VantagePoint Magazine June 2017 - Dorking & Leatherhead

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Dorking & Leatherhead • June 2017

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|| YOUR LOCAL TEAM We have recently launched a monthly email which we send out to all 8,000 people on our database. This email comes out just before the next VantagePoint magazine gets delivered by the Royal Mail and includes a preview of some of our upcoming articles and some of the main events that will be taking place in the local area, as well as all the new competitions.

The email will also feature all our latest competitions, which can all be entered immediately once you have received the email allowing people to get their entry in early.

June 2017

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The email will also have some special and potentially unique offers from the businesses we work with, which we hope will be of interest to readers, including discounts, new product launches and more.

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|| CONTENTS The local magazine produced by local people for the local community

RUGMART Surrey’s Biggest Rug Shop www.rugmart.co.uk

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6 Jottings

Your local community noticeboard

9 Surrey Hills Trust Fund Caroline Price tells us about this great charity 14 The Silent Pool Distillery Phil Kemp pays them a visit

Visit us for a huge range of Modern, Contemporary & Bespoke rugs

20 Time Gentlemen Please!

The story of Dorking pubs at Dorking Museum

24 Gardening

Favourite container plants

27 Food & Drink

Gin cocktails and a gin recipe

32 Walk Hand Woven Oriental Rugs Traditional & Antique Rugs Large and Over Size Rugs Persian & Afghan Rugs Handmade Tribal Kilims Hall Runners & Hearth Rugs

Waggoners Wells and Ludshott Common

36 Profile

Royal British Legion

Come and visit our showroom: 2-3 Woodbridge Road, Guildford GU1 4PU Be inspired by our treasure trove of rugs over 4 floors and 7000 sq ft!

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37 Business Cards

Small ads for trades and services

39 Competitions

Win one of three great prizes

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

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|| JOTTINGS

YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

JOTTINGS

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

June - the first month of summer and a great month to get married apparently, as it is possibly named after Juno - Roman Goddess of Marriage. It is National Smile Month and an important month for birthdays, including The Queen’s, Donald Trump’s and of course, Mine! Don’t forget Father’s Day on the 18th June - I particularly think the Dad’s Bacon Butty Brunch Cruise on the beautiful Wey and Arun Canal looks good, but there are many other events to choose from in the area. Have fun whatever you get up to.

Leatherhead’s Lunchtime Concerts Various dates during June Every Thursday at Leatherhead Methodist Church, Church Road, The Leatherhead Concert and Arts Society hold Music on Thursday starting on the 1st June at 12.30pm with Viola duo: Timothy Ridout & Ting-Ru Lai. There are various concerts during the month finishing with Bishop Ensemble: Carl Bradford, violin, Cameron Smith, cello, Madelaine Jones, piano on the 29th. For details on all of their concerts and Wednesdays at Christ’s Church, please visit their website www.musiconthursdays.org.

Celebrate English Wine Week at Albury Vineyard Saturday 3rd June from 11am Voted Producer of the Year in the Surrey Life Food & Drink Awards 2016, join Italian vineyard manager Alex to learn about the rise of the English wine scene and share Albury’s passion for organic produce and quality English wine. Taste three award-winning Albury Estate Sparkling wines, as well as the renowned Silent Pool Rosé. Vineyard tour and tastings

start at 11am and last 1 hour 30 minutes, booking essential via www.alburyvineyard.com/tour-and-tasting.

Watermill Jazz at Betchworth Park Golf Club Dorking Every Tuesday Evening Watermill Jazz present another month of top quality Jazz every Tuesday evening, with an international flavour during June. The programme starts on the 6th with the progressive Swiss piano trio Vein, then award winning broadcaster and vocalist Claire Martin celebrating the music of the undisputed ‘first lady of jazz’ Ella Fitzgerald, the quintet of the Fishwick Brothers. Finally, on the 27th the trio of American bebop pianist Barry Harris. Visit www.watermilljazz.co.uk for full details and to book online or call Steve on 07415 815784.

Hatchlands Tree Trail Until Sunday 4th June 10am-5pm Discover the secret of the trees on a fun trail around Hatchlands parkland. Visit their website for more details www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatchlands-park. Hatchlands Park, East Clandon GU4 7RT. Dorking Folk Club Meeting weekly on Wednesday nights from 8.30pm The weekly program alternates between booked guests and “Singers’ Nights”. The club’s “Singers’ Nights” showcase local non-professional musicians and performers who get together and perform in an informal, friendly and supportive atmosphere. These evenings are open to all types of performance and acoustic music styles; musicians, singers, Regain the use of your conservatory

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COME JOIN US FOR A PARTY BY THE POOL Saturday 10th June happens to be World Gin Day.

Come along and sample our amazing range of

And so, to celebrate, we’ve decided to have a bit of

spirits or opt for a refreshing cocktail from the bar.

a party down here at the Silent Pool. We’d love for

There’ll be food on offer from Surrey Spice, and

you to join us. Meet our distillers, sign-up for a free

music playing throughout the day, so you can relax

tour of our new distillery and learn how we make

and enjoy yourself in the beautiful environs of the

our award winning craft spirits.

Surrey Hills. Doors open at 10:00am.

For further details about Party by the Pool, or to order online, visit the website.

www.silentpooldistillers.com

WINNER

Food and Drink Innovation

<6 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD poems and monologues are all welcome. For further details please check out their website www.dorkingfolkclub.org.uk.

Entrance is usually £9 for Guest Nights and £3 for Singers Nights. Dorking Golf Club, Deepdene Avenue, Dorking, RH5 4BX. Teas In Church Capel Village Until November 3pm to 5pm The tranquil village of Capel lies just off A24 between Dorking and Horsham. Join them for regular culinary delights on Sunday afternoons, including a huge array of locally baked cakes and delicacies.

Events at Polesden Lacey Dorking Various events throughout the year Polesden Lacey have a superb line up for you this spring and summer. From Lazy jazz Sundays, Pop-up Shakespeare, Summer Ranger Walks, Bat walks, Go wild summer crafts and a Donkey Derby! For full details on these events and more go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey or telephone 01372 452048.

Simply Scones Cream Teas at The Grange, Bookham Tuesday afternoons 2.15pm-3.30pm Simply Scones cream teas are back in the Victorian Conservatory of The Grange Centre for People with Disabilities. They have been closed for building work, but are back with delicious (not to mention huge) scones made and served by people they support as part of a mini catering

01483 200440 07985 373010 info@mimodula.com

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business. To book, please call 01372 452608, £3.50 per person.

Probus social events for retired men Every first Tuesday Each month they meet at Tyrrells’s Wood Golf Course for lunch followed by a speaker of note, covering subjects such as ‘Brooklands Past and Present’ and Drones Uses and Abuses’. Also, mid-month social lunches, theatre visits, and outings for family & friends. If curious to learn more please contact Jon McCarthy on 07947 361406 or membership@probusclubleatherhead.org.uk, who will explain all and he will arrange for you to attend with member as their guest.

Leatherhead Rotary Club Meetings Wednesday Evenings 7pm Meeting at the Police Federation Headquarters in Highbury Drive, Leatherhead. For further information about the club and its wide range of community, fundraising and social activities please visit www.leatherheadrotary.org.uk or contact Simon Edmands on 07753 821964.

Dorking Museum exhibition: ‘Time Gentlemen Please!’

Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout June The story of the public houses of Dorking from the 13th century to their 19th century peak and to the present day, revealing their past and some of their stories. Maps plot locations, with old images of how they looked and modern

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The Surrey Hills Trust Fund Caroline Price tells us about this trust fund, which safeguards the future of the Surrey Hills The Surrey Hills Trust Fund was established in 2014 to safeguard the Surrey Hills landscape for future generations.

Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1958, the Surrey Hills cover approximately a quarter of rural Surrey, and include the chalk slopes of the North Downs from Farnham in the west to Oxted in the east and extending south to the deeply wooded Greensand Hills which rise in Haslemere. Famous beauty spots including The Devil’s Punchbowl, Newlands Corner, Box Hill and Leith Hill are all situated within this special landscape.

Established as a fund within the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS), a registered charity, the Surrey Hills Trust Fund helps to conserve and maintain the fragile environment of the Surrey Hills by awarding grants to support a wide-range of local projects from landscape conservation to community enterprise schemes.

Neil Maltby, Chairman of the Surrey Hills Trust Fund comments; “I am proud to be involved with the Surrey Hills Trust Fund and it is wonderful to see so many worthwhile projects happening that not only benefit the environment but also our local communities. The fund is vital to protect our beautiful landscape and with your help, we can create a lasting legacy for the Surrey Hills ensuring it is enjoyed by generations to come.”

The fund works with local communities, landowners and partner organisations for the benefit of residents, workers and visitors to the Surrey Hills and to give you an example could support the following; June 2017

• landscape conservation projects to open up viewpoints, restore landscape features etc.

• working with volunteers to undertake landscape access and conservation work.

• helping children and young people to access the countryside who would not otherwise have the opportunity.

• enhancing the ecology & biodiversity of the local area through practical projects.

Neil Maltby continues; “The Surrey Hills Trust Fund relies heavily on donations to fulfil its work. Every donation makes a difference, and stays local, going back into projects in Surrey. The variety of projects we get involved with show just how valuable and important our grants are.”

The Surrey Hills Trust Fund has awarded grants to a variety of local projects to date these include; Protecting Farnham Heath Nature Reserve In 2014 fire devastated over seven hectares of prime heathland on Farnham Heath Nature Reserve, seeing many important wildlife species including sand lizards depleted.

The RSPB were awarded a grant from the Surrey Hills Trust Fund to help with the ongoing restoration of the heath and help to protect it from fire damage in the future.

Image Grains by Tom Nicholson-Smith - one of the Inspiring Views artistic benches

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Working with Young People A grant was awarded to the Leatherhead Youth Project who took ten students into the Surrey Hills for two days to undertake Forest School Survival Skills training which involved building shelters, camp fires and learning how to forage for food as well as outdoor team building. The aim of the project was to offer a unique outdoor learning experience to young people who may not always get the opportunity, helping them to engage with the Surrey Hills countryside and to boost confidence and learning.

Inspiring Views Viewpoint clearance, access work and a series of 5 artistic benches along the Greensand Way were kindly funded through the Mittal Foundation. The Surrey Hills Trust Fund will maintain these artworks so that they can be enjoyed and experienced into the future.

Conservation work at Quarry Hangers This is a Site of Special Scientific interest (SSSI) in the east of the Surrey Hills at Chaldon, near Caterham which benefited from a grant so that extensive targeted scrub clearance could be carried out to improve the landscape and restore the rare and precious chalk grassland, typical of the North Downs.

Creative Landscapes in Health Project This recently awarded project will commission a writer, musician and artist to research and respond to areas of the Surrey Hills including Farnham Heath, Thursley, Moor Park, Leith Hill and Gatton Park. Each artist will create new work to share with the local community through a programme of creative health walks and workshops. Contact with green spaces and natural environments is proven to reduce symptoms of mental health problems and stress, and can improve mental wellbeing across all age groups. The walks and workshops also have social benefits and increase residents’ knowledge, connection and satisfaction with their local area.

Small Blue Butterfly Project A grant has been awarded to Butterfly Conservation to help conserve the Small Blue Butterfly in Surrey. A ‘habitat 10

stepping-stones’ project will permanently link the Small Blue colonies on the North Downs between Guildford and Box Hill. This important work also involves partnership working with Surrey Wildlife Trust, Lower Mole Partnership, National Trust and Natural England.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Surrey comments; “Through generous giving by local people, we are able to support wonderful projects that help preserve and enhance the stunning landscape.

We are delighted to continue our work in partnership with the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to encourage local philanthropic giving and help communities from across the county to access and enjoy the Surrey Hills for generations to come.”

Donations small or large make a huge difference to the fund and will enable it to support local projects, like those mentioned into the future. If you would like to find out more or make a donation please visit www. surreyhills.org/trust-fund or visit http:// cfsurrey.org.uk/fund/surrey-hills-trust-fund.

Images from top left: work undertaken at Farnham Heath to protect from future fire damage; children from Therfield School being taken into the Surrey Hills for survival skills training; artist Susan Ryland taking a reading of the breeze at Gatton Park lake as part of her 4 month residency inspired by the notion of 'taking the air'; and the small blue butterfly which the Trust Fund is helping with conservation work to help link colonies of the species.

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<8 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD photographs of what is there now. Families welcome – pub sign drawing competition and old pub games. Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-04pm, at 62 West Street, Dorking RH4 1BS. Details: www.dorkingmuseum. org.uk. Enquiries: admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk or 01306 876591.

The Surrey Contemporaries Summer Art Exhibition Monday 5th to Sunday 11th June Takes place at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking. All their local artists will be exhibiting a variety of original paintings, prints and cards and purchases can be taken away immediately. For further information visit www.surreycontemporaries.co.uk.

Box Hill’s New Riverside Walk Opens The National Trust at Box Hill is delighted to have opened up just over 80 acres of conservation-grade farmland for public access immediately below the famous viewpoint at Box Hill. Snaking its way down the hill, the new walk, called the Riverside Walk is a three mile route taking in some of the finest views and stretch of river that Box Hill has to offer.

There is also car parking, toilets and a café. Free copies of the walks leaflet and map can be picked up at the visitor centre, or downloaded at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill/ trails/box-hill-riverside-walk.

Walking Basketball at St Peter’s School, Merrow Every Monday 7pm-8pm Walking Basketball is a low impact but great cardio exercise

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suitable for all ages, sizes and abilities and for both men and women. Enjoy the camaraderie of being part of a team and meet new friends. For more information email bridget@ walkingbasketballuk.com or call 07810 122389. The first session is free and it’s a lot of fun!

Oddfellows Lunch Club in Ashtead Monday 5th June 12.15pm Make new friends and enjoy good food and company. Please join them for their next Lunch on Monday 5th June at The Woodman, Ashtead. Please contact Jenny on 01306 877792 or email Jenny.Vincent@oddfellows.co.uk for more details.

Dorking Local History Group Talk Monday 5th June 7.30pm For those interested in local history, this month Albert Bird will speak on “Brockham Park: Gentlemen’s Residence to Award Winning Laboratory”. Tickets are £2 on the door or an annual membership fee of £8 for singles, £10 for couples.

Held at Crossways Community Church, Junction Road, Dorking. Please contact John Patterson on 01306 888401 or email jhp3660@yahoo.co.uk for details.

Opera and Ballet Screenings at Dorking Halls Various Dates throughout June The Dorking Halls have three screenings this month: a triple bill from the Royal Ballet on the 7th, a recording of Verdi’s La Traviata from Glyndebourne on the 12th and a live relay from the Royal Opera House of Verdi’s Otello on the 28th. Ticket

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<11 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD prices vary. For more information and bookings call 01306 881717 or visit www.dorkinghalls.co.uk.

Dorking Folk Club presents Jim McLean 7th June 8.30pm Jim has roots buried deep in British and American traditional music. He has been performing and writing for 35 years. His music style is strongly acoustic guitar based, playing both 6 and 12 string guitars, using a variety of tunings and mixing rhythm and finger picking styles. Tickets are £9. Visit www. dorkingfolkclub.org.uk for bookings and details of all of their events.

Free Computer Courses in Dorking and Leatherhead Once a week for 6-8 weeks If you are over 55 and live in the Mole Valley area, you can use Age Concern’s free computer courses. Topics covered will include: browsing on the internet, basic keyboard and mouse skills, using an iPad/Tablet, setting up and using your own email or skype accounts and how to shop on the internet as well. Before coming to the course, you must register your interest by telephoning 07442 017169 / 01306 899104 or by emailing info@ageconcernmolevalley.org.uk.

Theatre In The Woods - Grange Park Opera Opens Thursday 8th June The first opera house to be built in the UK in the 21st century will open on the 8th June in the grounds of West Horsley Place, Surrey. The £10m Theatre in the Woods,

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funded entirely by private donations, is the new home of Grange Park Opera, one of Europe’s most celebrated music festivals. The opening night will be celebrated by a performance of Puccini’s Tosca, with superstar tenor, Joseph Calleja, singing the lead role of Cavaradossi. You can find full details of their events on their website at www. grangeparkopera.co.uk.

Explore Gatton Park Thursday 8th June and Thursday 20th July 11am This 1½ hour walk will feature the beautiful lake and Japanese Garden and will be led by artist, Susan Ryland, who will provide an insight into her work as Artist-in-Residence at Gatton Park.

Meet there: Gatton Hall, Gatton Park, Rocky Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0TW. Enter the gates of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School and park in the car park in front of the hall.

Volunteers needed for Dorking Museum The Museum is looking for volunteers to help with its Oral History programme, collecting and storing memories from Dorking and the surrounding villages in the past to preserve them for the future as part of the district’s historical record. Oral history allows people whose voices might not otherwise be heard to share their experiences. Training will be provided. If you think that you could help in collecting these oral histories, whether recording reminiscences or transcribing recordings, please email admin@ dorkingmuseum.org.uk.

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Pimm’s & Picnic Sunset Cruise with Wey & Arun Canal Friday 9th June 7.30pm-10pm.

The first evening cruise of the season offers passengers the opportunity to experience a leisurely summer evening trip on the canal sipping a glass of punch and tucking into a delicious individual picnic. Tickets cost £20 per person. For information on this and many other of the fabulous events go to their website www.weyandarun.co.uk or call the Trust Office on 01403 752403.

Local WaterAid Annual Walk for Water Saturday 10th June 9am-5pm Starting at Newlands Corner, choose from four signposted circular walks with something for everyone: wheelchair users, family groups to serious hikers (well behaved dogs welcome). There is no registration fee. You can get sponsors or simply make a donation. There is ample parking plus toilets and a snack bar. Find out more via www. wateraidwestsurrey.org.

Surrey Alzheimer’s Society in Surrey They urgently needs volunteers to enjoy hobbies with people with dementia. The UK’s leading dementia charity is launching its innovative Side by Side service in a bid to reconnect people with dementia with their communities and favourite pastimes. From joining a local club or just going for a stroll in the park, this service, pairs people with dementia and volunteers with shared interests. Anyone interested in becoming a Side by Side volunteer or would like to access the service should visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/ sidebysidevolunteer or call 0330 333 0804.

Local History Society Monthly Meetings Third Friday of each month 8pm The society has a full programme of lectures held at the Leatherhead Institute’s Dixon Hall. Every talk starts at 8pm, with coffee served from 7.30pm. Admission costs just £2.

Guests are always welcome. For more information go to www.leatherheadlocalhistory.org.uk.

Dorking Scrabble Club Every Wednesday at 7.30pm For a friendly game of Scrabble, pop along to The Roy Currie Room, United Reformed Church, West Street, Dorking. You will be welcomed whether you are a beginner or an expert. For more details ring Priscilla on 01737 767072 or David on 01306 889308.

June 2017

Walking in Dorking – historic guided walks Group bookings throughout May Take a trip into Dorking’s history with a guided walk of the town to see hidden Dorking. Your knowledgeable museum guide will reveal the forces, events and personalities that have shaped the town and its architecture and reveal the secrets that lie behind the streets of modern Dorking. Tours last 90 minutes. For details, visit www.dorkingmuseum. org.uk/guided-walks-around-dorking or email admin@ dorkingmuseum.org.uk.

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The Silent Pool Distillery Phil Kemp visits an artisan gin distillery, situated locally in the beautiful Surrey Hills The beautiful Surrey Hills offer stunning countryside and boast a host of hidden surprises, including the magical Silent Pool, where its eerie stillness embraces local legends of ghostly intrigue.

Rated in the top ten of Best Hidden Gems by Visit Surrey, the pool is fed by underground chalk springs that in their turn have provided a perfect location for an innovative and trendsetting local artisan distillery that draws water from the springs for their spirit production.

The Silent Pool Distillery, located in Albury near Guildford, was founded only four years ago but has quickly enthralled not only local gin and vodka lovers but those all across Britain, Europe and as far away as Japan, the USA and Peru.

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Their signature Silent Pool Gin, with its distinctive bottle design embracing the mythology and aqua-green waters of the adjacent pool and entwining these with the botanicals that are used to create the distinctive profile of the gin, has provided the cornerstone on which to build a truly inspiring distillery business.

I met up with Ian McCulloch, founding partner, who provided a walk-through of the distillery and the full story behind the success of the Silent Pool Distillery.

“I go to Scotland a lot and if the weather is really bad we inevitably end up in a distillery,” said Ian. “I have looked at the way the Scots were marketing their whisky. If you turn a To advertise, please call 01483 420173

bottle of malt around you’ll see words like ‘you can taste the salty mist as it drifts in at the dawn over the heather’ providing a narrative. You can virtually see and smell Scotland, the sky, the water and the rocks before you’ve even drunk their whisky.

There’s a lot of theatre around it bringing it to life. And I wondered if we could do the same in the North Downs.”

We walked across the courtyard, which provides a breathing space between the distillery, its bottling plant and the administration office which, although somewhat cramped, radiates an infectious energy from the team working there.

“As a drinker, I’ve always enjoyed gin. It’s one of those products you can do something adventurous with. We’ve likened it to painting with colours, or with flavours. If vantagepointmag.co.uk

you think of flavours as paint, and somebody gave you a white canvas and a load of colours, you can paint a million different pictures. Well it’s the same with flavours.”

The impressive copper pot still, with its almost H G Wells-inspired rectifying column towering 10ft above provided surreal reflections in the polished metal of the distilling team working busily behind us as we talked. The still was hand-built in Germany and the imposing stainless steel holding tanks standing alongside was sourced from Slovenia to hold both the spirit used in the distilling process and the crystalclear water pumped from the Silent Pool and filtered.

“The problem with whisky is you make it, store it in wooden barrels and then look at it for five or ten years. With gin it’s ten days end to end. And if you want to make floral gin you can make floral gin.

If you want to make juniper-rich gin you can make juniper-rich gin. Or summer gin, or a winter gin. You can do what you like, as long as it’s juniper-led, which by law gin has to be. So you’ve got a lot more scope creatively, and that’s what we’ve done.”

Earlier Ian had opened a large Perspex box which contained the all-important botanicals that give their gin its highly distinctive flavour. Each gin distillation uses a combination of these ingredients from 24 carefully-selected botanicals that the master distiller, Cory Mason, uses in his recipes. These included cardamom, coriander, cubeb, orris and juniper which are macerated in the base spirit for 24 hours before being added to the 250-litre copper pot still which extracts the botanical oils.

The more delicate ingredients including elderflower and kaffir lime leaves are macerated separately and added later. The June 2017

Images clockwise from left: The copper pot still, rectifying column and holding tanks; some members of the distillery team with (from right front row) Ian McCulloch Founding Partner and Simon Sherlock Head Distiller; and the reclaimed boiler, fed with local logs, provides steam for distilling.

last of the botanicals, which include coriander, lavender and pear are added to the gin basket, which hangs inside the still so that the vapour rising up the rectification column picks up the extra flavours. All in all, a mouth-watering fusion of diverse flavours which undoubtedly is why Silent Pool Gin has stolen the limelight and is quickly building a world-wide reputation.

“The whole distillation process takes about three hours, which delivers enough spirit for 380 bottles of gin,” explained Ian. “However, all this takes power to provide the steam for the still.

And that’s where we’ve been very creative.”

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Ian led the way to a door behind the copper still, down some metal stairs into an open-sided back room where we stood by a stack of split logs and a large ancient-looking metal boiler.

“The distillation needs heat.

We originally looked at modern biomass boilers and the quote for a steam generating one was a crazy £120,000. So I started to investigate heritage steam, and talking to the Bluebell Railway and the boys in Alton on the Watercress Line we found a chap in Canterbury who trades in reclaimed boilers. This old boiler was one-tenth of the cost, is really simple to run and maintain, you just need a spanner! We are 15

Left: Simon Sherlock, Head Distiller, with the distillery’s range of products. Right: The distillery is located on the North Downs in the Albury Estate.

supplied with wood by the Albury Estate, which is felled locally and chopped just over the road. In fuel miles that’s around half a fuel mile. It works fine.”

As we clambered back up the metal stairway into the distillation room Ian added: “We attach a whistle to the boiler occasionally just for the visitors who come along to our distillery tours. It’s a three-chime whistle so that everybody in the valley knows we are distilling. After all it’s the steam that drives the distilling process.”

Now standing alongside the large stainless steel holding tanks, with each labelled according to which part of the process they are being used for, Ian opens the steel cap on a pipe protruding at an angle from one of the tanks.

“Take a smell. That’s high-proof Silent Pool Gin in there, around 85% strength. We use these tanks to cut the spirit down to 43% bottling strength by mixing with the filtered spring water taken from the Silent Pool. It’s a chalk spring and we take all the minerals out of the water when we filter it. Everything is done on site, nothing leaves the site – unless it’s in a bottle.

Water flowing from the spring goes from the Silent Pool into Sherbourne pond. From there it goes into the Tillingbourne, the Tillingbourne into the Wey, and finally the Wey into the Thames.”

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We walk through the packing area and briefly watch the small but industrious bottling team handfill the distinctive blue Silent Pool Gin bottles, cap and sticker them with the necessary barcode and customs labels, and pack these into cartons ready for shipping out to customers eagerly awaiting the next shipment of one of their favourite gins.

Pausing briefly by the courtyard table groaning under the weight of the distillery’s wide range of products - which include several different flavoured gins, their popular Wry Vodka, a strawberry and gin liquer that apparently mixes well with Prosecco, and several flavoured sprays and cordials – Ian continues to emphasise their preference for sourcing locally.

is currently sitting in Cranleigh.

It’s five times the size of the one we’re using at the moment. We’ve got a south-facing roof here so a large part of the operation will be solar-powered.

“Our strawberries come from Tuesley Farm and the blackberries are local. The yeast for the vodka from a supplier in Godalming. The charcoal we use for filtering the vodka is from John Sinclair with the hornbeam logs sourced and burned locally.

Juniper has been grown on the North Downs for thousands of years.”

“We want to get back into whisky so the new still is a ‘stripping still’ which is ideal. We had started producing whisky but when Silent Pool Gin took off we had to concentrate on that. We have got an innovative product plan, which I’m not going to tell you. Nobody has done it yet and we think it will be a world beater. For whisky you in effect need beer which you distil, and one or two of the local brewers are quite interested in that. There’ll also be quite a bit of grain waste so we’re thinking of distillery grain-fed pork from pigs brought up on the side of the hill here.”

The distillery is located on Albury Estate, land owned by the Duke of Northumberland, and is set in beautiful countryside and farmland. To the rear of the existing distillery is a large agricultural building which at the time of my visit had building workers pouring a new concrete floor.

The Silent Pool Distillery runs 90-minute ‘deep dive’ gin tours which include a tasting of their full range at the end. From my brief visit there I came away impressed and inspired by their creativity, originality, and enthusiasm – but as I was working I didn’t touch a drop. But make sure you do. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

“You have seen that we are a bit tight on space at the moment,” said Ian, as we stepped over some concrete reinforcing mesh lying on the ground by the entrance. “So we are going to be installing a new still in here which

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

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FIND OUT MORE Silent Pool Distillery, Shere Road, Albury, Surrey GU5 9BW. T: 01483 229136 E: office@silentpooldistillers.com. www. silentpooldistillers.com. vantagepointmag.co.uk

<13 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD FOSPAL (Friends of the Surrey Performing Arts Library) Saturday 10th June 2.30pm Free talk by actor Robin Sebastian. Robin has had a varied stage and broadcasting career but is perhaps best known for his portrayals of the late, great Kenneth Williams. Tickets (free) are obtainable from the FOSPAL ticket secretary on 01372 453638 or from the Library. Held at The Performing Arts Library, Denbies Winery, London Road, Dorking RH5 6AA. Horsley Garden Society They hold flower and produce shows, meetings, lectures and visits to bring together those with an interest in gardening - from beginners to experts. New members and visitors are always welcome. Membership is only £5 per annum, contact the Chairman, Roger Lindsay for details via email: r.lindsay339@btinternet.com or the Membership Secretary, Terry Lazenby via email: terrylazenby@terrylazenby.plus. com.

Whist Drive at Leigh Village Hall Held every Thursday at 7.30pm Join this fun, friendly and welcoming group who are are looking for new members to boost their numbers. Admission is only £3 so why not pop along. For more information contact 01306 631373.

Dorking Walkers Every Tuesday and Thursday How about walking regularly with a friendly local group. For

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more details on the walks please contact Ann on 01306 888745 or visit their website: www.surreycommunity.info/ dorkingwalkers.

Brockham Choral Society presents ‘In The Mood’ Saturday 10th June at 7.30pm An evening of Swing and Jazz, including pieces by Jo Garland, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and many others. Make up a party with friends, bring a hamper and a bottle of wine. To recreate the Swinging 30s why not dress in style? Held at St Paul’s Church Dorking RH4 2HT. Tables limited so please order your tickets in advance online at www.brockhamchoral.org/tickets.

Oxshott and Horsley Choral Societies Present ‘An Evening with Mozart’ Saturday 10th June 7.30pm Mozart’s Requiem and other Mozart works conducted by Valerie Baynon. Admission for adults £15, Under 18s £8.

Tickets available from choir members, at the door or the box office: 07768 573987. Held at St John’s School Chapel, Epsom Road, Leatherhead KT22 8SP. Ashtead Bowling Club Free Indoor Coaching Session Wednesdays and Thursdays Sessions are tailored for beginners and provide an excellent introduction to the sport of bowling. A £1 fee is required to cover temporary membership for the day. You would then be eligible for full membership of the club with use of all its

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<17 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD facilities. Please contact Mike Bradford on 01372 273142 to book a session.

fun. For more information please call 07810 122389 or email the foundation at foundation@surreyscorchers.co.uk.

Annual Tour of Ewhurst’s Secret Gardens Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th June 2pm to 6pm Allowing visitors to enjoy gardens that are usually hidden behind walls, fences or hedges. This time focusing on the southern end of the village, with a variety of sizes and styles and a huge assortment of flowers, trees and shrubs to admire all with lovely rural views. The hardworking owners will be only too happy to welcome you and have a chat. There are two tea venues where you can enjoy refreshments and delicious cakes, Maps displayed in the village will show you which gardens are open. Proceeds are shared between the Village School and other village charities. Entry is £6.50 which covers both days. Tickets are available from Hazelbank Stores in the village or at any of the gardens on the day.

Dorking Museum: The Deepdene Trail Open Day 11th June, Group bookings throughout June Dorking Museum walks team runs guided walks on the Deepdene Trail: the grotto, woodland walks, parterre and temples, spectacular views across the Weald and exclusive access to the grade II* listed Hope family mausoleum. Tours last 90 minutes. Open Day for individual bookings, 11th June 2pm. Group tours can be arranged by appointment through the Museum website, £4 per person. Visit www. dorkingmuseum.org.uk/the-deepdene-trail/ or email admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk.

Basketball for disabled young people Every Monday 6pm-7pm The Scorchers Foundation charity, who run alongside the Surrey Scorchers Pro Basketball team are running Basketball sessions for young adults 16+ with intellectual (learning) disabilities. The first session will always be free and then they will be at a reduced rate of £2 per person for the time being. The basketball takes place at St Peter’s School, Merrow on Monday nights. They would be delighted to see more young people coming along to join in and have some

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Yoga and Wellbeing in the Surrey Hills Monday 12th June 9.30am-2.30pm National Trust set to host its first yoga retreat at Leith Hill Place, with its breathtaking views over the Surrey and Sussex Downs it is indeed a perfect spot for relaxation and contemplation. Suitable for all ages and abilities, prebooking is essential. Tickets cost £50 per person including a delicious vegetarian lunch and a chance to look around Leith Hill Place. No previous experience is necessary. For further information, or to book, please call 01372 220640.

Chasamba Dance Fitness at Beare Green Village Hall From 12th June 2.30pm Chasamba is an un-partnered dance fitness class for

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD anyone who wants to learn some cool Latin and Ballroom dance moves, keep fit and have fun at the same time. Find out more on Facebook: ChasambaWithNicola or by Email: chasambawithnicola@hotmail.com. Held at Merebank, Beare Green, RH5 4LD. Why not join in? £6 per session and the first two classes are half price.

parties, family gatherings and business meetings. For further information or to arrange to view the hall please contact Valerie Miles on 01306 627248, Moira Cassidy on 01306 627786 or email valerie@fivemiles.co.uk. Alternatively visit the website www.walliswood.org.

Horsley Floral Decoration Group Tuesday 13th June 2pm This months’ demonstrator is Sachiko Pearce on the subject ‘Floral Theatre’. The club competition will be ‘Show Stopper’.

This Group is a friendly afternoon flower arranging club.

Meeting at East Horsley Village Hall on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (except August) at 2 pm. They have a varied programme of events throughout the year, so for more details please phone Beryl 01483 831422 or email bjg317@ virginmedia.com. Visitors and New Members very welcome - first visit is free.

Dorking Folk Club Singers’ Night Wednesday 14th June 8.30pm Not just for Singers - open to all acoustic performers (music, song, poems, prose) who would like to take a floor spot and perform a couple of items for the enjoyment of all. Tickets are £3. Dorking Golf Club, Deepdene Avenue, Dorking, Surrey RH5 4BX. Visit www.dorkingfolkclub.org.uk for full details.

To Hire - Walliswood Village Hall, RH5 5RJ The recently refurbished hall is ideal for holding birthday

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Leatherhead Arts Society Wednesday 14th June 7.15pm Dr Caroline Shenton, former Director of the Parliamentary Archives, talks about the great conflagration that destroyed Parliament’s glorious old buildings and their contents in the early evening of 16 October 1834. Based on the acclaimed book of the same name, this talk takes the audience through the gripping hour-by-hour story of the fire through contemporary depictions of the disaster by Turner, William Heath and others. The society welcomes visitors for £5 at the door, at Leatherhead Parish Church Hall KT22 2BD, but please make initial contact via email to info@ledfas.org.uk or telephone John Andrews on 01372 373083.

New Small-Grant Community Fund Open for Applications The Small-Grant Community Fund has been created to offer support to those groups that carry out valuable work within their communities boosting community resilience and self-reliance. Grants are allocated on a quarterly basis throughout the financial year. Amounts of up to £5,000 can be requested. For more information see www.molevalley. gov.uk/grants, email grants@molevalley.gov.uk or call Adria Kinloch, Partnerships Support Officer on 01306 879338.

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LOCAL ||

Time Gentlemen Please!

The story of Dorking pubs at Dorking Museum

Returns for 1892 show that, by the late 19th century, there were 46 licensed premises in the parish of Dorking – approximately one hostelry for every 240 residents. However, their numbers reduced with the temperance movement in the early 20th century and the impact of the licensing laws introduced during the First World War. By 1934, the number of licensed premises had halved and continued to shrink as market conditions declined.

Dorking Museum’s current special exhibition tells the story of the public houses of Dorking from the earliest known records in the 13th century, through its peak in the 19th century and subsequent decline as the industry met hard times. You may be amazed by the number of pubs that existed in Dorking by the end of the 19th century and their rich and varied histories.

One of the earliest hostelries known in the immediate area was the Fox and Hounds, founded in 1254. The present building dates from the 17th century, and was later known as the Hare and Hounds, and most recently the Burford Bridge Hotel.

It seems that the earliest known inns in the town itself were the Cardinal’s Hat and the George, which were present in what is now the High Street some time before 1485. Evidence of the George is still carefully preserved in the building that now houses The Lemon Tree gift shop. The Cardinal’s Hat reverted to a private residence and was rebuilt in the late 17th century as The Red Lion, perhaps the most important inn in Dorking at that time. In the 1590s, The Queen’s Arms became the largest, stretching from the corner of North Street as far as Mullins House in West Street with stables, yards, outbuildings and a bowling alley.

The growth in the number of hostelries in the town was impacted by the natural growth of the town and the effect of the coaching routes, the market and the arrival of the railway. It was also given a boost by the Beerhouse Act of 1830, which abolished the beer tax and extended opening hours. The town’s hotels and inns came to provide a variety of other services to the local community – a theatre, sports and games venues (including cock-fighting!), offices for civic duties and for a range of tradespeople.

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The exhibition shows which in the past were the most important public houses in Dorking and what other roles they played in the everyday lives of residents and travellers. Large-scale maps show the location of the known licensed public houses and beerhouses, some with old photographs, paintings and drawings of how they looked in their heyday, and modern photographs of those that still exist and the buildings that have replaced many others. A new 120-page book giving more detail on the history of Dorking’s pubs can be purchased at the museum.

Families are welcome too, with a pub sign drawing competition for children and some old pub games where they can try their hand at shove ha’penny and bar skittles. Other pub memorabilia is also on display.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum walks team is running special guided walks: a 90minute tour takes in some of the former and current pub sites within Dorking town centre, relating their history and pointing out some of their features.

Details and booking via the museum website.

FIND OUT MORE Time Gentlemen Please! The story of Dorking pubs continues at Dorking Museum, 62 West Street, Dorking RH4 1BS until October.

The Museum is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Tel: 01306 876591. Website: www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk and on Facebook and Twitter.

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<19 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Horsley Decorative and FIne Arts Society Monthly Lecture Wednesday 14th June 10.30am The June lecture is ’Treasures of the Turf: The Fine and Decorative Art of Horse Racing’ by Christopher Garibaldi.

Lectures take place every second Wednesday of the month (except August and September) in East Horsley Village Hall, Kingston Avenue KT24 6QT at 10.30am (coffee available 9.45am-10.15am). Visitors (£5) and new members welcome.

For more information and the full programme please phone 01372 451015 or visit their website: www.horsleydfas.org. uk.

The Unattached Group (TUG) TUG have planned countryside and London walks, local music events, theatre events, a river trip and are making arrangements for the annual summer party. A Surrey based group of about 70 single professional people aged 55-69 who enjoy times together including informal weekly pub meets as well as meals out, theatre and cinema trips, walks, quizzes, bridge, opera and book clubs and the occasional leisure weekend away. New members are most welcome and information can be obtained at www.theunattachedgroup. co.uk or Maggie on 07855 008897.

Friends of the Dorking Community Hospital Volunteers If you can spare a morning or afternoon weekly, fortnightly or monthly to help run the coffee shop the would love to hear from you and it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the Shop Manager Eileen Stanbridge 01306 884178 or make enquires at the coffee shop.

Horsley Garden Society’s Summer Show Saturday 17th June 2pm-4pm Horsley Garden Society holds flower and produce shows, meetings, lectures and visits that bring together those with an interest in gardening. All events at West Horsley Village Hall. New members and visitors are always welcome. Anyone interested in membership at the modest cost of £5 per annum should contact the Chairman, Roger Lindsay, email r.lindsay339@btinternet.com or the Membership Secretary, Terry Lazenby, email terrylazenby@terrylazenby.plus.com.

Mickleham Choral Society Concert Saturday 17th June 7.30pm An evening of entertainment at St Martins Church, Dorking.

The Choir will be singing Faure Requiem accompanied by full orchestra. The programme will then be followed by solos, ensembles, and some of Choirs favourite pieces. This is a special event to celebrate Juliet Hornby 10 years of being Mickleham Choral Society’s Conductor. Email weaver_ anne@hotmail.com for more details. Tickets are £15.00 for adults and £7.50 for children.

Dorking Choral Society Concert at St. Paul’s Church Dorking Saturday 17th June 6pm Dorking Choral Society finishes its season with a summer concert entitled ‘The Evening Primrose’. The choir will sing a selection of choral songs linked by the theme of flowers,

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June 2017

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<21 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD including Britten’s Five flower songs and Finzi’s Seven poems of Robert Bridges. There will also be a new piece by the choir’s conductor Richard Wilberforce. Call 01306 877256 for more information.

Fathers’ Day at Claremont: Bushcraft and Classic Cars Sunday 18th June at various times Sign up with Dad to learn traditional bushcraft skills in the outdoors. On the same day Surrey Classic Vehicle Club will be displaying vintage cars on the amphitheatre. Free admission to the garden for fathers when accompanied by their children. For more information on this event and many more please go to their website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ claremont-landscape-garden.

Dorking Business Breakfast Group Every Thursday from 7am This is Dorking’s oldest and largest business networking group with members from over thirty local businesses. They meet at Betchworth Park Golf Club near Dorking, to exchange business referrals and discuss matters affecting the town.

For further information about Dorking Business Breakfast Group, please visit www.dorkingbbg.com or follow @ DorkingBBG on Twitter.

Dad’s Bacon Butty Brunch Cruise on Wey & Arun Canal Sunday 18th June 9.45am to 12 noon On Father’s Day, treat your Super Dad to a trip on the canal whilst enjoying a tasty bacon butty washed down with tea or coffee. The wharf is behind the Onslow Arms public house High Street, Loxwood, RH14 0RD. Visit www.weyandarun. co.uk for full details. Booking essential.

Friends of Dorking Karaoke Night at Rialto Lounge Monday 19th June Karaoke Night is one of their most popular events although not necessarily with the neighbours! Friends of Dorking events help to raise vital funds for the town’s Summer Hanging Baskets and Christmas Lights, so please do join them for this fun evening. For more information and bookings call 07753 821964, email info@friendsofdorking. org or visit www.friendsofdorking.org.

Bridge Taster session 19th June Monday 1.30pm Dorking Golf Club Come to a Taster Session which will have you playing a game of bridge. Bring your friends for for a drink and a free Taster Session. Visit www.3countiesbridge.com for more details.

Dorking Folk Club presents Martin Carthy Wednesday 21st June 8.30pm For more than 40 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers. He’s a ballad singer, a groundbreaking acoustic and electric guitarist. Tickets are £12. Visit www.dorkingfolkclub.org.uk for full details.

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Leatherhead Museum - Cathy Brett Exhibition Every Thursday and Friday from 1pm to 4pm and Saturdays 10am-4pm until December Leatherhead Museum is open again after its annual refurbishment. Local artist Cathy Brett has created a stunning array of new exhibits to mark the 70th anniversary of the Leatherhead & District Local History Society. Topics covered range from flood to drought, to food tasting, pop music and the Olympics, with the River Mole central to a new time-line display. Entrance is free. Hampton Cottage, 64 Church Street, Leatherhead. Visit www.leatherheadlocalhistory.org.uk for more information.

Summer Evening Concert conducted by John Beswick Saturday 24th June 7.45pm The programme includes Beethoven’s Symphony No.5; Brahms’ Violin Concerto with the internationally renowned soloist Kai Gleusteen and the Magic Flute Overture by Mozart. Tickets are available on the night and from www.

WeGotTickets.com priced at £12. Held in Reigate Park Church, Park Lane East, Reigate RH2 8BD. Dorking South Street Caves – Cave Tours Open Day 24th June, Group bookings throughout June Take an underground trip into history in Dorking’s famous South Street Caves dating from the 17th century. Tours take 45 minutes. Group tours (up to 12 people) arranged by appointment, between 9am and 8pm. £60 adult groups, £50 youth groups, £30 youth charities. Open Day for

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individual bookings, 24th June, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm. £6 per person, booking via website. For details, visit www. dorkingmuseum.org.uk/south-street-caves/ or email caves@dorkingmuseum.org.uk.

Summer Jazz with The Ladybirds Choir Saturday 24th June 3pm The Ladybirds Choir’s summer concert will have a jazz flavour this year, with a special focus on the songs of Ella Fitzgerald and George Gershwin. Also presenting highlights from Porgy and Bess and other songs by the legendary American songwriter George Gershwin, who died eighty years ago. This year they are delighted to be supporting the Dorking Besom. Held at the United Reformed Church Hall, West Street, Dorking, RH4 1BS. Tea and cake will be served after the concert. Tickets £7.50 from 01737 843662.

Leith Hill Place Exhibition ‘Wedgwood at Home” Until Late October Friday-Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 11am-5pm.

A collection of Wedgwood ceramics will be on display at Leith Hill Place this year, returning to the house for the first time in over 50 years. The exhibition is being held in memory of the late Sir Martin Wedgwood. Entrance to the exhibition is free, but admission charges for Leith Hill Place will apply. National Trust members receive free entry. A series of special events will be held throughout the year and will be advertised on the National Trust website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill-place.

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23

GARDENING ||

With Beth Otway

Favourite container plants

Beautifully-scented plants are always top of my list. The dwarf, compact, lavender cultivars, known as Lavandula angustifolia, are such lovely options for containers in a sunny spot, where their calming, soothing fragrance can be welcomed and enjoyed by all. Lavandula angustifolia 'Lavenite Petite' has a naturally compact habit and produces purple flowers, which grow up to 35cm (15 inches) in height. Lavandula angustifolia â&#x20AC;&#x2122;Purityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a smidgen taller, growing up to 40cm tall, producing white flowers that are less grey toned than many of the white lavenders currently available. Lavandula angustifolia 'Little Lottie = Clarmo', grows up to 40cm tall and produces quite charming pink flowers. Other options are available such as Lavandula angustifolia 'Miss Muffet = Scholmis', L. angustifolia 'Loddon Blue', and L. angustifolia 'Peter Pan', to name a few.

Heliotropes make fantastic container plants.

Their flowers are a beautiful shade of deep purple and they produce the most delicious fragrance which is warm and sweet like a cherry pie. Sarah Raven stocks Heliotropium arborescens 'Midnight Skyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Alternatively look for plants at your local nursery.

Pelargoniums, erroneously known as Geraniums, grow fantastically well in containers where they will flower all summer long. These floriferous plants are widely available in a variety of different forms and flower colours. Pelargoniums are very accommodating and grow well even if you forget to water them on occasion.

Scented leaved Pelargoniums have aromatic foliage. If their leaves are rubbed or crushed their fragrance is released. Some cultivars can be rather pungent! Their fragrant 24

leaves can be used in potpourri or to add flavour to culinary dishes. Pelargonium 'Sweet Mimosa' features larger than usual flowers, in a pretty pale pink colour, touched with a darker shade of plum, and produces leaves that emit a rose scent, as does the widely known Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses' which has gentle pink coloured flowers. Pelargonium 'Lavender Lindy' produces lavender scented leaves and vibrant purple-pink flowers. There's no prizes for guessing the scent produced by Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange'. This very beautiful cultivar features many white flowers, which are brushed with pink, and purple markings. Pelargonium 'Islington Peppermint' produces flowers which feature upper petals of the darkest maroon and contrasting white lower petals. Many other scented-leaved Pelargoniums are available. If you're interested in buying Pelargoniums, Fibrex Nurseries are specialist Pelargonium-growers with an online store.

I love the irrepressible cheer that sunflowers bring to the garden. Dwarf sunflowers are ideal for containers, but make haste and sow your seeds now to give your plants sufficient time to grow, flower and set seed before the frosts arrive.

Helianthus annuus 'Choco Sun' and Helianthus annuus 'Irish Eyes' are two of my favourite dwarf sunflowers for containers.

Seeds of forget-me-nots can be sown now, either in containers or directly in the soil, where they will flower next springtime. Chiltern Seeds offer some lovely varieties, including Myosotis sylvatica 'Snowsylva' a floriferous white flowered forget-me-not, there's also Myosotis sylvatica 'Rosylva' a pink form, and Myosotis sylvatica 'Bluesylva' available in this special forget-me-not series.

All of the plants I have recommended here will thrive in peatfree compost. To ensure your plants grow and perform well, it's important to use good quality compost. Dalefoot Composts came top in my recent peat free compost trial.

They are made from natural ingredients including sheep's wool, which is absorbent, thus creating moisture retentive compost that doesn't require watering as often.

FIND OUT MORE For more gardening advice, tips, and lovely ideas for the month ahead, visit her website www.pumpkinbeth.com

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Images from left: Heliotrope and forget-me-not. Both by Beth Otway

Containers filled with your favourite coloured flowering plants can bring so much joy to you and the bees and butterflies in your garden.

What A Blooming Marvellous Month!

Summer’s here. In fact, it starts twice this month depending on whether you follow the meteorological or astronomical calendar. For many, 1st June marks the beginning of Summer, but the longest day - the Summer Solstice - is actually on 21st June.

Beautifully designed & crafted outdoor spaces for you to enjoy

Regardless of when you celebrate Summer’s arrival, one thing’s certain - gardens are at their best in June.

Roses and flowers are in full bloom and greenery is gloriously abundant. But with Summer’s extra hours of daylight and (hopefully!) warmth giving your garden an exuberant burst of growth, weeds seem to appear from nowhere too. So keep on top of them by hoeing regularly, especially borders, in dry weather.

There are quite a few jobs to keep your garden looking its best in Summer - weeding, mowing, planting, watering - but make sure you allow time to enjoy all the gorgeous colour around you. Is there anything more relaxing than sitting outside in a beautiful sunny garden? Eating al fresco is another Summer highlight, but use an awning or canopy to provide shelter from the sun, or less clement weather conditions!

Visiting other gardens makes a great day out. Living in such a beautiful part of the country, there will be stunning gardens virtually on your doorstep throwing open their gates and offering inspiration. Visit www. opengardens.co.uk for a list in your area.

Tempted to open your garden next year, but it’s in need of a new look? Call garden experts, Boardman Gelly & Co, on 01306 611231 for advice or email info@ boardman-gelly.co.uk

Planning a garden makeover? Give us a call…

We plan, design & construct stunning garden landscapes & outdoor areas. Let us create something special for you & your family to enjoy.

Our fresh approach & our expertise from creating award-winning gardens gives you access to showstopping designs, whatever the scale of your project.

• Planting

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<23 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Dorking Town Centre Pub Walks Open Day 24th June, group bookings by appointment Alongside Dorking Museum’s exhibition on Dorking pubs, the walks team is running guided pub walks, taking in former and current town centre pub sites, relating their history and stories and pointing out features. Tours last 90 minutes.

Booking via the website, £3 per person. Open Day for individual bookings: Saturday 24th June, 6pm. Group walks (minimum 10 people) arranged by appointment. Details on www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/guided-walks-arounddorking/ or email admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk.

• Caring Independent Practice • Advice on all aspects of Pet care • Discounted Health Plan available • Consultations by appointment

Out-of-hours services from Monday to Friday until 10pm on weekends/bank holidays 9am-6pm. Covered by Vets Now Guildford weekdays after 10pm and weekends/bank holidays after 6pm.

www.breladesvets.com

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 0830 – 1830 hours, Saturday 0900 - 1100 hours Sunday emergency Clinic 1000 – 1100 hours 20 Knoll Road, Dorking RH4 3EP - 01306 883086 Rothwell House, Church Road, Bookham KT23 3JP - 01372 452531 Station Road, Gomshall GU5 9LE - 01483 205066

Cornflower Concert at St James’ Church, Abinger Common Saturday 24th June 7.30pm There is plenty of music on offer in Dorking during June. A notable event this month is the final concert promoted by “Cornflower Presents”. Several Cornflower concerts, which specialise in period performance, have been generously arranged by Michèle Kohler over the years, with the entire proceeds always going to charity, but Michèle has decided this is to be her final concert. At this concert, Sigiswald Kuijken will perform solo music by Bach, playing a suite for cello and the second partita for violin. He will also be joined by violist Marleen Thiers to play duets by Thomas Morley and music by Gossec. There will be a glass of wine in the interval, and tickets for children and students are only £1, otherwise £8 for adults. For tickets please contact cornflwr@ cornflwr.demon.co.uk.

Celebrity Organ Recital at Betchworth Saturday 24th June 4pm The International Concert Organist, D’Arcy Trinkwon, will be giving the next organ recital at St Michael’s Church, Church Street, Betchworth. Tickets are £15 (under 14s: £10) - please contact 01737 843498 or betchworthchurchmusic@ hotmail.co.uk. The ticket price includes a programme and a glass of wine or soft drink. The event is in aid of Church Funds.

Shere Open Gardens Charity Event Sunday 25th June 2pm-6pm Shere, one of the most picturesque villages in Surrey, nestling at the foot of the North Downs between Guildford and Dorking, will be opening about 25 garden gates and inviting the public to view a selection of beautiful private gardens, giving you a glimpse into quintessential England and offering an enjoyable afternoon wandering around gardens in full bloom. There will be a plant sale, question time at the allotments, Pimms at the cricket club and afternoon tea in the village hall. Alll monies raised will go to local charities. Entry is £7 for adults, Over 60 £6; Children under 16 free. For further information visit www.shereopengardens.co.uk.

Fitness Challenges Fund Hospice Care If you’re looking for a new challenge this year, then look no further! Whether you’re a couch potato who won’t even run for the bus, or a gym bunny looking for a new high – Phyllis Tuckwell has a huge range of challenges which will get your adrenaline pumping! Choose your challenge and

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Gin cocktails

FOOD & DRINK ||

To coincide with our main feature on Silent Pool Distillery, we have three cocktail ideas to help your summer start with a kick!

BEE'S KNEES

MISTY POOL G&T

Bees harvest nectar from nearby flowers, so honey is a direct reflection of the area in which it is made. That's why local honey is not only a key ingredient in Silent Pool gin but also in one of their favourite cocktails:

The most popular way to enjoy our gin is still in a classic G&T. Not satisfied with a simple twist or slice, we created a set of flavourful liquid garnishes from key botanicals. These concentrated essences enhance the flavour of your drink by accentuating the fresh notes inherent in our gin.

Replacing your usual twist of citrus with Silent Pool Mist Liquid Garnish will raise your cocktail-making to a whole new level.

50ML SILENT POOL GIN 20ML HONEY 20ML FRESH SQUEEZED LEMON JUICE In a shaker, stir together the gin and honey until the honey has dissolved.

Add the lemon Juice and fill shaker with ice.

Shake until chilled and strain into a chilled cocktail coupe or martini glass.

Garnish with a twist of lemon peel.

50ML SILENT POOL GIN 125ML PREMIUM TONIC WATER 4 SPRAYS SILENT POOL MIST LIQUID GARNISH (KAFFIR/BERGAMOT) Fill a large glass with ice and spray with Silent Pool Mist Liquid Garnish.

Add gin and top with your favourite tonic - enjoy!

SILENT POOL MARTINI The delicate intricacy of Silent Pool Gin is best enjoyed neat. However, the sweet and floral flavours in the gin come through beautifully in this classic cocktail: 60ML SILENT POOL GIN 20ML DRY VERMOUTH In a mixing glass, add the gin and dry vermouth. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir through until chilled.

Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass.

Finish off with an olive, a twist of lemon peel or a few sprays of Silent Pool Mist Liquid Garnish.

June 2017

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Gin recipe

RECIPES ||

Gin-cured Salmon Gin-cured salmon with juniper berries and coriander seeds is a light and bright garden party favourite. This recipe is by Gill Dupleix and is taken from www.taste.com.au. Image by Ben Dearnley.

Ingredients: 75g table salt 75g caster sugar 1 tsp grated lime zest, plus 1 lime thinly sliced (a mandolin is ideal) 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns, lightly crushed 1 tsp pink peppercorns (see note) 2 tsps coriander seeds 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp juniper berries, lightly crushed (see note) 80ml gin 400g centre-cut salmon fillet, skin on, pin-boned 2 cucumbers (Lebanese if you can find them) 2 tbsps mint leaves Borage flowers, extra virgin olive oil and toasted sourdough slices, to serve (see note) Serves 4

Method: 1. Combine salt, sugar, zest, black and pink peppercorns, spices, juniper berries and gin. Spread half the spice mixture in a glass or ceramic dish. Add fish, skin-side down, and cover with remaining spice mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight, turning fish after 12 hours and spooning any liquid in the dish over the top. Remove salmon from dish, reserving any liquid, and rinse. Pat dry with paper towel.

2. Very thinly slice cucumbers lengthways (a mandoline is ideal) and marinate in the reserved liquid for 30 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 tablespoon 28

spices from curing liquid.

3. Very thinly slice salmon on the diagonal, discarding skin. Arrange on a serving platter. Scatter with cucumber, lime slices, mint, borage flowers and reserved spices. Drizzle with oil and serve with sourdough.

Note: â&#x20AC;˘ Pink peppercorns and juniper berries are from delis. Borage flowers are from garden centres and farmers' markets. â&#x20AC;˘ Begin this recipe a day ahead.

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summer festival 12 June - 12 August 2017

Make the most of your summer in Guildford

Sponsors

Including

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<26 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD show everyone what you’re made of. Visit www.pth.org. uk/getfit-for-phyllis to see the full range of challenges on offer or contact the Fundraising team on 01252 729446/ fundraising@pth.org.uk to sign up now!

Voluntary Action South West Surrey Voluntary Action South West Surrey is a local support and development organisation working with the voluntary sector to provide advice, support and information. Volunteering not only helps the charities, organisations and community groups who depend on volunteers but it also greatly benefits the person giving their time. If you would like to find out more about what volunteer roles are available and how you can get involved, you can contact their volunteer centres on 01483 565456 or 01252 725961 or email guildfordvc@vasws.org.uk.

Horsley & Clandon Society of Arts Wednesday 28th June 8pm The next meeting will be held in the East Horsley Village Hall. The talented and esteemed artist, Chris Forsey will be demonstrating a Landscape in Mixed Media. Guests are very welcome with £4 entry. Refreshments are available and there is ample parking. For further information contact The Secretary, Mrs Robyn Cormack on 01483 224603.

Workers’ Education Association (WEA) Courses Various dates throughout the year The WEA have courses running on International Affairs, followed by Grand Houses and Stately Homes, Astronomy

Adam Aaronson Glass Studio

- The Modern Universe, An Introduction to Dressmaking, First World Civilisation and the British Empire (Accident or Design?). In addition, for the Summer Term from the 4th May Europe’s Royal Families. All courses are either held in the Barn Hall, Bookham or the Leatherhead Institute. For further information contact Joy Tapping on 01306 713355, www.weafetchamandbookham.org.uk or email enquiries@ weafetchamandbookham.org.uk.

Leatherhead Duck Race 2017 Sunday 2nd July 2pm The Duck Race is a fantastic day out for families and fun for people of all ages and it draws many visitors into the town eager to experience the event. Festivities will get underway from 2pm, with a series of tote duck races taking place ahead of the much anticipated grand final later in the day. ‘Race day’ will not only feature a vast number of toy ducks to amuse and entertain little ones, but they can also get their face painted and enjoy storytelling on the banks of the Mole in between races.

Thinkaction Surrey Mental Health Charity Commissioned by the NHS to offer free talking therapies to anyone over 18 years who has a Surrey GP. They offer 1:1 or group therapy and are currently running our ‘Mums in Mind’ and ‘low self esteem’ courses throughout the year across surrey. If this is of interest to you and you feel that you could support thinkaction further in raising awareness of mental health issues and the support available, please contact them - call the office on 01737 225370.

Surrey Artists Open Studios: Glassblowing demonstrations/workshops Glass Artist Adam Aaronson is opening his West Horsley studio in June for Surrey Artists Open Studios (SAOS).

Watch a free glassblowing demonstration, or – if you fancy having a go yourself – sign up for one of Adam’s “taster” glassmaking workshops.

Taster courses and demonstrations in June for Surrey Artists Open Studios

Details, dates etc in News and Events at:

www.adamaaronson.com

adam@adamaaronson.com T: 01483 375035 Foxbury Barn (next to Squires), Epsom Road, West Horsley, Surrey, KT24 6AR

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Each session caters for up to 10 people, lasts approximately 90 minutes, and costs from £40 per person. Advanced booking is required as these are very popular!

Adam’s on-site gallery and shop are a treasure trove full of beautiful and original glass artwork as well as practical items such as tumblers, vases, bowls, scent bottles and paperweights.

For details see www.adamaaronson.com/news-andevents or http://www.surreyopenstudios.org.uk/.

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Waggoners Wells and Ludshott Common Lakes strung like a necklace; a glistening heath strewn with crimson toadstools in autumn; majestic limes and maples; three historic villages. There is no other walk quite like this quiet and peaceful wander. Waggoners Wells is a famous beauty spot, popular with weekend families but large enough to absorb them all, whilst Ludshott Common is one of the largest areas of heathland in the South East.

Dogs are welcome as nearly all the stiles have a generous gap except for one just before Bramshott but Humphrey and I managed it when we did this lovely walk in April. This walk is taken from www.fancyfreewalks.org where the walk can be downloaded with full mapping.

The walk

1. Leave from the back of the car park, past the noticeboard on a broad sandy track. In 30m, you reach the heath by a rustic bench with terrific views south to Butser Hill (with the aerial) and beyond. point your feetto another Cross straight over the crossing track on aofnew sandy track. In 20m, at a fork twopath grassy paths, choose the right fork. In less than 100m, at another fork, take the right fork (really straight on). In Wellsautumn and Ludshott Common(fly agaric) are found the red toadstools 9 miles oreverywhere 10 km=6½ miles easy walking on the heath and you should see them aplenty. The pathDate descends to a crossing path. Turn written: 30-sep-2010 left here, slightlyDate downhill, the path ahead revised:avoiding 24-may-2012 that goes up a slope. Keep to the fairly straight c or later in Grayshott Last update: 22-aug-2016 path, avoiding all turnings off. Parallel on the right Haslemere) you may observe an overgrown sunken, possibly We depend on your feedback: feedback@fancyfreewalks.org ancient, track. The path ends at a T-junction. Turn ted to printing, copying distributing this document as right at orthe T-junction andexactly ignore a wide path d without any cutting or editing. See Principles on main webpage. immediately left. In 15m, fork left on a narrow level odland, heath sandy path, thus leaving the main path that carries on uphill. You pass some beautiful occasional pine trees and reach a junction of paths by a marker necklace;post. a glistening heath strewn withhere crimson toadGo straight ahead over a crossing path. ajestic limes and maples; three historic villages. There In 20m, fork left, following the orange byway arrow, e like this quiet and peaceful wander. thus avoiding a rather steep path up a slope on the mpshire is easily accessible from the London area, right. In 40m, turn left on a path that goes over a Hindhead on the A3 road. Waggoners Wells is a of an old bridge dam.to , popularremnant with weekend families but largeor enough 2. InCommon 20m, at a grassy T-junction, turn right. In 10m, lst Ludshott is one of the largest areas of uth East.fork left, following some overhead wires uphill. In 80m, you blue-topped ortened by taking thereach Field ofaMaples short cut,post, one of several, he prettyindicating villages. a rider’s path. Here fork left away from the wires on a wide path through the woods. Stay on the main level path, avoiding Grayshott minor side paths, until you reach another bluetopped post.

Passfield

Waggoners Wells

Conford Bramshott

www.fancyfreewalks.org

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Immediately veer left on a path coming from the right and, in 10m, turn right on a path uphill, thus regaining your original direction. As the path curves right, a narrow path joins from the left. The path ends at a T-junction with a very wide bridleway. You have reached the far edge of the Common. Turn right on the bridleway. This patch is often muddy, but you really need not worry because in just a few metres the mud will become more manageable.

You have meadows on the left and soon on the right too. Nearly 500m after joining this path, you come to a major fork.

3. Turn right at the fork and continue until you join a lane (Gentles Lane) coming from the left. Follow the road past High Hurlands Home and, just after Hurlands itself, fork left on a narrow path through hollies and turn left at a T-junction on a bridleway.

Follow the track, first past entrances to Harambee and other properties, then past meadows and a line of poplars and finally down to a road by Tilburys with its well-groomed hedge. Turn left on the road, going past oast houses on your right. Oast houses, used for drying hops, are mainly associated with Kent, but they do in fact appear in other home counties and as far north as Worcestershire. At a road junction, veer right in the direction Whitehill, Liphook. Traverse the deceptively sleepy village of Passfield, passing The Old Forge, The Old Cricketers and other witnesses to rural life.

4. Just before a bridge visible ahead, turn left on a bridleway (a sign says No Fishing). On your right is one of a line of lakes and water meadows that are a feature of this area. (Don’t worry about the sign that says Private Property Keep Out: it refers to the water meadows, not the bridleway.) At a 4-way fingerpost by a house, keep straight on on a track.

(As a small diversion, it is worth turning right a few paces down to the waterside where the water fowl, mallards, swans and coots, can be observed close up.) Over on your right are the fine buildings of Passfield Manor. At the end of the track, by a fence, turn sharp right on a track, crossing the Wey South via an old bridge and passing through woodland.

The track eventually joins a drive and meets a lane. Turn right to come almost immediately to a T-junction with a main road.

5. Go straight over the main road, a fraction

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WALK ||

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right, onto a footpath by a National Trust sign for Passfield Common. In just over 100m, turn right before an oak tree across the luminous centre of the common. On the other side, you reach a tree line. Fork left here on a narrow path that skirts the trees and finally leads out to the hamlet of Conford.

Turn left through the hamlet, passing the village hall (the old school). When the lane bends right after the last house, leave it by continuing straight ahead on a tarmac bridleway with the elegant stone Conford House up on your left. Ignore a footpath right at a fingerpost. Once again, you have a long lake and water meadows on your right. You pass Conford Park Barn, about 250 years old, usually with fluttering white doves. The bridleway leads through an iron gateway and ends at a tarmac drive. Turn left here, immediately meeting a main road, the B3004. Turn right on the road.

6. Go past houses, and continue to a right bend.

Cross the road carefully and turn left on a footpath by a metal gate beside fields. After the first field on the right, turn right along its other edge. At the other side, officially, the path goes over an awkward stile by a metal gate into the farmyard of Bramshott Vale Farm. However, most walkers veer right and left over the grass in front of a barn to avoid the stile. Keep ahead on a concrete track, ignoring a footpath left. After a brick shed, go half-left across the grass, as signed, to meet a wonderful lime avenue. Cross the avenue and negotiate a stile [now made awkward by a fence across it], the corner of a meadow, another stile and another meadow that is often the home to highland cattle and shetland ponies. After a metal gate, turn right on a drive (first glancing left to view the impressive house). Go over a bridge across a lively stream, go through a metal swing-gate and turn left on a lane. After a short distance, you meet a minor road, Church Lane. Turn right here. This deeply sunken lane takes you to

steps where you can turn right up to the churchyard of Bramshott Church of St Mary the Virgin. Leaving Bramshott church on the right, turn left at the T-junction onto Rectory Lane and stay on this lane as it bends right, ignoring all minor lanes off.

7. Stay on this deeply sunken quiet lane for some distance. In about 900m, you pass the gatehouse of Downlands House. 250m further, you reach a T-junction. Turn left. In about 500m, the lane ends at a car park. Go straight on through a metal barrier, keeping to the left side, on a woodland path downhill. Stay on the main, rather uneven, path. At the bottom of the hill, keep to the left

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WALK || of a steep slope. A rather muddy path takes you all the way down to the waterside where there is an MoD sign and a bridge. There are several attractive walks around Waggoners Wells and you may prefer to find your own way and diverge from the text.

Don’t cross the bridge but keep right and walk parallel to the stream on your left, soon reaching the first lake. Stay on the right bank and, after a section of woodland, reach the second lake. After more woodland, you reach the third lake, which has an especially picturesque wooden bridge over the sluice. Stay on the right bank, soon to pass a noticeboard and, up on the right, a car park .

8. On meeting a tarmac lane coming from the car park, turn left on it and cross a ford, or the footbridge beside it. Just 10m after the ford, turn left on a marked path and immediately fork right uphill on a bridleway, going past a stone memorial on your left. After a modest climb, the path flattens out and, in about 100m, goes over a crossing path. In about another 200m, the path goes under wires and, in a further 80m, meets a junction with a crossing track. Turn right on the crossing track, ignoring the path almost opposite. Soon another track joins from the left. In another 60m, there is a wide gap in the birches lining the track on your left.

Turn left here on a narrow grassy path that goes across an open area covered with tiny silver birch Bourne Buildings May 14_Layout 1 11/05/2015 14:51 Page 1

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saplings. Another narrow path joins from the right.

You come to a junction of wide paths. Cross over the first path but turn right on the second path.

You are now on a high plain with views left to the Hampshire hills. The path descends to a T-junction.

Turn right here.

9. Very shortly after, the path forks. Take the lefthand fork. The path curves left uphill. Stay next to the trees on your right, avoiding all turnings off. The path passes close to a bench seat and runs downhill for a bit passing minor paths off to the left and right until you come to a waymarker on the right.

Immediately after it there is some broken down fencing. Immediately after the fencing, and just as the path begins to rise again, take a right fork on a wide path into the woods. The path soon runs clear of the trees and you have fine views again. About 250m from the fork, you finally reach the Ludshott Common car park where the walk began.

DISTANCE: 9 miles OS MAPS: Explorer 133 Haslemere STARTING POINT: National Trust Ludshott Common car park (grid ref 852358, postcode GU26 6JG) in Hampshire, off the B3002 road from Hindhead, Surrey.

Image: Waggoners Wells by Joe D

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<30 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Dorking Local History Group Talk by Lisa Geelhood Monday 3rd July Lisa Geelhood will speak on “Dorking Museum-Working with Schools, Scouts and Families”. Tickets are £2 on the door or and annual single membership of £8 or £10 for couples. Held at Crossways Community Baptist Church, Junction Road, Dorking. Please contact John patterson on 01306 888401 or jhp3660@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

Vintage Jive Lessons in Leatherhead Thursdays 8pm-10pm Learn to Jive to the music of the era. Authentic 40s / 50s style. No need to book just turn up. North Leatherhead Community Centre, Kingston Road, Leatherhead KT22 7NX. £7.00 per session. All welcome, fun and friendly. Free tea and coffee or bar available. Call 07854 621522 or email vintagejive@hotmail.co.uk.

Dorking Folk Club present Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman Wednesday 5th July 8.30pm Twice winners of the BBC radio 2 folk award for best duo.

The couple’s intimacy and strength of passion on stage have won them many fans and an enviable reputation as songwriters. Their greatly varied original songs cover such subjects as wicked mermaids, Norwegian legends, and a lonely whale. Held at Dorking Golf Club, Deepdene Avenue, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 4BX. Visit www.dorkingfolkclub.org.uk for full details and bookings.

Opera in the Park at Hatchlands Park in aid of Cherry Trees Sunday 9th July from 6pm The Guildford Lions are very kindly organising this spectacular outdoor concert to raise money for Cherry Trees, including fantastic operatic arias from popular musicals, such as Carmen, Don Giovanni, Magic Flute, La Boheme, Tosca, Rigoletto, Les Miserables, West Side Story and many more.

The event will be held on the lawn at Hatchlands Park, raising funds for Cherry Trees and Guildford Lions Club. The evening’s entertainment will be provided by Andy Hart and his Music Works Team from Milford, including West End performers with a fifty voice choir. Set up your Picnic from 6pm concert starts at 7pm. Tickets £25 per person, parking free. For further information or to make a booking please contact Helen on 01483 222507 or email at events@cherry-trees.co.uk.

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7th Classic Motor Show and Family Fun Day on the Clandon Park Estate, West Clandon GU4 7AA. There will be classics galore, full hospitality, food, drinks and ice cream, picnic area, children’s entertainment and pony rides. A variety of stalls, and the main arena where Birds of Prey and Kyleburn Dog Agility demonstrations will be presented. The event is by kind permission of Robin Countess of Onslow, in memory of her late husband Michael 7th Earl of Onslow. It is a great family day out, and all proceeds go to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Cherry Fair Dog Show Saturday 15th July 11.30am-1.30pm Fun for all the family, refreshments, Tombola, stalls and homemade cakes. Dog show classes from waggiest tail to Senior dog and dog treats for all entrants! £2 each class entry. Held at St Barnabas Church, Ranmore Common, RH5 6SP. Call 01306 888995 or email jayne.raine@outlook. com.

The Patchworking Garden Project Walled Garden at Box Hill Saturday 15th July from 12 noon-4pm As part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS) the Garden will be open to the public. Sitting in a delightful setting at the bottom of Box Hill. Come and see their beautiful borders, live willow hut, bog garden, raised vegetable beds and much more – all created by the 70+ volunteers who work in the Garden. Refreshments and plant sale. Entrance £4. Aviva

African Drumming class Every Thursday Evening 8pm to 9.30pm Jali Djembe runs weekly djembe drumming classes upstairs at the Dorking Christian Centre every Thursday evening. All ages and abilities welcome. The classes are fun and friendly, taught by Mod’lamine Cissokho, an experienced Senegalese djembe player. Cost is £8.50 per person (£1 drum hire) payable weekly. For more information visit www.jali-djembe.com, call 07867 794326 or email jalidjembe@hotmail.com.

Macmillan Classic Motor Show and Family Fun Day Sunday 9th July 11am-4.30pm Macmillan Cancer Support Guildford Area Group is hosting its June 2017

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PROFILE ||

Royal British Legion Peter Wakeham is the Community Fundraiser Surrey for the Royal British Legion

the forces to aid their recovery. In Brighton Bravo 22 Company has been set up to provide recovery and wellbeing through the arts, including model making, sculpture and collage.

For families they give well deserved breaks (for example, bucket and spade adventure holidays for service children), breaks for the elderly and most importantly, rest and recuperation for our service personnel and their families on returning from war zones.

The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community. They spend around £1.6 million every week providing information, advice and support to our beneficiaries. Whether it’s families coping with the loss of a loved one, handy-van services for veterans, money and careers advice for service leavers or residential care, they are there to help.

The RBL provided £27 million to help set up the Battle Back Centre at Lilleshall, as part of its commitment to support wounded, injured and sick service personnel. Part of the Ministry of Defence aid recovery programme, it provides sport and adventurous activities for these personnel across

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Service men often find it difficult to adjust to civvy street when they leave the Armed Forces and the Legion are there to help them as they prepare for this new life and to kick start a new career.

The Legion also provides specialist compensation advice, help with debt and emergency situations, benefit advice and support through grants and loans.

Their Handy Van service in operates in 21 counties, giving help for those small jobs around the house from changing light bulbs and providing ramps and sheds to house Legion-provided Electrically Propelled Vehicles.

There are six Legion care homes throughout the country providing short and long term care for serving and ex-servicemen and their families, including four that help with specialist dementia care. Mais House at Bexhill, one of these homes has recently received £31,000 to refurbish their communal lounge, install overhead hoists for 10 bedrooms and provide a new storage area.

The list of help that the RBL has recently provided goes on: Emergency funding to assist a Gurkha settling in the UK; a set of speakers for the communal area in one of the residential homes; blinds for the life-limiting conditions care unit at another of their homes; helping someone secure a Disabled Facilities Grant to live independently; training and licencing for a veteran to become an HGV driver; a mobility scooter for an isolated beneficiary, allowing them to engage with their local community; purchase of a minibus to transport residents at one of their care homes; and home adaptations to enable an elderly couple to stay in their own home.

I hope this information gives you an idea of where your money goes when you donate in our collecting tins, and will enable you to wear your poppy with pride. More at www.britishlegion.org.uk.

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<35 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Sports Ground, Pixham Lane, Dorking RH4 1QA. For more details go to www.patchworkinggardenproject.co.uk.

The Loxwood Joust 5th, 6th, 12th & 13th August 10am to 6pm Hear ye, Hear ye, Tis just two months until you can be transported back in time to experience all the wonders and mediaeval mayhem of the Middle Ages. The Loxwood Joust returns and discounted advance tickets are now on sale.

Step back in time and experience the verve and vigour of a world where lives were harsh and hearts were passionate at this unique, fun and educational day out for all the family.

The Loxwood Joust’s unrivalled programme of mediaeval revelry guarantees a day out like no other. A fast-paced, all action jousting tournament will amaze and astound whilst daring displays of weaponry, archery and cannon fire will enthrall as fully armoured knights prepare to meet in a thunderous battle. Visit www.loxwoodjoust.co.uk for full details and bookings.

Age Concern Will Writing Service Once a month by appointment If you are over 50 and live in the Mole Valley area, you can use Age Concern Mole Valley’s Will Writing Service. Once a month local solicitors, Hart Scales & Hodges are taking appointments for will writing at the Age Concern Mole Valley offices in Dorking. (A suggested donation of £50 can be given to Age Concern Mole Valley for the service. A solicitor would normally charge over £200). To book an appointment please call 01306 899104/07442 017169 or email info@ ageconcernmolevalley.org.uk.

Wings & Wheels RAF Line-Up Confirmed Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th August 9am-9pm Wings & Wheels is delighted to confirm the RAF Red Arrows will be headlining the 2017 air display along with the RAF Typhoon Display team and the Lancaster and two Spitfires from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The teams will be displaying both days at the historic setting of Dunsfold Aerodrome, near Guildford in Surrey. Advanced rate tickets from £22 for adults or £50 for a family. Single child tickets (for children aged 5 – 15) will be £7. Children under 5 go free. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305572.

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June 2017

2017 Shere Hill Climb; Open for Entry Sunday 3rd September Applications for entry are invited for the 5th running of the Shere Hill Climb, an charity event which is fast becoming one of the UK’s favourite and most eclectic hill climbs. Supercars, Classic cars, vintage cars, eclectic cars will all feature. Book early as the event is likely to be oversubscribed again and a ballot almost certain. Details of how to apply to enter are available at www.sherehillclimb.co.uk.

Guildford Café Bridge Event Thursday 5th October This raised over £4,500 last year during full day of bridge, playing in 13 restaurants and cafés in Guildford, which hosted 220 bridge playing enthusiasts. This year is the sixth annual event and aims to raise £5,000 with the help of 240 participants using 15 venues. Funds raised will go to supporting Breast Cancer “NOW” and Linkable.

Players meet St Mary’s Church for coffee and registration at 10.15am. Further details www.3countiesbridge.com or email l.paynter@btopenworld.com.

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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|| BUSINESS CARDS To advertise here from just £25 per month, please call 01483 661088 or email lauren@vantagepublishing.co.uk.

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Enter at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk

COMPETITIONS ||

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

WIN... Tickets to the Cheese and Chilli Festival in Shalford Park

The amazing Cheese and Chilli Festival is coming back to Guildford in 2017 at Shalford Park near Guildford on the 22nd and 23rd July from 10am to 5pm.

The event will again bring an amazing array of tastes, colours and experiences to town and is a ‘must-go-to event’. The event will see cheese and chillies from around the world brought to you along with amazing arts and craft stalls selling great and authentic products.

There will be something for everyone at the event and is a perfect family day out with free activities on offer for children and adults along with fun rides, treasure hunts, falconry displays and magic shows. A wide range of ales and ciders plus live music too!

To win a pair of tickets, please answer the following question: Q: Where is the Cheese and Chilli Festival taking part?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th June 2017.

WIN... A Silent Pool gin experience for four people plus a free bottle Founded in the Spring of 2014, Silent Pool Distillers was set up with the vision of creating hand-crafted, premium spirits. The multi-award-winning Silent Pool Gin is produced in small batches using a custom-made still, which is heated by steam from a reclaimed English boiler that’s fired on local hardwood. It is all very labour-intensive, but well worth the effort to create a delicate, complex and internationally-acclaimed gin that is rolling out across the globe.

Silent Pool would love for you and three friends to join them for a 90-minute Silent Pool gin experience to see where we formulate, distil, and bottle our award-winning liqueurs. To be in with the chance of winning a distillery tour voucher and a bottle of our Silent Pool gin, you just need to answer the following question: Q: What year was Silent Pool Distillers founded?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th June 2017.

WIN... A family ticket to the ONE LIVE Festival in Guildford

ONE LIVE Festival is back for 2017, taking place in the heart of Guildford at Stoke Park on 8th July. The Boomtown Rats will perform alongside The Darkness, Toploader, Reverend & The Makers, Hunter & The Bear, Mel C and Republica.

In its third year, it promises to be an even bigger and better event. ONE LIVE is the brainchild of Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, best known in the hearts of the nation as C4’s The Supervet. The festival supports Noel’s vision for a community of compassion, where every person and every animal is our neighbour and where we genuinely care about each other. The event is set to help Noel spread the word about One Medicine, a concept he has dedicated his life to moving forward for animals and humans at the same time.

To win a pair of tickets, please answer the following question: Q: Name one the bands making an appearance in 2017?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 23rd June 2017.

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 nonToper advertise, call 01483 420173 transferable and have no cash alternative. Only one entry person perplease competition and prizes will only be sent to homes with a GU, KT and RH postcode.

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