Worcester park life feb 15 by jenny stuart

Worcester Park Life

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February 15 issue 79

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Dear Readers

So how did you get on with your new years’ resolutions then? Are you more organised, fitter, thinner, or did you lower expectactions of self and tick the ‘could have done better’ box, like me! I am holding onto the hope that my motivation will come in February. I’ve been multitasking like crazy already this year and need to take some time out to focus on what I really want to achieve. I will fantasize about carrying out this life reflection whilst lying on a sunny peaceful beach, but the reality, you will not be surprised to hear, is that it’ll be hurtling through as many deadlines as I can while trying to retain a sense of order. Which reminds me, vying for top position on my list is renewing passport which sadly expired in November. Back in 2004 we were actually allowed to smile in passport photos. Each time I look at it I get a happy reminder of holdidays gone by. Looking on the bright side, at least us ladies are still allowed to wear make up…. Might hold off visiting the photo booth until I’ve parted with one of my chins though and better remind my other half that I am currently ‘out-of-date’ just in case he has notions of whisking me somewhere lovely for Valentines Day (ha ha!) But definitely in time for our summer holiday in Tuscany. Yay! Having been to holiday/camping parks in Italy in the past, after literally hours/days of trawling the internet (the choice it gives us is just incredible isn’t it) I’ve just booked an amazing looking villa, at a very reasonable cost for us and another family. So this is where the sceptic creeps up on me and the trust has to kick in. Is it really too good to be true? Have the photos all been taken at crafty angles? Have they exaggerated the facilities and proximity to the nearest pizzeria and wine bar? Or further down in the nightmare league, do they even own it?! You hear the (fortunately) occasional sad tale of people booking villas online, paying a hefty deposit then turning up find out it’s been a cruel scam. Well, fingers crossed that my new friend Francesca is the real deal… Now, back to Valentines Day. We have been invited to a series of functions to celebrate a marriage with the wedding ceremony actually taking place on the 14th. As pretty much all of our friends (of our age) tied the knot years ago, it is lovely that one of us (not me) has good (and, ehm, younger) work friends who are not only having weddings but also inviting us! We went to two great events last year and the forthcoming nuptials are the first Indian wedding we’ve been invited to which is very exciting. There are five functions over a series of dates – imagine the planning that requires, a full time job in itself. Oh dear, what to wear? Which takes us back my ambition to be fitter and thinner bit. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this month’s edition. Remember, we deliver to most homes every second month so if you’re not able to pick up a magazine on the months it’s not delivered to you, you can read it on your smart phone/tablet or PC. Until next month,,

Jenny

We also publish The Village Voice covering the KT3 postcode

Jenny Stuart, Editor & publisher P.S. Please remember to mention Worcester Park Life when replying to adverts, and get in touch by 16th February if you’d like your business, Club or event to feature in the March edition(s).

Contact jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk 020 8336 2915 www.maldenmedia.co.uk Malden Media Limited 36 Rosebery Avenue, KT3 4JS

Next copy deadlines: 16th February for Marchs’ editions 18th March for Aprils’

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Here at TFG we cater for every building service you may require Please contact our dedicated friendly team for a free estimate or any advice you may need. All of our teams of tradesmen are specialists in their own field. Domestic and Commercial work welcome - We hope we can be of service to you. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Worcester Park History

150 years of The Avenue by David Rymill

St Philip’s Church 140 years ago This month we look back 140 years to the opening of a church building which served the Cheam Common area from the 1870s to the 1970s. Today the Anglicans and Methodists worship in a fully ecumenical partnership at Christ Church with St Philip, in premises originally built by the Methodists, but a short distance to the north-west we can still visit the churchyard around the site of St Philip’s Church, opened in 1875 and closed in 1978 as a result of subsidence. When development began in this part of Worcester Park in the 1860s, the land to the north-east of Central Road was in Cheam parish. St Dunstan’s Church, 1½ miles away in Cheam village, was hardly

convenient for the new residents of Longfellow and Washington Roads, and the Revd Charles Hobbes Rice, who became Rector in August 1867, quickly took action to provide a place of worship. The first services were held in April 1868, in a room in a cottage at North End Place. Mr Rice, who was running the parish single-handed, began with a weekday lecture, soon followed by a service each Sunday at 7 pm. By 6th October a temporary Church Room had been installed on a field belonging to the churchwardens, close to where Dalmeny Road is now; the average attendance soon reached 70. In 1869 Mr Rice was able to appoint a curate, and from July there were morning and evening services in the Church Room. The morning sermons were aimed particularly at children; by December there were 62 children on the Sunday School register, and an average of 50 children at the service. In 1871 a house was built for the curate in charge of the Church Room. Curates during the early years included Henry Atwool MD (1869-70), Frederic Rose, previously curate of two Nottingham parishes and the deprived Clare Market district near Lincoln’s Inn Fields (1870-71), and Reginald Bigg-Wither (1871-74). The Rector took a broad view of his ministry to the people of Cheam Common: by 1870 an Infants’ School had been set up in the Church Room, the

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origin of today’s Cheam Common Infants’ School; a soup kitchen was opened in Thorn Cottage, close to the site of Balmoral Court; there were “penny readings” at which extracts from authors such as Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen were read; and a cricket club was formed in 1872. In June 1872 a meeting was held about the possibility of building a permanent church; it was decided to build a chapel-of-ease containing 150 seats in the first instance but designed to allow expansion. Plans were drawn up by the architects Slater and Carpenter, a partnership established by Richard Cromwell Carpenter who has been described as ‘the Anglican Pugin’ for his revival of medieval church architectural styles. His son Richard Herbert Carpenter, who designed St Philip’s, combined his father’s preference for medieval Gothic with touches drawn from his observations in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The site was donated by Hugh Lindsay Antrobus who lived at Lower Cheam House near the junction of Gander Green Lane and Cheam Road (Lindsay Road was, presumably, later named after him). The building fund soon reached £1,039. By November, the rising population was making the church room ever more crowded, and the idea of building a larger church in one stage was mooted. Early next year, a tender was received of £2,394 10s for a church seating 300 people. The parish magazine reported the laying of the foundation stone (by Mr Antrobus) in June 1873 in some detail: at 5.30 pm a long procession set out from the Church Room at Cheam Common, including choirs from both divisions of the parish and the Cheam Common school children. “On arriving at the ground, where a temporary platform had been erected and decorated for the occasion, the Special Service appointed to be used in Winchester diocese was intoned by the Rector … the choirs conducted by Mr Leaver performing their part very creditably.”

Tea was served afterwards in three large tents: “The tents decorated outside with pendant wreaths of wistaria and laburnum and inside with a profusion of flags and flowers, had a most inviting

appearance, and to judge from the length of time before the guests quitted them, they found the entertainment itself equally to its taste.” The church was opened for worship on 10th January 1875; for some time it remained a chapelry of St Dunstan’s, served by curates-in-charge. The Revd Thirlwall Gore Browne, curate in 1875, was one of the three sons of the Bishop of Winchester; he was probably named after Bishop Thirlwall of St David’s, with whom his father had become friends while Vice-Principal of St David’s College in Lampeter. The curacy was Mr Browne’s first post; he was later a Chaplain to his father, and Vicar or Rector of Tilford in Surrey and Fareham and Fawley in Hampshire. At 11 am on the opening day, Morning Prayer was read by Mr Browne, and the Rector celebrated Holy Communion and preached on Psalm 122 v 1 (“I was glad when they said unto me: We will go into the house of the Lord”); at 3 pm the Litany was read, and a sermon preached by the Revd W Chetwynd Stapleton of Malden. Finally, at 7 pm Evening Prayer was read, and a sermon preached by the previous curate, the Revd R F Bigg-Wither. One of our illustrations this month shows St Philip’s on a postcard postmarked in 1906 but probably looking much as it did in 1875; the other shows Thirlwall Gore Browne (reproduced from the Winchester Cathedral Archive at Hampshire Record Office, courtesy of the Dean and Chapter of Winchester). David.Rymill1993@alumni.aber.ac.uk (020) 8330 6563

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Care Be prepared for winter

Even though we’ve had the warmest year on record, it’s still possible that winter will be longer and colder than last year. One of the best ways of keeping yourself well during winter is to stay warm. This can help prevent colds, flu or more serious health conditions, especially if you are vulnerable to coldrelated illnesses because of your age, your income, a disability or health condition. Keeping warm – top tips from local charity Staywell Make sure you’re getting the financial support you’re entitled to - call Staywell’s First Contact service for more information – 020 8408 8170. Dress appropriately, in layers of thinner clothes rather than one thick layer. Stay active, alternate rest and activity, but don’t take risks in wet or icy weather. Eat well, sip hot drinks regularly throughout the day and stock up on provisions in case you can’t get out to the shops. Set your heating to the right temperature (18–21°C/64–70°F) in the rooms you use during the day. If you don’t want to heat your bedroom all the time, make sure it’s warm before you go to bed and use the timer to make sure it’s warm when you get up. If you use an electric blanket, make sure it’s safe. A guide on using, caring for and storing electric blankets is available from Electrical Safety First electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice.

house including transport to medical appointments, shopping for essentials or regular phone calls. Information and advice Referral to energy advice services; assistance in claiming all appropriate benefits to maximise income available for paying energy bills. Want to get out of the house when it’s cold and wintry? Companionship, activities and hot meals are available at Staywell centres in New Malden and Kingston, and we are extending opening times during the winter to include some weekends. Get in touch to find out more: 020 8942 8256.

Help your neighbours in winter Check on older neighbours or relatives to make sure they’re safe and well. Make sure they’re warm enough, especially at night, and have stocks of food and medicines so they don’t need to go out during very cold weather. If you’re worried about a relative or an elderly neighbour, contact your local council or ring Staywell for advice. Winter support services Staywell provides a range of services seven days a week to help you stay warm and be safe this winter. Handyperson Practical help with little jobs around the home including clearing snowy paths, draught-proofing homes, fixing grab rails and providing free winter warmth packs. Stay Well at Home Support if you are unwell or can’t get out of the To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

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JANUARY 2015 PROPERTY MARKET UPDATE Portal Wars The end of January sees the launch of a new property portal to challenge Rightmove & Zoopla. Portals are launched regularly and, equally regularly, disappear without trace but this one may be different. Over the years Rightmove and Zoopla have very substantially increased their fees to agents and naturally none are keen on that. Of course we all dislike paying more than we have to for anything but, to add perspective, the amount we spend on portal advertising is still on a par with our pre-internet spend on newspaper adverts and is considerably more effective. Feelings though are strong and the new portal has been set up by agents, for agents, to cut costs and break the duopoly. A little over half of eventual buyers first enquire and register, often months before they actually buy, via one of the “big 2” which are therefore a very important means of advertising property. Registered buyers are then the first to hear about new properties coming to market that might be of interest. Sometimes that’s a few days before the property goes onto the internet, sometimes a few weeks, but some of our properties are not advertised on the internet until they are sold. Local buyers are more likely to favour Rightmove. Londoners, who are increasingly interested in our area, and younger people tend to prefer Zoopla. That said there is quite a lot of local loyalty to Zoopla for two main reasons. Firstly when they absorbed FindaProperty, which was very strong in Surrey, enquiries were redirected to Zoopla. Secondly Zoopla drive the content for most national newspaper property sections. It’s seamless so you might not be aware that’s where they have been redirected to, but many are therefore browsing Zoopla as they commute or catch up on the news on their tablet. Where and how you search for property online hasn’t really mattered to date. That is about to change. Advertisers on the new portal must agree to cease advertising on either Zoopla or Rightmove. Consequently in future everybody will need to look at both to get a full picture of what’s available and will be encouraged to look at the third new portal as well. Let’s be honest, that’s just adding a bit more stress to the whole house hunting experience! We would prefer a one stop shop, one leading portal, the go to website for all properties but there would be a distinct downside to that and it’s one of the plus points for the current Rightmove/Zoopla battle. The two main portals are constantly vying for market share, constantly advertising, developing their sites and extending their reach to improve user experience, provide better information and attract greater footfall. If the new portal’s principal aim was to do things better we would be delighted to join, and it would fit very nicely indeed with our own ethos. At this time we do not believe that our vendor’s best interests are served by dropping either of the two main portals, and we don’t believe the introduction of a new portal has simplified the process for buyers at all. Whilst many agents have signed up, and each will have their own reasons, there are many, including the biggest agency in the country, who have not and are unlikely to. We will keep an eye on how things develop and if in the future we consider there is a better solution for our clients then we will change our advertising strategy accordingly. In the meantime you will find all our properties on both Rightmove and Zoopla. 



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Ruth Jemmett Writes Pancakes And Passion Ruth Jemmett Looks At February - The Month Of Self-Denial And Love When I was a little convent girl many years ago, the nuns would ask me to think of things I would endeavour to go without during the period of Lent. Those of a Christian persuasion will know that Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (18th February this year) and covers a period of the six weeks preceding Easter Sunday. It is meant to be a time of prayer, penance and self-denial. As a child living in deprived circumstances in post-war Britain, I used to find it hard to think of anything I could go without! My only luxury was sweets, so I would copy my class-mates, and tell the nuns that I would be foregoing my beloved farthing ‘chews’ for a while. How I missed them! Today’s children probably wouldn’t miss the odd sweet, but to my generation, the consumption of teeth-rotting confectionaries played a large part in our lives, so their absence was sorely missed! The day before Lent starts is Shrove Tuesday, a time when households have traditionally cleared their food cupboards of luxuries, and try to eat simply, in preparation for what lies ahead. When February arrives it brings a feeling of relief with it, as we start to see the first signs of Spring. How I rejoice when I see those snowdrop heads struggling through the earth! Here in Salisbury Road some brave souls can actually be seen doing the odd bit of gardening! Most people associate February with Valentine’s Day, but few of us know the story behind the man. Valentinius - as he was really known - was a widely recognised 3rd Century Roman priest, whom we commemorate on 14th February. The world that he inhabited discouraged marriage between one man and one woman - particularly young ones - as men were expected to join the army, and it was believed that married soldiers who adored their wives, might not be prepared to take too many risks in battle, for fear of what would happen to those left behind if they died. Polygamy was actively encouraged, as it was thought that a man who had several women in his life would have a more cavalier attitude. (He would probably not be too unhappy to die on a battlefield if he knew he had six mother-in-laws to face on his return home!). Valentine - ever the romantic - secretly performed marriage services between young couples, and for that supposed crime he was arrested, imprisoned, and

tortured. Legend has it that whilst he was in prison he performed many saintly acts - one of them being to supposedly heal a blind girl. While he was waiting to be decapitated, he apparently wrote to the girl in question, and signed the missive “From your Valentine ….”. The rest, as they say, is history.

Cynics everywhere will say that they need no annual proof of their beloved’s devotion, but I am sure that even the hardest heart softens when a Valentine Card drops onto the front door mat! When I was in my teens I received a Valentine Card from a young postman who often delivered our mail. He asked if he could take me out. He wasn’t my idea of love’s young dream. ( I liked stamp-collecting at the time, but even the thought of him possibly getting me special issues didn’t sway me!). I had to politely decline his offer, but I secretly gloated over the fact that someone had found me attractive! I have kept all the cards sent to me during my life-time, and it is very cheering to occasionally go down Memory Lane, and to look at what the Romeos of one’s youth thought of you!

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During the Victorian era Valentine Cards suddenly became big business, with many of them being literally swathed in hearts and flowers. Many of them - as now - were sent anonymously, this adding to the romance of the occasion. Although soppy cards will always be in fashion, modern card shops boast an equal number of funny ones and very rude ones! Love is a very strange thing, that in reality bears very little resemblance to the overblown romantic images that are hurled at us in films and books. Love, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. How often do we hear ourselves muttering “Whatever can she see in him/her?”!!! Mutual love comes in all sorts of guises. Of course we all aspire to the concept of Happy Ever After, but the truth is that finding blissful happiness with another person is often attained after a few false starts, frequent disillusionment, with the background sound of rose-tinted glasses being smashed. Whoever penned the words “For Better or for worse” in the marriage service knew what they were talking about! Acceptance of someone with all their faults is what love is all about. I think the famous wit, the late Dorothy Parker, got it right when she said: “By the time you swear you’re his, Shivering and sighing, And he vows his passion is infinite, undying Lady, make a note of this: One of you is lying”.

On a more positive note, I recently read about an elderly couple who had been married for over sixty years. They died within a few days of each other. Apparently this is not such an unusual occurrence, so perhaps in this hard old world the flame of true love really does exist. However you celebrate Valentine’s Day I hope that Cupid’s arrow heads your way, and that the palpitations in your heart won’t be entirely due to premature overindulgence of Easter eggs. Love can flourish in the most unlikely places. Dear Sir John Betjeman immortalised that special feeling in his poem “In A Bath Teashop”, when he said: “Let us not speak, for the love we bear one another Let us hold hands and look” She, such an ordinary little woman: He, such a thumping crook; But both, for a moment, little lower than angels In the tea-shop’s ingle-nook ….. May the angels of love flutter over you all in Worcester Park on 14th February …. Ruth Jemmett is a Member of The Society of Authors

A bit brutal, eh?!

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Clubs The Sutton Mariners Sutton Mariners, a local offshore sailing club based in Sutton, is holding an “Open Evening” on Thursday 12th March at the Borough Sports Ground, home of Sutton United FC, Gander Green Lane, SM1 2EY.

Visitors will be made very welcome from 8pm onwards where they can meet club members and discover where and what we sail around the Solent and south coast areas. We are a small but friendly club of about 60 members who meet every Thursday evening to listen to interesting speakers and enjoy nautical chit chat. We have around a dozen boat owners amongst us providing crewing opportunities during the summer months. If you are interested in getting afloat why not come along and meet us – we’re sure you will enjoy the experience. Visit our website at suttonmariners.org.uk .

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

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

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Baking Red velvet cake This luscious cake is an American classic and has a vibrant red coloured chocolate sponge filled with a tangy soft cheese frosting and dark chocolate icing. Serves 8 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes plus cooling and chilling

For the cake

300g plain flour 2 tsp bicarbonate of soda 4 tbsp cocoa powder 235g butter, softened, plus extra for greasing 300g caster sugar 3 medium eggs, beaten 200ml buttermilk 11/2 tsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp liquid red food colouring FOR THE CHOCOLATE ICING 140g plain chocolate, broken into pieces 75g butter, diced 75ml double cream FOR THE FROSTING 55g unsalted butter, softened ½ tsp vanilla extract 115g icing sugar, sifted 115 g full-fat soft cheese 1 tbsp mini chocolate chips, to decorate Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease and line the bases of 3 x 20cm round sandwich tins. Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and cocoa powder into a bowl and set aside. Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and using an electric whisk beat together until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs then beat in the buttermilk, vanilla extract and red food colouring. Fold in the sifted flour mixture. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared tins and level the surfaces. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until risen and just firm to the touch. Leave the sponges in the tins for 10 minutes then turn

out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. To make the chocolate icing, put the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Leave until melted. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir the mixture until smooth. Cool for 2-3 minutes then stir in the cream. Leave at room temperature for 20-30 minutes then chill in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally until the icing is just thick enough to spread. To make the frosting place the softened butter in a bowl and beat in the vanilla extract. Gradually beat in the sifted icing sugar until very smooth and thoroughly blended, then beat in the soft cheese. Don’t overbeat or the icing will start to go runny. To assemble the cake, sandwich all three sponges together with two-thirds of the frosting and nearly all of the chocolate icing (reserve 1-2 tbsp for decorating the top of the cake). Spread the rest of the frosting around the sides and over the top of the cake, smoothing it with a spatula. Gently reheat the rest of the chocolate icing in the microwave on low setting for a few seconds – it needs to be just soft enough to pipe. Spoon the icing into a paper piping bag and snip off the end. Pipe swirls of icing on top of the cake then sprinkle with chocolate chips. Chill in the fridge until ready to eat.

TIP

To add an extra sweetness and colour to the cake, place 2 tbsp granulated sugar in a bag with a little red food colouring paste. Rub the bag between your fingertips to colour the sugar. Use a palette knife to coat the coloured sugar around the side of the frosted cake. Only add this final touch just before serving the cake otherwise the sugar will dissolve into the frosting.

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Days Out Shoreditch Street Tours One of the main blessings of living and working in our neck of the woods is our close proximity to the cultural capital of the World, London. We all know about the galleries and museums, about Turner and Hirst but did you know that London is also the spiritual home of the latest phenomenon in the art world, street art? Thanks to the work of home grown talent such as Banksy, Eine and D*Face as well as a myriad of visiting artists from abroad, outdoor walls across the capital but most notably in an area just the other side of the City Of London called Shoreditch are host to the latest work from some of the most exciting and popular artists of our times. The real breakthrough for this art form came around 10 years ago when the humorous and satirical cartoons of Banksy started to appear in the mainstream press. A cluster of edgy galleries thriving in dilapidated chic sprung up to support the clamour for art by these cool artists. Now, a canvas by Eine hangs in the White House after David Cameron gave it as a gift to Obama and Banksy received an Oscar

nomination in 2011 for his street art documentary “Exit Through The Gift Shop”. Think it’s all rubbishy scrawling perpetuated by criminals who just haven’t been caught yet? Maybe time to take a trip into Shoreditch to let an expert unwrap all the fascinating elements of this colourful and energetic art form. An exhilarating 3 – 4 hours walking with Dave from Shoreditch Street Art Tours will flash by as he reveals the artists, the locations, the huge variety of techniques, the history of the movement and the anecdotes. Most of all, from small stencils to epic commissioned murals, the whole time is filled with breath taking photogenic art.

WORCESTER PARK RBL ENTERTAINMENTS TEAM PRESENTS...... WORCESTER PARKS HOME OF ENTERTAIMENT Every Saturday dancing to one of our Bands Every Friday Crazy Joker Draw Every 1st Wednesday of the month women’s section bingo Every Friday& Sunday Bingo in the evening Every Day keenly priced bar prices Every Mon -Sat the kitchen is open 12-2-30pm The Club has many activities you can join in on. In Fact Every Day is packed full of fun and relaxation in the club come and join today meet the team, ask at the bar on how to join. We are seeking new members this month so why delay join today FREE 1st DRINK when you join In February only.

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Without doubt among the talent you will see on the walls of Shoreditch are the future stars of tomorrow’s art world as many of these artists succeed in making the transition into fine art galleries. The tour starts close to Liverpool St on the very edge of the City and winds its way around narrow streets build by the French Huguenot in the 1700s, into off street car parks and legitimate painting spots where artists provide a constantly evolving vista of art, up through the colour and fragrances of Brick lane, past vintage clothing stalls and flash boutiques, the journey is breathtaking. The real beauty is the explanation and commentary provided by an expert writer and photographer who has been immersed in the scene for nearly 10 years and fills in all the information that can’t be seen with the naked eye.

The timing works well for a day trip, take the morning tour starting at 10am and finish perfectly in time for lunch in Shoreditch or perhaps head up to town, have an early lunch first then take an afternoon tour running from 1.30 until just before 5. A lovely short break in one of those unique trendy Shoreditch coffee shops allows for a rest and any bathroom needs. In the Summer, shorter 2 hour mid week evening street art tours provide a wonderful insight to the art in the area. www.shoreditchstreetarttours.co.uk All photos Dave Stuart (aka “NoLionsInEngland”), www.flickr.co.uk/nolionsinengland

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Clubs

What ages? We have opportunities for anyone from 18 to retirement and beyond.

1st Cuddington (Warspite) Sea Scout Group

Need to know any knots? We can teach those to 8 year olds, so no problems with adults! We think knots are rather useful - in 2014 they made sure our boats stayed where we left them, our tents didn’t fall down and that our catapults stood up.

Looking forwards to 2015....

Fun? Friendship? Putting something back into the community? If these sound like your New Years resolutions, then we might be able to help. 1st Cuddington (Warspite) Sea Scouts; who are both one of Worcester Park’s best kept secrets and one of the UK’s leading Sea Scout Group, are recruiting adult volunteers to join their team. What sort of roles? We are looking for adults who want to make a difference. For some this will be helping with a youth section, for others it will be a “behind the scenes” role. All offer flexibility and the chance to be part of a large and successful team.

Any checks? Yes - we will carry out a DBS check on anyone working with young people. Can I get afloat? Yes, we have around 60 boats and the skills to use them. Are we any good? To quote the Royal Navy: “a very lively, outgoing and well-respected Sea Scout Group” or perhaps a parent “While Warspite teaches important skills - you never lose the focus on having fun too” To find out more about us, and how you or your children could join the adventure, find us on the web at www.warspite.org.uk; on facebook at www. facebook.com/warspiteseascouts or via emails to scouts@warspite.org.uk. The group is open to boys & girls from 5 ¾ to 18; with opportunities for adult volunteering.

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Tea Time 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. 1

13 20

14 14

24 12

18 9

18 22

9 8

14 10

22 24

12 9

11 26

2 3

12 2

18 22

9 8

12 20

6 24

22 12

17 14

11 18

8 11

13 12

2 7

15 4

16 3

When times are tough you have to shout about your business

EVEN LOUDER 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 itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple and effective - but then the best ideas always are.

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View from the City

by Justin Urquhart Stewart

Will the Greeks lose their marbles (again)? There has been much hyperbole over the potential for Greece to be thrown out of the Euro single currency scheme. Let us leave aside the fact that they should never have been allowed to join in the first place and subsequently persuading weak minded politicians to allow Cyprus entrance as well; after all it seems pointless to resurrect such a work of fiction that was the financial description of the Greek economy at that time. The result is a mess that we all know, but the question is now what to do about it. The fundamental flaws in the design of the Euro are still there and will continue to be until someone is able to force through the vital disciplines needed to run a single currency across multinational borders and economies. That will take a long time. I was reminded this week when looking at an old Confederate $5 bill of mine that of course the USA we know today had to go through something far worse to achieve a single currency. When thinking of that holocaust and conflagration, somehow the potential financial losses and write-offs make the management of Greek debt pale into some correct insignificance. The fact is that the financial value of Greek debt, whilst including a lot of noughts, is not that significant when compared to the value of the Eurozone. The question though is one of politics rather than economics. So will Greece be defenestrated from the Euro? The answer is very likely no. Why? Well one concern is the confidence of the markets around everything from the weak Eurozone economy through to the viability of its banking system. The other key issue is one of precedent. The Euro deliberately didn’t design an exit mechanism as, quite rightly, one could see this becoming a rotating

door of an excuse for populist politicians seeking a coward’s way out of unpopular policies and thus forcing greater financial discipline and good sound husbandry.

There would also be an issue in that if Syriza were elected as the ruling party and the Euro powers just “kow tow” to their needs, then what message does this send to the other extreme parties in some of the peripheral nations of the Eurozone? What would happen if the Chorizo party in Spain were to follow on with such a claim of “reform or we leave”? Actually the Spanish party isn’t called Chorizo but Podemos (translates as “We Can” - as in Bob the Builder I suppose). What is likely to happen will be two fold. Firstly there will be the realisation that the Greek debt is already dead debt, but that it cannot under current ECB and Euro rules be admitted as such. So the ECB will very likely come up with a new phrase or forgettable acronym (which they are well practised at) for

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parcelling the debt into a corner such that it will still exist and still incur a nominal minute interest but in effect become undated debt never to mature. Secondly the ECB will then devise further descriptive terms that will allow significant investment into the single currency zone to ensure that both investor and consumer confidence are bolstered and sustained. This is going to be vital not just to get the economy going, but also to negate the issues surrounding deflation which if left unattended could turn into something more in the style of Japan for the past two decades. Deflation itself does not have to be negative, but it is dependent upon the confidence of consumer and businesses to see it as an economic opportunity and not as an excuse not to spend, invest, employ and pay more. That path leads to Tokyo, the other turns a cost cut into a market discount! So Greece in a forced exit may sound like strong financial management, but in fact could lead us into far more economic difficulty following the law of unintended consequences – and a precedent for that? Lehmans.

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No here actually is an opportunity for the ECB to press the restart button with the potential for a new currency contract. So what could this new Euro currency contract be? Well, how about the ECB freeze the current debt (in a suitable frame of words that does not include the words “write” and “off”) and that all new primary budgets come under central control of the ECB – with local expenditure localized under national budgetary control. Egos are stroked, pride protected and face saved. So how would we know if this were to work? Well just see the return of confidence to the European banking system which has been so hard pressed recently. So don’t throw the Greeks out, and don’t let them lose any more marbles, but use this as a moment of reform. Justin Urquhart Stewart is one of the most recognisable and trusted market commentators on television, radio and in the press. Originally trained as a lawyer he has observed the retail market industry for 20 years whilst at Barclays Stockbrokers and developed a unique understanding of the market’s roles and benefits for the private investor

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1. Inspired by a Monty Python sketch, what term is used to refer to unsolicited email that is normally sent in bulk? 2. What colour is the letter “e” in the eBay logo? 3. In 2012, the music video for which song became the first YouTube video to achieve one billion views? 4. Named by removing the letter “v” from a word that means “a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people”, what was the first ever internet search engine? 5. The 2010 film The Social Network is centred around which website? 6. What does “AFK” normally stand for when used in an internet chat room? 7. Who invented the world wide web and, in 2004, who was knighted “for services to the global development of the internet”? 8. What name is given to a file that a website sends to your computer to store information such as your user name, personalised settings or shopping cart contents, and that can be used when you return to that website to present you with custom content? 9. In 2013, Martha Lane Fox became the youngest female member of the House of Lords. Which website is she best known for founding in 1998? 10. Increasing difficult to find, what is a Googlewhack?

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1. Spam 2. Red 3. Gangnam Style 4. Archie (named after the word “archive”) 5. Facebook 6. Away from keyboard 7. Tim Berners-Lee 8. A cookie 9. Lastminute.com 10. A google search on two valid words that results in just one result

The Internet

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1. Spam 2. Red 3. Gangnam Style 4. Archie (named after the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;archiveâ&#x20AC;?) 5. Facebook 6. Away from keyboard 7. Tim Berners-Lee 8. A cookie 9. Lastminute.com 10. A google search on two valid words that results in

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R A E A M C 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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Wa r S to ries Wednesday 18 February

Myths & Legends of WW1 Amidst the horror and terror of the trenches the troops always found the time to tell tales to booster their morale. Join us to listen to Janet Dowling, an award winning story teller, recount and explore some of these tales. Did the English dead of Agincourt arise to fight again alongside their British comrades? Decide if the Angels of Mons really appeared with sword in hands to come to the Allies aid. Discover this and more and perhaps try to make up our own tale in a fascinating session. “The

Myths & Legends 11am—12.30pm The men who said “No” to war 2pm-3.30pm £5 per child or £8 for both sessions Includes 1 free adult per child

Angels of Mons” - W.H. Margetson

The men who said “No” to war What does a man do when his conscience tells him not to fight? What happens when the experiences at the front leave a soldier unable to return to fight and changes him from the man he once was? Do you think that there are ever ways to resolve a conflict without fighting? Hear some of the stories of these men and discover the secret history of WW1.

Further information is available from David Brooks, Bourne Hall Museum, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 1UF. Tel: 020 8394 1734 Email: dbrooks@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Join Janet Dowling, award winning story teller, to explore this little known aspect of the war. http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/BourneHallMuseumClub.html

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

Worcester Park £899,950

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TRADE & DOMESTIC CUSTOMERS WELCOME

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What’s On Book an appointment by calling 0300 123 23 23 St Philip, Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park KT4 8LG 26 Feb, 2 to 4.30pm 5.30 to 8pm Sutton, The Thomas Wall Centre, Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey., SM1 4DP 12th Feb 2 to 4.30pm 5.30 to 8pm St James’s Church Hall, Bodley Road, New Malden KT3 5QE 11th Feb 2 to 4.30pm 5.30 to 8pm A.F.C Wimbledon Football Club, Jack Goodchild Way, 422A Kingston Road KT1 3PB 2nd April, 2014 2 to 4.30pm 5.30 to 8pm

goblins, in a celebration of nature and green spaces in Epsom and Ewell. Floral displays provided by Ashtead Nurseries will form the central feature, supported by children’s activities from the Hobbledown Mysterical Adventure, with demonstrations of rustic skills and a craft fair adding to the entertainment. The St. Mary’s Morris Men will welcome the spring, Huxley’s Birds of Prey will show the flying skills of hawks and falcons and the Woodland Trust will let visitors share in the creation of the national memorial wood on Epsom Downs. There will be a treasure hunt for the fairies hidden in the garden, and a chance for children to enter the fancy dress competition as a little sprite. Herald of Spring is open from 9 to 5 at Bourne Hall in Ewell Village, KT17 1UF.

Local Markets

Epsom Playhouse,

Give blood

Cheam Village Friday Market Small indoor market with 28 stalls held in Cheam Parochial Rooms, The Broadway, Cheam Village, Surrey. Helping the Royal Marsden Hospital. Market Days: Friday North Cheam Farmers’ Market – 3rd Saturday of every month, 9.30am-1.30pm, North Cheam Crossroads outside the Post Office, KT4 8SG. Christmas Market: Saturday 21st December Sutton Local Produce and Craft Market, Sat 30th November, 10am-4pm, Town Square, Sutton High Street New Malden Farmer’s Market 1st Saturday of the month The car park beside the Foutain Pub 9am to 2pm Surbiton Farmers Market Maple Road 3rd Saturday of the month 9am-1pm

Nonsuch Park

Nonsuch Park is a link to Tudor England. The Palace that once stood here was a hugely expensive symbol of Henry VIII’s power. The Friends of Nonsuch offer guidance to a 7 feet model which has been created from contemporary documentation, paintings and an excavation of the Palace site in 1959. The model is on display in the Stable Wing of the much later Nonsuch Mansion in the heart of Nonsuch Park. The model is open from 11 am until 3 pm every Sunday in November and December; admission £2.50; cars via Cheam Gate. For further information please visit the website at www.friendsofnonsuch.co.uk

Herald of Spring

here are fairies at the bottom of the garden… and you can see them if you come to Bourne Hall for the popular Herald of Spring festival on Saturday 14th March. The building will be transformed with springtime imagery of flower fairies and garden

Ashley Avenue, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5AL (01372) 742555 / 742227

“REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY IN THE HISTORY OF COMEDY (abridged)” Sunday 1 February 7.30pm Tickets: £16.00 Pass Card: £14.00 Written and Directed by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor. They’ve skewered history, the Bible and the world’s most celebrated playwright, now the Reduced Shakespeare Company tackles the subject it was born to reduce. Following a hugely successful, critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 the Reduced Shakespeare Company will set

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out to reduce the UK to tears of laughter in Spring 2015. Tickets to The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) are far more affordable than tickets to an amusement park, but you’ll come away with the same feeling of nausea and motion sickness. From the high-brow to the low and everything in-between, the bad boys of abridgment leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in 90 rollicking minutes. “This show proves (the Reduced Shakespeare Company) have not lost their touch - or their remarkable energy.” The Stage - “Playful and clever. There is an unmistakable joy in watching the company at work.” The List - “Wonderfully hilarious!” Across The Arts - “These guys are hilarious. Everyone should see this show!” Freshair.org.uk - “The Reduced Shakespeare Company are back, doing what they do best.” What’s On Stage - “Good fun!” Jeremy Paxman - “The trio deliver 90 minutes filled with laughter to a delighted audience.” British Theater Guide - “Critic’s Pick! Wit, creativity and lots of laughter.” Fringe Biscuit - “A wild, wild ride! It’s funny. Really, really funny... And most of all, it’s really, really smart.” Cincinnati Enquirer. THE PAPER MOON THEATRE COMPANY proudly presents “THE MAGNIFICENT MUSIC HALL MATINEE” Tuesday 3 February 2.30pm Tickets: £16.00 Pass Card: £14.50 Step back in time to the glorious and glamourous days of traditional Victorian Music Hall. This glittering galaxy of stars from BBC TV’s The Good Old Days will delight and entertain you with songs, dance, magic and laughter portraying with great wit and warmth this truly golden era. Carefree, Cheerful and Uniquely British. “This is cutting edge Victoriana- beloved by the British and their visitors” Time Out. Unmissable!

MAGICAL MOZART BY CANDLELIGHT Thursday 5 February 7.30pm Tickets: £21.50 Pass Card: £20.00 From the Producers of A Viennese Strauss Gala, this sumptuous fully costumed show immerses us in the wonderful music and the classical baroque world of one of the world’s greatest romantic composers - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With beautiful settings, costumes and lighting, and of course candles, the European Baroque Ensemble and Singers transport you back to the sumptuous past. InY the “Magical Mozart by Candlelight” a packed programmeOU of classical music R and song, which includes excerpts from Mozart’s Operas such as: The Magic Flute, the Marriage of Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutte, and many more. Mozart’s most popular, and famous operas are all beautifully sung by world class soloists who alongside the Ensemble perform some of his most memorable pieces of Mozart’s Magical music including; Symphony no. 40, Lacrimosa (Requiem D minor), and Eine Kleine Nacht Musik. An Evening of Mozart Masterpieces! “A Sublime evening…Magical, it certainly was!” (Jersey Evening Post) DANCING QUEEN ‘THE CONCERT Friday 6 February 7.30pm Tickets: £21.50 Dancing Queen ‘The Concert’ is an action packed party show featuring all the greatest smash hits from Abba, Grease and the 70’s! With a fantastic cast of singers and musicians, this is the In night that will have the whole family In ultimate party dancing Worcester North in the isles! Featuring Abba classics such as Dancing Queen, Park Cheam Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Knowing Me, Knowing You, and Thank You For The Music, along with the biggest 70’s hits like Summer Nights, Grease Lightning, You’re The One That I Want, Car Wash, YMCA, Boogie Spañish Nights and Love is inpreparing the Air. Definitely not a Learn while tapas night to be missed!! y o u r

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Worcester Park

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BEVERLEY CRAVEN Saturday 7 February 7.30pm Tickets: £18.50 BRIT-Award winner Beverley Craven will be performing a special concert at the Playhouse in support of her recent album, ‘Change of Heart’. Beverley will be accompanied by some of her favourite musicians and support will come from Singer/Songwriter Michael Armstrong. Bev is looking forward to performing her new songs live alongside timeless classics Promise Me, Holding On, Woman To Woman, Love Scenes and many more. With a witty narrative and unforgettable melodies, her poignant sentiments will leave you with a warm glow of nostalgia, or maybe even the odd tear. AN EVENING OF POETRY & MUSIC (Classical & Brazilian) in the Myers Studio Saturday 7 February 7.30pm Tickets: £10.00 Concessions: £8.00 ‘The mysteries of Reality’ with some poems by women in WW1. Flute: Lucas Jordan, Guitar: Fabricio Mattos, Poetry: Audrey Ardern-Jones. The two musicians are of International repute and are known for their collaboration as part of d#Gents. Audrey is a published poet and has worked with the musicians as part of the Poetry & Music Ensemble. JONGLEURS COMEDY ON THE ROAD “Radio Jackie Comedy Festival” Tuesday 10 February 8.00pm Tickets: £13.00 Back by popular demand, Jongleurs comedy is returning to Epsom! They tore the roof off last time, so now the country’s best stand-up comedians are gracing our stage once more. Brought to you by Jongleurs, the UK’s number one comedy company, they’ll have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. Don’t miss this chance to see another two hours of today’s funniest stand-up – book your tickets now! (Line up subject to change. 16+ Age restriction. THE ELO EXPERIENCE Friday 13 February 7.30pm Tickets: £20.00 The legacy left by Jeff Lynne & The Electric Light Orchestra barely needs any introduction – suffice to say that between 1972 and 1986 they achieved more combined UK and US Top 40 hits than any other band on the planet! ‘10538 Overture’, ‘Evil Woman’, ‘Living Thing’, ‘Diary of Horace Wimp’, Don’t Bring me Down’ and of course ‘Mr Blue Sky’ went on to become the soundtrack of our lives. Blending rock rhythms with classical influences, ELO also released many classic albums such as ‘A New World Record’, ‘Discovery’ and ‘Out of the Blue’, and many sell out tours further established them as one of the most important and influential bands ever. Formed over 7 years ago, The ELO Experience are the world’s foremost tribute to this great band. With a stunning light show and large screen projection to further enhance the experience, why not come along and enjoy this incredible show which accurately reproduces the songs and sounds and takes you on a musical journey through time. ‘This band shows great style and professionalism. A tribute that’s jam-packed with musical talent, the lead singer is a dead-ringer for Lynne and his musical entourage provides an ELO tour de force’ Derek Smith, The Stage To find out more, read reviews and comments etc. please visit www.elotribute.com “ROCK N ROLL PARADISE” Saturday 14 February 7.30pm Tickets: £19.50 Pass Card: £18.50 Rock ‘n’ Roll Paradise is a brilliant rock ‘n’ roll show where the music plays the leading role! Now in its 6th year on the road, this incredibly talented cast brings you the show that never happened in the golden era of rock and roll, but delivered with all the flair of a 21st century live concert. You’ll be blown away by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, the Big Bopper and Eddie Cochran, as these icons of rock and roll

join each other on stage for this musical extravaganza. Backed by the superb Paradise Band, this show has audiences dancing in the aisles, singing along with the music and yelling for more. Whether you saw these guys the first time round or are just a fan of live music, Rock ‘n’ Roll Paradise has something for everyone in this feel-good, two hour celebration of the magic of rock and roll, with over 40 songs packed into this roof raising critically acclaimed show. Go and see this show as soon as you can. Brought to you by Lord Tim of Accelerator Entertainments, Rock ‘n’ Roll Paradise is, quite simply, the best tribute show touring today. www.rocknrollparadise.com PSYCHIC SALLY ON THE ROAD Monday 16 February 7.30pm Tickets: £25.00 World-renowned psychic and the star of TV’s Psychic Sally on the Road, Sally Morgan returns with the sensational live show. An ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift, she believes that she has been able to communicate with people beyond the grave. Throughout her career, Sally has built up an extensive client list to include high profile celebrities. Once a ‘best kept secret’ she is now referred to a Britain’s best-loved psychic. Now in her seventh year on tour, Sally continues to wow audiences in fits of laughter, bringing a refreshing twist to the work of mediums. Each show is completely unique! Sally hopes that people will leave feeling enlightened and more open-minded about the thought of an afterlife. This show is investigational and for the purpose of entertainment. ONLY FOOLS AND BOYCIE - AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES ACTOR JOHN CHALLIS Thursday 19 February 7.30pm Tickets: £15.00 Enjoy an intimate evening with John Challis, one of the nation’s greatest comedy actors, best known as Boycie in BBC1’s Only Fools and Horses. In this one-off show the national treasure will reveal secrets from the set with stories and anecdotes from his dazzling career. Having worked with some of the biggest names in show business, he’ll be spilling the beans about Only Fools and Horses co-stars like Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst and friends and fellow performers like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Oliver Reed and George Best. He’ll also recall tales from his time in Dr Who, Coronation Street and other TV classics. Mr Challis will also meet fans after the show to sign autographs and pose for pictures, while signing copies of his autobiography, Being Boycie, and novel, Reggie: A Stag At Bay. ALL THE NICE GIRLS in the Myers Studio Thursday 19 February 7.45pm Tickets: £10.50 Pass Card: £8.50 ‘All The Nice Girls’ takes an entertaining glimpse at the lives of Gwen Farrar and Norah Blaney through the eyes of male impersonator Ella Shields. Starting out in Lena Ashwell’s concert parties for the troops in WW1 the young Farrar and Blaney quickly adapted their classical ‘cello/piano act into a ‘turn’ full of repartee and physical humour. Household names in the early 1920s Farrar and Blaney had an on and offstage partnership, singing popular love songs of the day to each other in West End Revues and living together openly. At the same time Ella Shields’ Music Hall act was in decline. ‘All The Nice Girls’ imagines her fictitious reaction to the younger pair as they live the starry life of Bright Young Things. Will their relationship survive the pressures of the age and the conflicting urges to marry and conform or to party wildly into oblivion? entertaining” The Salisbury Journal. WIND IN THE WILLOWS Friday 20 February 2.30pm Tickets: £10.50 Child: £9.00 Family x 4: £36.00 Award-nominated Immersion Theatre and the critically-

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acclaimed Cambridge Touring Theatre join forces to present a spectacular musical adaptation of the classic, “The Wind in the Willows”. Join the boat-loving Ratty, the sensible yet curious Mole, wise old Badger and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime culminating in a colourful battle with a pair of pick-pocketing weasels to save Toad Hall! Eye-catchingly elaborate costumes, toe-tapping music and larger than life characters promise to capture the imagination of the youngest of audience members whilst the sheer nostalgic charm of this beloved story is guaranteed to take older generations on a glorious trip down the riverbank onto memory lane. The perfect treat for all the family! AMERICAN SUPERSLAM WRESTLING Saturday 21 February 6.00pm Tickets: £15.00 Child: £10.00 Family (2 Adults & 2 Children): £45.00 Superslam wrestling live events celebrating 45 years of Britain’s major promoters return here with an explosive night of top action bringing a host of top American wrestling stars to the ring to face the very best of home grown talent and fans favourites in a two hour extravaganza for all the family to enjoy. This show is the ideal place to celebrate a birthday and get the opportunity of the VIP back stage passes to meet the stars at the end of the show. If you’ve been before you know how good it gets, if you haven’t give it a try, we guarantee that the kids will be talking about it for weeks afterwards. Family friendly prices to make this the best value ticket in town Box office now open. Book early for the best seats… CLOSE UP AT THE PLAYHOUSE in the Myers Studio 1 NIGHT, 3 MAGICIANS, 3 TABLES - An intimate evening of close-up magic, trickery and sleight of hand. Saturday 21 February 7.30pm, interval at 8.30pm, resumes

9pm, finish 9.30pm Tickets: £16.50 Close-up magic is one of the most impressive forms of the art and this event features some of the best exponents. Performers are direct from sell out shows at The Magic Circle and audiences meet them and experience the magic in an intimate setting, often taking part themselves. “Absolutely amazing! Went beyond all my expectations” PHOENIX CREATIVE ARTS PRESENTS MAN OF LA MANCHA Thursday 26 – Saturday 28 February 7.30pm Tickets: £17.50 Under 16’s: £10.00 Man of La Mancha is an enduring tale of man’s ability to find hope and see the good in everything when faced with overwhelming adversity. This Phoenix Creative Arts’ production promises humour, pathos and brilliant performances from some of the county’s best young musical theatre talent. It is a musical play-within-a-play, based on Cervantes’ “Don Quixote “ which somehow reaches across the years and speaks to all of us through “The Impossible Dream” as we struggle to make sense of life itself. It will be an uplifting and unforgettable show. JURASSIC ADVENTURES UK Premier 2015 Sunday 1 March The most exciting family show since time began, is about to be discovered… by you! Jurassic Adventures, is a brand new production, set on a magical island, where anything might happen, with a brave cast of amazing actors, a great fun script, superb scenery, and of course DINOSAURS. Get transported to a prehistoric place full of fun, thrills and screams, be amazed and awed by the birth of a baby Dinosaur, but beware of the T.REX mother who wants her egg back! An absolutely brilliant show for all the family from age 3+.

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Gardening Preparing for warmer weather by Pippa Greenwood The combination of the poor weather in February and the very fact that gardens tend to be at their least appealing this month, means the chances are yours is receiving nothing much more than a fair helping of neglect at the moment. But spring isn’t far away so get your gardening gloves on for a bit of preparation. Start by clearing up any remaining fallen leaves, broken twigs. Twigs and woody debris are best binned or burned or perhaps even heaped up in the corner of the garden to act as a sheltering spot for wildlife, but fallen leaves, and the top growth of herbaceous perennials, can be added to the compost heap. When it comes to tackling herbaceous or flower borders, don’t make things look too clean and tidy, as you may well cut down on the protection that faded top-growth can provide. I tend to leave most of the remains of herbaceous plants in place until spring, but the most ugly, straggly or unkempt bits could certainly be cleared up now. Keep a particular look out for slugs and snails and collect them up while they are snoozing! It is too early in the year to cut your lawn and indeed you should try to keep off it as far as possible, but you can clear twigs and leaves and cut back any weeds which have grown faster than the grass itself. You can use any pots or other containers which have been left around the garden to create spots of colour and interest by clearing them out, using fresh compost and then replanting them. If you choose temporary winter plantings such as winter flowering pansies or pompom winter daisies, then these can simply be removed when it is time to replant with summer bedding. Scrubbing down

the outer surfaces of pots and containers will also help to clean them up again, because by now they have invariably accumulated a good helping of algae and soil and can look quite a mess. Check fruit trees for signs of any dead shrivelled fruit still on the branches and cut these out, as they often harbour brown rot disease and can cause a lot of problems in the future. However these definitely shouldn’t be composted - bin or burn any you find. Use a stiff brush to clear off surface debris from your terrace or patio and then once it is clear, if it still looks in need of a bit of a facelift, use the stiff brush or yard broom to scrub it over thoroughly. Provided freezing weather is not forecast, wash it over with a few buckets of water. A trip to your local garden centre is bound to give you plenty of ideas for what’s looking good this month. Some of my favourites include the small trees or shrubs which have a delicious fragrance during the winter months. These include winter sweet, hamamelis (witch hazel) and sarcococca. You can now buy pots of snowdrop bulbs which are not far from flowering so ‘cheat’ a little and pop a few of these into the ground. Winter flowering heathers and winter flowering pansies can also be used to great effect right now. Visit Pippa’s website www.pippagreenwood.com for ‘Grow Your Own with Pippa Greenwood’ veg growing system , biological controls, fleece, copper tape and lots more besides.

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Clubs

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

Mondays

Do you enjoy listening to show tunes, big band music, jazz, light classics etc? Come along to an evening of live music played by top artistes. We meet on the second Monday of each month at our Banstead venue Banstead Organ & Keyboard Club Church Institute Hall, High Street, Banstead SM7 2NN 12th Janaury - Michael Wooldridge Doors open 7pm for 7:30pm start.(Visitors £7) Visitors & new members are always welcome to our concerts. Further details from 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 Dawn Penn 0208 337 4361 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 on Monday evenings 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. Welcome new members just to draw and paint in any medium without tuition. If interested come down for an evening and meet us to see whether this is for you Brenda Banks 020 8330 0928 Worcester Park Over 60’s Welcome Club meet every Monday from 1pm to 3pm at Christ Church with St Philip Church Hall in Ruskin Drive. Worcester Park. All over 60’s welcome to join us for a cup of tea and a biscuit or two, plus some outstanding entertainment in the way of singers and musicians. One Monday a month we have Bingo and every Monday we run a raffle. Days outings to the coast are organised throughout the summer months, and mid week holidays are organised two or three times a year. Come a little earlier and meet up with some friends and have a chat before the entertainment starts. We would love to see you. Contact Joyce on 020 8330 5065. The ladies After Eight Club meet on the 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. Please contact Carol on 020 8337 2452 for further information

Tuesdays

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. If interested, please contact our membership secretary, Joyce Cranfield, on 020 8337 3317. “Lunch Break” - a friendly lunch club for those retired, meeting on a Tuesday 12-2pm (term time only) at Worcester Park Baptist Church, The Avenue - free, but donations invited. Occasional speakers. Contact Brian on 020 8224 6675 or Rowena 07837 941298 NHS Retirement Fellowship- Local Branch Are you retired or about to retire from the NHS? Why not join us on the 1st Tuesday of every month from 10am -12 at Christ Church Hall, Christ Church Road, Surbiton, KT5 8JJ. We have speakers, activities, coffee & chat. Other outings & activities are also arranged during the month. For further details please contact Lorna on 020 8337 4121. Worcester Park Crafters We meet on the first Tuesday of each month in the hall at Christchurch with St Philip, Ruskin Drive, Worcester park,KT4 8LG. We meet from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. For further details please contact Lynne by E mail: lynnesinger@msn.com or phone on:020 8330 5903 Our aim is to provide a meeting/crafting place for all crafters whatever their craft or ability. Either bring your own work or purchase our kit of the month (small materials cost usually £2), come and play and chat. (small cost to over hall hire and insurance approx £4) Craft group - We meet at Christ Church with St Philip Ruskin Drive on the first TUESDAY of the month from 7.30-9.30pm A place where all crafters whatever their craft or ability can meet, craft, share ideas and learn from each other. Feel free to bring your own projects or you can try our project of the month Cost: £5 per session Lynne Singer 020 8330 3590 or Toni Shepherd 07900 006367

Wednesdays

Keep Fit Stay Fit every Wednesday 10.15-11.15am at Christ Church with St Philip, Ruskin Road. Come along and give it a try ! For more information please call 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

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from Worcester Park and its surrounding areas with a broad range of professional and business backgrounds. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month, usually at Bourne Hall in Ewell Village, for a Lunch followed by a Speaker. In addition to two Ladies Lunches during the year, there is an active social programme for members and their partners with visits to places of interest and West End Shows. If you would like to know more, please telephone our secretary, Bruce Urquhart, on 01737 373 690 or visit our website: http://4newmembers.ewell4probus.org.uk

Thursdays

Worcester Park Vegans. For vegans, and all who are interested in learning more about veganism. We meet on the second Thursday of each month in The Den (upstairs) at Christchurch with St Philip, Cheam Common Rd (corner of Ruskin Drive). We aim to start at 7pm and finish by 9pm. If possible please bring vegan food to share ( no meat, fish, eggs, cheese or honey). For more information please ring Wendy Edwards on 07740 082460 or email carol20754@gmail.com or look us up on Facebook. You don’t have to live in Worcester Park to come to our meetings - all who are genuinely interested are welcome. Vegans stand for respect for life - all life, not just human life. We believe in trying to live as gently on the earth as possible and in doing no intentional harm to any living creature. 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. Further details of all our branch meetings, can be found at Our award winning website www.esfhs.org.uk 60+ Social Mixed Single Group We meet in a local pub every Thursday where we discuss outings for the weekends such as meal out, walking, theatre trips, cinemas and many other things. If you would like to join us please ring Maureen: 07761278661. Kingston Phoenix Road Club is a cycling club that meets at 8-30pm every Thursday at Worcester Park Athlete Club, Green Lane, Worcester Park. The club was founded in 1936 and currently has a membership of 70. We cater for riders of all ages whether they are novices or experienced and our oldest rider is 84 years old who is still racing and holds several national age related records. Malden Emergency First Aid Society (MEFAS) members meet every Thursday evening from 7.30 to 10pm. The public is invited to join members on short training courses. For further details please see MEFAS web site at http://e-voice.org.uk/mefas/ or telephone 020 8942 8653 or 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 the Scill Centre 3 Robin Hood Lane Sutton For more information please contact George on 0208 647 7530 Thursday Fellowship. Every Thursday at 2.30pm for men and women, finishing with a cup of tea and biscuits or cakes. A lively, friendly meeting at Worcester Park Baptist church in The Avenue. Well-known, familiar hymns and prayers, musical afternoons, and a variety of speakers on topical subjects, including help and advice. New members welcome. For more information ring Jean Gathercole on 020 8642 9649 The Worcester Park Hello Club launched last November and is welcoming new members! We meet every Thursday morning from 10am – 12 noon. The club is aimed at anyone who would like to come and join in with board games, quizzes, cards, occasional craft sessions - or just to have a chat and a coffee. Adults of any age are welcome to come and get to know each other. The main aims of the club are: • To meet new people and build friendships • To become involved with the local community • To access activities, information and advice The club is very friendly and informal. Every month there will be a member of staff attending from the SCILL Information & Advice Service – they have information on most topics for all your needs and will be pleased to assist you. The drop in club was set up by Sutton Vision, Christ Church with St Philip and SCILL , working together in partnership. We are fortunate to be provided with a welcoming and comfortable venue at the Christ Church with St Philip Community Hall. There are accessible toilets on site. There is a small charge for coffee and tea at the church café. If you would like to join us, please just turn up, or if you would like to speak to someone, please contact one of the following: SCILL 020 8770 4065 Sutton Vision 020 8409 7166 Christ Church with St Philip 020 8330 7630

Fridays

Bartlett House Residents Luncheon Club is a welcoming social club for the retired from work but not from life! Bartlett House, 49-51 The Avenue, Worcester Park, KT4 7HU. Catch up with friends every Friday 11am-4pm. This fun and friendly club is not for profit, ensuring prices are kept to a minimum so it won’t cost the earth! New members welcome. Contact Dot on 0208 330 2074 Quest was set up in 1987 to provide a meeting place for people with physical disabilities between the ages of 20 - 60. However, once a member there is no

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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, outings can be arranged if enough people wish to go. The venue is St. Philip Hall, Christchurch with St. Philip, Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park. We meet the 2nd and 4th Fridays in the month from 12.45 to 4p.m Contact June Day, Club Secretary, on 02083301220 RSPB Epsom And Ewell Local Group We meet the 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. There is a small charge for non-members of the RSPB. If you would like more information, please look at our website, www.rspb.org.uk/groups/epsom Worcester Park Womens’ Club. We are part of the National Association of Womens’ Clubs and we meet at Cheam Common Junior School, Kingsmead Avenue every Friday from 7.30 to 9.30 (term time only). We have very interesting speakers, outings, a garden party in the summer and a quiz night rasising money for our chosen charity for the year. Why not come along and give us a try. For more information call Carole on 020 8337 6088.

General

Auriol Bowling Club was established in 1967, and plays on the 6-rink bowling green attached to the pavilion in Auriol Park, Salisbury Road, Worcester Park. It is a mixed club of around 45 men and 25 women, who play outdoors from April to September, with a busy fixture list of league and friendly matches against other clubs, as well as internal club competitions. For further information please contact the club Secretary, David Regan, on 020 8337 8919 or visit the website at www.auriolbowlingclub.com. Cuddington Bowling Club will always welcome new members. The club is situated in 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. For further information, please contact our Secretary Mike Ridley 02087158326 or our Treasurer Mark Broughton 02083379699. Social Dancing With “ Glitters” At Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell Village 8.15 pm – 11.00 pm Entrance 8.15 p.m. - 11 p.m.. Over 18s. £8 Entrance Fee. All standards of dancing. Excellent free parking. Bar. Professional DJ “We may not have Brucie, but we do have a glitter ball!”. Ring David 07903 314276.

Friday Nights for 2015: Jan2nd and 16th, Feb 6th and 20th, March 6th and 20th, Apr 3rd and 17th, May 1st and 15th, June 5th and 19th, July 3rd and 17th, Aug 7th, Sept 4th and 18th, Oct 2nd and 16th, Nov 6th and 20th, Dec18th National Trust - Epsom, Ewell and District Supporters GroupFormed 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. Our open day this year will be on 16 May. For further details contact Men’s Secretary Gerald 020 8949 4623 or Ladies’ Secretary Malden Manor Bowls Club Where: Manor Park, Malden Road. Cheam High School Gym NO contract or joining fee, and just £15 a month. It has everything other gyms have, we also have a Personal Trainer on hand to help out and give advise FREE of charge, something other gyms don’t offer.

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

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The better life Make Do and Spend

by Derek Thompson www.alongthewritelines.blogspot.co.uk

February isn’t quite spring, but there’s still plenty to celebrate because our local National Trust gardens are once again open for business. Forget the telly and the Internet, when you really want to get inspired by Nature you need to be out there amongst it. Obviously, you also need to be dressed for the part, which was how Wellygate came about. For those of a more rural disposition, wellies are a way of life. We pop to the shops in ours – you learn a lot about customer service by the reception your footwear receives. This time of year people are generally forgiving, unlike Anne’s wellies.

The sight of a few daffs, a smattering of cyclamen and a good show of snowdrops will gladden the heart of any gardener; it’s as if Nature is whispering that spring is definitely on its way, meantime here’s something to tide you over. Our walk completed, we bought some discounted cyclamen and retired to the tearoom, where I discovered my supposedly weatherproof boots had come out in sympathy. Luckily for us, we’d bought a large tube of sealant.

When she noticed a split along one boot, she wasn’t unduly concerned; she even took my suggestion of a bicycle repair kit well. She improvised for a while

Back home, we learned that a couple were moving out of their rented cottage soon – something to do with the landlord, upcountry, ringing in the changes

love

Slimming World Join a warm and friendly group near you today…

TUESDAY Worcester Park Wesley Halls, Christ Church with St Philip, Ruskin Drive KT4 7LG 9.30am Tel: Justine 020 8942 6117 Worcester Park Doris Venner Youth & Community Centre, Manor Drive KT4 7LG 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel: Vanessa 020 8288 0718

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(and the till). This was sad news indeed, as we’d bartered with them several times and our battered aluminium greenhouse was enjoying a new lease of life there. They grew the best rhubarb and, thanks to them, I saw my first tayberry in their garden. Villagers had been invited to pop up the following day if they wanted any cuttings and seeds, or to buy some of their stock. Next morning at 10 o’clock sharp we trundled up the lane (there are no proper roads), Anne carrying a tin of home baked scones. As we rounded the bend we joined a trail of neighbours who had all decided to put in an appearance – an event somewhere between community spirit and plant envy, with a whiff of the Boxing Day sales about it. There were people already milling about in the garden, secateurs and plastic bags in hand. Anne delivered the scones, while I went on a plant hunt worthy of the Bolithos. February is not the ideal time to take cuttings, and I’m not sure I agree with one neighbour’s advice of, “If in doubt, plant out,” but I’m delighted to have 10 rosemary cuttings in the house. Thanks to the cineole compound in our Rosmarinus officinalis, and along with our new rhubarb plant, what better way to remember your neighbours?

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We have been advertising in the WP Life for a number of years now. We can trust it to get delivered regularly to our targeted marketing areas for a reasonable price. You can submit your own artwork changes each month at no additional charge, allowing us to show off our latest offers. Megabytes

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Theatre Are you looking for half term activities for your family or granchldren? Here are some ideas of what’s on locally. AND, a chance to win tickets! Room On The Broom

Tall Stories’ hit family show Room on the Broom flies into Rose Theatre Kingston this February half term from 17 until 21 February, bringing a witch, her cat, a

broomstick’s not meant for five and – CRACK! – it snaps in two! When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone? For a chance of winning tickets for a family of 4 on Friday Feb 20th at 1.30pm, just email your name and phone number by 10th Feb to competitions@maldenmedia.co.uk Please title your email Room on The Broom

Pocket Comedy

The Comedy of Errors is Shakespeare’s funniest and most farcical comedy. Pocket Comedy is a sixty minute version of Propeller’s acclaimed production of The Comedy of Errors which has been performed in theatres around the globe and coming to the Rose Theatre, Kingston Tue 10 Feb – Wed 11 Feb, 1.30pm & 7.30pm. Pocket Comedy is a perfect and hilarious introduction to Shakespeare beginners. We asked Edward Hall, Artistic Director of Propeller about his role

dragon, a few friendly animals and much more! Tall Stories’ magical musical adaptation of the bestselling book by Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson MBE and Axel Scheffler, takes audiences aboard a magnificent broom for an unforgettable adventure! Room on the Broom is aimed at ages 3 – 8 years old and is the ideal introduction to theatre for pre and primary school children and their families. Expect enchanting puppetry, sing-a-long songs and hilarious fun for everyone. Brought to the stage by internationally acclaimed theatre company Tall Stories, the creators of the smash-hit production The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom is presented by Kenny Wax and Nick Brooke, directed by Olivia Jacobs, alongside Toby Mitchell as Creative Producer (both founders of Tall Stories), with lighting design by James Whiteside, design by Morgan Large, puppet design by Yvonne Stone and music & music design by Jon Fiber and Andy Shaw of Shock Productions. Join a witch and her cat as they fly happily along on their broomstick – until a Stormy wind blows the witch’s hat, bow and wand away into the night! With the help of a daft dog, a beautiful bird and a friendly frog, her belongings are retrieved. But this

What is the director’s job? The director’s job is to design the play – so you have to design the play with the designer when you begin. So you make a little model of the play and work out how you’re going to tell the story, what furniture, what it’s going to look like, what they’re going to wear – all of those things. You get a basic idea of that before you begin. You get an idea of the music and you try and understand the play as much as you can, work out who’s in what scene, then cast it, work out who would play what parts best. Once you’ve got all of that together, which believe you me can take months sometimes, you get to shut the door and rehearse. And when you start rehearsing the director’s job is to inspire the actors to understand who they’re playing, what they’re saying, why they’re saying it and to keep the actors absolutely in the shoes of the characters. As you do that, and the story starts to become clearer, the director’s job is then to work out how to weight the story, where to make it more dramatic, less dramatic; more sensitive, less sensitive; crueller, less cruel; more about love, more about hate, more about greed, any of the things that you might see. In a sense it takes quite a long time to get a production to the point where you can then watch it and work out where the balance should be in the performances. Because for a while you’re just doing the mechanics – “Where do I come on from?” – Why don’t you come on upstage right and then go to the chair, speak for a bit then go downstage left. Oh and you love her, so stay close to her as much as you can, and he hates you and you are suspicious of him...”. We do a lot of that – for weeks!

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How do you choose actors? It’s a very complicated process. It’s never the same. I’ll usually start from one place, for example one particular role in the play. Then you sort build a world around that. Who would be a good mother to him? Who would be the sister? You get a bit of a family and you slowly build outwards. You must be careful when you cast not to typecast. In film and television there’s quite a lot of typecasting and people play the type of person that you think they are – romantic lead, villain. Acting on stage, actors can change themselves completely, to a far greater degree than people think they can from working with them on film and TV. Particularly with Propeller when we’re doing two plays, you can come and see one actor be villainous and murderous in the afternoon who is then playing a clown in the evening! So you must be careful when you’re casting not to fall into the trap of thinking, “Oh he does the funny parts - he can play the funny characters”, but, “Hang on a second! What happens if that character is actually tragic but quite funny. What happens if someone tragic plays that funny part? So you have to ask yourself questions to make sure you don’t fall into traps. And you work with a particular pool of actors? Yes. Propeller is an ensemble in this way: when I have a company of actors like the one in this play, I will guarantee them an offer of a job in the next project we do. So I’ll be able to choose and negotiate with them what I want them to play, but they‟ll be able to decide whether to do it or not. So two of them might be doing something else and not free, three of them might not want to do it or not like the parts and the rest might say yes. Or all of them might say yes it varies from time to time. But over the last thirteen years we’ve gathered about thirty actors who’ve been with the company. What’s good about that? You get continuity. We’ve grown up working on Shakespeare. All of them have done Shakespeare with me, so all of them have an idea about how to speak it and how to do it before we begin, which gets you a long way down the track. For a chance of winning 2 tickets for Tuesday 10th at 7.30pm just email your name and phone number to competitions@maldenmedia.co.uk by 6th Feb. Please title your email Pocket Comedy

The Wind in the Willows

Award-nominated Immersion Theatre and the critically-acclaimed Cambridge Touring Theatre join forces to present a spectacular musical adaptation of the classic, “The Wind in the Willows”. This exquisite family show will be at the Epsom Playhouse during half term. Join the boat-loving Ratty, the sensible yet curious Mole, wise old Badger and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime culminating in a colourful battle with a pair of pick-pocketing weasels to save Toad Hall!

Eye-catchingly elaborate costumes, toe-tapping music and larger than life characters promise to capture the imagination of the youngest of audience members whilst the sheer nostalgic charm of this beloved story is guaranteed to take older generations on a glorious trip down the riverbank onto memory lane. The perfect treat for all the family! This larger-than-life production will be directed by Immersion Theatre’s Artistic Director, James Tobias, and will see Immersion’s resident creative team produce Cambridge Touring Theatre’s hugely popular adaptation of this iconic classic. With Immersion Theatre’s trademark energy which audiences are growing to expect and love, and Cambridge Touring Theatre’s undeniably catchy original score, “Wind in the Willows” is guaranteed to leave everyone smiling from beginning to end! For a chance of winning 4 tickets for Friday 20th at 2.30pm just email your name and phone number by 10th Feb to competitions@maldenmedia.co.uk Please title your email Wind in The Willows

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Recipe Peppered rib eye steaks with red wine glaze Treat the one you love on February 14th to succulent pan-fried steak with a luxurious sweet red wine sauce. Serves 2 Ready in 20 minutes 150g baby new potatoes 2 tsp black peppercorns 2 x 250g rib eye steaks, trimmed of excess fat 2 tsp olive oil 3 tbsp redcurrant jelly 3 tbsp red wine 1 tsp cornflour blended with 1tbsp cold water 15g butter 2 tsp fresh chopped parsley Steamed baby carrots, mange tout and peas, to serve 1 Cook the baby new potatoes in a pan of lightly salted water for 10-15 minutes until just tender. 2 Meanwhile, crush the peppercorns coarsely using a pestle and mortar or the end of a rolling pin. Press

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firmly over both sides of the steaks. Set a griddle pan over a medium heat to preheat. 3 Brush both sides of the steaks with oil. Place the steaks on the hot griddle pan and cook over a high heat for 1 minute on each side until seared. Reduce the heat and continue cooking for a further 2-4 minutes on each side until the steaks are cooked to your liking. Remove the steaks and cover and leave to rest for 2-3 minutes. 4 Place the redcurrant jelly and red wine in a small pan and heat gently until the jelly has completely dissolved. Stir in the cornflour mixture and simmer for a further minute until slightly syrupy. 5 Drain the potatoes, toss with the butter and parsley and season to taste. Transfer the steaks to warmed plates and spoon over the sauce. Serve with the potatoes and steamed vegetables. TIP Sirloin, fillet or rump steak can be used in place of the rib eye. Make sure both steaks are an even thickness and always bring the steaks to room temperature for about 15 minutes before cooking. Resting the steaks for a few minutes after cooking will also help to ensure they are meltingly tender.

We have been advertising for 3years in The Worcester Park Life Magazine and have had some fantastic responses to our adverts. Directly due to the many campaigns we have focused on our membership has increased as a direct result of the wide areas of circulation covered .Thank You Worcester Park Life keep up the good work. The Royal British Legion Worcester Park.

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Voice for Wildlife by Carol Williams What are the worst threats to wildlife all over the world? I would have to say habitat destruction and climate change.

on everything I buy, and palm oil crops up in so many of them, I reckon it must be dirt cheap.Why is this, when its production causes such damage and death? I’ve no answers, just a big sorrow over this and a desire for all who care, to stop buying items containing palm oil.

Climate change is causing havoc for many wildlife Ironically, or tragically, one of the measures to reduce speciesR.J. all over the world, polar bears& profession dependence onR.J. fossilTree fuels, Services is the raising qualified of oil palms. & professional Tree Services qualified staff areincluding dedicated who are drowning because the ice is melting, which The devastation of pristine rainforest and prime orang to the highest levels service in every to this thehashighest of service inmeans every instance. they are at sea too long tryingof to reach the ice utan habitat that caused is levels unbelievable. Palm that’s left - this affects cubs and underweight bears in oil in so many of our food products has now become We are happy to give advice – on all you paritcular. We are to give advice – on all your arboricultural queries. one of the scandals of thehappy conservation movement. Orang utans are being slaughtered as their forest I read recently that cows are the biggest contributor homes are destroyed, and many orphaned infants are Free quotes Free quotesto climate change, because of the•methane they ending up in human care in rehabilitation•centres. re dedicated and because of the amount rainforest Sadly, without their mothers to teach them to be • of Fully NPTC qualified • how Fully NPTC produce qualified that has been cleared to make way for cattle ranches. orangs, and without enough untouched forest left, a • Treeofreductions / cr • Tree reductions crownalsothins Grazing/animals cause desertification fragile future for them in the wild looks increasingly unlikely. environments, because of the sheer numbers of them only thing we can do is to protest, fund the efforts ulturalThe queries. • Tree felling • Tree felling - all artificially introduced, of course, to serve perceived to fight this, and not buy products with palm oil in Stump removal • Stump human ‘needs’. I use the quotes on•purpose, because, them. The latter is very difficult, since it appears to be removal in fact, we modern humans, with access to so many in so many products, often disguised as ‘vegetable oils’ . • Hedgeworks • Hedgeworks choices, do&not need anything that we currently R.J. Tree Servicesfood qualified professional staff are dedicated surveys & repo Tree surveys reports get & from farming cows. The meat • andTree dairy industries As a vegan I have got used to reading the•ingredients

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have a larger carbon footprint than the transport sector, as it happens. The natural wildlife of any region is impacted upon hugely, and usually detrimentally, by the sheer scale of human activities. Alas, many of these are not necessary at all, they are merely for leisure or somethigng else that may be considered frivolous when set against the survival of plant and animal species. I feed the birds in my garden, I make space for the wildlife everywhere I can. I enjoy the knowledge that they share my space with me. Really, I feel it is their space, and I am the interloper. I cannot help but wish that all people felt this way too. Our world might then still be rich in flora and fauna and not be suffering from devastating climate change. Rainforests are a natural carbon sink - and look how much we have destroyed. To me this is heart breaking. I read in my Woodland Trust magazine that they are now working to create corridors to connect fragments

of habitat to help biodiversity. That, at least, is good news They say, of their recently acquired Hucking estate, “This new joined up approach is already having a huge impact. Some 21 species of butterfly have been recorded here lately, including the rare purple hairstreak and the silver washed fritillary. Daubenton’s, Natterers and brown long eared bats live in the old chalk pits or dene holes; and 10 bird species listed on the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan make their home here, among them turtle dove,skylark and songthrush. Buzzards build their nests at Hucking and there are red kites nearby” All cheering stuff, as are the plans for a Centenary Wood near Epsom in Langley Vale - 650 acres of Surrey farmland to become a landscape rich in woods and wild flowers. I look forward to visiting it soon. I also look forward to the first frogs in Shadbolt Park pond. It won’t be long now.

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Kids Play

There’s lots going on for pre-schoolers

MUSIC CLASSES FOR UNDER 4’S

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.

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

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+

Taught by a qualified Suzuki-method music teacher. Thursday At Worcester Park Library, Windsor Road, Worcester Park, KT4 8ES

Friday At Surbiton Library Halls, Ewell Road, Surbiton, KT6 6AG

9.45-10.30am Toddler class 10.35-11.20am Toddler class

10-10.45am Chinese music class (suitable for Chinese/ non- Chinese speaking families)

To book your place please contact Ginger on 07525 497 124 or email infomusicfun@gmail.com www.gingersmusicfun.com

If you are reading this then so too are your potential customers. Advertising costs from just £21 plus VAT a month.

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Electrical • Electrical Testing & Certiﬁcates • Rewires • Fuse board Changes • New Installations • Light / socket replacements • Appliance Installations

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Hobbies Get ready for the cycling revolution By Kate McLellan

Graham Flavell from Dorset fondly remembers the bike he owned as teenager: “I sold it when I learned to drive a car, but I really regretted that later.” As a child growing up in the Midlands he not only used it to cycle to school, but would spend hours roaming the neighbourhood with friends, all of whom owned bikes: “I remember that in the ‘50s and ‘60s everyone who worked at the factories commuted by bicycle, so for my generation cycling was a way of life.” After university Graham moved to Dorset to take up a new job and decided to return to cycling as a way of exploring the countryside. For many years he continued to enjoy low-key, leisurely bike journeys: discovering more about the local area and enjoying the occasional family holiday on two wheels. In recent months, however, Graham’s commitment to cycling has undergone something of a revolution. He is now one of the many thousands of people in the UK for whom cycling has become a serious hobby, and he currently cycles up to 140 miles each week with a group of like-minded friends. Graham says: “We meet twice a week and I enjoy the camaraderie of cycling with other people. It was hard when I started, but I’ve been amazed how my fitness has improved over the last six months.” The popularity of cycling has been enhanced by trailblazing athletes such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, who has achieved elite status as a professional cyclist on both track and road, but this new trend is also driven by health concerns: Graham admits that health is “a big topic” amongst his fellow cyclists. Sport England claims that over 2.1 million people currently cycle on a weekly basis in the UK, and in the autumn of last year the government published a draft version of its Cycling Delivery Plan for consultation, giving details of a 10-year strategy that includes the ambition to double the amount of cycling activity on Britain’s roads by the year 2025.

In the Netherlands cycling has enjoyed popularity for over 100 years and even now nearly 30% of all Dutch journeys are made by bike. The recent government consultation is one of a number of promising signs indicating that the UK is trying to catch up with its Dutch neighbours. So where do you start if you have decided to take up cycling for the first time? It really depends on what kind of cycling appeals to you. Will you be using your bike for transport, for leisure or for competition? Budget is another important factor. Not everyone can afford to buy models such as the new, lightweight carbon framed bicycles, which can cost up to £1,000. An old bike can fit the bill provided you’re not competing in the Tour de France or planning any off-road trekking, but if you’re buying second hand it’s advisable to get your bike serviced to ensure that it is roadworthy. If you’re not sure what type of bike you need - and there are a bewildering variety of models out there - a specialist cycling shop should be able to help. Alternatively Guardian journalist Helen Pidd’s book The Complete Guide to Everyday Cycling (published by Penguin) offers a practical, illustrated guide to buying and riding a bike for the first time. Once you have bought your bicycle, you’ll need to acquire some basic skills. How to signal, how to ride in traffic, how to do an emergency stop and even how to change a tyre: these are all essential things to learn before you before you set out on a busy road. On the British Cycling website (www.britishcycling.org.uk) you can search for a local Bikeability course, designed to teach you the skills you need to ride confidently on today’s roads. Britain’s network of cycle lanes and paths is steadily growing, and cycling is now a much safer activity than it used to be, although urban cyclists often complain

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of cycle lanes being too narrow, or the layout stopping abruptly. Rural roads offer their own challenges, but after a lifetime’s cycling along country lanes Graham Flavell says that the drivers he has met are generally respectful. However, he recalls one man who was less than happy to meet a group of cyclists: “We must have annoyed him, because he waved a tyre lever at us, threatening to ‘get us’ if he saw us again. The next day a policeman knocked at his front door, to warn him about his behaviour. When the driver asked how the officer knew about his ‘road rage’ incident, he replied: ‘Last time you saw me I wasn’t wearing a policeman’s helmet, I was on my bike’.” Cycling is a great leveller and Graham’s anecdote shows that these days you can expect to meet anyone - from your local bobby to a millionaire pop star getting around on two wheels. These new converts to the cycling revolution understand that cycling not only benefits their physical and mental health but also helps the environment by cutting carbon emissions. Graham agrees there are no better reasons to get on your bike!

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Safer Neighbourhoods Personal Safety Tips Sutton is still one of the safest boroughs in London to live, however we must always be mindful of what could happen…following these simple but effective crime prevention measures will reduce your chance of becoming a victim of crime. SAFETY ON FOOT a) Look confident and act confidently b) Keep mobile phones& personal music players hidden from view c) Try to avoid walking home alone after an evening out, take a taxi (from a registered firm) Avoid hitchhiking d) Consider carrying a Personal Attack Alarm e) If you have to walk try to avoid lonely areas and keep lit roads f ) Walk facing oncoming traffic so if you are using your phone no one can cycle pass and grab your phone, or even your bag. g) If you regularly go walking or jogging, vary your route, avoid using a personal music player or mobile phone while walking or jogging. They can distract you from your surroundings h) When approaching your car or home, have your keys ready so you can enter without delay i) If you think you are being followed walk to the busiest place you can find or knock on a door then call the police j) If you are attacked, shout for help as loudly as you can and shout for someone to contact the police k) If someone attempts to take something from you, consider letting them have it rather than risk being hurt SAFETY IN YOUR CAR a) Make sure your car is roadworthy and has enough fuel for your journey b) Keep a torch in your car and a warm coat c) Consider locking your car once inside it, if your vehicle is not equipped with Anti Hi-jack locking system d) Don’t leave your bag, wallet, mobile phone or other items of value on display, even if just popping into a shop quickly…it only takes a second or two. e) Try parking in well-lit area that has CCTV and consider the safest route back to where you have parked If possible, park in police approved car parks displaying the ‘ParkMark’ logo. Visit www.parkmark.co.uk for further information f ) Always look into your car front and back before

entering g) If you are being followed drive to your nearest police station, do not get out of the car, sound the horn to attract attention and use your mobile phone to call the police if it’s an emergency while driving…. remember it is an offence to use a mobile phone whilst driving except in emergencies, calling 999. h) Avoid giving a stranger a lift. TRAVELLING SAFELY BY TAXI a) Avoid illegal Taxi Touts/Illegal Cabs - these are ones that approach you for business rather than prebooked or from a Taxi Office. b) Keep the number of a reputable/trusted taxi firm with you and check to make sure it is the one you ordered, if in doubt, don’t get in c) Sit behind the driver and remain aware throughout the journey d) If you feel uneasy, ask to be let out in a busy, well-lit area, again, if ever in doubt, don’t get in SAFETY ON BUSES & TRAINS a) Plan your journey if going somewhere unfamiliar b) While waiting for a bus or train, stand in a well-lit place with other people c) Sit near the driver or other passengers, avoid empty carriages or empty top decks, there are around 17 CCTV cameras on a bus d) If you are being pestered, report it to the guard or driver, or ask another passenger for assistance e) Keep your fare money or ticket at hand, so you can avoid getting your purse or wallet out in public f ) keep your belongings in front of you on Buses and Trains that are busy….remember pick pockets operate on buses & trains. SAFETY IN PUBS & CLUBS a) When out with friends, look out for each other, have a nominated driver or refer to the taxi tips above b) Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know e) Try not to leave your drink unattended f ) If your drink looks or tastes odd, don’t drink it. If you feel unusually ill, seek help from a friend or a member of staff IMMEDIATELY Take care

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44 xx wood wood colours Personalise your bed in 54 easy steps colours

Customised style and comfort

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Choose the size of the bed: 2 your feet (10cm) from 4 x wood 140cm/150cm/160cm/180cm SS4IIZZVersus EEChoose The Collection

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4 x wood colours

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Choose your feet (10cm) from 4 x wood your Fabrics: 3 Choose 17 Fashion Fabrics & 7 Faux Leathers colours Choose your feet (10cm) from

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HIGH STREET • NEW MALDEN • TELEPHONE: 020 8942 2277

22/11/2014 14:37:47

www.tudorwilliamsltd.co.uk Your Local Department Store Flexion Square

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

FEBRUARY 14TH SPEND

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