Worcester Park Life Dec 19

Worcester Park Life

KT4’s ONLY FREE Independent Community Magazine and Business Guide Dec 19 Issue 139

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Christmas at grace church worcester park

All-age Family Carols 10am, Sunday 22 December Carols by Candlelight 7pm, Sunday 22 December All-age Christmas Eve Christingle 4pm, Tuesday 24 December All-age Christmas Day Service 10am, Wednesday 25 December All services are held at Green Lane Primary & Nursery School, Green Lane, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 8AS

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

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Welcome to YOUR Worcester from jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk Park Life A personal highlight of 2019 for me was visiting projects run by the Lunchbowl Network in Nairobi, Kenya. Having also made the trip in 2017 it was so uplifting and emotional to see the difference 2 years had made. Lunchbowl is mainly funded by UK sponsors and fundraisers - everyone who helps is a volunteer and we are incredibly proud to be able to say that 97.5p of every £ raised goes directly to where it is needed.

If you are looking for a virtual gift for a friend, relative or even yourself then I can promise you, your donation will make a huge difference. www.lunchbowl.org Thank you!

I hope you enjoy a good read please make sure you see what our local businesses and advertisers have to offer- i’m delighted to say we have quite a few new ones this month. If you’ve any feedback on how they’re doing, or have any

FOR EVERY £1 RAISED, 97.5P GOES TO WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED

ideas for future editions, news or views to share then please get in touch. Remember, we deliver to most homes every second month but if it’s not delivered to you, you can read it on your phone, tablet or PC. There are a limited number of copies available from Waitrose, Worcester Park Library, St Mary’s and Christ Church with St Philip.

Until next time, best wishes, and Happy Christmas!

Jenny

Deadline for our January editions 14th December Since ‘05

Published by Malden Media Ltd Editor Jenny Stuart jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk 020 8336 2915 www.maldenmedia.co.uk 36 Rosebery Avenue KT3 4JS

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Worcester Park History From the Euphrates to The Avenue by David Rymill This month I’d like to show you two photographs that I acquired a few years ago of one of the largest of Worcester Park’s vanished Victorian houses, which stood at the top of The Avenue on the site now occupied by Worcester Gardens.

This location is one of the most interesting historically in Worcester Park, as Worcester House had been built close by as the residence of the Earl of Worcester as Keeper of the Great Park in about 1610, and it was also the site of Worcester Park Farm, where the PreRaphaelite artists Holman Hunt and Millais spent some months in 1851.

In or around 1873 the farmhouse was replaced by a new and substantial house, known initially (and confusingly) as Worcester House, but for most of its existence as Worcester Court, or sometimes just The Court (not to be confused with the present Worcester Court in Salisbury Road). It was originally the home of Alexander Hector, who had spent much of his career developing both commercial and diplomatic links in Baghdad.

In 1835, having already served in an expedition on the Niger, he joined the Government’s Euphrates Expedition, led by General Francis Rawdon Chesney, which had been sent out to survey the Euphrates and Tigris rivers with a view to finding a more rapid overland route from the Mediterranean to India. His official role was to act as store-keeper and purser, but he was also active in arranging the transport of vessels, and on one occasion had to rescue the expedition’s diving-bell from muddy water using bamboo feelers.

Towards the end of the expedition, Mr Hector took charge of the postal line through Arabia. He settled in Baghdad, but in his attempts to establish trading ventures was often frustrated by the somnolence of the British Residency: in March 1843 he complained that, whilst the consul, Colonel Taylor was away, “I have had occasion to apply several times to the Consulate… and was told that my letters would be forwarded to the Colonel as soon as any pressing business occurred.”

His wife Annie French was a notable Victorian novelist.

She was born in Ireland in 1825, and her family came to England in 1844, living first in Liverpool and then in London. She published two novels in the 1850s, prior to her marriage, and several more between

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1865 and 1873, still using her maiden name. After Mr Hector’s death in 1875 she wrote over forty more novels, borrowing his forename and calling herself “Mrs Alexander”. Her books mainly concerned young girls presented with choices between money, family and love.

Alexander Hector was one of the leading investors in the Landed Estates Company and the associated Worcester Park Building Company, which were developing The Avenue and the adjacent area. In 1866 he entered into an agreement to buy several portions of the estate, including nearly 14 acres of land consisting of the route of Delta Road and land to either side; he completed this purchase in December 1870, by which time he already seems to have been the owner of the rest of the land adjoining Delta Road, including the Worcester Court site.

Delta Road, which forms the base of a triangle between The Avenue and Salisbury Road, may have been named after the triangular Greek letter delta, but it is also possible that, in the sinuous routes of those two roads, Mr Hector saw a reminder of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which effectively form the Euphrates delta. Alexander Hector died in 1875, and Worcester Court was let to a succession of tenants, but the Hector family continued to own property in the Delta Road area until well into the 20th century, and the photographs reproduced here appear to have belonged to Mr and Mrs Hector’s daughter.

In the 1930s several plans were drawn up for the development of this site, beginning in 1935 with a scheme for a film studio for B and B Productions. In this plan, the mansion would have been retained and linked to a much larger building behind it, containing a double-height studio, orchestration theatre and

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None of these schemes was carried out, leaving the way clear for the arrival, 80 years ago this year, of Blakesley School, a private school which had been operating as Blakesley House School in a house of that name in Merton: when those premises were requisitioned in the summer of 1939 the proprietors, the Dudley family, quickly had to find premises elsewhere. I hope in a future article to write about the school’s 20 years in The Avenue.

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This month there will be an evening of historical talks at Christ Church with St Philip, Ruskin Drive, on Monday 9th December, starting at 6.30pm. The historian and broadcaster Suzannah Lipscomb will be speaking about ‘The Nonsuch Queens: Henry VIII’s Last Wives’, and I plan to provide some local context under the title ‘Worcester Park from the Iron Age, via the Tudors, to the Computer Age’. Tickets cost £5 and are available from Christ Church with St Philip; Donna’s Boutique, Sularis and The Hair Boutique (44, 112 and 162 Central Road respectively); Steve’s Card Shop (505 London Rd); Glitz and Bones (2 Cheam Common Rd); Poltsa Boutique (38 Stoneleigh Broadway); and Village Travel (5 The Broadway, Cheam).

Back in The Avenue: please note that the Christmas crib services at St Mary’s Cuddington, to which children are welcome to come dressed as angels, shepherds or kings, will be at 3pm and 5pm on Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th December (not 23rd as was printed in one local announcement).

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

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 300-page 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 Wimtermonath December Days Where did that year go? It seems that only yesterday I was packing away the tinsel from last Christmas! December, the twelfth month of the year, was the tenth month of the old Roman calendar, and comes from the latin word ‘decem’, meaning ten. The Anglo-Saxons called the month Wintermonath before their conversion to Christianity, and Helighmonath, meaning Holy Month, afterwards.

In the Christian church the weeks before Christmas are known as Advent, anticipating the coming of Christ. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, and can fall on any of the last four days of November or the first three days of December. In this house we are already munching away on the chocolate goodies in our Advent calendar with all the enthusiasm of five year olds! The word Yule is also synonymous with this time of the year. Yule was originally a pagan festival celebrated at the time of The Winter Solstice in December. A ceremonial log would be dragged in from the woods on Christmas Eve. In modern times we substitute it with a tasty chocolate cake in the shape of a small log.

During these darker days we are happy to look for cheerful distractions, and many of us enjoy the delights of going to see pantomimes. We might think they are a British tradition, but they originated from the Italian ‘commedia dell’arte’ from the early 18th Century, which was based on mime. For many years my family , accompanied by several friends would trek down to The Theatre Royal at Windsor, to see wonderful annual productions of countless pantos , starring a former resident of Salisbury Road, the comedian and actor, Bryan Burdon. Oh yes we did!!!

Our garden, like so many others, has been looking rather sad, so our friend Julie, recently put spring bulbs in planters for us. Unfortunately the squirrels had a fun day trying to dig all one hundred of them up! At the end of the month days will get lighter, and it will be cheering to see the daffodils emerging through

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the earth again. Children are now excitedly writing their Christmas lists to Santa Claus, otherwise known as St Nicholas. Nicholas, The Bishop of Myra, which is now modern day Turkey, died on December 6th 343 AD. He had a reputation of leaving coins in the shoes of his followers, and giving secret presents. We now exchange gifts in memory of his good works. In the Netherlands and neighbouring countries in Europe St Nicholas is said to bring sweets and presents for well behaved children on 6th December.

The Dutch settlers are said to have imported the tradition to the USA , and St Nicholas evolved into Santa Claus, who also eventually made his presence felt in our own country.

As I write this I can hear the radio playing Slade’s ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’ in the background. It apparently earns the lead singer, Noddy Holder, up to £800,000 a year.

He describes it as “a good pension plan”!

On 17th December in ancient Roman times it was the beginning of the festival of Saturnalia, to honour the gods of agriculture. It expanded into over a week of merrymaking. During that time slaves were waited on by their masters, and gambling games were permitted.

The Winter Solstice is when the hours of darkness are at their longest, and the hours of lightness are at their shortest – which is usually 21st/22nd December.

In the astronomical division of the seasons this will officially mark the beginning of Winter – although we seem to have felt its effects quite a bit before this date.

The 24th of December is of course Christmas Eve, a day on which we hope all our plans for the festivities have come together. There is a definite buzz in the air at this time, as we hope that all the cards and gifts have been bought, and the Christmas lunch has been well and truly organised. I always used to bake Mince Pies at this time, whilst listening to The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Chapel at Cambridge. I have to confess that I now buy the pies from Sainsburys, but still get a thrill when I hear that lone chorister’s voice trill “Once In Royal David’s City”.

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One does not have to be a Christian to feel the magic of this time of year. John Betjeman’s words sum up the emotions of the moment: ‘And is it true? And is it true?

This most tremendous tale of all, Seen in a stained glass window’s hue.

A baby in an ox’s stall?

The maker of the stars and sea Became a child on earth for me?

As Christmas Day dawns we have a variety of emotions, Children are nearly bursting with excitement, and the older ones amongst us remember a time long before technology took over, when our Christmas stockings would contain simple fare, such as a sugar mouse or a handful of nuts. My idea of heaven was to receive a cardboard Post Office set or some bath salts from good old Woolworths! On this special day we feel the happiness of sharing so many good things with our loved ones, but also remember those we have lost.

The late comedian Bob Hope reminded us that we must live in the moment, and never take happiness for granted. He said: “My idea of Christmas, whether old fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” How true. How about laying another place at the table for someone who might otherwise b alone????

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Worcester Park Athletic Club – the Centenary looms At a meeting, chaired by Mr. Alfred Armitage J.P., which was held at the St. Philip’s Girls’ School on Tuesday October 22nd, 1921, Mr. P. Burchell stated that terms had been agreed upon with local landowner, Mr. Thomas Weeding Weeding, to secure Skinner’s Field, next to Worcester Park Railway Station, as a recreation ground for an athletic club for the district. This club was essentially for the benefit of the ex-servicemen of the district.

Although the lease on this ground was only for 8 years, the Chairman hoped that it might become permanent, “so that the present and future generations in the district might always have a sports field. He moved that the club be formed, and that it be designated the Worcester Park Athletic Club.” Mr Armitage was elected President of this new club and amongst the Vice-Presidents was Sir George Rowland Blades M.P. for Epsom (later Lord Ebbisham).

A set of rules had been drafted which allowed all the exservicemen of the area to become members was passed, together with the subscription rates. “On the proposition of Mr. Burchell, the members of the existing cricket and football clubs were elected en bloc.”

These two sports clubs were Cheam Common C. C. and Worcester Park Football Club, who had already been involved in discussions about finding a new sports field and had already agreed to merge. Cheam Common C.C. had been founded in 1872 primarily by the Rev. Hugh Bigg-Withers, the rector of St. Philip’s Church, and Francis Pennington the landlord of ‘The Drill’. The first matches were played in a meadow next to the pub.

Worcester Park Football Club was founded in 1900 by persons unknown, although local land-owner and builder, Andrew Blake, probably was a great influence as he was to provide them, in 1904, with a football field down Lindsey Road. His son, Frederick Blake, who captained the team in 1909, went on to be the First XI captain for both the cricket and football sections of the Athletic club.

I am, at the moment, writing a book upon these two clubs and the people who played for them, as they were basically the characters behind an institution which has served the local community for almost a hundred years. If anyone has any photographs of local sports’ teams prior to 1920 I would be extremely interested in seeing them.

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A Community Opportunity At Malden Parochial C of E Primary School We are an ‘outstanding’ (Ofsted 2007) Primary School in Old Malden Worcester Park and we are looking to recruit a Treasurer to join our friendly and busy Governing Body.

• Do you believe in a caring, effective and challenging education for all?

• Do you have approximately 2 hours a month to manage the Governors finances?

• Do you have skills in finance?

• Do you want to make a difference to the Governing Body and the children’s educational journey?

If your answers are ‘yes’, becoming the Treasurer is the job for you and you will be truly welcomed Interested?

Please ring school on 0208 337 4804 give us your telephone number and we will contact you as soon as possible for a chat/meeting where we can answer your questions.

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Cranberry, Orange & Nut Loaf This simple cake makes a delicious alternative to a classic rich fruit Christmas cake.

It will keep un-iced in an airtight container for a few days. Add the icing and fresh cranberry topping on the day of serving.

Ready in 1 hour 45 minutes, plus cooling | Serves 8-10

Ingredients

175g unsalted butter, softened 175g golden caster sugar 225g self-raising flour 2 tsp ground mixed spice ½ tsp baking powder 3 large eggs 75g sweetened dried cranberries 50g walnuts, chopped 50g hazelnuts, chopped Zest of 1 orange 1 tbsp orange juice

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FROSTING Half of a 400g tub ready-made royal icing 2 tsp snowflake sugar sprinkles 75g fresh cranberries Fresh mint sprigs, to decorate (optional)

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Preheat the oven to 170C, 150C fan, gas mark 3.

Grease a 900g loaf tin and line the base and up two long sides of the tin with baking parchment.

Place the butter, sugar, flour, spice, baking powder and eggs in a large bowl and beat with an electric whisk for 2-3 minutes until thoroughly combined.

Fold in the dried cranberries, nuts and orange zest and juice.

Spoon the mixture into the tin and level the surface.

Bake for 1hr-1 hr 15 minutes or until risen and golden and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

Spread the royal icing over the top of the cake.

Scatter over the sugar sprinkles and fresh cranberries, plus the fresh mint sprigs if using. Leave in a cool place until set. Serve sliced.

Instead of the fresh cranberries you could scatter over more festive-themed sugar sprinkles and add a dusting of edible gold spray for a really sparkly finish.

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Christmas Traditions

By Catherine Rose Christmas seems to come around sooner each year, with decorations in the shops from September onwards.

However, at one time, people would decorate their homes on Christmas Eve as it was considered unlucky to do so any earlier.

The Bible does not mention an actual date for the birth of Jesus, so in 300AD Pope Julius I decided that Christ’s birthday (Christmas Day) should be on 25th December.

The Midwinter Solstice on 21st December was already a traditional pagan celebration, so by doing this Pope Julius effectively combined both.

During the Midwinter Solstice homes would be decorated with evergreens, and a Yule Log – the first log of winter – would be ceremonially burnt to ward off evil on the night of the shortest day. This is the reason the word ‘yule’ relates to Christmas (only the real log has been turned into a chocolate cake!)

Christians took holly as a symbol of Christ’s crown, the berries representing his blood. Mistletoe, which the Druids regarded as sacred because it effectively grows ‘in the air’, was also adopted by Christianity, the white berries reflecting the purity of the Virgin.

The Victorians set many of our modern Christmas traditions, such as cards and tinsel. During the festive season, mistletoe was hung in the entrance to the house as a sign of peace and goodwill. Because it is usual to greet people with a hug and a kiss when they arrive, ‘kissing under the mistletoe’ evolved into a custom by Victorian times.

Christmas trees came over from Germany towards the end of the 1700s and were popularised by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Trees would be decorated with real candles, strings of glass beads, candies and handmade ornaments of paper, wax, silver wire and blown glass. Just as today, the tree was topped with an angel, usually made of tin with a wax face, or with a star to symbolise the foretelling of the birth of Jesus.

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The first tinsel was made from real silver, stretched into very thin strips. Paper decorations, including paper chains, were also popular. Woolworths is said to have been the first shop to sell commercial Christmas tree ornaments in 1880, and the earliest electric Christmas tree lights were invented by Thomas Edison. By the 1930s, the first artificial trees and tinsel were available.

Many of our Christmas customs originated in Europe.

Gingerbread baked with honey, and Christmas decorations made from beeswax or glass, were available in markets across Europe 400 years ago. The advent calendar, with its little doors hiding biblical pictures, originated in Germany.

Mince pies were invented in medieval times. They were originally made with minced lamb in homage to the shepherds of the Nativity. As was popular then, fat, dried fruit, peel and spices were added to the meat. There were 13 ingredients in total, representing the apostles.

Although we no longer use minced lamb alongside the dried fruit, peel, suet and spices, the term ‘mincemeat’ to describe the filling has endured.

Turkeys were brought to Britain in 1526 and it is said that King Henry VIII was the first to eat a turkey for Christmas dinner. However, goose, being large enough to feed an extended family over the festive season, remained the most popular choice until the 1950s when turkey took over.

Father Christmas also has his beginnings in Europe. St Nicholas or ‘Sinterklaas’ (from which we derive Santa Claus) was a second-century saint known for giving gifts to the poor.

His spirit was said to visit children on the night of the 5th December. In Holland, wooden shoes or clogs would be left next to the hearth filled with an edible treat and straw for St Nicholas’ horse (from where we get the custom of putting out a mince pie for Santa and a carrot for his reindeer). In return, St Nicholas would leave a small gift. As the custom spread across Europe, stockings began to be used instead of shoes.

It is believed that an English baker, Tom Smith, invented the Christmas cracker by taking a sweet and a love motto and wrapping them in a strip of paper impregnated with a compound that ‘cracked’ when opened. In time, the wrapper was lengthened and small novelty gifts replaced the sweet.

The first Christmas crackers went on sale in London in 1847 and Walter Smith, Tom’s son, started including paper hats.

The first known Christmas card was made by Sir Henry Cole of The British Postal Service in 1843. Although it is often claimed that Coca Cola was responsible for putting Santa in red as part of a 1930s marketing campaign, it was the Victorians who first depicted Father Christmas in a red suit. Previously, the traditional colour for Saint Nicholas was green and you can still find some early Victorian Christmas cards where Father Christmas is wearing a green suit as well as those where he is wearing a red one.

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Pets

Pretty Christmas Trimmings That Can Harm Your Pets The glitz and glitter of Christmas is so pretty that it’s easy to forget the potential dangers of our festive trimmings, so here are some of the possible hazards that may threaten your pet at this time of year.

Spray snow looks very pretty but it does contain chemicals that are harmful to animals. If your cat or dog licks the substance they could suffer from sickness and diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal problems.

Tinsel can cause a blockage in the intestines if eaten, and might require a trip to the vet to clear the blockage.

The sparkle of glitter is very attractive to pets, but glitter is easily ingested. The tiny pieces can also lodge in their eyes and set up a nasty irritation.

Glass baubles present a serious danger to pets if broken, and also pose a choking hazard.

Your pet can be electrocuted by fairy lights if bitten through, but there’s also a danger they could become tangled in the lights and be unable to free themselves if they’re alone in the house.

Silica gel sachets are very small and your pet may eat them without you noticing. These sachets can cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Whilst not wishing to diminish the joy of Christmas, it pays to make sure your pets are safe this festive season.

Many of these trimmings aren’t obviously hazardous but they do have the potential to cause serious harm.

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Parkin’ some thoughts Are the Batteries Included?

by Nick Hazell

Ahhhh Christmas. A time for Peace on Earth. Goodwill to all men, women and those of non-determinate gender.

This obviously doesn’t apply in the political world where the build up to the festive period this year appears to be a time for insults, sneering and the bulldozing of nativity plays. But it’s not just our governing elite setting fire to the Christmas Spirit.

For some of us normal folk, Christmas Day itself can be little more than an annual reunion of a group of people who wouldn’t otherwise have introduced themselves to each other had life not thrown them 'PUT YOUR GARDEN MAINTENANCE IN T together.

HANDS OF SOMEONE WHO REALLY CAR

A good friend of mine once explained that his family motto for the festive season was “nunquam iterum” or rather “never again” to us plebs. In his case, the experience was more Eastenders Christmas special than Noel’s Christmas presents. The brandied pudding of arguments was usually ignited by his step father discovering a light fingered relative had made off with a can of his carefully concealed Yuletide scrumpy, or his mother stepping into the after effects of his slightly senile Grandmother’s furtive sprout feeding of the family dog. By the time his nephew was screaming displeasure at opening his long awaited Star Wars light sabre or other Duracell dependent gift only to find that the batteries were not included, it was all over bar the shouting of which there was then plenty.

are those that don’t have a choice. They may be on their own, missing a loved one, working away from Tree surgery - One offorTidy home living rough with an-unlikely prospect of companionship either way. However, you are with - Stumpif Grinding - Garden Maintenance company this year, let me leave you with thisand wish.Weedin - Strimming - Decking and Lawns May your family be functional, your friends friendly - Garden clearance - Hedge Trimming and your batteries included. Happy Christmas!

- Landscaping

- Path and Patio Washing

‘PUT YOUR GARDEN MAINTENANCE INTel: THE020 833 info@cypressgardenservices.co.uk HANDS OF SOMEONE WHO REALLY CARES’ As a consequence, he had about as much enthusiasm www.cypressgardenservices.co.uk Mobile: 079 for Christmas as a turkey in the care of Bernard - One off Tidy Matthews. Others though relish the chance of getting - Garden Maintenance together with family and friends, negotiating the - Decking and Lawns potential fox holes of the occasion with the diplomatic - Hedge Trimming finesse of l’Ambassadeur de Ferrero Rocher, avoiding - Landscaping argumentative relatives, death by charades and the - Tree surgery special edition of Strictly Come Dancing.

- Stump Grinding - Strimming & Weeding I wouldn’t say Christmas Chez Hazell is always perfect.

This year too will have the slightest hint of sadness - Garden clearance about it due to a missing participant, but hopefully - Path & Patio Washing it will fall into or at least vaguely in the region of the more enjoyable scenario. We at least start from the advantage of enjoying each other’s company and that of our families... well most of the time.

Whether you find it a trial or a triumph it’s always worth remembering at this time of year that there

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IN THE INTENANCE GARDEN MA ARES' 'PUT YOUR O REALLY C MEONE WH O S F O S D N HA - Tree surgery g - One off Tidy - Stump Grindin nance Weeding - Garden Mainte - Strimming and ns - Decking and Law den clearance Gar g shing Wa o - Hedge Trimmin Pati - Path and - Landscaping

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

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Christmas Greetings From The

Churches of Worcester Park 2019

Worcester Park Baptist Church, 2 The Avenue, Worcester Park, KT4 7EW. Tel: 8330 1755. www.wpbc.org.uk

December 24th 11.30pm - Midnight Mass Christmas Day

8.00am Said Eucharist

Christmas Day

9.45am Sung Eucharist

Sunday 22nd December 10.30am Christmas reflections Sunday 22nd December 5.00pm Family carol service Refreshments between evening services Sunday 22nd December 6.30pm Carols by candlelight Wednesday 25th December 9.30am “A star is born”, all-age Christmas Day service

Sunday 15th December at 6 pm Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

Christ Church with St Philip (An Anglican-Methodist Local Ecumenical Partnership) Corner of Cheam Common Road/ Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park, KT4 8LG.

Sunday 22nd December at 9.30 am

Tel: 020 8330 7630. www.xcsp.org.uk

Sunday 22nd December at 6 pm

Wednesday 18th December Quiet Christmas Service (for all those struggling at Christmas time), 8pm

Family Carol Service, with familiar readings and favourite carols to sing.

Sunday 22nd December Carols & Christingles, 4pm Christmas Eve Crib Service, 4pm Carols by Candlelight, 8pm Midnight Communion, 11.30pm Christmas Day

Christingle Service (particularly suitable for children.)

Christmas Eve at 3 pm and 5 pm Blessing of the Crib (service particularly suitable for children.)

Christmas Eve at 11.30 pm Midnight Service of Holy Communion.

Christmas Day at 10 am Family Communion Service with many favourite carols.

All Age Holy Communion Service, 10am

St. Matthias Roman Catholic Church, 201 Cheam Common Road, Worcester Park, KT4 8SX. Tel: 020 8337 1782. www.saintmatthias.co.uk

Grace Church Worcester Park - all services are at Green Lane Primary School, KT4 8AS. Full details at gracechurchworcesterpark.org

Wednesday 18th December 7.30pm Family Carol Concert led by the Choir of Richard Challoner School

Sunday 22 December - 10am - Family Carols Sunday 22 December - 7pm - Carols by Candlelight

Tuesday 24th December CHRISTMAS EVE First Masses of Christmas

Christmas Eve - 4pm - Christingle service

4.00pm: Children’s Mass with Fr. Kevan

Christmas Day - 10am – Christmas morning celebration

Mass: 7.00pm (carols)

St John the Baptist Parish Church, Church Road, Old Malden, KT4 7RY 020 8330 2817

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St. Mary the Virgin, Cuddington, Church of England, The Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 7HL. Tel: 020 8337 4026 www.cuddingtonparish.org.uk

December 22nd 6.30pm Service of 9 lessons and carols

Mass: 9.30pm (carols) Mass begins at 9.30pm Wednesday 25th December CHRISTMAS DAY Mass: 7.30am - quiet Mass, no homily or carols.

Mass: 9.30am (carols)

Mass: (carols) Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life11.15am when you speak to our advertisers

December 24th 3.00pm - Crib service

There is no evening Mass today

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What’s On CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA 1st Cuddington (WARSPITE) Sea Scout Group.

Fancourt Hall, Cunliffe Road, Stoneleigh KT19 0RJ Saturday 7th December Craft Fair 11 am to 2 pm for Traditional and Unusual gifts. Admission Free - Coin donations welcomed. Also Real Christmas Trees on sale from 9 am to 3 pm We will be selling Needlefish Norman Fir Christmas Trees in different sizes and prices.

We look forward seeing you there.

On behalf of 1st Cuddington (Warspite) Sea Scouts Merry Christmas!

Carshalton Frost Fair Looking for something to get you in the Christmas spirit? Why not join us for Carshalton Frost Fair – Saturday 7th December 1pm-6pm. The Fair is sited in the beautiful setting of Carshalton Ponds and is a traditional winter event with activities for all of the family.

Outside along Honeywood Walk, Festival Walk and in the Memorial Gardens you will find a host of stalls with local produce and crafts people selling wonderful gift ideas such as glassware, pottery, woodcraft and more.

There is a tasty hog roast plus hot jacket potatoes with

vegan options, waffles, pancakes, mulled wine and warming drinks.

Inside Honeywood Museum you will find more stalls, Father Christmas’s Grotto and Christmas Magic Shows.

Tickets for Father Christmas and shows are available at a ticket booth outside the museum – and are limited.

Cash only.

There will also be outdoor performances, with a mix of local musicians and Christmas carols to give a festive atmosphere.

The Winter Wonderland Trail at Sutton Ecology Centre will run from 1pm-4pm, perfect for families with young children who can help find Santa’s missing sack of toys!

Drop in, no booking required. Cash only.

The Mayor will be turning on the Christmas Tree lights at the Greyhound Pub at 5pm and there’s a children’s trail around the shops in Carshalton High Street.

We suggest you come by public transport to avoid parking and remind you that the event is not suitable for dogs.

More details about the event can be found at: www. ecolocal.org.uk

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Voice for Wildlife Mess, Glorious Mess by Carol Williams I thought BBC Autumnwatch this year was one of the best I’ve seen. It was packed full of amazing science, stunning shots and films and struck just the right note of warning tempered with hope.

The phrase ‘habitat piles’ was used for the first time.

It’s a good description - better than ‘dead wood pile’ or something similar. It was used by the inspiring young lady whose transformation of her garden to a wildlife paradise was featured first in this year’’s Springwatch.

She was, essentially, telling us to glory in mess in the garden, which is something the wonderful Chris Packham has been saying for a long time, but she put it positively by describing the mess as ‘habitat piles’.

Quite brilliant, because that is what they are, these collections of leaves and mounds of twigs - habitat for invertebrates, the important creatures who do all the real work in the garden, the little rotters who create the soil and are also nutritious food for many vertebrates reptiles, birds and mammals like hedgehogs.

Every garden should have some habitat piles. Without them it isn’t much of a wildlife garden. A short lawn, free of leaf litter, tidy borders where war is waged on debris and every wild plant ( mostly those which have the misfortune to be labelled ‘weed’) is grubbed up and put straight into the Council garden waste bin, is a desert for wild creatures. If you put out bird feeders but provide no habitat for birds to nest, no habitat piles for the invertebrates to thrive, no shelter for any creature from the cold and the worst of the wet, your garden isn’t much of a ‘port in a storm’ for them. If the neighbour’s garden is the same and if the whole street follows this pattern, what happens to nature? It declines.

The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. We are a densely populated land, with humans taking up ever more space and leaving less and less for the wild creatures, pushing them further and further into tiny fragments of habitat, reducing their breeding success, making life very tough for them. Our gardens, parks and school grounds are the ‘nature’ that surrounds us. Or would be, if we let them be. These would be our little patches of wild amongst the urban sprawl - oases for wild creatures, linking them up with larger, much wilder areas like local woodland and heath, forest and mountain. It is the spaces - the gaps - that do the damage, the breaks in the connectivity. Busy roads are enough of a problem, a classic and drastic break in habitat, an often insurmountable barrier for countless species. Our gardens need to be way more

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friendly to wildlife in general, and the little creatures especially, those little rotters we seldom see unless we turn over the leaves and stones and bits of dead wood to look, but who beaver away turning litter into a fertile growing medium for the plants which provide us with oxygen and which, through photosynthesis, make the sun’s energy available to us.

Shadbolt Park has many habitat piles in the wildlife area and also in the shrubberies where fallen leaves and dead wood are left. It has been one of my joys since we restored the pond area in 2011, to create habitat piles by collecting up fallen wood from the lawns and leaves from the paths and putting them at the back of the wildlife area in every growing piles. These kinds of heaps are invaluable hiding places for frogs and toads in the Winter - and hibernating hedgehogs. They should not be disturbed, simply added to year on year.

Gardens do not need huge heaps of course. You do not have to put all your prunings and sweepings in one mountainous pile. You can put most of them in your brown bin if you choose. You can have a couple of little heaps of wood and leaves in out of the way corners - under a bush. behind a shed or near the compost bin. But those who glory in the mess, chaos and riot that nature is when left to do its thing, can, like me, find habitat piles a thing of beauty and interest in and of themselves. They can even be a kind of ‘garden sculpture’. You don’t have to just chuck it all down any old how, you can enjoy creating something that looks good - a neat log and twig pile will serve the purpose as well as any random stack of branches, and your leaves can be fenced into a loosely constructed rectangle of branches and logs that will itself be a habitat as long as there are no nails in it, plenty of small holes and gaps, and the ‘box’ has no bottom, but is open to the soil.

If we can learn to love Nature’s mess, we will become true wildlife lovers. If we can stop thinking ‘untidy’ and ‘mess’ and begin to see ‘abundance’, ‘diversity’, ‘interest’ and ‘variety’ instead, we can do a great deal to help nature fight back in these times of deep concern about the state of the climate and the impacts of the changes on ecosystems.

Long grass, a nettle patch, a habitat pile or two, trees that provides blossom for insects in Spring, fruit in the Summer and drop their leaves in the Autumn - these

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are the essentials of a good wildlife garden. If there is a source of drinking and bathing water too, then the garden is perfect.

Enjoy the glorious abundance of Nature. It is often celebrated on Christmas cards - snowy scenes, the woodland, berries, deer, robins, hares, foxes. Where do the animals go in Winter? How do they live? Provide the habitat and you will make the lives of wild creatures so much easier, helping them to survive the cold.

Bug houses are decorative ‘habitat piles’. They are obviously not as good as the heaps, but better to have a yard with a couple of these than have nothing at all!

I have seen a lot of them on sale recently, of varying quality. Why not have a couple as well as creating your own masterpiece from the offerings your own backyard supplies? The more the merrier. A bug house might make a good Christmas gift for a child in your family.

Constructing one of them yourself is a brilliant craft project too. You will find some guidance for doing this via the ever useful Google search engine.

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Why not make a resolution for 2020 to create some fabulous habitat piles in the back garden?

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 

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31

Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup

This soup is packed with flavour and makes a great winter-warming lunch served with crusty bread.

Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes | Serves 4

Ingredients

750g large ripe tomatoes 4 red peppers

4 shallots, peeled and halved 2 garlic cloves

2 tbsp virgin olive oil

1 tbsp dried Italian herbs

Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp sun-dried tomato puree 400ml vegetable stock 1 tsp sugar

TIP

Crème fraiche, roasted pumpkin seeds and shredded fresh basil leaves, to serve

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Preheat the oven to 200C, 180C fan, gas mark 6. Score a cross in the top and base of each tomato and place in the roasting tin with the peppers, shallots, garlic cloves, olive oil and Italian herbs.

Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and roast for 2530 minutes until the tomatoes are soft with charred, peeling skins and the peppers have blistered and blackened skins.

Carefully place the hot peppers in a large freezer bag and leave until cool enough to handle (this will help to make peeling them easier). Leave the tomatoes and shallots to cool in the roasting tin.

Peel the peppers, discarding the seeds and pith, and remove the skins and any tough core from the tomatoes. Place both in a food processor or blender with the shallots and any juices from the roasting tin. Process until very smooth – you may need to do this in two batches.

Transfer the pepper and tomato mixture to a large pan and stir in the sun-dried tomato puree, vegetable stock and sugar. Slowly bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, to taste.

Ladle the soup into warmed bowls, top with a swirl of crème fraiche and some pumpkin seeds and basil.

To make crunchy roast pumpkin seeds, spread them on a baking sheet and roast in the oven with the tomatoes and peppers for 7-8 minutes.

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

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

Vibrant Ukulele Club meets 7.30 – 9.30pm 1st and 3rd Mondays at The Station pub, Stoneleigh and 2nd and 4th Mondays at Christ Church with St Philip, 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 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. 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 The Broadway Sequence Dancing Raeburn Hall, Tolworth from 8 to 1015pm. Those who have learnt ballroom dancing should have little difficulty in mastering sequence. No charge for the first ‘taster’ and then it’s just £5 per night. www.broadwaysequencedance.co.uk Worcester Park Over 60’s Welcome Club 1st Monday each month from 1pm to 3pm at Christ

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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 when possible. 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 8337 2199.

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

Elmcroft Tuesday Badminton Club Fancy a friendly game of badminton? Please come along to the Tuesday evening badminton club at The Colin Peel Hall, Elmcroft Community Centre, 570 London Road, North Cheam, Surrey SM3 9AB. Try for free, no need to pay for first visit. If you are interested please contact Kwok on 07773085139 or email elmcroftbdmntn@gmail.com.

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

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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 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. 2-course lunch for suggested donation of £3 (to cover our costs).

Occasional speakers. Brian on 020 8224 6675 or Rowena on 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 Royal British

Legion, Hollyfield Road, Surbiton, KT5 AL. We have speakers, activities, coffee & chat.Other outings & activities are also arranged during the month.

Lorna on 020 8337 4121

Wednesdays

Talking of trains is steaming again!

The regular weekly meetings of Trains resume on Wednesday 18th September at 7pm in the Library Hall of Surbiton Library. The programme has a wide variety of topics as diverse as the Railways of Derbyshire area and rail preservation in France! We also welcome a senior Rail Freight manager for an overview of freight on Britain’s railways from the 19th to the 21st century.

The first meeting is free and then it is just £50 covering all of the 20 meetings. www.talkingoftrains.co.uk 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 Banstead Golf Club for a Lunch followed

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35

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. www.talking of trains.co.uk

Free Badminton taster session Come and enjoy playing BADMINTON with us!

Wednesdays 7:45pm to 9:15pm at Stoneleigh Methodist Church, Stoneleigh Crescent, KT19 0RT Interested? Please contact Will Ward: willjward@gmail, 020 8393 9779 or 07874 896211 or just turn up on the night. N.B. Spare racquets available - if requested beforehand.

Thursdays

The Malden and Coombe Townswomen’s Guild welcome new members. We meet at 10am on the third Thursday of the month at the United Reformed Church hall in New Malden. We are a friendly group of women of all ages and back-grounds. We have interesting speakers from various organisations; outings, clubs, bring and buy sales and competitions.

We are currently offering a first visit free of charge.

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

020 8337 7423

Tunes’n’Tea Come and enjoy an afternoon of live music, tea, coffee, cakes and conversation. Every month, a selection of Rock, Pop, Jazz, Country, Folk and Standards – great tunes, old and new for you to enjoy and join in with if you wish. There’s a live band and singers making a fun afternoon. Feel free to dance if the music moves you! The sessions take place on the 2nd Thursday of each month. 1.30pm-3.30pm St John’s Church Hall, Station Approach, Stoneleigh, KT19 0QZ (next to Stoneleigh Station, West Side) Entrance: £3.00 All Welcome!

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

36

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

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a professional speaker. March 2 Miss Anne Carter 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 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. 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

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New Malden Women’s Institute Christ Church New Malden, 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/ groups/epsom.

The Association of Surrey Bookbinders - we meet on Friday mornings in the Scout Hut in Dell Lane, StoneleighRoger@gmathews.co.uk 020 8330 2306 Bridge Club A friendly club for people who have just learned to play or are looking to improve their bidding and play in an informal atmosphere which promotes learning and development. We meet every Friday in the upstairs meeting room at the Worcester Park Library, Stone Place. from 2 - 4 pm. carlaplatten@gmail.com

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. Janet Kentish 020 8873 7006 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

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

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 8337 5472

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

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Gardening Pruning Perfection by Pippa Greenwood Winter is perfect for pruning and cutting back woody plants (except if it is really icy or frosty), so get stuck in now that deciduous trees, shrubs, hedges and climbers are bare of leaves. Remember that for pruning to really benefit the plant, you need the right tools.

For a small expanse of hedge or a shrub that needs reshaping, a good, sharp pair of well-oiled shears should do the job. When cutting along a hedge top, a guide line – such as a taut string – will help you get a neat, level surface. For larger hedges a powered hedge cutter or hedge trimmer is preferable.

Use ‘loppers’ for removal of stems at various heights and of varying thicknesses. These are available with various handle lengths (some have telescopic handles), so that you can reach higher. For relatively thick stems they are better than shears or secateurs and allow for accurate cutting. Wear goggles and ideally protective headgear if you have to cut back branches above your head.

Create sloping cuts with secateurs, loppers and saws to prevent moisture accumulating (wetness encourages wood rotting), and cut close to but not on top of a bud to allow new growth without dieback.

Stand back from time to time when pruning, to let you see how you are affecting the overall shape of the plant.

At Pippa’s website (www.pippagreenwood.com) you’ll find natural pest controls, stylish cloches, practical and pretty plant supports, the fantastic SpeedHoe, tools, planters, raised bed kits and the “Grow Your Own with Pippa” system. Or book Pippa for a talk at your gardening club.

Everybody needs a pair of good-quality sharp secateurs for pruning smaller woody stems. Always cut to an outward-facing bud (so that the new growth produced from that bud grows outwards). Secateurs are good for removing dead and dying stems, for formative pruning (to ensure the plant grows in the right direction), and for pruning to encourage flowering.

A proper pruning saw is necessary for pruning out or tidying up larger branches on trees and shrubs and is perfect for fruit trees. Use a sawing action for best results and make the pruning cut a few millimetres or so away from the main stem from which the branch you are removing is joined. A cut like this will heal quicker and is less prone to fungal rotting.

More pruning tips Always check the best pruning time for your plants – most hedges and many shrubs can be cut back now, but you may impact the flowering potential of others.

Some trees, mainly those in the Prunus family – such as edible and ornamental cherries, plums, apricots, damsons, peaches and nectarines – are prone to the potentially fatal fungal ‘silver leaf’ infection, and should be pruned in the summer months.

Pruning tools must be really sharp – blunt tools mean more effort and the risk of damage to the plant.

44

Unit 2 Chancerygate Business Centre Red Lion Road, Surbiton KT6 7RA

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Puzzle Time not so easy

fairly easy

Pictograms WIL

S

AM

2 words

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.

LI

TARGET Excellent: 22 or more words Good: 19 words Fair: 17 words

5 words

S

15:50

3 words CHEAP HAT MAGIC DIRTY 46

I

R

D P

E

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

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.

Quick Quiz Christmas Presents 1. In a well known children’s story, who does CindyLou Who catch stealing Christmas presents?

2. Launched in the run-up to Christmas in 1983, which toys were said to have been born at Babyland General Hospital?

3. In the 2013 TV advert for John Lewis, what did the hare get the bear as a Christmas present?

4. At the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, what does Scrooge arrange to be sent anonymously to the Cratchit family?

Christmas tree” is a line from which well known Christmas song?

8. In the 1996 film Jingle All the Way, what is the name of the toy that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character is desperately trying to get for his son as a Christmas present?

5. In the film Gremlins, what name does Billy give to the Mogwai he receives as a Christmas present?

9. Which 1997 novel by Terry Pratchett features a Santa Claus-like title character who gives presents to children on December 32nd?

6. On the TV show South Park, who brings presents to children whose diets have been high in fibre?

7. “I don’t care about the presents underneath the

10. What is the final item that the singer asks Santa for in the song Santa Baby?

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

47

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 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.

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.

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.

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+

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

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m ic s er a C

Porcelain | Natural Stone | Mosaics | Ceramics

Worcester Park Tiles

With 45 years of experience and extensive knowledge in the tiling industry, Worcester Park Tiles not only supplies a beautiful range of tiles sourced from all over the globe,

Po rc el

ai n

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tiling industry, Worcester Park Tiles not only supplies 382 the Malden Road, Worcester Park, KT4 7LN a beautiful range of tiles sourced from all over the globe, we also offer a unique tile fixing service with an enviable reputation To find out more visit our showroom in Surrey, 382 Malden Road, Worcester Park, KT4 7LN

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Solutions

CodeWord

Quiz

1. The Grinch (in How The Grinch Stole Christmas) 2. Cabbage Patch Kids 3. An alarm clock 4. A turkey 5. Gizmo 6. Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo 7. All I Want For Christmas Is You (by Mariah Carey) 8. Turbo-Man 9. The Hogfather 10. A ring (“Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring”)

Sudokus

Pictograms

1. Round Robin 2. One Step At A Time 3. Box Of Tricks

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