July-August 2023 - Issue 180

A CompanionBerrylands

Month: July/August 2023

Issue No: 180

Independent monthly community news and business directory for KT5 & KT6

Delivered free each month to homes in Berrylands, plus Surbiton or Tolworth

Rod Stewart interview, He wears it well!

HONEYBEE

A ROOF REPAIR? NEED ROOFING.CO.UK

FIND US ON PAGE 17XX

Hello Readers

Summer already! Just one more Bank Holiday to savour. It will seem strange not having the short weeks again.

I’ve tried to fill the magazine with enough articles and quizzes to keep you occupied through the Summer, along with some new advertisers.

You will have noticed the front cover photo of the legend that is Rod Stewart, and we have an interview with him this month It amazes me that for his age, he certainly wears it well!!

Many of you may be regular walkers that often go to Alexandra Millennium Green with or without a dog. Were you aware that it is run and maintained by Trustees and volunteers? After 30 years, the number of Trustees and volunteers has dwindled and as a charitable trust, it needs to recruit more people. On page 34 you can read more about it. In case you are wondering: a trustee is a person or member of a board placed in possession of property with the legal obligation of administering it solely for the purposes specified in the trust deed. (The Pocket Oxford Dictionary) To prevent it reverting back to the council, local authority, more people are needed to help, and quickly.

On the other hand, if you are finding it hard to feed

Useful Numbers

the family, especially during school holidays, were you aware of the Surbiton Community Fridge? One of their missions is to prevent food waste, so they collect food from local supermarkets near the best by date, and volunteers give it away. The article is on page 32.

Talking of food, bees are such an important part of food production and we need to protect them. At this time of year they might be likely to ‘swarm’ and the article on pollinators might let you see them in a new light.

As the next edition will be for September, I hope you all have a great break, whether a staycation in the UK or you plan to go further afield.

Best wishes,

Karen

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Please mention A Berrylands Companion when responding to adverts

The Usborne Official Spy’s Handbook

From cracking secret codes and creating effective disguises to tracking and decoding signals, this book encourages kids to be creative. It’s the essential guide to spying – keep it close to hand but hidden from the unknown enemy! – packed with useful skills and tips, and spies in training can use the activity pages to create camouflage headbands, shake off a trail and spot enemy spies in crowds of people.

Don’t Shake the Mango Tree by Graeme Forbes Smith

Graeme’s childhood ambition to climb Kilimanjaro and subsequent visits to Africa made him fall in love with the continent, so when he and his wife Candy have a mid-life crisis at the age of 50, they abandon their comfortable Edinburgh life and move to Tanzania. The warmth and welcoming nature of the locals swiftly found them work managing a luxury safari lodge, and tales of their new life with its up and downs in Africa unfold. Each tale is told with a touching blend of humour, tragedy, gratitude and joy.

City on Fire by Don Winslow

Exploring classic themes of loyalty, betrayal, honour, and corruption on both sides of the law, this is the first instalment of an expansive new trilogy from one of the world’s most eloquent crime writers. Danny Ryan is a hard-working longshoreman, loving husband, loyal friend, and occasional ‘muscle’ for the Irish crime syndicate that oversees much of the city. He yearns for something more and dreams of a fresh start somewhere far away. But when a modern-day Helen of Troy triggers a war between rival mob factions, Danny is embroiled in a conflict he can’t escape…

All You Need by Katie Piper

In her debut children’s picture book, best-selling author and TV presenter Katie Piper OBE invites young readers aged three to five to join Teeny Mouse in a wonderful tale of empowerment. Teeny Mouse is going on a big adventure, a journey she’s never taken before. And though it’s big, and fun, and exciting, she suddenly feels a little bit small...but she discovers all you need is to have a little bit of faith in yourself. A perfect read to share with young children fearful about trying new things.

The Davenports by Krystal Marquis

One for the older teens, this historical romance is inspired by the real-life story of C.R. Patterson (the first African-American automotive manufacturer) and his family, the Davenports are one of the few black families of immense wealth and status, their fortune made through a formerly enslaved man who founded the Davenport Carriage Company years ago. It’s now 1910 and we follow the fortunes of four determined and passionate young black women – Olivia, Helen, Amy-Rose and Ruby – discovering the courage to steer their own path in life…and love.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho’s masterpiece tells the mystical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure. His quest will lead him to riches far different – and far more satisfying – than he ever imagined. A fable about undauntedly following one’s dreams, listening to one’s heart and reading life’s omens, The Alchemist is currently the most-translated book in the world by a living author. It has become a modern classic, selling millions of copies around the world.

Whatever your plans this holiday, there’s nothing better than a great read. Here are some for everyone of all ages to enjoy!

A Berrylands Based Building Company

We're an in house team of local builders based in Berrylands specialising in all aspects of building including extensions and refurbishments. We have a portfolio of projects stretching across our 10 years of trading. From Landscaping to Luxury Bathroom installations, our team of local trades is here to assist with any project you have planned for 2023

If you earn more, you’ll be better off. It sounds simple but the reality can be more complicated. Some myths about the effects of taxes on higher income are simply down to confusion. In rare cases though, the benefits of a pay rise may be less than they might seem.

On the face of it, moving from paying 20% basic rate tax to 40% higher rate tax sounds painfully expensive. However, the UK tax system uses marginal tax rates. This means you only pay a particular rate on the portion of your income that falls into the relevant band.

A practical example

Using the tax bands and rates for 2023-4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. (The bands and rates in Scotland vary slightly but the principles are the same.)

Imagine you earn £50,270, which is the top end of the basic rate band. You pay no income tax on the first £12,570 as this is covered by the personal allowance. You then pay the basic rate of 20% on the remaining money (£37,700), meaning £7,540 in income tax.

If you then get a pay rise of £1,000, you’ll move into the 40% ‘higher rate’ band. However, only this extra £1,000 is taxed at 40%. That means your total income tax rises by £400 to £7,940. However much you earn, what really matters is your ‘effective marginal tax rate’. Simply put, that’s how much of each extra pound you earn goes to taxes and other costs. For example,

an employee earning £30,000 could have an effective marginal tax rate of 32%, made up of 20% income tax and 12% National Insurance.

Student loans

Sometimes the effective marginal tax rate may be higher than you expect. For example, graduates who started university in 2012 or later don’t face that extreme effect but they do have a higher effective marginal tax rate than nongraduates. Any income you have over £27,295 is taxed at an extra 9% towards your loan repayments. Add in income tax and NI and you have an effective marginal tax rate of 41%. If you get into the higher rate band, this rises to over 50%.

Higher rates

There’s also a potential shock for anyone (graduate or not) whose income rises over £100,000. On paper you’ll still be paying the 40% rate because the 45% ‘additional rate’ doesn’t start until you earn £125,140. However, for every £2 you earn over £100,000, the personal allowance is reduced by £1.

For every extra £2 you earn, your taxable income goes up by £3. It’s charged at the 40% rate, meaning £1.20 extra income tax. Put it all together and the effective marginal tax rate is 60%. Many people joining the six -figure club will take expert advice on options such as increasing pension contributions that may reduce tax liabilities.

Take out travel insurance

Although not a legal requirement, travel insurance could save you from forking out for sky-high medical bills, flight cancellations, lost luggage, stolen possessions and more. With treatment for a broken leg in Spain costing around £15,000, it’s a no-brainer for medical precautions alone.

Create a portable medical history

Having your medical history to hand could be a lifesaver. Communication can be difficult – especially when you factor in stress and a potential language barrier. A self-created printed form is key to getting the best care without guesswork, and should include details of any recent surgeries, vaccinations, medications and allergies.

Bring important documents

A copy of your passport, driver’s licence or another form of identification could save you from scrambling to find proper documentation if you lose your passport and need to get

home. You should also pack your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

Share your travel itinerary

Make sure someone at home knows where you will be. This is especially important if you’re travelling alone, but could also be useful if you’re planning on exploring more remote areas or engaging in any potentially risky activities.

Bring the basics

When it comes to travelling, comfort is key. While you can’t pack for every potential eventuality, you can come prepared with the essentials. Even a small first-aid kit and painkillers could save the hassle of finding a chemist.

Our bodies are home to over 60,000 miles of blood vessels that, along with the heart, make up the circulatory system. Its network of roadways carries blood to every corner of your body. However, when your circulation or vein health is poor, blood flow can be slowed or blocked.

There’s plenty you can do to combat circulation problems or prevent any existing vein issues from getting worse.

Stay active

By going for a walk on your lunch break or taking short breaks throughout the day, you can keep your blood flowing.

Wear compression stockings

If you’re susceptible to vein issues, whether that’s through genetics, pregnancy or lifestyle, you should wear

compression stockings. They work by applying pressure to the calves, contracting muscles around the veins to help blood move back up towards the heart.

Elevate your legs

Elevate your legs

Elevating your legs above your heart for ten to fifteen minutes each day can help ease any aching or heaviness in the legs. By reducing the pull of gravity, the excess blood drains out of your lower legs and moves towards your heart.

Talk to your doctor about treatment

In most cases, varicose veins are not a serious condition so don’t usually require treatment. However, if your varicose veins are causing pain, discomfort, or are leading to other complications or health issues, your doctor can recommend a number of treatment options.

serious condition so don’t usually require number of treatment options.

Travelling abroad with man’s best friend is not without its complications, but with a little research and forward planning you can make it stress-free and an enjoyable experience for both you and your dog!

Travelling abroad to EU countries and Northern Ireland with your pet dog changed on 1 January 2021, so what you need to do before, during and after your journey will depend on what country you are going to. Then, there’s difference guidance for taking your pet to a non-EU country. What do you need to travel with your dog to and from GB to the EU?

• A microchip.

• Proof of a current rabies vaccination (administered after a microchip was implanted to enter France). Your pet must be at least twelve weeks old before they can be vaccinated.

• Tapeworm treatment (if needed).

• An animal health certificate (AHC), which needs to be issued within ten days of the date you are set to travel, or a valid pet passport that’s accepted in the country you’re travelling to.

Arriving in an EU country or Northern Ireland

When you arrive in the EU you will need to visit a Travellers’ Point of Entry and show official proof of your pet’s AHC, microchip, vaccinations and tapeworm treatment (if required) before being allowed to travel further.

Before you hit the road

Check out your route before you travel, as you must travel using approved routes. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travellingto-an-eu-country-or-northern-ireland.

Further information

It’s advisable, too, to check the area you are travelling to beforehand, to see whether there is a risk that your pet will be exposed to hotter or colder climates, or diseases that we don’t have here in the UK.

Flying with your four-legged friend

The number of airlines that allow pets to travel in-cabin has increased in recent years, but this still mainly applies only to pets that weigh less than 8kg. If allowed in the cabin, they will count as one of your pieces of carry-on luggage and usually only one pet is allowed per passenger. You may also need to invest in an airlineapproved carrier, which will need to be placed under your seat and your dog will usually have to remain in the bag for the duration of the flight. It’s more spacious for pets to travel in the cargo hold, in a rigid and safely strappeddown spacious travel kennel. The cargo hold environment is strictly controlled, pressurised and air-conditioned, is quiet and the lights are dimmed for the duration of the flight.

A staggering four million domestic pets fly every year throughout the world and there are strict welfare regulations governing international pet travel. However, know your dog – some just aren’t made for travelling long distances, no matter how well-prepared you are. If you are having second thoughts, find a recommended dog sitter, friend or family member that you are your dog are comfortable with to take care of your pet.

• If you’re travelling to the EU or Northern Ireland, contact the Pet Travel Scheme helpline on 0370 241 1710 or email pettravel@apha.gov.uk if you need more information about pet travel.

• Contact APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) on 03000 200 301 or email exports@apha. gov.uk if you need more information about pet travel to a non-EU country.

Walking your dog is a daily commitment, and whether you need occasional help or someone to take over most days while you are at work, you’ll need to find a professional dog-walker. Here are some things to consider to ensure your furry friend’s safety and well-being.

• Ask the dog walker about their experience with different breeds, behaviour issues and emergency situations. Look for someone who has experience with dogs similar to yours.

• What other pets are they looking after? What’s the maximum number of dogs they will be walking at the same time?

• Has your walker taken training or certification courses in pet first aid and dog walking?

• Ask for references from previous clients and call them to get feedback on the dog walker’s reliability, professionalism and how well they handled their pet.

HOME WANTED!

Charlie

his catnip banana toy!

He was found in his home after his owner sadly died. He would love a home where people are around for some of the day and with a safe garden. He could live with children aged 12 yrs. old and over. Sorry, no other pets.

If you feel you could give Charlie the home he so deserves, please call Sue on 020 8390 3165 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)

• Make sure the dog walker has insurance that covers them in case of an accident, and liability insurance that protects you and your pet in case of any damage or injury.

• Look for a dog walker who communicates well and keeps you informed about your pet’s daily activities and any issues that arise during the walks.

• Arrange a meeting with you and your pet before the walks begin to ensure they bond and feel comfortable with each other.

• Discuss the rates and any additional fees for services like administering medication or extra hours if you are late returning from work.

Charlie is a lovely, friendly, affectionate and super-chatty 7yr old black & white cat. He loves his food and playing with his fishing rod toy, and he particularly loves

Look after our pollinator friends

by Trevor Arnold

Ihada wonderful surprise when I got home a week ago. As I walked up my garden path, I noticed quite a large swarm of bees low down on a tree in my front garden.

I love bees and had already booked to start a bee keeping course, so I wasn’t fazed by the sight of about 5000-6000 bees, it was a fantastic sight for me. This got me thinking, if you found a swarm, would you know what to do? No? Then read on.

When bees swarm, the queen and half an existing hive try to find a new home. Most of the bees will cluster around the queen while scouts go looking for a suitable home. This could be in a shed or the roof of a house. It’s better for them and us if they are collected by a bee keeper and put in a manmade hive.

The word “swarm” can sound threatening and scary but in fact, there is no need to be scared if you find one. Honey bees are normally very placid, particularly a swarm as they have no home to defend at that point in time. Just follow some simple advice and the bees will be fine, and so will you.

Honey bees are the only bees that swarm. However, there are other types of bees that can look similar to honey

bees, so it's important to try to identify that they are bees and not wasps.

Once you've identified the bees, you should contact a local beekeeper. Beekeepers are experienced in handling them and will be able to remove the swarm safely. Details of where to find a local bee keeper can be found below.

Do not attempt to remove the swarm yourself. Honey bees are not aggressive, but they can be defensive if they feel threatened. If you try to remove the swarm yourself, you could get stung.

Here are some tips for keeping the bees safe while you wait for a beekeeper to arrive:

• Do contact a local bee keeper or bee keeping association, NOT a pest controller.

• If the swarm is in a public place, try to keep people away or at least, warn them.

• Don’t panic. Stay calm and quiet.

• Don’t disturb the swarm.

• Don’t attack it, prod it or touch it with anything.

• Don’t spray it with water, pesticides or anything else.

• Keep pets away from it but if you have inquisitive children, they can be allowed to look at the bees under supervision if they want, but not to touch.

Once the beekeeper arrives, they will be able to safely remove the swarm and rehome it in a new hive. This process doesn’t take long for someone that knows what they are doing.

Starting at 1 and finishing at 49, track your way from one square to another, either horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placing consecutive numbers into the empty squares as you go. Some numbers are already given.

07714

Fencing Grounds Maintenance

Hedge Pruning Landscaping

Lawn Care Garden Clearance

Tree Surgery undertaken with a qualified Arborist.

For a friendly reliable service call Mem

As you shoot across the garden trying to escape the insect that’s attacking your summer cocktail, it’s unlikely you will have taken the time to identify whether it’s a wasp, a bee or a hornet. If there seem to be a lot of them around though you may need to call a professional.

Wasps

Wasps have bright yellow and black stripes and are hairless. They fly swiftly and in a straight line, often in search of food or building materials for their nests. They can sting multiple times and are aggressive. If you find a wasps’ nest it is very dangerous to try to deal with it yourself and you must call a professional pest controller.

Bees

Bees exhibit a more erratic flight pattern than wasps. The furry bumble bee is distinctive and won’t be mistaken for a wasp, but honey bees are more similar in shape having a pinched waist. Their colour is much more muted than the brighter yellow seen on a wasp and they have fur on their thorax. If you are concerned about a bee’s nest or a high level of activity, call a beekeeper for help.

a common sight. They only occasionally enter houses so if there is increased hornet activity around your home call a professional pest controller for advice.

By Caroline Knight

Water in a garden instantly changes the ambience of the space. It reflects light and creates its own microclimate whilst adding interest and attracting a range of plants and wildlife.

Wildlife

Ponds with different features will prove to be more attractive to wildlife than a formal pond with little vegetation and steep sides. Sloping ‘beaches’ will enable creatures to climb in and out easily, and to take a drink without fear of drowning. Ideally there will be muddy areas and shallow spaces together with deeper sections and a range of different plants for egg-laying, shelter, feeding and mobility assistance. There will be shade and sun, with crevices in which creatures can hide and some open areas for maximum benefit of light and warmth.

Fish

A pond containing fish is different from a wildlife pond. Watching fish is undoubtedly a pleasant activity and caring for them is relatively easy. Fish can be viewed as being attractive, especially when coloured gold. However, they prey on smaller wildlife, which can reduce the diversity of life.

Garden

Ponds provide a great gardening opportunity as they can be colonised with a range of plants. Some enjoy boggy conditions such as those found within the pond margins, whilst others like to have their feet completely under the water. The most successful pond will have around one-third to a half of the surface covered in leaf by the summer months. This will help to control troublesome invasive plants that have a habit of moving in.

by Caroline Knight

Many homes, particularly modern houses, have small gardens. Although sweeping views won’t be an option for you, growing plants up walls and fences can give you wonderful colour.

Climbing plants

You need to consider the requirements of the individual plants, but also their habits with regards to height and spread - a vigorous climber can easily become invasive. Some climbers produce tendrils that curl around their support, a few are self-clinging as they grow little suckers, but others, such as climbing roses, will need to be tied to something structural.

Which position?

Clematis are suitable for a wide range of planting places, with many preferring a sunny aspect and

others happier on a north-facing fence. Both the passion flower, Passiflora, and the star jasmine, Trachelospermum, love sunshine and warmth.

Honeysuckle is a great climber for a partially shaded site. It provides wildlife habitats, scented nectar-rich flowers and berries for birds too.

On your shadier fences you might consider foliage plants that are self-clinging, such as ivy and Parthenocissus. Boston ivy and Virginia creeper produce spectacular autumn colour, but you need to be prepared to prune them regularly and vigorously.

The climbing hydrangea petiolaris is a great choice for a shady wall, but once again it is likely to grow very large once it has established, so be prepared to prune hard once it has reached the top of the fence.

125 YEARS

• The world’s first advertisement for a motor car appeared in newspapers in the USA. The ad for the Winton Motor Carriage Company in Cleveland, Ohio invited readers to ‘Dispense with a horse’.

30 YEARS AGO (1993)

• In 1993 the UK saw one of its biggest recessions since World War II. In 1990 the average house price had reached £57,683. By 1993 it was averaging at £51,210 (c. £133,500 at today’s prices).

• Caleb Bradham’s carbonated soft drink ‘Brad’s Drink’ was renamed ‘Pepsi-Cola’. (The name was shortened to ‘Pepsi’ in 1961.) singles charts included ‘Pray’

100 YEARS

• The Hollywood Sign was officially dedicated in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It was originally erected as a temporary advertisement for a housing development and read ‘Hollywoodland’.

• The Matrimonial Causes Act 1923 came into effect in the UK. For the first time, both men and women had the equal right to petition a court for divorce on the basis of their spouse’s adultery.

• The fi rst issue of the BBC’s radio and television listings magazine, Radio Times, was published.

60 YEARS

• The Great Train Robbery, Ledburn, Buckinghamshire. £2.6 million was stolen in one of the UK’s most infamous robberies. The bulk of the money was never recovered.

40 YEARS

• Soviet military officer Stanislav Petrov averted a full-scale nuclear war when he identified a computerised missile attack warning as a false alarm and chose to disregard it.

• Chart-toppers in the music singles charts included ‘Pray’ by Take That and ‘Creep’ by Radiohead.

• Sir John Major was Prime Minister (Conservatives), staying in office until 1997.

25 YEARS

• The Apple iMac (G3) was released. It was noted for its distinctive egg-shaped, coloured, translucent plastic shell. It helped revitalise the company, which had been facing financial ruin.

• Google, the internet search company, was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, both students at Stanford University, California, USA. The company was initially based in a friend’s garage in Menlo Park.

20 YEARS

A team from the BBC reported that the Loch Ness monster did not exist. They had combed every inch of the loch using 600 sonar beams guided by satellite navigation and found nothing. The search operation was covered in the documentary Searching For The Loch Ness Monster.

mention the magazine when contacting Advertisers

Apple iMac (G3), Felix Winkelnkemper, Wikimedia licensed under CC BY 2.0

Enjoy long summer evenings with a beautiful lighting scheme for your outdoor space.

A well thought-out lighting scheme will help extend the use of your outside space from lazy summer days into the night. Great lighting adds atmosphere and illumination, highlights interesting features, helps guide you and provides additional security.

If you are considering landscaping work, try to include a permanent outdoor lighting circuit, allowing your scheme to be more flexible and effective. Draw this up early, as it will need to be connected by a qualified person according to Building Regulations, and trenches may be needed for armoured cabling. Discuss with your electrician considerations such as wildlife that might nibble cables or the effect of lighting on your neighbours.

Think about what elements of your garden would benefit from illumination, then think about the positioning of seating, walkways and any features to which you wish to draw attention.

By Katherine Sorrell

The aim is to create both functional and ambient light, using ‘layers’ of different types of fitting at different heights and spread out in the relevant areas. Think about switch positioning, and whether timers or waterproof plug sockets might be useful.

Add enough general lighting to allow you to enjoy the garden once the sun has set. Floodlights or spotlights, wall washers, downlights, uplights, deck-mounted lights and post lights could each have a place. Wall lights are a good choice for passageways and either side of an entrance, and PIR (passive infrared) sensors that switch on when they detect movement nearby are useful, being a great security feature and brilliant when your hands are full.

Next, decide what ‘feature’ lighting you want, such as a row of pendants over a dining table in a pergola. String lights bring a party vibe whether garlanded along a boring fence, around a tree or over the top of a gazebo, for example. If permanent outdoor lighting is impossible, consider good-quality solar or battery-operated LEDs. They are relatively inexpensive, easy to install and available in a range of styles. Options include stake lights, festoon lights, lanterns and fairy lights. Portable LED lamps can be used anywhere, such as on tables, beside the barbecue or in the porch. Add more warmth and vitality with candles and night lights.

Arrange wall lights above seating and food preparation areas to provide task and ambient illumination. Brooklyn outdoor and bathroom wall light in pewter, £90; Swan-neck outdoor and bathroom dome wall lights in pewter, and brass shade with brass wall holder, £169 each; all ndustville.co.uk.

Photographer: Joanna Kossak Designer: Chris Harrington

A summer’s day, a lawn, a hamper and some deck chairs – what could be more perfect? Picnic products from the John Lewis ‘Outdoor’ range for spring/summer 2023.

Venture to the beach, the countryside or a shady corner of your garden – there’s just something about a picnic that always tastes good.

By Katherine Sorrell

A flat base for easy packing and a jolly colour to brighten your day – this practical basket is also very appealing. Wicker-effect picnic basket, £16, habitat.co.uk.

For water, juice or even a glass of wine (why not?), always pack some nonbreakable tumblers. Stackable plastic tumblers, £12 (set of four), johnlewis.com.

Opt for tropical colour with a vivacious outdoor dining set. Palmilla melamine side plates, £27.68 (set of four), and dinner plates, £28.60 (set of four); both wayfair.co.uk.

Fully insulated to keep food and drinks chilled, this traditional wicker hamper includes cutlery, plates, wine glasses and a corkscrew. Two-person filled picnic basket, £59,procook.co.uk.

Made from 70% recycled wool and 30% recycled fibres, and finished with a durable, waterproof backing, this picnic blanket is adventureready all year round. Picnic blanket in Stewart Dress Antique tartan, from £75, tartanblanketco.com.

Small enough to carry but big enough for the whole family to sit on, this 3x2 metre cotton blanket is perfect for country picnics or days at the beach. Giant beach/picnic blanket in denim, £59.95, annabeljames.co.uk.

Versatile and lightweight, this mini barbecue is ideal for camping, festivals and more. Portable suitcase barbecue, £64.95, annabeljames.co.uk.

Each word to be three letters or more (but no plurals), and all must contain the central letter. There’s at least one word which uses all of the letters. Excellent: 50 or

Good: 40

Fair: 35 words

Depending on who you listen to, AI (Artificial Intelligence) is either going to make everything brilliant or destroy everybody’s jobs and maybe humanity too. So what is it, and why is everybody talking about it?

Generative AI is basically a super-powered search engine that can answer plain English questions and do things that Google can’t (yet). Although it’s called AI, it isn’t actually intelligent. These apps are really super-powered memory machines: they don’t create anything, but they can make really good copies of things that already exist. An AI that makes artworks has been trained on millions of paintings and can create a reasonably good copy of the artists’ styles; an AI that answers questions has been trained on millions of internet pages. But that can be a problem, because those internet pages might not necessarily be accurate.

What AI actually means for you

It’s in its teething stages just now, but it does

Microsoft has gone big on AI, and if you have the Edge browser you can get AI-powered search on Bing.com

have a lot of potential. You’re using some of it already; for example modern smartphones have AI-powered software that automatically tweaks your images for the best results. Sometimes they get it wrong, but mostly what they do makes things better.

Try ChatGPT for yourself at chat.openai.com to see for yourself, or try creating your own AI art at creator.nightcafe.studio. And if you have Microsoft’s Edge web browser, you can try the new AI-powered Bing search at Bing.com.

All together now: we’re all going on a summer holiday – and these days, holidays often mean hauling around a lot of tech to keep our phones charged and our tablets topped up. But you don’t need to take a suitcase full of stuff to have a happily high-tech holiday. Here’s a few key gadgets.

If you need to charge more demanding devices such as handheld games consoles, laptops or tablets, this 65W charger is ideal. It uses the latest charging tech to deliver the fastest possible charging speeds. av

This is no ordinary travel adaptor: it works in over 150 countries, includes four powerful USB-C ports and can charge up to six devices simultaneously.

£299, ray-ban.com

Ray-Ban’s iconic Wayfarer sunglasses are reborn with extra processing power: these sunnies double as bluetooth headphones and even enable you to take photos.

Amazon’s most affordable ebook reader is better than ever thanks to its higher resolution display, and it’s by far the best gadget for reading books in bright sunlight or at the beach.

Ray-Ban Stories

Amazon Kindle (2022) £85, Amazon

Epicka Universal Travel Adapter

£23, epicatech.com

Ugreen USB-C 4-port GAN charger £39, Amazon

Fun to make with the kids or grandchildren over the summer holidays, these cute little cupcakes will win a place in everyone’s heart!

Makes 12

Preparation time 20-25 minutes

Cooking time 30-35 minutes

Ingredients

• 12 ice cream cup cones

• 150g butter, softened

• 150g golden caster sugar

• 2 tbsp Camp Coffee

• 2 large eggs

• 150g self-raising flour

For the icing

• 175g butter, softened

• 300g icing sugar, sifted

• ½ tsp Camp Coffee, plus extra for drizzling (optional)

• Few drops pink food colouring

To decorate

• Sprinkles and mini chocolate flakes

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C / fan 160°C / gas mark 4.

2. Wrap the outside of each ice cream cup cone with foil and place in the holes of a 12-hole muffin tin.

3. Whisk together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Gradually whisk in the Camp Coffee and then the eggs, one at a time. Fold in the flour until combined. Spoon the mixture equally into the prepared cones and bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cake springs back when pressed gently with your finger. Remove from the oven, remove the foil and leave to cool.

4. For the icing, whisk the butter and gradually add the icing sugar until smooth. Whisk in the Camp Coffee and the food colouring. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle and pipe the icing over the cupcakes. Decorate each cupcake with sprinkles and a flake with a little drizzle of Camp Coffee, if liked.

At 78, there are no signs that the three-times married father of eight and grandad, legendary rocker Sir Rod Stewart has any intentions of slowing down.

Born Roderick David Stewart in Highgate, London, the youngest of five children to Robert and Elsie Stewart. As the baby of the Stewart clan, he was spoilt, and has recalled his childhood as being ‘fantastically happy’. Despite having sold more than 250 million records worldwide, music was never his first passion. He is famously quoted as saying: “I’m a rock star because I couldn’t be a soccer star. What I do now is all my dad’s fault, because he bought me a guitar as a boy, for no apparent reason.”

In the early 1960s, after giving up an apprenticeship with Brentford Football Club, Rod turned to what he was good at and became a full-time musician. In 1964, aged nineteen, British blues legend Long John Baldry heard Rod singing outside Twickenham railway station and asked him to join his band, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Acts of kindness

In January, Rod rang into Sky News to express his anger at the terrible state of the NHS. He said “there are people dying because they cannot get scans.” He then pledged to pay for “ten or twenty scans” for people who weren’t able to go private like him – something that may have saved his life when he was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer back in 2017.

“I don’t need the publicity,” he said. “I just want to do some good things, and this I think is a good thing. If other people follow me, I would love that.”

War effort

It also emerged that in 2022 he’d rented and furnished a house in Berkshire for a family of seven Ukrainian refugees. He also hired three trucks filled with supplies for refugees and had them driven to Ukraine, then used the trucks to transport sixteen people to safety in Germany.

The greatest showman

There may be no more sex, drugs, smashing up sets and trashing of hotel rooms, but there’s still plenty of rock ‘n’ roll left in the 78-year-old as he continues his current tour. The Londoner is fiercely proud of his Scottish ancestry and is delighted to be returning home to Edinburgh Castle for two shows on 6 and 7 July with his UK Summer 2023 Tour, part of his Global Hits Tour. “I’m impatiently awaiting this summer, playing at a variety of special venues – football, cricket and rugby stadiums, estates and castles! We’ll all be dancing under the stars.”

For details and dates of Rod’s UK Summer 2023 Tour, www.robomagiclive.com/rod-stewart-uk-tour

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Shining a light on Kingston’s greener future

As part of its work to tackle climate change and protect the environment, the council is replacing the borough’s ageing street lighting with modern LEDs which will save money and cut carbon emissions.

The council is committed to creating a greener, safer future and has been working to reduce the amount of climate changing emissions generated locally while providing essential services to residents.

Part of this work includes updating Kingston’s street light network with modern LED bulbs which use half the power of the older street lights. So far, 6160 of the borough’s 7034 old lights have been upgraded, with works set to finish by the end of 2023.

The project is expected to save £220,000 each year, based on current energy costs, and avoid around 5050 tonnes of carbon emissions over the next 25 years.

As well as using much less electricity, the new lights have a much longer lifespan compared with non-LED bulbs, saving on maintenance and inspection costs.

Councillor Ian Manders, Portfolio Holder for Climate Action and Sustainable Transport said: “These new lights save power, save money, and save carbon emissions. They are a brilliant, green investment, with a rapid payback.”

The next part of the borough to undergo the upgrade is Clarence Street in Kingston Town Centre, with works taking place later in June.

The energy benefits provided by these new lights will help Kingston become a cleaner, greener borough will keeping our streets well lit, safe and maintained.

Zesty flavours combine in this Asian-inspired salad. While delicious with prawns, it’s equally luscious made with shredded roast chicken.

Serves 2

Preparation time 10 minutes

Cooking time 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 100g folded rice noodles

• 2 tsp toasted sesame oil

• 150g raw king prawns, deveined

• 50g mangetout, trimmed and thinly sliced

• 4 spring onions, trimmed and sliced on the slant

• 75g cherry tomatoes, quartered

• 3 tbsp Mary Berry’s Mango, Lime & Chilli Dressing

• 1 tsp light soy sauce

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 tbsp roughly chopped coriander

1. Cook the noodles according to pack instructions and run under cold water to cool.

2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tsp sesame oil and fry the prawns for 3-4 minutes until pink and cooked through. Place in a large bowl with the prepared mangetout, spring onions and cherry tomatoes.

3. Mix together the mango dressing, remaining 1 tsp sesame oil and soy sauce, season with freshly ground black pepper and toss into the prawns with the noodles and coriander.

For more recipe inspiration, visit www.maryberryfoods.co.uk.

Two-time winner of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce’s Award for the Best Leisure and Hospitality Business, Glenmore House is one of Surbiton’s best kept secrets.

Constructed in 1840, Glenmore House is a fine example of late Georgian architecture situated in the exclusive Surbiton conservation area adjacent to the landscaped park of Claremont Gardens, the Edwardian building was one of the first substantial houses to be built in Surbiton, which has adapted to many uses over time, and today functions as a members’ club and wedding and events venue.

PER PERSON inc VAT

Next held: 2nd July, 6th August and 3rd September

*Every first Sunday of the month

Next held: 5th January, 2nd February, 1st March

Impressive double gates open on to Glenmore’s free, private car park which can safely accommodate up to 110 cars.

We have acquired an enviable reputation for gourmet cuisine second to none, offering superb value for money, with no compromise on quality.

Come and enjoy the popular Sunday Carvery in the magnificent Elizabethan Suite, Tudor Rooms or Crescent Room.

Our fabulous Elizabethan Suite comprises of a double height ballroom, featuring sparkling chandeliers, minstrel galleries and a sprung dance floor, adjoined by an exclusive bar area.

The Tudor Rooms benefit from stained glass windows and chandeliers, and our light and airy Crescent Room enjoys fabulous views over Claremont Gardens.

Choose from a choice of five starters, five main courses and at least eight desserts, with coffee and complimentary amuse bouche for just £25 per person, all prepared by our brigade of award winning Chefs, using the freshest ingredients.

** The price is £25 incl VAT, (parties over 7 subject to a 10% service charge). Children under 12 half price. Private rooms are also available for a small additional charge.

The Surbiton Community Fridge

Surbiton Community Fridge opened it’s doors in October 2022 at 115 Brighton Road – just down the road from The Lamb Pub. Started by the Migrant Advocacy Service, it is now a collaboration between Community Brain, Angels of the Hood and New Era Projects. We have seen numbers coming through our doors increase weekly. We have over 500 registered users. We often see between 35 and 60 people each day. Most of them are collecting food for more than one person in their household.

Our mission is two fold; we hate waste and we want to help people stretch their budgets to the end of the month. Each year millions of pounds worth of edible food is thrown away because it is past its Use By or Best Before date. The law is strict about Use By products. We cannot give them to the public. Best Before products e.g. fresh veg and bread, tins and packets can still be good to eat after the date indicated with a little judgement.

We open our doors each day from 10am til 2pm , collect, sort and display the food that we

have collected from 14 local supermarkets, and our 50 weekly volunteers aim to give it away as quickly as possible. Simple! We estimate that we collect 1 tonne of waste food per week. It’s a lucky dip what we get. We look to Facebook to communicate with our followers (Surbiton Community Fridge) and find recipe inspiration for gluts. ULEZ will present a huge challenge as many of our volunteer drivers are not driving compliant vehicles. We hope to have funding for an electric, refrigerated van which will reduce our carbon footprint substantially while giving us increased capacity to collect.

We call all our customers and volunteers Food Heroes. They are stopping edible food going into the landfill or being turned into biogas. Anything that we cannot shift is shared with 3 farms. We also support other community activities with free food. There’s very little waste. It takes a bit of effort but it’s worth it. Come down to the shop to see us soon. No qualification is required to be a Food Hero apart from the desire to save food. Any recipes you can share with our Facebook group will be gratefully received too! A very warm welcome awaits you.

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Across

1. Dashing sort of protection from light (7)

7. A page turning, wide open (5)

8. Nothing in port backing calvary unit (5)

9. Pictures – not so innocent! (7)

11. Female relative going back and forth (3)

12. Tell sir about creeper’s support (7)

17. Explosive initials! (3)

19. Edible colours (7)

22. City units in disarray (5)

23. Prickle from the north (5)

24. See sign about first book (7)

Down

1. Material saint made (5)

2. Sum provided by a rise (6)

3. Pierce with maple I fashioned (6)

4. Pace a way in, we hear (4)

5. Read about a challenge (4)

6. Somehow beats an animal (5)

10. Floral garland seen in Rayleigh (3)

13. Go fast in Brunei (3)

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: 9 4 letters: 10 5 letters: 1 6 letters: 1

14. Silent change to hear (6)

15. Impedes the growth of dangerous feats (6)

16. Stakes and puts in the mail (5)

18. Trials cricket matches (5)

20. Bright star returning to an old county (4)

21. Foreign agent holding back a mob (4)

Calling for Trustees for Alexandra Millennium Green

Alexandra Millennium Green needs help if it’s going to remain held as a charitable trust and safe from developers.

The problem is I am running out of helpers and trustees.

When I started this project, it was because the Tolworth Main Allotments (as it was then) was under threat of development. In short, they were able to be saved in the form of re modelled allotments with plot sizes now suited to the current demand, a 12-acre site for a communal green, which was landscaped to form an amphitheatre, and finally a zone to ensure the habitat of the wild life could be protected.

Having spent a considerable amount of time and effort to protect this amenity space I do not wish for it to be in jeopardy once again.

I need two types of helpers, hands on for the maintenance and up keep of the green and committed help in the form of willing trustees to become part of the future of the green. They are not mutually exclusive and in fact, as we have found, better by combination.

If you can help I am contactable on AMGT2000@tiscali.co.uk or

My mobile 07787563822 Roy, Founder and Trustee.

After some 30 plus years I am now reduced to 3 trustees and two actual helpers one of which is myself.

Mini Cryptic Crossword

Viv Martin Hair

Across

1. Call round with nothing in the neighbourhood (5)

4. Cried over a drink (5)

6. Sick in Billingsgate (3)

7. Making a knot and finishing equal (5)

8. Canoe around a body of water (5)

10. Little being back in reflection (3)

11. Boring ground outside (7)

14. Heavenly body put back to initiate (5,2)

17. Now about to possess (3)

18. Military vehicles holding water? (5)

20. Raise up and come up (5)

21. Rocky peak in store (3)

22. Notes new weight (5)

23. Ignited regarding short liquid measure (5)

Down

1. Characters sent through the post (7)

2. I fetch in a flustered clan leader (9)

3. Not a heavy source of illumination (5)

4. Drifter – first-class and noisy (5)

5. Barely holding back time (3)

9. Expert in finance comes in to confuse (9)

12. Bird in the Louvre Museum (3)

13. Genuine screen I created (7)

15. Relish state in turmoil (5)

16. Real change after first pretty gem (5)

19. Creature in Byzantium (3)

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Sorrento is a sun-soaked slice of paradise, where lemon-bearing trees and pastel-painted buildings meet turquoise waters framed by mountains.

Stroll through Piazza Tasso

Piazza Tasso is a treat for the senses: shop for souvenirs with the sun on your back and the smell of fresh lemons in the air, before soaking up the ambience from a pavement café.

Cruise along the Amalfi Coast

While the buses are often crowded and driving the twisted roads is not for the faint-hearted, booking a boat trip will allow you to enjoy the precipitous crags, cliff-clinging hotels and hidden coves without the stress.

Spend a day in Capri

A favourite haunt for celebrities and the superrich, Capri is a beautiful island off the coast of Sorrento. There are plenty of upmarket shops but more affordable is the amazing view from the Monte Solaro chairlift or the Blue Grotto – a dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue.

Discover Pompeii

Simultaneously destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii remains a remarkable example of how the Romans once lived and a reminder of the destructive forces of Mother Nature.

Explore on foot

There are numerous walking trails leaving from the centre. One of the most popular walks is the 40-minute trip to Bagni Regina Giovanna, home to a hidden swimming spot and an ancient Roman villa dating back to the first century BC.

Fancy Instagram-worthy nails but have no idea where to start? This article is for you…

Nail extensions

Most nail salons offer both gel and acrylic extensions. For gels, the liquid gel is painted onto each nail and over a temporary nail ‘form’ or ready-made tip to add length. Each layer is cured under an LED or UV lamp. The form is removed and the extensions are filed to your desired shape. Acrylics are applied in a similar way, but using a powder polymer and liquid monomer, which is air-dried rather than cured under a lamp. Both types will need regularly infilling as your natural nails grow, and you’ll need to have them professionally removed, so do factor in all the costs before booking.

Gel manicure

Want fuss-free nails for your holiday? While a standard gel manicure won’t add length to your nails, it will give you glorious colour and shine for a good couple of weeks. As with extensions, the

gel will need removing either in the salon or with a special gel remover at home. Don’t be tempted to peel the gel off as doing so will leave you with seriously damaged nails.

Nail art

Whether you fancy festival-worthy neon tips, zany palm trees or dazzling crystals, handpainted nail art brings the wow factor to manicures. It’s difficult to do at home, but most salons will have a range of designs for you to choose from and your technician will be happy to discuss bespoke creations.

If your brows are over-plucked, patchy or unruly, here’s how to get the brows of your dreams.

Microblading

Looking for a semi-permanent solution for thin brows? Microblading is a semi-permanent solution for thin brows. It involves tattooing your brow line using fine, hair-like stokes to achieve a natural, fuller, defined look. It’s quite uncomfortable to have done but the results can look very natural.

Unlike normal tattoos, the ink doesn’t penetrate deep into your skin, so it isn’t permanent and will fade gradually over three years. It’s also not as painful as tattooing and a numbing cream will be applied beforehand.

Laminating

Laminating is used where you have thicker brows, but they don’t keep a neat shape. Your eyebrows are brushed upwards and fixed in place using a special styling lotion. Laminating can make eyebrows look fuller, neater and more defined, and it can also help to fill in small gaps in your brows. It’s painless and results can last for up to six weeks.

Brow tint

You can tint your brows at home with a kit such as Blink Brow Bar’s At Home Brow Tint Kit, £20, but we recommend going to a salon to get it done professionally. An experienced brow technician will be able to advise the best shade for you and even mix shades to achieve a more natural finish.

Whether you go DIY or professional, results should last for around six weeks.

Stopping Catalytic Converter TheftKingston’s progress

The theft of catalytic converters from people’s cars has become a big problem in recent years – in our area and across the country. It’s been an issue raised with me by a worryingly high number of residents when I knock on doors across the Borough – and so it’s been an issue I’ve then been raising with the police and others.

And the purpose of this article is to thank Kingston’s police for the excellent pro-active work they’ve been doing to tackle this – and to encourage people to consider following others in taking action to defeat this damaging crime.

What is this catalytic converter theft problem?

Let’s start with the basics. Catalytic converters are devices fitted to modern cars to help tackle air pollution. “Cats” change harmful substances in a car’s exhaust gasses, such as carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons, into less harmful substances like carbon dioxide and water vapour by means of chemical reactions.

Yet catalytic converters contain precious metals - like palladium, rhodium and platinum. These have an intrinsic value that means they’re worth salvaging and recycling when a car is scrapped.

Unfortunately, these precious metals also make catalytic converters a target for thieves. And criminal gangs have become devious and efficient in targeting vans and cars – often when they are parked in people’s drives! – and cutting the catalytic converters from beneath the vehicles.

And this isn’t an unusual crime any longer. Over the last 3 years across the UK, nearly 100,000 cases of catalytic converter theft have been recorded – and people suspect the true figures are much higher. These emissions devices can fetch over £600 on the black market.

And the poor motorist? Left with repair bills often over £1,000 to replace the stolen catalytic converter. And the hassle and disruption too.

This crime so often hits the self-employed – small businesses reliant on transit vans and similar vehicles. Ultimately this crime hits every motorist, as our insurance premiums are pushed ever higher.

The police response – and Kingston’s success

With London Boroughs being hit the hardest, the Met Police have been cracking down on this crime for several years now.

by Sir Edward Davey, M.P

From special operations to capture the criminal gangs at the centre of it – like the successful Operation Basswood in 2021 – to working to educate and enforce against the scrap metal dealers, the Met have become increasingly sophisticated in their fight back. Car manufacturers are gradually changing the designs of vehicles. And there’s plenty of online advice now, to help people beat these criminals – check out advice from organisations like the AA or RAC for example.

Another initiative to beat these criminals is the “Catalytic Converter Marking Project”. This aims both to deter the thieves and help police identify the property if it gets stolen

Using specially designed kits, people can get the “cat” on their car marked with “SmartWater” – and deterrent labels can also be attached to the vehicle, sending out a warning to would-be thieves. The covert markings on a catalytic converter using SmartWater are logged on a national database, with a unique ID number, and this is helping the police both to trace the stolen cat, but also build up their intelligence and evidence to prosecute.

And Kingston Police have been helping local people to get their catalytic converters marked in a project that began last November. Their first event was held at Holyfield School when 40 vehicles were booked in following advertising on social media, and interest and demand for their help has just rocketed since. An excellent local officer, Ashley Squire, has been spearheading efforts both to get hold of more marking kits and to organise marking events.

To date more than 6 events have been held with a total of 227 vehicles marked – and these figures are rising fast. Vehicles that are particularly vulnerable to this crime – like Toyota, Lexus, Honda and BMW 1Series/3Series –have been targeted for help and at the marking events the police have been offering more crime prevention advice. And following feedback from the public, the police have added bike marking to this project. Kingston’s police are organising more of these local catalytic converter marking events – so do look out on social media and elsewhere for details.

And the stats show this crime prevention initiative works! In the 5 months to March 2023, after the project was kicked off, catalytic converter theft was down an amazing 53% - from 93 thefts to 44 – with January to March 2023 registering only 4 thefts compared to 43 the year before. Working together with the police, we can deter and catch these criminals - and cut crime across our community.

Okay Houston, we’ve had a problem here.

John

It is already tomorrow in Australia.

Wordsearch Riddle: Page 15

Swigert

MINI CRYPTIC SOLUTION P33

MINI CRYPTIC SOLUTION P35

Wordsearch Riddle: Page 23

Charles Schultz

What’s on in July:-

1st: The Great Get Together at The Queen Elizabeth Park, 12-7pm Free London Ride Parade. Free

2nd: Berrylands Scouts Summer Festival 12-4pm at The Old Lagoon site, Berrylands. Lots of family fun, games, inflatable, BBQ & Bar, tea & coffee, cakes and live music.

3-16th: Wimbledon Tennis Championship

4-9th: Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival

6-16th: Somerset House Summer Gigs Series in the Courtyard, £32.25 in advance

8-9th: Brixton Windmill Open Days second weekend of each month till October, £5 in advance

9th: ASICS London 10K, race around London sights & landmarks, race for Battersea Dog & Cats home. www.events@battersea.org.uk

11-16th: Kew the Music

14th-24th Sept: Buckingham Palace Summer Opening

16th: Dragon Boat Challenge Race, Canbury Gardens

Soho Village Fete and Waiters’ race 12-6pm Free

23rd: March for Men, Prostate Cancer, Battersea Park 11-3pm, £10 in advance

Until 28th: Book a Zoo Night at London Zoo, 6-10pm. Tkts from £21.50

What’s on in August:-

4/5/6th: Step Inside Abbey Road Studios, also 11/12/13th August, for tickets: tickets.london/tour/step-inside-abbey-road-studios

5th: Taste of the Caribbean, food & drink festival 10-8pm. Fairfield Recreation Ground, Kingston. Tkts: tasteofcaribbeanuk.com

12th: Taste of the Caribbean, food & drink festival 10-8pm. Wimbledon Park

8th: Deadline for submissions for A Berrylands Companion September issue

19-4 Sept: Ice Cream Festival at Covent Garden

26-28th: Nottinghill Carnival, Free

Battersea Park in Concert. Take a picnic and some fizz! For tickets: www.batterseaparkinconcert.seetickets.com

26-11 Sept: Greenwich + Docklands International Festival

27-29th: Hampton Court Palace Food Festival

28th: Late Summer Bank Holiday

Ideas for the Summer holidays to keep the kids amused: Collect a money saving pass: The London Pass or the Go City London Explorer Pass for access to multiple venues.

Until 29th October: See the Fashion Exhibition, Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace, as well as the Palace and Gardens

Until 30th October: Book tickets to visit The Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace to see the Gold Stage Coach, used in the Coronation of King Charles III. Visit Winston Churchills WWII War Rooms: IWM.org.uk Tkts from £27.25 Ad, £13.60 5-15y. IWM members go free

Visit the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels used in the Coronation of King Charles III. www.hrp.org.uk

What’s On/Local Events

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

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

Elderberries: a social group for independent over 60s, meets fortnightly on Tuesdays 1011.30am at New Life Baptist Church, Langley Road, Surbiton. E-mail: office@kingschurch. com or call 0208 224 1932 for more details.

Emmanuel Church: Calling all years 6-9 to the Oasis and Cross Train groups, Fridays 7-8.30pm at Emmanuel Church. Information 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. Expert speakers explore different aspects of mental health each week. For more info visit ccsurbiton.org/hidc

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 & 19th July . 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 6th (2pm for a visit from CC Primary School Choir) & 20th July and 3rd, 17th& 31st August. 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 or partly retired and who has worked in a professional or business environment. If you are interested in visiting or joining, further

What’s On/Local Events

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 our Balance Community Cafe every Wednesday 10am-3pm, for drinks, cake and lunches. Alongside this we run our bereavement friendly activities - Walking Group each second Wednesday at 10.00am and Cafe each fourth Wednesday 10 for 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 through April and May 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

COMMUNITY PAGE

HOOK ALLOTMENTS AND GARDENS ASSOCIATION

Our friendly allotment association was founded over 50 years ago and is run by volunteers.

We provide a wide range of composts, fertilisers, seeds; gardening products at not-for-profit club prices to members.

Membership costs £5 a year and our trading facility is situated next to the entrance to the allotment plots, just beyond the rugby club pavilion, at the rear of King Edward’s Recreation Ground, Hook Road, Chessington.

Sun: 10am-12noon

Email: hooklga@outlook.com

Hook Leisure Gardeners Association

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 July: Andy Tucker, the Birds of Ecuador and Columbia

August: No Meeting

Tues 19th Sept: Journeys into wild Wales

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

Full details Surbitonbirds.org. 020 8399 9121

Sun 2nd July: morning at Tolworth Court Farm, Leader Elliot Newton. em: elliot@citizenzoo.org

Sun 9th July: All day, Knepp Wildland W. Sussex, Leader John Barkham 07803 295 555

Sun 23rd July:am, Epsom Common Butterfly walk

Sun 6th Aug: All Day, Denbies Hillside NT

Sun 20th Aug: All day, Cliffe Pools RSPB

Sun 3rd Sept: All day, Farlington Marsh

Full details Surbitonbirds.org. 020 8399 9121

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

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

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

Surbiton Historical Society

Meet at CornerHouse, Douglas Road

Tuesdays, 7.30pm, bar opens at 7pm.

Tues 4th July: Artists, Antiquaries & Collections by Julian Pooley

Tues 1st August: The Archeology of the Orpington Area by Michael Meekums

Tues 5th Sept: Cinema in the Royal Borough of Kingston, by Carolynne Cotton. (we hope to visit Kew Music Museum following this talk at a later date)

Enquiries to Membership Secretary, Mrs Ann Glover

For information on other dates and talks please contact:

Tel 020 8330 0339

Email ann.glover418@outlook.com

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

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

8th April for May issue

8th May for June issue

June 8th for July/Aug issue

For more information call Karen on 020 8274 0096 or send an email to

karen@berrylands-companion.co.uk

Please mention the magazine when contacting advertisers

Car Maintenance

Alan Sursham

Berrylands Autocare

Berrylands

HoneyBee

Health: Travel Precautions/ Circulation

Beauty: Nailed It!/ The Brow Code

Children & Education

Berrylands Scouts’ Fair

Kids Page Veterinary

Aspen Veterinary Surgery

Cats’ Protection

Pet Care: Pack up your Pooch/ Walkies

K&P Tyres

Volk’s Autos

Food & Drink

Glenmore House Carvery

Prithi

Bake: Ice Cream Coffee Cupcakes

Recipe: Prawn & Mango Salad

Accountancy

Mark Baker

Finance: Marginal Tax Rates

Articles & Editorials

Useful Telephone Numbers

Books: Great Summer Getaway

Technology: AI/ Travel Tech

Celebrity: Rod Stewart

Travel: Sorrento

Crossword

Sir Edward Davey M.P

Community Pages

What’s On & Local Events Pages

Alexandra Millennium Green

Bee Keeping: Pollinators

Surbiton Community Fridge

Kingston’s New Lights

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