Worcester park life jan 17 by jenny stuart

Worcester Park Life

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December Contents

History by David Rymill 6 Ruth Jemmett Writes 11 Conquest Art Group 14 Finance 18 Poetry in Worcester Park 20 Crossword 22 Sudokus 24 A Photographer Dreams 31 Quick Quiz 33 Gardening Fight the Frosts 37 What’s On 35 Healthy eating 38 Hobbies Live like Tish the Fish 40 Clubs 44 Voice for Wildlife 48 View from the City 50 Kids Play 52 Solutions 54 Published by Malden Media Limited Editor Jenny Stuart jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk 020 8336 2915 www.maldenmedia.co.uk 36 Rosebery Avenue KT3 4JS Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent the views of the editor. All advertisements are commercial and not indicative of any endorsement by the editor who accepts no responsibility for any loss suffered directly or indirectly by any reader as a result of any advertisement or notice published in this magazine. All in-house artwork and editorial presented in this magazine remains the copyright of Malden Media Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored on any retieval system, or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical. recording, photocopying, or otherwise without prior permission from the Publisher.

Welcome to Your Worcester Park Life As I write this (earlier in the month than usual) it’s hard to believe that Christmas is so close, yet will be over so soon – and there’s still so much to do! As usual, the months have flown by… There’s little doubt that 2016 has been a year we won’t forget in a hurry (however much we might want to!) but for me there was one, wonderful highlight during 2016 that will stay with me forever. In March, I was privileged to travel to Kenya to see and experience the difference our local fundraising makes to a very small charity called the Lunchbowl Network (which I know many of you will already be familiar with). We spent time playing with and being entertained by the 180 little children in our kindergarten, visiting some of them in the “shacks” they call home – just minutes away in the Kibera slum, Nairobi. Our trips, accompanied by armed guards, into the slum never failed to shock and the contrast between the two environments was gaping. Every pound we raise here helps to change lives – so thank you again for everything you do for Lunchbowl. But it doesn’t always need money to make a difference. Even the smallest and most simple of gestures of kindness and friendship can help to changes lives, right here, in Worcester Park. So, this January, let’s all pledge to do our bit and make 2017 a year of community spirit! Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

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

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Worcester Park History by David Rymill

Maurice’s memories of Malden Parochial School Following the December article featuring Maurice Upperton’s memories of Green Lane, Longfellow Road, etc, to mark 100 years since he moved to Worcester Park in 1916, this month we concentrate on Maurice’s memories of his time as a pupil at Malden Parochial School, Church Road in the late 1910s and early 1920s, which he shared with me in 1999. At this time the school was housed in the Victorian building adjoining Church Road, immediately to the north of the present school. “I started with a Miss Philpott, and one of my first recollections with her was having to stand out the front and read something I’d written. I had no idea that I was good at writing, or enjoyed writing, but it seemed to give her pleasure and it seemed to give me pleasure. Then one day I discovered in a book there a little poem, and I copied it all out, and from that day on I seemed to have an affinity with poetry and writing. Then I went on to a Miss Furmedge in [the] little block at the front. She introduced me to real stories that you could read for yourself. She’d start a story and I’d go home and I’d want to know the end of it, so I got a love of books in her class. Then I went on to the end of the building with a Miss White [who] lived in the stable block in Cleveland Road. “Then I went to [the Headmaster] Mr [Herbert] Geary, and he took the last three years of the school, [ages] 9, 10 and 11; when I got into his class I seemed to romp on. He was a very good disciplinarian, but an excellent Head – and the boys loved him: they called him Gaffer. Gaffer was the old countryman’s word for the boss; I think he knew we called him Gaffer. He lived in the school-house adjoining. “He did all sorts of extra things that schoolteachers do – but he was the Headmaster, and headmasters don’t normally do them. He did everything that a man would do: he ran the football team, of which my brother was a part; if there was an outing he would be in charge of it. If anyone called to see him on business, he would put up the blackboard, and he would write on it ‘You are on your honour to behave yourselves until I return’ – and the school was quiet.

“He went on not only to do the schoolwork, but he started evening classes in more advanced work; my sister studied shorthand with him, and business methods. The day that man retired, every old boy in Worcester Park was crowded into that school – they were crowded all round the walls, because they held him in such affection.” The old school building remained standing until spring 1998, and above the window under the gable could be seen the holes for the bracket which had supported the school bell. Maurice recalled being made bell-ringer by Mr Geary in the 1920s: “The bell rang for five minutes before school, and all the time the bell was ringing the children would loiter in the lane; as soon as the bell stopped ringing the Headmaster would appear in the playground, and anybody who was late was in for trouble. I was the cause of some discontentment on the part of the boys: ‘It’s old Upperton ringing the bell again, and he’s stopped too soon’.” The black and white photograph showing the bracket holes above the central window was taken by Maurice many years later. “On Saints’ days we all processed up the road to [St John’s] Church, and Gaffer went to the front and got up into the organ, and he played the most beautiful music. He’d got two boys pumping the organ – they had to take it in turns – and it was like opening the gate of Heaven to me, and I later learned the organ in that church myself. “[The] field behind the school [where the present school stands] was not available for our use: for events such as the summer treat we used to go over to [a] field just beyond Manor Farm, and I can remember having the roundabout – a mechanical affair, turned by hand – and the races, and the tea on that field. Part of it was

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KING GEORGE FIELD INDOOR BOWLS CLUB

Learn to Bowl Free Coaching All Ages & Abilities Welcome Bar • Restaurant Social Events Large Car Park let to the caretaker as a garden, because the caretaker had no garden of his own.” Games included hopscotch and tops, and boys used to raid the Vicar’s walnut trees, “but we amused ourselves in a hundred different ways. At mid-day in the summer, if we didn’t go home to dinner we used to take our sandwiches and go into [the] field down behind the Church, down that footpath, and we actually learned to swim there. I even learned to dive: it was four feet deep in those days [you are not recommended to try this now]; Old Malden River we used to call it.” Gaffer Geary would no doubt have been gratified that Maurice Upperton became a teacher himself, including about 15 years at Cuddington Primary School in Salisbury Road from 1955. The school was opened in 1952, and from the outset the pupils were encouraged to remember that the school shared its name with the medieval village of Cuddington swept away by Henry VIII more than 400 years earlier to make way for Nonsuch Palace. Angela Weallans, who taught at the school from 1972 for over 30 years and served as Deputy Headteacher from 1985, recalls that Maurice once “took some of the children to Nonsuch Park to collect acorns from the trees there, brought them back and planted them in the [school] field, and they grew into trees”, thus bringing some of Old Cuddington into modern Cuddington. Our colour illustration, courtesy of Mr Herdman, the present Head of School, shows what are believed to be the trees that grew from these acorns. David Rymill David.Rymill1993@alumni.aber.ac.uk

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Worcester Park, Old Malden and North Cheam: History at our Feet Published in 2012 and available at £10 (plus £2 towards postage if required) from the Rymill family. Ring 020 8330 6563 for more details. This 300-page book tells the story of Worcester Park from the Iron Age to the present day, and includes memories of local life from 1908 onwards, and over 150 maps, photographs and drawings - mostly never published before.

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Ruth Jemmett Writes New Beginnings Ruth Jemmett leads us through January There are doubtlessly many of you nursing a sore head after welcoming in 2017 a little little too enthusiastically, and muttering “Never again!” However, if we could go back in time most of us would repeat the same old mistakes every year! All we can hope for is that our todays improve us in some way, and that we might have learnt something from the misdemeanours of our past! January can be a time when we take stock of our lives. The first month of the year takes its name from the Roman god Janus, who had two faces looking in opposite directions. Most of us live in the hope that things can only get better, and that like Janus, we are probably peeping backwards, and hoping that our past sins

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won’t find us out! A particularly Scottish tradition called ‘first footing’ is intended to symbolise stepping into a new year full of promise. My memory of it in my childhood home is of a rather nasty draught whipping throughout the house, and everyone trying to restain our collie dog from escaping outside into the blackness!

In the last few months we have lost very many people who were in the public gaze, some of them not even reaching a great age. We should never take the passing of the years for granted, and should cherish every precious day. I suppose we all hope that we will make our mark in life while we are here, but time seems to speed up once you get into your twenties, and before you know it you have to admit to yourself that perhaps you won’t write the great novel or enter for The Olympic Games! On the 8th of this month we can remember that Elvis Presley was born on this day in 1935. He made such an impression on the world despite his somewhat simple beginnings. When I was a teenager I had a large glossy ’photo of Elvis gracing the back of my bedroom door, next to one of Bobby Vee! It is also the birthdate of that incredible scientist, Stephen Hawking, who despite being very badly affected by Motor Neurone Disease, has made amazing discoveries, and has written very thought provoking scientific papers and books that have altered our perception of the world around us. His first best-seller A Brief History of Time opened up science to a whole new audience, and persuaded me to take an interest in Quantum Physics, despite having had no interest in the subject before then! He held the post of Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, following in the footsteps of Sir Issac Newton. He proved beyond all doubt that a great mind within a disabled body doesn’t stop you from making an indelible footprint in human history. Lists of New Year Resolutions are very easy to make, and I am sure many of you are full of good intentions for the coming year. (My garage still needs a good old sort out, despite it being top of the list of things to do in 2016!). The trouble is that life has a habit of getting in the way of our plans! I keep on intending to take driving lessons, but then find reasons not to do it. Anyway am not

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sure if the residents of Worcester Park will share my enthusiam! An aunt of mine once knocked down someone’s front wall during her very first lesson, but went on to become a very good driver, so perhaps I should take heart from that. They say that once you are over the age of sixty you should take up a new interest every year, in the hope that it will stimulate the brain,. Here’s hoping! Gardens here in Salisbury Road are looking somewhat lacklustre. I HAD intended to do wonderful things with the garden last year! I did a bit of tidying up a few weeks ago, but the trees This is your hadn’t really finished shedding their leaves, so it will be out with the rake again, taking care not to disturb any hibernating wildlife of course. As I was trimming things back, I could see bulbs tentatively nosing their way through the damp earth, and at the bases of sedum plants I could just make out the emergence of small grey crowns of leaves. Nature never truly goes to sleep, and now that January is here, with its shorter days, we can afford to feel a tingle of excitementnat as we thumb through those seed catalogues! Up until now I have delighted in having a black grape crop each year, and my lovely friend Jan has sometimes made the fruit into wine. She has now given me cuttings for white sweet grapes, which have taken beautifully. I look forward to enjoying a crop of them soon! Grapes, which were of course, happily grown in the British Isles by the Romans a thousand years ago, are incredibly easy to grow in our increasingly milder climate, and I would recommend any novice gardener to ‘have a go’.

from now and make a brand new ending”. Perhaps you WON’T become the next Steven Hawking, but, who knows? You might become someone who also changes the world - but in your own special way! A very Happy New Year to you all. Ruth Jemmett is a Member of The Society of Authors

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On the 25th of this month it will be Burns Night. The great son of Scotland, whose name is synonymous with the date, was born in a small cottage near The Bridge of Doon in 1759. People all over the world celebrate the occasion with a hearty meal including haggis. After much merrymaking, toasts and speeches, the evening is usually concluded with Robert Burns’ wonderful Auld Lang Syne. I will celebrate the evening with much enthusiasm this year, as I recently discovered that I am descended from Robert The Bruce! I will raise a glass of cheer to my great grandfather Thomas Campbell!

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Conquest Art Group Conquest Art works to inspire people living with disability or long term health issues to discover their creative energy and build self-confidence through art. Working at their own pace in supportive groups, our Members find both relaxation and fresh stimulus, along with the opportunity to make new friends. Our Worcester Park Group meets every Tuesday at St Mary’s Cuddington, The Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 7HL. From 1:30 to 3:30pm. Why not come along, your first session would be free and thereafter there would be a nominal charge of £1 per week and a yearly £5 subscription to belong to Conquest Art, all art materials are provided and you would receive a very warm welcome. Absolutely no art experience is necessary, just visit the group one week and give us a try. Here are some quotes from our Members: “I have never done art before and now I have been here 10 years and feel I have improved and even put my work in exhibitions.

My friend Nora suggested we come to Conquest together as we are both widows and we have some really lovely people and lots of fun and laughs. Ursula's idea of getting people together has been inspirational and I have learned to look at things differently and look at things longer” – Pat Trodd. “Two years after my stroke a lady from church took me to the Conquest Art Group - it saved my life. I have now been coming for 11 years sometimes up to four times per week and my family are now also involved as volunteers. During this time, I have done many still life and animal portraits including commissions” – Debbie Deal. “Everyone is welcomed. It brings a respite from the difficulties of life” - Arthur Miller. “Conquest Art has helped rebuild my confidence after a traumatic time in my life.” - Phyl Belcher. For further information on becoming a Member of Conquest Art please contact Tina on 020 3044 2731 / email enquiries@ConquestArt.org or see our website www.conquestart.org

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ANOTHER YEAR OVER

FUTURE TRENDS

January is a time to look forward to a new year and reflect on the one just ended. 2016 was full of political surprises at home and abroad. The referendum result may not have come as a revelation in many areas of the country but in the London area it came as a shock leading to a slower market while everybody adjusted. We won’t know the full effect for a while but can expect a rollercoaster of headlines in 2017.

A change we have touched on in the past is that of the high street. Within estate agency there are changes both on and off the high street. We have noticed some of the larger agents begin to consolidate their locations. Where once they might have had several offices they are now closing some and centralising their staff. This is a shift we expect to continue and, to us, makes a lot of sense. We’ve always felt that its better to for all our staff to work together so that we can help our clients in unison, particularly when they need assistance and advice from more than one department. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one.

Overseas the US presidential election proved to be quite the distraction resulting in a quiet October. After the vote it was surprising how quickly people returned to making decisions leading to an unusually busy November. The online agents take the consolidation Above all 2016 proved that, whatever concept still further with one office serving information you have to hand, nobody has a huge swathes of the country. The assumption that buyers no longer browse crystal ball! stock in agents’ windows is correct, and A NEW ONE JUST BEGUN agents have always gone to clients much Those prepared to put their head above the more than they have come to us. That’s the parapet are predicting house price growth nature of the job. for years to come but over the course of 2016 estimates became less bullish. The current wisdom is a small fall in London with stagnation or slightly rising prices elsewhere. We will wait and see!.

There is a balance to be struck. Heavy advertising has made some online agents more prevalent lately but it is our experience that there’s something missing in this extremely centralised approach. It has resulted in us selling 75% of the properties Interest from the buy-to-let sector has on market with both us and an online agent. waned, affected by the various changes in the tax landscape. Compared to the first 3 We know the area, properties, transport, schools, shops, traffic and shortcuts very months of the year, which saw a stamp duty well indeed. We make sure we get to know induced rush to invest, the rest of the year our clients and their needs very well too. It is saw such purchases reduce by about two- by considering all that information that we thirds. Whether that will be a permanent can match people to the perfect property for change or not is up for debate. them often before they have even seen it.

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Finance Interest rates are low, so what are your best options for saving? With interest rates set to remain low for a while, it’s worth considering what you could do with the spare cash you might now have. It’s always a good idea to pay off your debts first, but there is also some benefit to starting a small nest-egg. From April 2016 everyone has a Personal Savings Allowance, which means that many people won’t need to pay tax on their savings (subject to a maximum limit). This makes the Individual Savings Account (ISA), although still a good choice, perhaps no longer the automatic first choice for savers. This broadening of your options means you could switch your current account to benefit from the credit interest offered by a different bank, or perhaps opt for a fixed-term ISA that removes the temptation to spend. With each bank applying their own rules for eligibility, here are a few of the different accounts available at the time of writing.

balance needs to be held, so this could affect your eligibility if you’re not able to maintain this balance. Again, some high interest rates are only available for a year as the banks use them as ‘loss leaders,’ assuming their new customer won’t be inclined to move once the rate falls. • First Direct offers 5% AER for one year, to customers holding a First Direct 1st Account. You’re allowed to save between £25 and £300 per month, but if you miss one deposit your savings account will close and the balance will be placed into a lowinterest account. • The HSBC Regular Saver is available to current account customers (Advance Account or Premier Account). It offers a credit interest rate of 5% AER on savings up to £3,000 per year, but if you miss a payment your money is put into an account with low interest. Cash ISA Once the obvious choice to maximise your savings, a cash ISA can be a good place to start your nestegg if you don’t want to switch bank accounts or save a regular amount each month.

Bank current accounts It’s not something that we are used to, but currently some banks are offering high credit interest rates on their current accounts. Most of these deals only last for a year, however, and are used to attract new customers, but many also offer cash back or a monetary incentive. • Nationwide offers 5% AER fixed on their FlexDirect account for balances up to £2,500. This rate lasts for one year only and then drops to 1%, so you’ll need to be prepared to swap again if you want to get a higher rate after this. To be eligible for the account you have to pay in at least £1,000 per month. • Tesco Bank pay 3% variable AER on balances up to £3,000. There is no minimum pay-in amount with this account, and you get Clubcard points when you spend using your debit card. Bear in mind that this rate is variable, however. Regular savings accounts As the name suggests, these accounts require a regular payment in order to benefit from the higher interest rates. They are often linked to a current account with the same bank, in which a minimum

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In the 2016/17 tax year the ISA limit is £15,240, and you have a choice between a variable and fixed rate account. • The Coventry Building Society Easy Access ISA offers a rate of 1.1% AER. There is no limit on the number of withdrawals, and you can replace money that you’ve taken out in a tax year without it becoming part of the ISA limit. • Paragon Bank’s three-year fixed term ISA pays 1.5% AER at the time of writing, with a minimum of £500 being required. Although you can access your money in a fixed term ISA if you need to, the banks make hefty charges for doing so. Fixed-rate accounts If you want to guarantee your rate of interest and are sure you won’t need the money for some time, a fixed-rate account could be a good option. You need to factor in the likelihood of rates rising again in the future, however, and try to determine the best length of time to lock your money away, otherwise you might lose out if the interest rate goes above that of your account.

• Atom Bank offers 1.4% AER for a one-year term, but you must open the account with their Android or iOS app, which won’t appeal to everybody. You can deposit between £50 and £100,000, and the interest is applied either monthly or annually. • Tesco Bank has a fixed-rate account over three years, offering 1.2% AER. You can open it online with a minimum deposit of £2,000. Savings accounts offer a guaranteed return on your money, which can grow surprisingly quickly, especially if the interest is applied monthly. Having some cash to one side gives you a degree of control to deal with unexpected life events such as redundancy, or simply the reassurance that you have a ‘cushion’ to fall back on. moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-bestbank-accounts#interest moneysavingexpert.com/savings/best-regularsavings-accounts#bb moneysavingexpert.com/savings/best-cashisa#manipulate moneysavingexpert.com/savings/fixed-rate-savings

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y ut nd n e nd

Poetry

In Worcester Park by Katy Lawrence I am triplet and have one older sister, I have always lived in Worcester Park with my Mum and Dad but recently moved to Brinkley Road in Worcester Park with my partner. I think my Nan and granddad were my inspiration for writing, I used to write poems for them from the age of 10. I am now 30 and still love writing, I recently self published a book through Amazon called See Me Young with a collection of my favourite poems, I put my Nan on the front cover as she is a wonderful lady who is a true inspiration for the older generation. I have been lucky enough to have wonderful parents and a great network of friends which have given me guidance and help along the way. Whilst I work in Chessington in an office, Iwould love to write full time, I believe that writing can help heal people and provide comfort when they really need it.

See Me Young

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See me not as one who’s old, because I bare wrinkled skin, see me with no pitying eyes, see the girl within. See me not as old, because my hair has long since greyed. See the scars I bare, they are the memories I have made. See me not as old, because my pace has slowed, I stopped to watch the world rush by, before I got to old. Don’t be sorry, that my mind has muddled and sometimes I get lost, I got back to a time of the world I knew, before my love was lost. See me not as old, when I cannot hear you speak, Try to be more patient dear and talk louder when we meet. See me not as old my dear, when my appetite is small, food seems less important now, as it’s just to fill a hole. See me not as old my dear, when I tell stories of the past, it’s because we stood together, we secured a future built to last.

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34 Stonecot Hill, Sutton Surrey, SM3 9HE Tel: 020 8337 2626

WandsWorth

020 8874 1781

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Cryptic Crossword Across 1. Grey letters on small sign (6) 4. A river occupant is rude! (8) 9. Curt sort of brat bearing up (6) 10. Champion more vulgar about South Africa (8) 12. A horde is directed past Zimbabwe (8) 13. Bananas are inside like curry (6) 15. Leg broken near first valley (4) 16. Soft pillow’s initially likely (7) 20. Medical treatment, it’s said (7) 21. An eyepiece from Ireland isn’t complete (4) 25. Seafood swindle one investigates (6) 26. Renovated local’s so very big! (8) 28. Sect insiders still over the moon (8) 29. Sides ordered to start or stop (6) 30. Bent porter opening entrance (8) 31. Unorthodox ads get put on (6)

Down

simply turned up (7)

1. Finery pleased teases (4,4)

14. Animal ascending to Arthur’s place (7)

2. A person going into a dorm oddly deserted (8)

17. Hit-and-run is very careless (8)

3. Relative to write about cut (6) 5. Emperor not really embracing the Queen (4) 6. A barrier to cables dealt with (8) 7. Take a side and rue change (6) 8. Rubbish about Thor’s second hammer (6) 11. Lost rings – some

18. Greedy wingback, roughly speaking (8) 19. Remote ladies to put straight (8) 22. Slumbering snake given fish back (6) 23. Unusual apron’s for a clergyman (6) 24. The son used to be sincere (6) 27. Short fib about a large cat (4)

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Pictograms

Sudokus

4 words

fairly easy

A.M. 2 words

COM PANY 2 words FETA

not so easy

Lock Up Your Stuff! It seems that there’s a new hack every couple of days, with websites admitting that hackers have managed to get people’s account details. That’s dangerous, because many people use the same passwords on every site - so if somebody manages to get your login details for one website, they might be able to get into your email and favourite online shops. The good news is that protecting yourself is simple.

A B R W L E 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.

3 letters: 14

4 letters: 13

5 letters: 3

6 letters: 1

First of all, don’t use the same user name and password twice. And secondly, don’t use easy to WEAL BARE 3 Letters LAB guess passwords. “12345678” is one of the UK’s WEAR BAWL LAW ALE most popular passwords and easy to guess, but 5 Letters BEAR LEA ARE something like “ektg-243n-brb456” isn’t. That’s ABLER BLEW RAW AWEhard to remember, of course, but you don’t have WAR AWL to remember it:BREW on AppleBLARE hardware the Safari BRAWL EARL BAR web WEB browser can remember your passwords 6 Letters 4 Letters BRA for you, and onREAL other devices, apps such as the WARBLE WALE ABLE EAR excellent LastPass or 1Password do the same. WARE BALE ERA

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New year, new start? a Flexible part-time courses available to fit around family and work aIndividual support aState-of-the-art resources

020 8394 3038 www.nescot.ac.uk

Our new salon is now open to the public. Call or email to make an appointment.

020 8394 3110 innovation@nescot.ac.uk

Gym and facilities hire at nescot.

020 8394 3133 sportscentre@nescot.ac.uk

The brand-new ICOM clinic is now open and fully equipped.

020 8394 3154 osteopathy@nescot.ac.uk

COMING SOON TO NESCOT

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A Photographer Dreams by Hugh Griffiths www.creativelight.org.uk Happy New Year! I hope that, like me, you are looking forward to a year of personal growth and fulfilment – which, of course, is only a good thing when it is coupled with helping other people and looking after the world we live in. In January last year, I made two trips to Scotland to meet people that I hadn’t seen for ages. The first one, at the beginning of the month, was to Aberdeen to spend a long weekend with my brother-in-law, and to (re)meet his sons and family. Getting to Aberdeen on the 7th January was not an easy matter; you may remember that Scotland was particularly heavily hit by storms then. A straightforward journey from Kings Cross, which was supposed to be on the fast train, turned into a much longer one, with long parts on a coach carrying us around the East Coast of Scotland, followed by a night in an Aberdeen hotel because all the roads out to my brother-in-law were closed. Still,

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I got there eventually (and only 15 hours after I was due), and my nephews had the great idea of going for a climb up Scolty – a mountain near Banchory. At least, I called it a mountain, Andrew referred to it as a small hill, but he is younger than me. It was a cold day, and snow was lying on the ground. But at least it was bright, and any sign of rain was well hidden. Part way up, we were walking through a forest of pine trees, and I saw this picture. The light coming through the back of the trees is created by the weak sun and the bright snow and it seems to give life to the rest of the picture. I took several photos of this scene: and this one works best, partly because the trees on the right and the left act as boundaries for the picture, keeping your eyes looking into the main subject rather than wandering off over the edge. You know that I like mist – and there is a slight element of this in the background. For me, this is a lovely photo, that represents a memory of the day; I love the light shining on to, and bouncing off, the trees. There is something peaceful about it, this is like Winnie the Pooh’s Hundred Acre wood … can you imagine the little animals meeting and chatting to each other in the undergrowth?

Near the top of Scolty (and I really do recommend this as a good afternoon walk, whenever you’re in Banchory) you can turn round and see this vista behind you. There was a layer of cloud below the hills in the background and this seems to separate two types of scene – at the top you’ve got softly rounded hills covered with snow, while below there is the valley with

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trees and fields. And then, close to us, was this lone tree on the right. It anchors the picture, and makes you look at the whole of it – not just the hills. Originally I had a large amount of sky at the top, but cropped it out because I felt that that would give a better balance to the composition. What do you think? I have done well in competition with this picture – the judge commented on the different horizontal layers which made it a photo that kept his interest. So it’s a bit of a favourite of mine!

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Later in the month I went to Ayrshire to meet a man who had had a formative impact on me when I was at university. Robb is now in his 80’s and lives in Dalry, south of Glasgow. My journey there was marginally easier than the one to Aberdeen, but not by much, as the railway was flooded between Carlisle and Glasgow. On the way back we had to take a coach from Glasgow to Carlisle – and on the way I was able to take a number of photos of the fields and woods. I took a number of photos of this field as we went by – and decided to convert them to black and white and to really emphasise the contrasts. I heavily over exposed it in Lightroom and used a Photoshop add-in to finish off the effect I wanted to achieve. I like the tracery of the branches and the minimalist appearance – but not too minimalist as you can still make out the whole picture. The dry stone wall coming up from the left is important as it gives a closure at the bottom of the picture and helps to lead your eye into the picture as it rises up to the right. It was a bit risky – I like it, but the extreme nature of the way I have processed it may mean that not everyone does. Indeed, one of my friends at the Malden Camera Club told me that high key pictures, such as this, never get anywhere with judges. Happily, he was wrong on this occasion! And the Malden Camera Club meets on Thursday evenings at the Library in Kingston Road – why don’t you make a resolution to improve your photography – and come along one evening. You will be very welcome!

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

Worcester Park - £825,000 • Extended Family Semi

• Four Large Bedrooms

• Three Bath/Shower Rooms

• 28’ Through Reception

• 18’ Kitchen/Breakfast Room

• Extensive Lawned Garden

• Large Single Garage

• Front Drive

• E.P.C. Rating E

Worcester Park l Stoneleigh l Ewell l New Malden l Cheam

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20468 - Browns Residential - A5 Local Mag.indd 1

07/12/2016 16:18

Independent Estate Agency at its best

£775,000 Worcester Park

£550,000 Worcester Park

• Large Five Bed Semi • Two Bath/Shower Rooms • Three Reception Rooms • E.P.C. Rating E

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£739,950 Worcester Park

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Browns Residential

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To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915 20468 - Browns Residential - A5 Local Mag.indd 2

29 07/12/2016 16:19

Review Of The Year 2016 1. After winning their first ever Olympic medal in 2016, which country's prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, announced they would no longer be progressing plans to change the country’s flag and that the union jack would stay part of it? 2. On March 1st, screenwriter Tony Warren died at the age of 79. Which longrunning TV show did he create? 3. Which three members of the Spice Girls reunited in 2016 and launched a new website called "The Spice Girls Gem"? 4. After a 12 year absence, which TV show returned in 2016 and was won by Apollo? 5. Words such as wondercrump, snozzwanger and scrumdiddlyumptious were included in a new dictionary that was compiled to mark the centenary of which author's birth? 6. Who was in the news in March 2016 for her use of meldonium? 7. In football, which Englishman refereed the final of Euro 2016? 8. Which country won the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest with a controversial song about Joseph Stalin's deportation of the Tatar people from Crimea in 1944? 9. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie separated in September 2016, with which one of the two filing for divorce? 10. In the week following the death of David Bowie, which five of his hit singles reentered the UK top 40 singles chart?

Care visits at home

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Care at home offers a realistic, cost effective alternative to residential care.

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Recipe Squash and Spinach Lasagne If you fancy a meat-free supper this week then try this delicious filling vegetarian lasagne. Serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread. Serves 4 Ready in 1 hour 30 minutes 1 butternut squash, peeled and flesh diced 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 1 tsp dried oregano 3 tbsp olive oil 200g baby spinach leaves 250g pack fresh egg lasagne sheets 250g ricotta cheese 300g cottage cheese 150g ready-grated mozzarella cheese 25g pine nuts Green salad, to serve

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1 Preheat the oven to 200C, Fan 180C, Gas Mark 6. Place the diced butternut squash, onion, garlic and oregano in a large roasting tin and drizzle over 2 tbsp of the olive oil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and toss to mix. Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the squash is very tender. Cool for 10 minutes. 2 Transfer everything from the roasting tin (including any pan juices) to a food processor and process until smooth, adding a little hot water if needed to give the mixture a spreadable consistency. 3 Steam the spinach for 1-2 minutes until just wilted. Place the lasagne sheets in a large shallow heatproof dish and cover with boiling water. Leave for 3-4 minutes to soften then lift out of the water and drain on kitchen paper. Mix together the ricotta and cottage cheeses in a bowl along with half the mozzarella cheese. 4 Spread a third of the squash mixture in the base of a square medium-sized ovenproof dish. Top with a layer of wilted spinach followed by a layer of the cheese mixture and a layer of lasagne sheets, cutting them to fit if necessary. 5 Repeat the layers two more times, finishing with lasagne sheets and a thin layer of the remaining cheese mixture. Scatter over the rest of the mozzarella cheese and the pine nuts, and drizzle over the rest of the olive oil. Bake for 2530 minutes until the cheese topping is golden and bubbling. Serve with green salad. TIP Instead of the spinach you could use lightly fried slices of courgette or sliced beefsteak tomatoes.

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What’s On

Give blood

Find out times an book an appointment by calling 0300 123 23 23 St Philip, Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park KT4 8LG 29th Dec Sutton, The Thomas Wall Centre, Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey., SM1 4DP 1st Dec St James’s Church Hall, Bodley Road, New Malden 1st Feb Cheam, North Cheam Sports and Social 658 London Road, North Cheam 8th Feb

Farmers Market

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

Tunes’n’Tea

An afternoon of live music, tea, coffee, home made cakes, conversation and dancing if you wish. Guest musicians perform for your delight! Relax and listen to a mix of songs and tunes, old, new and everything in between! Thursday December 15th 1.30 - 3.30pm St John’s Church Hall Station Approach, Stoneleigh, Epsom, KT19 0QZ (next to Stoneleigh Station on the West Side) Entrance: £3 All Welcome!

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 Entry Free; cars via Cheam Gate. For further information please visit the website at www.friendsofnonsuch.co.uk

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Epsom Playhouse,

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

Aladdin - Panto 2016 - 8 January The Epsom Playhouse is proud to present a truly magical pantomime. The Elvis Years - The Show 13 January The Elvis Years is an outstanding musical production which brings to the stage the incredible and compelling story of the King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley. The Old Hat Jazz Band 16 January A young band with a hot swinging approach to the favourite tunes of the 20’s & 30’s. Deep in the Heart of Me (Myers Studio) 26 January Thirty years on from Shirley Valentine, ‘Deep in The Heart of Me’ tells the story of 53 year old housewife Janet who goes on a solo holiday to Greece and meets the woman of her dreams, in a man’s suit, singing Frank Sinatra songs. That’ll Be The Day 27 January After an incredible three decades of touring, the UK’s No.1 Rock & Roll variety production, That’ll Be The Day returns with another opportunity to see its latest most popular show! Stephen K Amos 28 January The maestro of feel-good comedy is back on tour with his new show. Fresh from touring UK and Australia. Star of Life An Idiot’s Guide and What Does the K Stand For(Radio 4). ‘Amos is officially becoming a national treasure. Expect more warm insight and spiky charm here’ (Sunday Times). The Jonathan Vinten Band 30 January A Return of one of the best Chicago style bands in Britain. Chris Barber Band 3 February Europe’s Finest Traditional Jazz & Blues Band. Chris Barber OBE, this year celebrates his Diamond Jubilee as leader of his band on a full-time professional basis. A band that stands out as one of the finest, if not thé finest, of its kind anywhere in the world. Barry Steele as Roy Orbison 4 February Barry Steele is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading vocalists playing homage to legend Roy Orbison. He’s stunned audiences across the globe with his uncanny similarity and ability to authentically revive the exquisite toe-tapping sound of this music giant.

Ewell Castle School Present Bugsy Malone 8 February (eve and mat) 9 February (eve) “Following the rip-roaring success of Oliver The Musical, Ewell Castle School present this slick, slapstick musical comedy. Bugsy Malone follows the rivalry between two half-witted street gangs and the suave and sophisticated Bugsy himself. Along the way he makes finds love, laughter and befriends ... So you think you know about Dinosaurs? 13 February Did dinosaurs eat their own families? Was every Tyrannosaurus rex a fearsome carnivore? Why did Allosaurus headbutt its prey to death? Come and test your knowledge against Ben Garrod (the TV scientist in “Attenborough’s Giant Dinosaur”). With the help of TV film footage and photos of his own... Lady Chatterley’s Lover 17 February “Obscenity only comes in when the mind despises and fears the body, and the body hates and resists the mind” The story follows Connie Reid, a cultured, independent thinker who marries the emotionally distant Sir Clifford Chatterley. Connie turns to the bed of the lowborn... Whitney Queen of the Night 18 February A stunning celebration of the music and life of one of the greatest singers of our time. This award winning production features a stellar line-up with rising West End star, Rebecca Freckleton, delivering a powerhouse and breath-taking performance as Whitney. Taking us on an emotional rollercoaster... Gary Delaney - ‘There’s something about Gary’ 19 February .. and that something is he likes to write and perform jokes. An awful lot of them. He thinks a good joke should be like a drunk Glaswegian, short and punchy. Gary’s last tour was extended four times and took in over 240 dates. His next tour will once again showcase... Psychic Sally 21 February The nation’s favorite psychic is back and better than ever with her most jaw-dropping show yet. Funny, entertaining, sometimes heart breaking, often controversial Sally says” Every night when I am on stage, amazing things happen, and it is a privilege to be able to pass on messages of love and... Jongleurs 22 February Your regular dose of comedy 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 standup.

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

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

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

Unilet

SOUND+VISION

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hi-fi • audio-visual multi-room specialists

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

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Do you have space in your life for a child or teenager? Come and find out

We’re looking for foster carers for children of all ages, but in particular for young people over 12.

if fostering is for you at one of our

Foster carers provide a safe place to stay for babies, children and young people aged up to 18 who are in Local Authority care.

drop-in Information Events below

This usually happens when their birth parents can’t look after them because of drugs, alcohol or mental health problems, or there’s been a family crisis.

TUESDAY 26 JANUARY

We also take in children who arrive from abroad alone – they’ve often escaped from traumatic situations in their own country where they might have lost their families.

WEDNESDAY 24 FEBRUARY

between 6.00pm and 8.30pm - light refreshments are provided.

For more information, please call on

0800 085 7072 or visit www.kingston.gov.uk/fostering To advertise email jenny@maldenmedia.co.uk or call 020 8336 2915

Gardening Fight the Frosts Pippa Greenwood

The frosts are here, and in the weeks ahead the worst of the winter is likely to arrive too. Added to that there is often a fair bit of rain or even snow at this time of year, so our gardens can be in for quite a battering. Now most of the plants you grow in your garden are probably fairly frost-resistant, but what can you do to ensure that damage to those which are not so hardy is kept to a minimum? Some deterioration may already have occurred, but it is the last frosts and those which hit the plants in spring that are likely to be most damaging, as they catch plants out when they have already put on a bit of new growth. So, there’s definitely a very good reason to brace yourself, get out into the garden and take some precautions. Plants in containers are particularly vulnerable to freezing or frosting as their roots are not protected beneath the soil, but are relatively exposed with just the container and a bit of compost to cover them. Thinwalled containers pose the greatest threat, especially those made of metal. Thicker wood or ceramic pots provide a little extra insulation, but even these may need a bit more. Where possible, plunge your pots by digging a hole in the soil and placing the plant in its pot into the hole. If it is too heavy to move then wrap it up well in several layers of bubble wrap, polythene or old curtains – it may not look pretty but it’ll do the job. If the container is in a very prominent position and you want it to look more appealing, buy some hessian and use lengths of this to create an outermost layer to hide the insulation material – it can actually end up looking rather nice! If very harsh weather is forecast or there has been a spell of mild weather which may have promoted some soft, new growth that will be particularly frost prone, drape a double layer of horticultural fleece over the top growth of the plants and anchor it well. If you want to make life a lot easier then invest in some Easy Fleece Jackets: they come in three sizes and each one has a draw-string and toggle so that you can easily insert the plant and then secure it. You can find out more on my website www.pippagreenwood.com/products/protectyour-crops. A double fleece layer can of course be used on plants in beds and borders too, or to protect slightly tender wall shrubs. Larger individual plants in borders, which are too big for even the large fleece jackets, can be

given longer term protection with a home-made protective ‘cage’. Just use four stakes or sturdy canes to create a framework which you wrap with netting or chicken wire, then fill the central space around the plant with dry bracken, straw or leaves. Evergreens in containers and in open ground may suffer from drought as well as foliage or stem growth – during the cold weather they continue to need a fair amount of water and if this is frozen solid in the soil, they soon suffer. So it is essential to continue to water these, especially if they are in a spot where they are sheltered from a lot of the rain which does fall, or if the weather has been dry. A deep mulch applied to the soil or compost surface before the ground becomes frosted will help too. Once frozen, soil moisture becomes unavailable, so this mulch will help to keep the water available. Although most fruit trees - like apples and pears, cherries and plums - are hardy, they are also prone to damage. The main risk is to newly-opened blossom, though the buds themselves may be damaged too, with late frosts being the most harmful as by then the buds are further developed. If you are planting new fruit plants, it really pays to buy them from a specialist nursery and try to get late-flowering varieties where

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

Telephone: 020 8337 2059 OPENING TIMES

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

www.rwoodfallopticians.co.uk

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Health by Sandrine Olmi, Nutritional Therapist, Savoir Fayre Family Nutrition Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new year. Get healthy as a family without dieting When January comes, diets become ever so popular. Although watching what you eat is a good thing, restrictive diets are rarely effective. While on a diet, people are not addressing their poor eating habits which caused them to put weight on in the first place. Once you are back to eating your regular food, guess what? The weight creeps back up. This year, why not make small lifestyle changes last? Here are 4 tips to stay healthy as a family all year around and without dieting. Tip no. 1: Listen to your body When you eat specific foods, your body can react in different ways. When it all goes well, food gets digested easily and nutrients are absorbed to maintain good health. If you eat foods that do not agree with you, you may experience a variety of signs such as bloating, cramps, constipation, diarrhoea, lethargy, reflux, headaches and even allergic reactions in some instances. Your body is telling you that something is

not quite right. You could benefit from speaking to a Nutritional Therapist to identify the foods that are affecting you. Tip no. 2: Eat Real Food Choosing natural wholefoods over packaged foods can positively impact on your health. Fresh vegetables provide the body with a good supply of nutrients required to function fully. Pulses and whole grains such as brown rice, buckwheat and quinoa are a great source of minerals and fibre which keep you full for longer and help with weight management. When you cook a meal yourself with freshly bought ingredients, you know exact what goes in the dish. No nasty surprises! Tip no.3: Say no to sugar When it comes to managing your weight, sugar is the one to watch out. In fact, sugar is everywhere. When you start reading the labels on the back of packaged goods, you soon realise that you and your children are probably consuming sugar without realising. But does your body really need all that sugar? Your body requires carbohydrates to function, which are broken down into sugar in the body. This sugar is essential for your body to create energy just like a car needs fuel to run. However, it is not necessary to

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research studies which demonstrate that stress can have a big impact on a person’s weight. So this year, I would encourage all families to find time to exercise, relax and eat together in a calm environment, away from technology and screens. By reconnecting with each other and by taking the time to share and listen to each other’s day, you may find that everyone is less stressed and a lot happier.

include sugary foods or added sugars in the diet for your body to produce energy. In fact, eating too much sugar can cause all sorts of health issues. Now is a good time to assess how much sugar your children are consuming every day. Why not make homemade treats with your children? Not only will they enjoy making them, you will be totally in control of the ingredients. Win-Win!

If you lack inspiration or if you need a little hand in the kitchen to produce healthy meals and treats which will be enjoyed by the whole family, I offer cooking workshops delivered in the comfort of your own kitchen. For more information about family nutrition coaching visit www.savoirfayre.co.uk www.savoirfayre.co.uk

Tip no.4: Keep a lid on stress Did you know that the way you feel could affect how much and what you choose to eat? Psychological distress and an elevation of the stress hormone cortisol promote abdominal fat. There are a multitude of

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Hobbies Live like Tish the Fish

(Or how to keep your goldfish happy) By Kate McLelland Almost everyone has kept a goldfish at some time in their lives. Whether it was won as a prize at a funfair or bought as a pet, most of us have a memory of watching our fish swim around its new, watery home for the first time. The trouble is, many of us also have a memory of our first fish dying - sometimes within weeks or months of bringing it home. Keeping goldfish is not as easy as it seems, although with proper care and attention some can live for as long as 25 years. A record-breaking goldfish called “Tish”, from North Yorkshire, actually lived for 43 years. Goldfish were originally found in cool streams, lakes and ponds throughout temperate parts of Asia and in parts of Eastern Europe. A small member of the carp family (which includes koi carp and crucian carp), the goldfish is a domesticated breed of the less colourful Asian carp, and the varieties you see today are the

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result of selective breeding that began in China thousands of years ago. The idea of bringing fish indoors developed during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in China, when a natural genetic mutation produced fish with golden scales instead of the usual silver tones. On special occasions these fish - thought to symbolise abundance - were moved into bowl-shaped containers and brought indoors to greet guests before being returned to their outdoor ponds and lakes. In the 17th century the fashion for keeping fish spread to Europe, when traders introduced goldfish to Portugal. Their colour was thought to bring luck and good fortune and it became a tradition for married men to give a fish to their wives on their first anniversary as a promise of prosperity in the years to come. With their bright scales, varied colours and graceful moves, goldfish can make delightful pets. If you are thinking of keeping goldfish, here are some useful care tips. Too darned hot? Goldfish need to be kept in clean, cool water that mirrors their original habitat of freshwater rivers, ponds and lakes. The temperature should ideally remain between 10° C to 22° C, so a heater should not normally be necessary. It’s important to avoid sudden changes of temperature, especially when adding fresh water that is colder than the water currently in the tank. If you are worried about temperature swings, buy a thermometer. A clean fish is a happy fish Fish from the carp family tend to produce a large amount of waste matter: releasing it through faeces and via their gills. This means that harmful toxins build up in the water, so buy a filter and make sure that it is regularly cleaned.

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It’s impossible to tell whether water is healthy by just looking at it, so test the water at least every four weeks with a kit that screens for ammonia and nitrate. If waste levels are too high, you’ll need to change half the water every day until conditions improve. The chlorine present in tap water is dangerous to both fish and the friendly bacteria in the tank, so it is vital to add a dechlorinating product to the new water. Otherwise, let the tap water stand for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to leave. Give me some space Researchers from Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, have been tracking fish released into the country’s waterways and have discovered that goldfish can travel hundreds of kilometers in a year. They found a number of fish that had grown to the size of a football and weighed around 1.9kg (4lb). A simple way to calculate the amount of space your goldfish needs in a tank is to allow 2 litres of water per 0.5cm of goldfish length. You should always try to provide a larger volume of water than the minimum size required, because larger tanks create more stable conditions. The RSPCA is very clear that ‘decorative’ tanks, such as goldfish bowls, are not suitable for fish. Round

bowls are particularly harmful because the surface area is very small, limiting the amount of oxygen that can enter the water. Feed me Make sure you buy the right kind of food for your fish and never feed a goldfish with tropical fish flakes. Goldfish require a plant-based diet, whereas tropical fish need protein. Remove food after five minutes if it remains uneaten, as it will rot and pollute the water. If you are not sure how much to give your fish, start with a small amount, then add a little more if they still appear to be hungry. All these guidelines may make goldfish care seem complicated - particularly if you thought you could just pop your fish into a bowl of tap water and watch it swim around. There may be a certain amount of work involved in keeping goldfish, but you’ll be rewarded by the sight of happy, healthy fish that - like Tish the Yorkshire goldfish - will live to a ripe old age. Your fish may not survive until they are over 40, but with good care they will certainly give you many years of pleasure.

The Abbeyfield Ewell Society is dedicated to making the lives of older people easier and

more fulfilling. We invite you to join us for the launch of our new accommodation, come and spend some time with us, meet our residents and staff and discover what we can offer at our open days:

Thursday 17th November 10am – 2pm Saturday 19th November 10am - 3pm Have a look round and join us for a cuppa, cakes and a chat about living in friendly, secure sheltered housing in the heart of the local community. For more information contact us on 020 8393 0881 or email:abbeyfieldewellsoc@btinternet.com

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Organisations What is Freemasonry? Freemasonry means different things to each of its members. For some, it’s all about making new friends and acquaintances. For others it’s about being able to help deserving causes – making a contribution to family and society. But for most, it is an enjoyable hobby. Freemasonry is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations. Indeed, next year it will be celebrating 300 years of formal existence (although there is evidence of lodges meeting since 1645). It teaches self-knowledge through participation in a progression of ceremonies. Members are expected to be of high moral standing and are encouraged to speak openly about Freemasonry. Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught its principles (moral lessons and self-knowledge) by a series of ritual dramas – a progression of allegorical two-part plays which are learnt by heart and performed within each Lodge – which follow ancient forms, and use stonemasons’ customs and tools as allegorical guides. Freemasonry instils in its members a moral and ethical approach to life: its values are based on integrity, kindness, honesty and fairness. Members are urged to regard the interests of the family as paramount but, importantly, Freemasonry also teaches concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need. For example, since 1981 English Freemasons have donated over £100 million to charitable causes.

Freemasonry in Surrey is a vibrant society of like-minded men who enjoy meeting new friends and contributing to their local community. There are approximately 7,500 Masons in Surrey meeting in 14 centres across the county of Surrey. The nearest centre is Glenmore House in The Crescent, Surbiton. The current head of the Freemasons in England and Wales is HRH the Duke of Kent, and through the 300 years of English Freemasonry there have been many famous members: Dr Barnardo, Geoffrey Fisher, Harry Corbett, Harry Houdini, Winston Churchill, Peter Sellers, Rudyard Kipling, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and William Hogarth are just a few who have demonstrated our core values of integrity, kindness and charity. If you would like to know more about Freemasonry in Surrey, why not get in touch? Simply contact us via surreymason.org.uk/membership-enquirysurrey-freemasons/. You can also read more about Freemasonry and its activities in Surrey by visiting http://surreymason.org.uk/

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Clubs

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

Mondays

Worcester Park Civil Service Retirement Fellowship Group first Monday of the month at 2pm and finishing by 4pm. If the first Monday falls on a Bank Holiday the meeting takes place on the second Monday. Old Malden Scout Hall, 411 Malden Road, KT4 7NY. All retired civil servants and friends are welcome to attend and if you are interested in listening to one of our speakers please contact John Wright on 020 8337 8965 or johnandglenisw@gmail.com

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

Worcester Parkers Women’s Institute meet on the 3rd Monday of every month 7.45pm to 9.45pm at Christchurch with St Philip Church Hall in Ruskin Drive, Worcester Park. For more information contact Sue Hostler on 020 8337 3756 wi.worcesterparkers@gmail.com

*There is currently a waiting list. Cheam Common Art Group Small friendly Art Group who meet at Christ Church With St Philip Ruskin Road, Worcester Park 7.30 – 9.30 p.m. Welcome new members just to draw and paint in any medium without tuition. If interested come down for an evening and meet us to see whether this is for you Brenda Banks 020 8330 0928 Worcester Park Over 60’s Welcome Club meet every Monday from 1pm to 3pm at Christ Church with St Philip Church Hall in Ruskin Drive. Worcester Park. All over 60’s welcome to join us for a cup of tea and a biscuit or two, plus some outstanding entertainment in the way of singers and musicians. One Monday a month we have Bingo and every Monday we run a raffle. Days outings to the coast are organised throughout the summer months, and mid week holidays are organised two or three times a year. Come a little earlier and meet up with some friends and have a chat before the entertainment starts. We would love to see you. Contact Joyce on 020 8330 5065. The ladies After Eight Club 2nd Monday of every month from 8pm onwards at Christchurch with St Philips church hall. We have interesting speakers, outings and dinners and all are welcome for a small subscription to cover our costs. Just come along and

join in. Carol on 020 8337 2452 St James Players If you enjoy acting do come or help backstage. Monday and Wednesdays 8pm New members welcome. St James Church Hall, Bodley Road New Malden. Mem Sec: linda@dunnz,net

Tuesdays

Vegan Group - monthly bring and share buffet,. every second Tuesday. 7.30pm until 9.30 in Room 1,Christchurch with St Philip, corner of Ruskin Drive, WP. For vegans and anyone interested in learning more about veganism. Conquest Art Group inspires people living with disability or long term health issue to discover their creative energy and build self-confidence through art. Our art group meets every Tuesday at St Mary’s Cuddington, The Avenue, Worcester Park, KT4 7HL from 1:30 to 3:30pm. Anyone over 18 is welcome, all art materials and refreshments are provided. If you would like to come along and give us a try, please contact Carole on 020 8786 8534.

The Worcester Park Dramatic Society is a local amateur drama group of long standing. We stage two major productions a year at the Adrian Mann Theatre in Ewell, in April and November. We meet every Tuesday and most Fridays at 8.15 pm in the Elmcroft Community Centre in North Cheam, on the Sainsbury’s site. Apart from play readings, rehearsals and set construction, we have quiz nights and various social events. We also arrange group outings to amateur and professional theatre productions. We welcome new members to help us stage future productions, anyone willing to act or work backstage. membership secretary, Joyce Cranfield, on 020 8337 3317.

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

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

Worcester Park Crafters 1st Tuesday of each month in the hall at Christchurch with St Philip, Ruskin Drive, Worcester park,KT4 8LG. We meet from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. For further details please contact Lynne by E mail: lynnesinger@msn.com

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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)

Wednesdays

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

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

Thursdays

Tunes’n’Tea An afternoon of live music, tea, coffee, home made cakes, conversation and dancing if you wish. Guest musicians perform for your delight! Relax and listen to a mix of songs and tunes, old, new and everything in between! Thursday November 17th and Thursday December 1.30 - 3.30pm St John’s Church Hall, Station Approach, Stoneleigh, Epsom, KT19 0QZ (next to Stoneleigh Station on the West Side) Entrance: £3 Sutton Mariners A local offshore sailing club founded in 1988 that meets at 8pm every Thursday evening at the Borough Sports Ground, home of Sutton United FC, Gander Green Lane, SM1 2EY. We are a small and friendly club of about 60 members and have about a dozen boat owners amongst us providing crewing opportunities during the summer months as well as enjoying

meetings listening to interesting speakers and social nights. If you would like to get afloat come along and meet us – we’re sure you will enjoy the experience. www.suttonmariners.org.uk

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

Kingston Phoenix Road Club is a cycling club that meets at 8-30pm every Thursday at Worcester Park Athlete Club, Green Lane, Worcester Park. The club was founded in 1936 and currently has a membership of 70. We cater for riders of all ages whether they are novices or experienced and our oldest rider is 84 years old who is still racing and holds several national age related records. Malden Emergency First Aid Society (Mefas) Members meet each Thursday evening at 7.30pm for First Aid training. New members required. Everyone welcome. Hall available for hire. Christine 07966661015 Breathe Easy (Merton & Sutton) Group Wheezy? Breathless? you are not alone, come and join us at your local friendly support & information group for anyone affected by a lung condition. We meet between 2-4 pm on the 3rd Thursday of every month at St. Bedes Conference Centre, St. Anthony’s Hospital, London Road, North Cheam. SM3 9DW George on 0208 647 7530

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

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The drop in club was set up by Sutton Vision, Christ Church with St Philip and SCILL , working together in partnership. We are fortunate to be provided with a welcoming and comfortable venue at the Christ Church with St Philip Community Hall. There are accessible toilets on site. There is a small charge for coffee and tea at the church café. SCILL 020 8770 4065 Sutton Vision 020 8409 7166 Christ Church with St Philip 020 8330 7630

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

Fridays

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

year. We are a mixed club with about 60 members and play a range of friendly and league fixtures catering for all abilities. Secretary Mike Ridley 020 8715 8326 Treasurer Mark Broughton 020 8337 9699 Social Dancing With “ Glitters” At Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell Village. 8.30 p.m. - ll p.m. Over 18s. Entrance Fee £8. All standards of dancing. Free parking. Bar. Professional D.J. We even have a glitter ball! David 07903 314276 Friday 4th November Friday 18th November

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

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

June Day, Club Secretary, on 02083301220

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

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

General

Auriol Bowling Club Auriol Park, Salisbury Road,

Worcester Park. It is a mixed club of around 45 men and 25 women, who play outdoors from April to Sept with a busy fixture list of league and friendly matches against other clubs, as well as internal club competitions. David Regan 020 8337 8919 www.auriolbowlingclub.com. Cuddington Bowling Club Sandringham Road, Worcester Park and we play on an excellent 6 rink green that has been acclaimed by many of the club’s visitors this

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Voice for Wildlife by Carol Williams

The Aliens Have Landed I begin my first article of 2017 with an unabashed borrowing from a book I bought at the Animal Aid Christmas Fayre in December - a book about Aliens. It is by Fred Pearce. who is an environmental journalist. The book is entitled “ The New Wild” and features on the cover, a beautiful picture of a ringnecked parakeet. First of all, the author states: “ Conservationists have for half a century been battling to hold back the tide of aliens. They call them the second biggest threat to nature, after habitat loss. Their concern is laudable.They want to protect native species and the ecosystems they inhabit.” He goes on to question this attitude, asking us to consider that the success of alien species might be ‘a sign of nature’s resilience in the face of the considerable damage humans have done to the planet ‘. I rather like this questioning, this idea that we might actually be wrong about species which are ‘biological adventurers hitchhiking in our hand luggage, hidden in cargo holds,stuck to the bottom of ships and migrating to keep up with climate change’. Fred Pearce paints a picture of resilient, resourceful plants and animals which take every opportunity to survive in a world where wilderness is rapidly shrinking. I am vastly happy to change my mind and my attitude, with the coming of new information. I realise I can only speak from the knowledge base that I currently have. It would be very stupid to never take on board new insights and science. Being vegan now, of course, the ‘culling’ of any species, for however ‘noble sounding’ a reason, sits very badly with me. So, embracing the idea that ‘aliens’ may not be thoroughly bad and ‘need’ eradicating, is most welcome. I am also impressed with any animal or plant which manages to somehow survive in increasingly urban and natureunfriendly places. “ There are horror stories of alien takeovers, of course. Most of them happen on small, remote islands with

only a few native species, where carnivorous rats, cats and others hop off ships and cause mayhem. But elsewhere, most of the time, the tens of thousands of introduced species, usually either swiftly die out or settle down and become model eco-citizens, pollinating crops, spreading seeds, controlling predators, and providing food and habitats for native species. They rarely eliminate natives. Rather than reducing biodiversity, the novel new worlds that result are usually richer in species than what went before. Even the terror suspects of conservation,such as zebra mussels and tamarisk, Japanese knotweed and water hyacinth, often have a good side we rarely hear about” says Fred. This is quite some music to my ears. I love a story of redemption. However, the author adds: “I do not wish to suggest that we always welcome every alien species. We humans may sometimes want to protect the species we know and love - in the habitats that we are familiar with. There is nothing wrong with that............... But we should be clear that when we do this, it is for ourselves and not for nature, whose needs are usually rather different. And while we seek to protect what we like in nature, we should remember something else. There is very little that is truly natural in nature any more. There are very few, if any, pristine ecosystems to be preserved. Thanks to the activities of humans over thousands of years, no forests are virgin. They are all regenerating from past human invasions.” All of the above passages quoted from the book are from the introduction, which ends with these words: “ Most of the world is now composed of novel mixtures of native and alien species, happily getting along together, enriching our lives, maintaining ecosystems and recharging nature’s batteries. This is the new wild. Nature is blossoming in the most unlikely places, such as logged over forests and urban badlands. To make the most of that we need to reboot conservation too. That means we need to lose our dread of the alien and the novel. It means conservationists must stop spending all their time backing loser species - the endangered and the reclusive. They must start backing some winners. For winners are sorely needed if nature is to regroup and revive in the 21st century - if the new wild is to prosper” I recommend buying the book to anyone who is interested in this topic.

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James Lovelock has said “ I wholly agree with Fred Pearce’s argument.....Life is dynamic. Species do not belong in a planet -sized zoo.We should let Gaia evolve.” One of my favourite aliens is Buddleia. It colonises places where little else seems able to thrive, feeds butterflies and shelters birds, whilst putting some green into ugly, concrete landscapes. I probably disagree with Mr Peatce about attempts to save endangered species - I do think we ought to try, especially if there is something we can reasonably hope to achieve - and a lot has been done in the last decade to bring some animals and plants back from the brink. I could never be in favour of simply letting a species die out, without trying to save it. I feel that human beings are responsible, and so ought to make reparation. We are hardly a blind and amoral force of nature and we could all do a great deal more to tread less heavily upon the earth and be more respectful. Leaving nature alone as much as we can would be good! Disturb as little as possible and nurture small patches of wilderness -the plants and animals which will come in to your patch if you do this can be truly fascinating.

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View from the City by Justin Urquhart Stewart 7IM

...and another thing.... Justin Urquhart Stewart, co-founder of Seven Investment Management So is size really that important? Well obviously when it comes to Christmas turkeys, but what else should it count in. Over the past few months we have had regaled by all sorts of statistics from both Brexiteers and Remainers about the size and shape of the UK economy. Some of it no doubt was true. Some was also most certainly untrue. Then quite a lot was just rhetoric and hyperbole blurted out to try and achieve some horrific headlines. It seems that since the Trump election, it has been fashionable to say that we are now in a ‘post facts era’. I am not sure that necessarily makes sense, but it does seem that politicians’ ability to be fast and loose with facts is far more acceptable than before. This is wrong, and frankly sloppy politics and weak journalism.

And then, out of interest, I added in: USA $17,947bn China $10,866bn EU $11,540bn Russia $1,326bn At first sight there’s would seem to be few surprises here with the USA and China way out in front of the other individual economies. Meanwhile, the EU as a single unit is slightly ahead of China. I think what is of interest is just how small the Russian economy is given the general commentary we hear about the size and strength of the Great Bear. This gave rise recently to some particularly excited hyperbole when their ageing aircraft carrier steamed passed us. What happened is aptly covered by that wonderfully evocative poem Cargoes by John Masefield and which I have paraphrased here: “Dirty Russian carrier with a salt-caked smoke stack, Butting through the Channel in the mad March days.” But, as we see, while Russia may be geographically huge, economically it is much more modest. A power… yes…and well-armed power at that, but certainly no super power.

One area that seems to have suffered throughout all this has been the actual value of the UK economy, and especially when compared to our neighbours and competitors. Although, the recent ‘loss’ of some £6bn by the Office of National Statistics in their calculations must call into question some of the data we are being fed on a regular basis. With this in mind, I thought it might be interesting therefore to do some comparisons between the various nations and try and get a better perspective of our different sizes and scales. Now, of course, as soon as you put down any data like this, it’s out of date, if only because the currencies for each nation will keep moving, but I hope at least it can give a reasonably useful impression. Firstly I took the GDP or Gross Domestic Product which measures the value of the economy for each nation in US Dollars for easier comparison. Thus for Europe I found: Germany $3,356bn UK $2,849bn France $2,422bn

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Next though I wanted to look at the comparative value when evaluated against the size of each country’s population. These numbers were as follows:

of Germany, we are in fact (on a per capita basis) wealthier. As for France, well it’s quite modest in comparison.

USA 321.6mn China 1,374.6mn Russia 146.3mn Germany 82.2mn France 66.3mn UK 64.8mn

Perhaps the most revealing figure though is the paltry number that is Russia. For all its bluster, it has a value per million of just $9.1bn. So lots of land, lots of assets, but (as yet) not lots of wealth per capita, and only slightly ahead of China, although probably only for the moment.

So, if I then divide the GDP by the population, we get an idea of the wealth per million for each country’s population and that makes for some interesting reading.

So fellow citizens of the UK, stand up and be proud of our value. Greater then we thought and certainly, at least on this measure, ahead of our German cousins. And the next time we see headlines of Russian military power being paraded in front of us, it would be good to recall that the value per head of their entire economy is less than one quarter of ours!

The USA comes out, not unexpectedly, at the top in this list at $55.8bn per million of American souls. China, however, given its huge population only manages a mere $7.9bn. So, while it is large and growing rapidly, in terms of wealth per person it has a very long way to go before it becomes the wealthiest. In Europe, Germany’s powerhouse has a value of $40.8bn but – somewhat surprisingly – the UK is higher at $44bn. France trails in at $36.5bn. Despite our inferiority complex to the financial strength

That is not a bad holiday message for all of us. Hope you’re having a super festive season and here is to a hopefully prosperous, although no doubt eventful, New Year.

Justin

CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a different number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. Once you have filled these throughout the grid you can start guessing words and reveal other letters. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

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Kids Play

Wednesday

There’s lots going on for pre-schoolers

Thursday

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

Monday

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

Tuesday

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

Songs and Stories is a music and story-time group at Worcester Park Baptist Church for babies and toddlers aged 0-4. We meet on term-time Thursdays, arriving at 10am for 10.10am start. Each session lasts 40 minutes and will include songs, puppets, rhymes, movements and story telling. Cost: £3.00 per session (£2.50 for siblings) No booking required NEW Carer and Toddler group for all families with twins and multiples. Come and meet other local families who understand all about having more than one of everything! We meet every Thursday at Worcester Park Baptist Church from 9.30- 11.00 am with toys, craft, songs, refreshments and stories during term time. Come along and join in - other pre-school siblings also welcome. There will be a minimal cost of £2 per family.

Friday

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

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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... ÂŁ3 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+

Andy Reeve

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

No call out charges â&#x20AC;˘ Over 25 years in the trade Mob : 07973 733649 / Tel : 020 8393 0180 andyreeve.plumber@virginmedia.com

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Winter

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