Worcester park life april 16 by jenny stuart

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April Contents

History by David Rymill 6 Ruth Jemmett Writes 11 Finance Don’t be Taken in by the Pension Scammers 14 The Lunchbowl Network 16 Baking Rhubarb & Coconut Meringue Cake 18 View from the City 20 Golden Years 22 Recipe Pork Jambalaya 25 Hobbies 26 Sudokus 30 Codeword 34 What’s On 36 Crossword 38 Quick Quiz 39 Gardening Go On, Grow Your Own 42 Clubs 44 Voice for Wildlife 48 Kids Play 50 Solutions 52 Published by Malden Media Limited 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.

Welcome to Your Worcester Park Life So it’s official, spring has sprung at last! The bulbs are sprouting up and at last we are awash with snowdrops and daffodils. The days are getting longer and the temperature just slightly warmer. Although come on…. we’re all far too accustomed to the British weather to be lulled into a false sense of security and to dare pack away our winter boots quite yet (let alone, bring out the flip flops!). We still need to be on our guard for those April showers (and a final flirtation with winter). April sees the start of the summer school term. For me that means the last term ever of primary school – well, for my daughter. I am soon to be redundant from the school run, and owing to a very nasty sick bug have been denied walking her these last few days of term. A big change for us all – does that mean it’s time to get a puppy? Remember that Worcester Park Life is YOUR magazine so if you are helping to organise an event and would like some FREE publicity then please do email details. Likewise if you are part of an organisation that could benefit from attracting new local members next year then why not send in an article. You may or not know that in order to deliver the magazine to most of Worcester Park, we split the distribution over a two month period. So if you have had this edition delivered you probably won’t get the January one. There are a limited number of copies available from Waitrose, the libraries, Manor Drive surgery, St Marys and also Christ Church with St Philip but don’t forget that it is also published online - you can get the link from our website. So, until next month, best wishes,

Jenny

Jenny Stuart, Editor & publisher P.S. Please remember to mention the Worcester Park Life when replying to adverts, and get in touch by 17th of April if you’d like your business, Club or event to feature in the May edition(s). Also publishing Malden’s Village Voice

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Worcester Park History Cheam Common when a Princess was born by David Rymill As the nation prepares to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday on 21st April, I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on Worcester Park as it was in 1926 when the then Princess Elizabeth of York was born, beginning with the area east of the railway this month, and moving on to Cuddington and Old Malden in the May edition. Coming under the railway bridge, the Huntsman’s Hall would look recognisable to present-day customers of The Brook, while to the left of the pub was the motor engineer’s business of Albert Bailey, on the site of the smithy which would long be commemorated in the name of the Forge Garage. This was one of two garages listed in what is now Central Road in the 1926 Kelly’s Directory of Epsom (the other being Percival Beale’s between Brinkley Road and St Philip’s Avenue). The middle shop of the group of three which still stand on the corner of Lynwood Drive is listed in the directory as Mrs K Purkis’s toy shop, and Maurice Upperton recalled buying sweets here: ‘They had jars all round the walls, and she used to sell for a penny one of each – she would go to each jar and take one out.’ Elsewhere in the main road, several shops were already established which are still remembered by many local people, including Morleys’ bakery on the corner of Longfellow Road, and Thomas Mearing’s cycle shop a few doors up.

In Longfellow Road there were already over 170 houses. The road also accommodated quite a few shops, mainly small businesses run from the front rooms of private houses. The 1926 directory lists a dozen traders on the left-hand side, beginning with James Dyer’s dining rooms just after Morleys’ bakehouse. Mrs Ellen Baker and Albert Pleece were listed as shopkeepers at nos. 33 and 63, and Haynes Commercial Stores was at 37. Also listed are a bootmaker (13), carpenter (53), ,butcher (61), dairyman (73), greengrocer (93), tailor (131) and plumber (167), while the largest shop was perhaps the grocers Lane Brothers (107).

Longfellow Road was also still the location of the Methodist Chapel, just before the playground; it was only in 1927 that the Cheam Common Road site was bought, where a lecture hall was opened in 1928 on the back portion of the land, and Christ Church in 1931. The Baptist Mission Hall was also still in Longfellow Road, between nos. 6 and 8, where it would remain until it moved to The Avenue in 1951. Washington Road, Brinkley Road, St Philip’s Avenue and Lindsay Road were all cul-de-sacs, and shorter than they are now. At the top of Central Road, Cheam Common Infants’ School was housed in the corrugated iron ‘Tin-Tack’ near the corner of Balmoral Road, where the Headmistress was Miss Gertrude Coles. Joyce Fellgett (née Featherstone), a pupil in the 1920s, recalls ‘When we were seven we went into Miss Coles’ class and, joy of joy, we were given pens and ink to write with. We had to write compositions which were drawn from a box, and each one was different. In break, which was called “playtime”, we skipped and played “he” and hide-and-seek.’ At the age of about eight, girls would move across Central Road to the Cheam Common or St Philip’s C of E Girls’ School (where the curving parade called The Broadway Market was built in 1934), under Mrs Marguerite Rooke, formerly Miss Carette. Gladys Rutland, a pupil in the early 1920s, recalled ‘It was a lovely little school, just for girls, and had a lot of lime trees; we used to have lessons sometimes under the trees.’ Miss Carette ‘used to say “Unter den Linden” and out we’d all go.’ At this time local boys, after three years in the infants’ school, had to move to Cheam C of E Boys’ School in Malden Road, or Malden Parochial.

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the farmland, beginning in roads such as Lavender Avenue close to the farm buildings (which stood on the site of Macmillan House). To the southwest of Cheam Common Road, development was proceeding slowly: a week before the birth of Princess Elizabeth, the council approved plans for three houses in Kingsmead Avenue.

Around the double-bend in Cheam Common Road, on the left-hand side there were only about 17 houses beyond Lindsay Road, most of the land being occupied by the fields of the Lavender family’s Lower Farm. The minutes of Epsom Rural District Council, which in 1926 still covered both Cheam and Cuddington (available for consultation at Surrey History Centre in Woking), reveal that the Queen was born on the eve of great changes in Worcester Park, with more frequent electric trains having largely taken over from steam locomotives the year before. In the second half of the year, plans were being submitted for houses on part of

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A variety of builders was by now active in the north-east of the district: over the course of 1926 there were around a dozen applications for the construction of houses in Langley Avenue and Clarkes Avenue, but in April 1926 the Council was concerned about the intention of William Schermuly to open a factory producing components for the ship-to-shore rockets he had invented, on a nearby piece of land. They decided to send a deputation to Westminster, but in the following month they withdrew their objection on the grounds of the life-saving purpose of the rockets. In the event, the factory only remained here for a few years: in 1931 plans were approved for the development of Conrad Drive on the land. Our illustrations show the corner of Central Road and Longfellow Road, looking towards Lynwood Drive, in the early 20th century, and children, perhaps born two or three years before the Queen, at Cheam Common Infants’ School in c1930. Are any local streets or organisations planning special events to mark the Queen’s birthday? I’d be very grateful for photographs of such occasions, for use in a future edition. David Rymill (020) 8330 6563 David.Rymill1993@alumni.aber.ac.uk Worcester Park, Old Malden and North Cheam: History at our Feet Published in 2012 and available at £10 (plus £2 towards postage if required) from the Rymill family. Ring 020 8330 6563 for more details. This 300page book tells the story of Worcester Park from the Iron Age to the present day, and includes memories of local life from 1908 onwards, and over 150 maps, photographs and drawings - mostly never published before.

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Ruth Jemmett Writes April Flowers And Showers Ruth Jemmett Leads Us Into The Month Of Pranks And The Queen’s 90th Birthday Can it really be April already? Did you play any tricks on anyone on the 1st of this month? I recently acquired a gadget called a Spider Catcher. The makers were kind enough to enclose a large toy spider to practise on. What jolly japes I had with it - but I don’t think my husband was that amused! April Fools Day probably originated in France in the 15th Century when people would sometimes pin a paper fish on someone’s back without their knowledge, and it was known as “Poisson d’Avril”. In England “All Fools Day” has been observed since the 17th Century. In 1976 the late astronomer Patrick Moore played a well known prank on the public. He suggested, on national radio, that there might be a slight decrease in gravity for a while, and some gullible people said that they had a slight floating sensation! On April 1st in 1977 The Guardian newspaper included an article about non-existent islands called Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse. The joke would probably be lost on a lot of young people today, whose heads seem to be constantly bent over, as they constantly read Textspeak on their I-phones, and whose whose knowledge of grammar and the rules of syntax probably equals my own knowledge of nuclear physics! We seemed to escaped a snowy winter, and Easter has already come and gone. I think that by the time it is over we have a sense of relief, as we seem to be bombarded with adverts for chocolate eggs soon after Twelfth Night! British Summer Time began on Easter Sunday, which was 27th March. I love this time of year, when the stark black branches of trees start to fill out, and our gardens in Salisbury Road come to life again. I saw four fish in my garden pond today, out of a total of ten. They had ventured from the bottom of the pond to see if it is safe to take off their balaclavas. Hopefully the others have survived. During the winter months the Golden Orfes have grown quite a bit - but not as much as neighbour Steve’s sturgeon, which looks as if it will soon audition for another verson of “Jaws”! I won’t feed my fish until the temperature has risen a bit, as apparently if they eat too much in cold weather it can kill them. As nights can still be frosty I

will play it safe! April can be very changeable weatherwise, and legend tells us that when the blackthorn blossoms at the end of the month, it can herald unseasonably cold weather called ‘A Blackthorn Winter’, so don’t put those winter woollies away just yet! Gardening can still be tiring, as the soil can be hard at this time of the year - despite all that flooding in 2015. In recent times I have tried to reduce working with a hoe, and have concentrated on uprooting weeds when the soil becomes softer. It seems to be paying dividends, as weeds aren’t so prevalent. I love gardening, and hope that I will still have the energy to enjoy it as my body ages! Many people are familiar with Robert Browning’s words “Oh to be in England now that April’s there”, which is cheering, but T.S. Eliot had a more sombre view, saying: “April is the cruellest month Lilacs out of the dead land, Mixing memory and desire Dull roots with Spring rain”. In case you are planning on marrying in April, a traditional rhyme warns that “Married beneath April’s changing skies. A chequered path before you lies!” Other traditional words say “The cuckoo comes in April, and stays the month of May - sings a song at midsummer, and then goes away.” I don’t know about cuckoos, but in mid-March I witnessed a Greater Spotted Woodpecker zooming over my garden on a couple of occasions. We have both Greater, Lesser and Green Woodpeckers inhabiting our local trees. As long as people stop hacking down our greenery we might see them for a while longer! April was the second month of the earliest Roman calendar. The Anglo-Saxons decided to call April

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‘Eosturmonath’ which eventually turned into ’Easter’. On 23rd of April it will be St George’s Day. We English On the 7th of this month it will be World Health Day, have never really get this day right. When other and on the 11th of this month World Parkinson’s countries celebrate their patron saints‘ days, flags are Disease Day. It will also be Autism Awareness Month. I out in abundance, and there is much merrymaking. spent many years working voluntarily for five charities. A lot of our population hardly know anything about It opened my eyes to the amount of physical and our own patron saint, whose history has always been mental suffering that so many people have to endure. debateable. I never quite believed that story about We humans fall prey to so many ailments, that it is a the dragon anyway! The dragon story was an allegory shame that the world can’t get its act together, and for the triumph of good over evil. In the Middle Ages, stop warring, and concentrate on curing …… First when people were generally under-educated, and world countries throw millions of pounds at wars, but eager toR.J. believe a good story, thequalified legend was popular, Tree Services & profession R.J. Tree Services qualified & professional staff are dedicated very little, in comparison, to health needs. Every one and the day was generally celebrated. When Henry totothe highest levels ofofsaints service themembers highest levels service in instance. of us - and our to family - stand a oneof in four VIIIevery came the throne worshipping was in every chance of getting cancer. Perhaps in centuries to come forbidden, and the day was marked in a more secular We are happy to give advice – on all you humanity will get priorities right.to give advice – on form. Weitsare happy all your arboricultural queries.

This year will be a special one on the royal calendar, Before I return to a pile of e-mails that are begging • Free as on 21st April the Queen will celebrate • her Free 90th quotes for replies I will leave you with a lovely poemquotes by S.J. re dedicated Birthday. In accordance with royal tradition her ‘official Goldner: • Fully NPTC qualified • Fully NPTC qualified birthday’ will be in June. What an amazing person she • Tree reductions / cr • Tree reductions crown thins is, still fulfilling her royal duties at a time when slippers I’d like to/ spend April sitting on a mound early nights surely beckon. Political dramas and Waiting for the flowers to pop out the ground ulturaland queries. Tree felling • Tree fellingWith their green silk stockings and•ofnew endless arguments about foreign wars, the EU or Spring clothes Stump immigration carry on relentlessly around•her,Stump but in theremoval Trying to look taller by dancing on•their toes! removal middle of all the chaos we have a monarch who quietly • Hedgeworks • Hedgeworks goes about her duties, making us feelR.J. that Tree despiteServices I hope you don’t&getprofessional drenched by toostaff many April qualified are dedicated • Tree surveys & repo • inTree surveys & reports everything there is continuity and stability our land. Showers!

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Finance Don’t be Taken in by the Pension Scammers

Since new pension regulations were introduced in 2015, conmen have been using the new freedoms to target people approaching retirement. One of the scams involves telling those under the age of 55 that a ‘legal loophole’ allows them access to their full pension, with no requirement to pay tax on the money withdrawn (in reality, a rate of up to 55%). Pension monies are then moved into an alternative scheme run by the fraudsters, with savings either being stolen or severely diminished after extortionate charges are made for the ‘service’. To make matters worse, HM Revenue and Customs has been sending out bills to reclaim tax on the amounts withdrawn, leaving victims of the scam with no pension savings and in large-scale debt in some cases. How can the conmen operate so effectively? Although younger people are a clear target for pension scammers, those aged 55 and over are also under threat. With no restrictions on how pension savings can be used, unscrupulous individuals and criminal groups are taking advantage of a lack of regulation within the industry, plus an uncertainty about how best to invest such a large amount of money. Inefficient systems also form part of the problem, enabling conmen to set up these rogue pension schemes. HM Revenue and Customs are not pension regulators, but having introduced a ‘fit and proper person’ test in 2014, they have at least attempted to control the potential for fraudulent activity. HMRC has the power to de-register or refuse to register a new pension scheme, but some have said they should take more responsibility for what is happening to victims, rather than chasing them for tax payments. Project Bloom taskforce A new taskforce has been set up by the government and the National Crime Agency to combat the problem of pension fraud. A ‘perfect storm’ of new pension regulations, lack of awareness about where to reinvest, and the fact that large sums of money are involved, has enabled scammers to get away with too many sophisticated cons. It’s hoped that Project Bloom will bring awareness to the issue, however, and specific advice is offered to anyone concerned about their pension. You need to be wary of: • Anyone offering a ‘free pension review’ or access to your pension pot if you’re under the age of fifty-five • Offers of help to obtain a pension statement, or to provide a tracing service for lost pensions

The Pensions Advisory Service provides free advice if you’re worried about potential scams, or to discuss your pension options in general. A sophisticated approach One of the problems is that scammers set up sophisticated systems and procedures that include glossy brochures and polished, well-rehearsed speeches. This makes the entire con appear legitimate unless you’re aware that this type of fraud is taking place. Bringing awareness of what’s happening is key to combating crimes like this, and hopefully Project Bloom will help to prevent more people suffering the devastating loss of their retirement income. Watch out for fake websites Fraudsters are even setting up fake websites with names very similar to legitimate bodies offering free advice. They may be able to gain access to your personal information in this way, and then contact you directly via phone or email. It pays to check the web address you’re typing in very carefully, to ensure that the site is legitimate and not part of the fraudsters’ arsenal of tricks. home.bt.com/lifestyle/money/investing-pensions/ pension-liberation-scam-victims-facing-huge-taxbills-11364036908047 www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/ article-3419232/Should-pension-scam-victims-let-taxbills.html www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/ article-3397828/Three-tell-tale-signs-duped-pensionfraudsters.html

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Charity The Lunchbowl Network by Jenny Stuart

Last month I spent a week with 3 local friends in Nairobi, Kenya, visiting the work of the Lunchbowl Network. Lunchbowl operates in the Kibera Slum with a feeding programme for 500 children, and now also two kindergartens. We have, over the years, raised tens of thousands of pounds – you may remember some of our recent events…? Margaret Quizmas last year (over £13K), Wild Woods in Wimbledon Common Oct 14 (over £2K), funday sunday July 13 (£6,560), Mardi Gras in Beverley park (£3,150).... Thank you!

Njeri

Every 33p we raise in the UK feeds a child in Lunchbowl and we have in the last ten years ensured that all the children in our programme have been fed and cared for. We have now expanded to education, as the key to breaking the cycle of poverty is to prepare these children for a different life. Nobody takes a salary in Lunchbowl and the trip was entirely self-funded by those of us who went so you can rest assured that every donation goes directly to where it’s intended. It was a very varied week, to say the least. It is as difficult to describe the very warm welcome we received at the Angel Kindergarten which is located just on the outskirts of the Kibera slum, as it is to describe the awfulness of the conditions in the slum where the children live. Our family recently sponsored 2 little girls. Margaret will be 3 on 18th April and lives with her single mother and 2 other siblings. The mother does not have regular work and struggles to feed the family every day. They live in a single room in Kibera and share one bed. Like all of the children at the kindergarten they do not have running

water or a toilet. The toilets near their shack are padlocked and if they were to use them, they’d have to pay. As such all of the paths and alleys are strewn with bags containing human waste. When children first come to the kindergarten they need to be taught to use the toilets, and not squat in the yard. It really is unimaginable. We visited Margaret at home and the contrast between that environment and the Kindergarten is just massive. Pictured left is a Kibera alley that is Margaret’s walk to school. Angel Kindergartens are an oasis for our children. who really are the poorest of the poor. They are a clean, bright and loving environment which provides a very stimulating learning environment with well qualified, sensitive and experienced Kenyan teachers. We want every child in our Kindergartens to develop emotionally, physically, spiritually and academically this should ensure that the childrens disadvantaged background is compensated and help to set them up heading towards a brighter future; enabling them to compete within the Kenyan system for good Primary and Secondary schools and thereby impact their future lives. If you are interested in sponsoring a child like Margaret for £25 a month please email lunchbowlsponsor@ gmail.com or visit our website www.lunchbowl.org The difference you could make to a young life really is priceless.

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Cake and Bake Rhubarb & Coconut Meringue Cake There’s plenty of field grown rhubarb about this time of year and it’s perfect for pies, puddings and cakes. When buying choose firm plump stalks of rhubarb – avoid any that are floppy or bruised.

Ingredients: • 100g butter, softened • 100g light soft brown sugar • 2 medium eggs, beaten • 50g self-raising flour • 50g ground hazelnuts • Zest of 1 orange • 300g rhubarb, trimmed and chopped • 2 tbsp caster sugar FOR THE TOPPING • • • •

2 medium egg whites 50g caster sugar 75g desiccated coconut Whipped cream or Greek yoghurt, to serve

Serves 6

baking sheet in the oven to heat up. Grease a 20cm round spring-form cake tin and line the base with baking paper.

2. To make the base, place the butter and brown sugar

in a bowl and beat together until pale and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs then sift over the flour and fold in. Gently fold in the ground hazelnuts. Spread the mixture in an even layer in the base of the prepared tin. Arrange the rhubarb over the top and sprinkle over the 2 tbsp caster sugar and orange zest.

3. To make the topping place the egg whites in a clean grease-free bowl and, using an electric hand held mixer, whisk until stiffly peaking. Whisk in the caster sugar until glossy then fold in the coconut.

4. Spread the coconut meringue over the top of the

rhubarb. Place the tin on the hot baking sheet and bake for 35-45 minutes or until the topping is crisp and golden. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or Greek yoghurt.

TIP

Ready in 1 hour 15 minutes

1. Preheat the oven to 180C, fan 160C, Gas 4. Place a

Placing the cake tin on a hot baking sheet will help to ensure that the hazelnut sponge base is cooked through.

Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers

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WITH LIVE STREET ENTERTAINMENT April 9th & 10th 10am – 5pm

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Sept 3rd & 4th Oct 1st & 2nd Nov 5th & 6th Dec 3rd & 4th

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10am – 5pm Fully funded business support programme delivered by Successful Sutton on behalf of Opportunity Sutton. For more information visit www.successfulsutton.co.uk

To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

View from the City by Justin Urquhart Stewart It has often been said that we are living in the ‘knowledge society’ where we all have access to stupendous amounts of information. I certainly can’t argue with that, as, in fact, I often find myself in information overload with far too much to remember and process in my tired brain. However, there are key areas though where it seems we have a distinct lack of knowledge, one of which being our personal finances. Therefore, we decided to commission some research to see just how much people knew (or didn’t know) about their future financial needs. Firstly, we started by asking how much an individual thought that they would need as an annual income in retirement. The answer came back as £23,400, which seemed quite modest to me, but we can presume that by that stage all the mortgage payments and major financial commitments should have been finished. Therefore taking the maximum state pension at being just over £6,000 that would still leave a further £17,400 of income to be found each year. Now if you had to go out and purchase that income by way of an annuity, that would cost you in the region of £348,000, or put another way that is how much you would have to have in your pension savings! A nasty shock for any of us. In fact when asked the question, just how much people would need in their pension pot, a staggering 82% did not know. Well I say staggering but in fact it is not, as no-one teaches us these numbers. Why this has not been in the curriculum at schools for years is astonishing to me. I would have it not as a separate subject of personal finance but rather make it part of a practical mathematics programme. Finally, it is now going into the national curriculum, but still at a basic level and far too late for the majority of us. We also asked some further questions around the amount people were saving. It became apparent that only one in six said they had enough put aside and roughly the same proportion had no idea how much they had. To make it worse three out of ten were not saving at all, and likely waiting for that almost ‘dead cert’ of winning the National Lottery. Oh dear. So what is to be done? Well, education I have mentioned but that is rather an afterthought for most of us. Time then to bring in the technology. Now the fashionable and trendy term in the finance world for technology are ‘FinTech’ which seems to cover anything in finance with an electrical pulse in it, and then ‘Robo-advice’ which appears to imply a level of automated advice to citizens from a machine governed by a range of algorithms. These are at an early stage, and whilst developments will make this easier in time to come, there are many other ways in which technology can be applied to provide us all with a better idea of what we need to do. One of the areas that we have been working on in this area

has been 7IMagine which, those of our clients who use it, will know that it is a really clear and simple way of looking at your investments and how they have done against the benchmarks that you have set. This was developed by games software writers who were, and still are, clients of ours. They applied the style, logic and yes even entertainment of games style software to something which is usually extremely dull - financial reporting - and made it engaging. From reporting what clients and their families have, we have taken this a stage further. Now it is time to look forward. The idea is very simple. Why not use the same games style software to try and interpret your financial position in the future - not just for you but for your family as well. As we know from the research very few people know what they will actually need. Furthermore, they rarely consider that the funding for the lifespan may well have to cover a longer period than they were actually working. Centenarians are already quite common, and as we all get closer to those more mature days, so the average lifespan will be longer. Thus anything that can tell us as early as possible what shortfall we might have, has to be vital help for all of us. All too often I have come across people approaching retirement with a sense of dread, knowing that they probably don’t have enough, but thoroughly confused because no-one told them what they should do. After all, the politicians have meddled with savings and pensions for years. The state is in retreat when it comes to further provision, and especially around old age care. So it will be down to us. Therefore we have launched a new part of 7IMagine called somewhat obviously “My Future”, which as the name suggests calculates your future financial issues taking into account not just your assets, but also your family, your tax wrappers and other issues, as well as all those tiresome family events (marriage, births & deaths etc.) that happen to us all over our lifetime. It even includes our end of life - setting your expected lifespan and then immediately calculating your anticipated position be it positive or negative. If it is negative then the earlier you find out the better so that you can do something about it. Why not give it a try - it’s freely available in the Apple and Google App stores. So why not download it to your iPad or tablet device and have a play around with it. When you have done, do let me know what you think and how we can improve on it. I wish someone had given me that when I was 18! Justin Urquhart Stewart is one of the most recognisable and trusted market commentators on television, radio and in the press. Originally trained as a lawyer he has observed the retail market industry for 20 years whilst at Barclays Stockbrokers and developed a unique understanding of the market’s roles and benefits for the private investor

Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers

Smith & Byford

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To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

Golden Years Memories of 50 years ago

The cleverest inventions often fail at what they’re intended to do but then go on to succeed brilliantly elsewhere. I could write a list, but seeing that 6th April 1966 is perhaps the most significant date in its history, let’s focus on one outstanding example: the hovercraft. We tend to think of the hovercraft as a product of our own age, and indeed it is; but the advantages of minimizing or even eliminating contact between hull and water have long been obvious. The first patent in hovercraft design was taken out by John Thornycroft (as in Vosper Thornycroft) way back in 1877 - but his was the age of steam, and no suitable engine existed. Once petrol engines were available, designers became interested in contactless or reduced-contact motorboats again - but now their inspiration was aviation technology, and between 1915 and 1940 prototypes of various stepped-hull and hydroplane coastal craft were built in Austro-Hungary, Finland, the USSR, the USA amongst others. World War II put a stop to these developments, but in the 1950s a Norfolk boatbuilder, Christopher Cockerell, decided to revisit Thorneycroft’s patent. Light but powerful engines were plentiful, and Cockerell was also able to design a way of swirling the air cushion on which his hovercraft would ride that made it more efficient still. At last, a craft that would rise clear out of the water! Cockerell’s design won the support of the National Research Development Council, which licensed his 1955 patent to a number of builders including Saunders-Roe; and on 11th June 1959 the four-seater 28mph SR-N1 (Saunders Roe Nautical 1) was launched. The craft was then shipped to Calais and on 25th July made the first Channel crossing by hovercraft. It wasn’t the first into service, though – that honour went to the rival Vickers-Armstrong 3, which started a scheduled ferry service across the Dee between Rhyl and Wallasey in July and August 1962. The second, launched in the same year, used a new Saunders-Roe hovercraft, SR-N2, to cross the Solent between Ryde and Southsea – a service that still runs today, albeit with rather more modern craft! But the Channel was the challenge, both technically and commercially. It was open sea, the weather could be rough, and hovercraft had not so far proved themselves terribly robust (the VA-3’s career was ended by a storm). But the potential pickings were rich: international travel was becoming more affordable and more popular, and Dover and Folkestone were at full stretch. So, on that April day 50 years ago, the 38-seater SR-N6 raised itself up on its rubber skirt (an improvement designed

not by Cockerell but by a naval officer called LatimerNeedham), trundled down the Ramsgate beach that would be the service’s home for the next 16 years, and set off on the 40-minute, 35-mile journey to Calais. Connecting coaches would take passengers on to Paris for £3.7s.6d or Brussels for £2.7s.6d. Cheaper and faster they might be, but cross-Channel hovercraft never really challenged the ferry’s supremacy. Like the British airliners, the Trident and the VC-10, there wasn’t enough demand for them to justify a permanent production line: the later models even had to cannibalise each other for spare parts. The oil crisis of the early ‘70s made them less competitive; the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994 proved a fatal blow. The last two were retired in September 2000, just a year after the death of their inventor. Hovercraft are, of course, still in use around the world as coastal search and rescue vessels, as military transport and assault craft, as buses using frozen Alaskan rivers in winter, although they’ve never eclipsed conventional vessels as was once hoped. But the field in which they have proved most successful is one that Cockerell probably never expected: gardening. For in 1964 a Swedish engineer, Karl Dahlman, saw an early hovercraft in action...and invented the Flymo. Happy 50th birthdays to Chris Evans (1st), Teddy Sheringham (2nd), Lisa Stansfield (11th), and Phil Tufnell (29th). Cake and botox to you all!

Alfie Jenkins 07792036365

£18 per hour

Once only maintenance or regular weekly/ monthly visits

Pressure Washing Lawn Care Bed & border work Rubbish/leaf clearance

Tall Hedges Gutter Cleaning Snow Clearance Gritting

7 days a week from 7am to 7pm

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Sunday Nights Quiz Night 8.30pm

To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

Do you have space in your life for a child or teenager? Come and find out if fostering is for you at one of our drop-in Information Events below

TUESDAY 26 19 JANUARY TUESDAY APRIL WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY At PIZZA EXPRESS (upstairs section), High Street, Kingston, KT1 1EU between 6.00pm and 8.30pm - light refreshments are provided.

For more information, please call on

0800 085 7072 or visit www.kingston.gov.uk/fostering 24

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Recipe Pork Jambalaya Cooked in just one pan and on the table in less than an hour this is a great midweek family supper. Serve with garlic bread or a mixed green salad, if liked. Serves 4 Ready in 55 minutes 1 tbsp groundnut oil 100g chorizo sausage, sliced 350g pork loin steaks, cut into chunks 1 onion, peeled and chopped 3 celery stalks, trimmed and chopped 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed 2 tsp smoked paprika, plus extra for sprinkling 2 tsp Cajun seasoning 225g easy-cook long grain rice 700ml vegetable stock 100g fine green beans, chopped 1 large yellow pepper, deseeded and diced

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Heat 1 tsp of the oil in a large deep frying pan and fry the chorizo over a high heat until golden and the fat starts to run. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Add the diced pork to the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes, stirring all the time until browned. Remove and set aside with the chorizo. Add the rest of the oil to the pan and fry the onion, celery and garlic for 5 minutes until beginning to soften. Stir in the spices and rice and cook, stirring, over a medium heat for 2 minutes then pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Return the pork to the pan and cover and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the chorizo, green beans and yellow pepper into the pan and cook, uncovered, for a further 6-7 minutes until the rice and vegetables are tender, adding a little more stock if necessary. Serve sprinkled with a little more smoked paprika and freshly ground black pepper. TIP You can replace the pork in this recipe with diced chicken breast fillet or boneless thigh fillets. Alternatively use large raw king prawns and add them to the pan in step 4 and cook until pink.

To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

Hobbies Hallelujah! Why joining a choir is something to celebrate By Kate McLelland

“Circle your shoulders … shake out your whole body … move your mouth as if you’re chewing a toffee …” It’s my first session with my local community choir but we’ve spent the past five minutes doing physical exercises. “He always does this,” whispers a fellow choir member at my side, referring to Graham, the Choir Director. “He says it’s important to get rid of tension.” The activity changes to breathing exercises and tongue twisters and I’m wondering when I will actually get the chance to sing. As if he could read my mind, Graham launches into an explanation of why it’s so important to spend time warming up both our bodies and our voices. “You are your instrument,” he tells us. “Preparation is everything if you really want to sing well.” As the session progresses I learn how to breathe from deep down in my ribcage rather than taking shallow breaths that use only a third of my lungs’ capacity. I also find out how to control my breathing, counting in-breaths and out-breaths and releasing air in a steady stream rather than letting it all go at once. Finally we get to sing, and by this time my head is buzzing with all the extra oxygen I’ve taken on board. The real bonus is that my singing voice suddenly seems louder and more tuneful than usual simply because I’ve been using my lungs to their full capacity. At the end of a two-hour session, during which we tackle songs ranging from “All That Jazz” from the musical Chicago to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”, my new choir buddies and I are all excited and elated. The sound we created together was impressive and we are already discussing the possibility of taking part in a local festival. Back at home, reflecting on my first ever choral session, it occurred to me there’s a lot more to joining a choir than just enjoying a good sing-along, and this view is backed up by a number of high profile experts in the world of the arts, education and medical science.

extensively studied the developmental and medical aspects of singing. He claims that the health benefits are both physical and psychological. “Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting.” He believes that singing is also important for mental health: “Singing has psychological benefits because of its normally positive effect in reducing stress levels through the action of the endocrine system, which is linked to our sense of emotional wellbeing. Psychological benefits are also evident when people sing together as well as alone, because of the increased sense of community, belonging and shared endeavour.” No wonder, then, that joining a choir has become such a popular hobby. Gareth Malone, who has started a number of choirs on TV, encourages singers to “Get out there and find what’s right for you”. On his website www.garethmalone.com he advises applicants to have an initial chat with the Choir Director to ask if they will need to read music and whether they will have to audition, adding the following reassurance: “What usually happens is that you take a piece which you know to sing to the choir director. It is nothing like the X-Factor!” Choirs come in all shapes and sizes so it’s important to find one that suits you: Classical concert choirs or choral societies Large choirs that stage several concerts throughout the year, sometimes with an orchestra. They may perform concert works such as Mozart’s Requiem or Handel’s Messiah.

Church choirs Depending on the type of worship practised by the congregation, you could find yourself singing Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at traditional sacred music, gospel songs or modern the Institute of Education, University of London has hymns that sound more like pop hits. Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers 26

Community choirs and other singing groups Depending on what’s available in your local area you might find choirs that sing rock and pop, songs from the shows, folk songs or even beatbox and rap. Generally speaking any choir that describes itself as a ‘Community choir’ is less likely to require you to audition or read music. When looking for a choir to join you can either do some research on the internet (try www.choirs.org. uk) or ask around locally. Look at the arts page in your local newspaper to find out which choirs are performing in your area or visit your local library for a list of community groups. Many choirs offer a ‘taster’ session where you can sing with the group, chat to current members and also find out the costs involved (which can vary enormously, from £5 per session to £100 per term, depending on the size and profile of the choir). It may not offer instant fame like X-Factor or The Voice, but being in a choir provides an opportunity to sing songs you love with like-minded people, and to share your love of music with others through performance. If that doesn’t persuade you to join, then the health and wellbeing aspects of choral singing certainly should.

To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

020 8330 7557 - Sales 020 8330 7887 - Lettings www.brownsresidential.co.uk

Worcester Park - £850,000 • Detached Family Home • Luxury Kitchen • Modern Garden Office

• Four/Five Bedrooms

• Two/Three Receptions

• Two Bath/Shower Rooms

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• E.P.C. Rating D

Worcester Park l Stoneleigh l Ewell l New Malden l Cheam

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19496 - Browns Residential - A5 local mag - APRIL 2016.indd 1

17/03/2016 11:17

Independent Estate Agency at its best

£775,000 £800,000

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Worcester Park

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• Four Bedrooms • South/West Facing Garden

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Browns Residential

Park House, Park Terrace, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 7JZ Email:

sales@brownsresidential.co.uk lettings@brownsresidential.co.uk To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

19496 - Browns Residential - A5 local mag - APRIL 2016.indd 2

29 17/03/2016 11:17

Sudokus fairly easy

House Clearance Specialists

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mail@bitsandbobsclearance.co.uk Furniture, antiques, collectibles & ornaments bought & sold BROWSERS WELCOMED BUYERS CUDDLED!!

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

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You can find the right combination at Unilet All the best brands, in stock and available for demonstration. Give us a call.

Need a large screen for the World Cup? Give us a call.

Unilet

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Unilet Sound and Vision Ltd. 35 High Street, New Malden, Surrey KT3 4BY

hi-fi • audio-visual multi-room specialists

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The Pick of the Crop Acoustic Energy • Arcam • Audio Lab • B&W • Bryston • Chord • Chord Cable • Denon • Dynaudio • Dynavector Electrocompaniet • Esoteric • Heed • KEF • Leema • Lehmann • Marantz • Meridian • Michell • Mission • Mordaunt Short • Musical Fidelity Onkyo • Ortofon • Panasonic • Pioneer • Plinius • PMC • Primare • ProAc • Pro-ject • Quad • REL • Roksan • Rotel SME • Sonos • Spendor Stax • Tannoy • TEAC • Wilson Benesch • Wharfedale • Yamaha - Cables, Home Installation, Vinyl Records, Bespoke Aerial, Satellite & Freesat Installations

To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

SYSTEM ELECTRICS

AJM FENCING

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Choose from our wide selection of fabrics, including our range of children’s fabrics or we can make up from your own fabric. Tracks & poles supplied and ﬁtted. For a free estimate and appointment, please call Linda Jordan on

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Men’s and women’s health at Spire St Anthony’s Hospital Spire St Anthony’s Hospital has a team of highly skilled urologists and gynaecologists, trained nursing staff, consultant radiologists and physiotherapists offering a full range of services. We use X-ray and imaging when required, including ultrasound, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography). Our radiology team also offers other diagnostic services including state-of-the-art mammography.

Whether you have private medical insurance or are paying for your own treatment, you’ll find a warm welcome at Spire St Anthony’s Hospital.

Call us on 0208 335 4646 or email info@spirestanthonys.com and quote MW16 for more information.

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With an intensive care unit (Critical Care Level 3) on-site, we are able to perform complex surgery and procedures. We specialise in the following areas:

Men’s health • Enlarged prostate treatment including GreenLight™ laser and UroLift™ • Prostate cancer screening and treatment • Prostatectomy • Testicular screening • Kidney stone treatment

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Breast screening Fibroid treatment Hysterectomy Incontinence including urodynamics Ovarian cancer screening and treatment Ovarian cyst removal

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To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

What’s On

Give blood

Find out times an book an appointment by calling 0300 123 23 23 St Philip, Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park KT4 8LG 12th May Sutton, The Thomas Wall Centre, Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey., SM1 4DP 14th April St James’s Church Hall, Bodley Road, New Malden 25th May Cheam, North Cheam Sports and Social 658 London Road, North Cheam 22nd June

Farmers Market

Wallington Farmers’ Market is held from 9am to 1pm every second Saturday of the month at the Old Town Hall and Library Gardens in Woodcote Road, Wallington. Established in 1999, it is the borough’s oldest Farmers’ Market and hosts around 26 local producers stalls every month. 1st Saturday of the month - New Malden Farmers Market. By the Fountain pub. 9am-1pm

Cuddington Residents

NEW Cuddington Women’s Institute (WI) Friday 22nd April 1.30pm St. Mary’s Church Hall, St. Mary’s Church, The Avenue, Worcester Park KT4 7HL Join us to help start about a new Cuddington Women’s Institute (WI) with support from Christine and Angela, WI advisors, who will be on hand to assist in getting the group up and running. Bring a cake along to share to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday. Tea/Coffee provided. Contact: Wendy Leveridge 0208 617 0355 BIG DAY OUT Saturday 18th June Noon-4.30pm Shadbolt Park, Worcester Park, KT4 7BX Dog Show, Live Music, BBQ, Cream Teas, Bouncy Castle & Stalls If you are interested in having a stall contact Ann Turner 0208 330 4296 Money raised to benefit local causes

Nonsuch Park

Nonsuch Park is a link to Tudor England. The Palace that once stood here was a hugely expensive symbol of Henry VIII’s power. The Friends of Nonsuch offer guidance to a 7 feet model which has been created from contemporary documentation, paintings and an excavation of the Palace site in 1959. The model is on display in the Stable Wing of the much later

Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers

Nonsuch Mansion in the heart of Nonsuch Park. The model is open from 11 am until 3 pm every Sunday in November and December Entry Free; cars via Cheam Gate. For further information please visit the website at www.friendsofnonsuch.co.uk

Epsom Playhouse,

Ashley Avenue, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5AL (01372) 742555 / 742227 Ireland’s Call 1 April Inspired by true events and spanning three decades, IRELAND’S CALL follows the extraordinary journey of the strong-headed Sean Dempsey, who at the end of WW2 leaves behind his childhood sweetheart Cora and his beloved homeland Ireland, in search of a better life in the Big Apple. Pongo’s Party 4 April You are invited to ......PONGO’S PARTY FEATURING THE VOICE OF TV FAVOURITE JUSTIN FLETCHER AS PONGO THE PIG! Today is the day that Pongo the Pig has been waiting for - that’s right, it’s his birthday! He’s been dropping hints to his friends all year, so is looking forward to a fantastic party...but the trouble is, nobody seems to remember! Molly-Moo the Cow is making a mess baking, Sheena the Sheep is rehearsing

with her band, and Marty MacDonald is in the middle of decorating-whatever can they be up to? That’ll Be The Day 7 April 30th Anniversary Special! Prepare for a nostalgia party extravaganza as the legendary That’ll Be The Day returns with another opportunity to see it’s 30th Anniversary Special Whitney Queen of the Night 8 April A stunning celebration of the music and life of one of the greatest singers of our time. This award winning production features a stellar line-up with rising West End star, Rebecca Freckleton, delivering a powerhouse and breath-taking performance as Whitney. Up on the Roof 9 April Join us ‘Up on the Roof’ as we celebrate two legendary singer, songwriters in this amazing live show. Carole King and James Taylor collaborated on many hit songs through the 70’s and even had their works covered by other great singers. The sell-out Troubadour Tour in 2010 celebrated 40 years since their first performance together and even beat the sales for Super Bowl! With hits such as: Up on the Roof, You Make Me Feel(Like a Natural Woman), Handyman and You’ve Got a Friend, plus many more, you’re sure to know and enjoy these fantastic songs. Audience with Ian and Natalie 17 April

R WOODFALL OPTICIANS 159 Central Road, Worcester Park Surrey KT4 8DT

Telephone: 020 8337 2059 OPENING TIMES

Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:30pm Saturday 9:00am to 2:00pm

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The Strictly Come Dancing favourites will perform a dance showcase spectacular designed to dazzle and wow you. the pro-pairing are best known for their high intensity performances on the hit BBC show. Ian and Natalie have become family favourites, as they are always pushing the boundaries of dance to bring the best out of their celebrity couple Some Guys Have All The Luck 20 April Some Guys Have All The Luck is a brand new theatrical production celebrating the career of one of rocks greatest icons, Rod Stewart – from street busker through to international superstar! Solid Gold Country Legends 22 April Led by talented vocalists, together with Randy Ryman and the Outlaw Country Band, Country Legends brings you the perfect mix of old and new country hits from the classics of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline to Dolly Parton, Kenny Rodgers and Shania Twain. Featured songs include Tammy Wynette’s ‘Stand By Your Man’, Billy Jo Spear’s ‘Blanket On the Ground’ and many more. Gyles Brandreth: Word Power! 25 April Get It! Use It! Conquer The World! Keith Barry - Brain Hacker 26 April Brain Hacker promises to be a show that you won’t forget in a hurry. Using a combination of mind control, deception, mentalism and hypnotism Keith hacks the brains of his audience to unlock a safe, move inanimate objects, enter into the world of the paranormal. Talon 28 April In 2016 Talon presents a brand new production of their award winning ‘Best of Eagles’. This stunning production is a show of two halves. The first half delivering a world class laid back vibe, with an in-depth look at the ‘early Eagles’ roots, before visiting the brilliant ‘Hell Freezes Over’ and going right through to the critically acclaimed ‘Long Road out of Eden’. Talon tickets always sell quickly, so early booking is advised for this Concert. The Blues Band 29 April The Blues Band was formed in 1979, by ex Manfred Mann group members, Paul Jones and Tom McGuiness, originally to play a few pub gigs on Paul Jones’ night off from his full time career as an actor in London’s West End. Those few pub gigs turned out to be a 36 year commitment from the guys. They are still going strong. In 2014 they made their eighth appearance at The Glastonbury Festival and they are favourites on the European Festival scene, always known for giving stunning, soulful and expert performances. So, be prepared for an evening of stunning blues played with feeling and expertise by these masters of their art- if possible make room to dance! The Counterfeit Stones 30 April The Counterfeit Stones celebrate their 25th anniversary

in 2016, with yet another “Sham Rock” experience, 25 X 5. Their skilfully mixed cocktail of classic hits, retro costume and humour continues to intoxicate young and old alike - 100% proof that a good shot always hits the target. This faking masterpiece, hilariously “mockumenting” history of the Rolling Stones from 1962, will take you back, if you weren’t there; or make you wish you were, if you weren’t.

Shazia Mirza 5 May Shazia Mirza is an award winning British stand up comedian and writer originally from Birmingham. She works all over the world and has toured US, Sweden, Denmark, France and Holland. Closer to home Shazia has appeared on programmes such as ‘Have I Got News For You’ and is a columnist for The Guardian and The New Statesmen and a regular columnist on The Wright The ELO Experience 6 May A group of experienced guys have come together to recreate the fabulous sounds of the Electric Light Orchestra. Idyll & Engma - ESO 7 May The programme is titled ‘Idyll and Enigma’ with pieces by Delius, Rand, Bax and, of course, the Elgar Enigma Variations. Spamalot 11 May - 14 May Lovingly ripped off from the classic film comedy, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention coconuts, killer rabbits and Frenchmen. Many of the original characters from the movie are faithfully recreated such as the Knights who say “Ni” while new characters and other Python moments have been added to hilarious effect, including the classic “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. Tell Me on a Sunday 16 May Following her acclaimed performance in the Watermill Theatres 2014 production of Calamity Jane, Jodie Prenger now steps into Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Blacks classic musical, TELL ME ON A SUNDAY Bobby Davro 17 May 2016 Bobby made his TV debut in 1981, his major breakthrough came with an appearance in Live At Her Majesty’s in 1983. This led to his own Saturday night series Davro, Bobby Davro On The Box, Bobby’s Sketch Pad and TV Weekly which immediately topped the ratings for six consecutive years. In 1991 Bobby moved to the BBC and made three series, Public Enemy No 1, Rock With Laughter and Run The Risk. In 1997 Bobby hosted for Yorkshire Television’s Winner Takes All for 65 programmes. In 2008 Bobby joined the cast of Eastenders as lovable cockney rogue Vinnie Monks. He also performed in the ITV series of Dancing On Ice 2010 and was asked to appear on two episodes of Celebrity Come Dine With Me Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers

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15. Frozen spike, ninety-nine and ninety-nine before the French (6) 18. Walk about open-armed (9) 19. Tear apart for speed (4) 21. Snap leg badly to glitter (7) 23. Keep and manipulate protector (7) 24. Twelve inches underway (5) 25. Teach a locomotive (5) 27. Wager with a Greek character (4) 28. Burden carried by nonuser (4) 30. Has gone out after fire (3)

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Signs and Symbols 1. What is the only sign of the zodiac that has a symbol that isn’t a living thing or things? 2. In which Irish town might you see welcome signs saying “you’ve come a long way” in reference to a song written in 1912? 3. Released in 2011, Ed Sheeran’s debut album had a title that consisted solely of which mathematical symbol? 4. What symbol appears on the triangular road sign that warns of a hidden dip? 5. Derived from the fact that it looks like four Greek gamma letters fixed to each other, the gammadion cross is an alternative name for what symbol? 6. On a standard UK keyboard, the pound sign appears on the same key as which number? 7. What five letter word do you get if you put together the chemical symbols for the elements Tungsten, Silver and Einsteinium? 8. The ampersand symbol evolved from combining the two letters of which Latin word? 9. On British roads, what animal features on a road sign warning of wild animals? 10. Which famous sign had a letter “L” covered up briefly in 1987 due to a visit by Pope John Paul II? To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

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Estate Agents and Valuers

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LINKED IN

GENERATION RENT

There are many reasons why the local area is a popular place to live, not least the fact we already enjoy excellent infrastructure, are close to London as well as both of the country’s major airports. In the last month another enhancement to the local transport network has moved another step on it’s journey from planning table to reality. Crossrail 2 has been given the go-ahead by the National Infrastructure Commission.

When valuing property we increasingly find the figures involved are greeted with pleasant surprise. The almost inevitable second reaction of those owners with families is to ponder how on earth their offspring will afford to buy. With one bedroom flats punching the quarter of a million mark we wonder too. Its a conundrum. There clearly are buyers out there able to afford property, otherwise none would sell, but its true the first step on the property ladder is being taken much later in Crossrail 1, newly christened The Elizabeth life than it was 30 years ago. Line, will take it’s first passengers in late 2018 connecting East and West through the In the mid 1980’s over a quarter of 25 year city centre. Crossrail 2 will link Surrey to olds had already purchased their first home. Now the equivalent statistic shows just 8% Hertfordshire and could open in about 17 have bought. In part that is probably a years. By then it is expected London will be lifestyle choice compounded by the fluid home to more than 10 million meeting the nature of employment as the ability to criteria to class it a megacity. Clearly not all relocate can be crucial to career of those people can live in the city centre so progression. Mortgage restrictions, the an increase in demand for housing in the scarcity of 100% lending, and rising prices also play their part in fueling the trend. wider area is inevitable. Buying your first home is certainly becoming The route is currently planned to start in the ever more difficult. South at Chessington and Epsom and that is very likely to result in increased interest in LET THEM EAT CAKE living close to those stations and others A story in the industry press made us slightly further up the line. You may think chuckle this week. A cheeky pair of tenants that house prices locally are steep, and were emailed their tenancy agreement in an certainly they are at an all-time high, and editable format. Pouncing on the opportunity rising, but as you travel along the proposed they added a ‘cake clause’ which read: Lessor shall provide birthday cake for route to the north so housing becomes ever Lessee(s) in the weekend closest to their more expensive making local prices appear birthdays, which are June 7 and February comparatively cheap. The demand for 17. Vanilla cake is not acceptable. housing, whether it be owner occupied or rented, appears set to increase, probably We understand the landlord signed the agreement and wonder whether cupcakes substantially the closer we get to the would fulfil the contractual obligation as well completion of the North-South link. as what flavor they will choose!

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Gardening Go On, Grow Your Own! Pippa Greenwood

Enjoying a delicious meal which includes some home grown ingredients is a wonderful feeling – it fills you full of just the right sort of pride (and maybe even a little bit of smugness!). It simply feels good to indulge in a bit of Grow Your Own and then reap the rewards. You may well have been sowing and potting on vegetables for a while now, but if you’re behind schedule or haven’t produced vegetables before, don’t panic – there’s still time to grow just about any crop in your plot this year. Most plants can be raised from seed now, but there are a few that are likely to give a much better yield with an earlier start. Instead, buy in plants of crops such as tomatoes, sweet peppers, chilli peppers, melons and aubergines over the next month or so. Some vegetables can be directly sown now into well-prepared garden soil in a suitable spot in all but the coolest gardens – beetroot, lettuce, beans, peas, carrots, rocket, spinach to name but a few. Slightly more tender crops such as sweetcorn, squash and courgettes fare better if given a bit of extra heat when you are germinating the seeds, which is where an electrically heated propagator really comes into its own. The seedlings may then need pricking out and potting on until they are sturdy enough to live in the great outdoors, but try to ‘harden off’ the young plants before placing them into their final positions as they may be damaged by cold, wind or rain. Put the young plants outside on warm days once the weather has stabilised, and bring them back under cover at night. Leave them outside after a week or so, covering them with fleece at night to let them acclimatise. To save time, you can buy in small plants and you will get a good range from seed merchants or garden centres, but if you would like advice from me to ensure great results, don’t forget that you can still order garden-ready plants, accompanied by weekly advice and tips emails specific to the vegetables you’ve chosen to grow. There are more details at www.pippagreenwood.com/grow-yourown and you can use the code 12419-E7SPS at the

checkout to get £4.00 discount, whichever pack size you choose. Garden-ready plants can be planted out immediately and, provided you follow the instructions, keep them well-watered during drier weather and apply feed at regular intervals, you will soon be harvesting crops such as climbing French and runner beans, tomatoes, sweetcorn, sugar-snap peas, peppers, chillies, onions, melons, butternut squash, beetroot and courgettes. Most vegetables need a good fertile soil and a sunny or partly shaded spot, so choose your growing area with care. If space is limited, don’t worry – most vegetables will do well in good sized containers (minimum 30cm x 30cm x 30cm) with good-quality compost, though bigger pots will need less frequent watering. But, whether you plant and sow vegetables in pots, tubs, greenhouses or open ground, the end result will be gorgeous tasting, super-fresh vegetables. So go on, get growing! Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ - fantastic UK grown vegetable plants of your choice plus weekly advice and tips emails from Pippa (don’t forget your offer code 12419-E7SPS for a £4 discount), Nemaslug, biological controls, pop-up crop covers, signed books and lots more besides.

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An independent preparatory An independent independentpreparatory preparatory An school for boys and girls schoolfor for boys and andgirls girls school aged 3boys to 11 years. aged3 3toto11 11 years. years. aged

“The pupils’ overall success is a result of highly teaching,isan “The pupils’effective overall success a outstanding result ult curriculum and wide extra-curricular experience, as well as the of highly effective teaching, an outstanding tan Independent Schools Inspectorate report pupils’ own excellent attitudes to learning.” curriculum and wide extra-curricular experience, as well as the r e pupils’ own excellent attitudes to learning.” Independent Schools Inspectorate report arn

“The pupils’ overall success is a result of highly Tel: 020 8942 0754an outstanding effective teaching, Email: info@thestudyschool.co.uk www.thestudyschool.co.uk Tel: 020 8942 Website: 0754 Email: www.thestudyschool.co.uk estu curriculum 5 7info@thestudyschool.co.uk T h e t f o r d R o a d , and N eWebsite: w M a wide l d e n K T 3 extra-curricular 5DP 5 7experience, T h e t f oT r d R o a d , N e as w M awell l d e n K Tas 3 5 D the P pupils’3 independent preparatory chool for boysexcellent and girls attitudes to learning.” own Schools Inspectorate report aged 3Independent to 11 years.

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Clubs

To feature in this section email info@wplife.co.uk

Mondays

Do you enjoy listening to show tunes, big band music, jazz, light classics etc? Come along to an evening of live music played by top artistes. We meet on the second Monday of each month at our Banstead venue Banstead Organ & Keyboard Club Church Institute Hall, High Street, Banstead SM7 2NN Doors open 7pm for 7:30pm start.(Visitors £7) Visitors & new members are always welcome to our concerts. 020 8330 5795, or visit www.bansteadorganclub.co.uk

The Nightingales ladies singing group meets every Monday from 8:15pm to 9:45pm at The Parochial Rooms in Cheam village. We are a very friendly group which has been meeting for the joy of singing for over 40 years. There is no audition but it does help if you can sing in tune! We sing a selection of old and new songs and entertain various groups in the area with our afternoon concerts. Membership is free for the rest of 2015. Why not give us a try? Val 01372 725965 Worcester Parkers Women’s Institute meet on the 3rd Monday of every month 7.45pm to 9.45pm at Christchurch with St Philip Church Hall in Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park. For more information contact Eileen Moore 020 8648 4327 wi.worcesterparkers@gmail.com *There is currently a waiting list. Cheam Common Art Group Small friendly Art Group who meet at Christ Church With St Philip Ruskin Road, Worcester Park 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. Welcome new members just to draw and paint in any medium without tuition. If interested come down for an evening and meet us to see whether this is for you Brenda Banks 020 8330 0928 Worcester Park Over 60’s Welcome Club meet every Monday from 1pm to 3pm at Christ Church with St Philip Church Hall in Ruskin Drive. Worcester Park. All over 60’s welcome to join us for a cup of tea and a biscuit or two, plus some outstanding entertainment in the way of singers and musicians. One Monday a month we have Bingo and every Monday we run a raffle. Days outings to the coast are organised throughout the summer months, and mid week holidays are organised two or three times a year. Come a little earlier and meet up with some friends and have a chat before the entertainment starts. We would love to see you. Contact Joyce on 020 8330 5065. The ladies After Eight Club 2nd Monday of every month from 8pm onwards at Christchurch with St Philips church hall. We have interesting speakers, outings and dinners and all are welcome for a small subscription to cover our costs. Just come along and join in. Carol on 020 8337 2452

St James Players If you enjoy acting do come or help backstage. Monday and Wednesdays 8pm New members welcome. St James Church Hall, Bodley Road New Malden. Mem Sec: linda@dunnz,net

Tuesdays

Vegan Group - monthly bring and share buffet,. every second Tuesday. 7.30pm until 9.30 in Room 1,Christchurch with St Philip, corner of Ruskin Drive, WP. For vegans and anyone interested in learning more about veganism. The Worcester Park Dramatic Society is a local amateur drama group of long standing. We stage two major productions a year at the Adrian Mann Theatre in Ewell, in April and November. We meet every Tuesday and most Fridays at 8.15 pm in the Elmcroft Community Centre in North Cheam, on the Sainsbury’s site. Apart from play readings, rehearsals and set construction, we have quiz nights and various social events. We also arrange group outings to amateur and professional theatre productions. We welcome new members to help us stage future productions, anyone willing to act or work backstage. membership secretary, Joyce Cranfield, on 020 8337 3317.

“Lunch Break” - a friendly lunch club for those retired, meeting on a Tuesday 12-2pm (term time only) at Worcester Park Baptist Church, The Avenue - free, but donations invited. Occasional speakers. Brian on 020 8224 6675 or Rowena 07837 941298

NHS Retirement Fellowship Are you retired or about to retire from the NHS? Why not join us on the 1st Tuesday of every month from 10am -12 at Christ Church Hall, Christ Church Road, Surbiton, KT5 8JJ. We have speakers, activities, coffee & chat.Other outings & activities are also arranged during the month. Lorna on 020 8337 4121

Worcester Park Crafters 1st Tuesday of each month in the hall at Christchurch with St Philip, Ruskin Drive, Worcester park,KT4 8LG. We meet from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. For further details please contact Lynne by E mail: lynnesinger@msn.com or phone on:020 8330 5903 Our aim is to provide a meeting/crafting place for all crafters whatever their craft or ability. Either bring your own work or purchase our kit of the month (small materials cost usually £2), come and play and chat. (small cost to over hall hire and insurance approx £4)

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Wednesdays

Keep Fit Stay Fit every Wednesday 10.15-11.15am at Christ Church with St Philip, Ruskin Road. Come along and give it a try ! Jo Hamilton on 020 8786 3444. The Probus Club of Ewell Coming up to retirement? Just retired? Looking to make new friends? Why not join the Probus Club of Ewell? Since it was founded over 40 years ago, the Probus Club of Ewell has been attracting businessmen from Worcester Park and its surrounding areas with a broad range of professional and business backgrounds. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month, usually at Bourne Hall in Ewell Village, for a Lunch followed by a Speaker. In addition to two Ladies Lunches during the year, there is an active social programme for members and their partners with visits to places of interest and West End Shows. Bruce Urquhart, on 01737 373 690 or visit our website: 4newmembers.ewell4probus.org.uk

Talking Of Trains In Surbiton Programme of talks which take place locally at the Surbiton Library Hall each Wednesday evening throughout the winter months. The first meeting is free; the fee for the complete year is just £50. www.talking of trains.co.uk

Thursdays

Sutton Mariners A local offshore sailing club founded in 1988 that meets at 8pm every Thursday evening at the Borough Sports Ground, home of Sutton United FC, Gander Green Lane, SM1 2EY. We are a small and friendly club of about 60 members and have about a dozen boat owners amongst us providing crewing opportunities during the summer months as well as enjoying meetings listening to interesting speakers and social nights. If you would like to get afloat come along and meet us – we’re sure you will enjoy the experience. www.suttonmariners.org.uk

East Surrey Family History Society For those who are interested in finding out how to investigate their family history the Sutton Branch of the East Surrey Family History Society holds meetings on the first Thursday of the month at St Nicholas Church Hall, Robin Hood Lane. Most months we have a professional speaker. www.esfhs.org.uk

60+ Social Mixed Single Group We meet in a local pub every Thursday where we discuss outings for the weekends such as meal out, walking, theatre trips, cinemas and many other things. Maureen: 07761278661

Kingston Phoenix Road Club is a cycling club that meets at 8-30pm every Thursday at Worcester Park

Athlete Club, Green Lane, Worcester Park. The club was founded in 1936 and currently has a membership of 70. We cater for riders of all ages whether they are novices or experienced and our oldest rider is 84 years old who is still racing and holds several national age related records. Malden Emergency First Aid Society (Mefas) Members meet each Thursday evening at 7.30pm for First Aid training. New members required. Everyone welcome. Hall available for hire. Christine 07966661015 Breathe Easy (Merton & Sutton) Group Wheezy? Breathless? you are not alone, come and join us at your local friendly support & information group for anyone affected by a lung condition. We meet between 2-4 pm on the 3rd Thursday of every month at St. Bedes Conference Centre, St. Anthony’s Hospital, London Road, North Cheam. SM3 9DW George on 0208 647 7530

Thursday Fellowship Every Thursday at 2.30pm for men and women, finishing with a cup of tea and biscuits or cakes. A lively, friendly meeting at Worcester Park Baptist church in The Avenue. Well-known, familiar hymns and prayers, musical afternoons, and a variety of speakers on topical subjects, including help and advice. New members welcome. Jean Gathercole on 020 8642 9649 The Worcester Park Hello Club launched last November and is welcoming new members! We meet every Thursday morning from 10am – 12 noon. The club is aimed at anyone who would like to come and join in with board games, quizzes, cards, occasional craft sessions - or just to have a chat and a coffee. Adults of any age are welcome to come and get to know each other. The main aims of the club are: • To meet new people and build friendships • To become involved with the local community • To access activities, information and advice The club is very friendly and informal. Every month there will be a member of staff attending from the SCILL Information & Advice Service – they have information on most topics for all your needs and will be pleased to assist you. The drop in club was set up by Sutton Vision, Christ Church with St Philip and SCILL , working together in partnership. We are fortunate to be provided with a welcoming and comfortable venue at the Christ Church with St Philip Community Hall. There are accessible toilets on site. There is a small charge for coffee and tea at the church café. SCILL 020 8770 4065 Sutton Vision 020 8409 7166 Christ Church with St Philip 020 8330 7630

New Malden Women’s Institute Shiraz Mirza Hall, Manor Park Hall, Malden Road, New Malden, KT3 6AV. 2nd Thurs of each month at 7.30pm Barbara 0208 546 1495 or twocavs@

googlemail.com To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

Fridays

Social Dancing With “ Glitters” At Bourne Hall,

Bartlett House Residents Luncheon Club is a welcoming social club for the retired from work but not from life! Bartlett House, 49-51 The Avenue, Worcester Park, KT4 7HU. Catch up with friends every Friday 11am-4pm. This fun and friendly club is not for profit, ensuring prices are kept to a minimum so it won’t cost the earth! New members welcome. Dot on 0208 330 2074

Quest a meeting place for people with physical disabilities between the ages of 20 - 60. However, once a member there is no age cut off. The aim of the club is to provide a welcoming, caring atmosphere for the members and allow the carers to have a regular break. Annual subscription. and £2.50 for lunch. We have various social activities and every second month we have a speaker. Christchurch with St. Philip, Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park. We meet the 2nd and 4th Fridays in the month from 12.45 to 4p.m June Day, Club Secretary, on 02083301220

RSPB Epsom & Ewell Local group 2nd Friday of every month at 7.30, apart from July and August, at All Saints Church Hall Fulford Road, West Ewell with guest speakers who illustrate their enthusiasm on a variety of natural history subjects. We also have several birding outings throughout the year which is arranged to suit all ages. There is a small charge for non-members of the RSPB. rspb.org.uk/ groups/epsom.

Worcester Park Womens’ Club We are part of the National Association of Womens’ Clubs and we meet at Christchurch with St. Philips Church, Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park at 7.15pm. We have very interesting speakers, outings, a garden party in the summer and a quiz night rasising money for our chosen charity for the year. Why not come along and give us a try. For more information call Carole on 020 8337 6088.

General

Auriol Bowling Club Auriol Park, Salisbury Road, Worcester Park. It is a mixed club of around 45 men and 25 women, who play outdoors from April to Sept with a busy fixture list of league and friendly matches against other clubs, as well as internal club competitions. David Regan 020 8337 8919 www.auriolbowlingclub.com. Cuddington Bowling Club Sandringham Road, Worcester Park and we play on an excellent 6 rink green that has been acclaimed by many of the club’s visitors this year. We are a mixed club with about 60 members and play a range of friendly and league fixtures catering for all abilities. Secretary Mike Ridley 020 8715 8326 Treasurer Mark Broughton 020 8337 9699

Spring Street, Ewell Village. 8.30 p.m. - ll p.m. Over 18s. Entrance Fee £8. All standards of dancing. Free parking. Bar. Professional D.J. We even have a glitter ball! David 07903 314276 Mar 4th and 19th

National Trust - Epsom, Ewell and District Supporters Group Formed in 1971, we run a varied

programme of social eventswhich includes Evening Lectures at Bourne Hall in Ewell, once a month from Oct. to June, Coach Outings which visit historichouses and gardens(not necessarily N.T.),Guided London Walks, and other trips to London e.g.The Magic Circle, The Royal Opera House (backstage tour).Other special events include Coffee Mornings, Holidays and Christmas Lunch. Newsletters are produced four times a year.If you would like more information please visit our website: www.epsom-ewell-district-nt.co.uk or telephone Paul on 020 87158486 Malden Manor Bowling Club, Manor Park, Malden Road KT3 6AU. New members will be made very welcome. Roll-ups, league matches, internal and external competitions; we offer bowling at all levels of interest and ability. Men’s Secretary Gerald 020 8949 4623 or Ladies’ secretary Maureen 020 8337 5472.

The W.I. has given me a new lease of life. I had been a busy working mum, wife and carer. Now I have an opportunity to meet others who live in my area and make new friends. It is always nice to bump into someone locally - it makes me feel I belong. Who knew all this was happening near me and I could be part of it. No one need feel alone. Trips are available and are wonderful. We visit so many venues. Also opportunities to learn new crafts and skills. We meet at SHIRAZ MIRZA MANOR PARK PAVILION, MALDEN ROAD, NEW MALDEN KT3 6AU. There is a 213 bus stop nearby and there is a car park. If anyone is interested please contact Barbara Cavalier (President). Telephone number 0208 5461495. We meet the 2nd Thursday each month except August at 7. 30p.m. Monica Drake

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Voice for Wildlife by Carol Williams

Shadbolt Park Pond -Six Years On. I stood, yesterday, gazing out over the pond in Shadbolt Park and marvelled at the amount of frogspawn just beneath the surface of the water. At the time of writing, it is mid March and quite cold, after a mild, windy and very wet Winter - the pond level is high after all the rain. In 2011 we waited in hope for frogs to come to our newly restored wetland habitat, wondering if, after many years of a derelict pond with a cracked base that could not hold water for very long, there were still frogs in the vicinity to come and take advantage of the resource we had created for them.

During the warmer months, you may be lucky enough to see damsel and dragon flies flitting over the surface of the water on their courtship flights. Birds come to the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge to drink and bathe and we have the occasional duck and heron who visit. Beneath the surface, there are whirligig beetles, water boatmen and two types of water snail, as well as dragonfly nymphs and baby newts. Most of the plants in the wilderness areas have come in of their own accord, but we have added toadflax, foxglove, oxlip, st johnswort, hedge sage and vetches. In Summer we enjoy the sight of several species of butterfly and bee. We allow space for nettles and brambles, because although they can be invasive and slightly troublesome, they are both wonderful species for insect life. The blackberries in late Summer are also very welcome!

And then - on Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day! - they came and laid their eggs in the water. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think we could have been more excited if we had won the lottery! Six years on, there is an enormous mass of frogspawn, so many clumps we can hardly count it. The tadpoles which hatched in 2011and whose development into tiny frogs we watched with such interest and loving concern, are now returning as young adults to mate and lay their eggs. Last Spring, after years of not seeing any, there was toadspawn also. We hope, by April, to have some of this again. Frogs do not stay in the water. They begin their lifecycle as tadpoles, but once they become frogs, they leave the water and find a damp, dark place or some long grass to hide beneath. They spend most of their lives on land, hibernating during the colder months, and returning to the water to mate and lay their eggs, and occasionally during hot weather, for a cool swim. You will notice, if you visit the pond site, that there is a wilderness behind it, beyond the railings, and that the banks of the pond have areas of long grass, nettles and many other wild, native plants. Mostly we do not cut any of this very much. These places are to give refuge to the tiny amphibians when they emerge from the water,and to encourage insect life so that there is an abundance of food for them, and also for birds and bats.

I moved to this area in 1984 and at that time bullfinches used to visit my garden. They gradually disappeared as the old orchard trees that attracted them began to vanish. I still have mine, but most of the gardens in my road have had theirs removed , to the detriment of the birdlife in the neighbourhood. I have seen sparrows practically vanish too, but am pleased to see them now making a slow comeback. I feel privileged to see them in my own garden, visiting my feeders and chirping merrily in the quince bush. Shadbolt Park pond in the 1980s and early 90s was a small concrete basin that was mostly covered in duckweed and which gradually became a rubbish tip. For many months there was a shopping trolley in it. It was difficult to get near to the pond at the back, as the vegetation surrounding the area was very dense -you could just about scramble through it if you were determined! The sides of the pond were steep and not wildlife friendly. At some point in the 1990s, the pond started to empty - cracks in

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Est 35 YEARS

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the concrete meant that it failed to hold water and, except in very wet conditions, ran dry. Recalling all of this, the pond today is a joy to behold, a thriving ecosystem teeming with life, all restored with volunteers, generous grants and love. Frogs and toads need some help, as both are in serious decline throughout the UK due to habitat loss. We need more ponds! If I could have my way, I would have a pond in every garden, park and school. If we provide the opportunity, Nature will soon occupy the space. Shadbolt Park pond is testament to this.

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Kids Play

Wednesday

There’s lots going on for pre-schoolers

Thursday

Christ Church with St Philip Parent and Toddler Group 9.30 until 11.15am - see Monday Worcester Park Baptist Church 9.30-11.30- see Monday. we have vacancies on a Wednesday

Monday

Worcester Park Baptist Church 9.30-11.30- a lively toddler group, where carers of any kind are welcome to attend and supervise their youngsters. Our age range is from young babies to 3-4 years. Sarah on 020 8393 7299 or email via the church’s website www.wpbc.org.uk Christ Church with St Philip Parent and Toddler Group is a very welcoming and relaxed place to meet new friends for yourself and your toddlers. We are open to all Mums, Dads, Grandparents and Carers. We meet in the Church Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9.30 until 11.15am during term time

Tuesday

Toddling2Church, Christ Church with St Philip 2-3pm Parents, carers and pre-school children are all welcome to join us for songs with percussion instruments, a Bible story simply and sensitively told, a story-related craft activity and, of course, drinks and biscuits.

Songs and Stories is a new music and story-time group at Worcester Park Baptist Church for babies and toddlers aged 0-4. We meet on term-time Thursdays, arriving at 10am for 10.10am start. Each session lasts 40 minutes and will include songs, puppets, rhymes, movements and story telling. Cost: £3.00 per session (£2.50 for siblings) No booking required

Friday

Christ Church with St Philip Parent and Toddler Group 9.30 until 11.15am - see Monday

Saturday

Men behaving Dadly, Grace Church - every 3rd Saturday of the month, 9.30 to 11 am, at Green Lane Primary School. For Dads and their pre-school children (0-4). The kids get to play with the toys, the Dads get a bacon roll and coffee, and Mums might possibly get a lie-in... £3 on the door.

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Safer Neighbourhoods Let me introduce myself my name is Steve Higgins and I have taken over from Gary Weaving as the dedicated ward officer for Worcester Park. I have been a PCSO for twelve years and been working at Sutton for eleven years. I started my career at Brentford. I like to be out and about on the ward patrolling either on cycle or on foot. 1/ The safer neighbourhood team have recently had reports of a couple of bogus callers in the area. You may find the following advice useful if you get a knock at the door and you are unsure. Door to Door Sales & Bogus Tradesmen • Charity scammers - suspect cold calls door to door falsely stating that they are collecting money for charities or selling goods on behalf of charities. • Bogus trade - suspect calls at victim's house (victims are often elderly) stating that repair work is needed to their home, e.g. roof / guttering or other location inaccessible to the victim, and offer to rectify the fault for large sums of money up front. Victims may be taken to their bank to withdraw cash in person. Work will often never be completed or even required

The following advice is what to do if a bogus callers knocks on your door. 1/ Do not let them in 2/ Put your door chain on before opening the door or speak to them through your door, ask for their ID card. 3/ Do not phone the number on their ID card. Find the number for the buisness in the telephone directory or on the website. If they are genuine they will not mind waiting. 5/ If you think the person at your door is at all suspicious or trying to commit a crime then ring 999. 6/ Don’t immediately agree to any offer involving a significant amount of money, time or commitment seek legal/advice first. Register with your gas, electricity and water company for their password protection scheme. If you would like to meet or talk to a member of the Safer Neighbourhood team you can: Kingsmead Avenue Monday 14th March 2.30-3pm Sherbrook Way Monday 21st March 1.30-2pm Dorchester road Thursday 7th April 11.30am-12pm Drop in surgery Worcester Park library Wednesday 4th May 3-4pm

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