vantagepointmag.co.uk
Haslemere, Midhurt & Petworth • April 2014
VANTAGEPOINT YOUR COMMUNITY YOUR VIEW
MAGAZINE
Also inside: JOTTINGS COMPETITIONS CHARTER FAIR HASLEMERE DECORATIVE AND FINE ART SOCIETY
GET CYCLING! Follow in the steps of our great cyclists and take to the road in the Surrey Hills
TO THE POINT Tracy Carroll from Local Food Surrey has written an interesting article this month about how important it is to support our local food shops, which appears on page 19. She quotes a very interesting statistic that for every £10 spent at a local food business, £25 is generated for the local community, compared with just £14 if that tenner is spent in a multinational. This information came from a report carried out by the New Economics Foundation which has studied local economies and has come up with 10 steps to save local communities. Their first suggestion is to rebuild lo-
cal economies by plugging the leaks that are draining local money away to other parts of the country. How money circulates in an area is just as important as the amount of money flowing into it, which means that we should all be encouraged to spend our money with local shops, farmers’ markets and tradesmen. This goes for businesses as well. We should all be dealing with local suppliers wherever possible. Buy stationery from your local supplier. Use a local accountant. Work with local companies, who may already be doing their bit by advertising in the locally produced newspaper or
magazine such as this one. To quote the report, “the income gets passed on from local business to local business, over and over again. This is the same money, but every time it changes hands, it creates local wealth”. Keeping our local economy as vibrant as possible is vitally important. Local businesses, shops and markets (and, of course, charities and organsiations) must be supported if we want to retain our distinctive local communities, which is often the reason we choose to live where we do. So let’s all keep it local! Stefan Reynolds, Editor
VantagePoint is the local magazine produced by local people for the local community, and is published by Vantage Publishing, a Godalming based magazine business established in 2009. We now publish five community magazines which are delivered monthly by Royal Mail to 107,277 homes across the South East, which gives us the largest local circulation in the local area, all with guaranteed delivery by your postman. Please visit our website or contact any of us below if you need any more information.
Vantage Publishing Limited 6 Chestnut Suite, Guardian House, Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey GU7 2AE.
For more articles and Jottings, visit it us online at
vantagepointmag.co.uk
T: 01483 421601 W: vantagepublishing.co.uk
THE VANTAGEPOINT TEAM Stefan Reynolds Editor & Publisher 01483 421601 stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk
Carol Martin Sales Executive 01483 418141 carol@vantagepublishing.co.uk
Marcus Atkins Sales Director 01483 420173 marcus@vantagepublishing.co.uk
Angie & Nick Crisell Jotters 01483 421601 jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk
Contributors: Elizabeth Carlos, Tracy Carroll, David Gillott, Penny Kichen, Patrick Le Mesurier, Mark Pittick, Matthew Pottage, Amanda Reid, Charlie Smith, John Walter Print: Polestar Stones Cover: Alan Tomlinson
The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing can be reprinted without prior permission of the publisher. The publisher has tried to ensure that all information is accurate but does not take any responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We take no responsibility for advertisments printed in the magazine or loose inserts that might be delivered alongside it. © Vantage Publishing Limited.
4
vantagepointmag.co.uk
Throwing some
light on lighting
All our rooms need to have an ambience, and this month we look at how some lighting suggestions can make a room feel cosy, stylish, or give it the WOW factor, Charlie Smith advises. Lighting is one of the key elements that helps make your house a home. Proper lighting enables you to perform tasks easily, makes you feel safer and more comfortable, and allows you to enjoy your home to its full potential. Each room, however, has specific and unique general and accent lighting needs. Here are some tips and ideas to consider when planning your lighting needs for each room in your home. 1.Use lighting and decoration for a first impression. The hallway conveys the first impression of a home’s interior. Centre a traditional chandelier, contemporary pendant, or transitional close-to-ceiling fixture in your hallway to provide basic illumination and create a welcoming atmosphere. Make your artwork come to life and illuminate it with halogen light from a track or adjustable recessed down-lighting. Mirrors also add a special decorative touch to a foyer. 2. Size the decorative fixture to the space. Not all halll ways can accommodate a large chandelier, so make sure the size proportions are correct. Likewise, if you have a larger space, you’ll need a larger fixture. If you are able to view the fixture from above, make sure to select a foyer chandelier or pendant that looks attractive from second storey viewing. 3. Use lighting to bring out the best in your living spaces. Enhance your room’s ambiance, dramatise wall textures, accent artwork, or just provide general illumination for your study, living room, family room, playrooms, or bedrooms. A variety of different types of lighting fixtures will work for both your general lighting and accent lighting needs. Try recessed lighting or track lighting to make a room come alive by accenting artwork, wall washing, or grazing. Table lamps are also a great choice. When table space is limited, wall lamps are a good alternative. 4. Create a focal point with lighting. Your dining table is in place, chairs are 8
pushed in, and the table is set. To complete the picture you need a centre piece, your light fixture. This lighting fixture is the focal point of your room, so it needs to express your own personal style, while still satisfying general lighting needs. Whether your dining and entertaining style is casual and laid-back, or is generally more formal, choose a fixture that reflects you. 5. Use a chandelier or pendant for general lighting. Both fixtures are excellent sources of lighting and are sure to set the tone of your dining room. Recessed wall washers can also provide additional light while helping to create an illusion of a larger room space. When hanging a chandelier, make sure that the chandelier is 6” to 12” smaller than the narrowest side of the table. The bottom of the pendant or chandelier should be approximately 30” above your table. Consider a smaller chandelier with an integral down light for additional light on the table. 6. What about the kitchen? Not only are your meals prepared here, but your family and guests gather here as well. Sufficient and adequate lighting is a must for performing all your culinary needs, helping kids with their homework, ambience for dinner parties or just simply to create a feature to the room. Sketch a plan of your kitchen that focuses on activity areas and then decide what kind of light each area will need: general, task, accent, or decorative. Use higher watt bulbs vantagepointmag.co.uk
in task areas. A glass or plastic pendant will provide ample “up-lighting” to cover the entire dining area with light. 7. Illuminate certain areas. This could include your special home objects, architectural detail, or food presentation areas with track or recessed lighting. Use under cabinet lighting in cabinets, valances, and toe spaces and create drama while also supplying additional light to navigate around your kitchen in the evening.
8. Don’t forget about the bathroom. Bathroom lighting is probably the last place people want to invest time and money. Mirrors go unlit, and often one ceiling fixture is used to light up the sink, mirror, and shower. However, as whirlpool tubs become larger and steam showers are added, more and more time is spent relaxing in the bathroom. Since you begin and end your day in the bathroom, why not spend a little extra time considering which fixtures and lights would work best? Halogen bulbs are generally the standard for bathroom lighting, but the newest compact fluorescent bulbs are also a great option. FIND OUT MORE
All the above suggested solutions can be seen at Elstead Lighting’s showroom with over 2,000 designs to choose from. The design ranges are both contemporary and traditional. They cater for all areas of the home, the team are highly experienced and they will come up with any solution for any design scenario. Please visit their website www.elsteadlighting.com for more information. For information about Home Styling visits, call Charlie on 07770 568307 or email charlie@charliesmith.biz.
Elstead Lighting - a potted history of a long established local business Elstead Lighting was originally The Elstead Forge and was founded back in 1686 in Elstead, Surrey, by a Mr Richard Paine. It was managed by his succeeding heirs until 1870. It then passed on to the Bovington family in 1870 who carried it on until 1956, when daily work in the forge ceased.
two or three extra, and put the surplus in the shop window or on a small display board outside. People would buy items from here which led to Geoffrey designing and making more. It was this simple change that started Elstead Forge on its journey to where it is today.
The forge then lay dormant until 1965 when it was taken over by Geoffrey Lucas. At this point the forge mainly produced gates, railings and general ironwork, as well as some fire baskets and hearth accessories. Gradually, the gates, railings and general work dropped off but the making of fire baskets and some lights grew. When the forge received an order for a fire basket or light they would make
In September 1971, Geoffrey asked his brother Stephen Lucas to join him. They operated out of two premises; the Elstead Forge and a builder’s yard a mile away which had office facilities, a place to pack and sort orders, a workshop and a spray painting area. Geoffrey and Stephen quickly out grew the Elstead premises and built a new factory in the Mill Lane Industrial Estate, in Alton, Hampshire.
April 2014
In 1972 Elstead exhibited at its first hardware trade fair at Olympia in London, showcasing their range of lanterns, fire baskets and barbecues. In 1973 Elstead exhibited at the London Light Show for the first time and continued to grow steadily. Stephen’s son Jonathan joined in 1979 and he continues to run the business from premises in Alton which enables alll work to be carried out from one single site. Here they have a large showroom where they can showcase one of the largest collections of decorative lighting in the UK. Elstead Lighting, Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton Hampshire GU34 2QJ. Showroom open 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday. Tel 01420 590510.
9
Get CYCLING
Mark Pittick offers some advice for serious cycling in and around the Surrey Hills Cycling has become the new national obsession, fuelled by the success of the GB track cycling teams’ Olympic gold medal hauls and by success from the recent Tour de France wins by Sir Bradley Wiggins (2012) and Chris Froome (2013). Surrey is the most wooded county in the UK and has hosted some of the worlds’ major road cycling events, including the Olympic road race and key stages of the Tour of Britain. There has never been a better time to be inspired by cycling, to get fit and enjoy the best countryside Surrey has to offer. The Surrey Hills is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, encompassing a hilly area of the North Downs and taking in Cranleigh, Dorking, Farnham, 14
Godalming and Haslemere. This area is a cycling paradise, for both mountain and road cycling. Cycling is a great way to get around and enjoy the wonderful landscape, and a chance to test yourself up some of the world famous climbs, including the iconic Box Hill and Leith Hill (highest point in the South East). You can ride for miles in this small area, never climbing the same hill twice and enjoying fantastic vistas covering the South of England from the top of Leith and Holmbury hills. Using local train services, you can also get here farly easily. Having lived and cycled in the Surrey Hills for many years, I have a good understanding for how you can get the most out of cycling in the area. Whether you just have an old bike you’d like to dust off or are already an accomplished cyclist looking to challenge yourself on the steepest climbs the area, I have compiled for you some useful tips for an enjoyable ride along with a couple of routes, including a short introductory ride and a tough test on the “The Tour of the Surrey Hills”. vantagepointmag.co.uk
The following lists my top five tips to getting the best out of your cycling, whether cycling in the Surrey Hills or elsewhere: 1. Safety Always follow the Highway Code and ride ensuring you are considering other road users. Ride single file and not in long drawn out trains or groups of riders, as this can aggravate local motorists in the Hills as there isn’t much room on the narrow roads to pass cyclists. I always ride with flashing lights on front and back of the bike as this gives early warning to motorists in the dark lanes of the Hills. If you see horse riders then slow right down, give them a verbal “hello” so they know you are there and if safe to do so, pass. If the horse looks skittish, then stop and wait until the horse rider gives you the ok to pass. 2. Bike fit Ensure your bike fits you properly, even if it is an old banger! Ideally get a professional ‘bike fit’ at one of the many local bike shops, who will measure you and adjust your bike to fit you properly. This will ensure you have the most comfortable and efficient ride possible. 3. Clothing. Wear the best Lycra cycling shorts with a padded insert that you can afford and ensure you don’t wear any underwear (yes you need to go commando!). This will ensure you don’t get nasty saddle sores, caused by friction between you and the saddle. Please always wear a helmet too; I’ve never met anyone who came off a bike and said “I wish I hadn’t had a helmet on”. 4. Fitness The key to building fitness is to start gradually and build up the mileage and introduce hills as you get fitter. If you are new to cycling, then a 16km run on flat terrain is a good start for an hour ride, ideally completing this at least three times a week. If you purchase a bike and then head straight for Bar Hatch Lane as your first hill, your lungs will feel like they are going to exit your chest when it ramps up to 20%, and it will probably put you off cycling forever. Box Hill is a much better starter hill as it is not very steep, at an average gradient of about 5%. April 2014
5. Nutrition Take water bottles and some energy food to eat along the way for any ride over an hour. If you attempt to ride for four hours on fresh air alone, you will probably get “The Bonk” after about two hours (this is where you simply run out of gas due to depleting all your energy stores). So drink plenty of water (or better still an energy drink) and eat regularly during the ride (flap jacks etc. will do nicely). Please do take your litter home with you, discarded wrappers and bottles don’t add to the natural beauty of the area. The great thing about cycling is that you can travel quite large distances and see a lot of the local area, whilst burning a lot of energy and building fitness. Cycling is also very kind on the body, not overly stressing the knees, back or other parts of the body. A steady paced ride will burn between 600 and 800 kcalories per hour; adding up to about 4,000 kcalories on a
ride of four to five hours. For those of us who are looking to manage our weight, then cycling is an ideal way to burn off those unwanted pounds (3,500 kcalories equates to about one pound of fat). > 16 15
When cycling in the Surrey Hills, you will no doubt soon be keen to improve your times up the climbs. One of the biggest influences on your climbing time is how much you weigh, as unfortunately this has a big impact on how hard it is to cycle up a particular hill. This is why cyclists can seem to be a bit obsessed with how much they and their bikes weigh. As an example of how your weight affects climbing times I have produced the table below, which shows how your climbing time would vary up Box Hill: Assumptions: sustained power you can generate on bike equals 200W, hill 2.5miles long, bike & accessories weigh 15lbs and gradient averages 5%: Personal weight Average Speed 126lbs/ 9 stone 15.9mph 140lbs/ 10 stone 12.9mph 154lbs/ 11 stone 11.8mph 168lbs/ 12 stone 10.9mph 182lbs/ 13 stone 10.2mph
Time to climb Box Hill 9.4 minutes 11.6 minutes 12.7 minutes 13.8 minutes 14.7 minutes
You can see from the above, that a difference in weight of four stones means a climb time difference of over five minutes; or put another way, it takes 54% more time for a 13 stone person to climb Box Hill versus a nine stone person. If you want to lose weight, keep fit or just see our fabulous local countryside, there has never been a better time to start cycling, so go on, get that bike out and enjoy the Surrey Hills! If you want to get more out of your cycling and this article has whetted your appetite, then you can learn everything you need to know about road cycling from Surrey Hills’ resident, Mark Pittick’s ,book ‘Zero to Hero: The Fast Track Guide to High Performance Cycling’. This book expands on the subjects shared in this article, starting from ‘bike fit’, clothing for all weathers, through to bike choice, fitness and fitness plans, weight management, nutrition, competing in Cycle Sportives and much more besides. Inspired by writing this article, I embarked on writing a second book on cycling! This book covers 11 cycle routes in Surrey, Hampshire and Sussex, and is entitled ‘World Class Cycle Routes in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire’. I have cycled over 100,000km in the area and these rides are the refined best routes that the area has to offer. The book has routes divided into three categories, short (up to about 50km), medium (up to about 100km) and epic (up to 200km). Each route has a summary description of the route and key places on route and some pictures of the local area. At the end of each route there is a link to mapmyride.com, where a file is available to download to a cycle navigation computer i.e. Garmin 800. Using the route file you will be able to retrace the whole route easily without referring to a map or written instructions. Available for download via www.amazon.co.uk/kindle (or just type in “Mark Pittick” into amazon.co.uk and it will pop up). 16
A selection of
CYCLE ROUTES Introductory ride in the Surrey Hills
(32km with four climbs including Leith and Holmbury Hills). The first route detailed here is a taster of what the Surrey Hills has to offer the road cyclist. Go directly to the Garmin website using this link for the route details: http://connect.garmin.com/ course/5640216 At the end of the ride, stop in the Hurtwood Inn for well-earned pint or a cup of tea and slice of cake from Peaslake village stores.
The Tour of the Surrey Hills
If you are reasonably fit and can ride up 16 challenging climbs, gaining a total of 2,400m in vertical ascent for 115km, then this ride is for you. Every year the Audax cycling organisation runs a non-competitive ride out of Shere in August, showcasing the best cycling the area has to offer (Box Hill, White Down, Bar Hatch Lane, Leith Hill, Holmbury Hill, Coombe Lane…..). You can join this ride for about £5 by applying to the Audax organisation in the UK, or alternatively just turn up whenever you like and have a go yourself. The fit types here will complete this ride in about four hours, whilst it can take others over six hours so beware. Go to the Audax website and find the turn-by-turn directions starting from Shere community centre: www.aukweb.net/event/detail/12-356
Two local rides
We also have a couple of rides for you to try. One is on page 40 and covers Chiddingfold, Haslemere and Blackdown. The other covers Peaslake, Coldharbour and Westcott and appears in our Dorking, Godalming and Guildford editions and can be seen online at vantagepointmag.co.uk.
vantagepointmag.co.uk
Let’s eat the
HIGH STREET
Will our local economy go hungry as we vote with our food pounds at the supermarkets? Local food specialist Tracy Carroll explores. A Google search for statistics about small shop closures throws up a disturbing - yet unsurprising - set of results. ‘7337 high street shops closed down in 2012,’ and ‘More than 320 independent shops will close every week in 2013,’ jump from the screen. Closures such as these drain diversity from the high street and slice deeply into our local economy. Indeed, a study by the New Economics Foundation in London found that for every £10 spent at a local food business, £25 is generated for the local economy, compared with £14 for each tenner spent at multinationals. Consider it. The farmer buys a meal at the local cafe; the cafe owner buys tomatoes from the local greengrocer; the greengrocer gets his shoes heeled at the local cobblers; the cobbler buys a pie from the local bakery; the baker buys meat for his pies from the local farmer. When buying from national businesses or even those tens of miles away, money leaves our community. Let’s not knock them; supermarkets employ local people and are a godsend to many, including time and cash strapped parents, disabled people and the elderly. They have their place, yet I find the shopping experience somewhat shallow.
A study by the New Economics Foundation in London found that for every £10 spent at a local food business, £25 is generated for the local economy, compared with £14 for each tenner spent at multinationals. Browsing the aisles, I meet images of smiling farmers cuddling a chicken or leaning against a cow, the picture of rural contentment - really? I’ve noticed the word ‘market’ crops up a lot in supermarkets these days, too, whether it’s ‘Market Street’, ‘market fresh’ or ‘market value’. So, as someone who is immersed in the local food scene, I find it interesting to see these gigantic companies, which turn over millions each week, doing their utmost to conjure up a ‘local’ shopping experience while competing with business owners who are doing it for real. April 2014
Identikit high streets monopolised by multiples (however heavily disguised as ‘local stores’) make me sad. That’s one of the reasons I set up my networking websites (Local Food Surrey and Local Food Sussex). By bringing together independent traders, we can make some real noise as well as connecting chefs, producers, retailers and consumers to keep those vital food pounds close to home. We’re now producing films, telling the stories of people who work jolly hard to keep their businesses thriving. Comment to these folk about all the money they must be making, and you’re likely to be met with an ironic smile and a roll of the eyes. Because, truth is, unlike the big names in the food industry, none of the independent business owners I’ve talked to are doing it for the money. ‘Passion’ is a word that has become over used on food labelling, but I use it here without apology; these people prove their passion by working long hours in order to keep their shops open, make artisan products, then stand there in the rain at farmers markets - smiling. So, shall we support them by spending a few pounds each week at local businesses? We must. FIND OUT MORE
Tracy Carroll is managing director of LocalFoodSurrey.com and LocalFoodSussex.com. Please visit the websites for more information. 19
The
Book REVIEW
Our pick of some good reads, both new and old. For more information, please contact carol.farley@farleypart.com
A272 - An Ode to a Road If you need to go west from this part of the world - and let’s face it, we can’t go too far east - you will almost inevitably at some point find yourself on the A272. You’ve used it a million times, I’m sure, and probably been quite unaware of it. Put simply, the A272 is the road that runs the 90 miles from Poundford in East Sussex to Winchester in Hampshire. However, to a Dutch couple, Pieter and Rita Boogaart, it means so much more than that and they have been travelling along this road on holiday for many years. What Pieter and Rita truly love about the road is the fact that it “epitomises England”. Of course, you may feel that, as you live in England, you already know what epitomises England thank you very much and that you don’t need two Dutchmen to tell you about it; but I think you’d be wrong. Because the road means so much to them they have taken an interest in its buildings, people and landscape that we, as natives, take for granted and
ignore. This, the third edition of this travel classic, opens our eyes. Rita and Pieter follow the A272 from east to west celebrating the good, the bad and the ugly, the beautiful, the trivial and the glorious. Past Uckfield and Cuckfield, Wineham and Twineham, past Littleworth and Fittleworth towards Pittleworth. Past Ovington and Avington. And in the distance they look at places like Lewes, Brighton and Chichester, at Barcombe and Balcombe, Duncton, Runcton and Buncton, Havant and Lavant, Walderton, Walberton and Warbleton. What is just a road to us is a joy to them. We can share their enthusiasm: this book encourages us to explore, by giving fascinating insights to the landscape, the places, the people and their stories. I can guarantee that you will discover so many fascinating things in this book; things about places that you have probably passed by, or through, many times without ever really ‘seeing’. It has taken this Dutch couple to
By Pieter and Rita Boogaart Published by Pallas Atheness Non-fiction Paperback £19.99
make me take the time to open my eyes and properly to ‘see’ the very special places and people along this ordinary road. This is an original and fascinating book that is particularly special to we who live here and will inevitably be users of the A272. Nick Farley
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck Greg Heffley’s on a losing streak. His best friend has ditched him and taken up with Abigail, and Greg’s discovering that finding new friends in middle school is a bit trickier than he’d imagined.
hook on my project. “My Sources Say No.” See, THIS is what’s been missing my whole life. Now that I’ve got something to help me make all the LITTLE decisions, I’m free to focus on the IMPORTANT stuff.
To change his fortune, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will a roll of the dice turn things round, or is Greg’s life destined to be just another hard-luck story?
This is latest edition in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by American author Jeff Kinney. If you don’t know these books they are part comic strip, part novel and are very funny. Boys, who apparently do much less reading than girls these days, in particular seem to love them – so much so that the series has sold over 115 million copies worldwide. I liked it even though I’m not a boy.
Extract: I started by asking the Magic 8 Ball if I should take a shower and if I really needed to finish the outline for my Science Fair project. I got a “Yes” on the hygiene issue, but the Magic 8 Ball totally let me off the 20
Carol Farley
By Jeff Kinney Published by Puffin in November 2013 Fiction, hardback For age 9+ years £12.99 vantagepointmag.co.uk
BOOKS The Cazalet Chronicles
The Light Years, Marking Time, Confusion, Casting Off You might have caught an abridged version of these books on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. I heard a snippet and was intrigued: not sufficiently intrigued to go out and buy volume one, but to order it from the library (it took ages to arrive and I’d forgotten all about it) and I’ve been hooked ever since and bought them all, including volume five in hardback – I couldn’t wait until the paperback release this month. The Cazalets are a well-heeled family who live in scruffy grandeur in London and, at weekends, in Sussex, near to Tunbridge Wells. (Note that these fictional Cazelets are nothing to do with the real Cazelets who live at Fairlawne House near Tonbridge.) The tale starts in the late 1930s with three generations of Cazalets. The patriarch and two of his sons are timber merchants in London. These two – both married and with children – have been through the First World War, Hugh still suffering from shellshock and the loss of a hand, his womanising brother, Edward, unscathed both mentally and physically. The youngest son, Rupert, is an artist, who was too young to have been called up and is married for the second time (his first wife having died giving birth to their second child) to a flibbertigibbet, Zoe, who largely ignores her stepchildren.
As the family gather in the rambling Sussex house, calmly run by Mrs Cazalet senior (‘the Duchy’) and an army of servants, they await the outbreak of the Second World War, their numbers swelled by cousins, aunts, family friends and their old governess. The narrative focuses on each character in turn; long, boring summer afternoons captured so perfectly through the eyes of the children; the bone-numbing cold of winters with prewar lack of heating and not very plentiful hot water (queues for baths), the helpless inertia felt by the women as the war looms and rationing, clothes coupons and lack of domestic help start to take effect. The adults all smoke and drink a great deal, dress for dinner and go dancing in London whenever the opportunity arises, often clad in dresses made from curtains. Howard’s eye for detail is delightful and her tone uncensorious. Edward’s daughter, Louise, is undoubtedly based on her – beautiful, unhappy in her first marriage (Louise to a society portraitist, Howard herself to naturalist Peter Scott), a total lack of maternal feelings, unfulfilled ambitions. The books track the family through the war, into the austere Fifties and onwards. The younger generation largely migrate to London - the homeschooled girls totally ill-equipped
By Elizabeth Jane Howard Published by Pan Fiction Paperback £8.99 Final volume, All Change to be released in paperback April 10 2014
to find any interesting work. By this time the characters are so familiar the reader is immersed in, and intrigued by, their different problems. Howard wrote these wonderful books at the end of her life – she died recently aged 90 having only just completed the fifth volume. They are a fitting memorial. Caroline Boucher
Squeezing the Orange
By Henry Blofeld Published 2013 by Blue Door Non-fiction Hardback £20
April 2014
Henry Blofeld is a bit of a gem. In a world of bland people, Blowers is an effervescent and convivial companion, both on air and in print. A long-time and popular commentator on Test Match Special (TMS), his mellifluous tone radiates bonhomie and a deep knowledge of his subject, alongside his famous observations of passing buses and the everyday goings on beyond the cricket pitch. Blofeld was a schoolboy cricketer, but his exceptional career was cut short by a serious accident in his late teens, although he did go on to play for Cambridge University.
A relative managed to get him a job in merchant banking which was not to his taste and he soon drifted into sports journalism for both local and national newspapers. In 1972 he was invited to join TMS where he remains a favourite for his legion of fans. While I’m not a great follower of cricket (I blame my French genes), I enjoyed this book immensely. Blofeld is such a joyously optimistic adventurer that you cannot help but be seduced by his exuberant tales of a life well lived. Stefan Reynolds 21
Haslemere Charter Fair
Bank Holiday Monday 5th May
Roll up, roll up as Haslemere’s much loved, traditional Charter Fair comes to the heart of the town centre on Bank Holiday Monday, 5th May 2014. The final preparations and countdown are underway for all the residents of Haslemere and the surrounding towns and villages to enjoy a fun-filled Bank Holiday afternoon! Haslemere town centre will be once again be transformed into a colourful spectacle when the historic fair with its traditional fairground rides, stalls and amusements for people of all ages, is set up in the High Street and West Street. The Fair, which is open to the public from 1pm to 5pm, always attracts thousands of visitors to the town. There are no admission charges and many local charities and organisations benefit from the tremendous feeling of goodwill and joy that has been the essence of previous Charter Fairs. Alongside the charity stalls, arts and craft stalls, fairground rides, town band and much more, there will be live music to entertain everyone. With a rolling programme of performances throughout the afternoon there is something for all the family to enjoy including a rotating set of acts, dancers, singers and demonstrations from local groups. The Fair would not be complete without morris dancing, with various performances throughout the afternoon and stilt walkers and clowns wandering around the stalls which will bring a smile to anyone’s face. Of course, the fabulous funfair will have lots of rides for young and old, along with an opportunity to see steam cars and steam tractors from a past era. There will be train rides, tombolas, balloons and lots of new exciting rides too! It is not just the rides which make a traditional fair great, however, it’s also the food and there will stalls along the High Street and West Street filled with the sights and smells of traditional fairground food including hamburgers, hot dogs, and of course candyfloss too! For the second time, the fair sees the return of the Town Criers April 2014
Competition to add to all the revelry. Town Criers will compete for the ‘Tennyson Trophy’, which is a dramatic bronze statue of a 17th Lancer of the Light Brigade - a famous military action immortalised in Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’. The competition will take place in the beautiful gardens of the Haslemere Educational Museum, where the public will be most welcome to take refreshments and see and hear some of the country’s top criers in action! Ceri-Jane O’Hara from the Haslemere Visitor and Local Information Centre says “The Charter Fair brings tradition, history and a great atmosphere, transforming the town centre into a colourful fairground for all the family. It remains a very special event for local people and the many visitors who return year after year to enjoy the spectacle and we very much look forward once again to welcoming everyone to our wonderful town”. So whether you have visited the Charter Fair before, not been for sometime or are reading about the Charter Fair for the very first time, this wonderful community event taking place in the heart of Haslemere is one not to be missed! For more information, please visit www.haslemere.com/charterfair. FIND OUT MORE
The Haslemere Society and Haslemere Visitor & Local Information Centre. For more information, contact Ceri-Jane O’Hara on 01428 645425 or email haslemerevisitor@haslemere.com. 23
Choosing that
Wedding Venue
Local writer Penny Kitchen offers some advice as a new mother-of-the-bride to be.
My daughter and her fiancé announced their engagement on the 30th December. As I write, one month later, I have already spent hours online researching, been to two wedding fairs and to look round five potential venues. Now every time I log on, pop-up ads from wedding dress suppliers, mother-of-the-bride websites and gorgeous venues assail me. They have me in their sights! “Couldn’t you just elope and throw a party?” I asked hopefully. “No!” was the answer. Four of Anna’s friends are getting married in the next six months and now she understandably wants her own ‘big day’. Like many couples, they are planning on paying for most of it themselves, but as they add up the various costs I can feel their anxiety mounting along with the excitement. What we have learned on our early forays into appraising venues will hopefully prove helpful for any readers in the same boat. Luckily for me, my daughter’s shortlist of half a dozen venues were all in and around Farnham and Guildford. We are particularly blessed with beautiful properties and locations in this part of the world but it can be very hard to choose. The ones we’ve looked at have fallen into three categories: hotel, country house and barn conversion. And then there’s 900-yearold Farnham Castle below, with its romantically ruined keep and a pretty half-timbered ‘new’ addition commissioned by Elizabeth I – definitely in a class of its own! When? The first decision to be made is time of year and date. You will find, as we did, that summer weddings (imagine sunshine and a romantic background of old stone, wisteria and lavender) are expensive! The venue bargains are to be found on winter weekdays, but can your nearest and dearest get the day off work? Even if you opt to pay the top price (as much as £11,000 for a Saturday in August) rain might still put paid to those outdoor photos in the rose garden.
The more desirable the venue is, the further ahead you need to book your date, especially in the summer months when booking a year and a half in advance is not unusual. It’s another reason for possibly looking at special rates available for an autumn/winter/weekday/ short-notice wedding. Priorities When you phone to book an appointment to view, have some idea of how many guests you will have – the venues can tell you exactly how many they can accommodate seated and standing. Even if you always imagined a formal ‘Downton’ setting, do look at other options. Converted barns full of mellow beams, such as Gate Street Barn south of Guildford and Bury Court at Bentley on the Surrey-Hampshire border, are gaining in popularity, but they are not necessarily less expensive, and for most families cost is the bottom line. On the other hand, they may allow you a choice of half a dozen caterers, offering different styles and prices. You will find that the more formal and grand the property the less flexible arrangements are likely to be. A ‘house’ caterer is a case in point. If you want a hog roast or a barbecue and the house caterer will only provide traditional wedding fare, you need to know at the outset. Also check to see if you have to add VAT to prices because that extra 20% makes a big difference.
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What we discovered as we pored over the brochures and quizzed the very pleasant people who showed us around was that you sometimes gain on the venue price – a special offer perhaps – only to find that their exclusive caterer’s eyewatering prices boost the costs back up.
Many of the questions concern the catering which, after all, is central to a happy and successful day. Can you bring in your own caterer? Is there a fully equipped kitchen? Can their own caterers be flexible with the menu? Can they accommodate special dietary requirements? Will there be a tasting ahead of the day? How many serving and bar staff will be on duty?
Watch out for extras. Your day may not be such a bargain if you have to pay bar staff for the evening, hire cutlery, table linen and cake stand, or pay corkage if you supply your own wine. Take it from me, this all adds up!
Is entertainment permitted and do they supply a PA system for the speeches? Are there attractive areas indoors for photos if it’s raining? Is there a comfortable room or rooms where the bride and bridesmaids can get ready and is there a complimentary suite for the couple’s wedding night?
An important consideration for us was having two separate rooms for the ceremony and the wedding breakfast, otherwise all your guests must vacate the hall while chairs and tables are set for the meal. We preferred to know that this was all done and decorated in advance.
You have to consider insurance, adequate parking (can guests leave their cars overnight?) and disabled facilities as well as establishing their cancellation/postponement policy.
Accommodation A deciding factor can be whether accommodation is available on site, which is why the hotel option is often the best. It saves your guests having to hunt around for a bed and breakfast and the cost of taxis at the end of the evening. Three venues we visited offered accommodation for the exclusive use of the wedding party – the Farnham House Hotel, Northbrook Park (both a few minutes’ drive out of Farnham on the A31) and Farnham Castle, which I was surprised to learn, has 32 bedrooms. Northbrook Park, a delightful country house with orangery and peacocks in the gardens, also has accommodation on site in the form of chalets, each with kitchen, sitting room and separately lockable double bedrooms and family room. Even small details need to be considered. For instance, at Farnham Castle candles aren’t allowed and at Loseley Park confetti, noisy fireworks and Chinese lanterns are forbidden. Both of these restrictions make absolute sense when you consider the grandeur of the listed buildings, but you need to be aware and warn your guests. Questions to ask I found loads of useful questions to ask on www.confetti.co.uk and recommend you go through these with any potential venue. In fact, write the answers down because you will forget who said what! April 2014
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Once your venue and the catering are sorted, then all you have left to think about is the photography, the invitations, the flowers, the evening entertainment, the dress, the cake….. Eloping would be cheaper but think of all the fun they’d miss! Two new books to help with your wedding planning Customise your wedding, with beautiful craft projects. You’ll find quick, simple and stunning items to make from each top designer, including invitations, table settings, favours, decorations and gifts for the bridal party. With six themes to choose from, you can create the perfect, costeffective special day. (GMC Distribution, price £16.99) Couples planning their big day can save up to 75 per cent of the average cost of a wedding by following some simple steps, according to the just-published Haynes DIY Wedding Manual. Author Laura Strutt estimates she saved a fortune on her own wedding and she is now sharing her practical advice and tips with this new easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide. FIND OUT MORE
Farnham Castle at the top of Castle Street, Farnham, is managed by Galloping Gourmet. Tel 01252 413091 www.farnhamcastleweddings.co.uk Northbrook Park, Crondall Road, Farnham Nr Bentley, Surrey GU10 5EU Tel: 01420 521266 www.northbrookpark.co.uk Gate Street Barn, Gate St, Bramley, Guildford, Surrey GU5 0LR Tel: 01483 894362 www.gatestreetbarn.com Bury Court Barn, Farnham, Hampshire GU10 5LZ Tel: 01420 550499 www.burycourtbarn.com Farnham House Hotel, Alton Road, Farnham GU10 5ER Tel: 01252 716908 www.farnhamhousehotel.com Penny Kitchen can be contacted at penny.kitchen@btopenworld. 29
A locally inspired Easter meal Three of our local chefs offer up a special three-course meal for Easter
Warm Asparagus Hollandaise Ingredients 20 asparagus spears 400ml vinegar 4 free range eggs Seasoned butter in which to toss asparagus in - prepare this by mixing some butter at room temperature with salt and freshly milled black pepper. If you are using salted butter, you may not need to add more salt. Le Mesurier Hollandaise Sauce Rocket leaves for garnish Serves 4 Le Mesurier sauces are available at local food shops and delicatessens and at local farmers’ markets. For more information, look online at lemesuriers.com.
This recipe for a light and tasty starter comes from Patrick Le Mesurier, the Godalming-based chef behind the Le Mesurier condiment range. Ready in minutes, it showcases the delicate, nutty flavour of British asparagus, which traditionally reaches the shops towards the end of April. “Easter cooking is all about fresh, vibrant flavours”, says Patrick, who trained with the Roux brothers. “British asparagus is the best in the world; a prized culinary gem. In fact, it’s so precious that none of it is exported – we British quite rightly keep it all for ourselves.” 1. Trim the asparagus spears so they are all the same length. 2. Plunge them into boiling water and cook for about 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a warmed dish. Keep warm. 3. Have a high-sided pan just coming to the boil, add the vinegar, stir the water and break the eggs into the vortex. Cook for 3 minutes until softly poached. (Or if you wish you can use an egg poacher.) 4. Open a jar of Le Mesurier Hollandaise Sauce and warm as per instructions. 5. Toss the asparagus in the seasoned butter and line up 5 on each plate.
6. Remove softly poached eggs and place on top of the asparagus. 7. Spoon the warmed hollandaise sauce on top of the egg, and garnish with a few rocket leaves.
Chocolate and Caramel Tart Ingredients 375g shortcrust pastry (either bought or home-made) 1 tsp vanilla paste or extract Flour, for dusting 100g 70% plain chocolate 100g white chocolate 6 tbsp melted butter 2 eggs, plus 3 egg yolks 4 tbsp golden caster sugar Icing sugar and single cream, to serve (optional) For the caramel 150g sugar 50g water Serves 10 32
Chocolate is a must for an Easter menu, so we asked Chef David Gillott of Ashtead’s Four Gables Food Academy to come up with an extra-special dessert. In this recipe for a makeahead dessert, a caramel layer sits under a rich chocolate topping – definitely a family favourite! 1. Cut the pastry into rough pieces and put in a food processor. Drizzle over the vanilla paste and blitz until it’s well mixed throughout the pastry. Tip out onto a floured surface, bring together into a dough and knead until well combined. Roll out to line a 23cm tart tin (leave any overhanging pastry and then you can trim it away after cooking). Chill for 30 minutes, to allow the pastry to rest.
2. For the caramel, place the sugar and water in a pan and bring to the boil, then reduce down until it starts to turn golden brown. Be careful not to burn it! 3. Heat oven to 180˚C. Line the pastry with cling film (yes cling film – don’t worry, it won’t burn and it’s the best way to blind bake a tart). Fill with rice, bake blind for 15-20 minutes, then remove the cling film and rice and bake for 5-10 minutes vantagepointmag.co.uk
FOOD Slow Roasted Shank of Lamb with Port and Redcurrant Jus For the main course, we consulted John Walter, Head Chef and Manager of The Lakeside Restaurant at the University of Surrey. An enthusiastic supporter of seasonal ingredients, John has chosen the sweet and tender meat of new season lamb, preferably from the South Downs, and teams this with purple sprouting broccoli and new potatoes for an exquisite Easter Sunday lunch. 1. Pre-heat the oven 190˚C. Chop the celery, onions and carrots into large chunks and lay in a flameproof casserole or roasting tin. 2. Nestle the seasoned shanks of lamb on top of the vegetables then add herbs, spices, peppercorns, wine and port. 3. Cover loosely with ovenproof foil and bake for 1.5 hours. 4. Remove the foil then cook for another 30 minutes. 5. Transfer the meat and vegetables to a large, warmed serving dish and keep warm, leaving the juices in the roasting tin 6. Meanwhile, boil potatoes with a sprig of fresh mint until tender. Keep warm. 7. Place broccoli in a pan with two cups of water and a knob of butter, season and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook over a medium/high heat for
5 minutes until the broccoli is tender. 8. Drain the broccoli cooking water into the tin containing the lamb roasting juices, then place the tin over a medium heat on the hob to release the caramelised juices before stirring in the redcurrant jelly and more wine as needed; simmer to create a rich jus. 9. Arrange the broccoli and potatoes around the lamb, pour the jus into a warmed jug and serve.
more until pale and golden. Carefully spread the caramel over the base and set aside while you make the filling. Lower oven to 160˚C. 4. Break the chocolate into pieces and carefully melt in a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water before adding the melted butter and stirring to combine. Put the eggs, yolks and sugar in a large bowl and whisk for 10 minutes - it may be easier to use a machine! You will know the mixture is ready when it turns pale and leaves a trail when you drag a spoon through it. Using a large spoon, gently fold in the melted chocolate, being careful not to knock out the air. Transfer to the tin. 5. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the
surface is set and risen – it will still wobble slightly. Cool, then chill overnight, before dusting with icing sugar and serving.
April 2014
Ingredients 4 sticks of celery 4 medium carrots 2 medium onions 4 shanks of spring lamb, seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper Sprig of fresh thyme Sprig of rosemary 2 bay leaves 4 allspice berries 4 crushed juniper berries 4 black peppercorns Glass of full-bodied red wine (allow extra for gravy) Glass of ruby port 1 tbsp redcurrant jelly To serve Purple sprouting broccoli New potatoes Mint and butter for cooking Serves 4
FIND OUT MORE
All our featured chefs are members of Local Food Surrey, where you can discover the finest local food and drink from Surrey, cookery classes and the very best restaurants, pubs and caterers serving delicious local produce. Visit localfoodsurrey.com to find out more.
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HEALTH FOOD
ACUPUNCTURE OR PAINKILLERS Are you missing the point? Amanda Reid from Take a Breath investigates
There was a time when acupuncture was thought of as a funny sort of treatment - funny peculiar that is, and certainly not funny ha ha. For who would voluntarily subject themselves to having needles jammed into them like a stuck pig, or a victim of ancient witchcraft? However, a while ago, suffering from painful frozen shoulder which a myriad of treatments and remedies had failed to relieve, I was about to have this myth dispelled. A friend said, as friends do, “You must try my physiotherapist”, and so it was that this intuitive and caring individual with spiritual eyes and the gentlest of touches began, with my permission of course, painlessly to introduce needles into various parts of my body, apparently unrelated to where I was feeling the pain. Think reflexology, think Eastern wisdom. Somehow the excruciating pain that had kept me awake half the night for weeks on end began to lessen until it, after a few sessions, completely disappeared. Magic, or what! It is seriously alarming that, according to recent reports, half the Western world seems to take chemical painkillers on a regular basis, for back pain and other niggles. These substances, particularly those that are opiate-based, are addictive. I just looked at the blurb accompanying one well-known analgesic, which warned that more than three days consecutive use could tip you over into dependency - and it’s a rare GP who takes the time and trouble to wean a patient off an addictive substance. The trouble is, that point of no return is an unknown quantity that differs for each individual. Traditional acupuncture, by contrast, can reduce inflammation and provide long-term relief for all types of pain, not just skeletal, without uncomfortable side-effects like the drowsiness, nausea and constipation that is associated with many painkilling medicines. The side-effects of acupuncture, however, are almost always positive, giving increased energy levels, improved sleep and digestion, plus a general sense of well-being. In April 2014
fact, acupuncture is becoming increasingly mainstream. The National Institute for Heralth and Care Excellence now recommends its use for persistent non-specific lower back pain, and has proposed it be made available on the NHS. Take a Breath consulted local practitioner and member of The British Acupuncture Council, Rachel Townsend. She told us, “Traditional acupuncture is based on an ancient Chinese system of medicine and is one of the most popular complementary therapies practised in the UK today with 2.3m. treatments carried out each year. The practice involves extremely fine, sterile needles inserted at specific points on the body to trigger its natural healing responses and is not at all frightening or uncomfortable. Being holistic, it seeks to address the underlying causes of pain and find a long-term solution, rather than just masking them with medication. Every patient is unique and two people with the same western diagnosis will have different treatment plans because the pathology of their illness is different”. Rachel added that the benefits of acupuncture are not limited to pain relief but extend to a whole range of other illnesses. FIND OUT MORE
This article is brought to you by Take a Breath, an online local business directory and community, supporting a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Visit www.takeabreathmag.co.uk to find local natural health practitioners, classes and workshops, read articles, and connect with like-minded people. 35
GARDEN
What to do in
April
With Matthew Pottage, Garden Manager at RHS Garden Wisley
Turn boring blobs into naturalistic drifts April is a good time to review early spring bulbs that have finished their flowering displays and are now in leaf. Some of the earliest, such as snowdrops, should now have pretty much completed their active growth cycle for this year but will still be visible above ground. This makes it the best time to lift any big clumps, split them apart and replant in whatever formation takes your fancy. Bulbs physically ‘bulk up’ by adding smaller bulbs alongside the parent bulb, which, after many years can lead to some congestion and pulling these apart re-invigorates them. While it may seem laborious the best way to create a carpet effect is to re-plant
smaller bulbs singularly but in close proximity to each other. This is also a good time to think about which bulb combinations to plant to give you longer displays – at Wisley we have a bank of early crocus that are peppered with the white Leucojum venustum and Cyclamen coum – the whole area is a tapestry of spring colour and lasts well over a month. Plant spring bulbs under trees or mature shrubs where you are less likely to disturb them.
Left: Livting and dividing Galanthus elwesii after flowering, while still in leaf. Above: Cyclamen coum
Sneaking through the winter? April is usually about the right time to start un-wrapping any plants that have been protected for the winter. The warmer spring days will initiate growth, and while a late frost may clip softer growth, it won’t cause you any serious problems. It is also a good time to crack on and start planting half-hardy ornamentals such as Penstemon, which can cope with the cooler nights. We have a super collection of Penstemon at Wisley. They will fit with most planting styles and can be an ideal way to fill in edges in traditional cottage borders, or, if you’re after something more adven36
turous, some of the bolder cultivars will blend nicely into more subtropical bedding displays. I’m a real fan of P. ‘Stapleford Gem’ with its almost two-tone blue/ purple flowers (left), though I see from the propagation lists my teams put together that they are very fond of the striking, pink flowered P. ‘George Home’ which has a white throat. It is quite an old cultivar, but never fails to perform. If you’re lucky, some of your half-hardy plants like Verbenas and even some Helichry-
sum will have survived the winter and by now should be in need of a tidy up. Get out the secateurs and take the stems back to vigorous buds or re-growth. Apply a dressing of balanced fertiliser once the risk of frost has passed, and they’ll continue growing like winter never happened. FIND OUT MORE
RHS Garden Wisley is the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society, the world’s leading gardening charity. RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB. Visit rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley to find out more.
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Chiddingfold, Haslemere and Blackdown This is a circuit on quiet lanes which crosses into West Sussex for a few miles, to run just south of the Surrey boundary. It stretches from Chiddingfold (pictured right), with its 14th-century Crown Inn, to Haslemere, a bustling town with a wide High Street, used in Victorian times as a cattle market. Climb towards Blackdown whose summit, at 919 ft, is the highest in Sussex. You will reach 677 feet on the road but you could leave your bike and climb to the very top. Two miles of winding descent through woodland follows, with the highlight of the farm shop at Lower Roundhouse, an organic farm with a pedigree herd of Sussex cattle. Ride back through Shillinglee to return to Chiddingfold, where you can relax and have tea and delicious cakes at the Green Room. Go online to vantagepointmag.co.uk for a Peaslake cycle in our Dorking edition.
The cycle Cross over to St Mary’s church and ride into Coxcombe Lane. Turn first L, go up the hill and after 1¼ miles turn L to follow the Surrey Cycle Way for a further 4 miles. The SCW is well signposted by brown signs guiding you along the wooded lanes towards Grayswood. Ride up Clammer Hill and, still following the signs, go on to the T-junction with the A286. Turn L into Haslemere High Street. Look out for Darnley’s cafe, or Russells opposite, where you can choose to sit and relax at a table on either of the forecourts, or go to the southern end of the High Street for the Swan Inn and the White Horse. From the bottom of the High Street you use residential roads around the town to avoid the busy B2131. You will find the route if you keep climbing toward Blackdown! In detail: from the bottom of the High Street bear R and then go immediately L to climb up College Hill. Turn L at the top into Hill Road and then first R into Old Haslemere Road. Turn L into Scotland Lane and ride for ¼ mile passing the recreation ground. At the five-way junction turn R into The Chase and shortly L into Tennyson’s Lane, signposted ‘Blackdown’. Climb gradually upwards through shady woodland into National Trust land and the car parks at Blackdown. Here you may wish to lock your bike and climb to the top of Blackdown hill on foot to enjoy the views over the wooded Weald. From the car parks descend along the lane and on your left, in a mile, look out for Lower Roundhouse Farm where you can stop and enjoy refreshments whilst looking at the organic produce. They even offer breakfast! In just over a mile at the base of the hill, turn L at the T-junction and ride downwards along attractive Jobson’s Lane towards Gospel Green. 40
At Gospel Green turn R and go on to cross the A283 towards Shillinglee. In 1½ miles turn L at Shillinglee Home Farm. Turn L again at the T-junction and cycle 2 miles back to Chiddingfold. Blackdown Blackdown, at 919 ft, is the highest hill in Sussex and lies within the South Downs National Park. Owned by the National Trust, it is an area popular with walkers for its wild beauty and superb views to the South Downs. In 1869, recognising the tranquillity of the area, the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson built his house, Aldworth, on this greensand ridge overlooking the Weald. Tennyson’s Lane, named after the poet, runs along the northern slopes of the hill and is on the cycle route. Sadly the hill has a darker moment in its history. There was an air crash in November 1967 when a Caravelle passenger plane owned by Iberia, bound from Malaga to Heathrow, crashed into the southern side of the hillside in misty conditions. Lower Roundhouse Farm This is an organic farm whose philosophy is to produce well cared for and beautiful animals in an unspoilt and healthy environment. There is a herd of pedigree Sussex cattle as well as sheep and pigs and these can be seen on open days. A shop sells meat from the farm, free-range organic eggs, locally-produced vegetables, pots of home-made jams, pickles and sauces, as well as gift shop items. The café is open six days a week, Mondays excepted, and serves everything from a cappucino to all-day breakfasts, lunches and teas. The Crown Inn, Chiddingfold The Crown is a most attractive half-timbered building and dates back at least as far as the 14th century. It may go back even further to 1285, when it is thought that there was a guest house upon the site used by Cistercian monks making their way to Waverley Abbey, as they travelled between Winchester and Canterbury. There are various historic rooms inside, as well as a modern extension. The church of St Mary is across the road from the Crown. The window at the west end is said to be made up of 427 fragments of glass which were dug up near the old glass furnaces in Chiddingfold which once provided glass for the royal chapels, including St George’s at Windsor. vantagepointmag.co.uk
CYCLE
The route Most of the route is on quiet lanes and roads with several miles on the Surrey Cycle Way. There are no off-road tracks or paths. Haslemere High Street is busy but it is a short section where you can push your bike. There are some hills to negotiate but, to compensate, there is a wonderful run down from Blackdown, with just one or two switchbacks.
DISTANCE: 16 miles OS MAPS: OS Landranger 186 Aldershot and Guildford, OS Explorer 133 Haslemere and Petersfield (GR SU961354). STARTING POINT:The Crown Inn at Chiddingfold, or park in the road beside the Green. REFRESHMENTS: Haslemere is well supplied with inns and coffee shops. There is Darnley’s Café, or Russells opposite, halfway down the High Street, both of which serve coffees, teas and light lunches. Alternatively try Wetherspoon’s Swan Inn, or the White Horse opposite, both at the bottom of the High Street. Lower Roundhurst Farm, beyond Blackdown, is an interesting place with a variety of food and gifts for sale. At the beginning, or end, of the ride there are the historic Crown Inn and Green Room.
This cycle is taken from On Your Bike: In and Around the Surrey Hills, published by Countryside Books. Visit countrysidebooks.co.uk for more information. April 2014
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PROFILE
Haslemere Decorative & Fine Arts Society Unlock the mystery of art Haslemere Decorative and Fine Arts Society (HDFAS) has been organising lectures for over 40 years and meets at the Haslemere Hall in Bridge Road on the third Tuesday of the month (September to June). Talks cover many topics - this year’s include the rise of poster art during the Belle Epoque; Nordic Landscape painting; and three giants of post-war British art, Francis Bacon, Ben Nicholson and Graham Sutherland.
age their involvement in creative activities, inspiring a lasting enthusiasm for the arts, our heritage and its conservation. HDFAS sponsors junior art competitions and supports local schools. The compilation of a record of the contents and internal fabric of St. Christopher’s Church, Wey Hill, and St. Bartholomew’s Church, Haslemere, is an ongoing involvement. These records help to preserve the rich artistic heritage found in places of worship.
Study days enable the speaker to give three in depth lectures on a specific subject. Morning coffee and lunch are provided. Haslemere Educational Museum is the venue. We have strong links with the Museum and several of our Heritage Volunteer Members keep display cabinets and Museum exhibits in pristine condition. HDFAS has sponsored conservation projects, notably the ‘Murder Paintings’ that were recently renovated. Our monthly lecture meetings are very sociable with the opportunity to meet new people and share an interest in fine arts. Outings to places of historic and artistic significance provide an enjoyable way to learn more about our history and artistic inheritance. During 2014 we will visit Windsor Castle, the Freemasons Hall, London, and be taken on a guided walking tour of St. Pancras and King’s Cross. HDFAS is a charity providing opportunities for children and young people, aged 8 to 18, to expand and encourApril 2014
Guidance for these projects is available at a national level through our membership of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS). Lecturers for our monthly meetings are selected from the NADFAS Directory and chosen for their ability to present their subjects in an interesting and entertaining manner. New arts topics are chosen every year for the benefit of our members. FIND OUT MORE Please visit our website: www.haslemeredfas.org.uk or contact the Membership Secretary Mrs. Sue Wright on 01428 683578.
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