A Berrylands Companion - Issue 177 - April 2023

Hello Readers,

April already, and the country is gearing up for the Coronation of King Charles III next month. Are you involved in a street party near you?

As promised in the last edition, we have a few new articles this month. I hope you enjoy them.

Last month a Readers’ Survey was included and I would like to thank those readers that took the time to submit their replies. Some of the comments about the magazine are very kind! If you didn’t get a chance, perhaps you would could help with future content, by completing the Readers’ Survey please, on page 32 .

The company that helps to deliver the magazine is experiencing some staffing problems and may have to cease work. I am therefore, looking at the possibility of setting up teams of local people to take over the distribution if necessary. If you think you could help, and get paid to exercise, please contact me, by email or call and leave a message. Over 16 years old, retirees, mums at home, as long as

Useful Numbers

you are responsible, fit and able to collect and deliver magazines to a few roads near where you live, once a month, ten times a year.

Do you have a business that needs ‘to get out there?’ Not everyone is on social media, so facebook, twitter etc, will bypass a lot of people. Having a hard copy of your advert in a medium that can be kept for reference is often a preferred way to find you. If you are thinking of a leaflet drop, consider this: how much is the design, then the printing and finally the distribution? Add all those costs, two or three times a year perhaps, and you could probably have an advert in this magazine all year for less! Contact me to find out.

Hope you all have a lovely Easter, Best wishes, Karen

Front cover photo: Publicphotosdomain. from Pixabay.com

100 YEARS

Wembley Stadium in London opened (as the British Empire Exhibition Stadium, commonly known as the Empire Stadium). It was demolished in 2003. The new Wembley Stadium opened on the same site in March 2007.

90 YEARS

The first modern sighting of Scotland’s Loch Ness monster was reported in the Inverness Courier.

70 YEARS

New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and Sherpa

Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, London. This was also the first event where the British TV audience (20 million) was greater than the radio audience (12 million).

50 YEARS

1.6 million British workers took part in a oneday general strike to protest against the government’s pay restraint policy and price rises.

50 YEARS AGO (1973)

• The average price of a property in the second quarter of 1973 was £8,144 (c. £92,000 at today’s prices). This compares with an average UK price of £296,000 today.

£296,000

• Chart-toppers in the music singles charts included “Can the Can” by Suzi Quatro and “Rubber Bullets” by 10cc.

• Sir Edward Heath was Prime Minister (Conservatives), staying in office until 1974.

40 YEARS

Around 70,000 anti-nuclear weapons protesters formed a fourteen-mile human chain in Berkshire, England. They linked the U.S. airbase at Greenham Common, the nuclear research centre in Aldermaston and an ordnance factory in Burghfield.

The first cordless telephone went on sale in Britain. British Telecom’s Hawk could be used up to 100 metres (330 feet) from its base station.

30 YEARS

The recession of the early 1990s was officially declared over in Britain as new figures that showed the first economic growth for more than two years.

25 YEARS

The world’s first solid-state portable digital audio player (MP3 player) went on sale in Japan. The MPMan F10 could hold 8 songs (32 Mb version) or 16 songs (64 Mb version). It was not a commercial success.

British woman Diane Blood, who won a two-year legal battle over her right to be inseminated with her dead husband’s sperm, announced that she was pregnant. The baby was born in December. A second was born in July 2002.

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Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary. Jamling Tenzing Norgay, CC BY-SA 3.0

MPMan F10 by Michele M. F, CC BY-SA 2.0

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Nearly one in five people (17.5%) aged 55 and over have been the victim of a financial scam, according to findings by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Scammers often target people who are more vulnerable because they aren’t necessarily working fulltime, or are partially or fully retired.

The Financial Conduct Authority has an informative section on its website – www.fca.org. uk/scamsmart – giving advice on how to avoid both pension and investment scams, a list of the most-searched-for investment and pension scams, plus a useful link if you’ve been contacted about a scam or paid money to fraudsters.

Report Scams

• If you have been defrauded or experienced cybercrime, report it to Action Fraud. Report it either online at www.actionfraud. police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

• You should also report what’s happened to the Financial Conduct Authority, either online or by calling 0800 111 6768.

• If you’ve lost money to a scam and you paid with a credit or debit card, or sent money through an account transaction, tell your bank or payment provider as soon as possible.

Help Protect Yourself

• Protect your PIN and OTP

Never share your PIN or one-time passcode (OTP), or indeed your password.

• Make sure they are who they say they are Fraudsters will pretend to be the police, banks, businesses or even friends to trick you. And they might even know personal details about you. If in doubt, hang up!

• Don’t be pressured

Fraudsters will try to put you under pressure to act quickly. Don’t let anyone rush you – always take a moment before you share any details and only click on a link when you know it’s 100% legitimate.

Trending Scams

The ‘friend in need’ text

You’ll receive a text or WhatsApp message (from an unknown number) supposedly from someone you know, saying that they have a crisis and asking you to transfer money across to them.

Pension review scam

You’re contacted and offered a free pension review. The supposed financial adviser will recommend that you move your money into another scheme or fake investments.

Suspicious activity on your account

Your ‘bank’ calls to say there’s been suspicious activity on your account. They will attempt to obtain your private, sensitive information, such as banking details, PINs and passwords, supposedly to confirm your identity. They might also suggest your move your cash to a new account which you think is yours but isn’t.

Energy-related scams

Scammers pose as a major supplier and announce in an email that you are entitled to a refund on your energy bills because of a ‘miscalculation’. They then give you a link to click to provide your payment details.

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Celebrate spring with our selection of glorious garden-themed books.

Venetian Gardens – Monty Don & Derry Moore

Inspired by Monty’s BBC2 series, Adriatic Gardens, his latest book with Derry Moore is a sumptuous visual journey through the gardens of Venice. Starting in the heart of the city and working their way out to the Veneto, the pair celebrate the beauty of these places and tell some of their remarkable stories. With stunning colour photography throughout, readers will discover new insight into one of the world’s most beloved cities.

The Gardener’s Almanac – Alan Titchmarsh

A month-by-month treasury of gardening advice, inspiration and knowledge, along with illustrations by Alan himself, who has written more than forty gardening books, twelve novels and three volumes of memoirs. As well as what to grown and sow, find out what wildlife to spot, projects to engage in, weather notes, gardens to visit, birds and flowers to celebrate and much more…

Home Harvest: Your Pocket Card Guide to Kitchen Gardening

– Bridie Cotter & Tom Gaunt

A practical, fun and easy-to-read deck of cards by organic veggie farmers Bridie and Tom that will help you plant and grow your own kitchen garden. Divided into four sections (Gardening 101, Veggies, Herbs and Flowers), these beautifully illustrated cards will help you start your garden from scratch, offering helpful guidance and advice on everything from plant health to common pest management.

Gardens for the Soul: Sustainable and Stylish Outdoor Spaces

– Sara Bird & Dan Duchars

Whatever the location or size of your garden, a sustainable and ecofriendly ethos can be at the heart of creating a beautiful outdoor space to suit your lifestyle. From tiny spaces to larger patios, and to glean ideas, tips and inspiration, you’ll find suggestions for choosing garden elements from decor and lighting to furniture and accessories, as well as easy craft projects that add quirky personal touches.

The Little Guide to Wildflowers – Alison Davies

Discover the intriguing world of wildflowers with this handy pocket guide, with each of the featured flowers delicately illustrated by printmaker Tom Frost to capture its individual characteristics and accompanied by information about the plant and where it can be found, plus associated facts and fables. Adding to the charm of this delightful book is an interactive spotter’s guide at the back, where you can tick off each flower you find.

The English Country House Garden – George Plumptre

From the Victorian grandeur of Tyntesfield and Cragside, to the Arts and Crafts simplicity of Rodmarton Manor and Charleston, from Scampston to new gardens by Dan Pearson and Tom Stuart-Smith, and with favourites such as Sissinghurst and Hidcote alongside new discoveries, this book takes a fresh look at the English country house garden, starting with the owners and the stories behind the making of the gardens, with glorious photographs capturing the gardens at their finest moments through the seasons.

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By Katherine Sorrell

Cosy yet minimal, luxurious yet understated – opt for pale colours and gorgeous textures for a home that looks and feels utterly inviting. Neutrals never go out of fashion, and adding a pale shade of a fashionable colour or two gives your interior a stylish edge. Include an array of delicious textures as well, and you’re really onto a dream combination. The ‘Vanilla Girl’ aesthetic is all the rage, a softly simple yet luxurious look that utilises creamy, neutral shades and textures such as chunky knitted throws, pampas grass and satin bedding. But there’s an almost infinite range of neutral colours, from pure white to earthy tones of grey and beige, and combined with pales such as blush pink, celadon and buttercup, for example, you can vary your look to suit your personality while still keeping that tranquil feeling.

Why neutrals?

A well-planned neutral scheme is good-looking, harmonious and inviting, and works well in old and new houses, and in small or large spaces. Neutrals are perfect for providing cohesion from room to room, and make a perfect backdrop for plants, works of art or collections of all types. Easy to live with, they provide a calming backdrop to daily life in any room of the house, and can easily be swapped when you feel like a change.

All white now

White is the ultimate neutral, and rooms painted pure, brilliant white appear bigger and brighter, fresh and airy. A clean white wall is a great background for vibrant paintings, books, rows of cacti or succulents, or a jug of fresh flowers. Pure white may be a little stark in north- or east-facing rooms that don’t get much direct sunlight, so try a shade with an added touch of yellow or pink to warm up the space. In period homes, such as old cottages, Victorian townhouses or barn conversions, slightly muddier off whites may be a good choice to complement original features.

Choosing and using neutrals

There’s an enormous range of neutral colours from which to choose, varying in hue from cream to sand, beige to stone and more. Some contain more grey or green pigment, some more yellow, others more pink or brown. Use one everywhere, or use different neutrals in different rooms, but with a visual link – perhaps a very pale colour in a narrow hallway, with slightly darker tones in a living room and a warm tone in a dining room. Or opt for one colour ‘family’ (look at the vertical groupings on a paint chart) and use several sibling shades within a room –experts recommend darker tones for woodwork and lighter ones for walls. With features like cornices and dadoes, you may wish to paint lighter tones above and darker ones below the divisions. Avoid clashing hues of the same tone (slightly different colours with the same degree of lightness or darkness). Shiny gold or brass accessories can offset the subtle scheme, but a dash of black is often a good finishing touch.

A tranquil soft green paint is paired with white, grey, natural timber and soft fabric for an inviting dining space. Crystalline AF-485, £59 for 3.79l ben™ Interior Matte, benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk.

Blush and brass with oak, white and taupe create a relaxing ambience. The 1.5 seat sofa is delivered in a box for easy self-assembly in tight spaces. Small Biggie Snuggler in oatmeal, £1,159, snugsofa.com.

Surface matters

The plainer the colour, the more important its surface becomes. Choose your finishes as carefully as your shades: ultra-flat, matt, eggshell, satinwood or gloss, bearing in mind that the shinier the finish, the paler the colour will appear, so you may need to compensate by choosing a slightly darker colour. Lighting, too, can make a difference, so look at test paint patches under different lighting conditions, because the appearance of the colour can change quite dramatically.

Attractively tactile

Textures bring a room to life and make a house a home. From the polish of smooth ceramic to the soft squish of cashmere, the nubbly weave of wicker to the homely warmth of felted wool, a variety of textural surfaces add visual appeal and feels comfortable and secure. Natural textures in particular come to the fore – sisal, shell, stone, brick, wicker, timber, leather, linen, wool, to name a few. Think of layering texture upon texture to create pleasing, subtle contrasts. So there you have it – an enormous variety of colours, tones and textures to explore and enjoy.

Don’t be afraid of authentic texture – this brick wall and timber floor are fabulous, and offset the pale bed marvellously. Cotswold Scandi-style double bed frame, £499, furniturevillage.co.uk.

By Katherine Sorrell

Softly inviting and with a lavish feel, you can’t beat velvet as a means of adding classic chic and a warm welcome to an interior.

Subtle texture and gorgeous colours

• A touch of velvet can transform a room in an instant. Its soft drape highlights the shape of upholstered furniture, looks and feels wonderful on a headboard, and makes a luxurious throw or cushion cover. Even a tiny accessory such as a trim on a lampshade contributes to the layering of texture that brings subtle pleasure to your space.

• Velvet is fabulous in intense, bold colours, but feels especially ‘now’ in secondary colours such as mustard, teal and fuchsia. It’s best not to mix these two palettes; take inspiration from magazines, online sources or even paint charts if you’re in doubt about combining two or more shades.

• Create interest by including varied types of velvet – such as crushed, embossed, chiffon or devoré – as accents in different parts of your decorative scheme.

• The name velvet actually comes from an old French word, velu, meaning ‘shaggy’, and doesn’t refer to the type of fabric as such, but to its pile weave. Velvet was originally made from silk (which looks and feels beautiful, and has a price tag to match), but these days it’s more commonly made from silk mixed with rayon, cotton or synthetic fibres, sometimes with added stretch.

This eye-catching high-backed chair will update any interior. It features a combination of mustard velvet upholstery with a gold-coated iron frame. Velvet mustard high-backed chair, £899, theforestandco.com.

Zyla velvet accent chair in petrol blue, £700, sazy.com.

Walter rechargeable table lamp with 20cm empire shade in ruby silk, £115, pooky.com.

This eye-catching high-backed chair will update any interior. It features a combination of mustard velvet upholstery with a gold-coated iron frame.

Velvet mustard high-backed chair, £899, theforestandco.com.

Velvet Helmsley Snuggler, £1,971, sofasandstuff.com.

with

Rivington marine blue 50x50cm cushion, £125, woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk.

. Easy Squish velvet quilt in dusty pink, £225, loaf.com.

For some of us, this time of year is when things start to get sneezy. That’s because the arrival of spring also means the arrival of the first of many pollens: tree pollens start to appear in late March, giving way to grass pollens around the middle of May. The good news is that tech can help remove pollens and other airborne irritants to help you breathe more easily.

Until very recently it wasn’t really possible to filter the air around you when you go outside, but Dyson reckons it’s solved that problem – albeit quite expensively. The Dyson Zone looks a bit like a motocross rider’s helmet and includes a built-in air filter as well as noise-cancelling headphones. At £749, though, it’s one for more affluent allergy sufferers.

In the longer term you might be able to get a digital inhaler to help you breathe more easily. A number of firms have developed smart inhalers for asthma and hay fever sufferers, although while they’re currently going through medical approval none are available to buy just yet.

The best tech to keep the air around you fresh

There are lots of options

for room-filtering

purifiers, and once again Dyson is a big deal in this market: it makes a range of air purifiers for indoor use, starting with the Pure Cool Me, from £349, to the Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde, which is £649. All the Pure models have built-in air filtering and highly efficient airflow, but it’s important to check the specifications: the Pure Cool Me is described as a ‘personal purifi er’ and isn’t powerful enough to fi lter an entire room’s air. Whichever fi rm you buy from, make sure the purifi er has enough power for the room it’ll be used in: too small and it won’t deliver effective fi ltration.

It’s worth looking at your vacuum cleaner too, because lots of irritants and allergens can live in rugs, carpets and upholstery. Many vacuum firms have models with HEPA filtration, which is very efficient at removing irritants from your home.

Dyson Pure Cool Me

Dyson Zone

It’s not exactly subtle but Dyson’s wearable air filter is designed to remove all kinds of irritants and pollutants from the air around you. £749, dyson.co.uk

It won’t filter your whole room but the baby of Dyson’s purifier range wafts cool, clean air towards you with all the allergens removed. £349, dyson.co.uk

BlueAir Blue 3210

Designed for rooms up to 41 square metres, the BlueAir filters your room’s air nearly five times an hour to remove 99% of airborne particles such as pollen, dust and dander. £179, blueair.com

Shark Air Purifier 6

If you want to filter larger spaces this six-fan model from Shark is ideal, capturing 99.7% of pollutants in rooms up to 64 square metres. £349, sharkclean.co.uk

Beko ATP6100I

This cheap and cheerful air filter promises to remove 99.9% of bacteria and 99.97% of dust and microns and is suitable for smaller rooms.

£83, amazon.co.uk

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Downton Abbey is a historical TV series and two films set on a fictional Yorkshire country estate between 1912 and 1926. The beautiful stately home shown in the opening credits and most of the interior filming is actually a long way south of Yorkshire, being Highclere Castle in north Hampshire.

Highclere Castle is a Grade I listed property. It was built in 1679 and largely renovated in the 1840s, with a park designed by Capability Brown in the eighteenth century. It’s a significant 5000-acre estate and is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon.

Although best known for its role in Downton Abbey, this was far from the only time the house was used in film and TV. In Eyes Wide Shut, the film starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman,

Highclere was used for the masked ball scene. A 2017 documentary series called ‘Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets’ had its initial episode filmed there, and back in the early 90s, five episodes of Jeeves and Wooster, starring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, were staged at Highclere.

Downton Abbey, which brought the house international fame, increased the number of visitors to the castle and raised funds for much needed repairs to the turrets and its interior.

The house, Egyptian exhibition, and gardens are open to the public for self-guided tours during the summer months and at other times during the rest of the year, such as Christmas and Easter..

MOVIE MANSIONS:

Image credit: Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle), Richard Munckton at flickr.com, CC BY 2.0

By Caroline Knight

Ask anyone what their ideal garden would feel like and the phrase ‘low-maintenance’ will likely be high on the list. Maybe even ‘no-maintenance’ from those with little garden knowledge. Does this type of garden exist? In the latter example, the answer is an easy ‘no’. But low-maintenance is definitely achievable. It’s largely down to the choice of plants and ratio of lawn or paving to beds and borders.

No digging

This is exactly as it sounds – gardening without digging. This allows mycorrhizal networks of fungi to spread. Plants require less water and fertiliser because the fungi, in effect, extend the root system of plants so that they have a wider area in which to source nutrients and moisture. It’s good for the environment as the soil develops better drainage. It also contains more carbon and is less prone to lose nutrients in water runoff during rainy periods. You can add mulch to the soil, when required (early winter is best). Plant directly into the soil – you will be surprised how quickly things become established and start growing.

Mind the gaps

Fill any blank soil spaces with plants to prevent weeds from growing. Nature fills a void! Plant shrubs for the easiest gardening experience, but be sure to select wisely.

Right plant, right place

A plant in the wrong place will always need attention. If you’re not sure what type of plants are suited to the soil in your area, take a look at your neighbour’s gardens. Evergreens provide year-round interest, but they are not necessarily those with the most interesting flowers. Watering

is a high-maintenance requirement, as are the tasks of weeding and deadheading. Gardening is a balance between practical solutions and aesthetic interest, and much of your choice will be based on personal preference.

Can lawns be low-maintenance?

Some say that a lawn represents the most intensive maintenance requirement of any garden feature which explains why artificial grass has become so popular. But contrary to popular belief, fake lawns are not maintenancefree. Weed seeds will eventually take hold and weeding a lawn of this nature is not easy. Artificial turf also requires washing, on occasions, especially when used as a toilet by dogs and cats. Artificial grass is an emotive topic and there is still a lack of scientific knowledge and a shortage of research when it comes to assessing the environmental impact of such a relatively new product.

However, there’s no doubt that professionally installed artificial turf will cut down on maintenance when compared to a living lawn that requires regular mowing. The lack of biodiversity on a fake lawn is an obvious drawback, but some say that we should view them as another non-living component of a garden, similar to a patio.

No garden is maintenance free

This year marks Monty Don’s twentieth anniversary as the popular presenter of the BBC’s Gardeners’ World.

It was as a child at the family home in Hampshire that the seeds of his passion for gardening were sown. When the family’s gardener hurt his back and could no longer tend the five-acre plot, his mother put Monty and his brothers to work. Aged just seven, gardening then was a chore to the young Monty, but over the next decade it became part of his life.

He recalled in an interview for an episode of The Joe Gardener Show that he came home from school aged around 17 on a late March day and instinctively went outside to sow carrots. He could feel spring unfolding, and at the moment of pouring carrot seeds into his hand to plant into the soil he had just prepared, he was filled with a profound feeling of happiness. That night, he had a dream that he put his hands into the earth and his fingers grew into the soil like roots. He awoke feeling refreshed, at ease, and connected to the earth. “I’ve never really lost that feeling,” Monty says.

Glorious gardens

With more than twenty books to his name, his latest publication – “Venetian Gardens” - is a beautiful book and collaboration with acclaimed photographer Derry Moore, inspired by his recent BBC2 series, Adriatic Gardens.

“Gardens always tell you as much about the people that made and care for them as their plants. However often you visit its beauty never wanes, never fails to intoxicate,” says Monty. And the rest, as they say, is history…

Monty has been making television programmes for over thirty years and has been lead presenter of the BBC’s Gardeners’ World since 2003. From 2011 the programme has come from his own garden, Longmeadow, in Herefordshire. Looking at Monty’s garden today, it’s hard to image it as the two acres he and Sarah purchased in 1991 when it was basically a barren field.

“The best thing you can do when you take on a new garden is nothing. Instead, just pay attention. Learn which direction the rain comes from, for example, and where the garden is the warmest and coolest. You need that knowledge,” he says, “and then you start to create a space that is about you and your life in tune with what is happening.”

Monty’s ambition was to become a professional writer, although not specifically about gardens. Aged around 30, he and his wife Sarah were interviewed about their own garden for a newspaper, and he was soon offered the opportunity to write about other people’s gardens. One thing led to another resulting in an offer to be a daytime television segment host.

Venetian Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore (BBC Books) is out now, priced £40.

Photo © Derry Moore from Venetian Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore

“The best thing you can do when you take on a new garden is nothing.”

At Glenmore House, we understand that organising a wake reception for the passing of a loved one can be a difficult time for all involved.

With years of experience, our dedicated events team are

Receptions in Loving Memory at Glenmore House

always on hand to help organise a fitting farewell in a discreet and understanding way.

A post funeral reception should be a celebration of a person’s life and so we feel that it is important to create a bespoke experience in which guests can reflect and look back on fond memories in an environment that feels personal through the

little touches and attention to detail. Glenmore House offers a number of different rooms with suitable settings including beautiful period features for such an event. We can accommodate receptions of between 15-140 guests.

Packages start from £15.95 per person

Serves 10 Preparation time 30 minutes Cooking time 1½ hours

This classic bake with a berry twist is the perfect finishing touch when the family gather for a celebratory Easter feast – or just when it’s time for tea!

Ingredients

• 500g ready-made marzipan

• 150g raspberries, plus 11 for the top (about 50g)

• 200g self-raising flour, plus 1 tbsp

• 175g butter

• 175g caster sugar

• 3 medium eggs plus an egg yolk, beaten

• 50g ground almonds

• 150g sultanas

• 1 egg white, lightly beaten to loosen

The Berry Best For more sweet and savoury recipes starring British berries – strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and cherries – visit www.lovefreshberries.co.uk.

Method

1. Line a 20cm loose-bottomed baking tin with parchment. Roll out a third of the marzipan to a 20cm circle – you can use the base of the tin to cut round. Wrap the remainder and any offcuts and set aside.

2. Preheat the oven to 170°C / fan 150°C / gas mark 3.

3. Toss the 150g raspberries in the extra 1 tbsp of flour and set aside. Beat together the butter and sugar until pale and creamy, then gradually whisk in the eggs and the extra yolk. If the mixture begins to curdle add 1 tbsp of flour and mix in. Sift the flour over the mix and fold in gently until smooth. Fold in the ground almonds, sultanas and floured raspberries.

4. Scrape half the cake mixture into the tin and carefully lay the marzipan round on top. Add the remaining mixture, level the top and bake in the preheated oven for around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 15 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

5. Roll out half the remaining marzipan to a circle and sit it on top of the cooled cake. Shape 11 balls from the leftover amount and arrange in a circle on top.

6. Preheat the grill to medium. Brush the cake all over with the egg white and then place under the grill or use a cook’s blow torch to brown gently. Remove from the grill, leave to cool and then decorate with the fresh raspberries.

7. The cake keeps well in airtight container for up to 5 days without the extra berries on top. Alternatively, freeze the cake before adding the marzipan top for up to a month.

King Charles III: a monarch for modern times

When the coronation of King Charles III takes place on 6th May at Westminster Abbey, the ceremony – which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury – will be rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry. However, it will also reflect the monarch’s role today, and look to the future.

Then and now

The Queen’s coronation on 2nd June 1953 was one of the greatest events of the twentieth century. More than 8,000 guests filled the abbey to witness the crowning of the young mother, while crowds lined the route that took her and the Duke of Edinburgh to and from the abbey. Millions more were lucky enough to watch the event on the still novel phenomenon of television, this being the first time the event had been televised.

It has been speculated that King Charles, who ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8th September 2022, will have a toned-down affair. Spending will be reduced partly as an acknowledgment of the cost-of-living crisis – something the monarch referenced in his first King’s Speech on Christmas Day. Suggestions are that it will last just one hour, with around 2,000 dignitaries in attendance, compared to the three-hour-long ceremony and 8,000 attendees at his mother’s coronation.

Acclaimed royal historian Christopher Wilson says: “It’s been 70 years since the last coronation but, inevitably the next one will come

along sooner. When his time comes, the Prince of Wales will have to do as his father has done – assess the economic climate and the state of the country before deciding how lavish, or paredback, his own crowning will be.”

Break with tradition

Initial reports had suggested the King’s coronation would be held around the same date as his mother’s 1953 coronation, which took place on 2nd June – but 6th May was reportedly chosen in consultation with the government, the Church of England and the Royal Household. However, the date does have some symbolic references to family members:

• Firstly, the coronation of George VI, the King’s grandfather, was in May.

• 6th May is also the birthday of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the King’s grandson, who will be turning four on the day.

• It’s also the same date as the late Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, was married in 1960. During the ceremony – which has the codename Operation Golden Orb – the King will be anointed with holy oil, receive the orb, coronation ring and sceptre, and be blessed and then consecrated by the Archbishop. Monarchs traditionally sit in the fourteenth-century King Edward’s Chair, and Charles will be crowned with the St Edward’s crown, becoming the fortieth British monarch crowned at the Abbey since William the Conqueror in 1066.

Camilla, Queen Consort, will also be anointed and crowned, as was the Queen Mother when George VI was crowned in 1937.

Man and boy

Charles will be 74 at the time of the ceremony, the oldest ever new monarch. In 1953 the then-Prince Charles was just four years old when his mother was crowned. He sat in the royal box at Westminster Abbey to watch the coronation, flanked at the time by the Queen Mother and his aunt, Princess Margaret.

get used to its 5lb weight. He also recalled being kept awake by the “thousands of people gathered in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace chanting: ‘We want the Queen’”.

gathered in The Mall outside Buckingham Palace chanting: ‘We want the Queen’”. for our country. I look forward

Royal author Robert Jobson says: “Charles has adapted to his new role very well and is out connecting with people, which sadly the late Queen wasn’t able to do towards the end of her life.”

memories include how, the night before,

As with royal ceremonies, there had been behindthe-scenes preparation and practices in the lead up to the big day. Charles’ boyhood memories include how, the night before, the Queen came to say goodnight wearing the St Edward’s Crown as she was trying to

King Charles’ coronation will be followed by a Bank Holiday on 8th May. Announcing the decision, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “The coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country. I look forward to seeing people come together to celebrate and pay tribute to King Charles III by taking part in local and national events across the country in his honour.”

If you suffer from loneliness from time to time, ironically, you’re not alone. According to ‘The Lonely Society’, a report published by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), 48% of those surveyed believed that Britain is becoming a lonelier place.

The Covid-19 pandemic is partly to blame. After spending so long in survival mode, isolated from the ones we love, many of us still find it increasingly hard to coax ourselves out of that more guarded and introverted mindset. This is made even more pronounced when we factor in the move from communal offices to remote working, which has changed the lives of millions of people across the UK.

The ever-advancing progression of technology and social media is also believed to be a contributor. Despite claims that technology helps us connect with people, many experts believe that having constant access to technology can actually prevent us from building personal relationships.

Although many of us will be familiar with the upset of not being invited to a party, or the devastation of losing a loved one, what many people don’t know is that loneliness can also have a serious impact on our physical health. The work of neuroscientists such as John Cacioppo at the University of Chicago has shown that the stress of loneliness can directly affect our mental and physical wellbeing, with a cumulative effect on the heart that is the equivalent of a non-smoker taking up smoking. So, with this in mind, what’s the best way to overcome loneliness?

Get a new job or share your skills

You could use your free time to volunteer for a local charity, or try joining a new group or class. You’ll meet new people and be filled with a revived sense of purpose.

Practice self-care

It’s easy to let loneliness eat away at your confidence and self-esteem. Try to avoid falling into a negative headspace by practicing gratitude, meditation and mindfulness. Reminding yourself about the good things in life or reminiscing on happy times can help you to think more positively.

Reach out to someone

Talking to someone about how you feel can be a helpful way to cope with the negative emotions associated with loneliness. If there isn’t anyone you can trust, the campaigning and lobbying organisation Campaign to End Loneliness can help. Although they don’t recruit volunteers directly, you can visit their website at www. campaigntoendloneliness.org to find information about volunteering opportunities.

Find support online

Using technology in the right way can be a fantastic way to meet new like-minded people. Find people with similar interests by joining Facebook or Meetup groups, and check to see if any apps you use, like fitness or workout apps, have a social element or discussion board to join.

While you do have to be careful, it’s possible to find real support, connection and lasting friendships with people you meet online.

HOME WANTED! Tobias

Tobias is a large, handsome, 1 year old boy who has a sleek glossy black coat and amber coloured eyes. He came into care because his owner was no longer in a position to care for him. He is playful and loves being stroked and brushed. Although he’s is still a little shy, he is growing in confidence daily. He would suit a quiet adult only home (or with children aged 14 years plus) with a secure garden in which to explore; no other pets. He is used to having company so would like to be homed with someone who is around for a large part of the day; he's a young cat with lots of energy.

If you think you could offer Tobias his forever home please call 0345 260 1387 or email enquiries@epsom.cats.org.uk. Priority will be given to enquiries in the local areas of: KT5,6,9, KT17-23, SM7 and RH3-5.

Epsom Ewell & District Branch http://www.epsom.cats.org.uk

If you cannot adopt a cat but would still like to help us please go to https://www.justgiving.com/Epsom-CatsProtection

As we have around 7,000 cats and kittens in our care at any one time, we will find you the perfect feline friend. www.cats.org.uk

Reg Charity 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland)

Just as we humans do, cats and dogs can develop allergies. This is where their immune system overreacts to a foreign material, such as pollen, dust, a specific food protein or an insect bite.

Allergy symptoms in animals are not the same as you see in humans. The most common symptom of an animal allergic reaction is itching of the skin called pruritus. This can be just in one area of their body or all over.

The severity of the pruritus can cause serious scabbing and infections on the skin as well as hair loss and increased skin pigmentation. Furthermore, some animals can show signs of respiratory distress such as coughing, sneezing, and wheezing.

Runny discharge from eyes and nose as well as swelling of the eyes can be seen in cats. Other possible symptoms from animals suffering from allergies include vomiting and diarrhoea.

Allergies are difficult to diagnose and as a pet owner, you should pay close attention to an animal’s behaviour and surroundings if you suspect it is suffering from an allergy, to see if you can determine the trigger.

Of course, any of the above symptoms could be something else entirely, and if it is an allergy, it could be food or an insect bites, rather than just seasonal pollen. Given that, it’s really important that you get a diagnosis from your vet rather than just guessing at the appropriate treatment.

The first ‘seven wonders of the ancient world’ list was made more than 2,000 years ago, but over the course of many centuries most of these wonders were destroyed. So in 2001, the New7Wonders Foundation set out to find a new list for the modern era, asking over 100 million people for their votes. The result was seven new wonders of the world, spanning four continents. Which are on your bucket list?

Machu Picchu, Peru

Perched high in Peru’s Andes mountain range, Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca citadel dating back to the fifteenth century. The mysterious maze of buildings, plazas and platforms was only discovered 100 years ago and continues to bewilder historians and archaeologists –who are still to this day struggling to understand its original purpose.

Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal is India’s most iconic symbol. Shah Jahan, king of the Mughal empire from 1628 – 1658, employed over 20,000 people to build the mausoleum as a monument to his beloved wife, who died in childbirth. A marble tomb in the centre is surrounded by forty-two acres of grounds, where gardens, a mosque, guest house and pool complete the complex.

The Great Wall of China, China

The world’s largest and most impressive man-made structure, the Great Wall was built to protect China from invasion and to guard its Silk Road trade. Taking a staggering 2,000 years to finish, the structure snakes its way along mountain ridges, valleys and hills for over 13,000 miles.

Petra, Jordan

Half-carved into vibrant red, white, pink and sandstone cliff faces, the prehistoric city of Petra in Jordan was ‘lost’ to the Western world for hundreds of years. Once a thriving trading centre and the ancient capital of the Nabataean empire, the city sat empty and in near ruin for centuries before being rediscovered by a European traveller in the 1800s.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy

An impressive feat of engineering, The Colosseum in Rome was built in the first century. The amphitheatre was once capable of holding 50,000 spectators, who watched a variety of events – including gladiator fights. According to some estimates, about 500,000 people died in the Colosseum, and so many animals that some species became extinct!

Christ the Redeemer statue, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The iconic emblem of Brazil, Christ the Redeemer rises over thirty metres on the top of Mount Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro. Made from reinforced concrete and clad in over six million soapstone tiles, this totemic statue of Jesus is actually the largest Art Deco sculpture in the world.

Chichen Itza, Mexico

Deep in the Mexican state of Yucatán lies Chichen Itza, a historic Mayan city built between the ninth and twelfth centuries. Constructed by the pre-Columbian Mayan tribe Itzá, the city includes a series of monuments and temples – the most famous being El Castillo. A testament to the Mayans’ astronomical abilities, the structure features 365 steps, one for every day in the solar year.

Liven up your wardrobe with a splash of colour this spring Take inspiration from the tulips, daffodils and other spring flowers, and embrace some bolder colour choices this month.

Breasted

Monsoon Single

Blue Blazer, £95, and Wide Leg Trousers, £70

F&F Cotton Cambric Midi Dress, £22.50, Tesco Dune London Kelisa Sandals, £85

Monsoon Hand-Embroidered Cardigan, £95, and Green Jumper, £75

Oliver Bonas Hoff District Rambla Trainers, £120

Primark Blue Cap, £2.50

Accessorize Large Lock Ochre Bag, £38

Barbour Roland Knitted Jumper, £69.95

V by Very Seoul Oversized Sweatshirt, £22

NEED TO MOVE HOUSE

Speak to Julie Wale | julie.wale@lewis-dick.com

Speak to Tracey Cottam | tracey.cottom@lewis-dick.com

LIMITED

NEED TO MAKE A WILL OR POWER OF ATTORNEY

NEED TO MOVE HOUSE

Speak to Julie Wale | julie.wale@lewis-dick.com

Speak to Tracey Cottam | tracey.cottom@lewis-dick.com tracey.cottam@lewis-dick.com

NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS

NEED TO MAKE A WILL OR POWER OF ATTORNEY OR ADMINISTER AN ESTATE | Speak to James Winfield james.winfield@lewis-dick.com

NEED A DIVORCE, SEPARATION OR HELP

NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS

Speak to Jonathan Owens jonathan.owens@lewis-dick.com

NEED A DIVORCE, SEPARATION OR HELP WITH CONTACT

Speak to Carol Stevens-Stratten carol.stevens-stratten@lewis-dick.com

WE ARE YOUR LOCAL LAW FIRM, & PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY SERVICE

or visit our website www.lewis-dick.com

You have two minutes to find all the words of three or more letters that can be made from the letters above. Plurals are allowed, proper nouns are not. The 6-letter word will always be just a normal everyday word.

3 letters: 12 4 letters: 12 5 letters: 2 6 letters: 1

Reader survey

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Thank you very much for your support. Please send your replies to: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk Or send this completed page to A Berrylands Companion, 18 Kingsdowne Road, Surbiton, KT6 6JZ.

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What do you call a flock of sheep tumbling down a hill? A lambslide.

Crossword EGG

LAMB BIBLE CHICK

TULIP BASKET BONNET

EASTER RABBIT

SPRING

DAFFODIL

CHOCOLATE

HOT CROSS

BUN

Cadbury’s make 500 million Creme Eggs every year. If you piled them on top of each other, it would be 10 x higher than Mount Everest.

What proof is there that eating carrots is good for your eyesight? You don’t see rabbits wearing glasses do you?

Mini Cryptic Crossword

Across

1. Angry look when lager is spilt (5)

4. She’s often heard at Christmas (5)

7. Destroyed in rude way (6)

9. Organisation Mary rebuilt (4)

10. Tidings from all points of the compass (4)

11. Fade out, unable to hear (4)

13. Time belonging to us, we hear (4)

15. Margin divided by a tenant (7)

16. A long way off, in seafaring terms (4)

17. Little public display of feeling (4)

19. Hampshire flower (4)

21. List of guys standing by Utah (4)

22. Outburst of one in business (6)

23. Went out with and became old-fashioned (5)

24. Drink lacking in stature (5)

Down

1. Colour with embarrassment – or wounded if together (5)

2. Boxer with two graduates following a hero (3,4)

3. Flat and smooth in revenge (4)

5. One hit hard and shamed (7)

6. Productive hen coating (5)

8. Most costly and treasured (7)

12. Great wealth in aid of melody (7)

14. Herb that turns orange after the first of October (7)

16. Equipped with both weapons and limbs (5)

18. French green after nothing exposed to view (5)

20. Dumps pointed ends (4)

Mobile b icycle Service & r epair

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• service, all work and repairs will be quoted prior to commencing.

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Free pick up and drop off within a five mile

Contact: Jon Martin jon@rebelwaltz-cyclesolutions.co.uk | 07514 435855

Looking After Your Garden Equipment

Spring is all about growth, and gardeners are the first to no�ce the change in the season. Flowers, grass and hedges all seem to grow at a considerable rate once the weather warms up. It doesn’t ma�er if you are a professional landscaper or only have a small patch of greenery, there are a few things you should check before you dust off the lawnmower, hedge trimmer and hand tools.

Think of your mower in the same way you would any vehicle, a car, truck or motorbike. A small repair will prevent bigger problems and major expense later. If you are a professional, this could mean unwanted �me off and loss of earnings. These tools are an investment that need care and maintenance, but it also makes sense to take care of your equipment even if it’s for minimal domes�c use. Using a cer�fied servicing provider may cost money, but it may save you �me or prevent a serious injury.

In terms of safety, accidents are more likely to happen if equipment is defec�ve. Only use equipment as per the manufacturer’s guidelines, improper use may lead to damage to you or the machinery. Make sure you read the operator’s manual for guidance on how to take care of tools and equipment.

Power tools should have their electrical cords checked, in case of corrosion or rodent damage if stored in an outdoor shed. Chainsaws should be inspected for any missing or worn teeth, and any tools with blades should be sharpened and oiled. Always use the correct oil or lubricant for each tool, as recommended by the manufacturer.

filters, spark plugs and cables for any wear and tear. Also check your strimmer cord, spool and blades before use.

It’s a good idea to have some spare parts if at all possible, especially if you use garden equipment in a professional capacity. A lot can depend on the age of the tools you use, with older models you may have to search for new parts or check with a specialist to find components.

When it’s �me to put the tools away for winter, ensure your equipment is as clean as possible. Blades should be free of grass and dirt to prevent rust. For petrol mowers, remove any excess fuel from the tank prior to storage, to reduce corrosion. Wooden handles should be oiled to prevent cracking and splintering. Use fine grade sanding paper to smooth, then a coa�ng of wood oil will seep in over the winter months.

As well as preven�ng any excessive expense, repair is be�er for the environment. If your equipment has been bought under warranty, regular maintenance by a professional will be needed to keep within the terms of any warranty agreement. Keep all service receipts to ensure you have full coverage. Machinery and tools that are appropriately taken care of will save you money, �me and help the planet.

A new staircase for Surbiton station

Sir Edward Davey, M.P

Surbiton’s station is an iconic building.

Designed by Scottish architect James Robb Scott and opened in 1937, it’s an Art Deco masterpiece, well-deserving of its Grade II-listed status. From its clock tower to its spacious booking hall, it draws you in as you rush for your train.

So nearly a decade ago, when I started to campaign for a new staircase to ease what I considered dangerous levels of passenger congestion in the evening peak on platforms 3 and 4, I was a little nervous. Was it wise to tinker with the beauty of Surbiton station?

People can judge for themselves whether they think the now completed staircase, with “podium deck structure” for the ticket gates, succeeds in blending in to Scott’s original. For me, I’d like to thank everyone at Network Rail and their contractors, because in my view they have married the necessity for this staircase with the station’s original splendour. A huge project, well executed.

The benefits of this project may not be apparent to everyone – but if you’re a commuter regularly travelling back in the evening peak, I’m sure you’ll get it: when 2 trains arrive within a few minutes of each other, the sheer number of commuters disembarking onto platforms 3 and 4 at the same time has long threatened an accident.

And beyond those unsafe levels of passenger congestion, the long queues of people waiting to exit the station, coupled with the linked delays to the trains then leaving the platforms for their onward journey, all helped us make the case to the Department for Transport and Network Rail.

While getting this project over the line has been beyond frustrating at times – I won’t recount the full list of meetings and emails and the different obstacles faced – I think everyone involved can be proud – including the many residents, councillors and of course railway staff.

Next steps

But inevitably there’s the odd issue to iron out, and the campaign for the next improvements!

First, a few minor works related to special security glazing on the staircase and podium need to be finished. The latest date for final completion is next month.

Second, where the trains stop in the station – at least in the evening peak – needs to change, to make it easier for people to use the new staircase.

Partly because the works haven’t yet finished, the evening peak trains are still stopping far down the platform – when, now, the middle carriage really needs to stop midway between the two staircase exits. But don’t worry – this issue has already been raised!

Then there are the next set of improvements –starting with disabled access at the rear of the station! While we won the funding for this back in Winter 2020, the much larger works on the staircase took precedence.

However, the designs for how passengers will be able to access the lift at the rear of Surbiton station have apparently been drawn up – and I hope we will all get to see them soon. With the station’s rear ticket office and booking hall very much an important part of James Robb Scott’s masterpiece – with work also being undertaken to locate past murals that graced the walls – how this vital, practical improvement is made will also be rightly scrutinised by our community.

And beyond disabled access at the rear, I hope we can look forward to our newly-improved Surbiton station also receiving a good clean and re-painting.

And then there’s how the rear ticket office and booking hall might be brought back into community use in the future. And so on…..

If you have any ideas for how Surbiton station could be improved in the future – indeed, if you have any ideas for improving any of our Borough’s ten train stations – please do send them to me at edward. davey.mp@parliament.uk

Improving public transport locally - making it safer, greener, more reliable, more accessible and more affordable - is a never ending but vital campaign.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION

HIDATO SOLUTION

TWO M NUTE TR AL

CODEWORD SOLUTION

WORDSEARCH ANSWER

Happiness is a warm puppy

Charles M Schultz

WORDWHEEL ANSWER

MANHANDLE

WORD LADDER ANSWER

(This is one solution, there may be others)

CHILDREN’S PAGE

Egg 1: piece 6; Egg 2: piece 5; Egg 3: piece 1; Egg 4: piece 2; Egg 5: piece 3; Egg 6: piece 4

Across: 1. Chick, 3. Lamb, 5. Hotcross bun, 6. Easter, 9. Dafodil, 10. Basket, 12. Spring.

Down: 1. Chocolate, 2. Bible, 4. Bonnet, 7. Tulip, 8. Rabbit, 11. Egg.

What’s on in April:

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month; Stress Awareness Month; National Pet Month

London Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2023

Events in March:

25th: Tolkein Day; Earth Hour

26th: British Summer Time begins; Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race

Events in April:

1st: April Fool’s Day

2nd: Palm Sunday; World Autism Day

5th: Passover begins

6th: Maundy Thursday

7th: Good Friday Bank Holiday; Passion of Jesus, Trafalgar Square

6th: Deadline for submission in May edition of A Berrylands Companion

9th: Easter Sunday; Unicorn Day

10th: Easter Monday Bank Holiday

13th: National Scrabble Day, in honour of inventor Alfred Mosher Butts

12-14th: Emmanuel Restoration Station Easter Holiday Club Wed 12-Fri 14 April for primary school children, £15. Register at emmanueltolworth.org.uk.

18th: World Heritage Day

23rd: St George’s Day; William Shakespeare Day: Unesco World Book & Copyright Day; World Book Night; London Marathon

21-22nd: Hook Beer Festival at 1st Hook Scout HQ, off Kent Way. Sessions Fri night, Sat afternoon and evening. Tickets £8 from hookbeerfest.org.uk

25th: World Penguin Day

29th: International Dance Day

30th: International Jazz Day

Events in May:

1st Early May Bank Holiday

1-7th: Screen Free Week

3rd: International Gilbert & Sullivan Day; World Laughter Day; World Asthma Day

4th: Star Wars Day: May the Fourth Be With You

6th: Coronation of King Charles III

6-13th: National Sun Awareness Week

7-20th: Surbiton Food Festival

8th: Coronation Bank Holiday

Deadline for submissions for June edition of A Berrylands Companion

9th: Europe Day

12th: International Nurses’ Day (Florence Nightingale’s birthday)

13th: World Fair Trade Day

14th: National Children’s Day

15-19th: Walk to School Week

29th: Spring Bank Holiday

020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Surbiton Historical Society

Meet at CornerHouse, Douglas Road

Tuesdays, 7.30pm, bar opens at 7pm.

Tues 4th April: The Great Exhibition of 1851 by Michael Gilbert

Tues 2nd May: Surbiton Hill by Janet Heski

Tues 6th June: One Thames or Two by Jon Cotton

Tues 4th July: Antiquaries & Collections by Julian Pooley

Enquiries to Membership Secretary, Mrs Ann Glover

For information onother dates and talks please contact:

Tel 020 8330 0339

Email ann.glover418@outlook.com

Seasons

When the birds sing their song to the morning dawn, And the blossom smells sweet on the bough, 'Tis then that I see that the world is for me, When the birds sing their song to the dawn.

When the fields are aglow with a carpet of gold And the sky is a beautiful blue, 'Tis then that I see that the world is for me, When the fields are a carpet of gold.

When the trees shed their leaves like confetti thrown And Jack sprinkles frost on the ground, 'Tis then that I see that the world is for me, When the trees shed their leaves on the ground.

When the moon lights the snow on my window panes And I'm cosy and warm in my bed, I close my eyes and I dream sweet dreams

Till the birds sing their song to the dawn.

Oh wonderful world!

You're a sight to behold

On land and sea and air. Keep on turning around

Till the end of time,

Then you will be born again.

By Fay Dine

Deadlines for submitting new artwork for forthcoming issues of A Berrylands Companion

8th April for May issue

8th May for June issue

June 8th for July/Aug issue

Aug 8th for September issue

Sept 8th for October issue

8th Oct for November issue

8th Nov for Dec/January issue

8th Jan for February issue

8th Feb for March issue

8th March for April issue

For more information call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or send an email to karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Disclaimer

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

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

It is the advertiser’s responsibility to submit any amendments to adverts by the deadline date of the 8th.

To advertise any event, or community activity in the magazine, please call: Karen on 020 8274 0096 or email:

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Surbiton Bird Club

Fully accessible monthly talks at St Matthew’s School, Langley Road, Surbiton, KT6 6LW 7.30pm-9.30pm

Non members always welcome, £2 for tea & cake donation appreciated! Membership includes access to Hogsmill Nature Reserve and hides

Tues 18th April: Jeff Blincow: Shares his experience of travels in the province of Yunnan SW China:- Wintering ground for many migrant birds.

Tues16th May: Social Evening

HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION

Are you interested in gardening?

Did you know there is an association in Hook?

Our Association was founded over 50 years ago and is run by volunteers, can provide a wide range of composts, fertilisers, seeds and other gardening products at not-for-profit prices to our members. We support gardeners and allotment holders.

October Crossword

Field Outings: Friendly walks for beginners to experts. To confirm participation, arrange time and meeting place, and pre-arrange lifts if needed and available:

Across:

6. Colourless liquid formerly used as an anaesthetic (5)

7. Near or close to (8)

We currently have full and half plots available to rent. Contact: John on 07807 300 749

Full details Surbitonbirds.org. 020 8399 9121

10. Very poisonous metallic element (7)

11. Continually repeated over a period of time (7)

12. Silvery-white radioactive metallic element (7)

Sun 2nd April: Family Day Bushy Park

13. To go into again (2-5)

Weds 5th April: Midweek walk Richmond Park

14. Slow witted or stupid, particularly following alcohol (11)

Sun 16th April: all day, Newhaven and Seaford

Sun 23rd April: (coach outing) Fingrinhoe Wick, Essex Sun 30th April: all day: Otmoor RSPB & Farmoor Reserve, near Oxford

19. Student who studies intensively in a short period of time (7)

21. Convert ordinary language into code (7)

Membership is £2.50 a year and new allotment holders have free membership for the first year Our trading facility is situated next to the entrance to the allotment plots, beyond the rugby club pavillion, rear of King Edward’s Recreation Ground, Hook Road, Chessington

25. Advance beyond the usual limit (7)

Full details Surbitonbirds.org. 020 8399 9121

25. Of little substance or significance (7)

26. At the right time of year (2,6)

27. Plant - sucking insects (5)

Down:

1. Terminate gradually (5,3)

2. A Sultanate in northwestern Borneo (6)

3. Horologist (10)

4. Slightly open (4)

5. Engage somebody to enter the army (6)

6. Represents or performs as if in a play (6)

8. Come to terms with (7)

9. Shortened term for provocation (5)

13. Returning to political office (10)

15. Unusually great in size (7)

16. After sunrise and before sunset (8)

17. Strong and sharp (5)

18. Having little emotion or sensibility (6)

20. Add to the very end (6)

22. The highest point; culminate (6)

24. Compass point (4)

October Sudoku

Open: Sundays 10am - 12 noon Feb - Nov 10am - 11am Nov - Jan

Remember, you can pick up a copy of A Berrylands Companion magazine at the following:

Surbiton & Tolworth Library, Shan’s Pharmacy, MBE Surbiton, Park Hill Express, Berrylands Post Office, Balaclava Church Hall, Ex-Cellar Wine Bar, Tolworth Recreation Centre, Surbiton Racket Club

Read it whilst you wait at: Aspen Vets, Berrylands Autocare Garage, Confidental Dental Surgery, Emma’s Hair Salon, Kingston Care, Vets4Life, Business Centre Maple Road, Lib Dem Office

If you would like copies at your business please call me on: 020 8274 0096

What’s On/Local Events

1st Tuesday: NHS Retirement Club, For information call Lorna: 020 8337 4121

Last Sunday of the month: Women on Wheels, 020 8547 5865. E-mail: ccst@ rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Chit Chat Sketch: Meets at Court Farm garden centre, Mondays at 2pm, Thursdays at 10am. Time subject to change, availability space limited. Book your place: 07889 897 017 or email: kkpart@outlook.com. Please bring sketch book & pencils Session £8 plus drink.

Christ Church Surbiton Hill: Midweek Communion, simple service of Holy Communion at 12.30-1pm. Open from 11am for quiet prayer, alternate Wednesdays, www. ccsurbiton.org

Cornerston Church, Tel: 0208 549 0733. info@cornerstonechurchkingston.org

Emmanuel Church: Calling all years 6-9 to Cross Train, Fridays 7-8.30pm at Emmanuel Church. Emmanuel Restoration Station Easter Holiday Club Wed 12th- Friday 14th April for primary school children, £15. Register at emmanueltolworth.org.uk

Encore Singing Group: Mondays, 10 to 12 term time at St Matthew’s Church KT6 66JQ Pop in for a free taster or email Liz: gillyvor@ hotmail.com

Fircroft Listening Café: Phone or text: 07598 910797. Email: listeningcafe@thefircrofttrust. org Buses 71, 465, K1, K4.

Free Healing Meditation Workshop for Stress & Anxiety: For more information on what to bring & to sign up, go to: www.georgiemacs. com

Hook Church: If you would like to pray with someone, Hook Church Brook Road, KT6 5DB is open Saturday mornings, 11-12.30pm. You would be most welcome. Info: 0208 391 0335

Hope in Depression: Free course that educates & equips adults & their supporters, with tools & proven tips about how to cope better with depression & anxiety. Hosted by Christ Church, Surbiton Hill over 6 Tuesday evening sessions IN PERSON from 21 Feb - 28 Mar. Expert speakers explore different aspects

of mental health each week. Info & Sign up ccsurbiton.org/hidc or call 07423 144803

Kingston Camera Club: For more information visit: www.kingstoncameraclub.com

Kingston Jazz Society: Every other Tuesday 7.30-9.30pm at The Druids Head, Kingston. Listen with us, to the best of recorded jazz. New members warmly welcomed. Contact: kingstonjazzsoc@gmail.com

Kingston Pensioners’ Forum: Contact Diane Double, Tel: 07762 663 483/020 8397 5084, email: kingstonpensionersforum@hotmail. co.uk

Kingston Philatelic Society: Info: Brian Sole Tel: 01932 220 677 or email: brian.sole@btinternet.com

Kingston Speakeasy: Contact Alick Munro on alick@munro.com or call 0208 892 9243 for date of next meeting.

Ladies Exercise Club: Keep Moving friendly & fun exercise classes for over 60s Fridays 10.15am. 1st class free, then £6/session. Call Mary, 01483 284 716 or maryedwards77s@ gmail.com

Mind in Kingston:www.mindkingston.org.uk or 020 8255 3939

Mrs Bennet’s Ballroom: At St Mark’s Church Hall, Church Hill Rd. Contact Libby Curzon, 020 8391 1215. Email: curzone@hotmail.com

Oasis: daytime group for over 60s at Emmanuel Church, Grand Avenue, Tolworth. Meetings on Wednesdays at 2.30pm, 5th April. There will be time for icebreakers, chat, puzzles, a 5 minute bible based talk, relevant to our lives plus refreshments. For details: 020 8390 2372 and leave a message.

Open Door: A friendship group aimed mainly at seniors, meeting in the lounge at Christ Church from 2.15-4.00pm on 13th April: Mary Edwards on ‘keeping fit’; and 27th April. Refreshments available, full programme to be finalised. For any further information and updates please check on: www.ccsurbiton.org or call the office: 0208490 7215

Surbiton Probus Club:Meets on the third Wednesday of every month, at noon, at Glenmore House, 6 The Crescent, Surbiton for socialising, a lunch and a speaker. Club membership is open to anyone who has retired

What’s On/Local Events

or partly retired and who has worked in a professional or business environment. If you are interested in visiting or joining, further details are available on the Club website –www.surbitonprobus.org.uk/membership or from the General Secretary email < surbitonprobus@outlook.com >

St John’s Church: Community Cafe open at St John’s Chursh, Grove Lane KT1 2SU fro 10am-1pm. Come for elevenses, or early lunch with friends. Toasted sandwiches, real coffee and home made cakes to eat or take away Vegetarian & gluten free also. For more info: see website or email: parishhall@ stjohnskingston.co.uk

St Mark’s Bridge Club: Meets in Surbiton on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12.30 - 15.30. Phone our secretary Peter on 020 8398 6811 to come and give it a go. If you do not already have a playing partner we will endeavour to find you one.

St Marks Church: Weds mornings 10.00-11.30 Stay and Play for Toddlers and Carers at St Mark’s Church Hall, St Mark’s Hill.

St. Matthew’s Church: Come along to the Balance Community Cafe every Wednesday 10am -2pm, for tea, coffee, cakes and light lunches, with a Bereavement Cafe meeting each month at 10.30am. Everyone welcome.

Surbiton Chess Club: Now meets every Tuesday evening at Tolworth Reform Church, 90 Elgar Avenue, KT5 9JR from 7.30pm -10pm. New members welcome. Further details & our Covid policy from: www.surbitonchessclub. co.uk/ email: enquiries@surbitonchessclub. co.uk or at twitter@SurbitonChess.co.uk/

Scottish Country Dancing: Check website: www.surbitoncaledonian.co.uk or call: 01932 784 866

Surbiton Club for the Blind and Visually

Impaired: We meet every other Tuesday 2-4pm in the Methodist Church next to the fire station. Chat, entertainment and afternoon teas are served. We welcome newcomers readily. Lifts available. Further details 07443643716

Surbiton Floral Club: Tel: 020 8399 8193

Talking of Trains in Surbiton: Programme of talks at Surbiton Library Hall, each Wednesday evening from Sept 2022, until March 2023.

presentations on Railway Subjects by Resident Speaker Dick Crane & Guests. Class fee £50 covering 22 meetings.Details on www. talkingoftrains.co.uk More details on website: www.talkingoftrains.co.uk

The Reading Retreat: Everyone welcome! A free & friendly weekly shared reading group led by a trained Reader Leader volunteer. Nothing to read beforehand, just come along to a session to read & listen to a short written piece such as a story or poem , then join in a discussion. Tuesdays 10.30-11.30am, Alfriston Day Centre, 3 Berrylands Road, KT5 8RB. Wednesdays 2.30 - 3.30pm at Tolworth Library, 37-39 The Broadway, KT6 7DJ, Thursdays 10.30-11.30am at Surbiton Library KT6 6AG Email: libraryvolunteers@kingston.gov.uk for further info.

Tiny Tunes: www.tinytuneslive.com

Tolworth United Reformed Church, please call Roger on 07525 410 083 / 0202 8393 4270 or email jones.ra@btinternet.com for information.

Tolworth World of Dance: Dance for Fun, Fitnes & Friends Wednesday (term time) Mornings: 10.30-12.00. St George’s, Hamilton Avenue, Tolworth KT6 7PT. First time FREE, then £5/week, pay as you go. Contact Phil or Brenda: EM: philip.steventon@btinternet.com Facebook/Tolworth World of Dance. Tel: 020 8397 9649

Twickenham Jazz Club: Wednesday nights at The Cabbage Patch in Twickenham, from 7.30-10.30pm. World renowned Jazz musicians live! Please visit our website to check upcoming events: www. twickenhamjazzclub.com

Women do Craft: Christ Church, Surbiton Hill. Every 2nd Weds of the month in the lounge, 7.30-9.15pm. Catch up, chat and do craft together. Check website: www. ccsurbiton.org

These pages are for local clubs, societies and groups to have their information available to readers of A Berrylands Companion.

If your club or society is not listed on the Local Events, send in the details!!

Please send in the updated information for your club by the 8th of the month before issue month.

Clubs, Schools, Churches, & Charity events should be submitted to karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Karen: 020 8274 0096 email: karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

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