Kingswood Village Voice July 2020

ISSUE 153 • JULY 2020

FEATURING

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

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KVCA

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Registered Charity No. 275187 THE VILLAGE HALL, WATERHOUSE LANE, KINGSWOOD KT20 6EB

Chairman

Bob Gunn Kingsdene, Furze Hill, Kingswood KT20 6EP Tel: 07504 060758 Email: bob@gunn.org Secretary Michael Hannah 1 Lilley Drive, Kingswood KT20 6JA Tel: 01737 830893 Email: mehannah@tiscali.co.uk Treasurer Antony Hawker The Holt, Alcocks Lane, Kingswood KT20 6BB Tel: 01737 358097 Email: KVCA@Palmerston.co.uk Committee Members: Lindsay Cole Tel: 01737 201199 Sally Fish Tel: 01737 832176 James Chatfield Tel: 01737 353248 Penny Chatfield Tel: 01737 353248 Peter Wormald Tel: 01737 832866 KADDS Judy Parnall Tel: 01737 830888 Hall Bookings Penny Chatfield Tel: 01737 353248 Email: pen.chatfield@btinternet.com (Strictly between 5pm and 8pm, Monday to Friday only) Hall Manager Simon Peacock Mobile: 07376 164050 Life President KADDS Lady Janet Hill The Village Voice Editor Richard Milbourn 64 Sandlands Road, Walton on the Hill, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 7XA Tel: 01737 222307 Email: richard.milbourn@carnah.co.uk qÜÉ= éêáåí= êìå= Ñçê= qÜÉ= sáää~ÖÉ= sçáÅÉ= áë= NIRMM= ÅçéáÉë= ~åÇ= áí= áë= ÇÉäáîÉêÉÇ ÑêÉÉ= íç= ~ää= ÜçìëÉÜçäÇë= ~åÇ= ÄìëáåÉëëÉë= áå= háåÖëïççÇK= qÜÉ= sáää~ÖÉ= sçáÅÉ áë= éìÄäáëÜÉÇ= Ñçìê= íáãÉë= ~= óÉ~êW= j~êÅÜLgìåÉLpÉéíÉãÄÉêLaÉÅÉãÄÉê= ïáíÜ Åçéó= Ç~íÉë= çÑ= PNëí= g~åì~êóI= PMíÜ= ^éêáäI= PNëí= gìäó= ~åÇ= PNëí= lÅíçÄÉêK Statements and opinions in The Village Voice, unless expressly written, are not necessarily those of the Kingswood Village Community Association. Material in The Village Voice may not be reproduced in any form without the permission of the Editor.

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JULY 2020

3

CONTENTS g r iv = O M O M 3

KVCA Contacts

40

Sarah’s Garden Jottings

6

Your Chairman’s Notes

42

Kingswood & The Environment

8

Kingswood In Lockdown

44

Kingswood Village WI

26

News From KADDS

46

Inspired Villages

30

Flower Arrangement Group

48

NSPCC

32

Councillors’ Column

50

Kingswood Lawn Tennis Club

34

Writers’ Corner

52

The Church in Kingswood

36

Kingswood Residents

52

Thirteen Society

Association

54

Advertisement Index

38

4

Anne Dobson’s Recipes

JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

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Contact 0793 9087 7097 or 01737 370310 Email: liam@gardenlightcraft.co.uk www.gardenlightcraft.co.uk

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JULY 2020

5

K I N G S W O O D V I L L A G E C O M M U N I T Y A S S O C I AT I O N

YOUR CHAIRMAN’S NOTES o much of Kingswood life has

S

equipment and the replacement of the boiler which had

changed since I last wrote to

failed. Ronnie Baba of Elite Skills, a local property

you in the March edition! The

management company, has also kindly renovated the

Covid-19 virus has upturned our

Village Hall sign! So a freshly painted welcome awaits

usual world, brought illness to some

you when we are able to start using the Hall again. This

and restrictions to everyone. The

edition of Village Voice has also taken more work than

Kingswood community has responded magnificently,

usual, as so much of the regular content has had to

and you can read about many of the inspiring ways they

change, as some advertising content has, for

have done so in the special feature ‘Kingswood in

understandable reasons, been suspended, and as we

Lockdown’. Much of this has been organised under the

have tried to include much of the new, truly community

auspices of the Kingswood Safety Net which the KVCA

activity which has sprung up to cope with the

set up jointly with our colleagues in the KRA. But there

lockdown. I would particularly like to thank our editor

are many more than those featured who have also

Richard Milbourn for his hard work and flexibility and

played quiet, important roles by helping their

my KVCA colleague James Chatfield for his assistance.

neighbours, keeping in contact and checking that they

There is an apology I must make relating to the March

are OK. I’ve lost count of the number of people who

edition of Village Voice, which was the very unfortunate

have said to me that there is a much stronger sense of

misspelling of Rosemary Akerman’s surname in a

community in Kingswood now and that they would like

number of titles and captions accompanying the sad

that to be sustained in the future. As we see restrictions

news of her death. To her partner Colin Edgerton and

begin to lift, one of the main challenges facing the

to her family I am extremely sorry that this error was

Kingswood Village Community Association will be to

not picked up in the final proof-reading. And I am sad

find the best ways to do just that. If you have ideas, and

to report the death Ken Astell in March this year. Ken

especially if you want to help, do please contact me.

played a key part in the ‘saving’ of the Village Hall 40

The KVCA had to completely close the Village Hall in

years ago and the establishment of the KVCA and he

March and, as I write this at the end of May, the earliest

acted in a number of early KADDS plays. Our

we may be able to open for some activities – those that

condolences to Erica and the family. A fuller

can meet social distancing requirements – looks like

appreciation is planned for the next edition.

Both the KVCA and KADDS were due to hold their

being the beginning of July. This has severely affected our Hall Users, many of whom are small businesses who

AGMs in April and these were obviously victims of the

have suddenly lost all of their income. The KVCA’s

lockdown. A Zoom meeting of the KVCA Committee

income from the Hall has also been cut off and although

will decide whether to hold a much delayed 2020 AGM

we have cut the costs we can, there are still major costs

or to wait until 2021 and hope that the Charities

that continue, such as rent, rates, insurance. We have

Commission is understanding.

however been able to claim some financial assistance

To all of my colleagues in both the KVCA and the

from the government support scheme, via our helpful

KRA, and to all in the community of Kingswood who

Borough Council, for which we are very grateful. This

have assisted in any way during this most unusual

has enabled us to carry on with a number of

period, I would like to say a very sincere “thank you” for

improvements to the Hall which we had planned for

your help and support. Let’s all, together, try to make

later in the year, but have now been able to do during

sure that we really can keep this strong Kingswood

the lockdown. My KVCA colleague Peter Wormald has

community spirit alive!

overseen the installation of new safety and security

Bob Gunn, Chairman KVCA

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JULY 2020

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KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

A COMMUNITY RESPONDS The countries which have performed best in the Covid-19 pandemic seem to be those which reacted early, planned, and put systems in place to control the spread of the virus and mitigate the effects on their society. Fortunately, in Kingswood we have not had to face severe conditions, but Covid-19 has still changed our lives in ways which were unthinkable at the start of 2020.

And how Kingswood has responded!

M

ost of you know that Kingswood has two associations, which engage with all those who live in our village – the Kingswood Village Community Association (KVCA) and the Kingswood Residents Association (KRA).

They look after different aspects of village life – the KVCA runs the Village Hall, puts on concerts and KADDS plays, produces Village Voice and promotes community activities; the KRA promotes the welfare of the community through good governance in relation to planning, environment, safety and conservation so as to preserve the character of Kingswood and ensure that it remains a unique and special place to live.

The KVCA and the KRA work closely together and no more so than in responding collaboratively to the Covid threat.

In early March, some 2 weeks before the government Covid lockdown, Bob Gunn and Valerie Evans agreed to set up the Kingswood Safety Net as a joint KVCA/KRA initiative, primarily intended to make sure that no-one living in our village would be without basic support for food shopping, medical supplies, a listening ear, or other simple daily needs when the restrictions came into effect. A Kingswood Safety Net phone number 07310 054159 and email address kingswoodsafetynet@gmail.com were set up and a leaflet with these contact details was delivered to every residence in Kingswood. So, well before lockdown was announced on 24 March, Kingswood

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residents knew that there was somewhere in their village they could turn to if they had concerns or needed help.

The leaflet also put out a call for volunteers, and what a positive response we have had! There are more than 90 residents on the KSN Volunteers list, with many others helping at a ‘local neighbour’ level, just because they are good neighbours. The number of central requests for help has, thankfully, been low; only 23 calls for help have been made, most of those in March and early April. The main reasons for this are two of the other initiatives promoted by the Kingswood Safety Net, the setting up of Local Area Groups to deal with help requests in an individual road or small group of roads within the village, and the establishment of a KSN Volunteer daily grocery delivery service from Kingswood Village Store for those self-isolating. You can read more about these volunteer-led initiatives in the following pages and also some of the other outbreaks of Kingswood community spirit, which have shown that there are some silver linings to the dark clouds of Covid-19. These include: • the tremendous efforts of our Kingswood Village shops and restaurants.

• the Food Bank Donations scheme • imaginative online offers by local groups and businesses to help us at home • gardens – virtual and real garden tours, plus a Seedling Exchange scheme • our Kingswood Safety Net 2.6 Charity Challenge KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN • the 75th VE Day celebrations • walking in and around Kingswood Despite the illness, hardship, loneliness and death that the virus has caused, there have undoubtedly been examples of community spirit which we will want to sustain when things get back to a new normal. We may not need the Kingswood Safety Net in place, but instead, a stronger and more active network of Kingswood residents, shops, businesses, clubs and organisations will ensure that, if there are future Covid cycles, or emergencies of a different kind, we have a strong community infrastructure already in place in Kingswood to deal with it.

Bob Gunn & Valerie Evans

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JULY 2020

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KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY

Maxine Swan and Lani Robertson.

Kingswood’s first Food Bank donation.

he Kingswood Safety Net Food Bank Scheme was set up in late April following an urgent plea from Reigate and Banstead Council for food and household essentials during the COVID-19 crisis to go to those families really struggling for the basics.

Our aim was to reach out to our village by setting up local community food bank drop off points, distributing flyers and displaying posters around Kingswood. The response was phenomenal, inspiring us to increase awareness of the campaign reaching out to our local shops to support. Kingswood Village Store, Kingswood Wine and The Waterhouse Café all embraced and promoted the scheme with true community spirit. The Kingswood Safety Net and Warren Residents Security Community provided valuable support reaching out to the residents of Kingswood.

From a visit to the make-shift Food Bank Hub at The Harlequin Theatre at Redhill, and from overhearing the desperate phone calls made to it, it was apparent how the COVID-19 crisis has

affected local vulnerable families and individuals. Welfare goods collected are distributed to 5 food banks across the Borough and including Epsom & Ewell, together with numerous charities plus emergency food parcels direct from the Council sent to those in need. By late May 1,500 had been distributed.

We decided to “raise our game” introducing a Kingswood Safety Net Facebook page and a financial donation scheme with Kingswood Village Store, after we were bombarded with requests to donate money. We updated our posters and increased our drop off points to 16 around the village. Food and Welfare goods have continued to be donated in abundance !

Five weeks into the scheme, at the end of May, we are still going strong!! The managers of The Food Bank Scheme from Reigate and Banstead Council visited our ”garage makeshift sorting office” last week to express their thanks. We have become the largest collection point out of the 24 in our area and they have asked us to keep up the good work, explaining that families and individuals continue to

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KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN be impacted by the Covid-19 crisis.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported this project – our amazing volunteers who have set up Food Bank Drop Off Points, local businesses and organisations and all of the individual residents who have donated items and money. It would be so tremendous for your kindness and

generosity to continue. It is very much appreciated and the community has proved what we can do when we all pull together. THANK YOU! For further information about participating or supporting please contact Maxine.swan@mail.com Maxine Swan & Lani Robinson KSN Food Bank Scheme Coordinators

GETTING DELIVERIES THROUGH

E

specially in the first few weeks of the lockdown in March and early April, one of the key concerns of Kingswood residents, in particular those self-isolating, was how to get their necessary grocery supplies. Shortages and enormous queues at supermarkets allied with the non-availability of new supermarket delivery slots added to their anxiety. The demand on our few local food shops increased significantly, and they responded magnificently, none more so than Kingswood Village Store.

However, those in isolation and those strongly recommended to stay at home knew that they still shouldn’t visit the store to chose and take home what they needed.

Kartik and Sonal Shah had their hands more than full sourcing extra supplies, restocking shelves, serving customers not to mention the increased demand for newspaper deliveries. So the Kingswood Safety Net Volunteers stepped in and offered to run daily deliveries from Kingswood Village Store to Kingswood homes which were isolating. Our other shops and restaurants operating through the lockdown knew that they could ask for delivery assistance, but have been able to cope with their own resources.

KSN Volunteer Driver Hayley Child with Sonal Shah Kingswood Village Store.

Sally Fish has run a daily delivery rota from Kingswood Village Store which operated from 25 March until the end of May, by which time the demand for necessary supplies had decreased to a level that could be handled by the Shahs.

In all, some 25 Volunteers have taken part in the delivery runs, typically making a late afternoon delivery to 3 or 4 Kingswood homes. Their willingness to give their time has played a key part in ensuring that noone in Kingswood has gone without during this difficult period. On behalf of all of those who benefitted, thank you!

Sally Fish

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JULY 2020

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KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

MAKING THE SUPPORT LOCAL

O

nce the Kingswood Safety Net had been set up in March, one of the key planks in delivering the help that was needed was

to try to make sure that, where possible, the assistance was being given by a neighbour living close by. This has been done through Local Area Groups, either by using existing groups or setting up new ones. Kari Perry and Caroline Houlding tell us about the two groups they are involved in.

time, so we contacted a few of these in each road

The Birch Grove WhatsApp group was created a

and many have now set up their own groups,

few weeks before lockdown in early March. Initially

many but not all using WhatsApp as their main

it was set up as a quick and easy way of

means of communication. At the end of May there

communicating with each other just in case anyone

are 34 active groups covering

needed help with anything. At the beginning of

almost all of the roads in

March none of us were really sure what we were

Kingswood.

going to be facing, then when all the toilet rolls,

Kari Perry, KSN Local Area Group

pasta and hand sanitizer started flying off the

Advisor & Birch Grove Neighbours

shelves and the panic buying had begun, the

WhatsApp Group Coordinator

WhatsApp group informed each other when supermarket queues were not too long and if they had found any elusive toilet roll anywhere! Over the last couple of months the neighbours have shared lots on the group from recipes, local

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he Warren Drive WhatsApp group was set

information on grocery and restaurant deliveries,

up a few days after lockdown commenced

interesting walks and undiscovered footpaths, food

as part of the wider Kingswood Safety Net

bank collections, lots of chat, jokes and videos and even given a trampoline a new home to the

initiative. To start with I contacted about six

delight of one of the younger Birch Grove

neighbours in the road I already knew and then

residents. Everyone has been grateful for the group

Kari encouraged me to drop in a note to every

and it has definitely provided support in this

resident giving them the opportunity to get in

anxious time.

touch with me if they would like to be part of a

Soon after the Birch Grove WhatsApp group

WhatsApp group specifically to provide support to

was created, the KSN was looking into ways of

our neighbours during the lockdown. The response

creating similar groups across Kingswood to ensure

was fantastic as just a couple of hours after my

people who were vulnerable, lonely or just needed

mail drop I received numerous texts asking to be

some help could reach out to people living directly

included on the group and offers of help to those

around them. A few other roads already had well

who might need it. We now have 43 neighbours

established groups but many areas didn’t so we

on the list.

embarked on a plan to create more, so that many

Since the initiative started conversation topics

Kingswood residents could benefit. The KSN had

have included offers of help to those self isolating,

over 80 volunteers signed up to help during this

local takeaway recommendations, sharing

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JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

information about grocery delivery companies,

As life has become a little easier since March our

whereabouts of available flour and yeast and co-

neighbours are still sharing local news and I am

ordinating the collection of donations to the

hoping that this will continue as we get back to

local food bank at 2 drop off points in Warren

normal. I can certainly see the benefits of

Drive. On VE day everyone was encouraged to

keeping the group going as it

come onto their drive at 3 pm for a toast which

has created a real sense of

was a great success – almost a street party!!

community.

More recently one of our neighbours found a

Caroline Houlding

lone duckling on their drive and asked if anyone

Warren Drive WhatsApp Group

had seen Mother Duck and the other ducklings!

Coordinator

CHURCH DURING LOCKDOWN

I

t was with enormous sadness that our Mothering

to see an end in sight to their isolation, but they still

Sunday service was cancelled at the beginning of

remained upbeat. It has been lovely to talk and get

lockdown when the Church of England ordered all

to know people much more than with a quick chat in

cathedrals and churches to close their doors to all but

church or at a function.

one person a week who is able to enter and check

In addition to the weekly online services that Rev’d

on the building’s well-being. However, that Sunday

Chris has put up, she is running Wisdom Stories at Tea

Rev’d Chris put on her first online service and it

Time on Zoom at its normal Wednesday afternoon

certainly brought tears to my eyes. A busy service

time of 3.30, where the children are invited for a very

normally attended by the uniformed groups with

lively service of story, music and prayer plus a chat at

posies of flowers given out upon leaving, it was

the end.

strange to listen in online. Rev’d Chris’s very poignant

Two concerts have been cancelled – our summer

talk brought home that instead of lunching with our

concert is one of the church’s main sources of

Mothering Day families, this was the beginning of our

income. However, by the time the Village Voice is

separation from our families for some time. Little did

delivered, a parish Zoom variety concert will have

we know how long the church would lie silent and

been seen on 20 June, where donations were

our families distant.

requested in order to be invited to watch, so some

Rev’d Chris immediately divided all the church’s

fund raising will have been managed.

contacts into groups allocated to six pastoral contacts

Our very special VE Day Talk and Tea in May was

– Sunday and Wednesday worshippers, Monthly

also cancelled but Pia and Kevin Chamberlain’s

Coffee Morning attendees, choir and bell ringers and

enormous amount of research will not go to waste

others known to us. I had 23 on my list and began

as we will put it on as soon as we are able. The

ringing round. There was a certain anxiety about the

summer fete on Saturday, 5 September with a sports

immediate future with on line deliveries being

theme may be able to run – so watch this space. So

impossible to organise but even in that initial week

the church building may have remained quiet but the

people had already sorted themselves out and

parish has been linking arms and

everyone was OK. As the weeks went on, I either

enjoying God’s presence through

rang people or knew that they preferred email and

our online services and through

kept up the contact. The last week in May, strangely

observing and enjoying God’s

enough – week 10 – brought those who are

wonderful Spring.

vulnerable to their lowest ebb as they were unable

Lindsay Cole

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MARCH 2020

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KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

OUR LIFELINE FOR NECESSITIES hat can we say about

W

food including special offers and

our local Kingswood

themed promotions.

Village shops whose

Waterhouse Café has adapted

staff have been working so

its regular expansive menu to

unbelievably hard this last few

take-away only, with other

months to meet the

highlights including hot

unprecedented demands the

breakfasts, meat boxes and

coronavirus health crisis has

fresh goods such as fruit,

presented?

vegetables, even eggs and flour!

Since the lockdown began in

Kingswood Wines have also

March, many people in our community have been

worked extremely hard to keep up with their

(and at the time of writing still are) 'shielding' in

customers’ appetites not only for alcoholic

full isolation and/or are facing challenging times

beverages but also for their range of general

for other reasons. Our local shops have been

provisions, from tinned foods, biscuits, UHT milk,

providing a vital lifeline and a great convenience

flour and sugar to household and personal items.

to villagers generally, with shopkeepers and staff

As always, Kartik and Sonal Shah, who work

putting themselves at considerable hardship and

tirelessly at the Kingswood Village Store and Post

even some risk to do so.

Office, have continued to do us proud with the

All the shops in the parade that have stayed

provision of the many wonderful services they

open during the pandemic, including No. 12,

offer. They maintained newspaper deliveries

Waterhouse Café, Kingswood Wines, the

throughout and have expanded their large range

Kingswood Village Store, the New Khyber and

of items on sale, with the addition of a lovely

Pets Corner, had to quickly adapt their businesses,

selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. Pets Corner

involving embracing rapidly announced and

has also remained open and has adapted well, to

sometimes confusing COVID-19 health, safety and

the considerable relief of Kingswood’s pet

social distancing procedures. The cessation of

owners. All of these businesses have been happy

many stock deliveries to shops for weeks during

to help with deliveries/collections upon request.

lockdown necessitated our shopkeepers

This pandemic won’t last forever but when we

themselves making visits to wholesalers, adding

do eventually come out the other side, many of

many hours of queuing to their days in order to

us will hopefully remember what a convenience

be able to source as much of their regular stock

our local shops have been throughout these

as possible, plus new and varied items to meet

strange times and will continue to support them.

customers’ demands. When the supermarkets had

They have gone more than ‘the extra mile’ to

queues snaking around their car parks and with

support us when we needed them. Let’s make

panic buying resulting in certain items such as

sure that they can continue to thrive when things

toilet rolls, eggs and flour becoming very scarce,

get back to something like

we have largely been able to find them on our

normal, to say “thank you” and

doorsteps here in Kingswood!

because we want them still to

No. 12 and New Khyber have remained open for take-away collections and deliveries and continue to provide a really fantastic range of

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JULY 2020

be there should anything similar happen again!

Lisa Davies KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

RAMBLING AROUND KINGSWOOD say it takes about 1hr 30 mins, at an easy pace.

It’s also a perfect circuit for running, as it’s relatively flat, or for mountain biking.

I prefer to start this walk from a cutting, just off the A217, opposite St Andrew’s Church. If you haven’t used this path before, it is marked with a footpath post, but is hard to find amongst all the summer foliage. As you enter the woods you cross the little ditch bridge and just need to walk in a relatively straight direction on this path. After about 1/2km the path bears left and leads to a large open field space, popular with dog walkers.”

From the field there are many different Juliet’s route.

T

options to this circular walk, which passes through to the Mogador area and then over

here may be not much to recommend

the A 217 at the pedestrian crossing, continues

lockdown anywhere, but in Kingswood

via Green Lane and ends up at Kingswood Golf

we have been treated to marvellous

Club.

weather throughout May and this has got many

As Juliet says: “I hope you enjoy this walk as

of us up and running, or cycling or walking at

much as we do…it really is stunning; whatever

the very least!

the weather or time of day.” (The map and a

We have been discovering footpaths and by-

full itinerary are available on request).

ways, woodlands and fields throughout the

Other residents of Kingswood have risen to

area, some which were hardly used, now much

the challenge of supplying some mystery photos

trodden. The advice to take exercise once a day

of scenes along their favourite walks. Can you

has well and truly got us going: Banstead

spot where these photos were taken by Maggie

Woods, Perrotts Farm, Canons Farm, Kingswood

Kippen, Naren & Yaso, and Jill Gunn? Answers

and Walton Heath Golf Clubs and the Mill Field

on page 54.

have all been thoroughly explored. Some junctions and intersections of footpaths, with everyone carefully socially distancing, have been busy as Piccadilly Circus before lockdown.

Aren’t we lucky to have such great

Photo A.

Photo B.

Photo C.

countryside on our doorstep? And that’s what a number of Kingwood residents have found out.

Juliet Quartermain writes about one of her favourite circular walks from Kingswood:

Somehow I don’t think we are going to need much encouragement to keep up

“It’s roughly 12,000 steps/8kms; enough to

this new-found enthusiasm for

make you feel as though you have done some

walking in our wonderful local

exercise without it being too strenuous. I would

surroundings. James Chatfield

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JULY 2020

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KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

THE KSN 2.6 CHALLENGE

Bob and Jill on the KSN 2.6 Challenge.

Maggie Kippen on KSN 2.6 at Eyhurst Farm.

T

he London Marathon was not run this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This obviously left charities with a huge drop in their revenues. As a result 2.6 Challenges were organised all around the country on Sunday 26 April. Our own Kingswood 2.6 Challenge was coordinated by Bob Gunn who sent out the call for 10 volunteers or groups to undertake ten 2.6 mile walks around Kingswood village. Altogether the routes included every road in Kingswood Village. This was to remind everyone in Kingswood that help was available should they need it, via the Kingswood Safety Net. We had posters to post and hand-outs along the routes and could advertise the Kingswood Safety Net at a safe 2 metre distance.

My husband Bijesh and I volunteered to be one of the 10 groups to participate in this challenge. We started our walk at 11am from outside our house in Copt Hill Lane. It was a lovely warm spring day, a trademark almost of this pandemic lockdown. We felt lucky and inspired to be sent off by our lovely supportive neighbours who clapped and cheered us on our way. I wore my enormous pink hat, some wore

16

JULY 2020

Mikki Hall and Buddy at the end of the KSN 2.6.

England Rugby shirts and some had lovely mascot dogs. We managed to cover almost three miles in an hour and our walk helped to raise much-needed money for The Children’s Trust at Tadworth Court. We certainly discovered more of Kingwood roads along the way. We posted our posters and handed out leaflets to residents to advertise the Kingswood Safety Net activities.

The other KSN 2.6 Challenge walkers were: • Mikki Hall with Buddy the dog supporting The Children’s Trust • Judith Barnett supporting The Children’s Trust • Sarah Denyer with her daughter and 2 dogs supporting The Ruth Strauss Foundation • Lydia Armitage & Anna Thuilot supporting The Children’s Trust • Juliet Quartermain supporting Refuge • Maggie & Steve Kippen raising money for Gatton Community Theatre • Maxine Swan with her dog supporting The Children’s Trust • Djina Dann supporting The Anthony Nolan Trust • Bob & Jill Gunn raising money for Lupus UK Altogether between us we raised well over

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KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

Judith Barnett setting out, map in hand.

Vicky de Bryne’s route

Vicky de Bryne and Bijesh Patel on KSN 2.6 Challenge.

ÂŁ2,000 for the six charities chosen by the individual walkers. We would all like to say a big thank you to all who supported us and continue to support us through these unprecedented times.

Vicky de Bruyne & Bijesh Patel

Maxine Swan with Rocky.

THANK YOU TO NURSES illage Voice usually contains a list of coming

V

contracted Covid-19 in early April and was

events put on by our local charity groups

admitted to Epsom Hospital. With courage and the

which provide a host of entertaining

hard work of the medical staff he has now made a

activities and raise money for very worthwhile

full recovery. The Colairo family are in the catering

causes. Sadly no such list can currently be

trade they have decided to say thank you to the

produced, for obvious lockdown reasons, but all

nurses of Surrey by giving them shopping bags of

charities still need our help. Most of them have

fresh meat and vegetables. Their contacts at

suffered the double-whammy of a great drop in

Smithfield & Covent Garden Markets provide goods

income and an increase in costs. So if you can

at a reduced price and the Colairos visit a different

afford to give something extra to the charities you

hospital each time. Although they are covering

usually support, then please do so.

much of the cost of this themselves, if you would

There are also new charitable causes triggered

like to donate to the cost of the supplies you can

by the Covid-19 pandemic. Here is one really local

do so at www.gofundme.com

one. George Colairo Snr, a Kingswood resident,

/f/nhs-surrey-shopping-basket

To advertise call 01737 222307 KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE

JULY 2020

17

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

75TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY

Beeches Wood.

Copt Hill Lane.

Yew Tree Cottage in The Glade.

The Glade.

ingswood residents weren’t going to let a little thing like ‘a pandemic lockdown’ spoil the chance to celebrate one of the most important days of the last century and anyway, tell Kingswood residents there might be a party and hey….. try and hold them back!

Just before 11am Councillors Tim Archer, Simon Parnell and Caroline Neame walked to St Andrew’s Church and represented us all by saying a prayer for the fallen and a laying a wreath on the War Memorial. We thank them.

Meanwhile, in The Glade, Basil Preuveneers on his balcony played the Last Post on his trumpet. We then kept 2 minutes silence until he played Reveille, which was very moving.

In the afternoon residents all over the village, who earlier had decorated their houses with bunting, flags and other decorations, put out tables and chairs in their front gardens and drank a toast to

the fallen. Neighbours chatted and sang, but all keeping the required distance of 6ft of course. Children and adults waved flags and hands welcoming neighbours.

We have pictures of the celebrations from residents in Copt Hill, Furze Hill, Beeches Wood, Warren Drive, Waterhouse Lane and The Glade. Kevin and Pia Chamberlain peeked through their hedge to join in celebrating with their neighbours. Kevin and Pia have said that, when we have all been let out for good behaviour, they will put on the VE Day Presentation which had been planned at the Village Hall.

Back in the Glade, Basil and Lisa Preuveneers and their neighbours Dave and Heather Hempstead, combined forces putting up a marquee where Basil set up loud speakers and a microphone. Tables and chairs were spread out on the lawn at the required distances. Lisa had printed song sheets with all the old favourites

K

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JULY 2020

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KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

Furze Hill.

Councillors Caroline Neame, Simon Parnall and Tim Archer at the War Memorial.

Celebrating through the hedge.

and….. the party began! With Basil on his keyboard there was singing and dancing in the street while bunting fluttered in the breeze of what turned out to be a beautiful warm and sunny afternoon.

Chris and Glen Grainger came dressed for the part. Chris as a fighter pilot complete with leather hat, goggles and flying jacket and boots (Chris got very hot!!). And Glen as an Air Raid Warden complete with tin hat and overalls. Some of the ladies came in pretty dresses and a great time was had by all.

Glen told me that he was refurbishing the air raid shelter in his garden taking it

Air Raid Warden and Fighter Pilot.

back to its original state with all the interior trimmings. He plans eventually when it is complete to open it up to neighbours and anyone who is interested to see it. So VE Day 2020 came and went.

We have some lovely memories; not quite those that we would have hoped for if Covid-19 hadn’t reared it’s ugly head. But it just goes to show that if we all stick together and stick to the rules we can still have fun and beat this B***** thing!!!! See you all at the next party!

Pam Armitage

To advertise call 01737 222307 KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE

JULY 2020

19

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES hilst no one fully foresaw the scale of

W

www.facebook.com/dinewithgeorge/ or on the

disruption the Covid-19 crisis would

NextDoor app. Alternatively, you can call 07984

bring to our lives, it’s been inspiring and

742187 or email: dinewithgeorge@hotmail.com

reassuring to see how local businesses have

The Life Story Club - Sarah Lott, a regular

adapted their services to support the needs of

contributor in the Village Voice, is a life story writer

Kingswood residents.

and has set up a Facebook group for anyone who

Whilst it's been amazing to see the extended

fancies getting family stories written down while

support being offered by our local food suppliers -

they’re stuck in isolation. It’s FREE - so If you would

who are surely the frontline heroes shaping our

like to give it a try, please contact Sarah for more

village history during these tough times - we

information by email:

shouldn’t forget other businesses which have

sarah@thememorybook.co.uk, mobile: 07957

found new and innovative ways to deliver their

598348 or visit her website:

services using social media and platforms such as

www.thememorybook.co.uk

Zoom to keep us engaged.

Alligator Pear - A new on-line ordering service is

Let’s put our hands together and back local

available from Alligator Pear with free delivery to

businesses, some of which are featured here with

Kingswood for all orders over £15. Great news for

the services they are offering in late May:

finding the perfect gift during lockdown. Visit

Yoga with Debi Henderson – Debi, who normally

www.alligatorpear.co.uk to explore on-line or call

runs a series of yoga classes at Kingswood Village

01737 818011.

Hall, is maintaining the fitness of the village by

Fresh Meat Supplies – Kingswood resident Vincent

offering Yoga classes (including Chair Yoga) via

Colairo normally supplies meat to top London

Zoom. There is a small charge of £5.00 per 1-hour

restaurants. Now he can deliver meat, and fish too,

session. Email Debi at info@pushtiyoga.co.uk to

to you. Minimum £40 order. Contact Vincent on

book.

07918 747378 or email colairo10@gmail.com for a

Dollies Beauty - Beauty advice is now available from

price list.

Dollies through social media

Knights Garden Centre - The Betchworth-based

https://www.facebook.com/dollies.beautywellbeing,

garden centre is open but with distancing rules.

phone 01737 357989 and email

They will deliver orders to Kingswood @ £5.00.

info@dolliesbeauty.com. They also have gift sets to

Please refer to knightsgardencentres.com for more

help maintain our residents beauty regimes during

information.

lockdown and special offers from their suppliers.

Keystrokes Associates – Struggling with computer

Adult Ballet & Tap with Eleanor Coley – Eleanor,

problems? Want to get new systems working on

who also usually runs her classes at Kingswood

your computer to keep in touch with the outside

Village Hall, has launched virtual ballet and tap

world? Contact Keystrokes Associates, who have

classes using Zoom @ £5.00 per session. Please get

been keeping Kingswood customers online for over

in touch with Eleanor at eleanorcoley@hotmail.com

20 years and can provide remote support. Call Judy

for more information

on 01883 346 516, email keystrokeassoc@aol.com

Dine with George – Kingswood resident and Fine

or visit: www.keystrokeassociates.co.uk

Dining Chef, George Colairo, is operating a daily

Elite SKiLL the property maintenance company run

dish delivery service to your door at a cost of £8.00

by Ronnie Baba has kindly stepped in to renovate

per meal. Each day a dish is announced on George’s

the Kingswood Village Hall sign free of charge for

20

JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

the KVCA during the lockdown. Ronnie can be

slowly emerge from lockdown, please do your

contacted for all your maintenance enquiries on

bit to support local business and make use of the

07979 531872 or info@eliteskill.co.uk

wide selection of resources we have in our

And finally, don’t be ‘left in the dark’ if you

neighbourhood. It’s clearly been a challenging

require emergency or essential electrical services.

time for everyone and especially for small

Help is on-hand from our local electricians, who are

independent businesses. The future is ours to

supporting Kingswood residents under the

determine and it’s vitally important that our local

lockdown rules:

businesses survive the

JP Electrical, John Ponsford, tel: 07870 26560 and

disastrous impact of Covid-19

email: johnponsford40@gmail.com

so that our community

LT Electrical, Liam Tomkins, tel: 07939 087097 and

continues to thrive.

email: liamtomkins@hotmail.com

Think and buy locally. Thank you. Juliet Quartermain

As Government rules ease and businesses

LOCKDOWN MISCELLANEA

H

ave you been looking for something to read? Or just looking for something? Like many others over the past few months, Chris Harris has been reading a lot. She writes: On the lockdown front, personally I have much enjoyed reading ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens. Set in the marshlands of North Carolina it is a story of the survival of a young girl, abandoned by her family.

Along with beautifully descriptive writing, the reader is immersed in the wonders of nature interwoven with the social and racial divisions of the time. Add in a murder investigation and a love story – what more could you want!

Meanwhile, does this true tale strike a chord?

LOST…?

Wife to Husband during the evening, “I have lost the gold bracelet you gave me.”

Husband “Don’t worry we will find it in the morning.”

Next day they searched the house, shed and garden. No luck!

Wife “I think I may have lost it on our walk over the golf course when I took off my jacket!”

We retraced the walk carefully looking on the ground. Passed a couple who asked, “Are you looking for golf balls?” “No, a gold bracelet” we replied.

Reversed the walk and looked in vain; no sign of it.

Returned home, husband goes into the study to look for the insurance policy.

Suddenly a cry from the kitchen. He rushes in to find his wife looking in the vegetable section of the FRIDGE! “Look! I have found it!”

“Let’s have a glass of wine to celebrate” he says. Or maybe that was the problem in the first place!! Anon

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JULY 2020

21

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

GARDENING IN LOCKDOWN

Shieling in May.

R

obin and I normally open our garden at

seen it do visit the video and make a donation.

Shieling on several occasions from Easter

The link is https://tinyurl.com/yddsnz9l

to the end of May and enjoy showing it

As lockdown proceeded it became obvious

off to the visitors, who can walk round, ask about

that lots of local people were planning to grow

the plants, chat to us and enjoy tea and cakes.

vegetables and fruit for the first time this year.

Each year we usually make quite a lot of money

Some seeds were very hard to get, and regular

for charity. This year the lockdown came just

growers recognised that some people would be

before our planned Easter opening so we had to

so successful that they would have lots of surplus

cancel it. Instead my son made a video tour of the

seedlings and others might not manage to

garden on Easter Sunday and we posted the link

germinate or grow on their plants and want some

on the village websites and sent the link out to

of the surplus!

friends and family and members of various local gardening groups.

So far, the video has been watched by many

The Kingswood Seedling Sharers WhatsApp group was set up and shared news of their successes and failures. As the weeks passed, we

people and we have collected £690 for the

became aware that we needed to get the

Children’s Trust at Tadworth. If you haven’t yet

seedlings and other plants out to gardeners

Seedling and Plant sale.

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JULY 2020

Tracking down some bargains.

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

KINGSWOOD IN LOCKDOWN

The Stumpery at Easter.

The Stumpery in May.

before it was too late, so we arranged a Plant and

anything! We sold most of the plants and with

Seedling sale on Bank Holiday Monday in my front

plant sales and garden “tickets“ we made over

garden. We advertised it on the Village Website

£400 which will be donated to the National Garden

and to friends and family. We had five tables of

Scheme to support the cancer nursing charities.

plants – Vegetables, Shrubs and Succulents,

Plans are already afoot for further plant sales.

Annuals and Biennials, Perennials and Dahlias.

People who had looked at the Easter Virtual

Members of our WhatsApp group were

Tour of Shieling couldn’t believe

generous in providing plants and on the day, we

how much the garden had

also offered visitors a “socially distanced” one-way

changed – just look at the

route around the garden. Many visitors came, all

difference in the stumpery from

were very well behaved and enjoyed the walk,

April to May.

some walking round twice in case they missed

Sarah

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JULY 2020

23

NEWS FROM KADDS

THE SNOW QUEEN IN PICTURES

L

ike everything else, the pause button has been pressed on KADDS activities, just as we started rehearsals for our next play. We hope in the next edition of the Village Voice we will be able to let you know about our forthcoming events which are being planned.

24

JULY 2020

But in the meantime, here are some photos, kindly provided by Mike Hill, from our last production of The Snow Queen which we staged in February and packed the Village Hall to enjoy the performances of both adults and children, directed by Eileen Hannah. I hope that you enjoy them.

Judy Parnall

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NEWS FROM KADDS

Eileen Hannah, Director.

Dave Ford Tree Care Contact us for a free quotation T: 01306 611 661 E: info@davefordtreecare.co.uk W: www.davefordtreecare.co.uk

Tree surgery with a heart l Felling l Pruning l Planting l Stump Grinding l Hedgerow Management l Emergency Work To advertise call 01737 222307 KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE

JULY 2020

25

WARTIME HEROINES

WARTIME HEROINES Although our planned commemoration of VE Day has been put on hold for the time being, it seemed nevertheless appropriate to remember two local women, who, much like their modern counterparts, showed enormous courage in putting their duty of care before their own safety. By sheer coincidence their names appear next to each other on the War Memorial outside St Andrew’s Church.

Bombing of St Thomas’s Hospital nurses’ home.

S

tephanie Freda Dunn was born on 10th February 1916 into an eminent family of churchmen. Her father, Canon William Alexander Dunn, was the vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Clapham at the time of her birth. In 1931 he was appointed to the living of Kingswood and he, his wife Marion and their three children, Ursula, Stephanie and Andrew, moved into the newly built vicarage off Woodland Way. Stephanie was educated at

26

JULY 2020

Benenden and Reigate and later trained as a masseuse (one would call her a physiotherapist nowadays) at St. Thomas’s Hospital in London.

By 1940 she had been working there for about four years.

Late in the afternoon of 7th September 1940, the Germans launched their first devastating air raid on London, which cost the lives of about 400 people. That same weekend Stephanie came home to visit her parents in KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

WARTIME HEROINES

Rev. A. Dunn.

Kingswood. They pleaded with her not to go back to London on the Sunday evening in view of what had happened. She insisted that she was expected back at work. At 2.30 that night a large bomb fell on Block I of St. Thomas’s Hospital. This housed the hospital’s nurses’ home, where Stephanie was asleep with three other masseuses and two nurses. Three floors of the building collapsed and they were all trapped under the falling masonry. Despite the heroic efforts of the rescue team, who battled for hours to reach them, none of them were found alive. Stephanie was 25 years old.

Nightingale window.

Stephanie Dunn’s grave.

The funeral service was held at St. Andrew’s Church, where Stephanie had been worshipping less than a week earlier with her family. She was much liked by the parishioners, who had seen her grow up in their midst. She was particularly popular with the young people, whom she had taught at Sunday School. By request there were no flowers, but a family cross of roses and carnations rested on the coffin. She was buried in the family grave in the churchyard.

A stained-glass window in the nave of St. Andrew’s, representing Florence Nightingale, the founder of the first professional nursing school at St. Thomas’s Hospital, is dedicated to the memory of Stephanie Dunn.

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

JULY 2020

27

WARTIME HEROINES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

Anyta Field.

HMHS Amsterdam.

orothy Anyta Field was born on 23rd May 1912 in Sutton and baptized in July of that same year in St. Dunstan’s Church, Cheam. She was the daughter of Charles Roland Field, an auctioneer and estate agent, and Ethel Alice Field. By the late 1920s, the family had moved to Kingswood Knoll, in Lower Kingswood. Anyta was educated at Downs School, in Seaford, and in France. In August 1932 she enrolled at King’s College Hospital to train as a nurse and qualified as an S.R.N. in November 1935. In 1936 she joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, with which she served throughout the war.

On 7th August 1944 she was the Sister in charge on board the Hospital Carrier Amsterdam. The ship had already made several successful trips from Southampton to pick up the wounded from the Normandy battlefield. The ship was anchored off the French coast, opposite the town of Caen, and it had taken three to four days to transfer the wounded from the field hospital by landing craft and load them on board. The ship was full when it sailed at about 6.00 o’clock on that foggy summer morning. Soon afterwards there was a terrific explosion as a German mine hit the engine room, causing the ship to break in half. The Queen Alexandra nurses on board where fighting against the clock to get their

patients from below deck to the safety of the lifeboats. Although they could hardly stand upright, Anyta Field and another young nurse, Mollie Evershed, from Soham, in Cambridgeshire, went back time after time to bring out more wounded men.

Together they saved seventy-five stretcher cases. The ship was sinking when they went back one last time.

One eyewitness, a galley boy, who had jumped into the water, described the scene just before the ship went down: I could hear a lot of screaming and shouting. I looked around and could see some of the wounded soldiers jumping over the side, and there were two people stuck in portholes. I was told afterwards that they were nurses. This was the last sighting of Anyta and Mollie.

Anyta’s mother later said that her daughter could easily have saved herself as she was a strong swimmer, but that she was utterly devoted to duty. The captain of the Amsterdam called her the bravest woman he had ever known.

The ship had sunk in just eight minutes.

Fifty wounded men were lost as were ten medical staff and thirty crew members. Also lost were eleven German prisoners of war.

Anyta was 32 when she died, Mollie was 27.

The two nurses were posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches. Anyta and Mollie are the only women named on the

D

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JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

WARTIME HEROINES

Bayeux memorial.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial at Bayeux, in Normandy, among over 1800 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died during the Normandy campaign and have no known grave. Each of the seventy-five men saved afterwards wrote to the parents of both sisters thanking them for their lives and bravery.

Bryan Field, Anyta’s elder brother, also appears on the War Memorial. He was a pioneering aeronautical engineer and was killed on 26th August 1943 when the aircraft he was test flying crashed near

Kingswood War Memorial detail.

Maidenhead. He was a popular local figure and his extraordinary life deserves to be told in a separate article.

Pia Chamberlain Footnote: The Dunn family grave is in C.1.2 in the churchyard, two graves in from the path, at the foot of a large flowering cherry tree. (Check notice board at the entrance for layout of churchyard).

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JULY 2020

29

FLOWER ARRANGEMENT GROUP

PLANNING FOR CHRISTMAS

KINGSWOOD, TADWORTH AND WALTON FLOWER

makes floristry less labour intensive and expensive

ARRANGEMENT GROUP

and allows for more flower sales which has a

Usually in the Village Hall, Waterhouse Lane,

knock on effect on many economies. Caroline

Kingswood every 2nd Tuesday in the month.

Marshall-Foster, Editor of The Florist makes some

ittle did we know that our March meeting

L

compelling points and it is always prudent to

would be the last time we would all be

listen to both sides of a debate.

lovely evening of flowers and chat and there were

resume our monthly meetings and have had to

lots of raffle prizes for lucky members to take

cancel our Summer fundraising lunch, we are

home.

planning ahead for potential autumn/winter

together for several months! We enjoyed a

As we don’t know when we will be able to

National Friendship Bouquet Day was celebrated

activities.

at the beginning of May but sadly this year we

On the basis that it is never too early to think

were unable to distribute our little bouquets

about Christmas, here is a "save the date"! We will

throughout the three villages – fingers crossed that

be holding a wreath-making workshop in

we will be able to do this again in the future.

Kingswood Village Hall on Saturday 28th

You may be aware of the discussions about the

November 2020 between 1pm and 5pm at a cost

use of floral foam in flower arranging – mostly

of £30. All materials will be provided along with

against its use because of its composition and

some expert help from some of our members.

length of time it takes to biodegrade. Unlike the

Seasonal refreshments will also be served. Get the

rest of Europe, the UK is a major user of foam and

date in your diary – you know how busy the run

many flower arrangers are experimenting with

up to Christmas can be!!

different techniques to reduce its usage. It was

We are so lucky to live in our villages where

therefore interesting to read an article in the

good neighbours abound in these strange and

Summer edition of Flower Arranger in favour of

challenging times – keep safe and well and we

the continued use of the more eco friendly floral

hope to see you in person soon. In the meantime

g~åÉ=eçääáåÖíçå

30

JULY 2020

foam and highlighting that

to keep you occupied, we have

there are many worse

set you a Flower Group Quiz

environmental factors that the

on page 44. For more

flower industry relies on – pots,

information contact either

buckets, excessive heat, plastic

Chris Harris (833726) or Jane

wraps etc. The use of foam

Hollington (354208).

`Üêáë=e~êêáë

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

CANNON GARDENS B E A U T I F U L D R I V E WA Y S 078855787879

COUNCILLORS’ COLUMN

A COLLECTIVE SIGH OF BREATH t the time of writing (2nd June) we’re just

A

and look to compost what you can. Here’s

beginning to come out of the Coronavirus

guidance from the District Councils' Network:

residents for adapting to the necessary changes in

warning-over-rubbish-collections/

lockdown and collectively breathe again.

https://districtcouncils.info/press-

As Councillors we’d like to thank Kingswood

releases/coronavirus-councils-issue-wave-of-waste-

our lives and for the way that this community has

The County Council is encouraging residents to

supported initiatives to help residents who are in

get out more on two feet or two wheels, to enjoy

need - from the Harlequin Food Bank which has

and experience the fantastic scenery that we are so

been key to feeding so many of the Borough’s

lucky to have right on our doorstep. In Reigate and

poor and vulnerable to the Kingswood Safety Net,

Banstead we have an incredible 200 miles of

looking after folk in our own community. We

designated public footpaths and rights of way.

thank all the volunteers who have helped the

They are the responsibility of Surrey County Council

Borough and County Councils to look after

and many of these are in our own local area.

vulnerable individuals and struggling businesses and

Jeff Harris has been asked how people can help

thank everyone who has followed Government

with these and he advises that we can, in three

and Council advice and, in doing so, has helped

ways - firstly, to actually get out there and use

both the NHS and the community to stay safe. We

them. If a path has been blocked by landowners,

are so proud to be able to represent such an

developers etc, please report it via the County

amazing ward.

Council website and let Jeff know. If it’s been

Of particular effect on Kingswood, we know,

regularly used over the last 20 years, then SCC can

was the difficult decision by the Borough Council

possibly challenge the ‘stopping up’.

to suspend the garden waste service (the brown

Secondly, at this time of year many footpaths

bin collection) which was made purely to protect

are being overgrown by brambles and nettles and

the ability of the Council to carry on collecting

other weeds, making it difficult for walkers and

the 'normal' household rubbish, which has itself

cyclists to get through. Jeff suggests that if it is a

increased in by around 30%, requiring yet more

public footpath and not someone’s private hedge,

resources. As you can imagine, a number of our

just take a pair of secateurs (not a chainsaw!) and,

refuse team have been either unwell, self-

mindful of birds nesting, clip back the offending

isolating or shielding and we've been down on

brambles; and finally

numbers. Put simply, we had to prioritise the

Litter, the bane of our lives in rural areas….. if

collection of household refuse over the garden

you’re out and about, please take it home!

service - the implications of not being able to

Our best wishes to you all for the summer

collect rotting household waste don't even bear

ahead.

thinking about.

Simon Parnall, Caroline Neame, Tim Archer and Jeff Harris. Contacts:

Mark Brunt, leader of the Council, has just announced that the garden waste service will be

cllr.parnall@reigate-banstead.gov.uk 01737 830888

restored as of the 22nd June. Participating

cllr.neame@reigate-banstead.gov.uk 07767 782473

residents are being given credit for the amount of

cllr.archer@reigate-banstead.gov.uk 07854 175053

service that they have not received and will have

jeffrey.harris@surreycc.gov.uk 07865 143983

received a letter in the post about that. Meanwhile

www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk www.surreycc.gov.uk

we ask residents to continue to store garden waste

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JULY 2020

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10-11 Shelve v rs Hill, Tadworth, KT20 5PU 01737 814406 tadworth@stonem anfunerals.co.uk

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JULY 2020

33

WRITERS’ CORNER

READING POETRY Reading poetry aloud, sharing a discussion about the meaning and the form, sometimes familiar poems by familiar poets, sometime poems by unfamiliar poets, - that’s what Headley Poetry Group does. We are not a writing group although we welcome original work. Our main purpose is to share our love of poetry.

E

ach month there is an agreed subject. Recently one of the subjects was ‘Love, Lust, and Longing’. Plenty of poems and poets to choose from that month, as you may imagine!

We also focus on the work of one poet. Here’s a little quiz. Who is this poet? They lived in the late 19th and early 20th century, they were described by Thomas Hardy as 'Far and away the best living poet', and by Siegfried Sassoon as 'The only poet who could give me a lump in my throat', and by Virginia Wolf as 'The greatest living poetess'?

Yes, this is Charlotte Mew and she was the most popular choice of the group when we decided our programme for the year last January. You may already know her most famous poem, ‘The Farmers Bride’. From her biography and the poems we read recently, we got a more rounded view of her work. A commentator wrote recently ‘Charlotte Mew broke the mould of contemporary styles in the early 20th century and created a unique poetic voice.’ Here is one of her poems:

From a Window Up here, with June, the sycamore throws Across the window a whispering screen; I shall miss the sycamore more, I suppose, Than anything else on this earth that is out in green.

But I mean to go through the door without fear, Not caring much what happens here When I’m away:— How green the screen is across the panes Or who goes laughing along the lanes With my old lover all summer day.

If you love reading poetry, I invite you join one of the monthly meetings of the Headley Poetry Group. On-line meetings actually during social distancing.) From June onwards we will be choosing, reading and sharing on subjects such as Poems on Art/Paintings, Philip Larkin, Poets Laureate and Poets born after 1975.

For more information or to join the mailing list contact James on james.chatfield@btinternet.com, or Charles on charlesholme@aol.com

34

JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT

NEW

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K I N G S WO O D R E S I D E N T S A S S O C I AT I O N

IVG RETIREMENT VILLAGE APPROVED

S

ince the January edition, who could ever have imagined a scenario in which the world would have gone into lockdown due to the Corvid-19 virus. Indeed, as I write this. we are still being encouraged to ‘stay at home’ and practice social distancing, whilst measures are easing a little now as we have achieved the 5point government stated conditions.

The Kingswood Safety Net has been a key focus for both the KRA and KVCA over the past 3 months and efforts to maintain this continue. KSN is a collaborative initiative to provide local residents with support for food shopping, pharmacy runs or just a phone chat.

You will have seen initially a leaflet and then a number of KSN bulletins by email and on the Kingswood Village website informing residents of what help is available. Please refer also to the dedicated KSN article to learn about the great community work amongst our volunteers.

It was with disappointment that I made the difficult decision to postpone the KRA AGM, due to take place on 24 March.

However, this decision was validated by the Government imposition of lockdown on 23 March. The KRA committee participated in a 5-Option survey to re-convene the AGM. The result confirmed that a face-to-face AGM in the Village Hall next March was the preference. In the meantime, please see the KRA Annual Report 2020 on the Kingswood Village website.

Regarding the L&G Site, I am delighted to report that Reigate & Banstead Borough Council granted full Planning Approval on 15 April to both Planning Applications (19/01548, 19/01549) submitted by IVG back in July 2019.

36

JULY 2020

The proposals were significantly influenced by the KRA’s efforts to represent the concerns of residents through close collaboration with IVG. All issues were satisfactorily addressed by IVG in the revised application drawings and the Section 106 Agreement.

Our negotiations with IVG were successful in protecting “in perpetuity” the L&G open space land through a Covenant, with around 100 properties in the vicinity being beneficiaries. This open space land offers access to all Kingswood residents for recreation, dog walking, nature conservation and ecology, with proposals for landscaping, tree planting, creating ponds to encourage wildlife and aquatic flora and fauna. The KRA is currently finalising the legal agreement with IVG/L&G. IVG propose to commence enabling works on site in August 2020. Whilst there is likely to be some disruption during construction, we have attempted to minimise this through our requirements in their Management Plan; for example, staged deliveries with queuing in Tadworth to prevent congestion on local roads and a one-way circulation to and from the site. The significant benefits and amenities the Retirement Village has to offer the residents of Kingswood will, we hope, be well worth the temporary disruption.

The KRA has invited IVG to deliver a virtual presentation in July (by zoom software) and residents will be notified of the date, time and online joining instructions shortly.

On behalf of Kingswood residents, the KRA will continue to liaise with IVG throughout the construction period so, if you wish to raise any relevant matter, please contact us.

Valerie Evans, KRA Chair KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

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ANN DOBSON’S RECIPES

A TASTE OF SUMMER

N

ature doesn’t listen to the news and the seasons change as they always have, defying the gloom. As I write, birds seem to be singing louder than ever, flowers blooming brighter.

Blue skies and long summer days are here and the air is full of the lazy sound of wood pigeons calling to their mates. Fingers of sunlight warm fields of ripening corn, trembling in the fresh breeze and bees hover over dog daisies and bright poppies. In the garden purple and magenta petunias tumble from tubs and butterflies flutter and dance in a never-ending ballet.

Skylarks chatter overhead.

A salad made with goats’ cheese, burnished under the grill, oozing over crisp leaves picked fresh from the garden and scattered with toasted hazelnuts will make a tasty light lunch. All it needs is a chunk of crusty bread on the side.

Double chocolate chip cookies can be whizzed up in next to no time and are delicious enjoyed with a cup of tea in a shady spot under the tree.

GOATS’ CHEESE SALAD FOR 4

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES FOR 12

2 goats’ cheeses, such as Capricorn

75g soft margarine or spread, 75g soft brown

Handful of hazelnuts, toasted

sugar, 1 egg, beaten, 140g self-raising flour

Mixed leaves

20g cocoa powder, 100g chocolate chunks

Vinaigrette dressing

1 tablespoon milk

Heat the grill to high. Line the grill pan with

Heat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4. Cream the

tinfoil and cut the cheeses in half

margarine with the sugar. Stir in the beaten egg.

horizontally, placing on the foil. Put under

Sift the flour and cocoa powder together and add

the grill, keeping an eye on them until the

to the mixture, followed by the chocolate chunks

cheese is molten and golden brown. Arrange

and milk. Mix well. Grease a baking sheet and add

the leaves on four plates. Lift each half

spoonfuls of the mixture, allowing space for them

cheese carefully onto the leaves, scatter over

to spread as they cook. You may need to cook in

the pine kernels and drizzle over a little

two batches. Bake for about 10-15 minutes. They

dressing to serve.

will harden as they cool, so be careful not to overcook. Enjoy with a cup of tea.

38

JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

SARAH’S GARDEN JOTTINGS

MIDSUMMER JOY IN THE GARDEN

Alchemilla mollis.

dÉê~åáìã=ÉåÇêÉëëáá

ts been a long and hot summer so far, but that

I

always bring colour to the later summer garden

hasn’t been such a bad thing as it has meant

and don’t forget that as well as the usual

that we could enjoy our gardens during

Hydrangea macrophylla – Lace caps and mop heads – you can have the more unusual, but now

lockdown. Probably, more than ever before, you have been planning to do some new planting to

very fashionable Hydrangea paniculata and

enjoy next year.

Hydrangea arborescens. Other larger Hydrangea with a variety of leaf shapes and flowers include

July and August are not the best months for colour in your garden – the spring flowers are over

Hydrangea quercifolia (Oak -leaf shaped)

and the late summer perennials and grasses are not

Hydrangea Aspera or Hydrangea serrata.

yet looking very impressive. There are however

It’s a fairly quiet time in the garden but you

some really reliable “front of border“ perennials

might need to water any recently planted shrubs

which do provide colour from early spring to late

or trees and keep on deadheading your roses.

Some of the best and easiest perennials for the

summer. If I could choose my favourite “easy“ plants these would be:

garden at this time of year include:

• Alchemilla mollis – lovely green pleated leaves and

• Japanese anemones

lime green clusters of delicate, frothy flowers.

• Rudbeckia

• Geranium – this is the perennial plant not the

• Echinacea

‘Pot’ geranium or Pelargonium, and there are very

• Eupatorium

many colours from white, through pink to purple

• Anaphalis

and almost black. They will form a rounded clump

For colour at the end of the summer don’t

at the front of the border or hang over a wall and

forget Michaelmas Daisies - now not called asters

will flower twice if cut back in July.

but Symphyotrichum and the Ice plants, which

• The Mexican Daisy – Erigeron karvinskianus –

used to be called Sedum but are now called

white and pink, tiny daisies forming a clump and

Hylotelephium. Every year the botanists change

coming back early in the year if you shear the old

plant names based on their genes and a plant

leaves off in winter

family and name that has been known for decades

Having a few Hydrangea in the garden will

40

JULY 2020

changes to something completely different. Some KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

SARAH’S GARDEN JOTTINGS

dÉê~åáìã=Üáã~ä~óÉåëÉK

qÜÉ=jÉñáÅ~å=Ç~áëóK

gardeners choose to ignore this and keep calling them by their old name!

It’s now the time to order spring bulbs for your

Look out for gardens to visit, as some garden owners who could not open their garden in the spring during lockdown, may open to visitors later

garden – most can be planted in August and order

in the summer – probably by

early to get the largest bulbs. As well as Narcissi,

appointment and with no tea

Crocus and Hyacinths don’t forget the lovely and

and cakes. Look on the NGS

long flowering Anemone blanda and Erythronium

website.

‘Pagoda’. Both are easy to grow and multiply year

Enjoy your garden!

after year.

Sarah

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JULY 2020

41

KINGSWOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT

GREEN PLANET

I

don't know about you but I was stirred when I read Bob Gunn’s ‘Green Planet’ article in the March Village Voice. I felt I should follow up, answering many of his questions with a resounding YES agreed and I DO re-cycle, re-use, shop at charity shops, not drive a gas guzzler etc. But then it was Bob who contacted me as I was hesitant and slow to ACTUALLY DO something.

I suspect there are others out there who experienced this reaction. We might like the notion of living as part of a ‘Green Planet’ but feel uncertain what exactly can make a difference.

I have tried to recall when I first became aware of environmental issues. I grew up in London and had a career in social work over many years. I thought of myself as a socially interested and community involved person. It felt virtuous to send funds to Friends of the Earth or cheer for Greenpeace. I became aware of industrialisation in food production and went through various stages of being vegetarian, vegan and ‘flexi’ during the 1980s. I wrote to cosmetic companies about animal testing, and worried about the chemicals in my hair dye. The term ‘organic’ was promoted, but what exactly does that mean?

I then made a life changing shift to

42

JULY 2020

engage in higher education as a mature student, aiming to increase my understanding on environmental matters.

What I did learn was how little I knew, and my sense of incredulity has increased ever since. In nature there is so much going on at a sub microscopic level that we cannot see. The effects are linked to chain reactions going upscale to higher levels, remaining a matter of much debate. The current global crisis with Covid-19 being able to cause havoc demonstrates this. A virus is a tiny particle which cannot reproduce by itself. It is parasitic and must infect a susceptible cell. Conditions must be right for the virus, otherwise it dies. When anxious, I find it helpful to remember there are numerous activities going on deep in my immune system aiming to stop that parasite!

We humans are interconnected with our surroundings and I believe we cannot live on this planet as though we have another one to travel to.

Hopefully, there may be people reading this who can relate to these ideas. Some of you must be very well educated, perhaps with experience in

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KINGSWOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT

biological chemistry or other related subjects. Others may, like me, start with an emotional reaction, or simply be unsure. I did not have a scientific background. I came to appreciate that science is always interrogative in the pursuit of knowledge, and that scientists are inevitably affected by their emotions or belief systems.

I would like to see more action on sustainability in our local community. We can all ask questions about how things work on a small and larger scale.

One suggestion is to probe with our local council about their environmental policies.

How do they deal with the recycled products that we put out? We hopefully make the effort to separate our waste for the appropriate bins, but if not why not?

Do we have doubts about what actually happens? I have heard it said that ‘they must mix everything together when they get it to the Depot’. We should seek more than the instructions given in the leaflets distributed, preferring a step by step explanation about how the council’s policy

is put into practice. Would it be possible to allow representative local residents to visit the facilities they use. It would be much easier to explain when others are cynical about the realities.

My husband greatly enjoys going to the council tip (top left). He finds great satisfaction identifying items to be re-cycled and he is well known for chatting with the operators working there. He is always impressed by their conscientious approach.

With the recent lock-down scenario I have had many conversations with people about how adversity can lead to us become more creative. They are taking longer walks, noticing nature, taking more time to read, think or work in gardens. Most have suggested the ‘slow down’ is positive.

Perhaps you are feeling philosophical and willing to consider the different world described by Bob in March. I encourage more of you to answer his call to JOIN IN. The Green Planet section for the magazine should continue as a trigger. In due course it would be great to get together to share ideas. But meantime, why not write a few points or questions yourself?

Shirley Clark

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JULY 2020

43

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE WI

CANNABIS AND LOCK DOWN

I

t now seems very long ago that we gathered in

CBD, with its calming effects, useful for anxiety and

February to hear our speaker, Louise Camby, tell us

pain (good) and THC, which has psychoactive effects,

something of Legal Cannabis – CBD, about which

causing people to get stoned (bad). Curiously, their

much has been made in the media in the last few

chemical formulae are almost identical. CBD has

years. For example, news items regarding parents,

become a real money-spinner and a variety of oils,

desperate for severely epileptic children to have their

vapes and tinctures are available to purchase, with

frequent seizures reduced through treatment with

many promised benefits - at rather steep prices.

cannabis oil. In addition, the widely advertised

March saw us listening to a positive thinking and

“wonder” properties of CBD had made us, quite

cheerful young man called Callum Russell. Blind from

naturally, keen to learn more about this product.

birth, Callum went to a mainstream school and has

Cannabis and hemp come from the same family of

also backpacked in South America – solo! He regaled

plants but hemp has been in use for centuries. An

us with tales of his trip to Brazil and Argentina and,

early, if not the earliest, commercial crop, hemp is

despite being very ill for a period, he also visited

best known for the making of rope, but also paper

Peru’s capital, Lima, and Cuzco, on the Inca trail,

and textiles. As is well known, during the 20th

teaching as he went. Teaching? You will never guess

century other less desirable uses for this plant family

what – drumming! Callum works with Sight for

were found and made it notorious. Over time,

Surrey, most often with blind and partially sighted

however, a clear distinction has been made between

children. They are given support and help in developing concepts not easily grasped by non-

FLOWER GROUP QUIZ

Name the flower/plant (answers on page 47) 1. Animal warmers 2. Female garment 3. Old form of public punishment 4. All the sheep together 5. An American greeting little Cynthia 6. Joining with precious metal 7. Best go quickly 8. Part of the eye 9. A thickening agent 10. Winter precipitation 11. Break a fiery creature 12. Smart king of the jungle 13. Vegetable for afters 14. Evaporated milk 15. Little Christine and her mother 16. Respect for the capital 17. Herb for domestic pet 18. Look sweet on a tandem

sighted folk. He called this orientation of young folk, habilitation. For adults, with sight loss later in life, the process is known as rehabilitation. In addition to this service, support is given to profoundly deaf adults as the centre can offer a lot of technological help to cope with many situations. This enthusiastic young man, who uses a braille computer, also spends time working at Job Centres in Surrey. Callum is a “climb-in and get things done” kind of person – inspirational.

And then came the lockdown! No more meetings held, either for the committee or for the members. Each committee member has a little list of ladies who must be informed if a meeting has been cancelled -due to snow or any unforeseen disaster. With an emergency of a different kind facing us, we each call “our” ladies now and again, just for a chat and to make sure they are doing well. Concern shown for each other and extending the hand of friendship, WI is still working.

Nettie Cooper

44

JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE STORE

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JULY 2020

45

INSPIRED VILLAGES

PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED

I

nspired Villages would like to thank all who helped achieve a resolution to grant planning permission to deliver one of the UK’s prime retirement communities in Kingswood. Our thanks go to the Kingswood Residents Association (KRA), Copt Hill Lane Association, Kingswood Village Community Association (KVCA) and local residents. Throughout the 15 month consultation process, we were delighted to engage so positively with the local community on this scheme which will deliver many positive benefits for future residents and the wider Kingswood community.

At Inspired Villages, we seek to deliver more than bricks and mortar. We provide an environment that promotes healthy ageing and community engagement, offering residents a mentally, physically and socially active lifestyle. The health and wellbeing of residents and all associated with the village is paramount. Research has shown that retirement communities such as ours have an important part to play in combatting loneliness and isolation, and keeping residents living better for longer. There is a strong local demand for this type of housing. Forecasts from the Office for National Statistics estimate there will be a 78.4% increase in over 65’s in Reigate and Banstead by 2033, compared to just a 18.7% increase in those aged under 65.

When works commence later this year, the scheme in Kingswood will bring forward 270 specialist age-appropriate apartments, creating around 175 construction jobs each year over the build period, and up to 80 new permanent jobs once up and running.

We will transform the site into a vibrant community, preserving the long-term future of a now dilapidated building. We will be

46

NOVEMBER 2018

working in collaboration with stakeholders and members of the Associations in the logistics planning, to minimise disruption whilst we undertake construction.

As part of our plans, we will be investing over £170m into the local economy. This will include on-site facilities such as a wellness centre, a swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis courts, dining and recreation facilities, a small business centre and children’s nursery – all of which will be open up to local people. Alongside, we will be enhancing the green belt, opening up 16 acres of parkland for everyone to enjoy; a local community asset helping enrich the wider area that via an agreement with the KRA will be kept as undeveloped greenspace.

An Inspired community is not a gated one; it is an extension of an existing community. We are encouraging and facilitating wellness through suitable, safe, secure and stimulating environments, which support good, healthy and independent lives. In doing this, we take the strain off the local health and social care services.

The plans for Kingswood will include up to 10 respite-rehabilitation units, which will allow Inspired Villages to work with the local GP practices and hospitals. This will provide more assistance in reducing the pressure on the NHS and local care services, ensuring the local community gets the appropriate quality and quantity of health and social care, also providing further support for remarkable key workers.

Jamie Bunce, CEO of Inspired Villages said: ‘I would like to extend a huge thank you from the Inspired Villages team to all of you who have supported our plans throughout the consultation process. I am delighted that we are now able to drive forward these

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

INSPIRED VILLAGES plans and look forward to continuing to work closely with the Kingswood community to deliver an Inspired Village. A special thanks to the KRA, the Copt Hill Lane Association, the KVCA and the Council’s technical officers – you have all been instrumental in helping reach this stage in a collaborative way. For those of you in the community that we haven’t yet met, I very much hope to have the opportunity to do so soon, so we can bring to life this excellent addition to the Kingswood Community.”

If you would like further information on Inspired Villages, please call one of our friendly advisors on 01293 851935.

FLOWER GROUP QUIZ

Answers to Flower Group Quiz on page 44.

1. Fox gloves 2. Bloomers 3. Stocks 4. Phlox 5. Hyacinth 6. Marigold 7. Speedwell 8. Iris 9. Cornflower 10. Snowdrop 11. Snapdragon 12. Dandelion 13. Sweet Pea 14. Carnation 15. Chrysanthemum 16. London Pride 17. Catmint 18. Daisy

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JULY 2020

47

NSPCC - EVERY CHILD IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR

CHALLENGE FOR CHILDLINE

C

hildren are the hidden victims of coronavirus and for young people stuck in unsafe homes during lockdown the abuse can be relentless with little opportunity of respite or escape. For many children who suffer abuse the protective eyes and ears of teachers are now not there.

Now, more than ever, child protection is all of our responsibility and a call to the NSPCC Helpline could act as a lifeline for a child in these unprecedented circumstances, struggling behind closed doors.

Many of our fundraising events have had to be cancelled, yet we’re still here for the children.

Please help us to raise essential money for Childline.

The Kingswood NSPCC committee kindly ask, you, your family and friends to engage in a challenge.

Suggestions are -

Whatever you’d like to do, or you can simply donate – Kingswood NSPCC (please reference your name and the word ‘Challenge’): Natwest Bank; Sort code. 60 00 01; Account number 48811939 Or send a cheque payable to Kingswood NSPCC to: Inveralmond, The Glade, Kingswood, Surrey KT20 6LL Thank you again for your continued support. Keep safe and well.

48

JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

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JULY 2020

49

KINGSWOOD LAWN TENNIS CLUB

CHALLENGING TIMES

I

t is hard to believe that the last Issue of Village Voice appeared just as the Covid pandemic was gathering momentum. It seems now like an age

ago. So much has happened. We now live in another world almost.

It was on 9th March that we had to issue our first Covid advice to members: carry on as usual but wash your hands. Shortly before we had held our first EGM out of doors so as to maintain social distancing

And, as of 1st June, we have been able to remove

– we needed members’ permission to apply for a

the main restrictions on play. Doubles amongst

liquor licence for our proposed new bar - held on

members of different households are now allowed,

quite a chilly evening on one of the clay courts. Little

as well as coaching of groups.

did we know what was to follow. Then our

We look forward to the future with some

Treasurer got stuck in Spain in lockdown: he

confidence. We now have a new bar (photo above),

bellowed down the phone line that he could not

thanks to the amazing effort of several members of

understand why the UK had not yet followed other

an amazing committee, and Nigel Catlow in

European countries in their reaction to the pandemic.

particular. The bar is in the conservatory end of the

(Fortunately he and his wife were able to fly home a

Clubhouse, next to the new patio area, and it looks

few weeks later!) It took time for the gravity of the

like we will be able to use it soon, in a limited way.

situation to sink in. Events moved on rapidly. On

We look forward to the Club competitions, later in

20th March, we suspended club social tennis sessions

the year than usual. And our membership is holding

and closed the clubhouse. Days later, on 26th March,

up robustly in the circumstances. I think everybody

following Government advice, the Club closed

appreciates more keenly now all the advantages that

completely. This could hardly have come at a worse

we enjoy in our lovely neighbourhood, and it is not

time, since the annual membership renewal date fell

surprising therefore to see a number of new

on 31st March.

members.

With the benefit of hindsight, we were fortunate.

But it would be foolish not to recognise that we

We had recently decided to go to an online system

face challenging times. Many have already been hard

completely for joining and membership renewals:

hit, and many more are likely to be as the true cost

absolutely essential as it turned out, as everything has

of the pandemic becomes clear. We will have to

gone online during the crisis. And we had also set up,

improve all that we offer at the Club, just to stay at

although we had not yet implemented, an online

the same level we were at before the lockdown.

court booking system. So, when we were allowed to

Who was it that said that the gods laugh at the plans

re-open on a restricted basis, which required advance

we mortals make! But at least we have had one

booking of the courts, we were ready. We were

piece of joyful news: Valentin and Victoria celebrated

amongst the first clubs in the country to re-open on

the birth of their baby boy, Ethan,

Wednesday 13th May – at 8 am! It did not matter

born on 24th April. To join, email

that the re-opening of the Club coincided with the

kltcmembership@gmail.com or

annual court maintenance: half the courts remained

visit

usable and members were impressed that the courts

www.kingswoodltc.comfacebook

were being maintained as usual.

Robin Hollington, Chairman

50

JULY 2020

KINGSWOOD VILLAGE VOICE To advertise call 01737 222307

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THE CHURCH IN KINGSWOOD

ADJUSTING THE MINISTRY n these strangest of times, the church has had

I

even achieved a PCC quite early on! Our choir have

to radically adjust its ministry throughout the

continued to rehearse on Zoom too and we’re

Parish. As many of you would know, we have in

even planning a fundraising concert on Zoom.

through our Pastoral Contacts scheme. These lovely

‘being a church’ will look like. It’s been really good

people have been regularly contacting their

to get to grass roots and serve people in their

allocated group and making sure no-one goes in

homes in the community; serving Christ in others is

need of a companionable chat, essential shopping,

what the church is about anyway. But the return

prescriptions etc. This has been co-ordinated

to our buildings could be a long time coming and,

through Lindsay Cole, our Parish Administrator, and

with special arrangements for social distancing,

by all accounts is much appreciated.

could feel a very different place too.

place a system for supporting those known to us

As things move forward, who knows what

Our Worship has shifted online, with recorded

I hope our new normal is introduced gently so

services posted on our website

that we all get time to adjust to the differences. I

(www.parishofkingswood.org.uk) each week. This

hope and pray that our community will be

meant that the Easter celebrations were very

stronger and better for the hard times we have

different but I’m encouraged by the number of

had to face and that you all stay

folk who came to the website to listen to the Holy

safe and well as we move

Week and Easter Services and continue to come

forward in the future.

today. We’ve continued family worship with

With every blessing,

Wisdom Stories going over to Zoom along with

Rev’d. Chris Colton, Priest-in-

home group and our administrative meetings. We

Charge, Parish of Kingswood

THIRTEEN SOCIETY

COMPLETED BEFORE LOCK DOWN

W

e luckily managed to finish our

to celebrate, in the Village Hall, at 3pm on

2019/2020 season on March 9th, just

Saturday September 26th. We will offer a lecture

before total lockdown!

and tea, both at no cost, just your presence is

The founder members met regularly during

requested. Last minute details will be on the

WW2 and neighbours became friends, while

Village website when we know it’s safe to go

helping others, in much the same way as is

ahead.

happening today. Together they formed the

We are currently planning another series of

Thirteen Society. I wonder what the legacy of

talks for the 20/21 season and, virus permitting,

the coronavirus will be?

we’ll meet on the first evening October 12th at

Before lockdown, plans were made to

8pm. Let’s cross fingers, and

celebrate our 75th anniversary. This is closely

toes, that we all keep well and

allied to VE Day of course as our founders were

that life will start to return to

all members of local support groups like Air Raid

normal ASAP!

Wardens, the Home Guard and Firemen. Those

Frances Rosbotham,

plans are still active and if all goes well we hope

Programme Secretary

52

JULY 2020

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Answers to Walks Photo Quiz on page 15 Photo A: Flowerbed at Kingswood Village Hall, Waterhouse Lane (Maggie Kippen, late March) Photo B: Green Lane near Grub Wood (Naren & Yaso, mid May) Photo C: Coal Tax Post on woodland path from Waterhouse Lane to Bonsor Drive, parallel to A217 (Jill Gunn, April) THE KINGSWOOD

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NOVEMBER 2018

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To the NHS and our key workers

WE THANK YOU #clapforourcarers | #stayalert

Fine & Country Kingswood The Estate Office, Woodland Way, Kingswood, Surrey, KT20 6HS +44 (0)1737 361014 | ben.shaw@fineandcountry.com