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KT3’s ONLY FREE Independent Community Magazine and Business Guide July2021 Issue 182
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SHAPING THE FUTURE TOGETHER Our vision for Kingston 2023 - 2041
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Welcome to YOUR Village Voice July
from jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk
From the start of the first lockdown, homeowners have been undertaking improvement projects. Either through lack of skill or the need for specialist services such as plumbers, electricians, carpet fitters etc, at some point an expert will be needed to get to the finishing line. You’ll hopefully find said expert in these pages but there’s a problem rearing up. Shortages. Across the building trade, wholesalers are reporting issues in their supply chain for wood, cement, steel and other materials. There are several factors including Brexit, the pandemic and the Suez Canal blockage earlier this year, but surprisingly, the biggest cause of shortages is demand. What isn’t being spent on holidays is going into building a little oasis at home. The other shortage is of skilled tradespeople.
& Since ‘05
Again a number of factors, but really worth flagging up. If you are a homeowner with big dreams, pick up that phone now or you’ll be at the back of a long queue. If you are skilled tradesperson and are available for more work, this magazine is a great place to let people know about your business. If you’d like to advertise or have a local story to tell, please call or email. Even away from the home, Fortune magazine recently reported that the world is seeing a surge in demand for semiconductors leading to a global chip shortage. This affects industries such as automotives, smartphones, computers and even many home appliance manufacturers. “Make do and mend” might be your only option rather than an eco-choice. Remember, we deliver to most homes every second month but if it’s not delivered to you, you can read it on your phone, tablet or PC or collect a copy from Waitrose, The Malden Centre, Suttles or New Malden library. Until next time, very best wishes,
Jenny Since ‘08
Deadline for our August editions is 20th July
Published by Malden Media Ltd Editor Jenny Stuart jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk 020 8336 2915 www.maldenmedia.co.uk 36 Rosebery Avenue KT3 4JS Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent the views of the editor. All advertisements are commercial and not indicative of any endorsement by the editor who accepts no responsibility for any loss suffered directly or indirectly by any reader as a result of any advertisement or notice published in this magazine. All in-house artwork and editorial presented in this magazine remains the copyright of Malden Media Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored on any retieval system, or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical. recording, photocopying, or otherwise without prior permission from the Publisher.
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New Malden History It’s for you by Robin Gill In the year 2000, 95% of UK households had a landline. This had risen steadily from 35% in 1970 and fell to 85% in 2017. This has probably fallen even further to date with popularity of mobiles and computers. Also disappearing are the local printed telephone directories. The last one for the local area was published in 2016, as was the Thomson Directory, and the last local Yellow Pages was distributed in the Kinston area in January 2018. Of course, access to telephone numbers is still available through directory enquiries and digitally on the web. I remember when large thick directories were available in telephone boxes (remember them?) and the short-lived telephone cards. My memory even goes back to the black boxes with the A and B buttons. After placing your coins in the coin slot, you dialled the number and when the call was answered pressed button A. If there was no answer, you pressed button B to get your money back or any unused coins. Coins used were old pennies, and the timing of these calls did not start until 1960. The first of these call boxes opened in 1906, and at their height were placed all-round the New Malden area including two outside the exchange in Coombe Road and also outside the station, the post office, and several around the Fountain area. In the early days’ calls could be made from the various post offices in the area, and from the premises of enterprising retailers such as Cleasby Chorley, a chemist in the Market Place who realised that providing such a service would bring customers into his premises. The dialling code for Malden corresponded with the letters on the old dial. MAL was originally 625 which was converted later to 942. The automatic exchange in Coombe Road was built in 1937 but only brought into service at the end of July 1939 just over a month before the start of World War Two. It was modernised in 1994 with the introduction of digital equipment. The subscribers As far as telephone numbers were concerned the MALDEN exchange began in 1907, starting with the prestigious number MALDEN 1 which surprisingly wasn’t allocated to the local council as they already were reachable under the number KINGSTON 555 a number dating back to 1905 when the council offices were opened where Waitrose now stands. The
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Municipal Offices only reverted to number Malden 1 just before World War One when the Fire Station next door was designated MALDEN 100. In February 1907 Mr James Ward Burchell a solicitor with offices in Westminster and a large 12 roomed house called Copthorne, just off Grafton Road in Worcester Park, was given the number MALDEN 1. He specialised in the law covering the building and maintenance of new railway lines throughout the country. Unfortunately, the possession of an important telephone number did not preclude Mr Burchell from ill-health and he died in March of the following year (1908). The house (and telephone number) was sold to Charles James L’Estrange a budding author of children’s adventure books wring under the name Herbert (or Mrs Herbert) Strang with George Herbert Ely. The partnership produced nearly 50 books. The number MALDEN 2 was given to James Brand Pinker who lived in the Oaks, the Avenue, Worcester Park which now houses Badgers Court (no 27) divided into six maisonettes. Pinker was the literary agent for amongst others HG Wells, Arnold Bennett, Joseph Conrad, George Gissing, Oscar Wilde and Somerset Maugham an impressive list. MALDEN 4 was the first of the entries from Malden being the surgery of Dr George Cowen and Dr William George Porter. This property eventually became the site of Woolworths in 1936. Dr Cowen died in 1925, is remembered in Christchurch through the Oak Reredos above the Communion Table in the Chancel. MALDEN 5 was allocated to Mr Payne a dairyman at 39 Malden Road, a forerunner to the dairy company Coleman and Cole. It is now an estate agent Parry and Drewett.
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MALDEN 6 belonged to a firm of auctioneers and surveyors named Boyton Sons and Trevor who had an office on Coombe Parade (recently demolished). They were established in 1878 in Fulham and by 1907 had premises in New Malden. They acted as agents for the Alric Avenue estate and were reprimanded by the Council for allowing the use of clinker instead of broken brick and stone hardcore in the laying out of the road. They were to become a short-lived enterprise, ending business in 1908, and filing for bankruptcy as the property market took a downturn. MALDEN 7 was a firm of solicitors called Corbould Ellis and Mitchell with an office at 7 The Parade (demolished), and a main office in Lombard Street London. Horace Charles Mitchell who lived at Ivydene in Sandal Road had been elected onto the council in 1906. He moved to Coombe Lodge where he died in 1924.
MALDEN 8 was at Gateforth Lodge Traps Lane the home of Humphrey Brooke Firman the father of one of Malden’s Victoria Cross recipients. He was descended from old and historic Yorkshire families. Gateforth Hall near Selby Yorkshire was the seat of the family. MALDEN 9 was the telephone number allocated. to the estate agency Hawes and Co (who have recently closed their office in New Malden). Hawes and Co were established in 1885 and covered the local area. The offices have moved over the years, but they were last in Coombe Road. MALDEN 10 was installed in the home of Thomas Charles Cloud who lived in Abbotsford a large house in Nelson Road. Thomas was a consulting metallurgical engineer born in Hackney in 1848, he spent 25 years in Australia as manager of the Wallaroo Smelting Works in South Australia. Returning to England in 1903, he moved to New Malden in 1906, he operated a laboratory in the accumulator works of Pritchetts and Gold in London. He relocated to the south coast for health reasons, but died in Bournemouth in 1918.
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MALDEN 11 was the telephone number of Alan Woods who a butchery and grocery business at 1 Park Terrace near Worcester Park Station. Mr Woods was famous for his window displays especially around Christmas time. Each year, this included bullocks, 200 turkeys, 50 geese, and game birds. The public were invited to guess the weight of the largest bullock, with the nearest estimate winning 20 lbs of beef. MALDEN 12 was at the home of Auriol Alan Henry Auriol-Barker a solicitor, who from the beginning of the 20th century lived at Royal Avenue near the top of Barrow Hill Worcester Park changing its name from the original Hunters Hill. He was very keen on Polo and was one of the founders of the Worcester Park Polo Club who played at what was to become Motspur Park. He also gave his name to Auriol Park in Worcester Park (Salisbury Road), which opened in 1958.
in the area in 1907 and took an active interest in the Worcester Park Beagles. MALDEN 18 was the home of Joseph Charles Steiner who lived at Bracondale Poplar Grove, a Professor of Music. Malden 20 was the phone of George Wight a surgeon who lived in Lingfield in Westbury Road Illustrations 1) Telephone Exchange Coombe Road 2) James Brand Pinker
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MALDEN 15 belonged to George Estwick the landlord of The Worcester Park public house. George had arrived
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Buy to Let Hunter is a fresh approach to property purchase – we recently sat down with one of our early investors to catch up with him: Obviously, investing in anything is risky, but understanding that, Raffi feels he has enhanced his lifestyle greatly. His money is safe, he has a lovely spot for a free holiday that pays for itself, in fact it pays Raffi just to own it.
Raffi is a local business owner doing a great thing for the world – he arrived in Richmond with enough money for just 8 months. He followed a hunch and set up Bantam Materials - providing Prevented Ocean Plastic, recycling and collecting from atrisk coastal communities and creating a research centre on the Richmond Green – we think he is marvellous, and we are not the only ones! He just won: “Sustainable Initiative of The Year”. Whoop! Raffi realised that he wanted to invest in property but preferred a professionally managed structure run by trustworthy people to allow him the freedom to focus on the craziness in his own world. Raffi approached us and asked us to help. Through Buy to Let Hunter, Raffi has purchased a pure investment property and a holiday home in the Cotswolds which his family uses in conjunction with renting it out to paying guests.
Raffi says: “My kids have a pool, access to nature, the cottage overlooks a lake…. And it’s just an hour and a half from London.” “It’s absolutely no hassle…. The team at BTLH do absolutely everything, checking in guests, housekeeping, managing the calendar, making sure everything is perfect for my family and visitors. I just turn up. Oh, and cash the cheques!” “And I had no doubt I could trust Adrian after I met him. The single biggest thing is that my interests were ahead of our co-profit. So, I feel I can really trust any advice and I know my money is safe.” We do love a happy punter! If you think we might be able to enhance your life in the way we have for Raffi, please give us a call or visit our website to find out more about us.
Raffi says: “For me there wasn’t a second choice when I met the Buy to Let Hunter team. It was about working with someone trustworthy and when speaking to Adrian, one of the directors, a local guy, it was clear he was someone I could trust. I didn’t need to look any further. And my expectation has been more than met.” Can BTLH help you find the perfect property? Get in touch and have a chat: 020 7550 9396 or hello@buytolethunter.com. For more information check out www.buytolethunter.com Quadrant Road, Richmond, London, TW9 1DH
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New Malden Rotary Happy New Year No one knows why Rotary’s year starts on the 1st July ….. it just does. So, we welcome you to our New Year and introduce our new President, Sally-Anne Shelton, taking over from Tony Townsend. For the last fifteen months, things have been difficult with such limited opportunity for personal contact or for our usual activities. But we have adapted our meetings and maintained contact with each other, and with those we work with, thanks to modern technology and a willingness to modernise our attitudes. Our new President would not welcome being described as a new broom, so we won’t do that. But she does bring a fresh perspective and energy to the job and she will be taking us forward with a reduced meeting schedule and greater informality as we look forward to meeting in person again as soon as government guidelines permit. In the meantime we shall continue to meet twice a month in virtual mode. New Year Plans Our New Year resolutions include a revived determination to engage with other local organisations to help in the resurgence of our High Street and other retail areas and to look anew at what we can do to protect our environment. Further development of our relationships with local schools has been hampered by the pandemic but that is something which we shall be actively returning to this year. And our concern for our own community will not be to the detriment of the people of the poorer countries of the world, where there are many causes which demand our attention. Our international team will be looking closely at many projects to see where we can give the best benefit to those in need. Money And, of course, we need money to pay for much of what we do, locally and further afield. Our review of fundraising will include modern ways of seeking support as well as the more familiar practical events. We are hoping for the return of Rudolph and Father Christmas in December, both in the High Street and around New Malden streets. Local feedback has made it clear that last year they were missed by the community more than we were.
The crystal ball The pandemic has resulted in changes to the whole of society with the consequence that we have an unprecedented opportunity to look again at how we see the future of Rotary in New Malden. Our basic aim of serving our community stays the same but how we execute that aim needs to be constantly reviewed. Any contributions to the discussion of our future in New Malden are welcome. Contact us through our Facebook page (search New Malden Rotary) or via our website (www. newmaldenrotary.org.uk)
JOB VACANCY Window Cleaner
We are a local window cleaning company looking for a full time employee (Monday - Friday) to join our team. You will need to be physically fit, self motivated, punctual and have good customer service skills. You will also need to have a driving licence. No experience necessary as full training will be provided. Pay: day rate and the chance to earn more based on daily performance/work done.
Interested?
Email us your CV and a brief covering note.
info@lionsoflondon.co.uk | 07935 382 279 10
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Could you be our next Glynne? Changing professions was the best thing I ever did. I joined Home Instead in June 2018. After my training I was introduced to my first client, whom I still visit. She is such an interesting person and has done so much in her 90 years. In September 2018, I met another client. The first time I met Jack I was very impressed. I could not believe this man was 100! This was the start of an amazing friendship and journey that has taught me so much about myself and what a difference I can make in someone else’s life. Through our time together, Jack has become a valued friend and a big part of my life. It is a great joy for me to see what a difference I have made and how appreciative he is. I help Jack with lots of his daily needs including help with his showering and dressing, to making him meals or simply reheating the heating pad to ease his back pain or accompanying him to his various appointments.
Jack keeps on saying how lucky he is that I came into his life, but it is me who is the lucky one.
Would you like a job like Glynne’s? Give our recruiter a call on 020 8942 4137 or email laura.hillier@homeinstead.co.uk to see if CAREGiving is something you could do too! Each Home Instead® franchise office is independently owned and operated.
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Events Music during Lockdown and beyond . . . by John Irving and Peter Bullett The impact of Covid restrictions over the past fifteen months on professional and amateur musicians alike has been considerable. Many of the freelance players who have appeared in our concerts at Music in New Malden over the years have been seriously impacted by Lockdown. Virtually all performance activity stopped after 23rd March, 2020 and through most of 2021 thus far. For many, limits on venue capacity have made promotion of concerts unviable financially. While some performers are salaried in the major orchestras (and thus eligible for furlough support), the vast majority are self-employed and have had had to rely on the various Government SEISS income support schemes. Some, regrettably, were ineligible for financial support for technical reasons and sadly, several of our professional colleagues have given up music altogether to take up other employment (this includes the leader of a period instrument orchestra who is now a van driver for Ocado, a concert pianist who now works as a shelf-stacker in Sainsburys, a principal clarinettist who works for Waitrose, and so on). It is not just UK concert life that has been affected of course: many professionals work in groups that travel extensively in Europe, and quarantine restrictions (both ways) have led to the cancellation of musical projects (often at the last minute), even as venues tentatively reopen. For those who have resumed performance, the mandatory two-metre separation between players in an orchestra or indeed any group, has created its own acoustic and logistical challenges. People who sing and play, but do not earn their living by doing so, have not suffered anything like the same degree of hardship, but choirs and orchestras have not been able to meet, it has not been possible to make music with others outside a family or other “bubble” and opportunities to attend and promote live concerts have been severely limited. All this has had a negative impact on their sense of well-being and for many, has deprived them of important opportunities for social interaction. On a more positive note, musicians are certainly resourceful: many have found an avenue for other talents during the last 18 months, for instance as IT specialists, recording engineers, language teachers, photographers, landscape gardeners, Pilates instructors, even plumbers (yes, horn
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players are often pretty good at plumbing!) in order to supplement the lack of any regular fee income beyond March 2020. The advent of online communication platforms such as Zoom has enabled private teaching to take place online, though considerable ingenuity has been required to adapt the sound quality for musical use. New Malden Lunchtime Concerts has streamed recorded events and compilations of selected videos highlighting less familiar instruments, choirs and orchestras have rehearsed virtually and compiled recorded performances by editing together individual contributions. Now live music (albeit distanced) is possible again, MiNM and NMLCs are celebrating this with a mini festival of three celebrity concerts in July (see panel) offering top quality classical music, performed locally by exceptional musicians. Do please join us and enjoy live music again.
www.ticketsource.co.uk/musicfest21
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Develop and improve techniques quickly with friendly, professional cricket coaching. 1to1’s and group sessions in New Malden and Tadworth for juniors / adults with ECB qualified cricket coaches.
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R.J. Tree Services providing excellence locally for 15 years. Our qualified & professional staff are dedicated to the highest levels of service in every instance.
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Diploma qualified NPTC licensed Tree Reductions / Crown Thins Tree Felling Stump Removal Hedgeworks Tree Surveys & Reports £10 million insurance liability cover
Office: 020 8399 0103 Mobile: 07980 903881 info@rjtrees.co.uk LOOK FOR THE RED TREE!
R.J. Tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton Visit our website for information and videos on all aspects of our work www.rjtrees.co.uk
Thinking of moving this summer?
QP Proof June 10.indd 1
Happy Easter from all at Groves Residential
14/05/2010 14:19:06
Independent Family Run Firm - NAEA and ARLA Regulated
Blagdon Road KT3
Sycamore Grove KT3 A light and spacious, recently refurbished two double bedroom purpose build maisonette finished to a high standard with pretty south facing garden and located in the Groves EPC C. £450,000 Leasehold
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A stunning four bedroom, two bathroom house in central New Malden with large Kitchen/Family room and a good size garden. EPC C. Available unfurnished £2,300 pcm.
TEL: 020 8949 0094
Gloster Road KT3 A lovely three/four bedroom end of terrace house with flexible accommodation located in the centre of New Malden with private parking and good sized garden. No onward chain. EPC C. £799,950 Freehold
11 HIGH STREET, NEW MALDEN KT3 4DQ
mail@grovesresidential.com
www.grovesresidential.com
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Transform your look with cosmetic surgery experts
At Spire St Anthony’s Hospital we know that changing your appearance isn’t just about how you look – it’s about how you feel. That’s why our specialist cosmetic team is dedicated to achieving the look that’s right for you. From anti-ageing to breast treatments, we only work with surgeons who are specialists in their field. All our treatments are carried out in the comfort of our private hospital, with a full medical team on hand for your care.
At Spire St Anthony’s Hospital we offer a wide range of cosmetic surgery procedures including: – Body contouring – Breast augmentation – Eyelid surgery – Facelift – Liposuction – Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty) – Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) Fixed price self-pay packages and finance options available.
Book to see an expert today Search ‘Spire St Anthony’s Cosmetics’ Call 020 8712 2525
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Health Zena Beauty “I am Niamh, the founder of Zena Beauty. Some of you may recognise me as the daughter of Lee (Busy Lizzy Crafts). From a young age I have always been eager to start a career within the beauty industry. My journey began at ‘Pure Serenity’ salon in New Malden, where I completed my year 10 work experience placement for Coombe Girls’ School. I went on to complete my level 2, 3 and 4 Beauty Therapy course at Kingston college and was delighted to be offered a position of Spa Therapist in Kensington. Alongside working at the spa, I offered mobile beauty services to my local area. Due to the pandemic, I was unable to work and therefore kept busy by completing online
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courses to extend my beauty knowledge. I decided that I wanted to make a big step. I proudly launched Zena Beauty – a salon which delivers a friendly and relaxing experience, offering a range of well-being treatments. Back from the busy borough of Kensington to my home town roots, my salon is in the perfect location, at the World of Golf, New Malden. Benefiting from free ample parking with Costa and Golf both onsite. I look forward to meeting you soon!” need then there are a wide range of local organisations who are ready to support you.
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Folk Law from Pearson Hards Where there’s a Will there’s a way ….. A professionally drafted will is something every adult should have. Not only does it provide certainty as to who should inherit your possessions after your death, but it will also make things a lot easier for those who have to deal with looking after your affairs at a time that is usually stressful. It is a great concern that nearly two thirds of the adult population have not grasped this reality. So what happens if there is no will? Simply put, the person’s estate is dealt with according to the Intestacy Rules laid out by Parliament. This means that the nearest relations to the person who has died share in the estate, in a strict order of precedence and according to the value of the estate. If a person dies leaving a spouse or civil partner, but no children, then the spouse or civil partner is entitled to the whole estate. However, if there are children, then the estate is shared, with the first £270,000 passing to the spouse or civil partner, together with personal possession and half of the balance with the remaining half of the balance going to the children. This situation could cause great hardship to a surviving spouse or civil partner with a young family, left struggling to maintain a home for the family with limited resources. If a person is not married then their estate does not pass to their partner, even if the relationship had existed for many years. The Intestacy Rules do not recognise “Common Law” spouses. The fact is that unmarried partners have no entitlement at all. The failure of unmarried couples to make a will can be catastrophic, with the surviving partner being frozen out of any benefit, and perhaps forced to move home. If a person dies without being married leaving children, then those children inherit. If there are no children then the estate would be shared by any surviving parents, or brothers and sisters, or possibly by the extended family if none of the closer relations are alive and entitled. If someone dies without making a will the administrative burden can be enormous. Unless the person had close relations such as a spouse and children, it might be necessary to engage genealogists to research the family tree so the right beneficiaries can benefit. This is expensive and time consuming. Often in those situations distant relations benefit who have never met the person who died, or even knew of their existence until enquiries were made to establish a connection. In just the same way as the Intestacy Rules do not recognise “Common Law” spouses they don’t recognise the interests of other people or charities who might well have benefited if the person had actually put pen to paper. Injustice and heartache often follow. An Act of Parliament was passed in 1975 giving courts
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power to entertain claims from close family members if a person’s will or the Intestacy Rules failed to make adequate provision for them. Such proceedings are expensive and lengthy and bring their own pressures and worries. It is only people who were close to the person who can claim, such as their spouse, former spouse or unmarried partner, children or someone who had been treated as a child or who was financially dependent. Others who don’t fit in to one of the categories cannot make a claim. A recent case illustrates the use of this Act. It concerned the death of a man whose failure to make a will stating his intentions threatened to deprive his ex-wife and two children of their rightful inheritance when he died suddenly. During the course of his first marriage, the man and his wife had lived modestly and worked hard to bring up their children and to establish a thriving family company. When they separated and divorced, however, he was the company’s sole owner. After he remarried, the company was sold and he received a sum of almost £5.2 million, which was paid into his second wife’s bank account. Following the divorce, the man had maintained a good relationship with his first wife and their children. He promised that he would pay for them to be housed comfortably and that he would cover the costs of the children’s private education. However, he had done neither of those things before his premature death. His first wife and children launched proceedings under the 1975 Act with a view to obtaining reasonable provision from his estate. The man’s widow contested the case and following negotiations, a settlement of the dispute was agreed whereby his first wife would receive money and property worth a total of about £1 million. A further £950,000 would be divided between the two children. Although the case was settled without a full trial, it is certain that there would have been a long delay before the first wife and her children received the much needed and promised support and there would have been extensive legal costs. All of this could have been avoided if he had just made a will. Have you made arrangements so your loved ones are secure if something happens to you? If you would like to discuss matters further please call. If you give us instructions to prepare a will before 31 July 2021 and quote VV2 when making your first appointment, we will give a discount on our costs of 10%. Please call 020 8949 9500 and ask for Marie Simmonds to fix an appointment.
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Parkin’ some thoughts Damned either way
by Nick Hazell
Life, someone said, is a paradox. You’re damned if you do as much as if you do not. The results of the Summer holiday planning in the Hazell household have done little to disprove the theory. Normally the prospect of foreign adventure is something to which we all look forward. However, tempting though it may be to consider fleeing the country now that the options extend beyond Gibraltar and The South Sandwich Islands, the risk of the Government suffering from another sudden bout of colour blindness and designating what was once green as red, is for me at least, one not worth taking even if I am powered by a full tank of vaccine. Finding somewhere on these shores though has proved quite tricky, not least because I don’t particularly wish to sell my organs to medical science to fund a week’s stay in a beach hut. The prices are indeed enough to make an onion weep. As a family, we (or rather Anna and I) don’t do camping unless there is a hotel involved. Even if we did, those less canvas-ly inept than us have taken all the good spots, leaving a field behind a pub in Ipswich advertising its “facilities” as a tap as the best of what remains. My suggestion of a canal boat holiday was then, perhaps rightly, vetoed by Mrs H who reminded me of our last trip which drove her to the edge of a breakdown, gave the children lasting nightmares and involved a four hour wait for an ambulance. We are therefore a picky bunch when it comes to holidaying. We can all want different things, so finding a location which keeps all of us happy is difficult and near impossible when set against the dwindling options that have resulted from most of us being locked up so so long. So, after all of our COVID-safe considerations and concerns about being exposed to a super spreader vacation venue, where have we ended up? Cornwall... I mean really? Not only is it likely to separate from Devon and fall into the channel due to the weight of tourists arriving within its
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boundaries, but it has itself become a plague ground. According to my reliable reference source, the Sun, coronavirus cases have tripled in the last week as the early holiday season begins and some of the locals have been enhancing the area’s welcoming credentials by putting up signs that say, “F*** off, tourists.” Charming. I suppose the point is that although some of us may be damned if we do and damned if we don’t, sometimes it’s just not worth worrying about. It’s better to like what we decide to do, rather than think about what we should have done. That’s what I’ll be doing in Cornwall.. in a mask.. under an umbrella.. in a queue.. surrounded by protesters. At least I won’t be in a tent....
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Puzzle Time fairly easy
not so easy
Stars 1. 2.
What colour is the star on the flag of Israel?
3.
Together with his wife, who owns and runs The Hand And Flowers in Marlow, which, in the 2012 Michelin Guide, became the first ever pub have two Michelin stars?
4.
5.
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The football team Red Star Belgrade are based in which European country?
What type of animal goes before “star” to give a name by which Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, is commonly known? What is the main colour of the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
6.
What is the Queen’s star sign?
7.
Released in 2016, Blackstar is the 25th and final studio album by which famous singer?
8.
How many “lucky star” numbers do you have to select when you buy a EuroMillions lottery ticket?
9.
What is the name of the closest star to Earth?
10. In a 1953 film, what fictional land would you reach if you followed the directions “second star to the right and straight on till morning”?
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Codeword Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.
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Smart Gardening by Pippa Greenwood
If you want to have more time to relax in and enjoy your garden and perhaps fancy cutting down on the hard labour, there’s plenty you can do to make sure that you have a lighter workload. Soil Condition Get your soil in good condition before you plant. By digging in bulky organic matter such as compost, well-rotted manure or leaf mould you will improve the soil’s fertility and its ability to hold moisture and stay in good shape, potentially saving you a lot of time over the coming months and even years. Mulch flower beds and borders, and vegetable and fruit areas too. This cuts down hugely on time you need to spend watering, weeding and generally titivating your plants. Make sure the soil is moist before you apply the mulch as this will help to retain moisture during dry conditions. Try to get rid of any big or deeprooted weeds such as dandelions before you mulch; once in place the mulch will help to prevent smaller and annual weeds from appearing at all. Big Containers Containers are lovely, and deservedly have a lot of appeal, but they make for a lot more work than when you grow the plants in the flowerbeds. In a container they are totally dependent on you for food and water (if it doesn’t rain constantly!). Try to grow as much as you can in the soil, but if you’re desperate for pots and planters, choose them as big as possible and incorporate controlled-release fertiliser and moistureretaining granules at planting time. Easy-care Bulbs Grow lots of bulbs: bulbs, whether for spring display (planted in the autumn) or summer display (planted in spring), are great labour-saving plants, as once planted they simply keep on and on appearing each year, with little need for care. In the current warmer climate even those plants like dahlias, gladioli and tulips – which traditionally were lifted and replanted each year – often seem able to withstand the winter without the need for this effort. Perennials Grow lots of relatively short herbaceous perennials i.e. plants that come up in the spring, die back late in the season then reappear next spring. They are much more low-effort flowers than annuals, which need
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planting and removing each year and then replacing the following year. Short and Sturdy Whatever you’re after, look for plants that are relatively short and sturdy, as these are less likely to flop and should not require any supports. If you do find plants need staking or supporting, the quickest, easiest way to do this is to drive a few 45-60cm twiggy sticks, taken when you’ve had to cut back shrubs or trees, into the soil around the base of the plant. Twiggy sticks are unobtrusive and attractive enough to be left in place from early in the year right
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- Decking and Lawns - Hedge Trimming - Landscaping
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Shrubs Shrubs, too, are great plants, as once established they need little effort and often provide colour and interest for more than one season. If you want to minimise ‘PUT YOUR GARDEN MAINTENANCE INTel: THE020 8330 7 info@cypressgardenservices.co.uk your input even further, go for shrubs such as HANDS OF SOMEONE WHO REALLY CARES’ Chaenomeles, rhododendrons and azaleas, deciduous www.cypressgardenservices.co.uk Mobile: 07958 cotoneasters and Magnolia stellate, which need little, - One off Tidy if any, pruning. Ground Cover Grow ground cover plants – either herbaceous perennials or low-growing shrubby plants. These don’t need a lot of maintenance and will soon cover bare soil, meaning that there is less weeding needed. Dense groundcover will also reduce evaporation from the soil and so makes for less watering time. Plants such as Cistus x hybridus, lavenders and rosemaries work well on a dry site. Other good choices include hypericum, Euonymus fortune and Cotoneaster dammeri. 'PUT At www.pippagreenwood.com you’ll find a range of pet-and-wildlife-friendly bio-controls, Speedweeders, the fantastic SpeedHoe, signed books and more.
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Ladies of The Inner Wheel Club, which is an affiliate of Rotary UK, meet the third Tuesday of every month at 19.00hrs in the Tasty Affair restaurant, Worcester Park High Street to have dinner and hold their meeting. The Club is active in community affairs with members volunteering to support various local charities: this support can range from knitting poppies and Easter bunnies to maintaing public flower beds and helping the less able with shopping trips. Whilst we work hard to raise funds through Bingo, coffee mornings, afternoon teas and stalls in local markets etc., entertainment and social events are just as important and now COVID regulations are easing, we are already looking ahead by booking visits to gardens, theatres, museums, picnics and days out/holidays. We are a global organisation and visits and information is exchanged with sister clubs around the world. If you are looking for a ladies club with a difference, where charitable work is enjoyed alongside a diverse social life, call Eva on 07508801340 for more information.
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Community Eliminate hunger I met Tariq Shabbeer in February 2020 at a gym in New Malden. He informed me of Save The World Club Charity in Surbiton and the good work they do fighting hunger and helping those most in need especially during this past year of the virus. On a daily basis volunteers travel to supermarkets including Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, Tesco and Co-op to collect food that would otherwise be wasted. This food, still good and within date, would then be checked, bagged, allocated and delivered to vulnerable and needy people throughout the Borough. On my first volunteering I visited Aldi one night at 22.00. I was shocked and surprised to see the amount of waste - literally trolley loads of food and drink - and this was only one store! Our volunteers were able to collect and distribute all this potential waste to those in need. Good food that otherwise would be sent to landfill or incinerated which alone is an expensive and resource laden process negatively affecting our environment. Since then I have volunteered every single night collecting, bagging and delivering food, using my own vehicle as do all volunteers. However, in recent weeks the restrictions have become tighter and chilled foods, meat and perishables are now automatically binned. Tons of perfectly edible food is being destroyed which is unethical and wrong. Food that could feed vulnerable individuals, families and children. This is happening throughout the country. This quality waste food could feed EVERY HUNGRY PERSON IN THE UK. Thereby, Save The World Club assigned me the task of petitioning the government in order to amend the law. There is a recent precedent proving its validity as in France, 2016 (Please visit our website at www.savetheworldclub.org). Our petition is lobbying the government to change the law in order to prevent supermarkets wasting good food, instead requiring them to sell it cheaply or give it to charities to redistribute. Charities would have to be fully compliant with health and safety
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regulations ensuring there is no danger to the general public. In the many years that Des Kay, as head of Save The World Club, has been organising the collection and distribution of sell-by-date food there has not been any incident of ill effect. On the contrary, just the thanks from thousands of grateful, satisfied people receiving food during hard times, testimony to what we are trying to achieve. But we need your help… so please, click this link and help eliminate hunger on our shores. You have the power to make a difference! https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/582618 John Hewlett
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The oily richness of the trout contrasts beautifully with the sweet lychees and peppery rocket leaves. Hot smoked trout requires no preparation, making this an ideal speedy healthy lunch or evening meal. Use any lettuce leaves in this dish and plenty of fresh herbs. You could use smoked mackerel or hot smoked salmon instead of the trout if wished. Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 30 seconds Serves 2 Ingredients 1. Blanch the mange tout in boiling water for 30 • 225g hot smoked trout seconds, drain and refresh under cold water. • 150g mangetout 2. Place the mangetout in a bowl with the rocket, • 2 large handfuls of rocket leaves cucumber, lychees, herbs, chilli and onion. • ½ cucumber, cut in half lengthways, seeds Break up the trout and scatter over the top with removed and sliced the toasted cashew nuts. Mix together the lime • 10 lychees, peeled, stoned and cut in half juice, xylitol or honey and fish sauce. • Handful of basil leaves, roughly chopped 3. Season the salad with a little black pepper and • Handful of mint leaves, roughly chopped drizzle over the dressing to serve. • Handful of coriander leaves, roughly chopped • 1 red chilli, deseeded and diced • ½ red onion, diced NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION PER SERVING: • 60g toasted cashew nuts Calories per serving 449kcal, protein 36.6g, • Juice of 2 limes carbohydrates 35.8g (sugars 30.5g), • 2 tsp xylitol or honey total fat 20.1g (saturates 4g) • 1-2 tbsp fish sauce to taste To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915
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Friday Night Cocktail Club When life gives you lemons make a Sgroppino by Ali Warner There is something about making a cocktail that turns it from a drink into something special . It could be the shakers or the use of posh glasses and various accoutrements but often people think that it requires effort and ingredients that will end up going dusty in the back of the cupboard.
In Venice, your waiter might make this drink at your table by beating the sorbet and wine into a mixture as refreshing as whipped snow. And if you fancy adding a bit of showbiz to the night’s entertainment, well what better way to keep your bingo wings at bay.
But I’m here to tell that that doesn’t have to be the case. You don’t need a shaker or posh glasses or 27 ingredients or loads of time to treat yourself at the end of week that has left you frazzled or to add a flourish to an occasion with a cheeky crowd-pleaser.
But if time is the essence, you can prep this cocktail to perfection in 10 minutes or less.
In fact, I pretty much guarantee that if you make this cocktail, those you serve it to will ask for the recipe or be very willing takers if you suggest they might consider a top-up. During Lockdown 2 a friend and I exchanged cocktail recipes for each of the 12 days of Christmas and this one - which only has three ingredients - was the favourite by a country mile. It’s called Sgroppino al Limone and it’s believed to have got its name from the Venetian word Sgorpãre which means loosening or to loosen. No, not like that you filthy lot - it was served between courses to aid digestion and cleanse the palate. This is a lovely versatile cocktail. It’s perfect as an aperitif or served as a delicious after dinner drink. In fact with a little bit of forethought it can also be served as a dessert providing a light ending to alfresco summer meal. And the best thing about this impressive cocktail is that its ingredients are not too expensive and not too hard to find. And if you don’t use them all up on this drink, you’ll definitely find other ways to use them. Because all you need to make it is Vodka, Prosecco and Lemon Sorbet. Essentially the Sgroppino al Limone is an adult slush puppy.
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How to make a Sgroppino al Limone For 4 drinks you’ll need 200 mls ice cold Prosecco 120 mls cold vodka 4 scoops of lemon sorbet Put four champagne flutes into the fridge to chill Add four generous scoops of lemon sorbet to a medium-sized bowl and whisk the mixture until it’s a smooth consistency. Gradually whisk in the vodka and prosecco. You can use a blender - but whisking it with a hand whisk is better as it will mean the mixture doesn’t become too liquid. You don’t want it too thick but you don’t want it too thin either. If it looks like a milkshake - you’ve got it just right. Pour your lovely lemony, slushy cocktail into the chilled champagne flutes and serve to your guests immediately. (If you leave it too long it may separate.) If you are feeling extra fancy you can sprinkle a little bit of lemon zest on top. If you want to use the ingredients as a dessert rather than serve it as a drink, all you need to do is miss out the whisking and just add a ball of sorbet to a dish and pour the mix of vodka and prosecco over the sorbet and serve with a sprinkle of fresh mint leaves or lemon zest. And now for your final and most important job. Find a comfy seat. Sit back. Relax. And enjoy the icy, citrusy hit. Slainte.
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A Photographer Dreams... by Hugh Griffiths www.creativelight.org.uk
At this stage of last year’s lockdown, most of us were allowed to go to places where there were – shock, horror – other people. I was shielding, so the guidelines said I should stay in until the end of the month. But I was not going to miss the lavender displays at Mayfield Lavender Farm – and I went out a few days before I was to be formally released (!) and spent a very happy few hours with my camera at the field. Lavender is a lovely plant to be around: it looks good, it smells good, and it is great place for bees. The lavender is grown in long lines with pathways between them – allowing for people like me to get up close and personal to it, but mainly, I guess, to allow for harvesting the flower. During the flowering period the field is usually pretty full of people like me looking and enjoying the place. That Saturday it was very full – a sunny day and there were loads of parents and children as well as a lot of couples trying to get a perfect selfie in the lavender field. I took a lot of pictures of the sightseers but can’t show most of them because their faces are visible, and I don’t have permission from them to publish their images. (I think that in law a photographer can take pictures of people in public places and can then publish them, and I am maybe over-cautious on this – see https://www. blpawards.org/competition/ photo-rights). In this photo I have blurred the face of the little girl at the top of the picture so that she can’t be recognised. But the photo itself is really sweet: two very young children running through a
30
lavender field and then deciding to cut through to find Mummy. The composition works well – the path is a diagonal from the right bottom corner, which pulls your eye into following the children; and the surrounding lavender is in full bloom and looks beautiful. And the bees – why do we have this fascination with bees (and dislike wasps)? Both of them provide a very useful service to our lives – the bees by pollinating, and the wasps by predating those nasty plant chewing aphids. But both types of insect are all over the lavender at this time of year – and I really like trying to photograph them. The problem is that they are always in motion and, just as I get my camera focused on a bee’s whereabouts, it moves on to another flower. Extremely irritating! So, I take quite a lot of photos which consist of a blur of yellow and black – and usually the blur is on the edge of the photo. But sometimes I strike lucky – and this photo is one of those. This bee was hovering next to a lavender flower, with its proboscis embedded deep in one of the small flowers on the stem. It may have been a particularly satisfying nectar lake, which gave me the time I needed. You can see the nectar sac hanging on one of its back legs, and the wings, beating madly to keep the bee stable in front of the flower while it had its drink. I like the picture – although it isn’t good enough for competitions – because the bee is very visibly doing something. Photos of insects (or birds, or animals) are always more effective if they show the beast in action: a formal portrait of a bee (for example) may seem to be very nice, but in competitions we have seen so many of those pictures that is necessary to up your game and show activity. = The lockdown gave me the opportunity and the incentive to take a lot of indoor photographs. But I didn’t plan on escaping the natural world completely, so one of my projects was to photograph cones – not the sort that make your life go by so slowly on a motorway, but those that grow on trees. I tried laying them out in a sort of still life pattern, but my artistic eye failed me on this: they just looked like a few cones on a table with no great merit. And seeing them in colour was, of course, a disappointment. Cones don’t have much colour – they are predominantly grey with maybe a few remnants of the red or brown they had when they were young. So, I decided to convert the pictures to black and white (or mono as we photographers call it … it sounds more professional). This first picture is of a large cone that I had decorating a shelf in my office at home. I placed it slightly to the
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left of centre because that makes you think a bit more; again, this is the psychology of images (paintings or photographs) where an offcentre subject gives a feel of dynamism to the picture, slightly unsettling. I had it placed on white paper with a white board behind it – so that there would be no distraction from the cone. But I didn’t like the effect that gave (especially because I could see the join where the paper met the board), and so I used a bit of Photoshop magic to put a different paper background in and used another bit of magic to make sure that I didn’t lose the shadow. Very satisfying! This last photo is a still life and is one of my
more-than-just-a-flop pictures. I did do a fair amount of processing to the picture to give it that rather unnatural sharpness and to bring out the grain in the wooden bowl. A different type of photos from what I normally do, but very satisfying to be able to create something new that I had never tried before. A quote from a book I am just reading puts it well: “He had asked, “What do youth know with so little experience?” And the other had replied, “What have the mature forgotten about the value of change?” “ Change of any sort can be disruptive, but on the other hand it can also lead to new, worthwhile things. = The Malden Camera Club has cancelled its physical meetings while the coronavirus is around, but we still have virtual meetings through video conferencing and other online tools. We expect to be meeting in person at the Malden Library from September on Thursday evenings, but will be keeping this under review. If you want to know more about us, then contact us via the details on our website … www.maldencameraclub. org.uk And you can, of course, contact me via my website: www.creativelight.org.uk
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Solutions
CodeWord
Quiz
1. Serbia 2. Blue 3. Tom Kerridge 4. Dog 5. Pink 6. Taurus 7. David Bowie 8. Two 9. The sun 10. Neverland (in the film Peter Pan)
Sudokus Pictograms 1. The Strokes 2. Black Sabbath 3. Buzzcocks
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Royal British Legion Malden & Coombe Branch On 6th June Malden and Coombe Royal British Legion laid a wreath and had 2 minutes silence in memory of those service personnel who took part in the D Day Landings in France 77 years ago. A veteran and member sent me this poem in Remembrance: Come and stand in memory of men who fought and died. They gave their lives in Normandy, Remember them with Pride Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Airborne and Marines, who in civvy lives were Tailors and men who worked machines. British and Canadian and men from USA, Forces from the Commonwealth, They all were there that day. To Juno, Sword and Utah , beaches of renown, also Gold and Omaha that’s where the ramps went down. The Battle raged in Normandy many lives were lost. The war must end in Victory And this must be the cost When my life is over and I reach the other side, I’ll meet my friends in Normandy and shake their hands with Pride.
This month we lost and remember our supporter and wife of our vice chairman Sally Bohan
Author was a veteran of Juno beach Cyril Crain
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
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020 8393 3222 English Conversation Group, New Malden- Group for intermediate level ( males and females) currently meeting on-line on zoom on Mondays from 10.00 to 11.30. All welcome regardless of nationality and status. Further details from Chris & Elspeth Coke- chris.coke@hotmail.co.uk or ring/ text 07377669993. To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915
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With competitive pricing, friendly efficient service and helpful advice it’s simple and effective... But then the best ideas always are.
020 8336 2915 34or go online www.maldenmedia.com the Village Voice Call jenny on
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35 15/12/2020 12:48
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Over 1,000 Customer 36 Reviews Please remember to mention the Village Voice when you speak to our advertisers WELCOME
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