Walton Matters March 2021 by Village Matters

Walton Walton

Matters

Putting Local Business First

Putting BusinessTogether First KeepingLocal a Community

Keeping Keeping aa Community Community Together Together

March 2021

Issue 28

FREE to 9000 Homes and Businesses in Walton on Thames FREE to 9000 Homes and Businesses in Walton on Thames

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Welcome!

Here we are in March. Spring is almost among us. Two things to remember. Firstly it’s Mother’s Day on Sunday 14th March, and secondly don’t forget to put the clocks forward one hour on Sunday 28th March. We might lose one hour of sleep but we gain extra daylight! At the time of writing lockdown is still in force, however the vaccine rollout looks to be working. Happier days are surely ahead. I do hope that you and yours are safe. In this issue we learn of Medieval Fish Ponds and the Oatlands Palace. The Walton Charity asks for your help to fund 50 computers for home learning and Dominic Raab updates us on the

March 2021 vaccination programme in Surrey.

Take care and see you next month.

Contents

Published by:

Village Matters Ltd Walton Director: Paul Chard Telephone : 07946 494288 Email : paul@villagematters.co.uk Website :www.villagematters.co.uk Cover Photo : Pexels

Medieval Fish Ponds Save our Restaurants Oatlands and Henry VIII Why do we change our clocks 50 computers needed Community Infrastructure Levy Can a Spring Clean be Green? Recipe of the Month Pi Day Garden View Dominic Raab Index of Advertisers

Send any photos (300dpi) for consideration to: paul@villagematters.co.uk

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4 6 8 10 14 16 20 22 24 26 28 30

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Medieval Fish Ponds There are many types of historic pond. Some pond types are far better researched than others. Fish ponds, for example, are often well documented. Marl pits, on the other hand, are incredibly common in some parts of the country, yet little is known about them. Analysis of the 2500 records including the term ‘pond’ in the National Monuments Record (NMR)for England and Wales indicates that the majority (89%) fall into two classes: ‘fishponds’ and unspecified ‘ponds’. The remaining 11% of records are largely made up by pond bays, dewponds, ornamental ponds, decoy ponds, ducking ponds and mast ponds During the winter, supplying fresh food was a constant struggle. Although meat would be available from deer parks, this couldn't supply the needs of the whole household. A fish pond provided an elegant solution. If there was a natural flow of water into the pond, fish required no feeding and were available all year round. There would usually be a series of ponds, with fish being moved between them as they grew. At Hampton Court, the elaborate Tudor gardens are no longer recognizable today, having been replaced by later monarchs. However, Chapel Court holds a recreated Tudor garden, complete with green and white striped fencing (Tudor colours) and heraldic beasts on poles. The current court, which is still in use today, was built during the reign of Charles I. Continuing the garden walk, one will come across the sunken gardens. These were originally fish ponds where Wolsey kept his stock of fish and prawn. They were in such demand that Anne Boleyn wrote a letter to the Cardinal in 1528 asking for some fish to be sent to her. Fish ponds and stew ponds (where fish were purged of muddy water before cooking) were necessary to ensure a regular supply of protein during the many fast days of the Christian calendar. Today, their original walls remain but have been converted into “sunken” gardens. In Bushy Park, Charles I, in 1638 ordered a canal to be dug from the River Colne at Longford to

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Hampton Court Palace .Cromwell was responsible for the digging of ponds to stock with fish and to cater for the new sport of angling. As well as feeding the new ponds, this waterway serviced the circular basin and fountain terminating today's 'Chestnut Avenue', and was later diverted by Lord Halifax into a high pond at Upper Lodge to feed his ornamental cascade. The Chestnut Avenue, formerly known as the Great Avenue, was laid out for William III to a design by Sir Christopher Wren in 1699. The work, supervised by William Talman, was undertaken first by George London and completed by Henry Wise. The fountain and statue of Diana by Le Sueur were placed in the basin in the centre of the round pond later. A less regal but equally interesting example is Marney's Pond outside the pub in Esher. At one time there were some 16 ponds in the area, which were mostly let by the lord of the manor for fishing rights, part of the rent being paid in the fish netted. Now only two remain. This one is named from a family who for many years carried on a timber business in the yard opposite. Holly Cottages, in one of which the family lived, were demolished in 1967 after being declared unfit by the local council. The woodyard was quite a sight, with the timber stacked roof high. Mrs. Marney was the last person to exercise the right to graze animals on the nearby common. The site of the woodyard is now the garden to the Alma Arms public house, a late 18th century building, formerly a private house. A stew pond or stew is a fish pond used to store live fish ready for eating. During the Middle Ages, stews were often attached to monasteries, to supply fish over the winter. There are stew ponds on Epsom Common The history of these ponds is very complex because they have been constantly redug. It is not certain if the two present ponds are original features or later creations. Medieval bounds refer to a Werehull/ Weir Hill near this spot in the medieval period. A weir being a medieval term often used for a dam. This is the only evidence to suggest these ponds are medieval. They may have their origin in attempts to landscape the common, and make it more interesting for walking at the time of Epsom's popularity as a spa in the 17th and early 18th centuries. Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

Many Walton Restaurants Offer Delivery or Pick-up. Please Support Them and our essential shops At the time of writing, with dine-in service not possible in this period of lockdown, many of Walton's restaurants are open offering collection or delivery service. They include: Cappadocia. Prima Fila, Nando's, Wagamama, Khao Sam, Persian Kitchen, The Walton Village, Babucci, Khan of Walton, Fridayz, La Terraza, L'Affamato, Pizza Express, McDonalds., Sushi Wakyo, The Bear and Barbers..

Covid Vaccination Centre Hersham Road: Ginger Bread Bakery, Nisa Local, Hammonds, Tesco Express, Best-One, Nova Cleaning, Walton Food and Wine Ambleside Avenue: Styles Cottimore Lane: Nisa Local, Giardin New Zealand Avenue:: Food & Wine, Hoops Click and Collect is available at: Waterstones, Next, Sony Centre, Zebra Boutique, Fleur Jewellery, Walton Vape, Trespass, Rituals, The Fragrance Shop.

Essential shops are also open: Church Street: , M&S Food, Jantar, Eyeworks, Bona Tailoring Terrace Road: Co-op, Alio, Pets at home, Pollingtons, Food & Wine, The Laundry Room

Bridge Street: Wilko, Walton Express, Aldi, Walton Stitch High Street: W.H.Smith, Boots, Timpsons, SpecSavers, Superdrug, Warehouse Outlet, Cake Owls, Olive, Food & Wine The Heart: Sainsburys, Holland & Barratt, Poundland, Vision Express, Magills, www.villagematters.co.uk

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Craving a better night’s sleep? Research shows that as many as 60% of us are struggling to sleep well. Sleep is as important for your body as a healthy diet or regular exercise and poor sleep has been linked to weight gain and heart disease amongst other long term health conditions. The thing about lack of sleep is the effects are immediate, both physically and mentally, and it can become hard to concentrate. Over time this can lead to further worries about the lack of sleep, with ever decreasing circles that can end in anxiety or even depression. It is important to take steps to improve the quality of your sleep as soon as possible. Create a routine and have a ‘bedtime’, although it feels counter-intuitive don’t go to bed early, build up your body’s appetite for sleep. Go to bed a little later, when you are tired and set an alarm for the morning. Keep the lights low and remove screens in the hour before bedtime as the blue light stimulates your brain and increases the likelihood of poor sleep. Invest in good blackout options for your bedroom, especially as the clocks change this month, and mornings will soon become lighter. Plantation shutters with integrated blackout blinds are a superb option for creating the perfect sleep environment. Don’t clock watch, if you do wake up in the night resist the temptation to keep checking the time. It will only add to your frustration and try not to lie in bed awake at night. Get up, do something relaxing and then go back when you feel tired. Georgina Broadhurst, Just Shutters. For a design visit Call 01932 500 270 or visit JustShutters.co.uk Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

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Oatlands and Henry VIII

Source: Various

The original 16th-century Oatlands Palace Oatlands Palace was originally built for King Henry VIII in 1537. Although it was a notable new addition to the Tudor king's plethora of royal dwellings at the time, much of the stone used to construct this great royal residence actually dated back to the Norman era. In 1110, the great blocks had first featured in the impressive Chertsey Abbey building. When Henry's landmark break with Rome and Reformation began in the 1530s, the old Abbey, among many others across England, fell victim to the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and its stone was swiftly transported to Oatlands. The Palace was created on the site of the Read family home, Oatlands Manor. The family were wealthy London goldsmiths who had moved to the countryside. Oatlands Manor would have been a grand house, even before being made into a palace, and we know it included a moat. When William Read died, the family were evicted to make way for the Palace, despite his widow’s pleas that ‘It will be great undoing if I continue not your tenant at Otelands’. The Palace stood in the middle of Weybridge and witnessed many important historical events. The Palace enlarged his hunting estate known as the Honour of Hampton Court. This estate extended from Hampton Court Palace out to Oatlands in Weybridge and down to Nonsuch Palace near Ewell, also now lost. It provided additional space near Henry VIII’s main residence at Hampton Court. At its largest, the palace covered 14 acres of land and housed many servants, courtiers and gov-

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ernment officials. Henry had intended the palace to be the residence of his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, who he married in 1540. The union, however, was very short-lived, and it is thought that Henry married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, at Oatlands chapel later that same year. Later in the Tudor period Oatlands was the palace Queen Mary retreated to after a miscarriage, and the young Princess Elizabeth, born in 1533 just before the palace was built, avoided plague by escaping to Oatlands. After being crowned Queen in 1558, she became a keen huntswoman, and hunted deer in the park her father had created.

O r a d c b h b R A v i T f w c g a R f w a T Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts w P

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Why do we change the clocks? Why do we change the clocks?

It’s time to turn the clocks forward an hour at 1 amtime on 28th March. This forward time when It’s to turn the clocks an sunrise hour at areMarch. one hour later onwhen the clock is 1and amsunset on 28th This time sunrise known as British Summer Time, or Daylight and sunset are one hour later on the clock is Saving Time. known as British Summer Time, or Daylight Saving Time. that the concept was first proIt is believed posed by Benjamin 1784 an It is believed that theFranklin concept inwas firstinproessay entitled; ‘An Economical Projectin for posed by Benjamin Franklin in 1784 an Diminishing the ‘An CostEconomical of Light.’ Project for essay entitled; Diminishing the Cost had of Light.’ Ancient civilisations already been adopting similar concepts however adjusting Ancient civilisations had alreadyby been adopttheirsimilar routinesconcepts in accordance sun’s ing howeverwith by the adjusting schedules. their routines in accordance with the sun’s schedules. The first official modernfirst use of DayThe official light Saving modern use of Time Daywas inSaving Ontario in light Time 1908,in and several was Ontario in other andCanadian 1908, several cities followed. At other Canadian aroundfollowed. the same cities At time MPthe Robert around same Pearce MP proposed time Roberta bill in the House ofa Pearce proposed Commons based on bill in the House of work done by BritCommons based on ish Builder William work done by BritWillett around ish Builder William moving the around clocks eight times a year to Willett achieve similar results.eight This times was rejected. moving the clocks a year to achieve results. ThisEuropean was rejected. Germanysimilar became the first country to introduce Daylight Saving Time in April Germany became the first European country 1916. Its rationale wasSaving that theTime use of to introduce Daylight in artifiApril cial light would bewas reduced and there 1916. Its rationale that the usethus of artifiwould be more fuel for the war effort. Britain cial light would be reduced and thus there followed after May would be shortly more fuel forinthe war1916. effort. Britain followed shortly after in May 1916. Daylight Saving Time is now utilised in over 70 countries world although of Daylight Saving Timewide is now utiliseddates in over implementation and clock adjustments vary. 70 countries world wide although dates of implementation and of clock adjustments The main benefits Daylight Savingvary. Time are said to be: The main benefits of Daylight Saving Time are to be: to make better use of Thesaid opportunity The opportunity to make better use of

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10 10

natural daylight natural daylight The ability to conserve energy that would otherwise on artificial lightwould The abilitybe toused conserve energy that otherwise be used on artificial light A decrease in road accidents because roads are naturally lit during because the time A decrease in road accidents when most vehicles are using them roads are naturally lit during the time when most vehicles are using them Some studies such as one carried out by the Belfaststudies Telegraph claim thatout thebyextra Some such also as one carried the hour of Telegraph daylight means stayextra out Belfast also that claimtourists that the longerof and spendmeans morethat money - an hour daylight tourists stayextra out £6.34 million in Northern longer and spend more Ireland money alone. - an extra £6.34 million in Northern Ireland alone. Some are not in favour though. For example, Some are not in favour traditional dairy farmthough. For example, ers claimdairy Daylight traditional farmSavingclaim Time Daylight disrupts ers milking Time routines. This Saving disrupts mainly affects milking routines.develThis oping affects countriesdevelas mainly elsewherecountries milking as is oping automated. milking Some reelsewhere is search has also shown automated. Some rethat there a greater search has isalso shown risk there of people having that is a greater accidents or being the risk of people having victims ofor crime accidents being bethe cause they leave their victims houses inofthecrime morning bewhen it’s still dark. Some studies have sugcause they leave their houses in the morning gestedit’s thatstill in dark. the first days have after sugthe when Somefew studies clocks go are more heart the atgested thatforward in the there first few days after tacks too. clocks go forward there are more heart attacks too. Finally for those of us who struggle to remember when we turn clocks forward Finally for those of usthewho struggle to and rewhen they go back, this little phrase member when we turn the clocks forwardmay and help: ‘Spring Fall little Back,’phrase as the time when they goForward, back, this may when ‘Spring clocks Forward, go back always happens the help: Fall Back,’ as theintime Autumn. This year in the UK, the date when when clocks go back always happens in the Greenwich Mean again is Autumn. This yearTime in thewill UK,begin the date when 31st October.Mean Time will begin again is Greenwich 31st October. By Susan Brookes-Morris By Susan Brookes-Morris Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

I 1 a k S

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More Exciting Retail Developments in Walton Walton Matters has learned that Homebase is to launch three small specialist stores in Walton. Kitchens by Homebase will open in New Zealand Avenue in the former Bathstore location. This format store is operating in Guildford. Decorate by Homebase will open in the former Topps Tiles location. Other branches are in Sutton and Cheshire

A Homebase pop-up store will also be here.

Reader Comment Dear Paul Chard This acknowledgement is long overdue. I just wanted to add my appreciation along with I am sure a chorus of others to say how much I enjoy the production of Village Matters. It is always full of interest, topical, seasonal, historical and a very handy size. I look forward to it coming each month.

Thank you and your team of researchers for the work you do to compile it. Carolyn Murray (Mrs.)

To advertise email paul@villagematters.co.uk

Or call Paul on 07946 494288

North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service (NSDAS) is a registered Charity, managed by Citizens Advice Elmbridge West that helps men, women and children who suffer from domestic abuse. It has been widely publicised the national lockdowns during 2020 has led to an increase in reported domestic abuse. We expect rates to continue to rise during the new lockdown introduced in early 2021. NSDAS wish to increase awareness of their service. Those being abused can often be extremely frightened and believe they do not have the confidence to live independently. We have a team of highly trained advisors that can help with a wide variety of problems caused by domestic abuse. Clients can be provided with practical Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

help, safety planning, emotional support, all helping to rebuild the survivors lives to give them that strength to move on with their lives and live free of abuse. In addition, NSDAS offers 3 programmes to help children men and women, build confidence and understanding of their situation. This is what a client said after attending one course - Power to Change: ‘When you have been a victim of abuse it is hard to know who you are anymore – this course really helped me to realise my goals, and what I want from life. It also gave me the confidence to attend job interviews, and return to college. Thank you so much!’ Seeking help North Surrey Domestic Abuse service is a free, confidential, independent and impartial service. Please refer to the poster. If you would like to support North Surrey Domestic Abuse Service you can donate at http:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/charities/ NorthSurreyDomesticAbuseService

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Help us fund 50 computers for home learning

Lockdown, school closures and self-isolation are forcing school children across Elmbridge to try and continue their education at home. This sudden switch to online classes and home schooling puts additional pressure on families already struggling to make ends meet. Without access to computers or an internet connection, parents fear their children will fall behind. We want to raise £20,000 to fund 50 computers and data packages for local schools to help children without access to technology to continue their schoolwork from home. Every £1 donated by the local community will be matched by Walton Charity. Any surplus funds will be used to support of the work of Elmbridge schools via other means e.g. catch up learning. ““Our priority has been to make sure that all children have the opportunity to get the education they deserve. Unfortunately, many of our children have not had access to laptops. Your generous donation will help the children who need it most to thrive and succeed.” Karen Boulton, Pastoral Support Officer, Bell Farm Primary School £300 will fund a school laptop to help a child

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without a computer to learn at home £50 will pay for internet connection to enable home learning £10 will pay for a WiFi pass for a family Research suggests school closures will widen the education gap between disadvantaged children and their peers by an average of 36%. Don't let a generation of school children get left behind. Help us ensure ALL children in Elmbridge have access to home learning.

Lo ar to

Th ho fa m te w https://localgiving.org/appeal/ waltoncharitycomputersforkids/

W er Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts ch

Crossword 1

17 18

1 2 3 4 5

Solution on Page 18

Across 1 Grand house (7) 5 Verifiable truths (5) 8 Dividends, earnings (5) 9 Ghoulish, spooky (7) 10 Evened the score (7) 11 Coach, teach (5) 12 Animosity, hatred (6) 14 Stick, attach (6) 18 Permit (5) 20 Sincere (7) 22 Beasts (7) 23 Belief (5) 24 Ledge (5) 25 Pudding (7)

Important business person (7) 6 Savoy, Red, or Napa (7) Sound (5) 7 Severe, sombre (5) Brilliance, astuteness (7) 13 Depression, sickness (7) Wanderers, travellers (6) 15 Ridicules (7) One side of a many-sided 16 Drain, take out (7) object (5) Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts 15

17 18 19 21

Stopped (6) Collect, compile (5) Dock, levee (5) Bald, Golden or Pygmy (5)

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Application process for 2021 now open! Annual funding to help improve the lives of Elmbridge residents We are now accepting applications for annual local Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding. The application period is Wednesday 10 February to Sunday 31 March, with the applications being reviewed in June and early July. CIL allows Elmbridge Borough Council to raise funds through borough development to help pay for the physical infrastructure needed to mitigate the impacts of new development. As part of the process, we annually allocate a portion of CIL funds to be spent locally on smaller infrastructure schemes that are required in the communities where development took place. Settlement area committees known as Local Infrastructure Spending Boards have been formed where local Councillors decide on how these local CIL funds will be allocated. In the case of Claygate, the local proportion of CIL funds will be passed directly to the Parish Council. Successful local CIL applications have included projects such as capital improvements to state schools to better enable them to meet the needs of an increasing school population, improvements to community facilities, footpath works and countryside access improvements. Cllr Karen Randolph, Portfolio Holder for Planning Services is a keen advocate of the CIL process and is delighted that local groups have benefitted from the funding: “Working in partnership with schools, charities and other non-profit organisations CIL can provide vital funding to help improve the lives of the people of Elmbridge. I would highly recommend local groups to review the criteria and submit an application for funding.” A sample of some of the projects supported through the local CIL funding are listed below:

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• • • • •

Sunbury and Walton Sea Cadets build ing for the future St James Church of England Primary School toilet and cloakroom upgrade Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School hall extension Patient participation group defibrillator Hinchley Wood Primary School play ground upgrade Chatterbus CIC ticketing machine up grade

W lo “The CIL funding has made such a big differfu ence and we are hugely appreciative of the support given to us. We 10 are now progressing the training centre project, which will provide an important place for young people across ap the community.” Mrs Cramp, Chairman, Sunbury and Walton Sea Cadets Ju •

Please visit https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/ planning/community-infrastructure-levy-cilfunding for more information.

C ra he ed m al lo ar op te B Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts ci

Word Search

Can you find all of the Greek and Roman gods hidden in the grid? H U V A R A P H R O D I T E A

E J E F T A O A P O L L O J R

P G N W W H S R W V H M A U V

H Q U F J N E P T U N E E P Z

A D S N I Y I N A R T E M I S

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S V M O C I O G P H H Z N E U

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Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Ceres Demeter Diana Dionysos Hephaestos Hera Hermes Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Poseidon Venus Vesta Vulcan Zeus Solution on Page 18

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True Community Spirit in Difficult Times We live in Kings Road, Walton. It has always been a very pleasant road to live with a good community atmosphere. Street parties, clapping for NHS and many more fun activities. During Covid it has excelled itself the What's Ap Group including my husband have been baking, cooking and delivering food to Kingston and St. Georges Frontline on the Monday morning to see the happy faces of the recipients from photographs forwarded to us is a joy. On Sunday January 17th my husband and l had our COVID-19 vaccinations, on Monday we were completely washed out, on the Tuesday l awoke with a stroke. After a hospital stay to stabilise me l came home only to return in 2 days due to a complication. How the staff at St. Peters cope l am amazed, l cannot praise them enough however after my 2nd visit the District Nurse the next day advised a COVID-19 Test as l had developed a sore throat earache and cough, this proved positive as did my husband's 3 days later so no more cooking. As soon as the Wonderful Kings Road, WhatsApp Group heard they have organised Hot Meals between them letting us know when they will put it on the doorstep. The kindness and delicious meals we have received is overwhelming. I feel they should receive some recognition for their Community Spirit is fantastic and we are very very lucky to have their friendship and company. Do you have any community stories or thankyou’s? We would love to hear from you.

Yours very sincerely, Wendy and Bernard Andrews.

M A G N A T E A M A S S

A N S I O O N A I N S S I V E N G E H N M I T Y A L L O W A H N I M A L S R H E L F

N F A C O A A M A C A B A E B T R A D S G A D H E C E E A R N E A I A D O G S E E L D E S S E

T S T R E R I N

H U V A R A P H R O D I T E A

R E X S T R M A C R T

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H Q U F J N E P T U N E E P Z

A D S N I Y I N A R T E M I S

E E Y N P K D P A I L P I T V

S V M O C I O G P H H Z N E U

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Solution March Word Search

Solution to March Quick Crossword

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E J E F T A O A P O L L O J R

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O F D I O N Y S O S F S D D O

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Can a Spring Clean be Green? When the spring light catches the surfaces in my home, I see smears and dust, and I fall victim to ‘the spring-cleaning bug’. Suddenly I want to scrub, dust and polish everything in sight.

toxin, an irritant and can cause respiratory distress.

A few years ago, I made a big effort to become a ‘greener cleaner’. I worried about the active ingredients in my cleaning products and wondered how much damage that chemical cocktail was doing to the planet?

But as I investigated Eco products I stumbled into a minefield. Many big companies produce eco-brands, but this involves ‘greenwashing’, which is defined as an attempt to make consumers believe a company is doing more to protect the environment than it actually is. They use unregulated words like ‘natural’ and ‘eco-friendly’ while still using potentially harmful chemicals. They don’t list ingredients or information about manufacture and supply, and if you check their websites there are no environmental targets published nor information about progress on their environmental impact.

Most of us have a miniature chemical factory stashed under our sinks: detergents, bleaches, and degreasers, all containing potentially hazardous substances which find their way into groundwater and contaminate the lakes and the oceans.

I won’t lie, truly environmentally friendly products are more expensive so the cheapest way to do a green spring clean is to make your own and there are some great websites around with detailed instructions on how to do just this.

Phosphates are some of the main culprits. They are common in laundry detergents and some cleaning products. An average consumer uses the equivalent of 14Kg of detergent a year. High phosphate levels in water cause ‘algae blooms’ which contribute to the death of fish and other water-dwelling creatures. These algae blooms are becoming more common thanks to a combination of pollutants and global warming.

I did try to make my own but found that work constraints meant I struggled with some of the more time-consuming concoctions, but I’ve listed a couple of websites in case you feel you’d like to try this. I am a huge fan of distilled white vinegar which I use to clean toilets, windows, and mirrors. I also like Bicarbonate of Soda which is a great degreaser, scouring agent, and deodoriser. For readymade cleaning products I’ve suggested a couple of UK websites which are certified environmentally and vegan friendly.

Cleaning products can have an adverse effect on our health. Household ammonia is often found in window or general glass cleaners. It is a skin and eye irritant and deadly to fish, even in low concentrations, so it’s not something we should flush down our drains. Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) is corrosive and an eye, skin, and respiratory irritant. It is especially toxic to people with heart conditions or asthma. D-limonene is a degreasant found in citrus and orange cleaners. It is also a neuro-

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I’m not perfect. Sometimes I do grab a regular cleaning product for convenience but I’m gradually becoming greener and if we all switched even one or two of our products for a greener cleaner, the planet would thank us. By Sarah Davey Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

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Recipe of the Month Classic Steak and Ale Pie Serves 4 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: Filling - 3.5-4 hours (plus cooling time) Pie - 45 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients Pie Filling Lard or dripping (you can use sunflower oil at a push) 700g boneless beef shin – cut into mouth size chunks 25g plain flour, seasoned 200g smoked bacon (diced) or lardons 225g whole baby onions 400ml sweet dark brown ale (Theakston’s Old Peculier works well if your ale knowledge is not strong!) 400ml beef stock 1 tsp dried thyme 1 bay leaf 1 tbsp dark muscovado sugar 1 tsp red wine vinegar 1 tsp cocoa or 1-2 squares of very dark (80%+) chocolate

Reduce the heat a little and add the chopped bacon or lardons and the onions to the pan. Cook until the bacon fat begins to render, and the onions are brown on all sides, then add into the casserole. Pour a small amount of the beer into the pan and bring to a simmer, scraping the bottom to incorporate all the flavoured meat scraps and flour. Pour this into the casserole too, then pour in the rest of the ale, and add the stock, herbs, sugar, vinegar, and cocoa (or chocolate squares) and bring to a simmer. Cover, and place into the oven for about 2 hours, then uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 1½ -2 hours (depends on your oven), until the meat is tender. Set on one side to cool then transfer to a pie dish. To make the pastry place the flour, baking powder and mustard powder in a bowl with ½ tsp salt. Stir in the suet, and then add just enough iced water to bring it together into a dough. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for an hour or so. Preheat the oven to 190C / 170C (fan) / Gas mark 5. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to about 1cm thick. Place over the filled pie dish, sealing the edges tightly. Cut vent slits to allow the steam to escape. Brush with beaten egg or milk and then bake for 45-50 minutes until golden.

For the pastry: 400g plain flour, plus extra for rolling 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp mustard powder (optional) ½ tsp salt 175g suet Iced water A little milk or egg, to glaze Method Preheat the oven to 170C or 150C fan / gas mark 3. Place the seasoned flour into a large plastic bag. Add the beef in small batches and shake thoroughly to coat evenly. Reserve the floured pieces to a plate. Heat a generous chunk of lard or dripping a large frying pan over a high heat. Brown the beef pieces in small batches, transferring them to an ovenproof casserole dish as you go.

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Pi Day Sunday March 14 is officially named Pi Day. Why? Well in most of the world the date is written 3/14…or 3.14, which is of course Pi. In the UK we use 14/3, which doesn’t work at all, but we’ll gloss over it. Pi, or the Greek letter π, is the figure obtained when the circumference of a circle is divided by its diameter. It begins 3.1415926535 and goes on forever, without repeating. It’s an ‘irrational’ number, which means it cannot be expressed as a fraction (unlike 0.5 which is 1/2 or 0.125 which is 1/8 and computers have calculated it to more than one trillion digits past the decimal point. Although I only came across it this year, March 14th has been celebrated as Pi Day for more than 20 years. A US physicist, called Larry decided to start it as a “geek holiday”. To his surprise the event grew into an international phenomenon, with Pi parties and educational events taking place across the world. Pi has been known about for almost 4000 years. The Babylonians and Ancient Egyptians both attempted to calculate it. But it was Archimedes, one of the greatest mathematicians of the ancient world who first showed that the value of pi could only ever be an approximation, falling somewhere between 3 1/7 and 3 10/71. The symbol π was first used a couple of thousand years later in 1706 by mathematician William Jones and was popularised by the famous Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1737. π has intrigued and exasperated mathematicians and scientists for thousands of years. A circle is such a simple concept, yet so difficult to pin down mathematically. It is the most studied number in mathematics, because its integral to our understanding of geometry. π has uses in physics, astronomy, mathematics, architecture, and construction.

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By James Henry

Pi Facts!

Since the exact value of pi can never be calculated, we can never find the accurate area or circumference of a circle. The record for reciting the greatest number of decimal places of Pi was achieved by Rajveer Meena at VIT University, Vellore, India on 21 March 2015. He recited 70,000 decimal places. which took over 10 hours! Some people loved pi enough to invent a dialect based on it. In “Pilish” poems and prose are written where the number of letters in each word match the corresponding digit of pi. The first word has three letters, the second has one letter, the third has four letters, and so on. This language is more popular than you might think. Software engineer Michael Keith wrote an entire book, called Not a Wake in this language! The calculation of pi is used as a stress test for a computer. It works like a digital cardiogram since it indicates the level of activity within the computer’s processor. The Greek letter π is the first letter of the word periphery and perimeter. And as we all know, pi is the ratio of a circle’s “periphery” to its diameter. Please mention Walton Matters when responding to adverts

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Garden View

This month - Tools of the Trade The right tools make gardening easier, and in my opinion you should buy the best you can afford then look after them so they will last many years. But which tools are essential? Gloves - Gardening is hard on the hands. Weeds, roots and digging are brutal on the skin. Buy a thick, good quality multi-purpose pair to begin with. Make sure they fit. My first pair were too large and cumbersome. I was so naive I didn't realise they came in different sizes...much like gardens...and gardeners!

By Rachael Leverton

when separating smaller plants. I like a comfort handle for my hand tools but make sure to choose tools where the shaft of the handle and trowel (or fork) are one unit, not welded or rivetted together, as they are not as strong and snap with repeated use. I choose stainless-steel tools because they are rust resistant. Watering can - A large watering can is great, but very heavy when full so if you have arthritis or not much upper body strength choose a smaller watering can that you can handle easily and make a few more trips to the tap. A rose allows for a gentle sprinkler effect on tiny seeds and seedlings. You can use a hose if you garden a larger area. Choose a multi-tasking one with misting and sprinkler attachments Spade –You can't dig large areas without one. As with hand tools, I prefer stainless steel. Keep it clean, with a sharp edge for digging, planting, and edging beds. Choose one that feels right for your height.

Secateurs - The task of pruning comes around with alarming regularity, so a good pair of secateurs is one of the most used items in my garden tool kit. Find a pair that feel good to hold, are well-balanced and easy to operate with one hand. Keep them clean and sharp and they will serve you well for many seasons. Trowel - Useful for hand weeding, dividing smaller plants, planting, potting on, and seed sowing. Hand Fork – A hand fork is essential for breaking up compacted soil. Sometimes it’s easier to use than a trowel and is less likely to damage roots in more densely planted areas or

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Fork - A stainless-steel fork is great for stony soil, and for breaking up compacted earth. It's also good for lifting shrubs without damaging the root system too much. Dutch Hoe - Weeding is a necessary task (and a somewhat relentless one during the growing season). The Dutch hoe has a shallow angled blade with a front cutting edge for keeping weeds down between seedlings and established shrubs and plants. Ground rake -. Use this for breaking down the soil to that fine tilth gardening books go on about. Use the wide head and teeth to open and level the top surface of the soil, then use the back of the rake to firm it down. It makes seed-sowing easier and more likely to produce healthy seedlings.

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Dominic Raab Our Local MP

Over the past month, local GPs, nurses and volunteers have been working hard to roll out the Coronavirus vaccination programme to Walton residents. More people are being protected every day, and I am grateful to everyone in the local NHS who has been organising the vaccinations. As of 11 February, the latest statistics showed that over 205,000 vaccine doses had been given in Surrey. The majority of the top four priority cohorts had been vaccinated, and both the county and the country were on track to offer a vaccination to everyone in these groups by midFebruary. You don’t need to make enquiries about getting a vaccine, since you will be contacted when you are eligible to receive one. There is information about the vaccination programme on the website of the Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group, at: www.surreyheartlandsccg.nhs.uk. While the vaccination programme continues, we still have to be vigilant and keep following the lockdown rules. I appreciate that this is difficult, but it has been working. Elmbridge’s ‘7day case rate’, which shows the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the previous seven days, fell from 795.4 on 4 January to 103.8 on 6 February. This progress is relieving pressure on our local NHS, with the number of Coronavirus patients in both Kingston and Ashford and St Peter’s hospital trusts trending downwards CHEER does vital work to support elderly local residents

As ever, Walton residents have been supporting family, friends and neighbours through this difficult time. I saw a good example of this community spirit during a recent virtual meeting with CHEER (Concern and Help for East Elmbridge Retired). This inspiring charity has been supporting older people in Elmbridge for over 65 years, and has adapted to the Coronavirus restrictions by using phone calls from volunteers to combat loneliness. Charities like CHEER have played a vital role during the pandemic, and I look forward to working closely with them in the future.

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Ashford Kitchens Pharmacy

Trio Properties 29 Trio 29 Tennay Properties 11 Properties 11 Tennay RoofingProperties 5 Star Roofing 23 Roofing 25 5Schools/Education 23 Star Roofing Halliford School 17 Schools/Education 25 Sell for Cash School 179 Halliford J C Stamps for Cash 9 Sell 19 JShutters C Stamps Just Shutters 19 Shutters WillShutters Writing 32 Just Harvest Wills Writing 32 Will 12 Windows/Doors Harvest Wills 29 House of Surrey 12 Windows/Doors Village Windows 29 27 House of Surrey

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Walton Matters March 2021

Articles inside

Dominic Raab

Community Infrastructure Levy

Garden View

Can a Spring Clean be Green?

Pi Day

Why do we change our clocks

Save our Restaurants

Recipe of the Month

Medieval Fish Ponds