoned it for – housing and community facilities like a school. Here are my thoughts – and I’d welcome any feedback you may have to daveye@parliament.uk The Tesco application The planning application Tesco has just withdrawn was their third. For nearly a decade, Tesco have been looking to build a major store

by Tolworth roundabout – and for nearly a decade a coalition of myself, local councillors and local residents have campaigned against their plans.

Not because it was Tescos, but because any large supermarket by this busy roundabout didn’t make sense.

Campaigners have been motivated by a range of reasons, but for me there have been four main drivers. First, I believe the priority for scarce land in our community should be housing and community resources like education or health facilities. That’s what Kingston’s local development plan says – and that’s a legally powerful document, having gone through various democratic consultation processes over a number of years.

Second, supermarkets act like traffic magnets – yet the congestion round Tolworth roundabout is already very heavy. Attempts by Tesco to show they could compensate for the large number of extra vehicles through road improvements were never credible.

Third, the air pollution is already bad by the A3 at Tolworth. I have spent some time researching the evidence around this – and am grateful to

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

the campaigning group Clean Air in London for their help – www.cleanairinlondon.org. Levels of pollutants like NO2 and PM10 are very damaging to people’s health and while new cars and lorries are gradually becoming cleaner, we still see high levels of pollution by busy roads, especially where there’s slow moving congested traffic.

Fourth, the economic effects on Tolworth Broadway. There’s considerable evidence from other similar supermarket developments that nearby shopping areas gradually lose business over time. Contrary to what we are told, they are not regenerated by such large stores, especially when the store is isolated from the main area of local shops by a major road, as would have been the case here. The Mayor of London gave Kingston back some of our council tax on condition it was spent on regenerating Tolworth Broadway with the new Greenway, so I was pleased the Greater London Authority wrote to oppose Tesco’s plans this time.

What next?

While many local people will be pleased Tesco has withdrawn its application, I suspect they will share my concern that Tesco may simply be playing for time and will return with a fourth planning application in due course.

I believe we have been patient enough. This is a vital piece of land for our community. Few can be in any doubt that we do need more family housing locally and more facilities like schools. And we can’t wait another decade for Tesco to recognise this.

That’s why I’m supporting calls from local Liberal Democrat councillors that Kingston Council considers compulsory purchase. It’s the first time I have ever backed such action locally, but it seems to me Tesco have had their chance.

If you agree with this approach, why not sign our petition? You can find this – and much more about our long campaign – at www.everylittlehurts.co.uk

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

57

COMMUNITY PAGE SURBITON HISTORICAL SOCIETY Tues 1st April: Mrs Carrie Evans will talk

& demonstrate “At Home in the 15th C” including, with the help of her son, how to wear your suit of armour!

Tues 6th May: In honour of one of our

founders Mr Philip Grevatt, Mr John Davis will give an illustrated talk on “The Bletchley Park Codebreakers”.

Tues 3rd June: Miss Julie F Chandler will give an illustrated talk on “The City of London Livery Companies”

HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION Did you know there is an association in Hook which exists to support gardeners and allotment holders?

Are you interested in gardening? If so our association, which was founded over 50 years ago and is run by volunteers, can provide a wide range of composts, fertilisers, seeds and other gardening products at notfor-profit club prices to our members.

Membership costs only £1 a year and our trading facility is situated next to the entrance to the allotment plots, just beyond the rugby club pavilion, at the rear of King Edward’s recreation ground, Hook Road, Chessington.

The meetings will start at 7.45pm, at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road, Surbiton. Visitors are welcome, a contribution of £2.00 is appreciated.

We are open:Sundays - 10am to 12 noon - February to October 10am to 11am - November to January

Details about meetings and the Society:

If you want to make further enquiries come and see us during the above times.

A warm welcome and friendly gardening service awaits you.

The Secretary: 020 8399 4473 lenandmarilyn@virginmedia.com

58

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COMMUNITY PAGE

For all gardeners and allotment holders!

We are a small friendly local society providing gardening supplies at very reasonable prices to our members: 9 Seeds, summer and spring bulbs, onion sets, seed potatoes.

Local author, Nancy Vlasto, has 9 Summer bedding plants and other young plants according to season. written her biography, “What’s Next?”

9 Traditional and organic fertilizers and soil improvers/conditioners.

It is available on Amazon, as a hard 9 Lawn and rose treatments, weedkillers, pest controls. backed book for £17.28 or a kindle 9 Growbagspremium and bagged compost, gloves, trays, canes, netting etc.

DM Contract Solutions Ltd manufactures and installs qualitypots, timber windows book at www.amazon.co.uk and£7.20. doors which combine traditional English style Annual with membership modern just technology: £2, senior citizens £1.

It is also available in book shops and Sliding Sash Box Windows – Lead and Spring Balanced • Casement books• for the blind.Windows Our trading hut is conveniently sited at Moor Lane French Doors Nancy•• is Sliding-Folding also knownDoors as and ‘Blossom’, more.

Allotments (just off Moor Lane near The Bonesgate pub) when she collects for local charities Open every Sunday 10am to 12noon, except December.

Our state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques combine aesthetics, comfort, convenience on herand mobile scooter, at Christmas security while preserving its classic in lines. It simply exceeds all expectations for its price.

Kingston.

In accordance with our "members only" policy, For more information: new members are always welcomecall to join! www.dmcscontractsolutions.co.uk windows@dmcontractsolutions.co.uk us: 0203 174 0208

020 8399 6944

TOLWORTH & DISTRICT Leverett LEISURE GARDENERS’ SOCIETY

Electrical Ltd

Open to all gardeners & allotment holders.

Established over 90 years Run by members for members, non-profit making & can offer seeds, seed potatoes, fertilisers, Part P registered. composts and other gardening supplies to members at favourable rates.

All work certifi ed.

Qualified electrician

Alexandra Store,small.

King Charles Road, No job too alongside Travis Perkins Yard All work considered Open Wednesday 2.00-4.00pm Saturday 2.30-4.30pm Quality at the heart of our work

Knollmead Store, by Knollmead School • Installation &Sunday maintenance 10.00-12 midday. open from February to November • Both Rewires A• newsletter is provided for members four Security lighting times a year with information, • andFire tips offers.alarms • Central heating wiring New members always welcome

Stuart Leverett Annual membership £2.50/ £1.50 Officoncessions ce: 020 8390

0617 07710 ToMobile: find out more please 123 628 come and see us at one of the contact@leverettelectrical.co.uk Email: stores during trading hours

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Disclaimer

Whilst all reasonable care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information included in A Berrylands Companion, the publisher takes no responsibility for the accuracy of statements made by contributors or advertisers, or for the loss arising from non-publication of any advertisement.

Any errors, omissions or offers are the responsibility of the advertiser. All artwork is accepted on the condition that the advertiser has obtained permission from any copyright holder for its use by A Berrylands Companion. Whilst every care is taken when printing artwork we cannot guarantee an exact colour match due to variations in print processes. Bookings are accepted only on this basis.

It is the advertiser’s responsibility to submit any amendments to adverts by the deadline dates.

To advertise any event, community activity in the magazine, please call

Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk karen@berrylandscompanion.com

To advertise A 8274 Berrylands Companion call 020 8274 0096 To advertise call Karen:in020 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

59 13

What’s on in April:-

Events in April: Bowel Cancer Awareness Month; Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month; 1st: April Fool’s Day 2nd: International Children’s Book Day. www.ibby.org. World Autism Awareness Day 5th: New Malden Farmers’ Market, 9am-2pm at Fountain Pub Car Park. And 3rd May Until 5th May: National Pet Month, www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk 5th-25th: English National Ballaet 2, My 1st Ball: Coppelia at the Peacock Theatre, Kingsway.

Ages 3+ Tickets from £26, Tel: 0844 412 4322 6th Tax Week 1. Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race. 160th event. www.theboatrace.org 7th: World Health Day, theme this year is “Small Bite, Big Threat”. bugs, ticks, fleas, mosquitoes. www.who.int 7-13th: Orchid Male Cancer Awareness Week. www.orchid-cancer.org.uk Parkinsons Awareness Week. www.parkinsons.org.uk 10-16th: World Homeopathy Awareness Week 11th: Commonwealth Day Harlem Globetrotters at Wembley Arena. Tickets from £17.25. www.wembleyarena.co.uk 11-12th: Hook Beer Festival, at 1st Hook Scout HQ, Verona Drive, Surbiton. In aid of Breast Cancer.

Friday 11th 6pm-10pm, Sat 12pm-4pm and 6pm-10pm. www.hookbeerfest.org.uk for info and e-tickets.

13th: London Marathon. www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com 13-13th July: The Fantastic Story Factory, Udderbelly 14-20th: National Gardening Week. www.rhs.org.uk 16th: World Voice Day www.entnet.org 17-20th: Disney On Ice - Worlds of Fantasy at Wembley Arena. Tel: 0844 815 0815 for ticket prices.

18th: Good Friday 19th:

Surbiton Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm, Maple Road. And 17th May.

20th: Easter Sunday 21st: Easter Monday, Bank Holiday. Feast of St George in Trafalgar Square, free events,

parades, food festivals and kids activities. www.london.gov.uk/getinvolved/events 22nd: Earth Day www.earthday.org 23rd: St George’s Day. World Book Night, www.worldbooknight.org. World Book & Copyright Day Until 26th April: 1000 years of Crime Exhibition at Kingston Museum, Wheatfield Way. FREE. Open: Tues, Fri & Sat: 10-5, Thurs: 10-7. Closed Bank Holidays. www.kingston.gov.uk/museum 26th-5th July: Comedy Club for Kids - Udderbelly, Southbank. Suitable for families and kids 27th: Drive It Day to commemorate the 64 cars that left London on the 1st day of the Thousand Mile Trial, 23rd April 1900. www.fbhvc.co.uk 28-3rd May: National Stop Snoring Week. www.britishsnoring.co.uk 28-4th May: MS Awareness Week. www.mstrust.org.uk 29-3rd May: Save the Children Week. www.savethechildren.org.uk

Events in May

3 - 10th: Get Walking Week. www.ramblers.org.uk 4-18th: Surbiton Food Festival 5th: May Day Bank Holiday 11-17th: British Sandwich Week, www.britishsandwichweek.com Christian Aid Week, www.christianaid.org.uk 12-18th: Action for Brain Injury Week, www.headway.org.uk 12-25th: Foster Care Fortnight, www.fostering.net 13-17th: Arthritis Care Awareness Week, www.arthritiscare.org.uk 13-19th: Cancer Prevention Week, www.wcrf-uk.org 18-24th: Dementia Awareness Week, www.alzheimers.org.uk 19-25th: Deaf awareness Week, www.deafcouncil.org.uk 20-24th: RHS Chelsea Show, open to the public from 22nd. Tickets from £30 www.rhs.org 22nd: Local Elections for European Parliament and Kingston Council

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Places to take the kids over Easter Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood, Free admission 10-5.45pm London Transport Museum, Covent Garden 10-6pm (Fri: 11-6) £15, £11.50 Concessions, under 16s Free London Zoo, Varying prices, 10-5.30pm Natural History Museum, Free, Until May 6th: Collider Exhibition Science Museum, Free Household Cavalry Museum, Whitehall, March - Sept, 10-6pm Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, Adults £6.50, Child 2-15 £4.95, under 2 Free Family ticket £20.50 Cartoon Museum, Little Russell Street, WC1A 2HH Mon-Sat 10.30-5.30; Sun 12-5.30 £5.50 admit Horniman Museum, 110 London Road, SE23 3PQ. Free admission British Museum, Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG. Free admission Geffrye Museum, Kingsland Road, E2 8EA. Free admission Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, SE1 6HZ. Free admission WWT London Wetland Centre, Barnes, Eggs and fluffy chicks Family activities at the Historic Royal Palaces Easter Egg Hunts at Cutty Sark; Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood; Kew Gardens.

What’s On/Local Events

1st Tuesday: NHS Retirement Club, 10-12pm at Christ Church Hall, Christ Church Road, Surbiton, KT5 8JJ. For information call Lorna: 020 8337 4121 Last Sunday of the month: Women on Wheels, meet outside Clas Ohlson Market Place 10.00.

020 8547 5865. E-mail: ccst@rbk.kingston.gov.uk St Marks & St Andrews Church:Weds mornings 10.15-11.30 Stay and Play for Toddlers and Carers and Friday Mornings Coffee and Cake corner 10-11.30am. In addition to this we have a regular craft group meeting.

They are all hosted at St Andrews Church, Maple Road, no booking required for any of them.

Tiny Tunes: Mon 10am & 10.50am at Surbiton Library Hall. Tues q0am & 1050am at St Nicholas Parish Church, Summer Rd, Thames Ditton. All sessions 40 mins long, features music, dance, parachutes, bubbles & pom-poms. Age 3 months -5 years, pay as you go £5, siblings £2.50 www.tinytuneslive.com Kingston Camera Club: Camera enthusiasts welcome. Meet Mon eves, aat St John’s Ambulance HQ, Athelstan Rd off Villiers Avenue. 7.30pm - 10pm with coffee break. New members welcome. Contact Tim Moreland 020 8541 0126, email: tim.moreland@yahoo.com See www.kingstoncameraclub.com Kingston Philatelic Society: Meets 8-10pm on 1st Thurs & 3rd Fri, at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road. Info: Brian Sole Tel: 01932 220 677 or email: brian.sole@btinternet.com Surbiton Floral Club: 1st Weds of the month at Raeburn Hall United Reform Church, Elgar avenue. 7.30 for 7.45pm start. Floral demos, talks, workshops & outings. Tel: 020 8399 8193 Energy Healing & Reiki every Thurs 1.30-3.30pm in Room 22, United Reform Church, Eden Street, Kingston.

Turn up or leave a message on 0781 914 163. Donations only.

Surbiton Club for the Blind: Alternate Tues 2-4pm at Surbiton Methodist Church Ewell Road, transport available if nec. Social club with entertainment and tea. Info: 020 8399 8596 or 020 8399 3022 if places available.

Oasis daytime group for over 60s at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. 1st & 3rd Weds at 2.30pm Plenty of opportunity to chat, play games, do puzzles. Meetings include a 5 minute Bible-based talk relevant to life. Tel: 020 8390 6631

Why not send in details for Summer or other events Call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk Get your school, church or charity event mentioned in A Berrylands Companion magazine Call Karen on: 020 8274 0096 or email details to: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk Next submission deadline is by 8th April for the May edition.

Please Note: The following deadline will be 8th May for June issue.

To advertise call Karen: 020 8274 0096

email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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Index Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers Home & Garden All Your Garden Needs Berrylands Building Company Berrylands Property Maintenance Carpets4U Chris Mould Plumber Dream Doors (Kingston Kitchens) Estates Direct Hire a Handy Man HJC Estates James Anthony KB Design Kevin Robinson Decorators Leverett Electricals M. Duffle Decorating Oven Cleaners Personae Interiors R.J.Tree Services Roofing & Gutters Shaun Overy Heating & Plumbing Time for You Domestics Warmlite Will Lord William Stallion Electricals

35 21 27 5 22 25 39 24 37 22 21 23 23 24 55 27 55 36 24 43 41 35 55

Care & Health Cornerhouse Dental Practice Julie’s Nail Cutting Service One 2 One Homecare Paula Maple Chiropodist Shan Pharmacy That’s Healthy (Herbal Life) YMCA

2 24 48 11 29 7 7

Rest & Relaxation Anna Coe 11 CineSanctuary 47 Emmanuel Church 13 Garden Pilates 11 Hinchley Manor Operatic Society 52 King George Field Bowls Club 17 Kingston Council 33 Mobile Disco 24 Surbiton Racket & Fitness Club 64 Yoga 9 Zumba Classes 11 Children & Education 47 Gwenda Jones Margaret Barnes School of Dance 7 45 Monkey Music 45 Rugby Tots Surbiton Children’s Nursery Centre 45 54 Kingston Museum Exhibition

62

Veterinary Aspen Veterinary Surgery

17

Office Stationery MBE Surbiton

63

Car Maintenance Alan Sursham Berrylands Autocare K&P Tyres Surbiton Hill Garage Tolworth Motor Company

15 15 14 14 19

Food & Drink C.D.Jennings Prithi

31 24

Solicitors Lewis-Dick

38

Articles & Editorials 60/61 Community Pages 32 Recipe Baking 49 42 Kids Page Events Pages 58/59 13 Crossword 46 Book Review Useful Telephone Numbers 3 Gardening by Pippa Greenwood 34 52/53 Farmers’ Markets 57 Ed Davey MP 50 Domestic Violence

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We are a 10 minute walk from Surbiton and Berrylands stations

INVITES YOU TO:

SPRING INTO SPORT NOW! It is time to get into action for spring today. There’s always something going on at Surbiton including: Tennis and Cardio Tennis, Squash, Racketball, Zumba, Pilates, Indoor Cycling, our state of the art Gym and much, much more. Drop in and see for yourself!

FREE ONE HOUR

TENNIS LESSON FOR THE FIRST 25 PEOPLE WHO JOIN!* *TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

NO CONTRACT | NO COMPARISON Berrylands, Surbiton, Surrey KT5 8JT 020 8399 1594 | E: info@surbiton.org Please mention T: the magazine when contacting Advertisers 64 www.surbiton.org