Worcester Park Life August 18

Worcester Park Life

KT4’s ONLY FREE Independent Community Magazine and Business Guide August‘18 Issue 123

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August Contents History by David Rymill From Malden Green to the Gulf of Aden 6 Ruth Jemmett Writes The Dog Days are Here 9 Quiz 10 View from the City 12 Codeword 14 Square Dancing 16 Voice for Wildlife 18 Gardening Lethal Leatherjackets 22 Recipe Crab Parcels 25 Sudokus 26 Clubs 28 Parkin’ some thoughts 34 Kids Play 36 Solutions 38

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.

Also publishing Malden’s Village Voice

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Welcome to Your Worcester Park Life Hard to believe as we are enjoying temperatures like this, but 10 years ago, we, and pretty much the rest of our campsite, bailed on our holiday early before our tents were washed away (Windy Woolacombe we now fondly call it). On our return home we left the girls in a creche and enjoyed a nice lunch followed by guilty matinee Mama Mia the movie. Despite having been a huge Abba fan since the age of 8 (almost wearing out cassettes learning all the words) I only made it to the West End to watch Mama Mia last month. The family planned an elaborate birthday surprise (dropping lots of red herring clues) and had me guessing until the last minute when we pulled up outside the theatre. And guess what… I loved it! So I’ve been particularly excited about the new movie coming out – saw it the day it was released, loved every minute and looking forward to a repeat viewing. If you’ve not already been and fancy it, remember to take some tissues!

Please get in touch if your school, club or organisation is planning any events in September or October that we can help to promote - at no cost to you. Or if you have a local business and want to get the word out locally then check out our rates online www.maldenmedia.co.uk, or call me for a chat to see what would work best for you. And as a reader, please support the businesses that advertise, and let them know where you got their number from.

In order to deliver the magazine to most of the KT4 postcode, we split the distribution over a two month period. So if you have had this edition delivered you probably won’t get the September one. There are a limited number of copies available from Waitrose, Worcester Park Library, St Mary’s and Christ Church with St Philip but don’t forget that it is also published online - you can get the link from our website.

Until next time, 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 16th August if you’d like your business, Club or event to feature in the August edition, and 17th September for October.

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Worcester Park History

by David Rymill

From Malden Green to the Gulf of Aden As I mentioned last month, the organisers of the nationwide Heritage Open Days have suggested an exhibition theme, Extraordinary Women. St Mary’s Church at the top of The Avenue is planning a Heritage Open Day on Saturday 15th September, 11am-5pm. All are welcome; no need to book; refreshments available. There is plenty of car parking, and most of the church is accessible to wheelchair users (including wc). We are producing a display celebrating some of the roles which women in Worcester Park, Cuddington, Old Malden and North Cheam have played over the centuries, both in the local community and in the wider world.

St John the Baptist Church, Church Road, Old Malden, will be opening the previous weekend, on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th September, 11am-4pm, Saturday 8th, 10am-5pm, and Sunday 9th, 2pm-5pm.

During the course of talking to local people about their memories, I have met several women who, during the Second World War, played a part in the war effort that took them a long way from their previous experiences, and this month’s article is a tribute to one of these, Pam Bonser, who died last year.

margarine – so we made sandwiches with the bread, the lettuce, and we found some brown sugar – we quite enjoyed it, it was like a midnight feast.

“After I’d made a good mess of the sailors’ pay packets, I think, for a while, I pleaded for a transfer, and so they sent me back to London and did more training, and then I was sent to Windsor; we were billeted in part of Eton College for a while, a house that they hadn’t been using for the boys recently, and then we were taken out to Dedworth Manor outside Windsor, to work and stay.

“While I was there I saw a notice which said, if you’ve already volunteered for overseas service and would like to do coding, you can train as a coder. Well, that’s what I’d asked for at the beginning, I wanted to do coding. And so as I’d already volunteered for overseas service the two things gelled and I was sent to Warrington to train as a coder – that was about three months – and then to Inverness, where we were working with troops preparing for D-Day. “They took us out one day, those of us who wanted to go, very early in the morning, to watch the men on exercise. We sat with the umpires on the sand dunes in Dornoch Firth, on a cold winter’s morning – and there was a heavy mist there – and watched the landing-craft coming in; I saw the chaps jumping into the water, and there was a lot of firing – they were

Pam and her parents became the first residents of 408 Malden Road, part of the Malden Green Estate, in 1932 when Pam was ten. While they were living here, Pam went into the Civil Service, joining the Admiralty in January 1939, so when she joined up early in 1942 she was keen to serve in the Wrens. When asked what she wanted to do, “I said, clerical work so long as it didn’t have anything to do with figures. So they promptly sent me to the Pay Office.”

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Worcester Park, Old Malden and North Cheam: History At Plymouth, where she was stationed, rations were at our Feet Published in 2012 and available at £10 (plus £2 sometimes sparse at her billet, but they were helped towards postage if required) from the Rymill family. Ring by the green-fingered father of one of the ‘immobile 020 8330 6563 for more details. This 300-page book tells the Wrens’ – those who lived at home and could not be story of Worcester Park from the Iron Age to the present day, posted elsewhere: “She came one day with a lettuce; and includes memories of local life from 1908 onwards, and we thought what we could do with the lettuce, so we over 150 maps, photographs and drawings - mostly never published before. waited until the house was quiet and went down and got dry bread – we couldn’t get hold of any butter or Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers

firing blanks over our heads and over their heads.

we got a series of messages – you could visualise it moving out of the estuary; the Exeter, the Ajax and the Achilles were outside. And then of course the Graf Spee was scuttled – and that was very dramatic seeing all those messages.

I remember saying to my parents, ‘There’s some very good news, but I can’t tell you’, and it was announced almost the next day.”

“Then my overseas posting came up and I sailed from Liverpool. D-Day was the 3rd of June, and we sailed on the 1st, so we were somewhere out in the Atlantic when D-Day happened – a notice was out up on the ship’s notice-board. I say the Atlantic because convoys had to go out quite a long way and then back into the Mediterranean. We went to Egypt, and I was there for about three months, and then I moved down to Aden, and I was there for about 15 months. The machines had a typewriter keyboard, and they had drums at the back set according to the code for the day. You typed either plain language, and it came out on a strip of paper in code, or you had a coded thing beside you and you copied that, and it came out as a message you could read.

Our illustrations show Pam in her WRNS uniform, with thanks to Liz Cleave and Paul Horsfield.

“The only dramatic message I remember putting through was when I was working at the Admiralty before I joined up. That came in from the Exeter [in December 1939] at the River Plate. The first message was ‘Graf Spee getting up steam’, that was all, and a few minutes later we got ‘Graf Spee raised anchor’, and

I’d love to hear from readers about women from Worcester Park who you think should be included in the exhibition. Do send in your recollections – just a line or two, or something longer – about a local woman who has inspired you – perhaps a teacher, a Guider, someone who launched you on a career path, or a member of your family: I’d be delighted to include them in a ‘memory wall’.

David.Rymill1993@alumni.aber.ac.uk (020) 8330 6563

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Ruth Jemmett Writes The dog days are here

By Ruth Jemmett

A Journey Through August I hope that by the time you read this the weather won’t be too hot. I agree with the writer Jane Austen, who said “What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a continual state of inelegance!” Our poor pale British bodies are simply unprepared for the heat, and as soon as one has had a shower, it isn’t long before we are melting again. Even though we know there are jobs to do, the heat can sap us to a point where we must mutter ’Manana’. The late British politician Tony Benn was once famously quoted as saying “If ever I feel like exercise, I go into a darkened room, and lie down until the mood passes”. I think he summed up summer lethargy beautifully!

As lovely as a good summer is, this country seems to always be unprepared for extremes of temperature.

Whether it be lack of grit or snowploughs for icy winter roads, or empty reservoirs in the summer, there is always an excuse for inefficiency. Although we had very heavy rainfall earlier in the year the authorities never seem to plan ahead regarding water supplies.

They often blame shortages on leaky pipes. Many of those managing water companies are paid exorbitant salaries, and profits soar annually. The money is there to remedy things if the spirit was willing. I am old enough to remember when droughts forced us to use stand-pipes in the streets. We don’t want to go back to those days!

It was a shame we didn’t win The World Cup or Wimbledon, but hey-ho, we live to fight another day!

For those of you who aren’t aware of it, these are The Dog Days. The Romans gave this title to the six hottest weeks of the year. They believed that Sirius, the dogstar, rose with the sun, and added to the heat. August is the eighth month of the year, and the sixth month of the Roman calendar. It was named after the Roman Emperor Augustus. The Irish-Gaelic and Scottish-Gaelic names for the month , Lunasa and Lunasdal, refer to the festival of Lughnasadh, in honour of the pagan god Lugh on August 1st, which became synonymous with Lammas on the 5th of the month. The Anglo-

Saxons called it Weodmonath - the month of weeds. It has certainly been a month of weeds at Chez Jemmett! I managed to nag The Husband into mowing the lawns a couple of weeks ago, to give an illusion of tidiness in the garden. Luckily the lack of water has meant that the grass is staying short and brown, but annoyingly weeds are still rising up looking lush and green! The grape plants are growing like Triffids, and it looks as if we will have a good crop this year. My neighbour Steve’s hot tub looks like a good place to tread them. Er perhaps not!!! I attach a pic of my good friend Helena posing next to one of my hanging baskets, which loves the heat, and is HUGE!

The 12th of August is known as The Glorious Twelth by Hooray Henrys sporting guns and with a penchant for wearing knickerbockers. This ‘sport’ (I think the grouse would call it something else …..) takes place mostly in the North-East of England and Scotland. As soon as the birds are shot, a race is on to send them to fancy restaurants in London, where some people have more money than sense.

The 13th of the month celebrates International LeftHanders Day, when people such as yours truly, and about 10% - 15% of the population, remind others that the world can be a minefield for those of us with a ’sinister’ persuasion. Many household implements are designed for the majority who are Righties, and sometimes, the efforts of the lefties trying to use righthanded equipment often results in us looking as if we are indulging in a game of Twister, or auditioning for a part in The Cirque De Soleil! Even the lap-top I am writing this on has all the interesting keys on the righthand side. Come on manufacturers, it wouldn’t take too much imagination to make things easier for us!

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

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This is the busiest month of the year for those who work in tourism and agriculture, and in the media it is often referred to as The Silly Season, due to the lack of newsworthy stories. The news was anything but silly recently, when the Thai boys were rescued from a flooded cave. The nail-biting events were followed worldwide, and there was a massive sigh of relief all round when they came out alive.

The 15th of August celebrates the birthday of The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, who was born in 1950.

Apparently she is one of the hardest working of all the royals, who supports many charities, and goes about her business without attracting headlines. One can’t help feeling that if she were to become queen, she wouldn’t stand any nonsense! On 16th August we celebrate the birthday of the BBC presenter John Craven, who will be 78. He has hosted Countryfile since 1989, and fronted more than 3,000 episodes of Newsround in the Seventies and Eighties.. What a trouper! On 19th of August we remember the birthday of the late American comedian Groucho Marx. He was renowned for his one liners. My favourite one is: “One morning I shot an elephant in my pyjamas. How he got into my pyjamas I don’t know!”

On 30th August we remember that a British Engineernamely Hubert Cecil Booth - received a British patent for the vacuum cleaner. Before then brooms and brushes were the order of the day to keep a home clean. Some Stately homes gave their housemaids curious looking bellows contraptions, which reportedly blew more dust out than they sucked in! Good old Hubert! He certainly made our lives easier!

I have sometimes mentioned to you that for the last nine years I have supported a little girl called Komal, who lives in an Indian village near the Taj Mahal. It is her 14th birthday this month, and she is growing into a beautiful young woman. I support her through a charity called World Vision. It is so gratifying to see her school reports and ’photos, and to know that I have helped her to lead a better life. We are blessed with living in an affluent part of the country, and want for nothing. It is sometimes easy to forget that others around the world lack even the most basic needs. If ever you think that you might do something similar, I promise you it is well worthwhile.

Don’t forget that there is a Bank Holiday on 27th August. People in Scotland will have one on 6th August. As the days start to get shorter we should enjoy the sun. Before we know it we will be back to our usual British weather and will be moaning about the chilly mornings!

The Sun And The Moon 1. In Greek mythology, who died when he flew too close to the sun and the wax in his wings melted?

2. What number goes after “Apollo” to give the name of the mission that saw Neil Armstrong become the first man to walk on the moon?

3. The name of which beer is also the name given to an aura of plasma that surrounds the sun and can especially be seen during an eclipse?

4. “Moon starers” is an apporiate anagram for what eleven letter word?

5. Approximately 99% of the entire mass of the sun is composed from which two chemical elements?

6. “They danced by the light of the moon” is the last line in which famous poem?

7. Occurring twice a year, what name is given to a time when the sun crosses the celestial equator and when the length of day and night are approximately equal?

8. Which film studio’s logo depicts a young boy fishing while sitting on a crescent moon?

9. Approximately how long does it take light from the sun to reach the earth after it has been emitted from the sun’s surface?... 8 seconds, 8 minutes or 8 hours?

10. Written and directed by Fritz Lang, the 1929 film Frau Im Mond, meaning Woman In The Moon, is generally credited with introducing which technique, which is now commonly used immediately before important events?

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View from the City Are you set for the longest holiday of your life?

Justin Urquhart Stewart, Co-founder of Seven Investment Management

Hurrah it’s the summer! And what splendid weather we’ve had so far. Well…at least at the time of writing, and hopefully I haven’t tempted fate in saying this!

It’s also the holiday season. I’ve already enjoyed mine having been ahead of the out-of-school timeline and thoroughly enjoyed my weeks in the Middle East – Petra to be precise – digging for relics before I become one myself!

Meanwhile, whether you’ve been planning a staycation or about to bemoan the weak level of Sterling because of Brexit (no matter which way you voted), the amount of time spent on holiday apparently is pretty similar to the amount of time spent ahead of the holiday researching and arranging it. Here, hazarding a guess, you’ve even probably spent more time thinking about on your one or two weeks away than you have on your retirement planning this year. And yet this time will be the longest time of your life when you will spend time doing precisely what you want to do and when.

So it’s always been a bit of an anathema to me why people procrastinate quite so much about retirement planning and pensions. I realise that the negative news about pensions won’t leave anyone willing to leap out of bed just to think things through, but the headline problems facing others would hopefully also give you pause for thought.

Readers of my columns here in the Village Voice will know that I can’t stress often enough that it is really important that you plan for those years ahead given you want to enjoy them. So what is putting people off?

To strike a brighter note, auto enrolment has helped. Almost 10 million more people are now saving for their retirement. Perhaps linked to the push for auto enrolment, we also apparently understand that it is important to pay in. The last annual British Social Attitudes Study that

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researched the topic (in 2016), showed that 80% of people deemed it worthwhile to pay into a workplace pension, while almost the same percentage (78%) said it was normal for someone like them to save for retirement.

While auto enrolment is a good start, however, many of us probably need to do more. This though might become another decision that gets kicked into the long grass.

Probably part of the reason why we’re putting off the right conversations is that they’re likely to be protracted. After all we’re trying to decide about a future that feels (very) far off and a lifestyle that you’re hopefully going to be enjoying for all those years (actually decades) but that has yet to be defined. Even once you have thought through these aspects, the question then begs as to how much all of this will cost. Conversations around how long a piece of string could be, for many, are potentially remarkably similar in your mind’s eye!

So what would I suggest here? Perhaps seizing the season would work. Conversations on holiday, at least, will give you a benchmark as to what type of holiday you’d like to enjoy in later life. Whether you’re aiming for a value-for-money B&B through to a 5 star luxury resort, the leisurely time spent away from the daily stresses and strains of life could give you the headspace you need.

Seizing this summer holiday time could also give you the time to finally download 7IM’s free app, 7IMagine (available on our website, www.7im.co.uk), and plug in the broad details of bank accounts, general investments, ISAs and any pensions – the numbers can always be finessed later. And, in as little as time as quarter of an hour, you will be looking at a picture of your future finances.

Summertime may also give you the chance to talk to the family sitting around you about what the future might look like given how the decisions you may impact them too. And if the picture you’re looking at leaves you looking to gulp down your Pimms rather more quickly than usual, at least you have time to do something about it!

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                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                     

 To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

13

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.

14

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

A Comprehensive Range of Care Services

• Live-in Care - Throughout Surrey - 24 hour care and/or companionship • Personal Care - toileting, bathing, dressing • “Pop - In” Service • Night Sleeper and Waking Night Staff - providing reassurance/night care • Household Duties - shopping, housework • Meal Preparation • End of Life Care

For a free professional assessment of your personal needs, please call us on

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51 The Broadway - Stoneleigh - Epsom - Surrey - KT17 2JE Office 9.00am - 5.00pm Tel: 020 8393 7117 Fax: 020 8393 5535 Email: classichomecare@btconnect .com Website: www.classichomecareservices.co.uk To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

15

Come and enjoy the ‘F’ plan – Fun, Friendship and Fitness I discovered a hidden gem in the Worcester Park area.

It is Hogsmill Squares, a thriving dance club founded by experienced Square Dancers Granville and Wendy Spencer in 2011 when they moved to the area. To be accurate it was really my wife who discovered it when she read an article here in Worcester Park Life that mentioned that they were starting a beginner’s class. I was just dragged along kicking and screaming. I knew that dancing was not for me because I always found it to be boring, so I was not looking forward to this ‘taster’ session. To be honest even the name ‘Square’ dancing was enough to put me off.

The reality was that I really enjoyed myself and two years later I am still dancing. If you ask me why then it’s because,

• You are in control. You can go at your own pace and choose how far you want to go. Some continue to enjoy dancing with the club at basic levels but there are many levels beyond that. Many of our dancers travel to dances at other clubs around the country and even dance at International events because Square Dancing is the same throughout the world and is always called in English.

But If you just want a simple answer, then I do it because it is because it is Fun. And don’t overlook that it is available here and now.

Hogsmill Squares are waiting for you to join them!

What are you waiting for?

New class begins on Tuesday, 11th September, 2018, 7.00-8.30 pm at St. John’s Parish Centre, Station Approach, Stoneleigh, Epsom KT19 0QZ, next to Stoneleigh Station.

• First, it's fun. The exhilaration of eight people dancing Email spencer8@tiscali.co.uk or telephone 0203 556 together in quick time for a common purpose is 7449 / 07742 881439 OR JUST TURN UP! unparalleled. So much in life is serious; Modern Square Dancing is just fun!

• It's sociable. Square dancing involves a social component that independent fitness endeavors do not. Participants are given the opportunity to develop strong social ties that contribute to their self-esteem and a positive outlook. Many people have made lifelong friends at square dances.

• It's mentally stimulating. People who start Modern Square Dancing soon realize that it's a "thinking person's activity." The interaction with the caller and the other dancers to complete a movement successfully keeps the mind sharp, focused, and challenged.

• It is an escape from all the worries of the day.

Modern Square Dancing is the perfect respite from the anxieties that surround us all. You will find yourself th dancing to many different types of popular music, including rock, jazz, ballads and country & western.

• It's good moderate exercise. In one evening of square dancing a person can walk three to five miles, providing the right amount of movement for many people and it is also low impact so no problem for any niggly joint or back problems • It's non-competitive. Square dancers dance for Low-impact exercise for your brain and your body the excitement of working through the sequences Teamwork for all ages, singles and couples successfully. There are no "winners/ losers/ champions," just people having fun!

NOT LINE DANCING – TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT • It's inexpensive. The cost of an evening of Modern Info Granville & Wendy 02035 567449 or 07752 431721 Square Dancing is less than just about any other form Spencer8@tiscali.co.uk of outside entertainment.

• It's an activity that anyone can enjoy. Young, old, New dancers welcome throughout September 2018 singles, couples or family groups. It is an inclusive activity where during the dances we all mix together.

Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers 16

MODERN SQUARE DANCE CLASS FREE TASTER SESSION

TUESDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2018 7.00 – 8.30 pm St. John’s Parish Centre, Station Approach Stoneleigh KT19 0QZ

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

17

Voice for Wildlife

by Carol Williams I’m writing this in mid- July during one of the hottest spells the UK has seen for many years. By the time you get your magazine, perhaps we will have had some rain! Certainly our pond in Shadbolt Park could do with some - it is shrinking visibly. However, we did go into this hot, dry spell with a good water level, thanks to some quite heavy rainfall in the Winter and Spring, so hopefully, we won’t see the complete drying out of the pond. It’s not something that has ever happened yet, since we restored it, so my fingers and toes are crossed that all will be well this time too. Rest assured that the newly hatched frogs and toads have long since left the pond to lurk in dark, shady places - they will only return to water occasionally to bathe their skin in dry weather.

Social media has been full of advice about how to help wild creatures cope with this extreme heat and drought, from nailing plastic bottle tops filled with sugar solution to fence posts for stressed bees, to shallow saucers filled with small pebbles, just covered with water for the insects.

I have been making sure there are plenty of dishes and bowls of water around my garden for birds and other wildlife - with floating wood on the surface of the deeper ones, to prevent accidental drowning. There are plenty of insects in the garden - the butterflies seem to love this hot weather - and plenty of birds, so I suppose that they are doing ok in my little oasis.

My SWT magazine also gave me the worrying news that hedgehog numbers are at an all time low - from 30 million in 1950 to just 1 million today. Clearly this is an ecological disaster. We have to completely stop using garden chemicals - they are poison to hedgehogs - and we have to leave some leaf and log piles in our gardens, and make sure that there are gaps beneath any fences, so that the hoggies can forage for food successfully by night. You can buy specially formulated hedgehog food from organisations like The British Hedgehog Preservation Society too- and this is one well worth joining to help fund their educational campaigns.

Bees are very much in the news recently, because of catastrophic declines in populations. Apparently there are more than 240 solitary bee species in the UK, and only one is a honey bee. There are 25 bumble bees, who nest in colonies, choosing underground sites in old mammal and bird nests, dense vegetation or compost heaps. We have 224 species of solitary bee, one of which is the red mason bee which nests in a range of natural holes, using mud to seal off each egg chamber. They pollinate fruit trees. There are also leaf cutter bees, which cut discs out of leaves to build the ‘cells’ in which their larvae live. They pollinate fruit and vegetables.

It seems that tomatoes need large- bodied bees to buzzpollinate them, by vibrating the flowers to release pollen!

Fascinating stuff - who knew?

My Summer edition of the Surrey Wildlife Trust magazine came wrapped in biodegradable plastic, as did my copy of the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust’s quarterly publication, Waterlife. These are made from potato starch and will degrade within 180 days. This is all part of the current drive to reduce the amount of plastic produced and discarded, following huge concerns over the number of marine creatures who are dying from plastic-related injuries.

Biodegradable plastics can’t be recycled - they must go into the compost. Keep an eye open for them on any magazines you buy and dispose of them in your compost or the Council food waste bin.

Facebook carried an article recently about some special bee-friendly paper that is currently being trialled in Europe - it contains a nutritious sugar for them, and has colours that they can see, to attract them to it, plus it is impregnated with wildflower seeds. It is intended as a stopgap for energy-depleted bees who are having to fly longer and longer distances to find enough nectar-rich flowers to feed on, and, when discarded, it will degrade quickly and release the seeds - to hopefully germinate and create some much needed flower meadows. This paper could some day be used on jar wrappers and other products, so that we can feed the bees with it, then plant the seeds - because there really is no substitute for a carpet of flowers for bee health.

The WWT has announced that it is no longer selling drinks in plastic bottles at its visitor centres, or using plastic straws, plus if you buy one of their reusable cups, you will get your first drink free and every subsequent one for 20% off. Let us hope these innovations catch on widely and become standard at every place that sells refreshments.

It is worth remembering, however, that plastic straws represent a tiny 0.03% if all plastic rubbish that ends up in the sea and inside marine creatures - the biggest culprit is fishing nets, a whopping 46%. For very many reasons, it is a splendid idea to give up eating fish and seafood sustainability, marine conservation, biodiversity and your own health - and the obvious one here, no fishing means no discarded plastic from nets!!

Plants to grow for bees are herbs and fruit bushes ( chive, fennel and oregano flowers are a magnet, as is lavender), nasturtiums, sunflowers, cornflowers, pot marigolds, cosmos and borage - and any wild flowers, such as the common dandelion, daisy, clover, buttercup, yarrow etc - don’t grub them up, let them grow and flower. Short grass and well kept lawns are simply complete deserts for wildlife. One major reason for bee decline is the loss of this meadow habitat in the countryside - we need to do a lot more to create it instead in our towns, cities and suburbs, as well as changing the way we farm, so that wildlife is factored in fully. BBC Springwatch covered some

18

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

stewardship scheme that is available, but which so far hasn’t been taken up by any more than 7% of our farmers!

Hopefully Chris Packham is onto it!!

We need many more hedgerows of native species such as hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, field maple, dogwood, crab apple and dog rose, to help bees, hedgehogs and birds.

Plant some along your boundary fences ( being mindful to leave those all important hedgehog gaps under the fence too).

Another species in very serious decline is the water vole down 30% in 10 years and now vanished from 94% of the habitats where once it flourished!! How unutterably sad.

The causes are complex, but include the usual habitat loss that plagues all of our wildlife species, as our development and land management schemes so seldom bother to consider the needs of the wild creatures whose homes we carelessly destroy, water pollution and predation by mink ( released from fur farms in the 1970s). More funding is urgently needed for water vole conservation, along with co-operation between land owners, local authorities and communities to help aid their recovery. We can’t lose Ratty, can we?

As you all know by now, I love wildlife with a passion. I am horrified by stories of rapid declines and extinctions and deeply concerned that so many people aren’t actively helping to preserve our natural resources. How can people



 

not care if birds.amphibians and small mammals disappear forever? How can we just dump rubbish all over the countryside and in the oceans, causing so much damage to the ecosystem and other creatures?

There have been so many studies linking hum!an well being and health directly to how close we are to Nature. Very sick people are known to have far greater recovery rates when they can see green things and hear birdsong. Rates of depression are higher in urban deserts. The presence of trees in a neighbourhood enhances it - and adds value to house prices. We knock down trees and destroy Nature at our own peril. Even air quality is dependent on the amount of greenery.

One study even found that the amount of pollution from traffic that entered homes on busy streets was reduced by a massive 90% in any house that had a tree directly outside in the front garden or on the pavement!

And since I have mentioned Chris Packham, who is one of my wildlife heroes, I shall now add that he recently tweeted the Vegan Society’s ‘plate up for the planet’ campaign. Good man - definitely going up even more in my estimation after that! Plate up for the planet means reducing our consumption of all animal products - preferably cutting them out completely - for sustainability and a healthier environment for all life.

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

19

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Worcester Park • E.P.C. Rating D

£330,000 Worcester Park

• First Floor Maisonette • Two Double Bedrooms • Share Of Freehold • E.P.C. Rating E

Browns Residential

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

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

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Gardening Lethal Leatherjackets Pippa Greenwood Daddy-longlegs or crane-flies are starting to hatch out now as adults, but it is their young – known as leatherjackets – that really cause grief in gardens.

If your lawn has yellowing patches on it or you’ve noticed it being ripped up in the last few weeks, chances are leatherjackets are to blame and it is likely that the problem will get a lot worse.

Leatherjackets feed on grass roots (and can also cause problems in flowerbeds and vegetable plots) and this may cause the plants they attack to be weakened and even die back; worst of all, these juicy larvae are tasty snacks for animals such as crows, rooks, magpies, badgers or foxes. So if there are leatherjackets in your garden, these animals will search them out, ripping up your lawn or excavating beds and borders in the process. Lawns are usually worst affected and can be quickly devastated.

What is the best way to check if you have them?

Early in the evening, water a couple of the yellowed patches thoroughly and do the same with a rippedup patch. Next, cover these areas in black polythene weighed down with a couple of bricks or similar. A double layer of black bin liners or an opened-out plastic compost bag will work well. Next morning, lift the polythene and you’ll see the pests on the soil or lawn surface.

So how do you know leatherjackets are to blame?

Leatherjackets are greyish-brown, tubular, legless, up to about 4.5cm long and so nearly transparent that you can often see inside them, lunch and all.

To remove more, repeat this black polythene trick and deposit the pests on the bird table as free and nutritious bird food.

For a much quicker, easier and more thorough solution, use the biological control nematode ‘Nemasys Leatherjacket Killer’. It is quick and easy to apply – I just use a watering can and water it onto the affected area shortly after I’ve seen the first daddy-longlegs and when soil conditions are right –

usually late August to late October. As long as you keep the area moist for about three or four weeks, it works a treat – and is even safe if you have a dog, pet rabbit or other pets (or kids!) who use the lawn.

So how can you get hold of this? There are two pack sizes available, suitable for standard lawns or those with a very large area to cover but you won’t find them in garden centres as they have a short shelf life.

You can, however, find out more and order them from www.pippagreenwood.com/products in the Protect Your Plants section. We’ll send them out by first class post in an insulated envelope for you to show those pesky leatherjackets who’s the boss!

Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com and you’ll find some great gardening items: Nemaslug, green controls for leatherjackets, chafer grubs, ants and greenfly, plus garden plant supports, raised bed kits, Easy-Tunnels, gardening tools, Grower Frames, signed books and more! You can even book Pippa for a gardening talk at your local gardening club.

Andy Reeve

Plumbing & Heating Engineer ALL PLUMBING SERVICES from tap washers, toilets & garden taps through to installation of Central Heating Systems, Kitchens & Bathrooms.

No call out charges • Over 25 years in the trade Mob : 07973 733649 / Tel : 020 8393 0180 andyreeve.plumber@virginmedia.com

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

& The Lighthouse and Porthouse Residential Homes provide care for children and young adults with autism and learning disabilities.

The homes are based in Surbiton, Raynes Park and Worcester Park and they are now recruiting support workers to work both daytime and waking night shifts.

We are

NOW HIRING This is an excellent opportunity to work flexible hours and to gain experience of working with children or young adults with special needs in a caring environment.

Ideal candidates will have the following background: • Experience working with children or young adults with autism and multiple learning disabilities, who may display challenging behaviour • Minimum 1 year or more of experience working in a care environment • Good written and spoken English • Ability to interact with a range of young people and work as part of a team • Ability to provide consistency of care and support to the young people • Willingness to undertake training and qualifications in the workplace Salary £8.50 - £9.75 per hour (depending on qualifications and setting) + varied benefits package

If you are interested in finding out more about the opportunities available please contact us.

Tel: 0208 224 3495 • Email: hr@reamcare.co.uk www.reamcare.co.uk To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

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24

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

Recipe Crab Parcels These crisp filo pastry parcels with a crab and ginger filling make a tasty seafood starter for a special dinner or can be served as nibbles with refreshing drinks on a hot summer’s evening.

Makes 20 Ready in 40 minutes 1 x 230g can crab meat, drained and flaked 1 tsp grated fresh root ginger 2 tbsp freshly chopped coriander 2 spring onions, finely chopped 1 tbsp lime juice Freshly-ground black pepper 8-10 sheets of filo pastry (see Tip) Vegetable oil for deep frying 4 tbsp sweet chilli sauce Shredded spring onion, to garnish 1 Mix the crab meat, ginger, coriander, chopped spring onions and lime juice in a bowl. Season lightly with freshly-ground black pepper.

2 Cut the sheets of filo pastry into twenty 15cm squares. Take one square and brush lightly with water then top with a second pastry square. Place a spoonful of the crab mixture in the centre of the square. Brush the edges lightly with water and gather them together to enclose the filling and form a moneybag-shaped parcel.

3 Repeat with the rest of the pastry squares and filling to make 10 parcels in total. Half fill a large deep pan with vegetable oil and heat until a small piece of filo pastry dropped in the hot fat sizzles and browns in 20 seconds. Deep fry the parcels, in 2-3 batches, for 2-3

minutes until crisp and golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.

4 Serve warm with sweet chilli sauce for dipping and garnished with shredded spring onion.

Tip Filo pastry sheets can vary in size so you may need a few more if they are small. Keep the squares covered with a clean damp cloth or kitchen paper when filling, to prevent the pastry drying and tearing.

W

JUST GARDENS & LAWNS

Gre vis (11 fun fun Pu tom bri dan ou at G Par

Your local complete garden and specialist lawn care service

CALL US NOW!

Ma Sat 50p Wo 2T Hu All Hu com En

10% DISCOUNT FOR OVER 60’s Craft courses, Parties and Workshops for Adults and Kids Dressmaking, Art, Crochet, Mosaic, Chalk painting and more… Check out our website for more info and great reviews!

www.craftmyday.com All held at our creative studio space in Worcester Park

Please call us for a free quote: TEL: 0800 043 2454 or Email: justlawnslondon@gmail.com www.justlawnslondon.co.uk

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

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Sudokus fairly easy

Pictograms 5 words DOCTOR DOCTOR U

2 words

O HYDE 8 4 words

not so easy



5P

SJL PAVING

SJL Paving provide a vast range of paving and patio services. We use all types of manufactured & natural stone paving. All of our staff have many years of experience. To ensure the highest standard of improvement to your property we make sure that the ground is properly prepared to ensure a long and lasting flawless finish.

N P R E U D 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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• Driveways • Patios • Brickwork • Repointing • Fencing • Decking • Turfing • Hedge Trimming / Removal • Jet Washing & Patio Cleaning 3 Letters REP PURE UNDER • All Tree WorkUPEND Undertaken DEN RUE REND Ups DUE RUN • Garden RUDE 6Tidy Letters

DUN URN RUED PRUNED for aRUNE FREE no obligation quotation END Ring4now Letters PEN T: 020 DUNE LettersM: 07857 858486 818350156 PER DUPE NUDER E: sjlservices1010@gmail.com PUN NERD PRUDE 3 letters: 12Please 4 letters: 9 5 letters: 5 6 letters: 1 remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers RED NUDE PRUNE

ELEGANT CURTAINS SOFT FURNISHING SPECIALIST Made-to-measure curtains • Roman blinds • Black out blinds • Roller blinds

FREE DESIGN SERVICE

• Pelmets & Upholstery

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

020 8337 7145 • 07957 177164 WWW.ELEGANTCURTAINS.INFO WWW.ELEGANTCURTAINS.COM

MEGA DEALS!

(Ewell)

TYRE SPECIALISTS

MASSIVE DISCOUNTS l l l l

High Performance Cars Light Commercials Family Saloons 4WD Vehicles

l l l l

All leading makes of tyres Available from stock Wheel alignment and balancing While U Wait service

169 CHESSINGTON ROAD, WEST EWELL, EPSOM, SURREY

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

27

Clubs

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

Mondays

Vibrant Ukulele Club meets most Mondays from 7.30-9.30pm at Christ Church with St Philip, Ruskin Drive, WP. Beginners and players all welcome. The club is aimed at adults learning to play the ukulele and singing a number of well-known songs in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Music is provided and also tuition for beginners. Sessions are FREE with a small donation towards music and refreshments.

Contact Steve 07795 085600

New Malden Rotary Club Malden Golf Club,Traps Lane Monday evenings 6.15 for 6.45pm Barry Collins 07740 257 255

Worcester Park Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Group first Monday of the month at 2pm and finishing by 4pm. If the first Monday falls on a Bank Holiday the meeting takes place on the second Monday.

Old Malden Scout Hall, 411 Malden Road, KT4 7NY. All retired civil servants and friends are welcome to attend and if you are interested in listening to one of our speakers please contact John Wright on 020 8337 8965 or johnandglenisw@gmail.com

mailto:johnandglenisw@gmail.com 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

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 Sue Hostler on 020 8337 3756 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

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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

Music Lovers Wanted! - for “In the Mix” Singing Group. at Wesley Hall, Christchurch with St. Philip Church, Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park. Every Tuesday 1.30pm - 3.30pm. A weekly sing- along and social with pro singer/vocal coach Sheila Daniels and pianist. New songs every week, from the 1920s through to the 1970s, covering all genres. £6.50 on the door plus tea/ coffee and home-made cakes. No booking required.

Sheila 07868 039 514 or visit www.thesugarband.co.uk/In_the_Mix

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.

Conquest Art Group inspires people living with disability or long term health issue to discover their creative energy and build self-confidence through art. Our art group meets every Tuesday at St Mary’s Cuddington, The Avenue, Worcester Park, KT4 7HL from 1:30 to 3:30pm. Anyone over 18 is welcome, all art materials and refreshments are provided. If you would like to come along and give us a try, please contact Carole on 020 8786 8534.

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

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

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, Trevor Payne on 07540 084430.

“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

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month, usually at Banstead Golf Club for a Lunch followed by a Speaker. Anyone wishing to know more about us or wanting to make contact can do so through our website www. ewellprobus.co.uk or by email to secretary@ewellprobus.co.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.

NHS Retirement Fellowship Are you retired or www.talking trains.co.uk R.J.ofTree qualified & profession Tree Services qualified staffServices are dedicated about to retire R.J. from the NHS? Why not join us on the & professional Free Badminton taster session 1st Tuesday of every month from 10am -12 at Christ to the highest levels service in every to the highest levels of service in every instance.

Come and enjoy playing BADMINTONof with us!

Church Hall, Christ Church Road, Surbiton, KT5 8JJ. We Wednesdays 7:45pm to 9:15pm at have speakers, activities, coffee & chat.Other outings & WeMethodist are happy toStoneleigh give advice – on all you Wearranged are happy to month. give advice – on all your arboricultural queries.

Stoneleigh Church, Crescent, activities are also during the KT19 0RT Interested?

Please contact Will Ward: Lorna on 020 8337 4121 willjward@gmail, 020 8393 9779 or 07874 896211 or • racquets Free quotes • Free quotes just turn up on the night. N.B. Spare available Wednesdays re dedicated if requested beforehand.

Keep Fit Stay Fit every Wednesday 10.15-11.15am • Fully NPTC qualifie • Fully atNPTC qualified ‘You Must Remember This’. 2 – 3.30pm. Except the Christ Church with St Philip, Ruskin Road. Come along • TreeMethodist reductions / c Tree reductions / crown thins first Wednesday of each month. Stoneleigh and give it a try ! Jo Hamilton on 020 8786 • 3444.

This new Probus Club of Ewell ulturalThe queries. felling • Tree fellingChurch, Stoneleigh Crescent. KT17•0RT.Tree singing group opens on May 9th and is for those living Coming up to retirement? Just retired? Looking to • associated Stumpwith removal • Club Stump with memory problems, sometimes make new friends? Why not join the Probus of removal Dementia, and those caring for them.

Singing can help Ewell? Since it was founded over 40 years•ago,Hedgeworks the • Hedgeworks R.J.businessmen Tree Services qualified professional are new dedicated revive memories& whilst sharing in fun staff and making Probus Club of Ewell has been attracting • Tree surveys & rep • Tree surveys & reports friends.

Everyone should be accompanied by a relative, from Worcester Park and its surrounding areas with a to the highest levels of service in every instance. ns friend or carer and this is also a time for you, when broad range of professional and business backgrounds.

ree!

We are happy to give advice – on all your arboricultural queri • Free quotes • Fully NPTC qualified R.J. Tree Services qualified & professional • Tree reductions / crown thins staff are dedicated to the highest levels of service in every instance.

• Tree felling Free Quotes • Stump removal Diploma qualified NPTC licensed • Hedgeworks Tree Reductions / Crown Thins • Tree surveys & reports Tree Felling Stump Removal Hedgeworks Tree Surveys & Reports £10 million insurance liability cover

Look out for the LookOffiout for the red tree! ce: 020 8399 0103

J.tree Servi ces, Berrylands, r.J.tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton 020r.

8399 0103 07980 903 881 Surbiton 020 Mobile: 07980 903881 Visit our website for and video Visit our website for information and videos on all aspects of our information work info@rjtrees.co.uk LOOK FOR THE RED TREE!

www.rjtrees.co.uk

www.rjtrees.c

R.J. Tree Services, Berrylands, Surbiton Visit our website for information and videos on all aspects of our work www.rjtrees.co.uk

3 07980 903 881 pects of our work

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

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you can share your experiences with others in the same situation over a friendly cup of tea. NO singing experience necessary, just come and enjoy yourselves.

Cost £1.50 per week. Jeananne on 07729 028850

Thursdays

Tunes’n’Tea An afternoon of live music, tea, coffee, home made cakes, conversation and dancing if you wish. Guest musicians perform for your delight!

Relax and listen to a mix of songs and tunes, old, new and everything in between! It’s at St john’s church hall, Station Approach, Stoneleigh. 2nd Thursdays 1.30pm and finishing at 3.30.

Group Singing Lessons -“Discover the high level of well being, strength and confidence which can be achieved when you learn to sing without effort.” .Weekly small group classes. Each session focuses on gentle physical and vocal exercises, breathing technique and song practice with individual advice and feedback. Call 07868 039 514 or visit www. skylarkvocal.co.uk for more info. Sessions Mondays at 11.30am and Thursdays at 7.30pm at Christchurch with St. Philips, Worcester Park. Suitable for beginners and confident singers.

Ewell Badminton Club Meet every Thursday 9.30 11.30 am in hall in Welbeck Close, Ewell, KT17 2 BJ ( near Honda Garage, Ewell Bypass ).

We have use of 3 courts, and are a very friendly group of players. New players would be most welcome.

Elizabeth on 0208 393 3355 or e-mail libbymuscutt@ yahoo.co.uk

St. John’s Hall is open between 2.00 and 4.00pm for Tea And Chat. If you are on your own please feel free to drop in for a free cup of tea and some company. 411 Malden Road (between Worcester Park station and The Plough). 213 Bus stops nearby.

Sutton Mariners Sailing Club 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. March 2 Miss Anne Carter

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How life changed forever in 1914 April 6 Ian Waller: Village Crafts Finding out about the records of those who worked in rural industry. www.esfhs.org.uk Kingston Phoenix Road Club is a cycling club with members in Worcester Park, New Malden, Epsom and Ewell. The club was founded in 1936 and currently has a membership of 85. New members are welcome to join us at the car park in Horton Country Park on Saturdays at 10am for either a road ride or an off-road ride. Our rides are usually between 20 and 35 miles and always include a cake stop before returning by 1pm. kingstonphoenixrc@gmail.com or see our website at kprc.org.uk.

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

KING GEORGE FIELD INDOOR BOWLS CLUB

Learn to Bowl Free Coaching All Ages & Abilities Welcome Bar • Restaurant Social Events Large Car Park FUNCTION ROOM FOR ALL OCCASIONS Jubilee Way, Chessington KT9 1TR

Tel: 020 8397 7025

www.kgfindoorbowlsclub.co.uk

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

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. Church office 0208 330 1755 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

Fridays

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/

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

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groups/epsom.

The Association of Surrey Bookbinders - we meet on Friday mornings in the Scout Hut in Dell Lane, Stoneleigh Roger@gmathews.co.uk 020 8330 2306

Sunday

North Cheam badminton club meet every Sunday at the Elmcroft Community Hall North Cheam.

We are a small mixed club looking for new members of reasonable club standard especially ladies.

Contact Pat Odonnell on 02083938895.

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

WORDWHEEL

Using only the letters in the Wordwheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns. Each word must be of three letters or more, all must contain the central letter and letters can only be used once in every word. There is at least one word that uses all of the letters in the wheel.

Social Dancing with Glitters at Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell Village. 8.30 - 11 pm. Over 18s. Entrance fee £8. All standards of dancing.

Friday 3rd August.

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 Bowls Club, Manor Park, Malden Road.

New members will be made very welcome. Roll ups, league matches, internal and external competitions; we offer bowling for all levels of interest and ability. Men’s Secretary Gerald 020 8949 4623 or Ladies Secretary 020 8394 0877.

Word Ladder

Change one letter at a time (but not the position of any letter) to make a new word - and move from the word at the top of the ladder to the word at the bottom, using the exact number of rungs provided.

L A W N

TARGET Excellent: 75 or more words Good: 63 words Fair: 50 words

V

A B S

LAWN dawn

I E

darn dare rare

RAKE ©Puzzlepress.co.uk

L

R M

Here poss (othe

R A K E

Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when you speak to our advertisers 32 VERBALISM

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

33

Parkin' some thoughts

by Nick Hazell

Give me a break That great philosopher Mike Tyson once said, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

Although made in the context of the ferocious domination of his chosen sport, the statement is capable of a more general application. Indeed, my life script has undergone a major re-write as a result of the combined upper cut to the face and jab to the stomach delivered by the gloved hand of fate.

Recently though I experienced the boxing equivalent of a kick to the goolies performed whilst the referee wasn’t looking. At the sound of Dudley the Miniature Schnauzer preparing to vomit over the new carpet, I quickly turned to prevent the mutt from doing too much damage. The movement was accompanied by a loud “CRACK” from my right foot and a pain that brought tears to my eyes and unrepeatable words to my mouth. The dog was meanwhile completing his part in the misadventure oblivious to my predicament.

The appearance of a lump the size of a small planet and the involuntary utterance of imaginative, multi syllabled expletives each time I attempted to put my foot on the floor, suggested that all was not quite right. Even Victoria seemed to accept I was not over dramatizing the situation for a change and a visit to A&E confirmed a broken foot. At this diagnosis, my sense of humour failed. Not only was this inconvenient, but I didn’t even have a dramatic or heroic tale to explain my being there.

The break itself is apparently quite common, but of course, I have to complicate matters by having a movement disorder. My brain has trouble controlling my legs at the best of times, but now it has another two limbs to negotiate with in

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the form of my newly acquired crutches. This has introduced a whole new level of coordination confusion. What should be a series of straight forward messages to my arms and legs to work collaboratively with my walking aids is interpreted as a requirement for each of them to do their own separate thing, not necessarily at the same time. Shortly after returning home, the results of one manoeuvre had me adopting the pose of a foul mouthed, upturned tortoise on stilts.

I’ve become hopelessly dependent at times on the assistance of those around me. I can’t carry anything and the stairs might just as well be Mount Kilimanjaro. Small objects on the floor or a smooth surface become deadly bear traps for the unwary crutch wielder, but equally seem to have a magnetic draw that no crutch can ignore. On top of these hazards, the dog, who let’s remember was the cause of my situation, can’t decide whether to chew, bark at or run away from the metal poles dangling from my limbs.

To be honest that dependency is sometimes evident even without the crutches, but at least with them it’s more obvious that I might be in need of help. Within 24 hours of wielding the sticks I’d had more offers of assistance than in the last twelve months of attempting to negotiate Waterloo station with a curious gait. That said, I can’t wait to be rid of the things. They are a complication I could well do without, but as that other famous philosophical pugilist, Rocky Balboa once observed “in the boxing ring of life, it’s not how hard you can hit, but how many times you get hit and keep moving forwards”. Wise words I’d do well to remember, although sometimes it’s easier said than done.

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35

Kids Play There’s lots going on for pre-schoolers

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 Hall P U T Ymeet O U in R the G Church ARDE N onMMondays, A I N T Wednesdays E N A N C EandI N Fridays from 9.30 until 11.15am during term time

Wednesday

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

Thursday

Carer and Toddler group for all families with twins and multiples.

Come and meet other local families who understand all about having more than one of everything!

We meet every Thursday at Worcester Park Baptist Church from 9.30- 11.30 am with toys, craft, songs, refreshments and stories during term time. Come along and join in - other pre-school siblings also welcome. There will be a minimal cost of £2 per family.

Friday

Christ T H E Church with St Philip Parent and Toddler H A N D S O F S O M E O N E W H O R E A L L Y C A RGroup E S ' 9.30 until 11.15am - see Monday

Tuesday

Saturday

Toddling2Church, Christ Church St Philip - Treewith surgery Men behaving Dadly, Grace Church - every 3rd - One off Tidy 2-3pm. Parents, carers and pre-school children are Saturday of the month, 9.30 to 11 am, at Green Lane Stump Grinding - Garden Maintenance all welcome to join us for songs with percussion Primary School. For Dads and their pre-school children Strimming and Weeding - Decking andaLawns instruments, Bible story simply and sensitively told, (0-4). The kids get to play with the toys, the Dads get a - Garden clearance a story-related craft activity and, of course, drinks and - Hedge Trimming bacon roll and coffee, and Mums might possibly get a biscuits.

- Path and Patio Washinglie-in... £3 on the door.

- Landscaping For more information & contact details, www.gracechurchworcesterpark.org Old Malden Library (Church Road, Worcester Park) Tuesdays, 10.30-11am, Rhyme time aimed at age 0-3 Tuesdays, 2.30-3pm, Story time aimed at age 3+

‘PUT YOUR GARDEN MAINTENANCE INTel: THE020 8330 7787 pressgardenservices.co.uk HANDS OF SOMEONE WHO REALLY CARES’ w.cypressgardenservices.co.uk Mobile: 07958 727 272 - One off Tidy - Garden Maintenance - Decking and Lawns - Hedge Trimming - Landscaping - Tree surgery - Stump Grinding - Strimming & Weeding - Garden clearance - Path & Patio Washing IN THE INTENANCE ES' GARDEN MA EALLY CAR 'PUT YOUR ONE WHO R E M O S F O HANDS ery - Tree surg g - One off Tidy - Stump Grindin nance Weeding - Garden Mainte - Strimming and ns - Decking and Law den clearance Gar g min shing Trim ge Wa - Hed - Path and Patio - Landscaping

Contact us on: Tel: 020 8330 7787 or 07958 727 272 info@cypressgardenservices.co.uk www.cypressgardenservices.co.uk

36

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fo@cypressgard

Tel: 020 8330 7787 272 Mobile: 07958 727

SHOUT about

your business in your local magazines in 2018 from just ÂŁ28 plus vat a month Be seen and heard by the your local market in the Village Voice and Worcester Park Life.

With competitive pricing, friendly efficient service and helpful advice it’s simple and effective...

But then the best ideas always are.

020 8336 2915 or go online www.maldenmedia.com

Call jenny on

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37

Solutions

CodeWord

Quiz

1. Icarus 2.11 3. Corona 4. Astronomers 5.

Hydrogen and Helium 6. The Owl And The Pussycat 7. Equinox 8. Dreamworks 9. 8 minutes 10. The backwards countdown (e.g. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, …)

Wordwheel VERBALISM

Sudokus

Pictograms

1. The Joke Is on You 2. Ballpark Figure 3. Right on The Money

Please note our new address Unit 2 Chancerygate Business Centre Red Lion Road Surbiton KT6 7RA

38

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Award winning sandals & shoes from Lunar Footwear now in stock

020 8942 2277

Tudor Williams Ltd, 53-59 High Street, New Malden KT3 4BU www.tudorwilliamsltd.co.uk

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39

ABLE 2 BUILD & Sons ALL ASPECTS OF BUILDING WORK

0800 566 8198 • 07889 255 097 www.able2build.co.uk • info@able2build.co.uk 40

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