VantagePoint Magazine April 2016 - Guildford & Villages

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Guildford & Villages • April 2016

VANTAGEPOINT YO U R B E ST V IEW OF W H AT ’S GO ING O N LO C ALLY

Woolbeding Gardens A modern masterpiece

Inside: GOURMET VEGETABLES DENNIS - THE FINAL CHAPTER LOCAL EXHIBITORS AT APPART NORMANDY’S THERAPY GARDEN WIN FAMILY TICKETS TO THE SURREY COUNTY SHOW The local magazine produced by local people for the local community, delivered by your local postman

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YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE Vantage Publishing Limited 9 Chestnut Suite, Guardian House, Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey GU7 2AE.

01483 01483 01483 Editorial: 01483 Sales:

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VantagePoint is published by Vantage Publishing, a Godalming based local magazine business which was first established in 2009 when we launched our first community magazine.

We now publish five community magazines which are delivered monthly by Royal Mail to 108,193 homes across the South East. This gives us the largest local circulation in the areas we cover, all with guaranteed delivery by your postman.

Please visit www.vantagepointmag.co.uk or contact any of us below if you need any more information.

CONNECTSURREY

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Surrey and Sussex

YOUR LOCAL TEAM Due to expansion, VantagePoint is looking to recruit a full-time Trainee Advertising Sales Executive to join our team! We need a natural communicator who is confident on the telephone and in 1:1 meetings. The candidate should also be enthusiastic, outgoing, well organised and self-motivated.

Please email marcus@vantagepublishing. co.uk to apply or if you know of anyone.

As a result of this, we have also moved office again, barely 12 months after the last move. Happily we have not moved far. We are now at Office 9, our third office in the same building. Nothing else has changed, so all our emails and telephone numbers remain the same (and yes, BT have been a nightmare once again. Grr).

April 2016

Stefan Reynolds Editor & Publisher

THE ONLY ROYAL MAIL DELIVERED

MAGAZINE PRODUCED by

LOCAL PEOPLE

for

THE LOCAL

COMMUNITY WWW.VANTAGEPOINTMAG.CO.UK

We have now started an online ‘blog’ which might be of interest to readers. This will contain some of the articles and charity profiles that don’t appear in all of our editions, new local features and more topical or time limited information that we can’t get into the magazines. You can view ‘Your Local Blog’ and ‘follow’ it by visiting our website at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk.

Finally, I am really pleased that we have recently become media partners to the Godalming Run and the Guildford Fringe, which runs top class professional theatre and events across Guildford. As the local community magazine, we are delighted to be on board. Visit our blog for more information.

Contact the editor: stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Marcus Atkins, Sales Director 01483 420173 / 07702 132157 marcus@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Barbara Maddison, Sales 01483 418141 / 07802 498858 barbara@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Contributors: Julie Dansereau, Andy Goundry, Beth Otway, Gwyn Philips, Kirstie Smillie

Liz Godfrey, Sales 01483 661089 / 07788 748826 liz@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Lauren Broughton, Sales 01483 661088 lauren@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Print: Buxton Press Cover: Woolbeding Garden (National Trust)

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CONTENTS

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

The local magazine produced by local people for the local community

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6 Jottings

Your local community noticeboard

8 Fashion

Woodie & Morris live on

13 Woolbeding Gardens A modern masterpiece 21 Alexander Dennis

The final chapter

Large/Oversize Rugs

Tribal Rugs

Afghan Rugs

Traditional Rugs

Persian Rugs

Runners

24 AppArt 28 Local Business Profile

Bourne Buildings celebrate their 21st anniversary

32 Local The Therapy Garden 36 Gardening

Gourmet Vegetables

40 Recipes

The wonder of maple Contemporary Rugs

Designer Rugs

Modern Rugs

Underlay provided for all types of flooring

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44 Gastro

Local food and drink news

48 Walk

Tilford to Elstead

52 Profile

In Accord

53 Business Cards

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

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JOTTINGS YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

JOTTINGS

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Jottings is your community noticeboard for local events and information, edited by Nick and Angie Crisell. To feature here, please email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk by the copy date shown below. Please note that space is limited and inclusion cannot be guaranteed.

We are already a quarter of the way through the year and spring has well and truly arrived. One of the main events in April is the Queen’s birthday on 21st, however, the major celebrations seem to be taking place in May and June with Thanksgiving Services, Trooping the Colour and a massive street party in The Mall. Incidentally, The Duke of Edinburgh is 95 in June; I’ve got to say he really is pretty exceptional for his age. Anyway, there seems to be plenty going on, not least St George’s Day on 23rd April. Hope you enjoy the rest of the Easter Holidays.

The Great Train Robbery Exhibition April until 1st May Monday to Saturday 11am to 4.45pm This exhibition at Guildford Museum in Quarry Street, Guildford, explores the events and impact of the Great Train Robbery fifty years on and the subsequent investigations that took place.

At around 3am on 8th August 1963, £2.6 million was stolen from a Travelling Post Office en route from Glasgow to London.

The exhibition uncovers the investigations that followed, in particular the key role The Post Office Investigation Department played in helping police uncover the events of the robbery.

A rather unexpected twist to the story is revealed in the exhibition as we find out what role Guildford Post Office played in bringing the criminals to justice. This exhibition contains a variety of pop-up text panels, as well as witness statements, interview records and police documents from the investigation.

Admission is free and the exhibition runs throughout April until 1st May. www.guildford.gov.uk/museum.

Mini Day at Brooklands Sunday 3rd April Brooklands Museum’s annual Mini Day will see over 1,000 examples of one of the most iconic British small cars which are expected to take the limelight at the historic site in Weybridge, Surrey. Mini owners wishing to put their cars

through their paces can do so, with two opportunities to tackle the famous Test Hill at 11.45am and 3.15pm with around 30 cars in each session attempting the Hill in front of the cheering crowd. Those more interested in showing their cars off will be trying to catch the eyes of judges roaming the site to award prizes for the Best in Show, Best Classic and Best Modified Minis. The prize-giving for this will be on the Clubhouse balcony at 2pm. Gates open to the public at 9am and the first 1,000 Minis to arrive will receive a complimentary event car sticker. Entrance fees are as follows: Adults £11; Seniors £10; Children (5-16 yrs) £6.00; Children Under 5 FREE; Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children), £30. For full details visit www.brooklandsmuseum. com or telephone 01932 857381. The 4D Theatre rides are approximately 8 minutes long each and are priced at £4 Adults, £2 Children. The half-hour Concorde Experience is £5 Adults/£3 Children.

Children’s Easter ‘Create & Grow’ activities Monday 3rd to Friday 8th April 10am-5pm Squire’s Garden Centres are always good for holding interesting children’s activities during school holidays. You can Plant a Bunny Basket - Plant a beautiful bunny basket for your garden, cost £5.50. There is a Bunny Hunt - Find the names of the hidden bunnies around the centre. All correct entries receive a 100g Lindt chocolate bunny, cost £2. Activities take around 20 minutes each and are available at all centres except Chertsey. No need to book; simply turn up on the day. First come first served basis. Products

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

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For more articles and Jottings, visit it us online at

www.vantagepointmag.co.uk Next Copy Date: 11th10th April 2016 Next Copy Date: April 2016 6

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Woodie & Morris Live On Kirstie Smillie meets the dog loving fashion gurus of Haslemere.

The thing I love about boutiques is the lack of choice! It may sound a little strange but with less options you see just what you are looking for without the visual overload, as the buyers have done the hard work for you.

dresses in bold and ditsy prints at £69.95. For the purist, oversized silk t-shirts from Parisian label, Toupy, come in eight colours. Gorgeous as an evening layer worn with jeans or white linen trousers. Surprise pieces also catch your eye, including Anthropology inspired painted ceramics from £4.99, delicate beaded bracelets, perfect with spring prints at £7.50, and neat Bag in Bag faux leather bags from £29.99. Mel recently added a Dutch label, Cluse Watches, that specialise in large open face dials with interchangeable straps from £69.95.

At Woodie & Morris in Haslemere the calming layout and vision, designed by owners Mel and Clive Rollinson, offers a relaxing shopping haven.

It was named after their two family dogs, and while sadly Woodie has passed away, Morris is proudly in residence most days.

It all began with Mel’s PR and Clive’s retail background when they developed a wholesale business selling the first Australian Jelly sandal, Holster, to over 250 stockists nationwide. In 2009 this experience led them to start buying stock for their own venture which grew until the shop took over the business.

Seven years on, Woodie & Morris is a thriving business with a loyal team of staff who put customer service at the top of the agenda, always friendly and never pushy.

Mel is constantly looking for new brands that stand out from the crowd and she buys only small quantities of 6-10 pieces, so once they’re gone, that’s it. There is often an assumption that boutiques are a pricey alternative to the High Street, but these days with stiff competition from on-line retailers, independents need to span every customer’s budget. At W&M, Saint Tropez leggings sell for £14.99, and their top selling jean brand, Dr Denim, offers slim cut jeggings from £43. Dr D also offers a 36” leg, very popular for those who need a longer fit. Other top sellers include Masai Clothing Company for relaxed tunics in pretty prints and YaYa known for their great shirts.

“Clothes are about confidence - if you look good you feel good” If a label becomes too mainstream, Mel moves on to introduce something different and fresh, sourced from her regular trips around Europe. New brands include a Dutch favourite, Lien & Giel, who specialise in jersey 8

An on-going project is their own W&M cashmere collection. By cutting out the middle man, the prices are lower than known brands, with the asymmetric sleeved poncho at £145 and the boyfriend cardigan, £149.

Both come in new seasonal colours including bubblegum pink, teal, denim blue and neutrals and are all machine washable.

Footwear is growing fast and a popular Spanish label, Ska, offers suede ballet pumps at £60, similar to French Sole without the price tag. There are also Superga style French sneakers at £35 and Spanish espadrilles in leather and suede at £55. With more footwear brands arriving for spring, regular clients from teenage daughters to trendy grandmas will not be disappointed.

With all the brands, the team are more than happy to chat with you on the telephone to discuss your needs and will send out choices by next day courier direct to your home. Now that’s service.

Woodie & Morris 7 Petworth Road, Haslemere GU27 2JB. T: 01428 641771. Email: mel@woodieandmorris.co.uk www.woodieandmorris.co.uk FIND OUT MORE

Kirstie Smillie is a Personal Stylist. Follow her style blog www.kirstiesmillie.com and email any queries to kirstie@kirstiesmillie.com or call 07773 234947. vantagepointmag.co.uk

FASHION

Above: Painted vessels, £4.99 Left: Wrap bangles, £7.50 Below: Leather lined sneakers, £35

Above: Cashmere brights for summer Below: Sleeved poncho, £145

Five top reasons to shop at Woodie & Morris 1. Free parking W&M will refund your £2 Pay and Display Parking Charge when you spend over £20, Don’t forget to bring the tear-off strip.

2. Full refunds W&M offer full refunds, within 2 weeks, if you are not totally delighted, you don’t have to settle for a credit note!

3. Loyalty rewards W&M will give you a £10 voucher when you have spent £100.

4. Doing their bit for the environment W&M will refund you 50p every time you re-use your W&M carrier bag.

5. Free courier delivery W&M offer free next day delivery for items ordered over the telephone.

Left: Prints by Lien & Giel Below: Pastel scarves from £12

“Our original ethos was to offer an affordable variety of unique lifestyle merchandise we still follow that today” Mel Rollinson, Woodie & Morris, pictured above.

April 2016

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Star Diving Club Guildford This is a springboard and highboard diving club based in Guildford and run out of Guildford Spectrum. Whether you are a complete beginner or have some previous experience, you are welcome to join them. They run a variety of sessions throughout the week which cater for all ages and abilities.

If you would like to learn to dive, they currently have spaces in term time beginners’ sessions, Tuesdays 5 to 5.30pm and Fridays 5 to 5.30pm. They are also holding courses in the Easter holidays; I’m not sure about availability but if you are interested do contact them. The course date is 5th to 8th April from 3 to 5pm. Contact Kirsteen on membership@stardiving. org Star is currently offering free 30 minute taster sessions, contact membership@stardiving.org for details and times.

Recruiting Home Carers in your local area

Alzheimer’s Society in Surrey People caring for someone with dementia are being offered the chance to learn more about the disease and how it affects the individual in a series of courses being run by Alzheimer’s Society in Surrey. The courses aim to help carers understand more about the condition and its symptoms, including the sort of behaviours that people may display which can at times be challenging. By understanding more about dementia, the courses help people to cope better with caring for the individual. The next free courses in Surrey are: Surrey Heath

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Wellbeing Centre, Windle Valley Centre, Park Street, Bagshot GU19 6AQ, starting on Monday 21st March and then 4th, 11th and 18th April. Guildford United Reformed Church, 83 Portsmouth Road, Guildford GU2 4BS, starting Friday 8th April, and then 15th, 22nd and 29th April. Surrey Heath Wellbeing Centre, Windle Valley Centre, Park Street, Bagshot GU19 6AQ, starting on Monday 6th June, and then 13th and 27th June, 4th and 11th July. For more information on these courses and others available in Surrey, call 01403 213019.

CowParade Surrey The latest addition to CowParade Surrey (for which we are media partner) has been unveiled. ‘Pilgrim’ is a collaboration between Kings College Guildford, Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village and professional illustrator, Becci Kenning. Taking inspiration from the history and exhibits of Watts Gallery in Compton, Becci worked collaboratively with the Year 10 Kings College pupils to create a design reflecting the work of Victorian artist G F Watts and his wife, designer Mary Watts.

Kings College’s head of art Lucy Davis said “CowParade Surrey is a great initiative. We were keen to get involved as it’s been wonderful for our students to have the opportunity to work on a real live brief alongside a professional artist. I would encourage other schools to take part as in the 15 years I’ve been teaching there’s not been a similar opportunity – fantastic.” ‘Pilgrim’ will be available for the public to see in the grounds of Watts Gallery throughout the CowParade exhibition which runs during the summer. Visit www. cowparadesurreyhills.com to find out more.

Upcoming events Open Mornings (Nursery to Year 3 entry) Friday 26th February 9-11am Friday 22nd April 9-11am Toddler Stay and Play Saturday 7th May 10-11:30am Toddler Stay and Play (Forest School) Saturday 11th June 10-11:30am Rose Lane, Ripley, Surrey, GU23 6NE www.ripleycourt.co.uk 01483 225217 Upcoming events c.indd 1

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LOSELEY PARK

spring garden show Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April 2016, 10.00am to 5.00pm Plant sales, garden stalls, garden bygones, driftwood sculpture, Whichford Pottery (Friday & Saturday only), garden furniture, food stalls and a chance to preview our spectacular Spring bedding displays before we open for the season. All set in our stunning Walled Gardens.

Adult: £3.50 Concession: £3.00 Under 16: Free

Groups: £3.00 per person

No dogs allowed in Walled Garden

April 2016

(min 10) most welcome by prior arrangement

For more information 01483 405119 sueg@loseleypark.co.uk Loseley Park Guildford Surrey GU3 1HS www.loseleypark.co.uk Photograph by Jason Ingram - Country Living

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Woolbeding Gardens A modern masterpiece

Quietly tucked away in the valley of the River Rother lies one of the most beautiful gardens in Sussex.

Woolbeding is a modern masterpiece featuring colourful borders, a landscape garden and a collection of follies.

Woolbeding Gardens is a world away from many of the grand historic gardens the National Trust cares for, and a visit here is more akin to a tour of a private garden. Special viewing arrangements mean that visitors book in advance, and are driven to the gardens twice a week via regularly running shuttle buses.

This allows the gardens to retain a feeling of intimacy and tranquillity, and gives the visitors more of a ‘personal’ experience.

When you arrive, you will be welcomed into the Entrance Garden which was formally the old farmyard but now has a Mediterranean feel, with formal water pools surrounded by African lilies and olive trees.

Woolbeding is also unusual in that it is constantly changing. Experimentation with planting has given this garden a reputation as a 21st-century masterpiece that always has something new to reveal. A garden of two halves, the formal gardens are broken up into ‘rooms’, each with a different colour theme, from vibrant reds to pastel pinks, using a combination of rare and not-so-rare flowering plants. The quality of the planting means this is both a plantsman’s garden as well as a garden for anyone who enjoys gorgeous horticultural shape and colour.

Wander through the well garden and into the fountain garden where you’ll find one of Woolbeding’s hidden gems, and a mass of colour from rich pinks and splashes of blue to sunset oranges. The herb garden features a sundial at the centre and spiralling topiary balls alongside English apples climbing up the walls. In season, the beds are filled with lavender, thyme and plenty of offerings for the kitchen.

April 2016

At the heart of the garden are the West Borders. A palette of blue, white and pale yellow, roses, tulips and forget-me-nots carefully line the avenue, perfectly framing the view beyond the gates into the countryside. The walls are full of climbing roses and the borders are bursting with bloom in full season.

Beyond the garden, a gentle stroll over open pasture land provides idyllic views of the River Rother, and leads to all sorts of picturesque delights such as the quirky Tulip Folly, which is surrounded by glorious views, and space in which to picnic and relax.

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as azaleas, hellebores and early flowering perennials. In summer, the stars of the show are the summer borders, fragrant roses, the potager, vegetable garden, and herb garden.

In autumn, it’s the turn of the trees and shrubs in the Long Walk, as well as late flowering perennials.

Woolbeding Gardens has an ‘orchid greenhouse’ in the garden, containing the incredible 40 year old collection of orchids lovingly amassed by Woolbeding’s previous tenants, benefactors and creators of the garden – Simon Sainsbury and Stewart Grimshaw. Surrounded by wildflowers and seating, the greenhouse contains over 120 varieties of orchid. Visitors can enter this exotic floral sanctuary during normal opening hours.

Enjoy views of Woolbeding’s new folly, overlooking the garden from the parkland.

Constructed of local Fittleworth stone and built in memory of Simon Sainsbury, it was designed by Richard Lincoln to complement the Tulip Temple which stands close to the main lawn.

Top: Herbaceous borders with rotunda beyond. Above: Meadow and folly (Both © National Trust, Chris Lacey). Right: Italian Fountain (© National Trust).

Take the steps down from the Tulip Folly and walk along by the River Rother. Here you’ll find meadows of buttercups, daises and foxgloves growing wildly into the sweeping landscape.

Walk slowly along the hornbeam tunnel and admire the trees, twisting at every turn.

Wander through the kissing gate and enjoy picturesque views over the river towards the long walk. Navigate your way along rustic woody paths to reveal a gothic summerhouse where you’ll find the River God grotto, waterfall, Chinese bridges, secret sculptures and hidden views.

The 26-acre garden was the creation of Mr Simon Sainsbury and Stewart Grimshaw. With the help of notable garden designers Lanning Roper in the 1980s and the Bannermans in the late 1990s, Woolbeding has developed into the stunning contemporary creation you see today. Woolbeding is a private garden so visitors won’t find any plant labels. Instead, they’ll find friendly and knowledgeable gardeners who are always happy to answer questions and offer advice.

What are the key highlights each season?

Woolbeding Gardens has sumptuous displays throughout the year. In spring, enjoy bright splashes of bulb colour, as well 14

A new 25m x 4m border has been created in the Greenhouse Garden, which will look glorious in summer. The border was designed in-house by the garden team and has been planted using a wide range of large leaf plants, as well as bright oranges, reds and yellows to complement the rest of the existing greenhouse garden. There is a ‘tropical’ bed featuring architectural plants with bold foliage, ferns and hostas, as well as a more herbaceous bed, and a gravel bed containing Aloes and Agaves.

Woolbeding Gardens’ new orchard produces a riot of colour from April until June from 5,000 mixed bulbs planted in long grass such as narcissus, casmassia, eremurus and alliums.

Mature fruit trees give instant impact – there are 18 apple trees of three different varieties and five trained conference pear trees, filling the orchard with fruit blossom in April and

VantagePoint Reader Offer Enjoy a free tea or coffee when purchasing any slice of cake or traybake at the Orchard Café at Woolbeding Gardens.

Simply download an e-voucher from www.vantagepointmag.co.uk or present this to receive your complimentary refreshment.

Offer valid from 7th-29th April 2016 only. This voucher is not exchangeable for money and is non-transferable and cannot be used with any other offer.

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Another great NT garden

May. A mill stone table lies in the centre of the orchard for people to sit around and picnic, or simply indulge in the sights and sounds of the orchard.

This enchanting garden is a haven for horticultural enthusiasts, who can also pick up expert gardening tips at Woolbeding’s series of technical workshops. The enticing-sounding topics include an introduction to the world of orchids, how to create gorgeous summer containers, and propagation for beginners. All workshops cost just £18 including admission to the garden, and refreshments on arrival.

If you want to sit down and indulge in the beauty of the garden around you, then the pretty 19th-century style French themed Orchard Café is the perfect place in which to do this. Providing a range of sandwiches, homemade cakes and barista coffee, its woodburning stove gives it a cosy feel on chillier days, whilst cool drinks and ice creams are the perfect treat for warm summer days. You’ll also find a pretty selection of gifts on offer, from gardening books to plants.

These wonderful gardens can now accommodate coach groups of up to 55 people at a time, and you can book an introductory welcome talk for your group, from one of the senior members of the garden team. Whilst the cosy Orchard Café is on hand for delicious treats, and picnics are welcome in the garden, groups can also pre-book a luxurious afternoon cream tea. Bookings can be made on 0844 249 1895.

FIND OUT MORE

Woolbeding Gardens re-opens on 7th April 2016 and as they are without a visitor car park, there is a complimentary park and ride scheme on hand to take you from nearby Midhurst and drop you directly outside Woolbeding Gardens.

For more information or to pre-book your visit, call 0844 249 1895 or visit the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolbeding-gardens.

April 2016

Hinton Ampner is an elegant country house whose garden is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of 20th century design. The five hectare (twelve acre) garden unites a formal layout with varied and informal plantings in a series of outdoor ‘rooms’ in colours from cool greens, creams, and yellows, through to hot pinks, oranges and deep reds.

Set in superb Hampshire countryside, there are magnificent vistas across parkland and the South Downs. Highlights of the garden include a pretty Tudor walled kitchen garden which provides fruit and vegetables for the tea-room, a dell, sunken garden with fine topiary, cherry orchard and lily pond. There’s even a little parish church in the gardens.

Walk down the lichen-covered steps from the terrace and you’ll find yourself in ancient parkland littered with veteran trees. 1,600 acres of estate awaits your exploration, with dogfriendly walks through glorious beech woodland which in spring is full of native bluebells. Downloadable walks take you through the woods and parkland, telling stories of Civil War battles, war time evacuees, and ghostly hauntings. Discover trees that have been there since Tudor times, hug the huge gnarled oak that overlooked the battlefield of the Battle of Cheriton in 1644, and find out why the Victorians filled some of the parkland’s oaks with concrete, still seen today.

Hinton’s planting is beautifully planned to give you scent and colour all year round. Highlights include apple and pear blossom in late spring, coupled with delicious-smelling narcissus and vibrant tulips. In June, visitors are met with a stunning display of irises and lupins, and neat vivid green rows of the first salad crops. In summer, the vegetable area is filled with runner and French beans, and the jewel-coloured stems of leafy chard. One of the stars of the show is the many varieties of exotic-looking dahlias – on show from early August right through to the middle of October. Come the autumn, huge orange pumpkins and squashes emerge, and apples and pears are ready to be harvested.

Over 90 varieties of rose bloom at Hinton Ampner from June.

A highly scented collection, it is well known for its repeat flowering, giving delicious fragrance and colour well into August.

Hinton Ampner has an annual programme of events, from free guided garden walks every Tuesday afternoon and monthly beekeeping sessions, to live music and conservation days with Hinton’s housekeeping experts. There’s also an exciting range of outdoor activities for younger visitors, with themed trails, wild play fun including den building workshops and night-time camping!

Hinton Ampner, near Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0LA. T: 01962 771305. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner

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<11 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

SCHOOL GOVERNORS NEEDED FOR GRAFHAM GRANGE SCHOOL Grafham Grange is a day and residential school for boys (10-19 yrs) with complex social, emotional and other difficulties and is one of three schools owned and managed by the RADIUS Trust.

We are looking for a range of people and skills to join the governing body for our school.

There are many transferable skills, from a variety of business and professional backgrounds, which would be an asset to our governing body. Our governors are enthusiastic for high quality school effectiveness and the best outcomes for the pupils on roll of the school.

If you have an interest in the special educational needs of young people and the passion to help our school to provide the best education for our students, then we’d love to hear from you.

The school is located near the village of Bramley, just outside Guildford. If you are interested in this voluntary role and can commit approximately one day per month to be a ‘critical friend’ for our School Leadership Team, then please don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more about this valuable and rewarding opportunity.

Tel: 01483 891100 E-mail: info@radiustrust.org

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Poetry in Beauty An exhibition of The Pre-Raphaelite Art of Marie Spartali Stillman opened at Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village on 1st March and runs until Sunday 5th June. It is the first retrospective of the artist’s work showcasing her importance within the Victorian avant-garde. Bringing together some twenty subject paintings, portraits, still lifes and photographs, not seen together since the artist’s lifetime. The exhibition will demonstrate the quality and importance of one of the most admired women artists of the 19th century. A fully illustrated hardback catalogue has been published to accompany the exhibition and is published by Marquand Books. For further information go to www.wattsgallery.org.uk.

Guildford Travel Club Tuesdays 5th and 19th April The last two illustrated talks of the season take place at Onslow Village Hall. The Club’s short AGM on 5th April will be followed by a talk from members Jenny Allan and Andrew Luyten, on their trip to Ethiopia. Visitors are welcome to the talk. On 19th April the season draws to a close with a fascinating talk by Rory MacLean about his travels in Transnistria, a mini state at the edge of Europe. The talk will be followed by wine and canapés to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary. This talk is a ticketed event. There are just a few tickets left at £15. If you are interested, or for further information about the club contact Jenny Allan on 01483 452399 or info@guildfordtravelclub.org.uk or check the website at www.guildfordtravelclub.org.uk.

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Wonersh and District Garden Club Tuesday 5th April Their next meeting will be the Annual Spring Show at the Wonersh Memorial Hall. The doors open at 1.45pm, entry forms to be submitted by 2pm and exhibits should be in place by 2.05pm. Judging by Mrs Sheila Rapley will start at 2.15pm.

Visitors are welcome and if you would like more information you can contact the secretary on 01483 893808.

Guildford Scrabble Club Every Wednesday 7.30pm-10.30pm The club meets at Shalford Village Hall where there is plenty of parking. All equipment is provided and all are welcome regardless of ability. The cost is just £2.50 per visit and includes tea, coffee and biscuits. Any queries, call Barbara on 01483 579873 any evening except Wednesdays.

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West Surrey Family History Society Guildford Branch Wednesday 6th April 2.30pm Gordon Barnett will speak on ‘The role of the Jews in the history of this country’. He will trace the arrival of the Jews in Britain through the centuries from Roman times. The 2 branches of the Jews are Sephardi who were wealthy merchants and the Ashkenazi from middle Europe who were skilled in the arts, science and business. They all made important contributions to law, government, finance, literature, arts, music and entertainment and still do so today. The Guildford meetings are held in the Friends Meeting House, Ward St. (opposite Guildford Library) and

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April 2016

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<17 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD new members are welcome. Enquiries to Mrs Iris Hawkins on 01483 535986.

Waiting for Godot Wednesday 6th – Saturday 9th April 7.45pm Have you heard? Godot is coming to Guildford, or is he? Two rather odd gentlemen called Vladimir and Estragon will be waiting for him and they are sure he will come. Who is he and what will he be like? In the 50 years since Samuel Becket first introduced his existential tragi-comedy ‘Waiting for Godot’ many experts have attempted to get to the bottom of this unique and famously quirky play. The answer is yet to be found, but every member of the audience will go away with plenty of food for thought. Performed by Guildburys Theatre Company, it’s on at the Electric Theatre in Guildford Tickets are £12.50 (£10.50 concessions) and are available from 01483 444789 or online at www.electrictheatre.co.uk

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Quilters Guild - Doughty’s Roadshow Wednesday 6th April 10am to 4pm Here’s a chance to source all you need for your fabric projects and allow you to browse in a relaxed atmosphere. There will be 20 tables of material and notions. It takes place at Albury Village Hall, The Street, Albury, Guildford GU5 9AD. Entry £3 members, £5 non-members. There is disabled access and adequate parking. Refreshments available with a donation.

Membership of the Quilters Guild is £43pa or £10.75 quarterly. Contact Janet Hall on 01483 572720 or email jhallferretsend@hotmail.com.

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You Must Be Stoking Comedy Club Wednesday 6th April 8pm Takes place at The Stoke Pub and Pizzeria (The Back Room) with Carly Smallman MC with David Tsonos, Ruth Keelinh and President Obonjo. John Robins is headlining. Tickets are £10.60 in advance or £12 on the door. For more information and to book go to www.GuildfordFringe.com or call 0333 666 3366.

Guildford Natural History Society Thursday 7th April 2.45pm Damon Block, Sussex Fish Recorder, will talk about the work done by the Environment Agency and Partners to improve fish passage and habitat for both migratory and resident fish populations in Sussex Rivers. On Thursday 21st April, Thomas Cole will talk about Ancient Trees, of which there are half a million in the UK, more than in the rest of Northern Europe. The talk will cover the ecological importance of these trees and the Woodland Trust’s work in saving them from destruction.

Talks start at 2.45pm and finish around 4.15pm.The venue is The Guildford Institute in Ward Street. Talks are free to members of the Society and they are happy to welcome nonmembers although they ask them for a small donation. Further information from Bridget Hopkins on 01483 275826.

Kate Rusby at G Live Friday 8th April 7.30pm Kate is returning to G Live Guildford with her spring tour this April. Touring with her will be her hugely talented band of musicians performing songs from her back catalogue

Barnett Hill - A Hidden Gem Right On Your Doorstep Introducing Barnett Hill, a country house hotel set in 26 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland, just minutes from Guildford.

Whether you’re planning a family gathering, an anniversary, traditional afternoon tea or a special occasion, Barnett Hill offers a selection of private dining rooms perfect for all types of celebrations.

NATIONAL GARDENS SCHEME OPEN GARDENS: SUNDAY 8th MAY 2016 Between 11.30am – 4.30pm, view our stunning 26 acre hill top estate filled with spring colour and diverse plantings.

There will be a spring plant sale and cream teas available throughout. Admission: £5 per adult and children are free.

To book, please call us on 01483 893361 or visit www.sundialgroup.com/surrey-open-gardens

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April 2016

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

stretching over 20 years and tracks from her extremely popular 2014 album, Ghost. Call the Box Office on 01483 369350 or go to www.glive.co.uk. This is guaranteed to be a great concert; her brand of folk music is highly regarded by everyone who has heard her music.

Birds Of Prey Weekend Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th April 10am to 3.30pm There is a lot happening at RHS Garden Wisley in April. One event that caught the eye is a Birds of Prey Weekend. Xtreme Falconry bring their magnificent Birds of Prey to Wisley for a weekend all about these amazing birds. There will be flying demonstrations at 11am and 2pm each day and the birds will be on their perches in between times. Free with normal Garden entry. All details on the website www.rhs.org.uk/ wisley where you can also find details of all the other events going on including The Spring Craft Fair from 28th April to 2nd May. Ewhurst Horticultural Society Saturday 9th April They will be holding their Spring Show in Ewhurst Village Hall and it will be open to the public at 2.30pm. For full details contact 01483 272488 or email showsec@ewhursthortsoc. org.uk. More information at www.ewhursthortsoc.org.uk.

Looking ahead, they will be holding a plant sale in the hall on Saturday 7th May from 10am to 12noon. Contact John on 01483 271812 or email dyball@btinternet.com.

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Merrow Lawn Tennis Club Saturday 9th April 2pm to 5pm The Club would like to invite readers to their open day. Go along and play some tennis, meet the members and chat to their superb coaching team. All welcome and various memberships to suit all standards and ages of players are available. Half price joining fee on the day. More details at www.merrowtennis.com. You can also email merrowltc@ gmail.com or call 07804 331499.

Jumble Sale Saturday 9th April 10am There is a good old fashioned jumble sale at Merrow Village Bowling Club, Village Hall, Epsom Road. Jumble items can be brought to the hall on Friday 8th April at 10pm and on Saturday 9th April from 8am. Admission 30p.

Guildford Rambling Club Sunday 10th April The club is meeting at 10am in the Wren’s Nest car park at Wisley for a 10 mile figure of 8 walk. Details from Mick on 07765 205353. The club is also meeting at 10am on Sunday 24th April in East Clandon for a 9 mile circular walk. Details for this one from Olive on 07872 613505. Details of this and all other walks at www.guildfordramblingclub.org.uk. All welcome.

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However, the new owners kept the faith, and sales began to restart as confidence gradually began to be regained in the marketplace.

Sales were helped by the fact that Transbus had started to refresh the bus product range before the business collapse, introducing the Enviro ranges of single and double deck buses, which became increasingly popular under the new owners.

Alexander Dennis – a new beginning Andy Goundry finishes his history of the iconic Dennis Brothers The collapse of Mayflower in 2004 left the Dennis Guildford operation in a dire state, with little in the way of assets, a number of unpaid and disgruntled suppliers, and a massive hole in the pension fund.

The Administrators, Deloittes, made great efforts to sell the business as a going concern, however, although there was interest from companies in the USA and China as well as competitors nearer to home, they were unsuccessful until matters reached a point where closure was believed to be literally days away.

At that eleventh hour, a saviour arrived in the form of a triumvirate of Scottish businessmen who took on the remnants of the Transbus operation and started the slow and painful process of rebuilding sales and, indeed the credibility of the business. At times, they must have felt that their new business, which they named Alexander Dennis, was a bottomless money pit, for as well as needing to honour many of the debts of Transbus, such as suppliers’ outstanding bills, they had to reinstate warranties on many of the more recent vehicles.

April 2016

Images from top: One of Alexander Dennis’s latest innovations – the Virtual Electric bus. This takes diesel-electric hybrid technology a stage further by allowing the on-board batteries to recharge quickly from inductive charging pads built into the road surface along its route, meaning that the bus can operate for up to 80% of the time on pure electric power rather than diesel. (Photo: Alexander Dennis); One of the earliest, and high profile export wins for Alexander Dennis was of Enviro 500’s for Las Vegas. (Photo: Alexander Dennis); The name Dennis continues to be associated with fire engines through the products of John Dennis Coachbuilders, in this instance on a Scania chassis. (Photo: John Dennis Coachbuilders).

Alexander Dennis, known to all in the industry as ADL, set themselves bold targets for sales of the Enviro range, all the chassis for which were built at Guildford, and pursued aggressively sales opportunities in a number of export markets, notably North America. Although some of these were slow to materialise, ultimately they became very successful, albeit leading to significant changes in the workload of the Guildford plant, as we shall see later.

ADL soon identified an opportunity for hybrid buses, and in conjunction with BAE Systems, who had developed successful hybrid bus technology in the USA, introduced hybrid versions of the Enviro 200 single decker and Enviro 400 double decker. Transport for London took a number of both models on trial against similar offerings from some of ADL’s competitors, with the Enviro 400 hybrids in particular performing exceptionally well.

Further sales soon followed, both in London and increasingly in many other UK towns & cities, with over 700 sold to date. In the light of the successful operation of the Enviro 400 hybrids in London, it was a disappointment when a substantial contract for the New Routemaster hybrid buses was awarded to one of ADL’s competitors with a relatively unproven hybrid package.

Whilst sales of buses were soon on a roll under ADL, unfortunately the same could not be said of the traditional Dennis market for fire engines. Traditionally, each Fire Brigade had their bespoke vehicle specification, resulting in manufacturers needing to produce 21

multiple variants, for example with different cab lengths. In a well-intentioned but ultimately disastrous attempt at simplifying matters, the Government had announced a policy called ‘Fire Buy’, whereby standardised appliance specifications were to be developed, for adoption by all Brigades.

Unfortunately, this stopped the normal regular flow of orders in its tracks, as the Brigades waited to see the outcome of Fire Buy. This delay in orders was unwelcome to ADL, but in its own right would not have been catastrophic. The real problem came in the legacy of an early Mayflower cost-cutting action: they had seen little future in manufacturing Refuse Vehicles, and offloaded the Refuse Vehicle business in 1999.

Ironically, the groundwork put in to developing the Elite, a new refuse collection chassis, whilst the company was in Mayflower ownership meant that Elite sales prospered post-Mayflower, and indeed the Dennis Eagle business, as it became known under its new ownership, never looked back.

For a time, fire engine cabs for Guildford continued to be produced at the Dennis Eagle factory at Blackpool very successfully. As Dennis Eagles’ own production increased however, ad hoc production of fire engine cabs in small numbers became just too much of an inconvenience, resulting in the supplier advising ADL that they were unable to produce cabs in batch quantities of less than 25 identical units.

This put ADL in an impossible position, since fire engine orders were typically received in much smaller quantities, and could involve many different cab variants.

The ADL team fought a sterling rearguard action, first attempting Dennis Eagle to relax their stance, then seeking to get the cab manufactured by other specialist contractors although that proved prohibitively expensive. Even the feasibility of fitting cabs from other vehicle manufacturers 22

continued to prosper, with a number of new markets being developed around the world. In many cases, these markets demand local assembly, if only to avoid punitive import duties. A number of overseas manufacturing sites have therefore been established, principally in North America, Malaysia and China, with Guildford having little to do with assembling many of these chassis other than providing kits of parts for overseas assembly.

One of the many Enviro 400 hybrid double deckers which quickly became a familiar sight on London’s streets. (Photo: Alexander Dennis); A Dennis Elite refuse collection vehicle: a familiar sight on Britain’s roads, but no longer, alas, a product made in Guildford. (Photo: Dennis Eagle).

was investigated, however this option was also abandoned as it was felt that it would eliminate one of the key benefits of the Dennis fire product, namely the uniquely purpose-designed cab.

The final measure was to attempt to amalgamate orders from the Brigades to achieve that 25 vehicle minimum order quantity, however this foundered because Brigade ordering schedules were driven by their budget timing, and could not be changed. Many Brigades regarded the Rapier and Sabre as the finest fire fighting appliances ever produced, renowned for their performance and handling, and were dismayed when the last Dennis Sabre chassis was quietly and unceremoniously produced in 2007.

All was not entirely lost. A team led

by John Dennis - the grandson of one of the founders of the Dennis empire - had previously bought out the fire body-building business from Dennis Specialist Vehicles in 1985, and started producing fire engine bodies for fitment to other manufacturers chassis as well as Dennis. Thus the ‘body-building’ element of Dennis still continues in Guildford, under the brand of JDC or John Dennis Coachworks.

Back on the bus-manufacturing side of the business, sales have

Similarly, most UK-bound chassis are no longer built at Guildford.

Instead, they are increasingly built at the bodybuilders themselves, using Guildford-supplied parts.

Guildford’s main roles today, therefore, are to oversee the development of prototype chassis builds of new models, of which there are many, and also carrying out low-volume and specialist chassis assembly work.

As far as those new models are concerned, the company continues to make inroads into a number of new markets, for example Mexico, as well as introducing a number of innovative new models such as the Virtual Electric bus.

And what of the future? In recent months there has been press speculation that Alexander Dennis may shortly be sold, with the most likely new owners being a Chinese company. Hopefully, though, any new owners will still want to keep the wealth of expertise of the Guildford staff. For the present, of course, whilst the focus has changed significantly, the vehicle building traditions started in Guildford by those two Dennis brothers 120 years ago are still very much alive & well today.

THE AUTHOR Andy Goundry spent his working career in vehicle design and development, with almost twenty years in senior engineering and management roles at Dennis. Since retirement he has continued a close involvement with vehicles, writing for specialist magazines and websites, as well as producing his own motoring website www.autonews.uk.com.

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

‘Painting The Modern Garden - Monet to Matisse’. The film is part of the Exhibition on Screen series, which brings worldclass art to the big screen. It will allow people outside of London to enjoy the wonderful exhibition of the same name, currently on at the Royal Academy until 20th April. As well as offering behind-the-scenes access to the exhibition, the film will transport viewers across Europe to the most beautiful artists’ gardens, exploring how painters including Monet, Liebermann and Nolde were inspired by their surroundings, and how this inspiration translated onto the canvas. The film will be released in cinemas nationwide on 12th April, and will be showing in the following cinemas in the area: Odeon Guildford - 12th April, 6.45pm. Dorking Halls - 28th April, 7.30pm. Farnham Maltings - 10th May, 7.30pm. Please visit our competition page at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk for a chance to win tickets to the Guilford showing.

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Guildford Cardiac Support Group Tuesday 12th April 7.30pm The Group, now in its 28th year, was founded with the aim of bringing together people with cardiac problems and to offer support to each other, their spouses, partners and families.

Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at St John Centre, Stocton Close, Guildford with an influential guest speaker providing information on medical topics relating to cardiac health, dietary advice, current developments and treatments. On 12th, Mr Ian Nordon, Consultant Vascular Surgeon of University Hospital, Southampton, will be speaking about aneurysms. They are very fortunate to have such an eminent visitor for the evening and it is hoped there will be an excellent response. Entry to meetings is free; visitors and new members will be most welcome. The Group, affiliated to BHF, maintains contact with Royal Surrey County Hospital, its Cardiac Team and Physiotherapy Departments as well as The Spectrum’s weekly cardiac exercise classes at the Gym. Enquiries to 01483 893097 or visit the Group’s website at www.guildfordcardiac.co.uk.

Shere Museum and Local History Society Tuesday 12th April 8pm The next talk in Shere Village Hall is ‘From Maps to Memorials: The Art of MacDonald Gill (1884-1947.)’ In the autumn of 2014 the Shere Museum acquired a new exhibit - an impressive pictorial map of Surrey showing the Tillingbourne Valley as it was ninety years ago. Commissioned by local resident Margaret Wyndham, the map was painted by MacDonald ‘Max’ Gill, the younger brother of the controversial sculptor and typographer Eric Gill. This informative and richly-illustrated talk will delight you with pictures ranging from eye-catching maps and murals to country cottages and memorial inscriptions. The speaker, Caroline Walker, has been researching her great-uncle Max for nearly a decade and regularly gives talks on his life and work. The museum charges a £1 fee for visitors who will be most welcome.

Onslow Village Residents’ Association Tuesday 12th April 7.15pm ‘Who Dun The Who Dunnits’? The next event of Onslow Village Residents’ Association is in the Village Hall, Wilderness Road, April 2016

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Local artists from the Guildford area feature strongly in AppArt’s Easter Exhibition For the last 20 years, Evelyn and Gwyn Phillips have been organising successful major art exhibitions and sculpture trails in South West Surrey. Their 21st Exhibition will be held at Prior’s Field School, Godalming in April. Over the years the exhibition has attracted artists from all over the South East and much further afield. AppArt’s exhibitions always deliberately provide an eclectic collection of 2D and 3D work to inspire visitors and in particular youngsters and their interest in the creative arts.

Henriette van der Does produces moody abstract paintings and sylistic figurative sculptures. Carol Orwin has been ever present at AppArt’s exhibitions and her sculptures of animals that reveal their underlying body structures are very distinctive. Martin Cundell is a master sculptor of wood and the abstract objects he creates have fine lines and are tactile and pleasing to the eye. Naomi Beaver cleverly combines textile materials with household objects, like spoons, to create wonderful and amusing birds.

Guildford is a centre of many art activities and the visual arts are well represented with a variety of painters and sculptors living and working there.

Elizabeth Calthorpe works in mixed media and her highly colourful scenes of chickens will be easily recognisable. Colette Clegg’s still life of apples and quince are good examples of this format of painting.

Becca Clegg uses acrylic and her landscapes feature brightly coloured flowers and her picture ‘across the bay’ is a good example of it. Andrew Curtis is a multi talented artist, musician and teacher who still finds time to paint some striking French landscapes. Alison Harding creates some stunning landscapes in oil and this is exemplified in her painting ‘Mustard Field’.

AppArt’s exhibitions have always been a community event and local schools and adult groups have been encouraged to visit and always receive a warm welcome.

Tinx Newton, the Arts Editor of Surrey Life, a great enthusiast and supporter of the arts in Surrey, will open the Exhibition on Saturday 2nd April. The Exhibition & Sculpture Trail will be open every day from Saturday 2nd April to Saturday 16th April between 10am to 4pm.

Admission is free and visitors will be able to view about 500 indoor exhibits and also explore the Gertrude Jekyll inspired gardens and see over 100 large sculptures in a tranquil and picturesque setting.

Images clockwise from below: Sing a song of sixpence by Naomi Beavers; Ms Brighton by Henriette van der Does; Across the Bay by Becca Clegg; Mustard Field by Alison Harding; Shaggy Dog Story by Carol Orwin.

For more information, please visit www.appartonline.co.uk or email info@AppArtOnline.co.uk.

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<23 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Spring at Watts Gallery Artists' Village wattsgallery.org.uk/spring

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Onslow Village, Guildford GU2 7QR. Sheila Willis will be giving a PowerPoint presentation and talk on crime writers, a lighthearted look at crime fiction and their authors.Complimentary tea and coffee will be served from 7.15pm. Entry is free to OVRA members, £3 to non-members.

Horsley Decorative & Fine Arts Society Wednesday 13th April You are invited to join Horsley DFAS when Peter Medhurst will be talking on ‘I am the very model: Parodies of Victorian Society in Gilbert and Sullivan’. Horsley DFAS meets at East Horsley Village Hall for lectures at 10.30am (coffee from 9.45) on the second Wednesday of each month except August and September. Visitors (£5) and new members welcome. For more information and the full programme phone Alma on 01372 451015 or visit their website www.horsleydfas.org.uk.

Jazz at The Pavilion Wednesday 13th April 7.30pm Features the Clark Tracey Quintet. Clark Tracey himself has long been regarded as the UK’s most accomplished straight-ahead jazz drummer, and is also a composer, arranger, educator and talent-spotter par excellence. They released a debut CD called Meantime in May 2014 and have subsequently released another. It takes place at Guildford Rugby Club, Guildford Road, Godalming GU7 3DH. Tickets £12 in advance from www.guildfordjazz.org.uk Gerald’s Wood - Bramley A second pathway running parallel to the road at the front of the Wood has now been created. Wood chippings are to be laid along the path this spring and Wonersh Woodland Group intend to open this new, off-road, route connecting with Chinthurst Lane early in the summer. Removal of laurel is a substantial on-going task and the assistance of the Scouts in burning the cuttings is greatly appreciated by WWG. Work Parties are scheduled for the following dates: 10th and 23rd April, 14th May, 12th June. You will find them on site between 2 and 4pm, do go and see what they are up to. You can even lend a hand if you wish! Tools are provided. For more information visit http://geraldswoodwwg.blogspot.co.uk/ or email wonershwoodlandgroup@gmail.com. Gerald’s Wood is accessed by a gateway situated on the East side of The Street close to the junction with Station Rd, Bramley and Chinthust Lane, Wonersh GU5 0PE. Peaslake, Shere and Gomshall Gardening Association Thursday 14th April 8pm The next meeting in Shere Village Hall is entitled ‘Italy From Seed to Plate.’ You are promised an informative and entertaining talk about vegetables from Roman times to the present day. It will be given by Paulo Arrigo of Seeds of Italy and will appeal to gardeners, foodies and Italophiles alike. It’s a one-hour talk with refreshments of an Italian flavour and visitors are most welcome.

Concert at Guildford United Reformed Church Friday 15th April 7.30pm Ursula John - viola, Joy Farrall - clarinet and Min-Jung Kym

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LOCAL BUSINESS FOCUS

Shed loads of fun at Bourne Buildings on their 21st anniversary

In a continuing series helping to promote some of our great local businesses, Marcus Atkins talks to this iconic Farnham based company One of the most famous sites in Farnham is the Shepherd and Flock roundabout; it’s recognised as perhaps the largest inhabited roundabout in the UK, and anyone who has driven around this large road island will most certainly have noticed Bourne Buildings on the western outside edge of this landmark.

This family run business celebrates its 21st anniversary this month, it was started up by husband and wife Denis and Debbie McKay back in April 1995. They were previously running a successful local milk round business since the couple had moved to the area in 1989, but on a chance visit to the Bourne Mill Antiques centre, an opportunity arose to develop the site adjacent to it, which had already begun to sell some sheds and a variety of stone ornaments.

Soon after Denis and Debbie took over the site, they gained a reputation for their amusing and witty banners advertising their sheds which could be seen by passing motorists. One of the early ones even gained press attention at the time during the summer of 1996, when their banner read ‘P REG SHEDS COME IN FOR A TEST DRIVE’, which tied in with the launch of the new P registration cars which were available to buy from August 1st 1996.

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For the 21 years since, there have been numerous banners which have amused and entertained passers-by, often seasonal slogans, notably ‘A shed is for life, not just for Christmas’, ‘Easter sheds - plain or milk’, ‘Now is the winter of our discount sheds’.

They have even felt the nation’s desire to free the Weatherfield One, the Coronation Street character Deirdre Barlow who was wrongly imprisoned in 1998; the Bourne Buildings banner of the time was ‘Shed a tear for Deirdre’, brilliant!

The Bourne Buildings site itself is quite incredible. From the road you’d never guess that there was such a huge selection of sheds, summerhouses and offices, garages, playhouses and gazebos that can be viewed, which makes choosing the right construction much easier than simply viewing from a printed brochure or looking at an image on a screen from a website. A regular comment from customers is ‘I’ve been driving past for vantagepointmag.co.uk

years, didn’t quite realise how many sheds you had on display, let alone the picturesque setting including a 100 foot lake.’

Bourne Buildings is truly a family affair, the McKay’s eldest son Craig joined the business full time 10 years ago, although he was regularly on site as a boy; he even sold his first shed at the age of just 12. Craig explained that the company’s values ‘best service, best selection, and best prices’ is an ethos which is simple and very effective. Craig tells me that Bourne Buildings have always been keen to source the best quality products from UK companies, something else of which they are proud.

At the time Craig joined the family business in 2005, Bourne Buildings was open seven days a week, but the decision was taken then to close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in order for them to enjoy their business relationship, but to maintain a healthy family relationship outside of work. So please remember when wanting to view their massive selection of buildings and ornaments, don’t visit Tuesdays or Wednesdays. They are however open both Saturdays and Sundays, and every Bank Holiday Monday and Good Friday.

Despite the market changing over recent years, whereby people turn to the internet for the very best prices, Bourne Buildings have decided actively not to publish prices of their products on their website. Craig continues to explain to me that they don’t struggle with competing with other sheds online; they pride themselves that they are cheaper when comparing the products like-for-like. “An image and a price is not enough information in order to judge the quality or value for money, so people come to us to see the sheds in the flesh”.

Bourne Buildings have always been pioneers in this field; they are the ones who push product development with their suppliers, whether it’s double-glazed and insulated garden offices, or whether it’s advising the producers to manufacture buildings that are no higher than 2.5 metre high, so that their customers can have the timber building in their garden without requiring planning permission. They continually pass on new customer requirements up the chain to the April 2016

Left: One of the early (and now famous) banners. Top: An aerial view of the site. Above: Just some of the items available for sale

manufacturers, and it’s this feedback that means that Bourne Buildings regularly win the country’s ‘Top Site’ award from pretty much all their suppliers.

The McKays feel that the quality and sheer exhaustive selection of timber buildings on display at their site cannot be explained in words or by viewing their website. You simply must get yourselves down to the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout to see for yourself, and you can also have a chuckle as you see their latest amusing banner.

FIND OUT MORE

Bourne Buildings, 39-43 Guildford Road, Farnham, GU9 9PY Tel: 01252 718481 / 725733. www.bournebuildings.co.uk.

Open 9.30am - 5pm Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday - Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays 29

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

– piano, will be performing some delightful music including pieces by Bruch, Schumann and Chopin. Tickets at £12 are available from Guildford Tourist Information on 01483 444333.

Children 16 and under admitted free with accompanying adult. Students £3 (with ID card). The Church is situated at 83 Portsmouth Road Guildford GU2 4BS. More information available at www.gurcms.org.uk.

Memory Meadow Saturday 16th April 10am to 12noon The wonderful local hospice care charity Phyllis Tuckwell has created a Memory Meadow within Guildford’s Stoke Park, as a stunning floral tribute to those who are no longer with us, but are never forgotten. The Meadow is situated at the Nightingale Road entrance to the Park, in an area given to the charity by Guildford Borough Council. Its colourful mix of beautiful flowers will bloom every spring, and it is open to anyone wishing to spend some quiet time remembering their loved one. A special remembrance event will be held at Memory Meadow which will feature inspiring readings and songs from a local choir. As part of the event, Phyllis Tuckwell is inviting dedications to be featured in a Book of Remembrance, copies of which will be given to all who attend. To make a dedication in memory of a loved one, along with a donation to support Phyllis Tuckwell, visit www.pth.org.uk/ memorymeadow or call 01252 729446 by Friday 1st April.

Guildford Gag House Comedy Club Saturday 16th April 8pm Taking place at The Back Room of The Star Pub, the evening

LIGHTING

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features Elf Lyons MC with Tom Lucy (Winner of the Mercury New Comedian of the year Award) and Gerry Howell. Mark Dolan headlining. Tickets are £12.50. For more information and to book, go to www.GuildfordFringe.com or call 0333 666 3366.

Combined Charities Fair Saturday 16 April 10am to 3pm Taking place in the Guildhall, High Street, Guildford, 17 charities will be gathered together to offer support and to raise awareness of their causes all under one roof in the Guildhall. There will be the chance to talk to the participating charities and find out about volunteering opportunities and maybe pick up some bargains too. Among the charities participating are the National Eczema Society, Alzheimer’s Society, Bloodwise, British Heart Foundation, Catalyst, Catch-22, Cri, Furniturelink, Guildford Samaritans, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Naomi House, Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre, Surrey Care Trust, Surrey Community Action, Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care and Woking and Sam Beare Hospice. There is no admission charge but donations are most welcome.

Compton Flower Festival Saturday 16th April (10am-4pm) – Sunday 17th April (12 noon-4pm) Visit St Nicholas Church in Compton, Surrey (GU3 1EG). It is one the finest 11th century churches in the county and has a unique double chancel. There will be a Garden Themed Flower

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Have you used children’s community health services in Surrey?

On behalf of clinical commissioning groups in Surrey, Surrey County Council and NHS England, NHS Guildford and Waverley CCG will be seeking a new provider to deliver children’s community health services across Surrey.

Children’s community health services are ones that focus on prevention of ill health, advise on child development and provide specialist medical, nursing or therapy services when needed.

Teams that do this include professionals you may recognise, such as: Health Visitors

Physiotherapists

Specialist nurses for children who are looked after

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Speech & Language Therapists

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Tuesday 12th April 2016 Greenark Hall, Lido Road, Guildford, GU1 1HB 10am to 12pm OR 1pm to 3pm This event also includes more information about the launch of the new Children’s and Adolescents Mental Health services (CAMHS) on 1st April 2016.

To register for the morning or afternoon session: call 01483 405450 or email: samantha.patmore@nhs.net Please inform us if you have any special requirements in order to attend.

Find out more at www.guildfordandwaverleyccg.nhs.uk Click on the link ‘Children’s community health services’ on the right hand column Follow us on Twitter @NHSGWCCG

Like us on Facebook

LOCAL The Therapy Garden by Sally Mills Working Life: Horticulture’, whilst our new ‘Grow to Work’ project supports 19-25 year olds that require extra support with the transition from school or college to the workplace by offering work experience.

More recently, our ‘Stroke of Genius’ project with stroke survivors proved a huge success. The group was able to learn gardening skills transferrable to home and it seemed the chance to socialise with other stroke survivors was just as valuable as the gardening itself.

I do enjoy the view from my office window. I am watching our horticulturists work with a group of students to replant the raised beds in the garden, on a crisp, sunny morning. Not that we let the rain stop play; activity continues in heated poly tunnels, where seeds are sown and young plants repotted. It is wonderful to see a group of teenagers connecting with nature and this has resulted in our one-acre garden looking better than ever.

I work as a fundraiser at The Therapy Garden, a horticulture and education charity that uses gardening as a way of engaging adults and teenagers with learning difficulties, physical disabilities and mental health challenges. Based in the village of Normandy, Surrey, the charity was established in 1998 by a local resident, with the aim of using the healing power of horticulture to connect with vulnerable and marginalised members of our community.

The Therapy Garden is funded entirely by grants from charitable trusts and foundations, alongside our own local fundraising activities. Recently, there has been much discussion in the media about the benefits of horticulture and it seems the relationship between green spaces and human health and wellbeing is now being acknowledged. Research carried out by the National Gardens Scheme (NGS) showed 79% believe that access to a garden is ‘essential for quality of life’.

As a result of this, the diversity of service users in our garden has greatly increased in the last year.

Our Green School continues to give students aged 14-18, with special educational needs, the chance to gain a City & Guilds vocational qualification- ‘Skills for 32

New projects are underway in 2016 to offer groups of elderly gardeners social and therapeutic horticulture sessions, with their carers being offered the chance to take a well-deserved break. Small groups of teenagers struggling in mainstream education will also get the chance to take part in six week ‘introductions to horticulture’ to see if it could be a potential career choice.

The Therapy Garden is incredibly lucky to have a team of almost 30 volunteers, without whom we simply could not exist. Volunteers help clients in the garden with various activities and find the combination of working with the clients and being out in the garden really enjoyable. We are always looking for new recruits so if you could spare a few hours a week then please get in touch.

Our annual ‘Gardens Open Day’ event is on the 19th June 2016; we open our garden to the public and organise a tour of a number of local private gardens that open for viewing on the day. The event gives us the chance to show off our award-winning garden at the height of the summer, whilst getting to know the local community better. If there are any Normandy residents that would like to show off just a little bit and open up their garden to the public for the afternoon then please get in touch!

Following a generous donation from Camberley Heath Golf Club, our refurbished on site shop is now open. The Therapy Garden shop sells seasonal plants, fruit and vegetables grown by staff and clients in the garden and gives the younger clients the chance to gain some retail experience. Come and enjoy fresh, local produce at its best.

Hope to see you soon!

FIND OUT MORE

For more information, please visit www.thetherapygarden.org or email fundraising@thetherapygarden.org. vantagepointmag.co.uk

<30 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Festival on Saturday 16th April from 10 - 4pm and Sunday 17th April from 12 – 4pm (after 10.30 communion service).

Come and see the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Garden of Eden, the Monastery and the Water Garden and many more!

Children can bring a miniature Garden in a Tray or make one in the church. Admission free. For more details contact Sarah on sarahb@care4free.net or 01483 427405.

Birtley House Sunday 17th April 11am The Rare Plant Fair, held at Birtley House, Bramley GU5 0LB, is a wonderful day out for anyone who enjoys gardening, with the opportunity to buy traditional and unusual plants direct from the growers, who will be able to give advice on the plants they are selling. Many of the plants are not available in Garden Centres as they are propagated by the Nurseries at the Fair. In addition, you will be able to wander around the 48 acres of grounds and gardens at Birtley House that are not normally open to the public. Refreshments are available. The gates will be open at 11am and the Fair closes at 4pm.

Headway Surrey Deputy-Mayor, Gordon Jackson recently visited this marvellous charity to help raise awareness of the difficulties facing people with brain injury throughout Surrey. He met several brain injury survivors who were practising their information processing skills with the support of volunteers and staff. Headway Surrey supports survivors with emotional, psychological and practical support both at the centre in Bourne Buildings May 14_Layout 1 11/05/2015 14:51 Page 1

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Stoughton and in the community, as well as supporting carers through monthly meetings throughout Surrey. For more information, contact Maggee on 01483 455225 email enquiries@headwaysurrey.org.

Electric Theatre Jazz Café Tuesday 19th April 7.30pm It’s more than forty years since the tragic death of British jazz legend Tubby Hayes, but his music and his story still captivates. Winner of the 2011 British Jazz Awards for Tenor Saxophone, Simon Spillett is widely regarded as the leading authority on Hayes and his work. Simon is joined by a former member of Tubby’s quartet and big band, drummer Spike Wells, pianist Rick Simpson, winner of the Yamaha Scholarship Prize for Outstanding Jazz Musicians, and Marianne Windham on double bass. Takes place at The Electric Theatre, Onslow Street, Guildford GU1 4SZ. Tickets £12 from Electric Theatre box office on 01483 444789.

Guildford Shakespeare Company Wednesday 20th April To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death on 23rd April, GSC who are also celebrating their own 10th anniversary, are marking the event with three special events, starting with a lecture, which will take place at Hatchlands Park. Entitled ‘Will’s Will’, it will be delivered by Matt Pinches and will cover his life and also the contents of his will where he left his wife ‘their second best bed’! It will be given in the Music Room in the presence of the Cobbe Portrait, reckoned THE LARGEST SHOWSITE IN THE UK OVER 200 BUILDINGS, 5000 STONE ORNAMENTS & 100 FURNITURE SETS ON DISPLAY

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01252 718481 / 725733 www.bournebuildings.co.uk 39 – 43 Guildford Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9PY

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD to be the only portrait of Shakespeare painted during his lifetime. Over the weekend of 23rd/24th April there will be the popular Sonnet Walks which start from St Mary’s Church in Quarry Street and last around 70 minutes. Finally, on Saturday 30th April, they present one of Shakespeare’s lesser known but none the less most exciting works, Cymbeline, which will be staged in St Mary’s. Tickets for these events are on sale now and are available online at www.guildfordshakespeare-company.co.uk.

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The Guildford Institute Situated on Ward Street, The Institute is a charity committed to providing educational and cultural activities to the local community. The Institute’s new summer programme is now available with over 45 courses running and a diverse range of talks, trips and activities on offer. Highlights this term include their Cyber Security course which focuses on potential risks of using online services and how to keep PCs and personal details safe. They will be celebrating the Queen’s 90th Birthday with an Indoor Picnic and will be visiting the Kia Oval International Cricket Stadium for a full tour of the ground. Full details of the Institute’s summer programme can be viewed on their website www.guildford-institute.org. uk. Alternatively, for more information call 01483 562142 or email info@guildford-institute.org.uk.

Les Amitiés Françaises Thursday 21st April 7pm There will be a rather unusual lecture by the daughter of a

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Milford Window Company Oct 13_Layout 1 12/03/2015 14:57

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD former courier for the Resistance. She will be talking about her mother’s work for the Allies during the war, now the subject of a book. They will meet as usual in Godalming Baptist Church Hall in Queen Street, Godalming (parking nearby) for coffee and a chat and the lecture, all in French, starts at 7.30pm. You can get further information by emailing johnpetty@which.net or calling 01483 389102. They have a season of lectures from September to June and several social events and an outing. Bienvenue!

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Loseley Spring Garden Show Friday 22nd – Sunday 24th April 10am-5pm This lovely show heralds the start of the season at Loseley, with visitors having an early preview of the Walled Garden before they open to the public. Many exhibitors return every year, with visitors searching them out to buy carefully chosen plants, herbs, garden pots, tools, garden memorabilia, plant stands and even scarves and sheepskin gloves. Whichford Pottery has been attending for 20 years and makes a lovely set-up in the stable yard. The varied food stands in the White Garden marquee at the far corner of the Show are also certainly worth a visit, as are the nearby Loseley home-grown plants. They look forward to welcoming you to the Show.

More information at www.loseleypark.co.uk or call 01483 405119.

Shalford Infant School Friday 22nd April The school is holding what I think must be every kid’s dream,

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GARDENING

With Beth Otway

Gourmet Vegetables mangetout pea, but in all honesty any variety of pea would be suitable. Just cut the tops off your plants when they reach about 12cm (5 inches) and wait for them to re-grow. Pea shoots can easily be grown in a window box or container.

I love April, it’s such a super month in the garden and there are so many beautiful vegetables that you can sow now.

Did you know that it’s just as easy to grow a purple coloured carrot, as it is to grow an orange one? Carrots come in an array of colours – white, yellow, red, purple and many shades in between. Each variety has a slightly different taste and texture. I think they are all delicious and they look fantastic mixed together on the plate. Conveniently, many seed companies sell ‘Rainbow Mix’ packets of carrot seed. Carrots are very easy to grow, but you do need to take steps to avoid their nemesis, the carrot fly. By covering your carrot seedlings with Enviromesh, you will prevent the carrot fly from laying its eggs near your carrots.

Kohlrabi is an absolutely delicious vegetable, often hard to find in the shops, but it’s easy to grow in the garden. For some years now I have been growing a variety called ‘Gigant’, available from Real Seeds, which is an amazing variety. It’s delicious harvested at a much larger size than traditional kohlrabi varieties, which you don’t want to allow to grow much larger than a golf ball, or they become rather tough and woody. I’ve regularly eaten Galia melon sized ‘Gigant’ and have found it to be delicious and very tender. Later sowings of ‘Gigant’ are great for storing over winter.

Almost instant gratification can be found if you sow coloured radishes, which will be ready to eat just a few weeks after sowing.

Radish seed can be sown direct into the soil or in containers. If you’re sowing a row of parsnip seeds, sow some radish seeds in the same row – parsnips take a long time to germinate, whereas your radish seed will have germinated, been harvested and eaten before the parsnip requires the space. Do purchase new parsnip seed each year, this is one variety of vegetable seed that doesn’t remain viable for long and cannot be stored – why not share a packet with your friends or neighbours?

There are many other gourmet vegetables that you can sow now: rapini, salsola soda, kale, salsify, scorzonera, amaranth, shallots, quinoa and pak choi. That should keep you all busy!

Globe artichokes are glorious to grow! Yes, they take up quite a bit of room, but nothing beats freshly harvested artichokes cooked until tender. ‘Gros Vert de Laon’ is a great tasting variety, as is ‘Imperial Star’, which produces a great crop of large heads even in its first year. Don’t forget that you can eat the inner part of the stem of the artichoke as well as the beautiful globes.

Mangetout peas are super plants to grow. I enjoy growing varieties such as ‘Shiraz’ with its attractive purple pods, and the pretty, yellow-podded ‘Golden Sweet’, which is sweet and tender and probably my favourite. Both of these varieties produce easy to spot pods – a real bonus when you’re harvesting, and attractively coloured flowers.

For pea shoots, my preferred variety would be ‘Oregon Sugar Pod’ which is marketed as a

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Above left: Globe artichokes. Right: Kohlrabi. Images by Beth Otway.

FIND OUT MORE FINDmore OUT MORE For tips, advice and ideas of other lovely jobs that you could do in your garden or tips at your month, ideas of seeds that For inspiration, and allotment advice on this some lovelymore jobs you could do in your can be or sown now, and much please my website garden at your allotment this more month,besides, and much morevisit besides, please www.pumpkinbeth.com. visit my website, www.pumpkinbeth.com. vantagepointmag.co.uk

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Make the most of what you’ve got - rethinking your outdoor space and how it is used can add value to your property. Clever designs will make sure that smaller or harder to reach outside spaces are fully utilised too.

Expand the use of your garden - Boardman Gelly creates distinctive spaces for different uses, from al fresco eating and entertaining to secret sanctuaries for quiet relaxation. Activity areas with sunken trampolines, climbing frames and treehouses for the more adventurous can also be added or maybe now’s the time for that outdoor spa you’ve always dreamed of....

Add sound and movement - whether it’s a bubblestone water feature or exciting new planting, introducing a sensory dimension can add something really special to your garden.

Factor in a wow factor - Boardman Gelly use their experience designing show gardens to create show-stopping features for clients, such as a stream cascading over stone to a lost pool.

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<35 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD ‘A Break the Rules Day’. It’s a day where children can break (some of!) the school rules. Suggestions include wearing nail polish, coloured hair, and any clothes they like! Parents are encouraged to join the children and playtime in school uniform; Oh Dear! I should also mention the Dad’s Bike Ride from Brighton to Shalford which will take place on 21st/22nd May. Many of the school’s dads (and mums if they want to join in) will be cycling from Brighton all the way back to Shalford.

All sponsorship money raised will be split between the school and a chosen charity (TBC). Children can join their parents at a pre-determined point, potentially Cranleigh or Bramley. Find out more from the school.

Wine Tasting at Holy Trinity Church Friday 22nd April 6.30pm for 7pm-8.30pm The evening will kick off with a glass of fizz followed by a welcome by the Rev’d Canon Robert Cotton, and introduction

by Matt Pinches of the Guildford Shakespeare Company.

Wines will be organised into four or five groups. As far as possible the wines within each will be of the same type (e.g. all pinots noirs). The price will differ (varying between about £6 and £30), but does the quality? Can you tell the difference?

There will be a light-hearted competition in which you will be invited to guess (discern?) which wines fall into which price bracket. This is a fund-raising event to support their ‘Big Appeal’. Holy Trinity Church, in the High Street, Guildford is not only a beautiful example of Georgian architecture, but also a vital community asset. They aim to raise £500,000 and have so far reached £256,000. A ‘hat’ will be passed around. The

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April 2016

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cost of the evening is £20 per person and cheques payable to Holy Trinity and St Mary’s PCC should be sent to Stephen Marriott, Pennines, Guildown Road, Guildford GU2 4EU or email wine@our-space.co.uk for BACS instructions.

The Spike (Community Centre) Saturday 23rd April 7pm Celebrate St George’s Day at The Spike, Warren Road, Guildford GU1 3JH with an ‘England and the English’ Quiz and a 2 course Bangers ‘n’ Mash Supper! Tickets are £8.

Take your own drinks if you wish but there will be a licensed bar. You can apply for your tickets at Tourist Information Centre, 155 High Street, Guildford; 01483 444333 or The Charlotteville Jubilee Trust at 12 Addison Road, Guildford; 01483 598420 Concert ‘For Queen & Country’ April 23rd 7.30pm In celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday, Epworth Choir, established over 50 years ago, will be holding a concert featuring music for choir, brass and organ at Holy Trinity Church in Guildford. The programme will feature many well- known pieces such as Zadok the Priest, I Was Glad and Coronation Anthems. For this concert, the choir will be raising funds for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides vital support and end of life care across West Surrey and North East Hampshire to patients and families affected by cancer or other serious progressive illness. Tickets are £20 or £15 for adults and £6 for children under 12, and are available from

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The wonder of maple by Julie Dansereau The maple sugar season has just finished in the south and eastern part of Québec. For the last two weeks of March, maple syrup producers have returned to their rustic wooden cabins and have been harvesting the sweet maple water. Once again, the boiling process has given the woodlands a unique aroma, the one of maple syrup.

Miss Maple has selected for you three recipes to enjoy the wonderful flavour of maple syrup and show that it doesn’t just go on pancakes! There is no better way to celebrate the return of spring.

Miss Maple, who is based in Godalming, would love to hear about your cooking expertise with maple syrup. Please visit Miss Maple’s website at www.missmaple.co.uk to leave your comments and to find out more about the making of maple syrup.

Green leaf salad with maple-glazed walnuts, apple and pancetta This salad is a lovely mix of texture and flavours.

Ingredients For the maple-glazed nuts (a delicious snack on their own): 60ml maple syrup, 1tbsp butter, 80g walnuts or pecan nuts.

Vinaigrette (will dress any salad you like): 60ml mayonnaise, 3tbsp olive oil, ½ garlic clove finely chopped (optional), 2tbsp cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, 1tbsp maple syrup, 1tsp Dijon mustard or English mustard, black pepper.

Green leaf salad: ½ red onion finely sliced (optional), 1 bag of 100g mixed green salad (rocket, spinach, watercress, etc.), 1 big apple or pear peeled and finely sliced, 4 slices of pancetta.

Serves 4 Method: 1. Lay a tray with parchment paper, put aside.

2. In a small pan, bring to boil maple syrup and butter and cook for 2 minutes. Add nuts; continue cooking while stirring with a wooden spoon for about 5-7 minutes, until sugar crystals are forming on top of nuts then remove from heat.

3. Pour immediately on the tray and using a spatula spread the mixture quickly and evenly. Salt lightly, if you wish, and let cool completely (that should take 15-20minutes) then break the nuts with a knife on a wooden board.

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4. Put the onion slices in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes to soften them and let dry on kitchen paper.

5. Cook the pancetta in a frying pan, until golden brown, and let cool on kitchen paper before breaking them in pieces.

6. Make the vinaigrette by mixing all the ingredients in a jar until smooth and creamy.

7. Slice the apple or pear just before serving.

8. In a big salad bowl or individual ones, mix gently the salad leaves with the slices of onion. Pour vinaigrette over and top with slices of fruit, maple-glazed nuts and pieces of pancetta. vantagepointmag.co.uk

RECIPES Maple-glazed salmon fillets Surprisingly for many, salmon and maple syrup go very well together. Try a simple drizzle of maple syrup over your cooked salmon and voilà!

Ingredients 240g salmon fillets, 2tbsp maple syrup, 2tsp reduced salt soy sauce, 1tbsp fresh grated ginger, ½ small red chilli finely chopped, 1tbsp sesame oil, 1tsp sesame seeds.

Serves 2 Method: 1. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients except the fish fillets. Pour the marinade in to an oven proof dish.

2. Add fillets skin-side up and marinate for 15 minutes 3. Preheat oven to 200ºC. 4. Simply turn fillets flesh-side up and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cook in oven for 12 minutes.

Maple syrup tart There are probably as many maple syrup tart recipes as there are families in Québec! Rich and velvety, this traditional dessert is the best way to enjoy the maple syrup season. Growing fans of maple syrup, this recipe is for you!

Ingredients 250ml pure maple syrup, 4tbsp corn flour, 4tbsp brown sugar, 375ml double cream, pinch of salt, pie shell or handmade/bought pastry put on 20cm pie dish.

Serves 6-8 Method: 1. Preheat oven 180ºC. 2. Put all the ingredients in a pan, mix using a whisk, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir for 5 minutes until it thickens. Let cool for 10 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, cook blind the pie shell for 10 minutes then pour syrup mixture in and cook for 15-20 minutes.

Let cool completely and serve with ice cream and fresh berries. Enjoy!

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Epworth Choir Box Office, Tel 01483 768136 or online at the Choir’s website www.epworthchoir.org.

Wonersh United Reformed Church Saturday 23rd April 8pm A Life in songs - The song writer’s tale. A free concert at the church with refreshments available at the interval. Tickets on the door or in advance by calling 01483 892579. There we will be a retiring collection in aid of Shooting Star CHASE Guildford Fringe presents ‘Mummy’ Tuesday 26th to Saturday 30th April 8pm A Play, A Pint & A Pasty returns to Guildford Fringe with a superb piece of new writing. Award winning performer and writer Amy Gwilliam and West End director Sophie Larsmon arrive at Guildford Fringe and return to their roots in Guildford with this brave and wacky comedy about Death! Mummy is a cathartic and corrosively funny new play about a young woman who has shrouded herself in studies to numb the pain of grieving. Returning to her secondary school as a publicity stunt to launch her first book ‘MUMMY or the Art of Saying Goodbye’, she is confronted with the spectre of her dead mother and her 16-year-old self, irritating stifled wounds and unwinding her suppressed pain. The show is semiautobiographical, a homage to Amy’s own mother, television and film director Liddy Oldroyd, who was born and bred in Guildford, and died in 2002. Amy Gwilliam says ‘Sophie and I met on our first day at Guildford High School back in 1997. In the years that would follow we would perform in, and devise,

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many productions together, culminating in co-directing the Panto in our final year!’ It will be performed at The Back Room of The Star Inn, Quarry Street, Guildford and there is a 3pm matinee on Friday 29th April. Tickets are £16.50 (£14.50 concessions) and can be purchased by visiting www.

GuildfordFringe.com or by calling 0333 666 3366. All tickets include ‘A Play, A Pint and A Pasty!

West Surrey Decorative and Fine Arts Society Tuesday 26th April at 9.4 am ‘The Imperial Easter Eggs of Carl Faberge – before the Revolution’ is the subject of the April lecture of West Surrey Decorative and Fine Arts Society. Between 1885 and 1916, Carl Faberge created fifty jewelled eggs – Easter presents from Russia’s last two Emperors to their wives. Come and hear Tony Faber’s lecture about these famous symbols of the Romanov Empire in Shalford Village Hall on Tuesday 26th April at 9.45am for coffee. The lecture starts at 10.30am.

New members and visitors are very welcome. Details of their programme of lectures, visits and holidays for 2016 can be found on their website www.nadfas-westsurrey.co.uk or, for more information, call 01483 811671.

RHS Wisley Thursday 28th April to Monday 2nd May There’s a Contemporary Craft & Design Fair at RHS Wisley with around 160 exhibitors, so no small affair! It will be open from 9am to 6pm.

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Celebrate St George’s Day

Introducing Cellar Magneval

The Richard Onslow in Cranleigh is marking the national day with not one but three days of fantastic St George’s Day food and festivities on the weekend of 22nd to 24th April.

Cellar Magneval Boutique de Vins & Épicerie Fine is a new, fine wine store situated in Ripley.

There will be a brilliant tasting and talk by English charcuterie experts, gin and beer tastings, a children’s baking competition and some Morris Dancing to make it a great celebration of all things English.

It opened in December in one of Ripley’s 15th century buildings, complete with its own wine cellar so the stock can be kept in perfect storage conditions. The owners are local to Surrey, Jo and Thierry de Magneval, formerly Manager at a number of the Roux family restaurants and Sommelier (respectively) to Pierre Koffmann.

“We’re hoping that this St George’s weekend will be a great opportunity for everyone to come together at that great institution that is the pub and celebrate some of the best traditions we have in this country,” says Terri Dell, general manager.

When the opportunity arose to open a slightly different offering a new fine wine store, fine foods and deli, they jumped at the challenge. They are open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am–8pm so why not pay them a visit?

The Richard Onslow, 113-117 High Street, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8AU. Tel: 01483 274922. www.therichardonslow.co.uk.

The Old Cellar, High Street, Ripley GU23 6BB www.cellarmagneval.com/ripley

A new wine bar and shop in Guildford Corkage is an independent and locally owned wine shop and bar in Quarry Street, Guildford.

They stock an eclectic range of wines from around the world with an emphasis upon small and traditional producers.

by the glass and decanter.

Additionally, for a £5 corkage charge, customers can open any bottle in stock to enjoy in their beautiful bar or outside on our enclosed patio. Their five wine chillers keep the wines in perfect condition and ready to open.

Alongside wines to buy and take home, they have a selection available to drink on the premises

Corkage is also the proud owner of Guildford’s first enomatic machine which enables customers to serve he’ll send a new one to your inbox once a month.

Last month the Bake with Jack Recipe Club was launched - an online bread making community.

As a member you’ll have full access to Jack’s online recipe series and

Try it at home, take a picture, and let him know how you got on.

There’ll be plenty of opportunity to have questions answered at recipeclub@bakewithjack.co.uk and top answers will be shared

themselves a tasting measure or a full glass of eight different wines, all maintained in perfect condition.

Corkage is open from 10am until 6pm on Monday to Wednesday but stays open until 8pm on Thursday to Saturday. Sunday hours are 11am until 4pm. www.corkage.co.uk with the community along with the following months recipe.

Your first recipe awaits, it’s Jack’s super simple Cob loaf, a great everyday bread.

Visit eepurl.com/bSca4L to join.

Send your food news to gastro@vantagepublishing.co.uk 44

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Garden Teak Ad 71 x 185 V2_stage 5 12/03/2012 19:39 Page

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

The West Surrey Natural History Society Thursday 28th April 8pm The next and last talk of the season is Wildlife Gardening, an illustrated talk by Paul Ritchie. Paul will show how the Surrey Wildlife Trust People and Wildlife Team apply their strategy to their work and show how people and communities can benefit wildlife through wildlife gardening. (WSNHS) holds monthly talks by well-known naturalists on a wide variety of natural history subjects. The talks are held at Ripley Village Hall on the fourth Thursday in the month. All meetings are free to members or £3 for non-members (unless otherwise stated). Annual membership is £7 for single and £12 for family membership. Members receive a regular Newsletter.

All enquiries to the Society Secretary, Anna Stribley, on 01372 457623 or you can find further information at www.wsnhs. wordpress.com.

Bridge Afternoon Thursday 28th April between 2.15pm and 5.15pm Bramley Infant School are holding a Bridge Afternoon on Thursday 28th April in Bramley Infants School hall. Doors open at 2pm and players are kindly asked to bring along a table, cloth and cards. A delicious tea will be served during the afternoon with a variety of fresh sandwiches and home-made cakes. There will also be a raffle with goodies to be won and a home-baked cake stall. This very popular event is now in its 8th year and all profits raised go to Bramley Infant School (and Pre-School) to help broaden and enrich the children’s learning. The cost of a table (4 people) is £40. If you don’t have a group of 4 don’t worry - single players can be matched with others to make up a table. To book a table, or for more information, please call Catherine Dunstan on 01483 239375 or email catherinedunstan@hotmail.co.uk. Cheques (payable to Bramley Infant School PTFA) can be sent to 2 Rowan Drive, Godalming, GU7 1UB. St Catherine’s Flower Arrangement Club Thursday 28th April They continue their Spring Theme with a ‘Semi-Imposed’ arrangement. This involves the members participating, and should prove to be a most entertaining afternoon. The Club Competition is ‘April Showers’. All this takes place at Shalford Village Hall where they meet at 1pm for a 1.45pm start.

Visitors and new members are always welcome so go along for a fun afternoon and cup of tea. For further information ring 01483 578368 Guildford Adult Learning Centre As part of Get Active 50+, Surrey Adult Learning has an offer for people aged over 50 to help them be more active, have fun and make friends. Basically, there is £40 off their dance and exercise classes This government funded project aims to improve health amongst older adults across the county following the revelation that almost 60% of Surrey adults do not meet the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) recommended guidelines of 150 minutes per week moderate intensity physical activity. T&Cs apply. More information on www. surreycc.gov.uk/getactive50 or you can call 0300 200 1044.

April 2016

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Tax and Accounts Company tax and accounts advice Self assessment tax returns Tax planning and advice Locally based Hugo Godfrey FCA T: 01483 592471 E: hugo@godfreyaccounting.co.uk

Muddy Mission 5K assault course Dorking, Surrey Saturday 18 June 2016 Go on a muddy mission to help find a cure for Parkinson’s.

Sign up before 4 April for a discount! parkinsons.org.uk/mudrun16

Registered charity in England and Wales (258197) and Scotland (SC037554). © Parkinson’s UK 02/16 (CS2181)

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CS2181 Muddy mission half page advert Challenger mag.indd 1

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Watts Gallery Friday 29th April That wonderful jewel in our midst, The Watts Gallery, is having a late night opening on Friday 29th and will be open until 9pm. What’s more, they are offering 2 for 1 admission with free admission for 16’s and under. There will be all sorts of unusual happenings including musical performances from Priorsfield students, herbal cocktails and themed sweet treats. The Gallery is in Down Lane, Compton GU3 1DQ. There is a lot more information on the website about this and other events, at www.wattsgallery.org.uk.

The Contented Dementia Trust The Contented Dementia Trust uses the ‘SPECIAL’ method which is a unique approach to help carers and family members understand the world through the eyes of the dementia sufferer and so provide the best quality of care. For more information please visit www.contenteddementiatrust. org. A lady called Laura Middlemiss is attempting to walk The North Downs Way from Guildford to Canterbury, covering approximately 15 miles a day in to support this great charity.

Do find out more about Laura’s walk and the wonderful charity she is supporting by going to her just giving page and maybe you might feel like making a donation. See www. justgiving.com/Laura-Middlemiss.

Music with a Twist Friday 29th April 8pm Juliet Borland and Rosemary Healing present an engaging

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musical programme including piano duets, cello and piano duos and humorous verses and sketches. It takes place at St Mary’s Church, Quarry Street, Guildford GU1 3TY. Wine and soft drinks will be served in the interval and all donations will be given to Headway Surrey.

Guildford Fringe Friday 29th April at 8pm The Hundred Watt Club and Guildford Fringe Theatre Company present a glorious evening of burlesque & cabaret! With hypnotising striptease from London’s darling Ruby Deshabille, fire & fury from bohemian vaudevillian Lou Safire, cheeky burlesque from Fey Au Lait and musical capers from ukulele toting cabaret rascal Tricity Vogue. The evening will be expertly held together by their host, vintage songstress Dawn Gracie. If you’re keen to join in with the spirit of the era, there will be prizes for those who make the effort to dress up in their best vintage glad-rags. The Hundred Watt Club takes place at The Electric Theatre, Onslow Street, Guildford. Tickets are £15 (£13 concessions) and are available online at www. electrictheatre.co.uk or by calling 01483 444789. Strictly over 18s only.

Surrey Union Point to Point Saturday 30th April Gates open 11am, £12 per adult, children under 16 free. Get set to gallop along to join horses and jockeys at Surrey’s premier Point to Point at Peper Harow for a great day of racing. Racing has a long tradition at Peper Harow, the first point to point was

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April 2016

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WALK - Tilford to Elstead This walk has an almost six mile initial section which has in it a strenuous climb but it will reward you with some spectacular views. The second section is much shorter and more or less flat. The description was submitted by Guildford Rambling Club who will be walking it in May (see guildfordramblingclub.org.uk). You are welcome to walk it with them.

The walk 1. Cross the bridge and, on the other side, take the footpath to the left. After a level start, climb a little to a T-junction with a lane. Turn left and the lane quickly ends and continues as a track. After 250 yards fork right on a red arrow permissive path. Follow this through, ignoring lefts and rights, to a road. Go straight across to continue forward along a track for about 1/3 mile to a T-junction. Here take the red arrow option left. Now walk ¼ mile to a busy road.

Turn right and walk uphill along the road for 300 yards to find a footpath left, at the side of the entrance to Keepers Cottage Stud. Follow this as it rises to pass Yew Tree Cottage and then the two Waverley Cottages and reaches another road.

2. Go straight across to join a bridleway and follow it left and then left again. Walk through to Crooksbury Hill car park. Now take the leftmost option from the back of the car park to start the long and increasingly steep climb up onto Crooksbury Hill. Stop at the viewpoint.

It will have been worth the effort!

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Afterwards, with your back to the view, head right, off of the other side of the top and steeply down. Trend a little left to reach a point where a path strikes off right and runs alongside a fence. Follow this through to reach a road directly opposite the start of footpath along a wide track. Follow this for about 1/3 mile to a T-junction with a wide track. Turn right and walk out into the Crooksbury Conservation Area. Now walk for about 3/4 mile along the wide track, at one point passing out of the conservation area then passing a few houses and eventually reaching a road.

3. The Donkey PH is on the other side of this road but you will not reach it because, some 30 yards before the road, at a 3-way signpost, is a footpath left. Take this and climb up to emerge at the end of a drive. Continue forward to exit through the gate of Three Barrows (adorned with eagles) onto Seale Road. Go straight over and along the path opposite to reach another road. Again go straight over, heading towards Broomfield Cottage but then turning left onto a footpath in a field. Cross the field half-right to a gate into a wood. Walk through the wood to reach the road that runs through the village of Gatwick.

Turn right, cross a stream and continue for about ¼ mile, passing the houses and going over a rise and then turning right into Attleford Lane. Some 350 yards along here, by the side of a house, take a footpath right. Pass a house and farm buildings and the track becomes a narrow path. Traverse a footbridge eventually arrive at road. Head right. Cross a bridge over a river and, 100 yards further on, turn right on a track. Emerge in a long field. Continue to exit it at the far end. The path brings you to the dead-end of Ham Lane. Follow this, to the right, for some 1/3 mile, to

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reach its end at the main road through Elstead. Turn right and walk along to the Woolpack PH, a café, shops and a little green where you could picnic.

4. After lunch, take the Churt/Thursley Road and walk to the church.

Here, turn right to walk along for about 1/2 mile to the end of Westbrook Hill. At the end of the road, take the track right, into an MOD area.

Follow this wide track for 1/4 mile to reach a 5-way junction. Of the two blue arrow options ahead, take the rightmost. Continue on across heathland, passing a house on the right-hand side, still following blue arrows and ignoring lefts and rights. The track swings close to the river (which is down to the right-hand side). Reach a barrier and, beyond it the angling lake at Stockbridge. Continue forward to the road by the Stockbridge parking area and turn right to walk along inside the hedge to Tilford and the start.

DISTANCE: 9.5 miles OS MAPS: Explorer 145 Guildford & Farnham, Godalming & Farnborough STARTING POINT: The parking area by the bridge in Tilford, between the cricket pitch and the river.

REFRESHMENTS: The Woolpack PH, The Green, Elstead GU8 6HD T: 01252 703106 www.woolpackelstead.co.uk The Barley Mow, Tilford GU10 2BU T: 01252 792205 www.thebarleymowtilford.com Map © Crown copyright 2016 Ordnance Survey. Media 008/16 Images: East Bridge, Tilford, a celebrated medieval stone bridge spanning the River Wey at Tilford © Colin Smith (left); The view from Crooksbury Hill by © Diane Sambrook (above).

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

April 2016

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Olympic Spirit Comes Alive with the

Godalming Run 2016 The Godalming Run, our local 2012 legacy event, is coming back to the town on Sunday 15th May 2016.

The run which is in aid of Sport Godalming’s Go for Gold Champions Fund is expected to be full of Olympic spirit as excitement builds for the Rio Games. Sport Godalming is calling on local people to register as all proceeds will benefit young athletes who aspire to compete at international level and in future Olympic Games. People are already signing up for the family friendly event which attracted more than 800 runners in 2015.

With a 1k Fun Run, challenging 5k and tough 10k route, there is a distance to suit everyone. The 1k Fun Run is open to people of all ages and it will begin at 10.30am, followed by the 5k and 10k at 11am. Runners can register online at www.godalmingrun.org before 6th May, and enjoy an early bird discount until 1st April, or they can sign up on the day. Anyone aged 11 years and over can enter the 5k and those aged 16 years and over can sign up for the 10k. All participants will receive a medal for taking part.

Sport Godalming is organising the run with the support of Charterhouse Club, Waverley Harriers and Godalming Town, Waverley Borough and Surrey County Councils. It is the fifth year of this popular London 2012 legacy event and to mark the occasion the Mayor of Godalming will be in attendance to present medals and winners’ prizes.

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Michael O’Sullivan, Vice Chairman of Sport Godalming, commented: “This year is set to be one of our best yet. The run grows yearon-year as people spread the word about how much fun it is to take part. As it is an Olympic year it is particularly significant for us. We held the first Godalming run in 2012 and the atmosphere was amazing, and we could feel the Olympic spirit come alive. Together we can create another super community event and show our support for local sporting talent.

“Once again the run is in aid of local aspiring Olympians who require funding to help them train and compete. With our support we can help them to fulfil their dreams and represent Great Britain one day. Hopefully people will be inspired to get active and take part - all in aid of a good cause!”

Register for the Godalming Run online at www.godalmingrun.org If you are interested in volunteering as a Godalming Run Marshal, please contact Sharon Carter via email at sharoncarter@ charterhouseclub.co.uk

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

held in the 1950’s by kind permission of the Baker family. Since then, it has become an annual event. The setting is stunning, with Pugin’s Victorian Gothic ruined chapel and Peper Harow Park making a romantic backdrop to the point-to-point course.

In addition to the racing there are great opportunities to browse the trade stands, enjoy a picnic and visit the fun fair with the children. The event is supported by local businesses including the award winning Hogs Back Brewery which will be hosting the bar and beer garden next to the trade stands with a great selection of beers. Access to the races is via the B3001 Elstead to Milford road; two minutes from the A3. The first of the six races starts at 2pm but gates open at 11am for families to set up their picnics, go shopping and explore the funfair. Public car park. £12 per adult and children under 16 are free. All enquiries to suhptp@gmail.com.

Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance This great organisation is appealing for local groups, clubs, societies and other organisations to book a talk about the life-saving work of the charity as it takes delivery of a new helicopter. The air ambulance has launched a new presentation including information about how the helicopters are tasked, the aircraft, types of missions, the crew, blood transfusions and night flying. If you would like to book a talk, please call Fundraising Support Assistant, Lucy Waterson on 01622 833833.

Bramley Music Saturday 30th April at 7pm Taking place in Holy Trinity Church, Bramley, you are invited to hear ‘Solid Joys and Lasting Treasure’. The Revd Adrian Leak conducts a brief, entertaining, and sometimes surprising tour of English Hymnody from 16-20th century. The talk is illustrated with many musical examples, provided by Josephine Leak. It somehow also brings in such unexpected guests as Ella Fitzgerald, Owen Brannigan and Binnie Hale!

The event is in support of the charity Surrey Young Carers, and tickets can be bought in advance from Robertson’s in Bramley High Street, or at the door. They are £10 (£5 under 18s and students) and a free glass of wine or soft drink will be available in the interval. Any enquiries, contact Stuart White on 01483 892645 or stuartwhite@waitrose.com.

Fun Dog Show Monday 2nd May This fun Bank Holiday Dog Show takes place at Manor Fruit Farm, Glaziers Lane, Normandy GU3 2BN. Entries open at 1pm with judging taking place at 2pm.There are all sorts of categories from best puppy (4months to 1 year), golden oldie (7 years and over) waggiest tail and most obedient plus many more. Entry is £2 per class. There will be trophies, rosettes and goodie bags. It is combined with St Marks Spring Fair, so should be a lot of fun. Any monies raised will go to St. Marks Church, Normandy.

Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair Friday 6th to Sunday 8th May For three days Petworth comes together to celebrate fine art and antiques, for which the market town is well known. At April 2016

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the pinnacle is The Petworth Park Antiques & Fine Art Fair, where over 40 specialist dealers are gathering from around the country to offer town and country furniture, antique and contemporary paintings and sculpture, jewellery, silver, lighting, glass, ceramics, oriental carpets, clocks, barometers and objets d’art. Tickets to the fair are £10 each from The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited and include complimentary access to Petworth House to see all its treasures, as well as free parking. www.petworthparkfair.com.

Barnett Hill Sunday 8th May 11.30am to 4.30pm Barnett Hill would like to welcome you to see its beautiful gardens for the National Gardens Scheme Open Gardens event. The NGS raises over £2.5 million annually for national nursing, caring and gardening charities. Go along to view their stunning 26 acre hill top estate filled with spring colour and diverse plantings or take a stroll along paths that wind down to the bluebell woods with views over the surrounding countryside. You could treat yourself to some new plants from their spring plant sale or enjoy a tea/coffee and cream tea on the terrace or in the Queen Anne style house. Admission is £5 per adult and children are free.

Onslow Village Garden Club Saturday 14th May 9.30 to 12.30pm The club are holding their 11th Annual Table Top Sale at Onslow Village Hall, Guildford, GU2 7QR. There will be stalls selling plants, cakes, books, jigsaw puzzles, bric-a-brac, wood-turning, jewellery and much more. There will also be a raffle and refreshments will be available. Enquiries/table bookings, please phone 01483 563421.

Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity Thursday 19th May This wonderful charity is organising a Charity Golf Day at Bramley Golf Club, near Guildford. The day will start with a bacon roll, tea coffee on arrival followed by an amazing round of golf and then a presentation dinner will complete the day. Enter a team of four for £400 or register an individual for £100. It will start at approx 9.30am and finish around 5.30pm. All money raised will go towards helping babies and children under 5 with Cerebral Palsy. Bramley is a delightful course with some great views over the Surrey Hills, check it

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PROFILE In Accord aligned! When it works, it creates ‘overtones’ (harmonics) that make the sound ‘ring’ (i.e. much fuller). It often also has the effect of making the back of your neck tingle! The extra coaching sessions enable members to learn individual vocal technique which helps them to blend with the rest to create that aspirational ‘one voice’ sound.

Most people have heard the term ‘a capella’ and will know it means ‘without accompaniment’. Those involved in a capella groups would say that it can be one of the most challenging but rewarding ways to sing. A capella singing can boast a long history as it was no doubt in existence before instruments were invented! The rich cultures of Africa, Australasia, Gospel and American Barbershop (to name but a few) have all played in to the influences of 21st Century a capella singing.

In Accord is a local ladies a capella group. Formed in 2004, it currently has 16 singers who mainly live in West Surrey.

Since its inception the group has developed its own identity with the vocal arrangements written by chorus members.

Arrangements are generally written for five parts – Bass, Baritone, Alto, Mezzo and Soprano. No single part always sings ‘the tune’ – this is shared between each part depending on the song (and often requests from members!). This means that all In Accord members must be able to hold a harmony without being distracted by the others!

The In Accord repertoire is varied and has mainly been developed through suggestions from members. Over the years numbers have also been included as a result of special requests from customers, such as for weddings and anniversaries. Songs often have words re-written to perform as a one-off surprise tailored for individuals or groups. The repertoire currently includes songs from The Beatles, James Bond film themes, Duffy, Queen, West End/Broadway shows and much more.

In addition to their weekly rehearsal, members enjoy (if that’s the right word!) regular half-day coaching sessions and an annual jaunt to Littlehampton where a full day’s coaching and plenty of socialising is enjoyed. At any one time In Accord has twenty songs in the main repertoire, and about ten Christmas numbers. Learning notes and words to this many songs is challenging as many members also have full time jobs and/or families to focus on.

The secret to a capella singing is to sing ‘as one voice’ by getting the intonation, timing, vowels and consonants all perfectly

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Over the twelve years In Accord performances have been many and varied. Most notable was probably at the House of Lords, but at the other extreme they’ve been known to ‘warm up’ in toilets with leaky roofs, so it’s not always so glamourous. Many performances include engagement with the audience. To announce to the audience at the start that they will be singing harmony by the end generally fills the room with a sense of fear and dread. However, they always join in and learn some harmony – generally smiling as they do so.

In Accord is currently not recruiting but will certainly do so in the future. Being a member requires commitment to learning the songs, attending rehearsals, coaching and performances. The ability to read music is helpful, but not required. If you’re interested in joining in the future, please feel free to make contact.

If you would like to book In Accord to perform (with or without audience participation) they would be happy to discuss any specific requirements or special requests. (If this includes arranging your favourite song, plenty of notice will be needed!)

FIND OUT MORE

Please contact Sue Lampard, the Musical Director: Tel: 01252 725685 Website: www.inaccordsingers.co.uk Email: inaccord-1@inaccordsingers.co.uk vantagepointmag.co.uk

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

out at www.bramleygolfclub.co.uk. For more information and to book your place, go to www.dvlcc.org.uk/events/6/golfday/ or contact Catherine Bristow on 01403 780444 or email Catherine.bristow@dvlcc.org.uk.

Guildford Cathedral Abseil Day Saturday 21st May Do you have a head for heights? Local Hospice Care charity Phyllis Tuckwell is looking for plucky fundraisers to abseil down Guildford Cathedral, to raise money for the work it does caring for those facing a serious progressive illness, such as cancer. Harness up and climb the 249 steps of the Cathedral’s spiral staircase, to the very top of the 160ft bell tower. Pause to enjoy the beautiful panoramic views of Guildford - before climbing over the top and abseiling down! There is a £30 registration fee to take part in the abseil, and Phyllis Tuckwell asks that you raise a minimum of £250 in sponsorship money.

You can sign up now by calling Phyllis Tuckwell’s Fundraising team on 01252 729446, or visiting www.pth.org.uk/abseilguildford-cathedral/ where you can also take a look at last year’s abseil, which was kindly filmed by NRG-Digital. And if you’re not too keen on heights, don’t worry! Phyllis Tuckwell has plenty of land-based fundraising ideas! Check out their website to see what’s on offer.

GTM1000 Son Et Lumiere Friday 10th and Saturday 11th June 6pm This event will be held at Great Tangley Manor, Wonersh Common, to mark the 1000th ‘birthday’ of this remarkable building. It will include a fantastic sound and light show where history will truly be ‘brought to life’ narrated by Michael Buerk.

The event will raise funds for the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also Topic of Cancer – a local charity raising awareness and funds for essential research into cancer immunotherapy. To make this event really work for the benefit of the chosen charities, they would like the local community to get involved. Volunteers will be needed both before and on the day

BUSINESS CARDS

and can expect special benefits at the event. Are you a musician, seamstress or actor? If you have a special skill or talent that you think would add to the occasion, they would like to hear from you. They are looking for local artisans who might want to sell their crafts at the event. Own or work for a local business? They are offering sponsorship packages and looking for donations of goods and services and raffle prizes. Visit www.gtm1000.org for all the details on getting involved or contact the organisers at info@gtm1000.org.

George Abbot School 50th Anniversary Reunion Saturday 11th June 1pm to 6pm Ex Pupils (and Teachers) of the School who left in the mid 60’s are getting together for a 50 year- ish Reunion. Up to 100 people are expected (Boys and Girls) and they would like many more who may realise their connection to that time and place after reading this. The current Head Teacher, Deborah Cooper, together with her staff are showing visitors round the School on Friday June 10th starting at 1.45pm in the Elmslie main reception area. The visit will conclude at 3.15pm. A general get together for everyone to meet old friends will take place at the Guildford Rugby Club (GU7 3DH) on the A3100 Guildford to Godalming road - lots of memorabilia will be on display and prospective visitors are encouraged to bring anything they have to add to the collection! There is ample free parking and food and drink will be available. Contact Richard Anscombe (ranscombe@ntlworld.com) or Peter Cobbett (petercobbett514@btinternet.com) in the 1st instance so that numbers can be assessed and the School notified.

FIND OUT MORE

Visit www.vantagepointmag.co.uk to see Jottings from our other areas online. To send in an entry, go online or email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk.

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COMPETITIONS

Please enter online unless otherwise stated. Postal entries can be sent to us at the address given on page three.

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO THE SURREY COUNTY SHOW The best family day out this year!

Enjoy spectacular Grand Arena entertainment including a world famous motorcycle stunt team, Grand Prix show jumping and the Red Devils parachute team. Hundreds of cows, pigs, sheep and horses, acres of shopping and live music. Plus terrier racing, Miller’s Ark petting farm, donkey rides, Punch & Judy, a real milking parlour, rural crafts, food and drink and much, much more!

The Surrey County Show is on Spring Bank Holiday Monday 30th May at Stoke Park, Guildford. Find out more at www.surreycountyshow.co.uk.

To win one of three family tickets, please answer the following question: Q: Which parachute team will be appearing?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th April 2016.

WIN TICKETS TO WATTS GALLERY ARTISTS’ VILLAGE AND A GUIDE BOOK

Watts Gallery - Artists’ Village is a unique Arts & Crafts gem nestled in the Surrey Hills. Discover Victorian paintings and sculpture in the historic Watts Gallery, before treating yourself to lunch or a cream tea in the Tea Shop. Stroll to the nearby Grade-I listed Watts Chapel, taking in the beautiful woodlands and grounds, before finding out more about the lives of our founders G F and Mary Watts in the newly opened Watts Studios. Discover art for sale in the Watts Contemporary exhibition in the Pottery Building along with a wide selection of gifts, books and homewares in the Shop. Opening times: Tuesday – Sunday 11am-5pm.

Open throughout the Easter Holidays (including Bank Holiday Monday).

To win two complimentary tickets to the Artists’ Village and a copy of the new Artists’ Village Guide Book, please answert he following question: Q: Who founded the Watts Gallery?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th April 2016.

WIN DINNER FOR TWO AND PROSECCO AT THE FRENSHAM POND HOTEL The Best Western Frensham Pond Hotel, near Farnham, Surrey, provides great accommodation in what was a 15th century house. It is set in one of the country’s most picturesque and peaceful locations, overlooking Frensham Great Pond. Recently upgraded to 4 stars by the AA, it is somewhewre you can relax in a truly rural setting.

Built as a private residence for the Bishop of Winchester in the 15th century and a source of hospitality since the 1700’s, the hotel combines a unique blend of English country house charm coupled with all the advantages of modern convenience.

With panoramic views of the Pond, the restaurant offers superlative service and excellent food served in comfortable surroundings. The extensive Watermark menu provides a varied and imaginative choice to all diners accompanied by a reasonably priced wine list to complement the meal.

To win dinner for two with a bottle of prosecco, please answer this question: Q: The Frensham Pond Hotel was originally built as a private residence for who?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th April 2016.

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

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