VantagePoint March 2018 - Farnham & Villages

• VANTAGEPOINTMAG.CO.UK

FARNHAM & VILLAGES • MARCH 2018 •

VANTAGEPOINT YOU R BES T VI EW O F W H AT ’S G O ING O N LO CALLY

Outdoor adventures with

YOUR DOG

WIN...

SOME GREAT PRIZES INCLUDING:

• TICKETS TO THE

SPRING GARDEN SHOW AT LOSELEY

Inside: • FARNHAM TOWN COUNCIL • MOTORING UPDATE • DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL • THE HEDGEHOGS

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

Sales: 01252 415142 Editorial: 01483 421601 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 publish five magazines which are delivered monthly by Royal Mail to over 119,000 homes across Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex, giving us the largest local circulation in the areas we cover. Each of our magazines is specifically localised and tailored to its geographical area and hand-delivered by your postman.

Please visit www.vantagepointmag.co.uk or contact any of us with the details on page 6 if you need any more information.

CONNECTSURREY

Media supporter of:

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3 VANTAGEPOINT 08/02/2018 09:31

• CONTENTS

Garden Teak Ad 71 x 185 V2_stage 5 12/03/2012 19:39 Page 1

20

14

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6 The Editor's Note

Plus contact information

8 Devil's Punch Bowl and the Tunnel Phil Kemp tours the old A3 site with the lead ranger 14 Outdoor adventures with your dog Walking off the lead advice and places to walk

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4 VANTAGEPOINT

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18 Gardening Sensational sweet peas 20 Food & Drink

Easter baking

22 Walk

Beyond the Devil's Punch Bowl

25 Farnham Town Council Spring news 28 Profile

The Hedgehogs

30 Jottings

Your local community noticeboard

44 Business Cards

Small ads for trades and services

46 Competitions

Win one of three great prizes

VANTAGEPOINT 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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• THE EDITOR'S NOTE It really is so nice to hear from our readers. Following our recent article extolling the virtues of walking, we received a lovely email from Martyn Sandford: "Thank you for including the excellent article about walking in January's Vantage Point. I was inspired to give it a go! I enjoy walks away from town from time to time but the article prompted me to try walking more for local journeys. What has surprised me is how much closer places are than I had expected. It seems clear that leaving the car at home sometimes for these local journeys provides free exercise at little extra cost of time and is a saving in the pocket too! I have enjoyed the fresh air and exercise and would encourage others to give it a try."

We also received this from The Arts Society Farnham Evening: "Mega thanks for inserting the details about our Quiz. Wow. A most welcome surprise. We remain so grateful for this wonderful service you provide. You have no idea how much this means. We had our best turnout with visitors at our last talk and we know that this is mainly due to our inserts in your great magazine".

Finally, a lucky competition winner. Graeme Blackmore wrote: "I was the lucky winner of the competition to win a night in the White Horse at Dorking. I just wanted to let you know I went on Monday night with my girlfriend and we had a wonderful time.

I have driven through Dorking many times but we had time to look around the antiques shops which we both enjoy and then had a lovely dinner in the evening. The bedroom was massive and we both really enjoyed our stay. Keep up the good work with the magazine. I look forward to seeing what’s on in the local area and will keep trying my luck in the competitions".

CONTACTS Marcus Atkins, Sales Director 01483 420173 / 07702 132157 marcus@vantagepublishing.co.uk Jesse Boon, Sales 01483 418141 / 07542 710508 jesse@vantagepublishing.co.uk Lauren Broughton, Sales 01483 661088 / 07852 041227 lauren@vantagepublishing.co.uk Claire Taylor, Sales 01483 661089 / 07787 157263 claire@vantagepublishing.co.uk Nick & Angie Crisell, Jottings 01483 421601 jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk

THIS EDITION

FARNHAM & VILLAGES DELIVERED TO 22,411 LOCAL HOMES

We really do appreciate the feedback, and are always pleased to hear from you. You can get in touch with me with the contact details given below.

Stefan Reynolds, Editor & Publisher 01483 421601 stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk Like us on Facebook at Vantage Point Magazine

WITH THANKS TO...

@VantageLocalMag

For more articles, please visit it us online at

Contributors: Charlie Hellewell, Phil Kemp, Beth Otway

www.vantagepointmag.co.uk

Print: Buxton Press

Next Copy Date: 5th March 2018 6 VANTAGEPOINT

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VANTAGEPOINT

7

Devil’s Punch bowl and The Tunnel Nature now flourishes where traffic once flowed

Phil Kemp tours the route of the old A3 at Hindhead with lead ranger Matt Cusack THE DEVIL’S Punch Bowl was once separated from Hindhead Common by the traffic-clogged A3 trunk road that connects London with Portsmouth on the south coast.

The dangerously overladen Hindhead stretch of road was, by necessity, narrowed from a two-lane highway to a singlelane carriageway in order to squeeze through the steep contours of the deep natural amphitheatre on one side and Gibbet Hill rising to almost 900 feet on the other.

After 30 years of campaigning, a 1.1-mile-long twin tunnel was excavated in a £370 million project to remove the horrendous bottleneck motorists had suffered for years.

There were of course other major benefits too. Nature was at last able to fully reclaim its rightful place in this beautiful natural landscape, and Hindhead residents were at last able to enjoy their now traffic-free village, the highest in Surrey. The tunnel opened in 2011 allowing for the old A3 road around the Punch Bowl to at last be removed.

And who better to introduce me to this remarkable opportunity to reinstate this natural site than Matt Cusack, lead ranger for the National Trust.

“I’ve been here since 1993 and I’ve got a real affection for this site,” Matt said with a genuine passion in his voice.

We were standing at the popular viewpoint near the café with its spectacular views over the Punch Bowl below, and

8 VANTAGEPOINT

clearly visible in the distance you can see the regenerated route of the old A3.

“As a team of rangers we manage the heathland we can see in front of us, and this directly benefits the flora, fauna and insect life – and of course our three rare birds: the Dartford warbler, the woodlark and the nightjar. If left to its own devices the heathland would just scrub up and you’d eventually end up with woodland, which is not their preferred habitat. So as rangers we are out there throughout the winter months with volunteer groups and contractors, trying to keep these open spaces open.”

We turned to walk along the ridge towards the old road. Matt continued to set the scene.

“The old A3 is starting to grass up. We’ve had a lot of difficulty in trying to get the Images clockwise from top left (Phil Kemp unless stated): Walks around the Punch Bowl; Route of the old A3; The rare Silver-studded Blue butterfly (Matt Bramwich); Hindhead Common ponies; The Dartford warbler(National Trust – Martin Bennett).

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VANTAGEPOINT

9

DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL AND THE TUNNEL

Above from left: Route of the old A3; Matt Cusack, lead ranger. Bottom right: The twin-tunnels nearing completion in 2011 (PK).

heather to regenerate up there. We’ve been doing some scrapes where basically we scrape off the top soil, which has grass and tree seed in it, and this will eventually benefit the invertebrates and insects, as well as nesting birds as the heathland returns.

“What we don’t want is the very green scar that we’ve got at the minute up there – to me that still looks the ghost of the road if you like, and so we are trying to cover that up the best we can. We intend to formalise the path that runs along the old route to keep people off the soil, and add a bit of surface dressing to make it easier to walk along. Then they can easily walk up the original historic Portsmouth route and loop back along the old A3.”

I felt that getting a bit of an historical perspective would help – whilst deliberately avoiding the temptation of tales recounting a popularised history of the place, some a lot taller and more frivolous than others I’ve no doubt.

“There was a turnpike up there above the old A3 back in the 1700s, the original London to Portsmouth Road,” said Matt, pointing up to the top of Gibbet Hill. “As you can imagine, getting horses and carriages up to the pinnacle of the hill was just too much for them. So, in the 1820s it was benched into the hillside lower down by men with spades and shovels, a real engineering feat of its day. This was eventually of course to become the notorious trunk road of the A3.”

We had reached what was a very muddy track that runs along the full length of the old route, sodden from a very wet January. I wished with hindsight that I’d brought my wellies along, but damp muddy feet make for more of a oneness with nature. Or at least I was trying to convince myself of that romantic notion. I could see why Matt and his team wanted to create a single maintained path to protect the surface soil on which they are trying to re-establish the heathland. There were multiple paths criss-crossing everywhere, unwittingly created by walkers keen to explore the new route.

10 VANTAGEPOINT

I asked Matt how the tunnel, clearly the most expensive option of various routes being considered at the time, had come about.

“There were three options, one being the tunnel of course. But there was also a red route, which would have needed a viaduct across the northern end of the Punch Bowl, and a yellow route which would have been a big cutting pretty much starting where the tunnel is now but heading up and across Hindhead Common. Both of those would have been visually appalling – and as environmentally bad for the location as the existing road. The tunnel was hugely expensive, but I think with the experience of Twyford Down, where they had a similarly big cutting resulting in hugely disruptive protests, it probably would have cost more in downtime than it would to build the tunnel.

“We had no downtime as there were no protesters here at all. And what a fantastic thing it was to take a road completely out of the environment. Normally you would leave a road in and build another, making for a net gain of roads.”

Another hugely positive outcome in removing the A3 from the Punch Bowl has been the award of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status by Natural England, six years after the tunnel opened. Matt regards the status of SSSI as ‘the gold standard’, and rightly so. An SSSI from Natural England brings with it protection in law for wildlife and importantly, geology too.

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VANTAGEPOINT 11

DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL AND THE TUNNEL “We’ve always had some lovely lichens here, some quite rare, and these are now spreading up towards the old A3 route – which is a sign at last of good air quality, and something walkers and school groups can enjoy. Alan, our education officer, leads visits from local schools and some as far away as London. He has been working on a tracker backpack for the school children which has activity sheets and identification guides inside.”

Matt, who has lived in the Punch Bowl for some years, recounted how the spring water they used to drink became contaminated after the A3 had been resurfaced, and oil from the tarmac had leached down into the water table. “We’ve got rid of all of that pollution, including the air and noise pollution. Now the traffic has gone, the churr, the lovely churr of the nightjar, can again be heard as it happily nests in the southern end of the Punch Bowl.”

12 VANTAGEPOINT

The largest ever survey of over 8,000 walking enthusiasts for their best walks had The Devil’s Punch Bowl rated in the top 100. At the time of writing, ITV’s Britain’s Favourite Walks hadn’t yet revealed the UK’s top walk – but if you’ve not ventured to this remarkable National Trust property add it to your bucket list. It’s free to visit – and you’ll not be disappointed.

Phil Kemp is a Godalming-based writer and photographer. www.weyriver.co.uk.

FIND OUT MORE National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hindhead-commons-and-the-devils-punch-bowl Natural England www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england

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VANTAGEPOINT 13

Outdoor adventures with

YOUR DOG

Walking your dog outdoors and off the lead is a joy, but does come with responsibilities, says Stefan Reynolds THERE IS always great excitement when you get a new dog, more so if it is your first. Those of us who have been through it also know that it is a big learning process, both for the dog and its owner, and it can be quite tough at times, especially in the first few weeks and more so if you get a puppy.

Like anything new, it all gets a bit easier as the puppy grows and is able to get out for longer. When young, they should get five minutes exercise per month of age (up to twice a day) until the puppy is fully grown when they can go out for much longer. To avoid frustration and offer more interest, it is important that puppies and dogs go out for exercise every day somewhere safe and secure. Sticking to your garden, however large, is no substitute for exploring new places. It is also helpful for socialising with other dogs and people.

However, once off the lead, you do need to be very careful because puppies and dogs are inquisitive things and are always prone to wandering off, as well as wanting to play with other dogs and children, some of whom may not be so playful. Before you go anywhere new and open, you must make sure your dog is trained to recall so that you are confident that it will return to you when called. You need

14 VANTAGEPOINT

also to try and find places to walk which offer the safety and security you need.

Even now, I am always wary of walking my dog off the lead anywhere close to a road.

If Humphrey sees a deer, or even picks up their scent, he will take off immediately and I am sure he would be oblivious to any road that might be in the way. We are, however, very fortunate to live in an area which has so much countryside and does offer places to walk that are fairly safe and secure, although as dog owners we always need to be vigilant wherever we are.

If you can’t walk your dog off the lead for various reasons, there are some places where you can take them where they will be completely safe and in a controlled environment. For instance, my sister has just started ‘Life off the Lead’ and has a field available for hire near Fernhurst in Sussex which is totally enclosed with 6-foot high deer fencing. It also has privacy

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www.melodycare.co.uk VANTAGEPOINT 15

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WITH YOUR DOG

screening and wooden base boards to stop the smaller dogs from breaking out, and is the perfect place to train your dog, walk nervous dogs, avoid other dogs or those recovering from injury (www.lifeoffthelead.com).

Are you taking the lead?

According to the RSPCA, there are now more than 8.5 million canines in the UK and if you’re a dog owner you probably don’t need us to tell you about the health benefits they bring. Walking your dog gets you outside in all weather, no excuses, and keeps you fit and healthy. But we’ve all been on walks that have been spoiled by dog mess – either on the path or decorating gates and trees in plastic bags. The people who let this happen are in the minority and they’re giving dog owners a bad name.

Over the last couple of years, South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) has been working with dog owners in the National Park with their ‘Take the Lead’ campaign which uses humour to spread the word about responsible dog ownership.

“We’re not here to tell people off but to celebrate the great dog walkers,” says SDNPA campaign lead Charlie Hellewell.

“We want to show the positive actions that owners can take – including encouraging your fellow dog walkers to do the right thing.”

Uncontrolled dogs are a big problem for other people, livestock and wildlife so this is one of the key messages in their animation and ‘Canine Confessions’ films on their website (www.southdowns.gov.uk/takethelead). Using social media to spread these messages they reached over half a million people during the 2017 ground nesting bird season (March to September).

16 VANTAGEPOINT

”

We want to show the positive actions that owners can take – including encouraging your fellow dog walkers to do the right thing...

In 2018 they will be trialling a ‘Dog Ambassador’ scheme as part of the 'Take the Lead' campaign. Volunteer dog ambassadors have been recruited at popular dog walking sites to encourage others to pick up after their dogs, to stick to the paths during ground nesting bird season and to keep their dogs on a lead near livestock.

The trial is happening on key heathland sites within the National Park as part of the Heritage Lottery Funded 'Heathlands Reunited' project and, if successful, they hope it might be used at other popular dog walking sites in the future.

How to be a responsible dog owner: • Make sure your dog has good recall • Keep dogs on a lead near livestock • Bag and bin your poo, any public bin will do • Protect ground nesting birds. Stick to the paths, especially 1st March to 15th September • Do not enter military training areas when the red flags are flying.

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OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WITH YOUR DOG

Good places to walk As mentioned earlier, there are some great places to walk locally. Here are a few in the wider local area that have been recommended by VantagePoint readers: Blackheath, near Wonersh – lovely sandy tracks here, always dry; Elstead/Royal/Thursley commons – an amazing and safe expanse with heathland, sand, metalled paths, boardwalks, ponds and more! Can be very wet in places; Farnham Park – more great views, lots of lovely grass, café and toilets; Frensham Little Pond – ideal for dogs that like a swim, wet in places; Godalming to Guildford towpath – cool along the river for dogs on hot days; Hankley Common, near Thursley – very safe, lots of varied terrain, great views and fairly dry but watch out for the military who may be training there; Holmbury St. Mary – loads of paths around Holmbury Hill here, dry underfoot too. Two dog friendly pubs; Leith Hill - loads of tracks here. Tower at top has lovely coffee and snacks.

Newlands Corner – unbeatable for views, parking and two dog friendly cafés, one open air; Petworth Park – very safe and fabulous, free-range deer may be an issue. Parking charges apply unless National Trust members; St Martha’s and Pewley Downs, Guildford – fabulous views, fairly dry underfoot; The Hurtwood, near Peaslake – a great expanse of woodland with stunning views at Pitch Hill; The Mount, Guildford – quite dry, more terrific views; Whitmoor Common, north of Guildford – beautiful expanses of heathland, woodland, grassland, ponds and streams.

The good news for dog walkers is that many pubs around here, especially those in the countryside, are completely dog friendly. Nowadays, more and more of them will have dog bowls scattered around the place, a big jar of dog treats on the bar and sometimes even dog beds or cushions lying

in corners for our four-legged friends. If you are planning to eat, it is wise to check first as some pubs will not allow dogs into their restaurants, and the number of tables in the bar may well be limited and in demand.

Owning a dog is a great joy but also comes with a lot of responsibility when you venture out with it, especially when off the lead. But by following just a few basic guidelines, you can make your outdoor adventures a pleasure for everyone.

If your dog goes missing VantagePoint's Claire Taylor offers her advice This is every owner’s nightmare, says Claire Taylor. The first thing you must do is alert your local dog warden, as well as all the vets and kennels in the area. If your dog is micro-chipped, alert the microchip company that your dog is missing. Social media is a great way to get the word spread fast; make sure you have photos and share them on as many forms of social media as possible.

Two websites where you can register your dog as lost and are interactive so people can post on the forum about any possible sightings, locations and times are www.doglost.co.uk and www.critteralert.com.

Dogs tend to return to the place they were lost in so make sure you keep going back and checking. Place a bed or blanket in the area they were lost, something that smells familiar to them, as sometimes the noise and panic will scare them and they might return after dark when everything has calmed down a bit.

Try to get some posters printed so those not as active online will be able to see a picture of the dog and the number they need to call to reunite it with its family. Trust me, people will go above and beyond to help playful pooches get reunited with their owners. I know that first-hand!

March 2018

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VANTAGEPOINT 17

Sensational Sweet Peas • GARDENING

With Beth Otway sweet pea cultivars. Lathyrus odoratus 'Naomi Nazareth' has featured in my Sweet Pea Trials over the past few years, where she has performed and flowered both wonderfully and consistently. Which has been, well, simply marvellous to see! Lathyrus odoratus 'Naomi Nazareth' is a Spencer sweet pea, which produces long stemmed, sweetly scented, large sized, pale, dusky blue coloured, frilly flowers.

Another of my favourite sweet peas is Lathyrus odoratus 'Betty Maiden'. This absolutely charming Spencer sweet pea cultivar produces ivory-coloured flowers, which are distinguished by a mauve picotee edge and matching veining and markings across the flower's petals. As the flowers age these markings deepen and become more pronounced, taking on an iridescent sheen.

The blooms of Lathyrus odoratus 'Betty Maiden' produce a very sensual, musky, yet sweet fragrance, which offers the aromatic notes of rose, hyacinth, clover, and hay. Lathyrus odoratus 'Betty Maiden' is a beautiful sweet pea, which is very floriferous; this is also one of the earliest sweet pea cultivars to flower.

I JUST love growing sweet peas. I love to be enveloped by the sweet pea flower's powerful and sensuous scent, while I'm encompassed by the flower's beauty and charm. Eternal bliss! Everyone should have at least a few moments of pause and reflection, to recharge with their favourite sweet pea blooms each and every summer.

March is a great time to sow sweet peas.

Indeed, during my 2017 Sweet Pea Trial, the plants that were sown in the middle of March produced more flowers than the plants that were sown during October, November and February, which were the other sowing times trialled. It's often said that October is the best time to sow sweet peas, yet I disagree and my trials prove otherwise, so please don't think you've missed the boat. Get ready to sow sweet pea seeds this month, for decadently fragrant blooms all summer long!

If you wish for floriferous sweet pea plants, that will provide you with an abundance of blooms, then it's important that you purchase seeds of the best performing

18 VANTAGEPOINT

Lathyrus odoratus 'Aphrodite' is a very vigorous, pure white flowered sweet pea cultivar. It is another floriferous cultivar, which produces long stems that are decorated with a great number of blooms. It's not unusual to harvest Lathyrus odoratus 'Aphrodite' flowering stems that feature six or seven flowers per stem, and particularly good plants can produce ten or more flowers per stem.

Above top left: Lathyrus odoratus 'Naomi Nazareth'.

Above: Lathyrus odoratus 'Aphrodite'. Right: Lathyrus odoratus 'Betty Maiden' (images: Beth Otway).

FIND OUT MORE To read my Sweet Pea Trial reports, my various Compost Trial reports, for gardening advice for the month ahead, information on orchids, terrariums, and much more besides, visit my website at www.pumpkinbeth.com.

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Pilgrim Wood is an elegant, 1920s country house situated in three acres of grounds in an area of outstanding natural beauty close to the North Downs Way. Our elevated position provides remarkable views of the surrounding countryside, yet we are conveniently located only two miles from the centre of Guildford.

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We encourage our residents to partake in an active and varied lifestyle, including festive and social events, regular outings, and a daily program of group activities.

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March 2018

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VANTAGEPOINT 19

Chocolate and Salted Caramel Crunch Ingredients: For the cake 100g dark chocolate (72%), finely chopped; 200g plain flour; 1½ tsp baking powder; ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda; 40g dark cocoa powder, sifted; 125g unsalted butter, plus extra to grease; 150g caster sugar; 150g light muscovado sugar; 3 Clarence Court Braddock Whites duck eggs; 125g natural yoghurt.

For the salted caramel sauce and crunchy topping 175g caster sugar; 2 tbsp liquid glucose; 150ml double cream; 50g cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes; 100g cornflakes; ½ tsp sea salt.

For the buttercream 50g dark chocolate 72%, finely chopped; 150g unsalted butter, at room temp; ¼ tsp sea salt; 500g icing sugar, sifted.

For the cake 2 tbsp cocoa powder; 180g full fat cream cheese.

Serves 18

1. Heat the oven to 180°C , 160°C fan, gas 4. Grease 2 x 20cm cake tins and line with baking parchment.

2. For the cake; put the chocolate in a bowl and heat in the microwave for around 30 seconds, (keep heating in short bursts if needed), then mix until just combined. In a jug mix 175ml of lukewarm water with the yoghurt, mix around a third of this into the melted chocolate, once combined mix in the rest until smooth. In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and cocoa powder.

3. Cream the butter and sugars until creamy and pale. Gradually beat in the eggs and then gently fold in the flour mixture. Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the cake batter. Divide between the cake tins, smooth the top then bake for 25–30 mins.

Allow to cool for 20 mins in the tins then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. For the salted caramel sauce and crunchy topping; (have a baking tray lined with baking parchment ready) put the sugar, liquid glucose and 2 tbsp of water in a medium heavy based saucepan over a low heat to melt. Do not stir the mixture; tilt the pan to help combine and, if required, use a wet pastry brush to help push down any undissolved sugar into the mixture. Meanwhile, put the cream in a separate small saucepan and set over a low heat until warm.

20 VANTAGEPOINT

5. Turn up the heat to medium high and bubble the mixture until it’s golden caramel coloured (3–4 mins). Take off the heat then add 3½ tbsp of the cream, once it stops bubbling add the butter and mix until smooth. Carefully ladle a third of this mixture into the pan with the cream. Add the cornflakes to the caramel mixture in the larger pan and fold with a spatula until evenly coated, spoon into 6 large or 12 small rounds and put on the baking tray to set and cool (around 20 mins).

6. Put the pan with the salted caramel sauce back on the heat, add the salt and mix until smooth and glossy. Set aside to cool.

7. For the buttercream; pour 2 tbsp of boiling water over the dark chocolate, put in the microwave for a few seconds then mix until smooth; leave to cool.

Beat the butter and salt in a mixing bowl until soft, add the icing sugar and cocoa powder then beat until smooth. Mix in the melted chocolate then gently mix in the cream cheese.

8. To assemble; put one of the sponges on a serving plate, using a palette knife spread a layer of the buttercream over the top then set the other sponge on top. Spread the rest of the buttercream on top and on the sides of the cake in an even layer. Set the cornflake rounds on top of the cake around the edges then pour the salted caramel sauce into the middle and between the cornflake rounds.

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Easter Baking FOOD & DRINK •

Banana Split Cake Ingredients: 1 tsp (1 sachet) bicarbonate of soda; 130ml milk 400g plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 3 large very ripe bananas 225g unsalted butter, plus extra to grease 250g golden caster sugar 4 Clarence Court Burford Brown eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 150g strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped 4 tbsp icing sugar 700ml double cream Dr. Oetker Bright and Bold Sprinkles 25g (1oz) dark chocolate chunks 25g chopped toasted hazelnuts 6 cherries maraschino or fresh.

Serves 16–18

1. Heat the oven to 180°C , 160°C fan, gas 4. Grease 2 x 18cm cake tins and double line the bases and sides with baking parchment.

2. Heat the milk in a pan until very hot (but not boiling) then stir in the bicarbonate of soda, leave to cool. Mix the flour and baking powder in a bowl and leave aside. Mash the bananas with a potato masher until smooth, set aside.

3. Beat the butter and the sugar until creamy and pale. Gradually beat in the eggs (add a little of the flour if it looks like it might curdle). Add the vanilla extract then fold in three quarters of the flour.

Fold in the milk mixture and mashed banana in two additions, followed by the remaining flour.

Divide between the two cake tins, flatten the top and put on the lower shelf in the oven, bake for 35–40 mins or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Once cool enough to handle remove from the tins to a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Meanwhile, blend the strawberries in the food processor until smooth, press through a sieve to get the juice and discard the pulp in the sieve.

5. Cut the sponges in half lengthways. Whisk 300ml of the cream and half of the icing sugar March 2018

with the strawberry juice until just softly peaking.

Whisk the remaining cream in a separate bowl until just thick enough to spread.

6. Set one of the sponges on a serving plate, spread with a third of the strawberry cream with a spatula, top with another sponge and repeat with the remaining sponges, leaving the top plain.

Cover the top and loosely cover the sides with the plain whipped cream (reserving around 5 tbsp to pipe the swirls on top). Sprinkle the 100s and 1000s around the bottom edges of the cake.

7. Put the remaining whipped cream in a small piping bag fitted with a medium open star nozzle and pipe around 12 swirls along the top edge, leaving a little space between each one.

8. Put the chocolate chunks in a bowl with the remaining 75ml of cream, put in the microwave for a few seconds to melt the chocolate then mix until smooth. Allow to cool slightly then spoon or pipe into the spaces between the cream swirls to create drips down the sides. Sprinkle the chopped nuts on top and set the cherries into alternate cream swirls. Leave somewhere cool to set for 30 mins.

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VANTAGEPOINT 21

Beyond the Devil's Punch Bowl DEVIL'S PUNCH BOWL: HIGH ROAD AND PINE VALLEY This walk takes you first round one rim of the Devil’s Punch Bowl in Surrey giving you a dramatic high view into the depths that made it a subject of such superstition in the past. It then makes a short excursion to a hamlet and gentler farming country before returning through the centre of the Punch Bowl to show you its gentler qualities. This walk is perfect at all times of the year, including winter.

There are no steep climbs – just one slow ascent at the very end – and no stiles. The ground is mainly sandy and dry, occasionally stony, making the walk generally pleasant underfoot so any sensible footwear is fine. There are no nettles, so shorts are ok. If you bring your dog, be sure to have a lead handy because of the Highland cattle that roam freely. Taken from www.fancyfreewalks.org.

• THE WALK

point your feet on a new path

1. From the back of the car park, go past the noticeboard and the Surrey Hills pole to the famous viewpoint over the Devil’s Punch Bowl. Turn left along the wide level high path, passing some tall pines.

After about 700m with fine views, you reach oderate walking a junction of tracks near a prominent relay mast, Date written: 19-jun-2011 by the small Highcombe Edge car park. Bear slightly right, through a gate or over a grid, passing a Date revised: 3-feb-2016 noticeboard. In 100m fork right on a narrower path that rejoins the main track while giving better views of the Punch Bowl. A little further on, by a marker post, fork right with the main track but immediately feedback: feedback@fancyfreewalks.org fork right again on a lesser path that leads to a seat or distributing this document exactly as and a memorial to the bequeathal of Highcombe on main webpage. r editing.

See Principles Copse to the National Trust. Continue onwards to rejoin the main track. Highcombe Copse is one of several pieces of donated land that make up the Devil’s Punch Bowl. Historically, the Punch Bowl was regarded as a dark malevolent province of

of you at n the oa ore ch This

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guide 22 VANTAGEPOINT e).

smugglers and deadly spirits and few people dared to set foot there.

2. After nearly 800m, just after entering trees, at a post with arrows, the main track curves sharply right to descend into the Punch Bowl. Leave the track here by continuing straight ahead on a broad path, always keeping to the right. In 150m, just before the path narrows and begins to descend, turn right on a wide path, which may be muddy at first. The path bends left, winds a bit and descends through a coppice. At the end, go through a small wooden gate to arrive at the corner of a grassy pasture.

Immediately turn right on a wide sandy path. (It is also possible to take a clockwise route, which may be drier, by keeping straight on, turning right at the first corner and eventually right on a sunken path.)

Your path curves left at the first corner, zigzags right left at the start of the second pasture. At the far end, turn left to stay next to the field, avoiding a steep ravine on your right. At the next corner, by a large metal gate, turn right and sharp right again on a wide sunken track.

3. The track winds downhill. It comes down to a spectacular section with a stream and a gully on your right with a rich collection of ferns. The track fords the stream which you cross via a footbridge.

Avoid a stile and footpath to your left and stay on the wide track which curves away right, between banks. Where a cottage comes into view, ignore a bridleway right (really a bypass to save horses the sharp incline) and go steeply up, ignoring a track on the right by the cottage, soon coming to the little settlement of Lower Highfield and a 4-way fingerpost 4. Turn right on a very rough tarmac track that will soon deteriorate. After 650m, the track forks by a National Trust sign. Take the right fork, over a grid or through a gate. Less than 100m further, the track forks again, at a marker post. This time take the left fork. Go straight ahead over a fingerposted crossing track on a stony path that rises towards the rim of the Punch Bowl. Near the top, nearly 250m from the crossing, look for a green metal one-bar barrier.

Turn right here. (Some walkers like to stay on the rim and return via the new path long the old ‘A3’ road, adding a little to the length.) The next stretch takes you down into the Punch Bowl and shows you

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Hindhead Common and the Devil's Punchbowl © Copyright National Trust

its wondrous beauty and variety. You will see that, contrary to the superstitions of the past, this is not a deadly morass but an enchanting mélange of sunlit glades, meadows, light woodland and rare plants, trees and birds.

5. The path curves left down into the valley. On a sunny late afternoon, the green of the valley and the heather and woodland around it make an unforgettable picture. The path winds right, goes over a small ridge and runs alongside a meadow in the right. Sometimes you used to see those gentle highland cattle in this area, as documented in the lettering carved in the bench seat. At a T-junction with a track, turn left over a cattle grid (or through the adjoining gate), avoiding the driveway on the left. The track curves left, descends into a dell and shortly passes Gnome Cottage on the left that somehow seems so aptly-named.

6. Ignore a wooden five-bar gate on the right that leads into Two Oaks Field and continue to the next junction by a bench and a fingerpost. Turn sharp right here. The track leads to a picturesque house, previously a youth hostel, with its front meadow on the left. Keep right here between stumps on a woodland path. The path soon descends via steps with wooden rails to a bridge over a brook. It then

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goes up the other side on a sunken path. At the top, go through a swing gate and turn left on a wider path 7. This broad path winds left around a forested area of pines, most of which are currently harvested with only stumps remaining. Here, at a junction, ignore a narrow path right and continue straight on, past a pedestrian path sign and through a wooden gate.

The path runs for some distance through beautiful beechwoods. Later it begins to rise and this section can be a bit long and arduous except for knowing that this is the last bit. On gaining the top, turn right through a wooden gate and continue straight on, back to the car park where the walk began.

Tra Travel, Explore, Adventure

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DISTANCE: 4½ miles

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OS MAPS: Explorer 133 (Haslemere) STARTING POINT: To get to the National Trust Punch Bowl car park, take the A3 and turn off, just south of the tunnel, at a sign for Hindhead. Go through the traffic lights in Hindhead into a cul-de-sac. The car park is on the left and there is a charge for non-National Trust members. Refreshments are available in the Punch Bowl (or Punchbowl) café.

For many more walks, please visit our website www.vantagepointmag.co.uk/category/walks.

March 2018

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VANTAGEPOINT 23

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News Spring 2018

Farnham in Bloom

How you can get involved The judges of last year’s Farnham in Bloom expressed how impressed they were by the variety and quantity of community involvement.

There are many ways for you to get involved in this year’s campaign including:

It is wonderful to see residents’ gardens waking up after a long winter. Spring bulbs planted in public areas by the Farnham in Bloom Community Group are providing a delightful splash of colour and there is a lovely display of tree blossom in the town’s cemeteries.

• Entering a category in The Secret Gardens of Farnham competition • Sponsoring a floral display or hanging basket • Taking part in a community litter pick • Bringing your children along to a Bloomin’ Kids’ Gardening Workshop • Cheering on the Farnham in Bloom float at Farnham Carnival • Signing up to be a volunteer Bloomin’ litter picker • Visiting the greenhouse open day in May More details about how to get involved in Farnham in Bloom can be found at www.farnham.gov.uk/bloom.

The Farnham in Bloom team has already started to think about this year’s entry into South and South East in Bloom. Over 20,000 plug plants will soon be planted into hanging baskets and containers where they will be nurtured in polytunnels by Farnham Town Council’s outside workforce team.

In late May, the hanging baskets and tubs will be relocated into the town and surrounding villages ready for another year’s spectacular display.

Say it with flowers on Mother’s Day! Are you looking for a Mother’s Day gift that will last longer than a bouquet of flowers?

If so, how about showing your Mum how much she is appreciated by sponsoring a town centre hanging basket? For £60, the basket will be displayed from June until October and we’ll add your Mum’s name to our sponsor board on South Street. Interested? Email lara.miller@farnham.gov.uk to reserve your basket.

March 2018

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VANTAGEPOINT 25

West Street cemetery

Commonwealth flag-raising

This year, Farnham Town Council will be entering West Street Cemetery into the ‘Large Cemetery’ category of South and South East in Bloom.

On Monday 12 March, Farnham Town Council will host a ceremony to mark Commonwealth Day.

The judges will award points for well-laid out spaces, good specimens of trees, areas set aside for wildlife and good horticulture and gardening practice.

As part of an ongoing maintenance programme of the town’s cemeteries, the Garden of Reflection at West Street has been undergoing some improvements. The roses have been pruned to encourage healthier growth and some self-seeded and overgrown plants have been removed. Some additional shrubs and flowering plants have been planted and the old pergola at the entrance to the garden has been replaced with a new one.

Cemetery improvements Pathway replacement Pathways are continuing to be resurfaced at Green Lane, Badshot Lea and West Street cemeteries.

The Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Mike Hodge will raise the Commonwealth flag outside the Council office in South Street.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Towards a Common Future’ and explores how the Commonwealth can address global challenges and work to create a better future for all citizens.

Everybody is welcome to attend the ceremony which will take place at 10am.

Commonwealth War Graves Farnham’s cemeteries have 74 Commonwealth War Graves. These belong to casualties of World War I and World War II. The graves are marked with the traditional memorial of Portland stone and are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Grass cutting The start of spring signals the beginning of the grass growing season. From March, Farnham Town Council’s outside workforce will start their regular programme of grass cutting in the town’s cemeteries.

This year, Farnham Town Council will be planting poppies in front of the graves to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the first world war.

For queries about the cutting of grass verges in public areas, please contact Waverley Borough Council on 01483 523333.

Farnham Town Council has renewed its commitment to supporting a community toilet scheme for Farnham.

The initiative, which was introduced in 2016 encourages local businesses to work with the Town Council to provide clean, safe and accessible toilets during their hours of business.

Centenary commemorations 2018 marks the centenary of the ending of World War I. Look out for special commemorations in the year ahead.

26 VANTAGEPOINT

Community Toilet Scheme

Members of the public can use the toilets without

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Save the date

having to make a purchase. Participating businesses can be identified by a sticker in their window and include:

Robert Clayson

• The Queen’s Head, The Borough • The Mulberry, Station Hill • Borelli’s Wine Bar, Borelli Yard • Farnham Town Council, South Street

2018 will be a year of activity in Farnham. The popular Walking Festival will return from 20 May to 3 June and our spring/ summer season of outdoor events will begin on Sunday 27 May with the Spring Festival.

Any local business interested in finding out more about the scheme should contact Lara Miller at lara.miller@farnham.gov.uk.

Setting the council tax Farnham Town Councillors have taken the decision to increase the 2018/19 council tax by a modest three pence per week. For a Band D property, this is an increase from £61.03 per year to £62.62.

Farnham manages to minimise council tax increase and provide a full range of services by supplementing its income with nearly £200,000 from fees and charges.

The Town Council receives around three per cent of the total council tax paid by Farnham taxpayers.

The money is used to provide residents with allotments, the repair and maintenance of bus shelters, cemeteries, Christmas lights, the Farmers’ Markets, community events, the funding of CCTV, graffiti removal, community noticeboards, public toilets and over £75,000 of grant funding for local organisations.

Of the remaining council tax, 10% goes to Waverley Borough Council, 12% goes to Surrey Police and the Crime Commissioner and 75% to Surrey County Council.

Throughout June, you can be entertained by the Farnham Flash Festival and remember to pencil out Saturday 30 June for the Farnham Carnival and Sunday 1 July for Picnic in the Park.

On 8 July, the charity bike ride and cycle races will take place in and around Farnham. Looking ahead to September, the Gin Festival will be held on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 September. Keep an eye out for details about tickets as they will sell out very quickly.

To keep up to speed with what is happening in Farnham, visit Farnham Town Council’s events calendar at www.farnham.gov.uk/events.

Invest in Farnham Are you a business based in Farnham? Would you like to raise your community profile and show your support for your home town?

Farnham Town Council has put together a variety of sponsorship packages which will suit all budgets and marketing objectives.There are opportunities to achieve long-term exposure or you could opt for a short, sharp high impact approach.

To find the package that best suits your needs, visit www.farnham.gov.uk/sponsorship.

Farnham Town Council

Town Council Office, South Street, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7RN Telephone: 01252 712667 Email: customer.services@farnham.gov.uk Web: www.farnham.gov.uk Twitter: @farnhamOfficial Facebook: Farnham Town Council Town Clerk: Iain Lynch Farnham Town Mayor: Cllr Mike Hodge March 2018

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VANTAGEPOINT 27

The Hedgehogs • PROFILE The Hedgehogs is a registered charity and all funds raised are for the benefit of individuals, organisations and smaller charities that are located in and around Farnham.

The members of the Hedgehogs come from all walks of life, bringing different skill sets to the organisation.

Members include self-made businessmen, professionals and skilled individuals including those who have worked in the construction industry.

THE HEDGEHOGS has been established for some 58 years and its mantra is ‘Helping Local People in Need’ in and around the Farnham area. The charity was formed by a group of young men local to Farnham in the 50s, who wished to give their time to benefit the town and its residents. Since those early days, the Hedgehogs membership has gone from strength to strength and its fundraising activities have somewhat expanded over the last five decades.

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The Hedgehogs have circa 40 active members who attend a monthly meeting, the purpose of which is to discuss funding proposals received from individuals, social workers, specialist schools, other charities and organisations. For the financial year to April 2017, the Hedgehogs made over 75 donations to other organisations and individuals who faced financial hardship or difficulties.

The charity raises circa £75,000 per annum through a variety of events, including marquee and equipment hire, sponsored swim for schools, annual quiz, golf day and Love Farnham Calendar which is now in its fourth year. Additionally, last year the Hedgehogs introduced collection boxes for the acceptance of old and foreign currency in local pubs and retail outlets which has been a great success.

A major summer event which generates significant funds is also organised and for 2018 this will include the Frensham Sponsored Horse Ride in April and a car themed event in July.

Monies raised were in no small part due to the Hedgehogs being recognised and nominated by various organisations and shops within the town as their local charity, resulting in the Hedgehogs, now being more prominent and acknowledged and respected for what they represent to the town of Farnham and surrounding areas.

The Hedgehogs are always seeking new members and if you are interested in giving some of your time and skills to Farnham and its surrounding villages and local community in addition to having some fun, please make contact with them.

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28 VANTAGEPOINT

FIND OUT MORE Please visit the website www.the-hedgehogs.org.uk or their Facebook page, The HedgehogsFarnham.

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Contrary to the picture above, this month your editor has been unleashed on these Jottings as Nick and Angie were enjoying a well-deserved break in Sri Lanka. Once Christmas has been and gone, it is always very pleasing just how quickly the evenings get lighter.

Add this to the availability of daffodils and tulips and you know that spring really is just around the corner. This also means that charities, organisations and societies also get back into full swing of things, as this month’s Jottings will demonstrate…

Farnham Weyside Rotary Club March events Farnham Weyside Rotary Club is actively looking for new members and would invite anyone who is interested in finding out what they are about to contact them. There is an interesting programme in March, with a talk by Bill Biddell, Chief Executive of the Hampton Estate, on hop farming, and later in the month, Colin Harding, an expert on old stamps, talking about collecting history. For more information about Farnham Weyside Rotary Club, see the website, www. farnhamweyside.org.uk or contact the Secretary, John Cattell, on 01252 715048, or by email at farnhamweyside. sec@gmail.com.

World Book Day at Farnham Library Thursday 1st March In the morning they are doing a combined Storytime and Rhymetime for preschool age children starting at 10.30am.

In the afternoon there will be a drama workshop based on the picture book ‘We Are Going on a Bear Hunt from 4pm-4.30pm for children aged 4-7 years. Tickets for the workshop are available from the library for £1.They would also like to encourage the children to come to the library dressed up as their favourite book characters!

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30 VANTAGEPOINT

Winter Walk at RHS Wisley Until 31st March Wrap up warm and enjoy the colours of winter at Wisley.

Pick up a trail leaflet at the garden entrance and follow the trail around the Winter Walk with its winter interest plants; colourful stems reflected in the lake, sweet smelling winter flowers, frost covered leaves and many different barks showing off their rich textures and colours. Beyond the Winter Walk trail, slip into the Pinetum with its gentle giant evergreens; or wander along the grass paths through the Arboretum where skeleton trees are silhouetted against the sky. Drop in for a warming drink at one of the cafés, or stay for lunch. The walk is free with normal garden admission.

For further details about this and other events visit www. rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley.

Knit and Stitch Group Friday 2nd March 2.30pm-4pm Join them at Farnham Library on Friday 2nd March 2.304pm for the first Knit and Stitch Group, meeting alternative Friday afternoons. Bring along your own project to work on and meet some new people. Tea/coffee and biscuits will be available for a small cost of 50p. For more information contact Farnham Library on 0300 200 1001 or visit www. surreycc.gov.uk/libraries.

RSPB North East Hampshire Saturday 3rd March 7.30pm ‘Zimbabwe - off the beaten track’ with Brian Pettit and ‘Techno’ Tim at The Memorial Hall, Sandy Lane, Church Crookham, Fleet GU52 8LD. Previous visitors to their meetings will know what a fantastic evening is in store with Brian and Tim – stunning wildlife images all presented on their giant screen. After a number of visits to Zimbabwe, Brian and Tim are able to share their experience of this fairly under-recorded part of Africa’s wildlife heritage calling at historic Selous to the Matopos Hills, Lake Kariba and Victoria Falls. Besides featuring typical large African mammals, this talk also reveals what may lurk under rocks and behind bushes that are home to other less familiar species but nevertheless vital in maintaining the balance of African nature. Entrance is free to group members. Visitors

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YOUR COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD • are very welcome. Visitor charge is £3. Parking is free at the hall.

New Year, New Job? Do you want to spruce up your CV or polish your interview skills? Waverley Borough Council is piloting a second, free job club in Farnham in partnership with Farnham Town Council and Community Foundation Surrey. Local jobseekers can visit the new job club at the Farnham Town Council Offices between 1pm and 3pm on Tuesdays, as well as the existing club at Sandy Hill Bungalow between 10am and 12.30pm, also on Tuesday. Guildford Advice to Employment (GATE) volunteers will be on hand at both venues to provide support and advice on job hunting. To find out more, contact GATE volunteers Alan Wyle at alanwyle@gmail.com or on 07815 925563.

Alton Concert Orchestra Workshop Sunday 4th March Alton Concert Orchestra will be holding an orchestral workshop on 4th March. A day of full orchestra and sectional workshops with tutors Nic Fallowfield and Chris Swann. All orchestral instrument players are welcome to come to the workshop, especially string, brass, French horn and bass players. If you are Grade 5+, play one of these instruments and would like to come along and be part of the workshop for the day please visit the website www. altonconcertorchestra.org.uk or their facebook events page @altonconcertorchestra for more information.

Allen Galley, Alton – exhibitions From Tuesday 6th March From 6th to 28th March, an exhibition of photographs by Michael Sleigh on ‘Church Stained Glass Windows’. From 9th March to 26th April, there is an exhibition on the ‘Gurkhas and the British Army’, interestingly a research project led by local young people. Further information on www.hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk.

New ‘Knit & Natter’ Sessions at Squire’s Every Wednesday 9.30am-10.30am (term time only) Knitting is a creative, practical and mobile hobby, which many people say is a great antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life, plus you get to make something absolutely unique. Squire’s Garden Centres have noticed that more and more people young and old are buying wool and craft supplies, so they are now launching ‘Knit & Natter’ sessions at their garden centres in Badshot Lea and Milford in Surrey. These free drop-in sessions are held in Squire’s Café Bar every Wednesday 9.30am-10.30am during termtime. A member of the Squire’s team will greet you and let you know about new products and wool patterns, or you can ask them any craft questions you have. It’s a great place to meet other knitting enthusiasts, swap skills and ideas, or just relax with a drink while you knit and natter! Visit www. squiresgardencentres.co.uk.

March 2018

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Theatre Maltings: The Drive, by Angel Exit Theatre Thursday 8th March 8pm An unexpected Nordic road trip throws two estranged friends together. The further they get from home the closer Nat and Becky come to confronting demons of their past.

With cutting humour, striking physicality, original music and projections. ‘A touching physical whirlwind’ Reviews Hub. £12 (£10 conc.); pre-show dining & ticket £20.50. More info at www.farnhammaltings.com.

Seale & Sands WI Thursday 8th March 2.15pm Seale & Sands will be welcoming Peter Batty who will give a talk on ‘Women in War’. The programme for 2018 offers a variety of talks and activities on the second Thursday of each month at 2.15pm for 2.30pm. For further information contact Susie on 07887 744897.

Farnham & District Ataxia Support Group Thursday 8th March 11am Their next meeting is as above. Please go along to find out if this may help you or a friend/relative.

Sunflower Café Every Monday The weekly Sunflower Café which offers support to those living with dementia and their carers has moved to a new home at Farnham Conservative Club just off Downing Street. It's a great chance to speak to dementia expert Mary Jordan and meet up with others in a relaxed environment.

It is open 10am-12pm every Monday. Please call 01252 783426 for more details or just drop in for a warm welcome.

Bake Natter and Roll WI - International Women's Day Thursday 8th March 8pm Bake Natter and Roll WI are holding an International Women's Day Event to mark 100 years of some women gaining the vote and celebrate inspirational women. There will be speakers, a raffle and representatives from local women's groups. Everyone is welcome! Tickets are £3 and all profits will go to their chosen charity, Home-Start 32 VANTAGEPOINT

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The Unattached Group Spring is here - why not take advantage of the lighter evenings and better weather by coming along to The Unattached Group - a social group for single people aged 55-69. They have a varied programme of events including, theatre, opera, walks, quiz, boat trips, visits to gardens and a whole lot more, together with a weekly pub meeting. For further details please visit www.theunattachedgroup.co.uk or phone Becky on 07855 008897.

Farnham & District Museum Society Evening Talk Thursday 8th March 7.30pm ‘Menageries’ - Cherrill Sands, garden historian and chairman of the Surrey Garden Trust will show how royal courts and aristocrats used menageries to illustrate their power and wealth. Venue: United Reformed Church, South Street, Farnham, 7.30pm for 7.45pm (please use the Victoria Road side entrance). Non-members very welcome, no need to book - £3 per visitor. www. farnhammuseumsociety.org.uk.

Bury Court Opera Thursday 8th, Saturday 10th, Tuesday 13th, Thursday 15th, Saturday 17th March Don’t miss the chance to see Handel’s operatic Masterpiece Giulio Cesare at Bury Court, Bentley GU10 5LY. They are incredibly excited about their 2018 production – young Australian Director Greg Eldridge at the helm, (Greg was the youngest ever director on ROH Covent Garden’s young artist programme) and emerging star Marie Lys in her role debut as Cleopatra. Bury Court Opera is probably not as widely known as it should be. Founded in 2007 they are a small professional opera company and perform in an intimate and acoustically superb barn in Bury Court Bentley. For enquiries email emacnaghten@burycourtopera.org or to find out more about them, visit the website www.burycourtopera. org.

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YOUR COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD • Music at the Pottery Friday 9th March Music at the Pottery is a community event held at the Farnham Pottery in Wrecclesham. It showcases local musicians from Surrey and north Hampshire. The line-up for the next event on features The Jim Cozens Band, Claudia Stark, Backwoods Creek and Soph and Cam. Music starts at 8.15pm. If you enjoy live music of all genres performed in an atmospheric venue, then do come along. £5 on the door and BYO, so please bring your own drinks and nibbles.

Pottery Lane, Wrecclesham GU10 4SL.

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Waverley Dowsers Society Friday 9th March 7.30pm The Waverley Dowsing Society is both a fun and a scientific group. They meet to learn and practice dowsing. This includes earth energy forces which can adversely and beneficially affect our houses, gardens and workplaces.

Held at the Unitarian Hall, Meadrow, Godalming GU7 3JB. Meetings are held every 2nd Friday of the month. At their next meeting Nigel Twinn, author, will talk on why earth energy dowsing works, including Long Straight Lines, Currents and Forces that do much to shape the environment around us. Check their website www.waverleydowsers. co.uk or contact Geoff on 01276 472977.

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Guildford Folk Dancers Saturday 10th March 7.30pm-10.30pm Come to Normandy Village Hall with your dancing shoes on Saturday 10th March for an enjoyable evening of English Folk Dancing or join them on a Thursday for their weekly club evening at All Saints Church Hall, Onslow Village. Call 01428 683423 or visit www.guildfordfolkdancers.org.uk.

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Cats at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Saturday 10th to 17th March Get your ticket for the Jellicle Ball now as Guildford School of Acting graduating musical theatre students present one the world’s best-loved musicals, Cats. A fantastical tribe of feline friends gather for a night of midsummer madness featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most memorable score and Gillian Lynne’s remarkable original choreography. For more information please visit www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or call 01483 440000.

Players of Elstead – looking for volunteers Saturday 10th March 10.30am Players of Elstead are planning to stage a wonderful show to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the end of World War I during half term week in October. They would like to invite both adults and children to take part in this production which promises to be a lot of fun! To register your interest come along to the Youth Centre, Thursley Road, Elstead on 10th March at 10.30am to hear more. If you cannot attend, please register your interest with Sue Gowar gowarms@ btinternet.com.

March 2018

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Quiz Night March 10th 7.30pm Join the fun RNLI quiz, back by popular demand, at Rowledge Village Hall. With a professional quiz master, there is a light supper included in ticket price. Call Nigel to book your place or table on 01252 719650 or email rnli. farnham@btinternet.com. All proceeds to the RNLI. Book early to avoid disappointment!

Mothering Sunday Cruise on the Wey & Arun Canal Sunday 11th March 11am, 2.15pm and 4.30pm Special cruises will be running on the canal on Mothering Sunday. A Coffee and Danish Pastry Black Tie service will enhance the relaxing treat for mums (and all passengers)!

The trips take one and a half hours. Tickets cost £14 for adults and £10 for children and must be booked in advance.

Bookings for all special events and weekend public trips can be made online via the trust website. For enquiries about private charters, volunteering opportunities and membership please call The Wey & Arun Canal Trust Office on 01403 752403, email office@weyandarun.co.uk or visit www.weyandarun.co.uk.

Historical Association (West Surrey Branch) lecture Tuesday 13th March 7.30pm ‘The Permissive Society and its Enemies’ by Dr Matthew Grimley, Merton College, Oxford, will look at the profound changes in Britain since the 1960’s. 7.30pm at St Nicolas’ 34 VANTAGEPOINT

Hall, Bury Street, Guildford, GU2 4BW. Visitors very welcome (£3 at the door), students free. Further information from Rollo Crookshank, tel 01252 319881 or email crookshank@ starkmann.co.uk.

Events with the National Trust at Claremont Various dates during March Why not take a trip up the A3 to see what is going on at the beautiful Claremont Gardens? From volunteering opportunities and History walks, to Mothering Sunday, Spring Walk and Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt. Visit www. nationaltrust.org.uk/claremont-landscape-garden for full details on all of these events.

Join the Hart Male Voice Choir Wednesday 14th March 7.30pm Gareth Malone’s TV programmes have demonstrated how camaraderie, new friends, great fun and musical achievement are just a few of the benefits of choir membership. Hart Male Voice Choir, currently with about 65 choristers, is now looking for new members. As one of the foremost choirs in south east England, they are in constant demand for concert performances and also like to encourage young singers with competitions supported by their President, Alan Titchmarsh. Previous choral experience is not essential for new members as group voice-coaching and rehearsal CDs are provided. Interested? Go to their Taster Evening at Cross Barn, Palace Gate, Odiham RG29

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YOUR COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD • 1JX. To register interest and obtain further details please contact Jack Salway by email to j.salway@btinternet.com or call 01428 683405.

Hale WI Wednesday 14th March 1.45pm Hale WI will meet at Hale Institute at 1.45pm on Wednesday 14th March. The speaker will be J. Nockolds, who will be talking to them about Bhutan, the Land of Gross National Happiness. They are a friendly group and you will receive a warm welcome should you wish to come along.

Bake Natter and Roll WI Thursday 15th March 8.15pm Bake Natter and Roll WI meet in central Farnham at the United Reformed Church, South Street on the third Thursday of the month at 8.15pm. New members and guests are always welcome and pay £4. On March 15th they welcome acclaimed local cake maker Jane from JJ Cakes, who will be demonstrating some simple Easter themed cake decorating techniques. For more information emailfarnhamwi@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page www.facebook.com/bakenatterandroll.

The Bourne WI Thursday 15th March 7.45pm for 8pm Are you fed up with the long dark nights? Come and join them for a gentle introduction to Fitsteps with Kate Shaw from the Surrey Dance Fitness. Fitsteps is a fitness programme that brings together Classic Latin and Ballroom dances. Followed by cake and coffee to help with the recovery process! They meet at Brambleton Hall, Talbot Road, Farnham, GU9 8RR at 7.45pm for 8pm. All visitors and new members are very welcome. For more information contact Gail on 01252 735751 or thebournewi@gmail.com.

Fleet Art Society Art Sale Friday 16th and Saturday 17th March 10am-4pm Signed artwork, prints and cards by members of the Fleet Art Society supporting Fleet Hospital. Takes place at Hart Shopping Centre, Fleet.

Bobby Mair: ‘Loudly Insecure’ at the Maltings Friday 16th March 8pm Thirty years after being put up for adoption, Bobby Mair is tracking down his birth family. Saying his search has hit a couple of snags would be an understatement. Loudly Insecure gives Bobby a chance to fill you in on the wildly dramatic twists and turns of his quest. £12.50; pre-show dining & ticket £21. More info at www.farnhammaltings. com.

Big Howard’s ‘LOL-tastic Yukfest for Kids and WellTrained Adults’ Saturday 17th March 2.30pm One for the kids! Howard is a massive kid with a March 2018

moustache. He makes words, pictures, animation and noises, nearly all of which will make you laugh. Featuring stand-up, interactive digital animation, sound effects, jokes and lots of clever nonsense. For ages 5+. £8 (£7 when 2 or more £8 children’s shows booked). More info at www. farnhammaltings.com.

St Patrick’s Quiz Night Saturday 17th March 7.30pm Can you answer the Irish Question? Come to the St Patrick’s Quiz Night at Farnham United Reformed Church on St Patrick’s Day at 7.30pm. Tickets at £6 include refreshments.

They are looking for teams of 6 to 8 people but if you are by yourself they can easily allocate you to a friendly team.

Come wearing something green if you can! All proceeds go to the Pilgrim Project in aid of developing and rebuilding the church premises, with improvements to the Spire Café to make it better suited for community use. Tickets are obtainable from the Spire Coffee Bar. Further details: 01252 726306 or email office@farnhamurc.org.uk.

Farnham & Bourne Choral Society Saturday 17th March 7.30pm ‘American Connections’ is the title of their next concert at St Thomas-on-The Bourne. Accompanied by organ and piano, the two principal works are ‘Frostiana’, a setting to music of seven of Robert Frost's country poems, and Morten Lauridsen's popular ’Lux Aeterna’. Delightful short pieces by Ola Gjeilo (pronounced Yay-lo) are also in the programme.

Tickets are £13 from 01252 721075. Visit www.farnhamchoral.org.uk for more details about the choir.

Vintage Fashion Fair at Farnham Maltings Saturday 17th March 10am-4pm Spend a leisurely Saturday browsing and buying from the many stalls of beautiful vintage clothing, shoes, handbags, hats, jewellery and textiles. All authentically vintage and dating from 1900s-1980s. The fair offers wearable vintage at affordable prices and a selection of vintage designer labels. Something to suit all tastes and budgets. Entry £2 (under 16s free).

National Garden Scheme Saturday 17th March With its stunning golden carpets of narcissi and fabulous views over the North Downs, Timber Hill near Cobham is one of the first local gardens to open for the National Garden Scheme. No matter what the weather, you can still enjoy cosy homemade teas in a beautiful Surrey barn.

Open 11am-4pm, adult entry £5, children go free. For more details go to www.timberhillgarden.co.uk, or for other lovely gardens, visit www.ngs.org.uk.

Guildford Rambling Club From Sunday 18th March Guildford Rambling Club’s walks programme is at

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For the 9 mile walk from below Box Hill on Sunday 18th March, call Mick on 07765 205353. Call Rosemary, on 07842 150475 for the 5 mile morning walk from Churt on Thursday 22nd. Then Hazel on 07766 663876 for the 10 mile walk from Ranmore on Sunday 25th March. Contact Steve on 07957 803912 for the 10 mile hilly walk from near Brasted on Sunday 1st April. And for Sunday 8th April, it will be Dick on 07516 407936 who leads the 9 mile walk, again from near Box Hill.

“Can we teach people how to be happy?”

Sunday 18th March, 7pm for 7.30pm Chair of Dorset Humanists David Wardle developed and ran a six-session course aiming to help people lead happier lives. He will talk about the course and its effectiveness.

Come and help Farnham Humanists decide whether to run this course in Farnham. All welcome. Daniel Hall, Long Garden Walk, Farnham GU9 7HX. Tea, coffee, biscuits. Pub nearby. Donation £2 to cover costs. See http://farnham. humanist.org.uk.

The Arts Society Farnham lecture Tuesday 20th March 10.30am Entitled ‘Children As Artists’ by Richard Box, this takes place at the The Maltings, Farnham. Children’s art is of the utmost importance in their creative, emotional and spiritual 36 VANTAGEPOINT

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development. Children develop, naturally, forms of expression from which language, numeracy and other basic skills arise. Richard Box believes that the education system needs to realise that art must be nurtured alongside other subjects; it is not an insignificant ‘frill’. Non-members are welcome. Contact the membership secretary on 07918 883515, or email memberstasfarnham@gmail.com to book your ticket for £5. For more information, visit the website at www.theartssocietyfarnham.org.uk.

Wanted – Weekend Wildlife Warriors!

Are you looking for something wild to do this weekend then why not volunteer with Surrey Wildlife Trust? As well as having fun in the fresh air, you can get fit, make new friends, learn new skills and it’s free! The trust has nearly 100 staff, but its ranks are swelled by an army of almost 2,000 registered volunteers, who provide around 8,000 extra ‘people days’ every year. And now the trust is on the look-out for new weekend recruits to join its conservation squad.“ Our enthusiastic practical conservation volunteers help us clear areas of scrub, coppice woodlands, remove invasive plant species, create patches of bare ground for habitat improvement and lots more,” said Claire Courtier, the Trust’s Volunteer Development Manager. “From teenagers to people in their 80s, all give up their time, skills and energy to help wildlife – but they get so much in return too. You can get fit, make friends from all walks of life, learn so much about wildlife and it’s fantastic fun in the fresh

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air!” If you would like to help protect Surrey’s wildlife as a weekend wildlife volunteer, visit www.surreywildlifetrust. org/volunteering and sign up for your wild weekend.

Surrey Branch Western Front Association Wednesday 21st March 7.45pm Nick Howgill on ‘Gough’s Fire Brigade’. On March 21st 1918, the German army launched its last great attack of WWI and smashed between the British and French armies.

Nick talks about the role of the cavalry in resisting the German army’s ‘Operation Michael’. The group meet in Cobham. For full details please contact Andy Thompson 01306 880960 or info@eyewitnesstours.com.

Don’t Stop the Music Thursday 22nd to Saturday 24th March Cody Musical Theatre are presenting their stunning musical extravaganza ‘Don't Stop the Music 2’ at The Princes Hall in Aldershot. The talented cast will perform many choreographed show-stopping hits from stage and screen, including Gershwin to The Book of Mormon, Avenue Q and Miss Saigon. They will also be bringing alive songs from the movies, including James Bond, The Bodyguard, Moulin Rouge to the epic Les Misérables.

Ticket prices range from £13-£18 with concessions. Book online at www.princeshall.com or call the box office on 01252 329155.

March 2018

Les Amitiés Françaises Thursday 22nd March 7.30pm Hear about two beautiful regions, Burgundy and Beaujolais.

John Dixon has lived in France and can speak eloquently about these places. He has fantastic pictures and it is a pleasure to listen to him. After his last talk, members were ready to book their next holiday straight away. Held at the Baptist Church Hall, Queen Street, Godalming GU7 1BA. Doors open at 7pm and coffee and biscuits are available. Les Amitiés Françaises are one of the largest and most active groups in the country with a growing membership and are linked to, and have the support of, the Alliance Française de Londres. For details of events and membership, please email john.petty@which.net or visit www.amitiesfrancaises.com.

Surrey Hills Arts Surrey Hills Arts are delighted to announce a grant awarded

by Arts Council England of £67K for an exciting new project exploring the natural materials of the Surrey Hills landscape.

This exciting project called ‘Surrey Unearthed’ will see ten selected artists create new work along the entire width of Surrey’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which covers a quarter of the county, engaging a wide range of people along the way. Projects will include monolithic chalk symbols, giant structures formed of hay bales which slowly illuminate as dusk falls, an innovative ceramic installation and an art documentary exploring the process of sand

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VANTAGEPOINT 37

Jottings extraction. There will be an exhibition at Leith Hill Place in July which will bring together the fascinating research and development of all the artists. There will also be opportunities for the public to get involved through a series of talks, workshops and community celebrations, which will coincide with 2018 being the 60th anniversary of the Surrey Hills designation as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). For more information about the project visit www. surreyhillsarts.org.

Farnham & District Museum Society Evening Talk Thursday 22nd March 7.30pm for 7.45pm ‘The Secret Lives of Ladybirds’ - a talk by Andrew Halstead, formerly Principal Entomologist of the RHS. The ladybird is considered a useful insect, preying on agricultural pests, but what else should we know about the species? Venue: United Reformed Church, South Street, Farnham, 7.30pm for 7.45pm (please use the Victoria Road side entrance).

Non-members very welcome, no need to book - £3 per visitor. www.farnhammuseumsociety.org.uk.

The Good Shepherd Church, The Sands, Farnham Why not welcome spring in with a visit to the Shepherds Rest café? They are open every Tuesday from 12 noon until 2.30pm for a whole range of homemade delights. Outside admire the shepherd dog keeping the lambs in check with blooms of daffodils in the borders. Whilst inside you will be assured of a warm and homely welcome. The café is located in the pretty village church of The Good Shepherd, The Sands, Farnham, GU10 1LJ. All profits from the café are shared between The Good Shepherd’s new extension fund and The Good Shepherd Church Fabric Fund. For group bookings (6 or more) or further information on the café, please contact Ann Payne: email ann.payne303@ btinternet.com or phone 01252 782873.

Farnham & District Museum Society Afternoon Seminars Friday 23rd March and Monday 26th March The society’s seminars on the local history of the area, led by local researcher and author Pat Heather, are held monthly between 2pm and 4pm in the museum’s Garden Gallery; the Friday session is repeated on the Monday.

This month’s topic is Farnham’s East Street and looks at developments in the 19th and 20th centuries. Please contact Pat on 01252 721576 to book; cost £5 per seminar.

For full details of this season’s programme visit www. farnhammuseumsociety.org.uk.

Surrey schools needed for Guinness World Record attempt in aid of Sport Relief Friday 23rd March A Guinness World Record attempt is coming to Surrey in aid of Sport Relief 2018. Surrey-based dance company, The Dance Movement, is enlisting local schools to take part in ‘Let’s Dance’, an attempt to beat the record for the 38 VANTAGEPOINT

world’s largest simultaneous multi-venue dance class on Friday 23rd March. All schools in Surrey and around its borders, including special educational needs schools, are invited and must sign up by 5pm on Friday 2nd March to prepare. The Dance Movement’s target is for 30,000 children, young people and school staff to get involved.

More information about the challenge can be seen at www. thedancemovement.co.uk.

Bells Piece Charity Concert Saturday 24th March 7pm Bells Piece are pleased to announce that Farnham Music and Drama will be holding a Charity Concert at the United Reformed Church on Saturday 24th March. Doors opens at 7pm. Tickets cost: adults £10 and under 18s £5. Parking is available at Sainsbury’s car park opposite. For more information and tickets please contact Jenny Daniels at Bells Piece at jennifer.daniels@leonardcheshire.org or 01252 748005. All monies raised on the evening will go to enhancing the quality of service they are able to provide to everyone who use the service. Sounds like it will be a fun evening, book early to avoid disappointment.

Waverley Singers Spring Concert Saturday 24th March 7.30pm The Waverley Singers Spring Concert ‘Fanfare!’ takes place in St Andrew’s Church, Farnham on Saturday March 24th at 7.30pm. The programme includes Handel ‘Zadok the Priest’, the ‘Gloria’ by Simon Johnson, Vaughan Williams ‘The Old Hundreth’ and ‘The Jongen Mass op.130’ as well as brass ensemble solos. This concert will be supporting the Luna Children’s Charity which is a child-centred charity that trains and supports local people working with children and young people traumatised by conflict, violence and disaster all over the world. For further information see www.waverleysingers.com. Tickets cost £15 (£5 U16s/ students) and are available from www.ticketsource. co.uk/waverleysingers or on the door. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear these exciting pieces virtually on your doorstep and they look forward to seeing you there!

Grayshott Concerts present ‘Harp and a Monkey’ Saturday 24th March Folk experimentalists ‘Harp and a Monkey’ sing songs about cuckolded mole catchers, a lone English oak tree that grows at Gallipoli, care in the community and medieval pilgrims… This harp ‘n’ banjo driven electrofolk-storytelling trio is imbued with a deep Lancashire sensibility that shines through in their beautifully crafted and sometimes spooky vignettes of northern life, love and remembrance. Friends for decades, Martin Purdy, Simon Jones and Andy Smith enjoy a fantastic rapport with their audiences and are proud to have never played anywhere and not been invited back. Their third album, War Stories, came out in July 2016 and was labelled 'bold and brilliant' by the likes of The Sunday Observer. A firm favourite of

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YOUR COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD • Mike Harding, who gave them their first BBC airplay, the band has since appeared in-session on the ‘Beeb’ with Mark Radcliffe and Clare Balding. Their reputation as a quality live act, has meant that they have twice been invited to appear at the annual international showcase (The English Folk Expo) that highlights the best English folk acts on the circuit. Also, Jim Cozens- now a Grayshott resident, singer/songwriter/guitarist Jim has a varied and fascinating back story which includes writing and performing with Cliff Richard and performing the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988. He has been a regular supporter of Grayshott Folk Club since he moved there and we are delighted to have him performing for them. His music career has experienced a revival in recent times and he is playing more gigs than ever. Welcome to Grayshott Jim! Takes place at Grayshott Village Hall, Headley Road, Grayshott, Nr. Hindhead GU26 6TZ. Tickets: £12 for adults and £6 for under 16s. Call Des O’Byrne on 01428 607096.

Frensham Royal British Legion Jumble Sale Saturday 24th March 11am This is the first jumble sale of the year. Tea, coffee and cake available. 50p. Frensham Royal British Legion, Shortfield Common, Frensham GU10 3BJ. VOX, Farnham Chamber Choir presents ‘In Flanders Fields’ Saturday 24th March 7.30pm This is a powerful and moving concert of music and poetry to commemorate the end of WWI, conducted by Robert Lewis, with guest cellist Mikhail Lezdkan and organist Julian Cooper, featuring music by Howells, Jenkins, Bach, Haydn among others. Saturday 24th March, 7.30pm, St Thomas-on-The Bourne church, Farnham. Tickets £15 on the door (u18s free). For more information about Vox, find them on Facebook - search for Vox Chamber Choir, or email voxchamberchoir@outlook.com.

Bonsai Show at RHS Wisley Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March This specialist show will include plant and bonsai equipment sales, displays and care information aimed at beginners through to experienced growers. Sutton Bonsai will be featuring displays of bonsai pines and demonstrating how to grow these from seed. The Wisley Plant Centre will also host a re-potting, styling and advice service. Visitors should bring their own bonsai trees to The Plant Centre by 11am, £5 per tree. Full details, opening times and ticket prices can be found at www.rhs.org.uk/wisley.

Easter Egg Hunt and Elephant Inspired Craft Join WWF at The Living Planet Centre, Woking, for a range of elephant themed workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the Easter holidays. You can also pop along to their Easter Egg hunt in their very own wildlife garden - will you be able to crack the puzzle to claim your chocolate March 2018

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The Therapy Garden Shop Normandy Daily Monday to Thursday 10am-2pm Open and full of local, freshly grown produce – visit them in Normandy to see what’s been freshly dug. They are a horticulture and education charity that uses gardening to generate positive change and they are also looking for volunteers. If you have a few hours to spare and fancy working in their garden, visit www.thetherapygarden.org or call 01483 813846.

Surrey Country Walkers Various dates throughout March SCW have been in existence for 35 years. They walk at weekends, on alternate Saturdays and Sundays.

The walks vary from about 7 to 10 miles, mostly around the Surrey Hills area, plus some linear longer walks that are done in stages. Potential members are more than welcome to join them on these walks, they may sample up to two walks before being asked to join the club. As they walk all the year in all weathers and over variable terrain, suitable footwear and clothing should be worn. For details of the club and their walks programme see www.surreycommunity. info/surreycountywalkers or contact Colin on 01276 474258.

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VANTAGEPOINT 39

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Horses in Art Reimagined at Watts Gallery Until 15th April Next month, an unparalleled exhibition at Watts Gallery Artists' Village will celebrate how contemporary artists depict the horse. Bringing together work in diverse media including photography, collagraph, oil painting and sculpture, Horses in Art Reimagined will provide visitors with a unique opportunity to see and buy work by eight of the foremost equestrian artists of today. It is presented in partnership with Gwen Hughes Fine Art and continues the Watts Contemporary Gallery exhibition programme, which provides a unique opportunity for visitors to see and buy affordable contemporary art and craft that resonate with the Arts and Crafts heritage of Watts Gallery - Artists' Village.

Proceeds from the sale of work directly benefit Watts Gallery Trusts learning and outreach programme. For further information please visit www.wattsgallery.org.uk.

Exercise Classes for over 60s Mondays to Wednesdays Come and join some fun fitness class where you will make friends and improve your fitness. Monday 2.30pm-3.30pm at the Gostrey club, Farnham; Tuesday 2pm-3.15pm at High Lane Community Hall, Haslemere (prevention of falls class); Wednesday 11.30am-12.30pm at United Reform Church, Godalming; and Thursday 2pm-3pm at St.Joan's, Farnham.

Contact: Jo Payne on 07880 722272 or email jololoma@ yahoo.co.uk.

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Spark Festival 2018: ‘The Doodle Dance Show’ Sunday 25th March 2pm A magical journey of friendship and adventure. Grab a pen and kick off your shoes for this playful, interactive storyshow where you can create a world populated by crazy birds, dancing pirates, strange underwater creatures and more! They guarantee this is the most fun you can have with your family and a giant piece of paper! Part of Spark Festival 2018, the Maltings’ annual children and young people’s multi-arts festival. Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th March. More info at www.farnhammaltings.com.

Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell with Farnham Rep Tuesday 27th March 7.30pm Farnham Rep presents a rehearsed reading of Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell by Keith Waterhouse. A humorous play about the complex, funny, hard drinking journalist who wrote a regular column in the Spectator. Ian Cullen is taking the lead. This will take place on Tuesday 27th March at 7.30pm in Brasserie Blanc in Castle Street. Tickets are £10, call 01252 316009.

Theatre Maltings: ‘Jane Eyre: An Autobiography’ Tuesday 27th March 7.30pm Struggling to think, live and love beyond the stifling expectations of duty, class and convention, Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester take a dark journey towards sensual

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YOUR COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD • and intellectual liberation. English literature’s most celebrated autobiographical novel shocked the Victorians, and is now distilled for the stage by writer/director Elton Townend Jones. £12 (£10 conc.). More info at www. farnhammaltings.com.

The Pilgrim Ringers Wednesday evenings Learn to ring tunes on handbells. Good teamwork, lovely music, stimulating brain-function, great for entertaining others and emotionally satisfying. Practices are on Wednesday evenings in Normandy Village Hall. Everyone is welcome. Call 01483 538373 for details.

Probus Club of Farnham Tuesday 27th March The Probus Club of Farnham was founded in 1969 as a Luncheon Club for men of retirement age from professional and business backgrounds. Meetings are held usually on the fourth Tuesday of the month at The Farnham House Hotel, and often have an informal talk by a member speaker or occasionally one from outside. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 27th March which will host a ladies Luncheon for members and guests. Social events are also arranged periodically. Outings to the theatre, a trip to Brooklands or Farnborough Airport are a few of the other events that have been undertaken and occasionally a 3 or 4 day visit to a city/town of historical interest. Should membership be of interest to others, please contact Maxwell Hubbard, email maxwellhubbard2@yahoo.co.uk.

Farnham Runners From 28th March Farnham Runners are proud to promote running fitness at every level. This year they will run two Couch-to-5km courses designed for those who really have not run before.

The course runs twice a year and lasts for 9 weeks. Spring – welcome evening 28th March 2018 and then 9 weeks, ending on 2nd June. Summer – welcome evening 4th July 2018 and then 9 weeks, ending on 8th September. Each course has a maximum of 30 places available so please sign up as soon as you can if you are interested. The fee is £49 which includes the cost of the course, annual membership to Farnham Runners and affiliation to England Athletics. Contact Helen Bracey by email frclubsec@ gmail.com or call 07868 616374 if you would like further information.

Elstead Garden Club Spring Show Saturday 31st March 2pm-4pm Elstead Garden Club will be holding their annual Spring Show on Saturday 31st March at Elstead Village Hall where flower arrangements and vegetables will be exhibited. The show is open to the public from 2pm-4pm. Entry is free and homemade refreshments will be available. A raffle will also take place. All visitors very welcome!

March 2018

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Further details from Evelyn Phillips AppArt Office email: app.art2012@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/AppArtSurrey www.appartonline.co.uk

Rural Life Centre Car Boot Fair Sunday 1st April The Rural Life Centre in The Reeds Road, Tilford, GU10 2DL will be holding its first Boot Fair of the 2018 season on Sunday 1st April, running from 8am until 12 noon. The Car Boot fee is £6, but entry is free to buyers and the event is organised by the Rustics in aid of the museum. Do go along to see what great bargains can be had.

Head2Head Theatre presents Peter Pan in a Pickle Various dates in April Interactive, walkabout, multi-sensory theatre plus lunchtime activities. Move around their special school venues discovering scenes and meeting characters from the story.

Fun songs, multi-sensory experiences, Makaton signing, VOCAs, advance packs and familiarisation sessions. Henry Tyndale School (Farnborough) 3rd-4th April and Portesbery School (Camberley) 9th-11th April. Contact office@ head2headtheatre.co.uk, call 01372 278021/07519 747290 or visit www.head2headtheatre.co.uk/familyholiday-activities.

Vantage Point Travel Fair Saturday 7th April 1pm-4pm Travel Dream in Bramley together with VantagePoint Travel Club are delighted to announce that their Annual Travel Fair will once again be held at the Wilfrid Noyce Centre in

To advertise, please call 01483 420173

VANTAGEPOINT 41

Jottings tickets, please visit www.elsteadtheatrical.co.uk or call 08442 329460.

Vivaldi Singers April Concert Saturday 14th April 7.30pm Featuring Stainer’s Crucifixion and other works on an Easter Theme. This is a fund raising event for the United Reformed Church Pilgrim Project and takes place at United Reformed Church, South Street, Farnham, Surrey. Tickets: Adults £12, Students/under 16s £5, under 5s free. Tickets available from www.vivaldisingers.com.

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Godalming. Admission is free to all, with a complimentary drink and a prize draw. Workshops and exhibitors will be on hand to help with all your travel options with local Travel Agent Travel Dream. Godalming’s Spring Fair is also on that day, so even more reason to go into Godalming! For more information, contact Johanne Wishart on 01483 865970 or email holidays@traveldream.co.uk.

Take a Trip Down Memory Lane…

Wednesday 11th April 2pm-4pm Farnham ASSIST will be holding an afternoon of song, memories and local history at the Farnham Vineyard centre, Church House, Union Road, Farnham GU9 7PT on Wednesday 11th April at 2-4pm. A cream tea will be served and a talk given by the curator of Farnham Museum. All welcome. Cost £5. Call 01252 717710 or email info@ farnham-assist.org.uk to book. Enjoy driving? They need volunteer minibus drivers on the second Sunday and fourth Monday of the month on an ad hoc basis to suit you. If this is of interest please call Farnham ASSIST on 01252 717710.

Players of Elstead present ‘Prescription for Murder’ Thursday 12th to Saturday 14th April 7.45pm Players of Elstead's Spring production is ‘Prescription for Murder’, a murder mystery by Norman Robbins (in association with Samuel French). Performances will take place at Elstead Village Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 12th, 13th and 14th April at 7.45pm. To order 42 VANTAGEPOINT

Farnham Sinfonia Saturday 21st April 7.30pm The newly formed Farnham Sinfonia are performing on Saturday 21st April at 7.30pm. Conductor: Matthew Taylor; Flute: Susan Milan. Programme - Haydn: ‘Trauer’ Symphony; Mozart: ‘Symphony No. 1’; Arnold: ‘Flute Concertos and Fantasias’. Venue St Andrew’s Parish Church. £20 on the door or £15 in advance.

8-25 year olds free. Please pay via Tilford Bach Society website or contact 0300 301 0070. www.tilbach.org.uk.

Frensham Sponsored Horse Ride Sunday 22nd April The Hedgehogs, Farnham’s local charity, and the committee of the Frensham Sponsored Ride (‘FSR’), are pleased to announce that the annual ride will take place in 2018. The event will be renamed, the Frensham Sponsored Horse Ride and will be held on Sunday 22nd April. The ride will follow a similar route to the one used in previous years. The organising committee and friends of the FSR have raised many thousands of pounds over the event’s 40 years history.

All sponsorship proceeds have been distributed to local individuals, organisations and charities and this will continue under the auspices of The Hedgehogs. Mike Dunkley Chairman of the Hedgehogs said “I’m absolutely delighted that the Hedgehogs have taken on this famous horse ride.

With the support of the FSR committee, I’m confident that the Hedgehogs FSHR events’ team will ensure a highly successful charity fund raising event for 2018 and many years to come”. For more information on the Hedgehogs activities, please visit www.the-hedgehogs.org.uk or on the Facebook page TheHedgehogsFarnham.

Need to change or make a Will?

23rd-26th April If so, Kidd Rapinet will be happy to help. Farnham ASSIST and Kidd Rapinet will be working together during 23rd-26th April. If you prepare a Will with Kidd Rapinet, instead of paying them, donate a sum equivalent to 50% of the usual fee to Farnham ASSIST to support the charity. Terms and restrictions apply. Call 01252 717710 for details.

The Arts Society – Farnham Evening Wednesday 25th April 7.30pm Evening Talk on ‘Klimt and the Viennese Secession: A Kiss

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for All the World’. Popular speaker, Douglas Skeggs, will trace a brief, often dark but always a dazzlingly inventive period of art. He will explain the shimmering portraits flaked with gold; hypnotic, vibrant landscapes; erotic dreams of decadence and death plus reveal a society in search of salvation at a time when mankind has lost faith in its future.

This talk will commence at 7.50pm. Takes place at Farnham College, Morley Road, Farnham Surrey GU9 8LU. Visitors are most welcome. (£5 if you are a member of another Arts Society NADFAS group, or £7). Either show up or contact: kay.roudaut@btopenworld.com or 01252 793811. Website: www.theartssocietyfarnhamevening.org.uk.

Calling all aspiring garden designers!

Enter by May There is a Garden Design Competition now in progress and being run by Godalming in Bloom, to commemorate the ending of the First World War. If you believe you could conjure up a combination of soft and hard landscaping in a small garden to reflect this important centenary, with your name on a plaque for all to see, why not give it a shot?

The site for the garden is already identified in Nightingale Cemetery and both funding and assistance with construction will be available. Designs need to be submitted by May 2018 and the winning design will be announced at the Godalming in Bloom prize giving on 10 July. Construction will take place in the following months ready for the formal opening March 2018

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during the weekend of 10th-11th November. Full details of the competition, including a design brief, are available at www.facebook.com/godalminginbloom or by email to matthewpswillis@hotmail.com.

Alresford Watercress Festival Sunday 20th May 10am-4pm Early notice for you to celebrate the wonderful world of watercress! Every year, Alresford gives itself over to celebrations of the crop that for over 150 years has given the town its unique identity as the ‘capital of watercress’.

This free festival, now in its 14th year, is the ultimate celebration of watercress with the chance for visitors to enjoy all kinds of family fun including a raft of edible watercress treats from watercress sausages, burgers, bread, fudge and ice cream to watercress beer and gin, available from over 80 stalls that line the streets. With local arts and crafts stalls, music, children’s entertainment and fabulous food, the Alresford Watercress Festival is a great day out for all the family. For more information about the festival, visit www.watercress.co.uk/festival or for directions and parking information, visit www.watercressfestival.org.

GET IN TOUCH

To send in an entry for Jottings, please email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk or go online to www.vantagepointmag.co.uk.

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VANTAGEPOINT 43

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To advertise, please call 01483 420173

VANTAGEPOINT 45

• COMPETITIONS

Enter at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk

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

WIN... tickets to see 'Made in Dagenham' at Charterhouse Godalming Theatre Group presents 'Made In Dagenham' from 10th–14th April 2018 at Ben Travers Theatre at Charterhosue School.

Set in 1968 Essex and based on the hit film of the same name, 'Made in Dagenham' is about friendship, love, and fighting for what’s right. Just like millions of other women, Rita O’Grady starts her working day dragging her husband out of bed, packing the kids off to school, and getting to work on time.

But life changes forever when Rita, a sewing machinist at the Ford Motor plant, leads her workmates in a strike against the mighty Ford for equal pay... and wins, which directly influenced the passing of the Equal Pay Act of 1970!

Tickets are available at www.gtguk.com or call 07402 484484.

To win a pair of tickets for the opening night on Tuesday 10th April, please answer the following question: Q: What year was the Equal Pay Act passed?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 23rd March 2018.

WIN... a pair of tickets to the Spring Garden Show at Loseley House Loseley Park starts its busy season with the Spring Garden Show on Friday 20th– Sunday 22nd April from 10am–5pm in the stunning Walled Gardens and visitors always look forward to stocking up with plants from the first class nurseries that attend. Other exhibitors include garden bygones and sundries, garden furniture, plant supports and ironwork, home furnishings and food stands, and delicious refreshments are served throughout the day.

Loseley House was built in 1562 and the Walled Garden, which adjoins the House, has had many lives since it was set out formally in the 16th Century. More on the website at www.loseleypark.co.uk.

Loseley Park has teamed up with VantagePoint magazine to offer 5 pairs of entry tickets to the Spring Garden Show. To win, please answer the following question: Q: In what year was Loseley House built.

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 28th March 2018.

Full terms and conditions are on our website.

WIN... 2 tickets to 'Rhythm of the Night' tour at Princes Hall, Aldershot Strictly Come Dancing dance professionals Ian Waite and Oti Mabuse are coming to the Princes Hall, Aldershot as part of a major new national UK tour.

An Audience With Ian Waite & Oti Mabuse – 'Rhythm of the Night' promises dance fans an extravaganza of high intensity Latin and Ballroom favourites in one thrilling evening at Princes Hall on Wednesday 4th April 2018.

Ian and Oti always push the boundaries of dance to bring the best out of their celebrity partner, with both reaching the final of the hit BBC Saturday night show. Last season it was Oti who almost triumphed with her celebrity partner, Hollyoaks’ Danny Mac. For more information, please visit www.princeshall. com.

For a chance to win a pair of tickets, please answer this question: Q: What was the name of Oti's partner in the last season of Strictly?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 23rd March 2018.

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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