VantagePoint Magazine October 15 - Haslemere, Midhurst & Petworth

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Haslemere, Midhurst & Petworth • October 2015

VANTAGEPOINT The local magazine produced by local people for the local community

MAGAZINE

Cheers!

We investigate some excellent local craft ales

Inside: INTERIORS HASLEMERE VISION GET READY FOR WINTER FROM BUTTON TO BLINDS WIN SUNDAY LUNCH AT CAU, GUILDFORD

HAND CRAFTED AT THE SILENT POOL IN SURREY Open seven days a week, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. For details and to order online, visit the website.

www.silentpooldistillers.com

YOUR LOCAL MAGAZINE Vantage Publishing Limited 2 Chestnut Suite, Guardian House, Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey GU7 2AE.

01428 770608 01730 770457 Editorial: 01483 421601 Sales:

VantagePoint is published by Vantage Publishing, a Godalming based local magazine business which was first established in 2009 when we launched our first community magazine.

We now publish five community magazines which are delivered monthly by Royal Mail to 107,714 homes across the South East, which gives us the largest local circulation in the areas we cover, all with guaranteed delivery by your postman.

Please visit www.vantagepointmag.co.uk or contact any of us below if you need any more information.

YOUR LOCAL TEAM As I write, we are barely into September and the weather is turning distinctly autumnal.

For many this is a disappointment but I do love our seasons although I accept that winter can be a bit of a challenge!

The perfect autumn offers warm days and stunning colours. There is little better than starting the day off with a walk through our lovely countryside, joining friends and family for long Sunday lunches and then enjoying cosy nights in front of a warming fire.

Speaking of which, if you have a stove or fireplace, now is the time to get your chimney swept and make sure you top up your log supplies. If your fireplace is not efficient enough, consider getting a stove, they really do make a difference. A number of reliable Marcus Atkins Sales Director marcus@vantagepublishing.co.uk Nick and Angie Crisell Jottings jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk

October 2015

local companies to help you with all of these things advertise regularly in VantagePoint, so give them a call (and please mention us).

Stefan Reynolds Editor & Publisher

THE ONLY ROYAL MAIL DELIVERED

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Finally, a lovely email from Dave Shurlock from WaterAid. “Belated thanks for the Profile item on the West Surrey WaterAid group in the June edition. It gained us extra walkers on our fundraising Walk for Water and one new active group member. And that is just the additional support that we know of. Keep up the good (proper local) work”.

As local residents, we started our magazines in 2009 to support local organisations and businesses and we will continue to do just that. As we say at the top of this page, we are proud to ‘keep it local’.

Contact the editor: stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Liz Godfrey Sales liz@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Contributors: Karen Doidge Hill, Phil Kemp, Beth Otway.

Print: Buxton Press Cover: Tillingbourne Beer

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CONTENTS 12

Rugmart 0315_Layout 1 06/02/2015 14:34 Page 1

Rugmart

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"The Place to buy Rugs"

6 Jottings Your local community noticeboard

9 Interiors New ideas for autumn

12 Craft Ales Phil Kemp investigates some local brewers

• Specialists in Genuine Handmade Rugs • 1000's of Tribal Rugs from Afghanistan • Classical Persian Carpets and Runners • Handmade Kilims, Dhurries & Flatweave Rugs • Fine Geometric Bokhara Rugs from Pakistan • Deep Pile Embossed Indian and Chinese Carpets

• Rugs in Finely Woven Silk and Woollen Pile • Natural Cotton & Jute Dhurries • Modern & Contemporary Rugs • Plain Wool & Shaggy Rugs • Nursery & Playroom Rugs • Kitchen & Utility Mats & Runners

• Visit our Rug Showroom and be inspired by a Treasure trove of Rugs spread over 4 floors & 7000 sq ft • The Largest Selection Of Handmade, Modern & Contemporary Rugs in the UK

18 Local The Prostate Project and Octobeardfest

20 From Buttons to Blinds The history of C&H Fabrics in Guildford

Large/Oversize Rugs

Afghan Rugs

Persian Rugs

Tribal Rugs

Traditional Rugs

Runners

Contemporary Rugs

Designer Rugs

Modern Rugs

28 Get Ready for Winter Hints and tips from Age UK Surrey

32 Gardening Fabulous fungi

36 Recipes Get baking!

38 Gastro Latest food and drink news

40 Walk Fernhurst to Henley

Underlay provided for all types of flooring

Brighten up your Home this Autumn

44 Profile Haslemere Vision

45 Business Cards Small ads for trades and services

47 Competitions Win one of three great prizes

Visit us for a wide choice of Modern & Contemporary Rugs

Rugmart

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.

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JOTTINGS YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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We entered the GUTS Classic Car Rally in September.

Starting in Liphook, we all enjoyed a cross-country route taking us through stunning countryside on a beautiful sunny day. The finish was at The Weald & Downland Museum where we parked up, enjoyed picnics and prizes and saw the wonderful exhibits at the Museum. A terrific day and one that will have raised a pretty decent sum for the local charity GUTS, which works tirelessly in the fight against bowel cancer. Anyway, the kids are back at school and after half term at the end of the month, we shall no doubt be directing our minds towards Christmas. Oh dear, there goes another year!

Grayshott Decorative and Fine Arts Society’s next meeting is on Thursday 1st October at 2pm in Grayshott Village Hall. Louise Schofield is making a welcome return to talk on ‘Temples, Tombs and Treasures: In Search of the Queen of Sheba’ detailing her current archaeological project in northern Ethiopia which may yet solve the mystery of where the Queen of Sheba derived her fabled treasures. Then, on Wednesday 14th October, a Day of Special Interest, led by Denise Haywood, on ‘The Art of Cambodia and Vietnam’ has already proved very popular. On Thursday 5th November, in ‘Not just Giotto: Reassessing Art in Florence c1280-1348’, Dr Janet Robson will discuss Giotto’s dramatic style and how it revolutionised monumental narrative painting. If you would like more information on these events and GDFAS contact Caroline on 01428 714276 or have a look at their website www.grayshottdfas.org.uk.

The Haslemere Macular Support Group meets on the first Friday of every month at the Haslewey Community Centre at Lion Green. Anyone with sight loss is more than welcome to attend their meetings together with their

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companions. On Friday 2nd October at 2.30pm, they have a Speaker on behalf of the Kent ,Sussex and Surrey Air Ambulance Service coming to spend the afternoon with the group who are arranging a raffle to take place the same afternoon in order to raise funds for the Air Ambulance Service. Many of the local shops and traders have been very generous in donating raffle prizes and they hope to raise as much money as possible for such a worthy cause.

For further information, contact Tricia Sturgeon on 07827 485105.

Fancy being an archaeologist and taking part in a local excavation? Liss Archaeology are looking for more people to take part in the autumn test pit and evaluation trench dig at Colemore, halfway between Alton and Petersfield, from Friday 2nd to Monday 19th October. Test pit digging offers something for everyone! No need to get down and dirty unless you want to! From finds processing, recording, paper record completion to surveying and geophysics, no experience necessary, full training available. The field still has much buried archaeology waiting to be discovered!

Further autumn, winter and spring activities planned on this site and elsewhere. Further information / booking from lissarchaeology@gmail.com or 07732 327697. www.lissarchaeologygroup.weebly.com.

The Friends of Haslemere Parish are pleased to announce their programme of popular Autumn Organ Recitals in St Bartholomew’s Church, Haslemere GU27 1BS, on the first Saturdays of the month at 11am. The opening recital is on 3rd October by Paul Gobey, Organist of the Norwegian Church in London. On 7th November, Clive Osgood, Director of Music at St Bart’s Church, Haslemere, will be playing French Organ music and Mark Dancer, Director of Music, St Peter’s Church, Petersfield

Jottings is your community noticeboard for local events and information, edited by Nick and Angie Crisell

To feature here, please email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk

HASLEMERE, MIDHURST & PETWORTH DELIVERED TO 22,603 LOCAL HOMES Like us on Facebook at Vantage Point Magazine

@VantageLocalMag

For more articles and Jottings, visit it us online at

www.vantagepointmag.co.uk Next Copy Date: 12th10th October 2015 2015 Next Copy Date: October 6

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Installing toasty days and cosy nights in Farnham, Haslemere, Hook, Cranleigh and Beyond.

Farnham Stoves 01252 717772 www.farnhamstoves.com

St Ives girls are going places...

Halloween at Petworth House

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Open Mornings Friday 16th & Saturday 17th October 2015 9.30am-12pm Pre-prep & prep for girls 4-11 yrs.

Co-ed nursery from 2 yrs.

Come and talk to us, our door is always open.

Three Gates Lane, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 2ES

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October 2015

• Nurturing • Encouraging

Haunted Houses Thurs 29 & Fri 30 Oct, 11am - 12.30 & 2 - 3.30pm Let your imagination run horribly wild and make your own miniature haunted house with petrifying peg doll or menacing monster.

Child £6. Booking essential by calling the box office on 0844 249 1895 or by visiting our website.

Bag of Bones

• Creative

Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov, 10.30am - 4pm A scary skeleton has been found in the park and we need your help to put the bones together and lay our skeleton to rest.

• Fun

£3 per trail

Charity Registration No.: 312080

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth

• Inspiring • Challenging

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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and Conductor of the Petersfield Choral Society, will be playing Music for Christmas on 5th December. No booking required. Coffee from 10.30am. Retiring collection. Any enquiries, email john@worls.plus.com or call 01428 643320.

The National Trust gardens, parks and countryside of West Sussex offer some of the best places to see the fiery hues of autumn in glorious settings.

Autumn colour is usually well on its way by mid-October, when foliage, fruits and berries gradually transform our landscapes into a rich colour palette of yellows, oranges and reds, lasting well into November. Petworth House and Park has so many veteran trees that it has its own downloadable Ancient Trees walk, dotted with sumptuous autumn colour from magnificent oaks, limes, beeches and chestnuts. “The early autumn landscape at Petworth can be quite breathtaking,” says senior gardener Martin Sadler. “The native oaks and limes have wonderful shapes as well as colours, and they’re interspersed with ‘exotics’ such as yellow swamp cyprus, flaming yellow and orange acers and vibrant red oaks; it’s an incredible sight.” There are also a few events at other local properties. Woolbeding Countryside ranger, Fiona Scully, is leading guided weekend walks that will take you along the entire 64 miles of the Serpent Trail. Follow this trail through the beautiful heathland landscapes of West Sussex, as its snakes its

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way from Haslemere to Petersfield. Broken down into easy stages, you can join the walk at any section of the trail, or complete all three weekends. Transport will be provided back to the start of each section. 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 18 October, 10am-4pm, £5 (discount if you’re doing all five days). Booking essential, on 01730 816638. If visiting Uppark House and Garden, head straight for the south side of the house where you’ll be met with a panoramic view over thousands of tree tops on the South Downs. This is a wonderfully tranquil place, and a great spot to enjoy a cup of tea from the nearby restaurant. Uppark’s pretty woodland is transformed into a canopy of yellow and orange foliage from native trees such as beech, ash and hazel. You’ll spot plenty of quirky fungi too. Free garden tour: see the very best of Uppark’s autumn colour and spectacular views, on an afternoon guided tour, 8th and 16th October, 2pm-2.45pm, free after normal admission charge.

The Surrey Hills Wood Fair takes place at the Birtley Estate in Bramley on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October from 10am – 5pm. Each year the fair gets bigger and better yet retains the traditional charm of a rural day out in the Surrey Hills for all the family. This year you’ll discover a range of interesting stalls to browse and buy from and great local produce including a beer tent!

Entertainment includes; a host of local bands co-ordinated

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INTERIORS

It's all in the detail...

Accessorising your home is an easy and quick way to give your living spaces an update. The key is adding a few well chosen items that help to reflect your style and that will always give pleasure to the eye.

This autumn the must-have tones are a combination of earthy hues including soft teal, warm turquoise and dark blues. There are new paint shades and wall papers, lovely soft furnishings and carpets. Add a splash of colour and bring a room to life with our guide to what’s new and available to buy from your local stores.

Stags Head Velvet Cushion £15.99 Available from C&H Tunsgate Square, Guildford. Tel: 01483 301380 www.candh.co.uk

Double Blinds The Alston 3lt Chandelier £318

Available from Creative Blinds and Shutters 11 The Street, Wrecclesham. Tel: 01252 727940 www.creativeblindsandshutters.co.uk

Available from Elstead Lighting Mill Lane, Alton. Tel: 01420 82377 www.elsteadlighting.com

Arts & Crafts Fine Woven Rug £1,450 Available from The Oriental Rug Gallery 82 Wey Hill, Haslemere GU27 1HS. Tel: 01428 656657 www.theorientalruggallery.co.uk

October 2015

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INTERIORS Marrakesh Pouffe £69 Available from India Jane stores 31-33 High Street, Haslemere. Tel: 01428 648498.

3 Lion and Lamb Yard, Farnham. Tel: 01252 726204.

‘Taj Mini’ Lamp from Kartell £153 Available from Vale Furnishers 35-42 East Street , Farnham GU9 7SW. Tel: 01252 325525. www.valefurnishers.co.uk

Kone fixed whistle kettle £75 Available from Le Creuset stores 143 High Street Guildford. Tel: 01483 452689 www.lecreuset.co.uk

Tun Vase £19 Available from Bo Concept 89 Woodbridge Road, Guildford. Tel: 01483 565027 www.boconcept.co.uk

Roger Oates Stair Runners Morocco Henna Floor Lamp £149

Available from Alan Baker Flooring 66 - 68 Wey Hill, Haslemere. Tel: 01428 654285 www.alanbakerflooring.co.uk

Available from Villa and Hut Rooks Barn, The Rickyard, Eashing. Tel: 01483 414120. www.villahut.co.uk

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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by the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford as well as the ever popular horse and wagon rides and chainsaw demonstrations. There’s a lot for children from craft making and animal attractions to theatre shows courtesy of the Man in the Moon Theatre Tent. The Wood Fair is free for children under 12 and £7.50 for adults. www.surreyhillswoodfair.co.uk.

with tutor John Haynes on Wednesdays 10am - 12noon. A Local History Course 1066 -1485 ‘Changes That Shaped the Nation’ with tutor Jennifer Goldsmith on Fridays 10am – 12noon. Both courses last for ten weeks starting the first week in October at the Millennium Hall, Liphook and each course costs £85.05 To enrol phone 01428 641907 as soon as possible.

‘My Mind is Free’ is a powerful interactive theatrical interpretation of the degradations of human trafficking.

An original work by London-based Rah Rah Theatre Company, the aim is to raise awareness for World AntiSlavery Day (18th October 2015). There are an estimated 30 million slaves in the world, with approximately 13,000 in the UK - women forced into prostitution, ‘imprisoned’ domestic staff, and workers in fields, factories, building sites and fishing boats. Sadly, even Surrey has not been immune to this hidden injustice. The production is written by international playwright Sam Hall and is directed by Jude Spooner. It takes place at Haslemere Methodist Church GU27 1ET on Saturday 3rd October at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £10. Available from 3 Counties Church on 01428 653011, online at www.mymindisfree.com, or on the door.

West Sussex Decorative and Fine Arts Society’s next lecture will be given by Rupert Willoughby on Tuesday 6th October at 2pm. The subject is ‘Threads of History: The World of the Bayeux Tapestry’. Executed by English craftsmen, the tapestry, depicting events leading up to The Norman Conquest, is the last survivor of a vanished art form. The Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday 3rd November at 1pm (members only). This will be followed by a talk at 2.30pm, on ‘Image and Devotion: Art and Life in Medieval Monasteries’. Exploring how the artistic riches of monasteries played a role in the daily life of nuns and monks. It will be given by Roger Rosewell.

Meetings are held in Fittleworth Village Hall. Coffee is available from 1.20pm in October only. For membership details, contact Beth Dugan on 01730 815339. Visitors are welcome for a fee of £5.

Liphook WEA are organising two courses this autumn.

One Literature Course - ‘Modern American Short Stories’

‘Rumour Has It’ is the name of a great party band that is making a return visit to St Stephen’s Church,

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Mag half page landscape Roundabout 180815.indd 1

October 2015

18/08/2015 09:53:47

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profile is being rapidly transformed by women attracted to the exciting explosion of new flavours, varieties and brands.

We approached three local craft breweries that are at the heart of this new brewing revolution to find out what all the fuss is about.

Hop Art in Bentley near Farnham has only been brewing since February this year and yet has already made impressive inroads into their local market. Partners Tony Scardarella and Erik van Dongen clearly have a great chemistry together, and with a very evident sparkle for humour as I was to find out.

“We started Hop Art as a spur of the moment decision,” said Erik, and following a dramatic pause added: “After 20 years of talking about it! I guess I’m the brewer, and Tony is the sales, marketing, image and everything-else-man.”

Tony chipped in: “It’s fair to say that beer is in your blood, isn’t it?” to which Erik responded: “Metaphorically rather than literally of course.”

And so the mood for the rest of the interview was set.

Craft Ales

What’s all the fuss about? Phil Kemp investigates...

Marcus Jones, the community pubs minister, announced in August that “Britain is back on the map as a global brewing powerhouse with three breweries opening up every week.” An awesome statistic that sits awkwardly alongside the British Beer and Pub Association’s much hawked fact that up to 29 pubs close every week in the UK. Add to that the news that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in March added craft beers to the basket of goods used to calculate inflation in the UK. Then in May, it emerged that the UK brewing giant SABMiller acquired London craft brewer Meantime, attracted by their 48% growth in sales in 2014 - this compared to the paltry 1% growth of the mainstream UK beer market.

So what is ‘craft beer’ and what makes it so special to attract all of this attention? At its heart is the enthusiasm of smallscale artisan microbreweries experimenting with exciting combinations of ingredients to flavour and colour their beers.

This is resulting in the brewing industry being redefined to such a degree that the traditionally male-dominated customer

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“We wanted a range that went from the very lightest in character, right through to the dark complex. Our very first one was Hoppy Blonde. We felt that having a beer that was light, refreshing and with that citrus zing was what the market was after - and it’s been our bestseller by far.”

Both Erik and Tony have close family connections with Europe, and this influence is very evident in their brew recipes. Tony explained: “That continental influence plays a big part, and it is something that differentiates us. We both love a lot of the Belgian beers the Rocheforts influenced us a lot when we were working out the Hoppist. So our cultural backgrounds are definitely an influence.”

Hop Art Brewery

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“Our Hoppist is a strong Belgian Trappiststyle beer, and at 6.1 ABV (alcohol by volume percentage) is quite modest and low for a Belgian style beer, but is better suited for the local palate,” said Erik. “Weisshop is only 4.5 but it is a wheat beer, and although wheat beers have grown in popularity they are still the Marmite of beers in England. There are people that just ‘get’ a wheat beer, and there are people who simply don’t because it’s got that sort of sour, acidic taste.”

The microbrewery Tillingbourne is tucked away in the North Downs close to Guildford.

Their story starts in 2011 and makes for fascinating reading. Steve Dodd and Lee Nicholls have been friends since their school days, and Steve had been brewing his own beer from home for over 25 years. A chance conversation with the brewery’s previous owners, who were relocating, resulted in the two taking over the site and launching their own brewery. The partnership of an experienced brewer (and scientist by profession) and a sales and advertising professional, both of whom had the conviction to jump straight into what is by microbrewery standards a large brewing plant, has resulted in a new craft brewer that has made an impact

extremely quickly with an impressive list of brewing awards under their belts.

“When we started up there were 400 microbreweries in the country, which was a bit of a challenge to start with until we realised that we were surrounded by breweries producing traditionally-styled ale, using English hops which are quite bland. We use American hops which have a lot more power and a lot more citrus notes, producing more ‘bang’ for your buck.

People know us as the hoppy Surrey brewery, and our mascot is the Hop Troll created to mark the success of our IPA of the same name, and which has seven varieties of hops in it.”

Most of our beers are named after features along the Tillingbourne River. Falls Gold is named after a waterfall just up from Wootton. The Source is named after the spring where the Tillingbourne starts. And Black Troll is taken from one of the famous gunpowder mills down in Chilworth - and of course every Tillingbourne bridge has a troll lurking beneath!”

People just cannot believe how much power you can get from hops, and it is the golden hops that are really driving the market now. The average ale drinker used to be in their late 30s and early 40s, but that has now converted to late 20s and early 30s. My wife runs the Dorking Beer Festival where the visitor demographic has also shifted dramatically to now include 40% women.”

Surrey Hills has been brewing for over 10 years, the last four of which has seen them occupy a unit at the Denbies Wine

DISCOVER MORE There are of course plenty more local breweries in the area.

These include: Dark Star Brewing Co, Partridge Green - www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk Langham Brewery, Lodsworth - www.langhambrewery.co.uk Dorking Brewery, Dorking - www.dorkingbrewery.com Frensham Brewery, Farnham - www.frenshambrewery.co.uk Hog’s Back, Tongham - www.hogsback.co.uk Hoptimists Brewery, Godalming - www.hoptimists.co.uk Leith Hill Brewery, Dorking - www.ploughinn.com/leith-hill-microbrewery The Little Beer Corporation, Guildford - www.littlebeer.co.uk

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale

Top: Surrey Hills Brewery. Above: Casks of Tillingbourne

October 2015

CAMRA is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights. For more information, please visit their website at www.camra.org.uk

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Estate in Dorking. Surrounded by over 200 acres of vineyards in the North Downs must in itself be an inspiration - not that the Surrey Hills Brewery team need much additional motivation as I was to discover.

Under the experienced hands of founder Ross Hunter, his team are continuing to enthusiastically build on the reputation initially established by their best-selling Shere Drop - which Ross is keen to point out has become so well-regarded that customers will simply ask for a pint of Drop at their local. And from whence the name? “We were brewing in Shere at the time and the ‘Drop’ comes from people simply saying “nice drop of beer” - and it has since proved to be a pun that really sticks in your mind.”

Ross has a clear strategy for keeping a local focus when it comes to both the naming of their brews and where their customers are located. “Over 95% of our beer is consumed within a 15mile radius of the brewery,” Ross explained. “Not only does it keep delivery times down, but also in supplying local pubs we have a very personal connection with them. It’s like a big happy family.” Shere Drop is joined by other popular brews including Hammer Mild, Ranmore Ale, Greensand IPA, and Albury Ruby. The list clearly bringing to life the brewery’s intimate connection with the Surrey Hills and its villages and landmarks.

“We are very proud of our beers. As well as our best-selling Shere Drop, our dark mild Hammer was awarded Champion Mild of Britain in 2010. Our second-best seller is Ranmore, which won Gold in its category of Champion Beer of Britain.”

Ross is extremely enthusiastic about the direction English brewing is headed. “Craft ale is taking off. A lot of people are entering the market now, so for us it was a good time to get in 10 years ago. As far as I’m concerned the more the merrier as it means there is much more variety out there - and so there are more reasons now for people to get interested in beer. It is a very exciting time.”

Craft beer brewed by artisan microbreweries is undoubtedly here to stay and it looks like the excitement is unlikely to wane, in part down to the inquisitive nature of brewers when it comes to exploring vibrant new flavours. Craft’s tasting notes are enthusiastically debated online and in bars all across the country. After all, who could resist trying beers that have ‘sweet caramel notes’ ; ‘orange and tangerine flavours and aromas’ ; ‘a dry biscuity finish’; or ‘floral, fruity hoppiness and a zingy, zesty flavour’?

Add to that exciting marketing with visually striking branding and wildly imaginative names for their beers. Some of the most original revealed in a countrywide survey earlier this year included Santa’s Butt, a play on words given that a ‘butt’ refers to a large barrel in brewery-speak; Old Engine Oil described as ‘viscous and crafted with a twist’; Tactical Nuclear Penguin, perhaps because of its staggering 32% ABV; Snake Venom, apparently the world’s strongest beer at a mind-blowing 67.5%; and Five O’Clock Shadow, allowing you to ‘be at one with your stubble after a hard day at work’.

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Hop Art

Erik van Dongen (left) and Tony Scardarella

The Brewery, Blacknest Industrial Park, Blacknest Road, Bentley, Nr Farnham GU34 4PX 01252 364436 www.hopartbrewery.com

Tillingbourne

Lee Nicholls

Old Scotland Farm, Staple Lane, Shere, Surrey GU5 9TE 01483 222228 www.tillybeer.co.uk

Surrey Hills Brewery

Ross Hunter

Denbies Wine Estate, London Road, Dorking RH5 6AA 01306 883603 www.surreyhills.co.uk Then stir into the mix sheer artisan effrontery which effectively cocks a snook at the great traditional British pint by introducing a ‘flight’ of third pint glasses - where craft ale drinkers can try three different brews selected from a menu, and all for the cost of a single pint – and you know that the British brewing industry will never be the same again.

Phil Kemp is a Godalming-based writer and photographer with a keen interest in what makes our cluster of southern counties tick, and so loudly too. He works closely with other freelancers in a vibrant creative community. www.weyriver.co.uk vantagepointmag.co.uk

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Shottermill on Saturday 10th October at 7.30pm. The band plays a varied selection of songs from the sixties through to current material from Pharrell Williams and Daft Punk (www.rumourhasit.co.uk). All great music to dance to! The gig is a fund-raiser for Crossways Counselling who offer a confidential, professional and affordable counselling service for adult individuals, couples and families in Haslemere and the surrounding area. See www.crosswayscounselling.org.uk for more details about the organisation. Tickets for the gig, which must be ordered in advance, are priced at £15 each or £25 for 2, which includes a fish and chip supper. There will also be a ‘by donation’ bar on the night. Details from Jim Honeywood, email james.honeywood@sky.com Mobile 07901 972603.

Would you appreciate some entertaining singing plus a nice supper? If so, this forthcoming special event will be irresistible! Haslemere Methodist Church at Lion Green, Weyhill GU27 1LD, presents a Concert by Liphook’s Love to Sing Choir plus Harvest Supper on Saturday 10th October at 7pm. Enjoy well-known songs presented by this gifted choir and share in the buffet supper. Advance tickets at £10 are available from the church’s Open Door Coffee Lounge from 10am to 12noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. [or £12 pay at the door].

Children aged 16 and under welcome at half-price. Please

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tell your friends about this unique community event and go in colourful clothes to add to the fun atmosphere.

The choir’s last concert for Macmillan supporters in July was most enjoyable and attracted much praise, so the audience should be in for another treat! ‘’A Blast from the Past’. Spiltmilk Dance brings a fast paced race through seven decades of British pop culture to Conford Village Hall on Saturday 10th October. From Elvis to Selfies, with wit and intelligence, this contemporary dance company brings a big fat ray of sunshine to Hampshire. Doors 7.30 for 8 pm. Tickets at £12 from Passfield Stores or Rob Abraham on 01428 751222.

Visitors to the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum’s Autumn Countryside Show on 10th and 11th October will experience the wonderful autumnal sights and sounds of a traditional harvest. This popular seasonal show features traditional working demonstrations, including heavy horses and vintage tractors ploughing, steam-powered threshing, plus a Horticultural Show, rural craft demonstrations, displays and competitions. The 6th annual Horticultural Show will take place as part of the show, with classes to suit all ages, ranging from vegetables to woodwork, marmalade to miniature gardens. Alongside the class entries will be displays from local clubs, societies and the Museum’s gardening team, plus traditional craft

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

demonstrations. Entry forms can be accessed online at www.wealddown.co.uk/whats-on/horticultural-show/.

The Museum’s café kiosk will be open, plus there are indoor and outdoor picnic areas. Dogs on short leads are welcome and there is ample free parking. Open from 10.30am – 5pm. Regular Museum entry charges apply, which include admission to the Autumn Countryside Show.

To mark the release of their new CD, Excelsis is joining forces with another acclaimed local group, The Waverley Ensemble, to perform a concert of classical music old and new at St Alban’s Church, Hindhead, on Saturday 10th October, at 7.30 p.m. The concert, titled Dixit Dominus, will feature Handel’s choral masterpiece as well as local composer Clive Osgood’s contemporary version of the same title. Tickets for Dixit Dominus are £15 (£8 for children under 16) and are available on the door or in advance from the Excelsis ticket hotline 07805 575370; email tickets@excelsis-choir.co.uk; websites www. excelsis-choir.co.uk or www.ishanibhoola.com. Doors open at 7 p.m.; St Alban’s Church, Tilford Road, Hindhead GU26 6RB. Excelsis is comprised of approximately 30 singers, many with a background of music training, who perform a wide variety of music to a very high standard.

The Waverley Ensemble is a group of 12 professional string and keyboard players based in the Haslemere area.

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There is to be a Flower Festival at St Teresa of Avila RC Church, Chiddingfold, over the weekend of 10th and 11th October. This is in celebration of the 500th anniversary of St Teresa’s birth in Avila. St Teresa was a remarkable woman, reforming the Carmelite Order, setting up new monasteries, and writing books on prayer which have been translated into many languages and are still read today. Each flower arrangement will represent an aspect of St Teresa’s life. The event is free. There will be a quiz sheet for children and a refreshment marquee with tea, coffee and cakes throughout the two days. Everyone is welcome.

Goodbye Lenin! is the next film being shown by Fernhurst Films on Saturday 10th October in the Village Hall. Doors open 7pm, film starts 7.30pm. Duration 121 mins Rated: R. It is October 1989, Alex and his sister Ariane live in East Germany with their mother, Christiane.

But when Alex’s mother, a loyal party member, sees him participating in an anti-communist rally, she suffers a heart attack and falls into a coma for eight months – in which time the Berlin Wall comes down. When Christiane wakes up, doctors warn Alex that any shock could bring on a fatal heart attack, so he decides to convince his mother that her beloved Communism has not been overthrown, but is in fact triumphing over Capitalism; and Alex sets about recreating every detail of the old East Berlin in their flat.

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Are you struggling with financial burdens?

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LOCAL Prostate Project Octobeardfest taps in to the FootGolf craze Pubs, clubs and businesses within a 15 minute drive of the golf centres will be the main target for the appeal, as well as the general public.

The FootGolf Centres see this as a win, win situation. They get more midweek business at the same time as supporting a very worthy charity. They have each have agreed to donate 25% of all green fees back to OctoBeardFest for people who register to play midweek Monday to Friday. The Centres will also display OBF leaflets and posters and generally promote the appeal through September and October.

OctoBeardFest, the successful beard growing, prostate cancer appeal launched by the Prostate Project (PP)in 2013, is joining forces with FootGolf courses in the South East to promote this year’s appeal.

The popular beard growing appeal was conceived and launched in 2013 by PP trustee Tim Sharp, with an expectation of raising £8,000. The total raised so far is an amazing £146,000. Tim hopes to raise a further £100,000 this year and reach a grand three year total of £1/4 million.

The money raised so far has been used to support a worldclass cancer research team at the University of Surrey under the leadership of Professor Hardev Pandha. Their discovery of a protein in urine that can detect prostate cancer 50% more accurately than the 30-year old PSA test is undergoing final trials this year. Results are expected in Autumn 2016 which will hopefully lead to rapid and widespread use in GPs surgeries. The test, called EN2, is a simple stick test similar to a pregnancy test.

“It’s usually people who have been touched by prostate cancer that get involved with us”, said Tim. Prostate cancer kills one man every hour and we are encouraging everyone to give up an hour of their time to help save these lives.

One hour to save one life. There are so many different ways people can get involved apart from playing FootGolf – involving local pubs in the appeal, entering an OBF pub quiz, running a sponsored event, pedalling, running, climbing, swimming, performing - the opportunities are endless.

The OctoBeardFest message this year is loud and clear – ‘Let’s beat prostate cancer by finding it faster’. Early detection can beat prostate cancer and save most of the 11,000 lives lost to the disease every year in the UK. OctoBeardFest is funding world class research to make this a reality

Now the charity needs £100,000 more to research exosomes, tiny particles that are shed by cancer cells into urine. Their make-up can tell how aggressive the cancer is and the type of treatment needed.

FootGolf is one of the UK’s fastest growing sports. There are 134 courses around the country and more opening all the time.

Most courses in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire have signed up to the appeal. Donna Matthews, Director of Golf at Hoebridge FootGolf near Woking said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Prostate Project OctoBeardFest Appeal. FootGolf at Hoebridge is growing fast and the opportunity to boost our midweek business while supporting such a great local charity makes sense for all of us”.

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FIND OUT MORE

Any VantagePoint reader wanting to become involved can do so by contacting Tim Sharp. Either email him at tim@timothysharp.co.uk or call him on 07989 865702. Men wishing to grow a beard can register and set up a BT MyDonate page at www.octobevantagepointmag.co.uk

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Here’s a little bit of good news. From September, new opening hours apply to the 16 Surrey Community Libraries. This represents a 4% overall increase in the number of hours libraries open. No library is having its hours reduced. More information at www.surreycc.gov/ libraries.

Solitaire Social Club for unattached and single adults in West Surrey and East/North-East Hampshire recently had its 25th anniversary and continues to provide a varied and interesting programme of activities to cater for all tastes. These include walks, meals out, BBQs, cheese and wine parties, ceroc, golf, badminton, theatre outings, parties (including a summer and Christmas party), and weekly club nights. They welcome new members. For further information go to their website www.solitairesocialclub.org.uk, call the chairman Paul on 01252 279142 or just turn up on one of the club nights and introduce yourself.

Forest Foragers will be running their very popular oneday foraging courses every Saturday in October, based in the Chichester Hall, Witley, GU8 5PL. They also have a couple of afternoon foraging forays planned for Sundays 11th and 25th October and Sunday1st November. The fullday mushroom picking course will consist of a morning identification session, covering the principal edible plants

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and fungi, (notes provided), followed by a substantial lunch featuring some of these. The morning session will also cover hazards to be avoided when collecting. The afternoon session will be a walk during which edible wild plants and fungi will be collected, varying according to the season. The cost is £125 per person. You can find out more, and book online at www.forestforagers.co.uk .

The Fernhurst Centre has more new dates for the latest iPad related courses. If you are already conversant with your iPad they have sessions to help you get the most from it. ‘iPad - Skype and FaceTime’ is a one session course of two hours designed to get you going on Skype and Facetime. It takes place on Monday 12th October from 2pm-4pm. Cost £10. ‘iPad - Digital Photography’ will instruct you about taking pictures with your iPad, putting your pics into Albums, editing photos using the Photos app etc. Also includes a review of some selected Photo apps available in the App store. Runs on Monday 19th October from 2pm-4pm. ‘iPad - ‘Numbers’ helps with spreadsheets on your iPad and teaches you how to use the ‘Numbers’ app. Runs from Wednesday 28th October from 2pm-4pm. Cost £10. ‘ iPad - ‘Pages’ is a course on Word processing on your iPad - using the ‘Pages’ app. Takes place on Wednesday 21st October from 2pm-4pm. Cost £10. For beginners, there is ‘iPad – an introduction’ a 2 x two-hour sessions on 18th and 25th

Half Term is Pumpkin Week at Secretts Farm 26th to 30th October

Tractor Rides to PYO Pumpkin!

Pumpkin & squash recipes & tastings Secretts, Milford, Surrey GU8 5HU For further details - 01483 520500 www.secretts.co.uk October 2015

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From Buttons to Blinds In the first of an occasional series about the history of our local businesses, we talk to C&H in Guildford C&H Fabrics was started on 1st April 1933 by C.W. Hamblin and H.E. Closs. Some might say not a very auspicious date to begin a new business, but 82 years later they would be proved wrong.

The company continues to grow and flourish under the steady leadership of Bryan Hamblin, C.W.’s grandson, supported by his three sons, all of whom play active roles in the company.

The success of the company has much to do with its original philosophy, which was simply to offer customers ‘quality and service’ plus ‘reliability and value,’ standards which still hold true today across their nine stores in the south of England.

C&H has been fortunate in the loyalty of its staff, many of whom have worked for the company for well over 10 years allowing their product knowledge to develop and grow. Perhaps it is down to the Hamblin family taking the time to learn the names and a little about all of its 400 staff; or an oldfashioned determination to keep their stores closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, so that their staff can enjoy time with their families. Whatever the reason, the expertise and passion the staff bring to work with them translates into a recipe for a successful business now spanning four generations.

C&H’s roots were founded in dress fabrics, with haberdashery arriving a little later. Some years ago the company ventured into the soft furnishings market and has since established a reputation for producing high quality bespoke curtains and blinds, with designs and price points to suit every taste and budget. C&H even offers a ‘made to measure’ service which can provide you with new curtains in just five days.

An exciting new range of shutters has just been introduced, making their window products one of the most comprehensive in the South East.

before they were deemed competent enough to serve the public on the shop floor. Dressmakers will know that was no mean feat - although in the post war years there was little other choice than to make do and mend as rationing was still in place and fabrics in short supply.

Necessity has always been a great teacher!

Quilting continues to enjoy a huge following, no doubt because it is such a sociable craft and one which can be enjoyed whilst having a good old fashioned gossip at the same time; not to mention the coffee and cake which always seems on hand when quilters get together. C&H offers a very extensive range of fabrics and accessories for patchwork and to support local quilting groups offers a 10% discount on presentation of their membership card, not to mention a similar discount for all textile students and more recently, the WI. Knitting continues to rise in popularity and C&H leads the way offering a wide selection

During the last two years there has been a huge revival in dressmaking. This has no doubt come about as a result of the BBC’s highly successful ‘Great British Sewing Bee’ programme which we all sat glued to, week after week, watching every stitch and marvelling at the final results of the contestants. Many C&H customers plunged in and had a go at dressmaking for the first time, having been buoyed up with the enthusiasm each weekly episode created. Whilst C&H’s dress staff did have to help rescue a few of the more ambitious projects, an enthusiastic new generation of dressmakers had been born, thanks to television.

A little known fact about C&H is that in the early years all employees had to make their own uniform comprising a jacket, skirt and blouse 20

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of yarns in all of its stores. Knitting got a huge boost a few years ago when many ‘Hollywood superstars’ admitted to being avid knitters, so even the young decided it must be ‘cool’ and had a go. Who could forget Dustin Hoffman declaring his passion for knitting on a popular breakfast show; and when presented with a ball of yarn, knitting pins and asked unexpectedly to demonstrate his skill, how he checked the yarns ball band and then scolded the presenters for giving him the wrong size needles. A true craftsman and one who was not going to be caught out on TV! The sad epilogue to such an upsurge in dressmaking and knitting is the decline in the number of high street shops able to offer these products; such is the variety and quantity of items needed to provide a comprehensive range that few of the smaller retailers have been able to keep up and have disappeared from our towns.

But for C&H this boom has allowed them to bring in ever more products, expand its ranges and keep ahead of a constantly changing and growing market.

Craft, toys, games, giftware and fashion products were added to the C&H range a few years ago proving extremely popular and with Christmas just around the corner, your local C&H will be well worth a visit as it is bursting with gift ideas that won’t break the bank.

The impact that the internet is having on the high street is now clear and whilst C&H’s heart will always be in face-to-face customer retailing, internet shopping is now a fact of life. Whilst the majority of the customers still love to handle the fabrics and discuss their projects, C&H felt it necessary to launch its own extensive website which can be found at www.candh.co.uk and now enjoys a strong online customer following.

Busy lifestyles also now demand seven day a week shopping and whilst C&H had resisted this trend, following the successful opening of its Guildford store on Sundays earlier in the year, in early 2016 all C&H stores will open seven days a week.

The redevelopment of Tunsgate Square confronts the company with a new challenge, but C&H’s determination to remain in Guildford and its commitment to its customers is undaunted and your local C&H looks forward to welcoming you to its store for many years yet to come.

FIND OUT MORE

C&H Fabrics, 6a Tunsgate Square, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3QZ Tel: 01483 301380. Web: www.candh.co.uk

Images clockwise from far left: The Tunbridge Wells store in 1964; a shop interior in the 1960s; the opening of the original Guildford store in 1963; the Guildford store in Tunsgate; another shop interior in the 1960s.

October 2015

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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November from 10am-12 noon. Cost £20. More on their website www.fernhurstcentre.org.uk. Places must be booked in advance either on 01428 641931 or email them at ferncent@gmail.com. Lots of free parking at the rear of the Centre.

Haslemere U3A meet at Haslemere Hall on Monday 12th October at 2pm for ‘The Rise and Fall of Emma Hamilton’. Dr Bob France, a lecturer and tour guide at Uppark, will amaze us with the dramatic story Emma Hamilton (1765-1815), who rose from the slums of the northwest to become the most portrayed woman in Europe, the confidante of a queen, and the lover of England’s greatest naval hero--and her final fall from fame.

Admission £2. Non-members welcome. Membership inquiries Margaret Mowatt 01428 652 338 and www. haslemere-u3a.org.uk.

West Sussex libraries will be holding Reading and Creative Writing workshops run by authors who either live in or write about West Sussex to explore the idea of a sense of place and what living in the county means to people. Simon Brett will be running a Reading Group workshop on Monday 12th October from 2pm4pm and Friday 16th October from 10am-12noon. Jane Rusbridge will be running Creative Writing workshops on Friday 13th November from 1pm-3pm, Friday 20th Bourne Buildings May 14_Layout 1 11/05/2015 14:51 Page 1

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November from 3pm–5pm and Friday 27th November from 1pm-3pm. They are looking for people from a range of community groups to come to the workshops or they could run a workshop just for a particular group if that would be more appropriate. They are also looking for people to be volunteer facilitators for Reading the South to help to spread the word about the project, support people in the groups who may need extra help, stay in touch with people in between sessions and do anything else to help make this a success! For further information about the Reading or Creative Writing sessions and being a volunteer for Reading the South, or to book a place on one of the workshops, contact Midhurst library on 01730 716671 or midhurst.library@westsussex.gov.uk .

The October meeting of the Midhurst Garden Club is on Monday 12th October. Their speaker is Marcus Dancer who will be talking about ‘Scented Plants Throughout The Year’ which will prove to be most popular especially as Marcus usually brings along some plants to sell. The venue is the South Downs Memorial Hall, North Street, refreshments are available from 7pm and the talk will begin at 7.30pm. Visitors always very welcome and pay an entry fee of £2.

Midhurst Camera Club welcomes Derek Trendle pn the 14th October. He will speak on ‘Atlantic crossing on JST’s THE LARGEST SHOWSITE IN THE UK OVER 200 BUILDINGS, 5000 STONE ORNAMENTS & 100 FURNITURE SETS ON DISPLAY

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Chandlers Opticians - a short history Chandlers Opticians opened in Godalming in 1994, Haslemere 1995 and Bordon 1997. Owned by Martin Chandler and his wife, until his death in 2012, it is now owned and run by his widow Rhiannon Chandler, Martine Dalton and Stephen Brand all of whom have been involved in the business for many years.

Chandlers is a group of totally independent practices who specialise in family eyecare, contact lenses, sports vision and low vision, we are dedicated to providing professional eyecare and quality eyewear, using the latest technology to ensure your eyes receive the best possible care and sight correction.

independent company we have a complete choice of frames and lenses from all manufacturers as we are not tied to any one supplier.

Have you considered contact lenses? We are always astonished that many people think that they are not suitable for contact lenses. In reality most people can happily wear lenses, they are comfortable, affordable and offer freedom from spectacles. Whether you want them just for sport, special occasions or as a daily change from spectacles there is a lens for you.

Why not look us up online and meet the team.

As a company we liaise closely with local GP surgeries and hospital eye departments, as well as advising sports clubs etc. on their optical needs.

All our practices are stocked with frames to suit all budgets and range through traditional styles to high fashion and limited edition pieces. Our dispensing opticians are on hand to advise on styling and suitability as well as the technical details of which lenses will give the best vision and cosmetic appearance. As an ADVERTORIAL GODALMING 40 HIGH STREET GU7 1DY 01483 418020

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Tenacious’. Since its inception in 1978, the Jubilee Sailing Trust has strived to enable people of all physical abilities to sail. This is Derek’s story of his trip across the Atlantic. On the 21st October is ‘camera basics and beyond’.

On Wednesday 14th October, Grayshott Gardeners will be welcoming the renowned writer and broadcaster Bob Flowerdew who will speak on organic gardening, why it is better for our planet and why organically grown produce is so tasty. For the last twenty years he has been a panelist on the prestigious Radio 4 programme ‘Gardener’s Question Time’, specialising in fruits, vegetables and organic gardening. He has been awarded five ‘Golden Trowel’ awards as Amateur Gardening Radio Personality so you can look forward to an interesting and enjoyable evening. To book a ticket for this event, call 01428 720000. Grayshott Gardeners meet at Grayshott Village Hall on the second Wednesday of the month with lectures starting at 8pm. Have a look at their website www.grayshottgardeners.net for more information on the club.

Haslemere Town Band is back by popular demand with their new conductor David Wright. After the band played to a very appreciative audience at St Christopher’s Church, Haslemere last year, they’ll be giving another wonderful concert of old and modern pieces at St

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Christopher`s Church, St Christopher`s Green, Wey Hill, Haslemere on Friday 16th October at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 at the door and children go free. Concessions, £7.

On Friday 16th October, the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum will hold its Careers Forum focused on traditional trades, historic crafts, skills used in countryside management and working in the heritage sector. This free forum will give attendees of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to explore work and career options in an informal environment that is designed to appeal to those investigating training or study options, looking for their first job, thinking about changing careers, or investigating careers on behalf of a child or a partner.

Instead of a formal programme of presentations, the forum will take a different format – it will be facilitated by members of the Museum’s team, and both representatives of various organisations and individuals with interesting experience will share their knowledge with delegates.

The forum will offer attendees a fantastic opportunity speak with experts and ask questions about careers in traditional trades, historic crafts, skills used in countryside management, and working in the heritage sector. The Careers Forum is free to attend but pre-booking is required. Visit the Museum’s website for details: www. wealddown.co.uk/events/careers-forum-2015.

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Have You Been Meaning to Write or Update Your Will?

One in three people die without a Will. This can cause additional tax and problems and often family disputes.

DIY wills may have been a quick solution at the time but they do not usually provide the most tax effective solution.

Without a Will: • A surviving spouse may not inherit everything.

• A co-habitant has no inheritance rights.

• A beneficiary may lose State benefits.

• Minor children are taken into care.

• The way the state distributes your assets might not be what you would have liked at all.

• Unnecessarily high Inheritance tax may be payable.

A Will can achieve all of the following: • Minimise tax.

• Ensure that minor children are looked after by your appointed guardians.

• Ensure that a young person does not inherit at the age of 18.

• Ensure that your spouse has enough to live on but that your assets do not get swallowed up in Care Fees.

• Ensure that your partner is provided for but your children inherit ultimately.

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Waverly Dowsers’ next meeting is on Saturday 17th October and will be an ‘Introduction to Dowsing for Healing’. It will start at 10am and runs to 1pm. In the afternoon, ‘Dowsing Skills Training for Beginners’, runs from 2pm to 5pm. The venue is The Unitarian Hall, Meadrow, Godalming GU7 3JB. Members/non members welcome. Further information from Michael Haxeltine on 01252 541639.

Haslemere District Girlguiding will host an Autumn Fair and Jumble Sale on Saturday 17th October from 10.30am - 1pm at Haslemere Guide HQ (behind Chessington Tyres on Wey Hill). The fair will include a cake stall, refreshments, jumble, bric-a-brac, and other stalls run by the young members themselves. They will also be selling Girlguiding uniform and gifts for all ages. Entry is 50p per person and all money raised will go towards supporting local Girlguiding. Contact Helen Meekins at districtcommissionerhaslemere@yahoo. co.uk for more information.

Haslemere Musical Society’s Symphony Orchestra give their first concert of the 2015-16 season at 7.30pm on Saturday 17th October. It will take place in the beautiful St Christopher’s Church in Haslemere.

Works by major composers are included, including the overture Leonora No. 1 by Beethoven and the melodic

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Mozartiana suite by Tchaikovsky, written in honour of his great predecessor. In a very varied programme, there will also be the lovely Valse Triste by Sibelius and, to complete the international line-up, works by the French composers Roussel and Chausson. All tickets are at £12.50 and can be bought from any HMS member or from Haslemere Hall. U-18 tickets are half price. Further details about this concert and about the full HMS programme for 2015-16 can be found on the HMS website: www.hmsoc.org.uk.

Petworth House has some interesting events lined up for October. ‘The Big Draw’ takes place from Saturday 17th to Sunday 25th October, 11am to 4pm. Pick up a free storyboard template and as you make your way through Petworth House, see how your story comes to life as you interact with the art and sculpture collection. Normal admission charges apply. From Saturday 24th October – Sunday 1st November from 10.30am – 4pm there is something especially for the kids - Bag of Bones! A scary skeleton has been found in the park and they need your help to put the bones together and lay their skeleton to rest. The cost per child is £3. Finally, ‘Haunted Houses’ runs from Thursday 29th and Friday 30th October, 11am - 12.30 and 2 - 3.30pm. Let your imagination run horribly wild and make your own miniature haunted house with petrifying peg doll or menacing monster. Children £6. For all events, book online or call 0844 249 1895.

Autumn brings with it spectacular landscapes full of colour and conkers, orchards full of apples, hedgerow fruits just right for picking and, with the National Trust, a host of autumnal events this half term. Kids can enjoy pumpkin activities, Halloween trails or simply playing in the crunchy autumn leaves. Their 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4 activities range from building a secret hideaway and playing conkers, to making a home for a wild animal, hunting for wild bugs and catching a falling leaf. As well as keeping the kids entertained in the great outdoors there are some ghoulish goings on with the National Trust this Halloween. From eerie trails and spooky story-telling to face painting and fancy dress in historic houses, there’s something to get the whole family going. Locations include Claremont Gardens, Dapdune Wharf, Hatchlands Park, Polesden Lacey, Shalford Mill, Surrey Hills and Winkworth Arboretum. Have a look at www.nationaltrust.org.uk .

www.architecturesurrey.co.uk

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Having recently started to sell a few things on eBay, I can see how useful this will be. There’s a new session for autumn at the Fernhurst Centre. ‘How to Sell on eBay.’ EBay is a popular auction website where individuals can buy and sell new and second-hand items. This ‘hands on session’ will show you how to sell a single item on eBay and that there is nothing to fear, so long as you follow a few simple steps, and, of course, remember it is just vantagepointmag.co.uk

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Get ready for winter!

Here are some practical home hints and tips from Age UK Surrey to help you prepare for winter.

As winter approaches, with shorter days and a ‘chill in the air’, now is the time to get your home ready for those colder months.

Keeping warm is important for everyone, but for some, and especially older people, the cold weather can cause really serious health problems.

Taking a few simple steps now to ensure you keep warm and healthy this winter will mean that if we have a really cold spell, you are well prepared for the lower temperatures.

Heating, insulation and lighting Now is the time to get your boiler serviced to make sure that it will run smoothly for you when it gets colder – and you are not left without heating when you need it most!

(Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer).

Draught proofing windows, doors and cracks in the floor can save you £20-£30 a year. A draughty home can be uncomfortable and uses more energy to keep rooms warm.

Reduce draughts by sealing gaps around window frames, fitting draught-proofing strips and draught excluders around doors, and fitting covers to letter boxes and keyholes. When draught-proofing, 28

it’s important to leave some ventilation to reduce condensation and prevent the build-up of waste gases from fuel-burning appliances.

Curtains provide a good source of insulation when the temperature drops. If your radiators are under your windows, tuck your drawn curtains behind them. Check for broken curtain hooks and add thermal lining to the curtains.

Make sure light bulbs are working and lighting is adequate. Higher voltage warmer hue lights in the winter could help ward off the winter blues. Now is a good time to make sure your torch light bulb is working and you have some fully charged batteries in case of a power cut. Always keep your torch in an easy to reach place (finding a torch in the back of the cupboard when the lights are not working is so frustrating!).

Your winter wardrobe and bedding When the cold weather comes, putting on thick warm jumpers is second nature.

However many people forget to check that they have suitable footwear for those icy vantagepointmag.co.uk

and slippery pavements – and should we get it, snow!

Now is a good time to check that your winter shoes have good grip and you have a pair of thick socks to wear with boots. The cost of getting shoes repaired or re-heeled is a fraction of the cost of buying new shoes.

Keeping warm and cosy in bed is really important.

Bed socks, hot water bottles and warm pyjamas will help you get a comfortable nights rest. Make sure you air your winter duvet and blankets and if needed, get them cleaned before the cold weather arrives.

In the garden As summer plants die down, autumn is a time to tidy the garden before the start of winter. Annuals need digging up, spring bulbs and winter flowers need planting and hanging baskets taken down.

If your lawn looks slightly the worse for wear then now is a good time to revitalise it. Remove moss using a rake and add it to the compost heap. If you have large amounts of moss then you may want to use a moss killer first. If you want a ‘new lawn’ autumn is a great season to lay turf as it has plenty of time to become established before next summer.

shops. A small stock of bottled water in case of frozen pipes or a burst mains pipe will ensure you always have drinking water for emergencies.

When we get a cold spell, do remember to call your elderly relatives and neighbours, especially if they live on their own, to see if they are managing with the change in temperature.

If you would like more information on how to manage in the winter months, Age UK Surrey has a free information and advice service that can provide support on many issues, including housing, social care, benefit entitlements and much more.

For older people who need help in the home, the Age UK Surrey Hometime service provides affordable and reliable home helps who will do your housework, run errands, prepare light snacks and provide companionship.

FIND OUT MORE

For more information, about Age UK Surrey’s services and products visit www.ageuksurrey.org.uk or call 01483 503414. £1 Fro 2 m pe ju r st ho ur

Store away containers and pot plant holders that need protecting from frost and clear paths and driveways of slippery leaves. Garden tools can be cleaned and stored away ready for the spring.

Food and drink It is always good to have an emergency stock of long-life foods and tins in case you can’t get out to the

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

fun! This two hour session will run on Wednesday 21st October from 7.30 – 9.30pm at a cost of £10. Places must be booked in advance either on 01428 641931 or email: ferncent@gmail.com – or check out their website at www.fernhurstcentre.org.uk.

Amitiës Françaises welcome Guy Richeux on Thursday 22nd October, to talk about Colette, the famous French novelist who wrote about French society at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Her life was celebrity with substance, not only a writer famous for describing immediate sense experience but a music hall actress. They meet as usual in the Baptist Hall, Queen Street, Godalming at 7pm for coffee and a chat and the lecture at 7.30pm. Parking nearby. Lectures in French by professional lecturers well used to English audiences.

Information from John Petty at johnpetty@which.net or call 01483 389102.

RHS Garden Wisley in Woking GU23 6QB have a good looking programme of events in October. They have organised a ‘Spooky Woodlands’ October half term which runs from Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1st November. Families can discover the spooky woodlands at RHS Garden Wisley this Halloween with a fun-filled week of family activities and workshops. Learn all about hedgehogs through storytelling, plant some seeds, make a spooking woodland hat and build a den. Free with normal garden admission. Activities vary daily so check website for details. Some activities require booking in advance. www.rhs.org.uk/wisley . Do check the website to find out about all the other events.

Liphook & District Model Railway Club are holding their sixth Annual Open Day on Sunday 25th October.

It takes place at Milland Valley Memorial Hall, Iping Road, Milland GU30 7NA adjacent to Milland Stores and The Rising Sun, and will be open from 10am to 4pm. There will be six model railway layouts in 00, H0 & N scales, covering British, German and Italian prototypes, including for the first time a guest layout from Horsham MRC.

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There will be a demonstration, a club second hand table and refreshments. There’s free off street parking and the venue is disabled friendly. Suitable for boys and girls from 8 to 80 interested in watching and chatting about model railways; don’t forget to ask all the questions you like! This is not a formal exhibition, some layouts for instance may be still under construction, and it’s more of a much enlarged club meeting to which the public are invited. The Club was founded in 1964 and since 2011 has met weekly in the committee room of the Milland Valley Memorial Hall. Full details of the club and eventsee www.millandvalleyrailway.co.uk. Entry Adult £1.50; accompanied children free.

Haslemere Decorative and Fine Arts Society (Hdfas) will be examining a work of art familiar to many but with a mysterious history. On Tuesday 26th October, at Haslemere Hall, Leslie Primo will talk about the Wilton Diptych and uncover the many hidden signs and symbols in this painting that have been slowly revealing themselves over the past 80 years, since it was acquired for the National Gallery in 1929. The lecture will also look at Medieval England, patronage, saints, and kingship through the lens of the Wilton Diptych. It starts at 2 for 2.15pm and will be followed by tea and the opportunity to ask questions. The theme of mystery and hidden meanings will be continued at the November lecture when the topic will be ‘The Green Man in Art’.

New members and guests are very welcome - for more information please contact HDFAS membership secretary Sue Wright on 01428 683578 or email membership@ haslemeredfas.org.uk . The society is a charity and has over the past summer organised several projects aimed to inspire children with a love of the arts. Full details about the society’s collaboration with local schools can be found on the HDFAS website at www.haslemeredfas.org.uk.

Monday 26th October to Sunday 1st November, it’s Wild about Gardens Week, the annual celebration of garden wildlife hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society and The Wildlife Trusts; they are teaming up with Hedgehog Street this year to highlight how gardeners can help our hedgehogs. This much-loved creature is declining in Britain, over 30% in the past 10 years. To help encourage people right across Britain to think about how hedgehog friendly their gardens, schools and community spaces are, this year’s Wild About Gardens Week will form a week-long call to action and a celebration of the humble hedgehog, packed with events, competitions and opportunities to get stuck in. A downloadable new booklet, available from the website, www.wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk.

Thanks to a generous £9,739 grant from Viridor Credits Environmental Company, via the Landfill Communities Fund, Sussex Wildlife Trust is working

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Are you afraid of going to the dentist?

Does the thought of having dental treatment make you anxious?

Being afraid of the dentist means different things to different people. It might be the fear of pain, sounds or smells or previous bad memories. If you haven’t seen a dentist for several years because of fear or anxiety, be reassured that you will find the experience more bearable nowadays.

Here are some useful tips to ease the dental fear: • Pick an appointment time early in the morning so you have less time to dwell on it.

• Take a friend with you to your appointment – they can stay during the check-up and treatment if you want.

• Agree a sign with the dentist to signal that you need a break and want them to stop. It can be as simple as raising your hand, and will help you feel more in control.

• If you think it will help, start gradually with a clean and polish then work up to more extensive treatment once you’ve built up trust and rapport with your dentist.

• Take a personal stereo with you to listen to music during your visit.

At Elstead Dental Surgery we take the time to understand your fears and work with you to overcome them. Most patients find that these tips, along with our caring and sympathetic approach, will be enough to allow treatment to be completed.

However, if you are extremely nervous at Elstead Dental Surgery we offer intravenous sedation during treatment. Sedation is a safe and effective way of completing dental treatment. Our dentists are sedation trained and will be able to discuss all the options available to you.

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31

GARDENING

With Beth Otway

Fabulous Fungi It’s a simple process to start your mushrooms growing. Just remove your grow bag from its cardboard carton (the size of a large fruit juice carton), cut along the cross which is clearly marked on the pack, peel off the perforated panel on the carton, and soak the grow bag in water for 12 hours. You then simply drain the grow bag, pop it back inside the cardboard container and place upright in a light and airy spot, out of direct sunlight and away from cold drafts. A cold winter windowsill isn’t recommended, as the pack needs to be kept above 10°C. My packs, which were placed on a coffee table in the centre of the room, thrived.

Using the water spray provided, mist your mushrooms twice a day until harvesting.

Fungi are part of almost all of our terrestrial ecosystems. For much of the year we aren’t aware of their presence as they exist as mycelium, a mass of tiny, thread-like filaments, hyphae, that live entwined in the soil and undergrowth. We see their fruiting bodies – mushrooms or toadstools – for a short time when they are in season each year.

At this time of year there are many fascinating varieties of toadstools and mushrooms to be found outside. Whether you spot them on a walk or in your garden, fungi are always fun to admire, but not as easy to identify as you might think. There are estimated to be anywhere between 700,000 and 5 million species of fungi in the world. I’d only recommend eating wild mushrooms collected with an experienced, reputable guide (such as Forest Foragers who run excellent day courses in Surrey, see www. forestforagers.co.uk). Sadly it’s all too easy to make mistakes even if you have the most comprehensive guidebook available. Eating wild fungi can be fatal; every year many people make themselves ill eating poisonous fungi they thought to be edible.

I’d recommend admiring the fungi you see on your walk and then tasting the delights of your own freshly picked, home-cultivated mushrooms grown from a kit. This year I have had so much fun growing mushrooms inside at home, using the Espresso Mushroom Company’s Kitchen Garden Kits. Purchased as a simple and straightforward kit, comprising a grow-bag of spent coffee grounds (collected from Brighton’s cafés by bike), which have been inoculated with mushroom spawn; a water spray pump (which can be used effectively in a bottle or glass of water to mist your mushrooms), and a recipe card.

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I grew both the Hot Pinks and the Pearl Oyster mushroom packs from the Espresson Mushroom Company.

The Hot Pink kit really does grow pink mushrooms. Mine were a beautiful, vibrant pink and really enhanced the appearance, as well as the taste of the very special and delicious mushroom risotto they were made into. I have successfully re-used my packs three times so far, harvesting between 180g and 60g of mushrooms each time.

Nothing is wasted as the contents of the spent growbag can be used as a soil conditioner when cropping ceases.

Growing mushrooms is great fun, and fast - once they get started, the mushrooms double in size each day.

Quick results can also be achieved indoors growing cress and sprouting seeds like chick peas, mung beans, adzuki beans, and alfalfa, to name but a few. Only use seeds specifically sold and labelled as suitable for home sprouting, as some seed deemed destined to be grown outdoors could be contaminated with pesticides or other treatments. Seed sold for home sprouting is subject to strict safety controls.

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FIND OUT MORE

For seasonal gardening tips and more gardening advice, please visit Beth’s website at www.pumpkinbeth.com.

vantagepointmag.co.uk

WOW! FACTOR WEAVINGS AT THE ORIENTAL RUG GALLERY! Step in this autumn, and discover a fabulous array of stylish and decorative weavings, at Surrey’s award-winning Rug Specialists, where hundreds of WOW! Factor rugs, oriental carpets, kilims and tapestries await to enhance your home. View our unique New Arts & Crafts-design and Butterfly rugs – JUST ARRIVED! Explore a vast Treasure Trove of hand-woven Rug Masterpieces, overflowing with beautiful Persian, Turkish, Caucasian and Bukhara decorative designs, sumptuous silks, traditional-with-a-twist rugs, colourful kilims, alluring antique weaves, resplendent runners, elegant aubussons and fascinating sumaks, with a captivating array of tribal trappings and rugs, as well as silk-embroidered and wool-weave scatter cushions – all ideal for living-, diningand drawing-room interiors, hallways, bedrooms, boudoirs, snugs and firesides.

A large selection of the Rug Gallery’s weavings can be viewed on the website, but with so many more in stock at the stunning shop premises, you can browse and choose from hundreds available.

October 2015

Each finely-crafted piece is traditionally hand-knotted by craftsmen weavers, using silky-soft yarn in natural dyes. Our highly sought-after weavings’ practicality, durability and good quality are guaranteed.

As Master Rug Craftsmen, we undertake an extensive range of rug works in our Rug Gallery’s custom-built Restoration and Cleaning studios. Services include expert repairs, restoration and bespoke alterations, professional deep-wash cleaning, stain and odour corrective treatments, durable anti-slip rug underlay, insurance-approved certified written rug valuations, a rug and textile wall-hanging technique, with collection and delivery services offered.

It’s all under one roof at The Oriental Rug Gallery Ltd, where a bejewelled cornucopia of hand-woven rug craftsmanship awaits!

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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to restore an historic heathland at Graffham Common near Petworth in West Sussex. Jane Willmott, Sussex Wildlife Trust Living Landscape Officer, says: “This work will benefit endangered heathland birds including nightjar, woodlark and tree pipit. We are also grateful to the South Downs National Park Authority which provided a financial contribution that was vital to unlocking the funding grant”.

For further information on Sussex Wildlife Trust’s work visit: www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk Michael Jackson’s Thriller is a timeless classic and this October, children aged 8 to 14 will be able to learn the dance just in time for Halloween. Dance in a Day will be held at G Live on Wednesday 28th October from 10am to 4pm. The workshop will be led by The Dance Movement, which is a resident dance company of the Farnham Maltings. Dancers will need to bring along old clothes as they will be making their own costumes and having their faces painted. At the end of the day, the children will perform the dance to family and friends. The workshop costs £30 and places can be booked at www. glive.co.uk.

Grayshott Flower Club resumed their meetings in September after the summer break. Beginner’s classes have been taking place to help newer members learn the basics of floral arrangement and more classes are planned

for the future. If you might be interested in joining the club or would like more information on any aspect of club activities, call 01428 651956.

With the kids back at school and the wonderful autumn colours beginning to show themselves in the local woodlands, this is a good time to make the most of your free time whilst getting some healthy exercise as well. Godalming and Haslemere Ramblers organise walks which place in the area south of Godalming and Farnham including Midhurst, Petworth and the South Downs. They are a friendly group making new walkers welcome and with an increasing number of new members of all ages joining to make the most of the wonderful local countryside. They offer a wide range of walks to choose from in their latest programme which can be viewed on their website www.gandhramblers.org.uk. Walks take place most days of the week varying from 5 to 10 miles, some include a welcome pub stop during or at the end of the walk; nothing like a little reward after a bit of exertion!

It’s that time of year when bonfires are burning, chills run down your spine and things go bump in the night – it must be Halloween! The atmospheric houses, gardens and wider estates of the National Trust are perfect locations for ghoulish goings on - for kids and adults alike - from Halloween trails and pumpkin workshops, to night-time ghost

Whatever you do – don’t let your health hold you back Spire Portsmouth Hospital offers fast, affordable treatments so you can get back to health and the things you love.

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD tours and macabre theatre. There are all sorts of autumnal treats on offer too, such as the Mottisfont’s woodland Land Art challenge, and of course kids can continue to take part in the 50 things to do before you’re 11¾ challenge. For more information on National Trust events in the area, visit the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events.

Haslemere Flower Club’s October meeting will be on Wednesday 28th at Haslemere Hall at 1.30pm.

Hazel McGregor will be demonstrating ‘Floral Fusion’.

The arrangements will be raffled and the afternoon will end with tea and biscuits. Visitors are very welcome at a charge of £5. Do go along and enjoy a fun afternoon.

Get ready for the festive season on a creative short course at West Dean College, Near Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0QZ. Discover a variety of one day art and craft courses to try out a new skill and make a small gift or create something unique to decorate your home for Christmas. Take a relaxing break in the beautiful surroundings at West Dean and indulge yourself in a day away from the hustle and bustle at Christmas time. Enjoy home cooked food and a creative atmosphere with likeminded people on a one day Taster Course. For more information about Short Courses at West Dean and to browse the digital brochure, visit www.westdean.org. uk. First time bookings receive a 10% discount telephone bookings only call 02143 818300.

The Petworth Autumn Lecture, organised by PACT Churches Together is on Friday 30th October at 7.30pm, at St Mary’s Parish Church, Petworth GU28 0AD. The lecture will be given by James Ewins, a leading barrister, who was a Specialist Adviser to the Joint Select Committee on the Modern Slavery Act 2015. James is a committed Christian with a personal interest and involvement in modern anti-slavery and human trafficking campaigns.

He worked with bonded labourers in India for International Justice Mission during a sabbatical year 2009-10. He has four children and married to Tiffany-Alice who is an ordained Anglican minister working in Brixton, South London. Further details from Geraldgreshamcooke@ gmail.com Tel 01798 342151.

Liphook Folk Club will be welcoming Lancashire based multi instrumentalist Bram Taylor on the 30th October. Bram has been performing for over 30 years and has toured in Europe, the USA and Canada. An accomplished musician and raconteur with 10 albums already he promises to give us a great night. Learn more at his website www.bramtaylor.com. Tickets are only £6 and are available from Paul Johnson 01428 724813 or email paul@longmoorroad.fsnet.co.uk. Doors open at 7pm and music starts around 7.30pm. Venue is the Liphook Social Club, Headley Road, Liphook GU30 7NP. October 2015

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Get baking Karen Doidge Hill has always been very creative, with her first love being fashion design. She grew up in Cornwall before moving to London to study at London College of Fashion. After graduating, she opened a boutique which also had concessions in Top Shop. With the advent of children, she moved back to Cornwall and discovered her love of baking. She opened Quench Juice Café and had many happy years making cakes.

When her daughter started being cast in films and chose to study at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, the family moved back to London. Here, Karen began making cakes for friends and colleagues and started ‘Small Wonders’ making cakes for special occasions and creating cakes for people with special dietary needs. She also started writing baking and cake articles. Karen now lives locally in Milford and this is her first article for VantagePoint.

Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel ‘Rolo’ Brownies As my nephew doesn’t eat peanut butter in the recipe opposite, I have been asked to make some of my ‘Rolo’ Brownies. This recipe is one of my easiest ever and whenever I have children staying I get them to help me make them.

Ingredients 200g unsalted butter, 200g good quality 70% dark chocolate, 125g muscovado sugar, 125g caster sugar, 4 eggs, 125g plain flour, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp good quality cocoa powder 1 tsp sea salt, 4 tubes of ‘Rolos’ – 2 chopped and 2 left whole.

Makes 16 squares.

Method: 1. First heat your oven to 150º C fan.

2. To begin melt the chocolate together with the butter over a low heat. In a separate bowl, beat together both sugars with the eggs until light and fluffy, then add the vanilla. Stir in the cooled chocolate mixture, then sift in the flour and cocoa. Mix all together along with the sea salt. Stir in chopped ‘Rolos’, and pour into your prepared tin.

Press the remaining “Rolos” into the mixture.

3. Bake for 25-30 mins, until firm to touch, but still nice and gooey in the middle. Remember with Brownies, they will continue to set as they cool.

4. Leave in the tin to cool completely and then transfer to a chopping board to slice. These are fantastic eaten warm with a good dollop of vanilla ice cream, and so very easy to make. Delicious!

WIN 36

A COPY OF THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF: CELEBRATIONS Enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk vantagepointmag.co.uk

RECIPES Dark Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cheesecake with Salted Caramel and Nut Brittle I have been eagerly awaiting the new Great British Bake Off series, which is always watched by the whole family. This year we missed the first few episodes as the family was having great fun on holiday in Gibraltar. It was my daughters 17th birthday, so I had to make her a special cake – very tricky with such a limited kitchen. In fact, the first hurdle was a lack of scales. I managed to improvise using the luggage scales, a shoe lace and a saucepan - this would be so much easier at home. My daughter’s choice was for a combination of all her favourite things - dark chocolate, cheesecake, peanut butter and salted caramel. No problem. The recipe is rather complicated, but as long as you take it step by step, it will be a piece of cake!

Ingredients For the base: 500g Oreo Cookies, 100g butter.

For the Cheesecake filling: 200g good quality 70% dark chocolate, 500g full fat cream cheese, 300g mascarpone cheese, 200g sour cream, 150g smooth peanut butter, 1 large free range egg, 170g muscovado sugar, 5 tbsp good quality cocoa powder.

For the Salted Caramel Sauce: 30g unsalted butter, 100ml double cream, good pinch of sea salt.

For the Chocolate Ganache: 100g good quality 70% dark chocolate, 200ml double cream.

For the peanut Brittle: 160g caster sugar, 30g salted peanuts.

Makes 12-16 portions.

Method: 1. To make the cheesecake, the first thing is to preheat your oven to 180C/Fan 160C. Then begin with the base.

Blend your Oreo cookies in a food processor to get a fine crumb, then add to your melted butter. Tip into your cake tin and press down until tightly compacted, covering the base and coming up the sides. Place in the fridge to set.

2. Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of boiling water, remove from the heat and cool slightly.

3. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth, add the mascarpone cheese, sour cream and peanut butter. Mix in the egg, sugar, and cocoa powder. Lastly add the cooled chocolate and stir. Pour the mixture into your cake tin on top of the base.

4. Half fill a large roasting tin with boiling water and place into your oven. Wrap your cake tin with tin foil so water cannot get in, and place into the roasting tin.

Top up with boiling water, and then bake in your oven for one hour and 15 mins. Remove the cake from the oven, allow to cool and place in your fridge.

5. To decorate your cheesecake, first start with the salted caramel. Place the sugar in a heavy bottomed October 2015

pan over a medium heat and melt slowly. Do not stir the mixture, gently swirl the pan to incorporate all the sugar. When it turns a golden brown, add the butter and stir. Add the cream and stir to get a silky smooth caramel sauce, then add a good pinch of sea salt. I use this sauce all the time, especially over vanilla ice cream or fruit. Cool the caramel completely, then pour over the top of the cheesecake letting it pour over the sides.

Put it back in the fridge to await the final coating.

6. To make the chocolate Ganache, heat the cream in a pan over a medium heat until just beginning to bubble. Pour over the dark chocolate and stir until they have melted together to make a thick shiny sauce.

Let this cool and then drizzle over the caramel topped cheesecake. Return to the fridge until ready to serve.

7. Lastly, to make the brittle shards, melt the sugar the same way as for the caramel. But this time when it turns golden brown, carefully pour onto a greased piece of greaseproof paper and quickly scatter on your peanuts. Allow to cool completely, and when ready to serve snap into shards and arrange on top of your cheesecake.

8. This cake is very, very rich, and you will only need a small slice. It is delicious served with ice-cream.

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gastr

...for the lovers of local food and drink

Thumbs up to our local gin

Goodwood Cheese

Silent Pool Gin has been mentioned on these pages before and having now bought and tried a bottle, I have no hesitation in recommending you all support your local distillery and buy some. It is not cheap at £35 but it is one of the best gins I have tried. No wonder Silent Pool Gin and Silent Pool Distillers have been announced as finalists in the Surrey Life Food and Drink Awards 2015. The gin also won IWSC gold for Best Gin & Tonic. SR

News from Cowdray Farmshop Award Finalist They have been shortlisted for ‘Butcher of the Year’ in the Celebration of Sussex Life Awards which take place in Brighton on 1st October and as you can im,agine they are thrilled! A film crew interviewed head butcher Steve last week and the butchery team are dusting down their DJ’s ready for the big night.

Fresh Fish Don’t forget that Andrew Johnson and his team are at Cowdray Farmshop every Friday between 11.30am-4pm. You will find them on the courtyard in front of the shop with a great selection as you can see below! Please note that they no longer visit on Tuesdays.

Goodwood Home Farm is one of the largest lowland, mixed organic farms in the UK, sited in the South Downs National Park. The herd of 200 Dairy Shorthorn cows produce deliciously rich, organic Goodwood milk and cream which is non homogenised and tastes just the way that milk used to. It is this milk that is used to make a range of traditional handmade cheeses, in Goodwood’s own cheese room, under the guidance of an expert artisan cheesemaker.

The Goodwood Cheeseboard comprises: Charlton – a hard, cloth-bound cheese matured to provide an intense farmhouse flavour; Molecomb Blue - a blue veined soft, creamy cheese with a dark, smoky crust; and Levin Down – a creamy mould ripened cheese.

Find out more more at www.goodwood.com.

Community COOKing If you are planning an event that benefits a charity, school, club or other community group, then you can ask for a Community Discount if you’re feeding 20 or more people from COOK. Participating stores include Dorking, Haslemere, Farnham and Guildford.

Not only can they offer you 30% off, but the staff can also help with menu planning and tips on COOKing for a crowd.

You’ll need to fill out an application form to make sure that your event qualifies (discount is offered at the discretion of the shop manager). You can collect an application form in store, or download one from www.cookfood.net.

Send your food news to gastro@vantagepublishing.co.uk 38

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Grayshott Folk Club next gig should be a knock out.

On Saturday 31st October they welcome The Henry Girls (www.thehenrygirls.com), a trio from the hotbed of traditional Irish/Celtic Folk music that is County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. Named after their musical grandfather Henry, one of their main influences, the three sisters have been together since 2003 and have made five really good albums. The girls are all multi-instrumentalists and at any one time may be playing a combination of fiddle, ukulele, banjo, guitar, harp, mandolin, piano and accordion on stage. However, it is their close harmony singing that really sets them apart as they create songs and tunes that embrace the broad-ranging influences of folk, Americana, jazz and pop music. You can have a taste at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-lu39KAK8Q. Support is provided by The Coach House Company (http://thecoachhousecompany.co.uk/) A five piece band inspired by the folk heritage of the British Isles, the band fuses traditional jigs, reels and folksongs with rich harmonies, instrumental virtuosity and compelling upbeat rhythms to create a unique folk expression. Advance adult tickets: £12 or £14 on the door. Under 16s: £6/£7. Call Des O’Byrne on 01428 607096.

Haslemere Recorded Music Society began its 2015Pilgrim Wood_Layout 1 14/10/2013 16:05 Page 1 16 season of presentations at 7.30pm on Friday, 11th September, at Shottermill Hall, in the grounds

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of Holy Cross Hospital, Hindhead Road, Haslemere.

The Society meets on alternate Friday evenings to listen to presentations of mainly classical music and this year they are fortunate in having the renowned Irish soprano, Anne Murray, and English mezzo-soprano, Anne Howells, presenting evenings for them, along with their usual local presenters and those from neighbouring Recorded Music Societies. You are very welcome to join them and your first trial evening is free. (Membership £25pa.) For further information contact the chairman on 01428 605002, email rogernsaunders@lineone.net or the secretary on 01428 605101.

An imaginative and fun new Halloween event is taking place at Parham House and Gardens, Storrington, Nr Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 4HS this autumn halfterm offering fun for all the family and the younger members in particular. Called the ‘Halloween Trail’, there will be spooky trails around the gardens as well as the chance to meet and hold real life owls from the Selseybased ‘Owls about Town’. There will also be a ‘find the witch and her cauldron of magic’ trail, as well as craft activities and face painting. Adults £8, senior citizens £7, children (5-15yrs) £4 and family (2 adults and up to 4 children) £22. The entry price covers the gardens and event only. www.parhaminsussex.co.uk.

Pilgrim Wood is an elegant, 1920s country house situated in three acres of grounds in an area of outstanding natural beauty close to the North Downs Way. Our elevated position provides remarkable views of the surrounding countryside, yet we are conveniently located only two miles from the centre of Guildford.

Registered and compliant with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for 35 residents over the age of 65 years, we provide long term residential care as well as respite and convalescent care in an individual, family run home.

We encourage our residents to partake in an active and varied lifestyle, including festive and social events, regular outings, and a daily program of group activities.

We welcome visitors, so please feel free to stop by or call to make an appointment.

Sandy Lane, Guildford, Surrey GU3 1HF 01483 573111 www.pilgrimwood.co.uk pilgrimwood@goldenagehealthcare.co.uk

October 2015

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Fernhurst to Henley Fernhurst is on the Weald within the South Downs National Park. This is an easy circular walk through fields and woods, south to Henley. The walk starts at one pub and visits another about halfway through.

Both are highly recommended by the editor! The walk description is provided by Guildford Rambling Club (guildfordramblingclub.org.uk).

The walk With the Red Lion at your back and St Mary’s Church (c 1100) on the other side of the green opposite, go left down the Lickfold road. The ‘pavement’ follows then parallels the road. Immediately before a house butting up to the left-hand side of the path, with its garden isolated on your right, cross a little footbridge to go right and back up to the road. Cross and follow a fingerpost onto a path running beside a field and then inside trees. Pass a lake (on your right), go through a field and stay on the right to go through a gate into a wood. Carry straight on, forking right and, at a cross path, turning right to reach the side of a stream. Do not cross the footbridge, instead go left along the bank to emerge a few yards from the A286.

Cross and jink a few yards left to join a footpath heading right and away from the road alongside a stream. Follow this. After a metal gate the path swings left, away from the stream. Later the path goes through another gate and then turns right through a gap in a fence. Keep on along the left-hand side of the field and into a wood, cross a small footbridge and reach a four way signpost.

Go straight on, over another footbridge and through some open heath into another wood (‘Whitter’s Copse’). Go straight on, ignoring rights and lefts and cross paths until

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dipping steeply down to cross a footbridge and then climbing up into another field. Here turn left (west) to walk along the edge, through a gap and across to meet ‘White’s Lane’ close to Lower North Park Farm.

Go right for 250 yards then take a path out left, across a field and exit from the right-hand corner into the edge of a wood. Follow this (south) in the edge of the trees for about 1200 yards to an open (trees felled) area and partway up it a signpost pointing straight on. Go on, up the slope into trees to a T-junction where you go left. Follow the path, ignoring a right turn but forking right later. The path goes over a small rise to enter a field. Cross to the far right-hand corner and walk along to a pond and house on your left. Follow the path as it swings left and round the end of the pond. Walk

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WALK

up the long driveway to Upper Lodge. Follow this right, to a road.

Turn right and walk down to cross the A286 to a path on the other side. About 100 yards in, fork left and walk some 600 yards, climbing a slope then swinging left to parallel the A286 (up above you). When you can see a minor road ahead, keep on a few yards more to a garden fence and turn left to follow it down onto that road. Turn right and, a few yards up, notice a path off left signposted to ‘White Cottage’. The Duke of Cumberland’s Arms pub (16th century) is a few yards further on along the road. Picnickers should go 200 yards down that White Cottage path on the left.

After lunch, take the picnicker’s path north-east, following always the red arrows and ignoring rights and lefts for about a mile. Pass between Fernhurst Research Centre and Courts Farm and reach a road and, immediately to the left, a bridge over a stream. Cross and immediately take a path right. Cross three small fields and reach a road. Follow this road right to a T-junction by ‘Hurstfold Farm’. Turn right and walk a 100 yards down to take a path left and along the far side of a double warehouse, straight out through the large green houses behind it.

Follow the path to cross fields and, staying on the right in the third field, reach a road. Go right for 20 yards to take a path off left (and north-north-east) through Bushey Copse.

DISTANCE: Around 10 miles OS MAPS: Explorer 133 Haslemere & Petersfield.

PARKING: Park round the green opposite the Red Lion PH in Fernhurst.

After 800 yards, emerge into a field. Walk a 100 yards on its right-hand side and take a path right. In the copse again at first walk until the path swings left and you can see a field to your right along a short path. Go right and into the field. Go straight ahead, turn left and then left again i.e. walk around three sides of a square to arrive at a stile that leads into a corridor rising uphill towards ‘Blackdown House’. Walk up to pass the house and cross its drive then meet another.

Go left and out onto Scouts Lane. Go left for about 250 yards to take the path down left, following it as it swings right to pass a house, ‘Reeth’. Here, go straight ahead and down.

It can be a bit of a stream bed in wet weather. Follow this down. At a yellow arrow post there are three choices, take the middle one i.e. south. Ignore cross paths and lefts and rights until you arrive at a junction with a tarmac lane and a house. Take the signed footpath right and walk through to emerge by the pub in Fernhurst.

REFRESHMENTS: The Red Lion, Fernhurst (T: 01428 643112 www.red-lion-fernhurst.co.uk) The Duke of Cumberland Arms (T: 01428 652280, www.dukeofcumberland.com).

Left: Fernhurst village green. Above: Henley village seen from the southern edge of the pub garden © Shazz.

Neither the publisher nor the author can accept any responsibility for any changes, errors or omissions in this route. Diversion orders can be made and permissions withdrawn at any time.

October 2015

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

There’s a Home & Vintage Fair taking place at Grayswood Village Hall on Saturday 31st October with another due on Saturday 28th November. There will be a great array of stalls including textiles, furniture, clothing and lots of vintage treasures! Children and well behaved dogs very welcome and there is free parking. Entry is just 50p. More details at www.homeandvintage.wordpress. com Petworth Festival is pleased to confirm the dates for this year’s Literary Weekend. The Literary Weekend will run for five days from Wednesday 4th to Sunday 8th November 2015 (at venues in and around Petworth) and offer audiences literary insight, stimulating discussion, and entertainment in the company of leading authors and public figures as they talk about their books, answer questions and sign copies of their work. The Literary Weekend features authors from across fiction, history, current affairs, the natural world and children’s literature. As ever they will also have the Festival’s annual Winter Concert. Programmes and author line up will be announced at the end of September, however once again a stellar line up is promised. In past years, authors have included Michael Palin, Charles Spencer and Michael Morpurgo. The box office opens to the general public on Thursday 1st October.

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In 1969 a 20 year old double decker bus set off from Liphook on a journey that took it all the way around the world. The epic story of how nine young men overcame all of the obstacles put in their way and became an internationally famous singing group is told in the feature length film called Pillock Conquers the World. Despite numerous screenings all over the South of England the film will be getting its first ever public showing in Liphook on Friday 20th November at the Liphook Millennium Hall.

There will be drinks on sale before and after the showing and the film will be introduced by Richard King, the self appointed leader of the group! Should you not be able to attend you can purchase a DVD of the film. Tickets are available from Paul Johnson on 01428 724813 or email us at info@pillock.org. All proceeds from the evening with be donated to Liphook Carnival Committee.

The Charities Fair takes place on Saturday 14th November, 9am till 1pm at Haslemere Hall, Bridge Road, Haslemere. It’s the biggest charity market of the year, the only multi-charity Fair in Haslemere. Now celebrating their 32nd year, it’s organised by BLISS the prem baby charity but aims to give a variety of good causes the chance to raise funds and attract supporters. Free entry, with an optional donation shared between the charities. There will be 40 tables manned by over 20 different charities in the

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD main hall, on the stage and in the bar area. Lots of special presents and super bargains. Christmas gifts, cards, stocking fillers, gift-wrap, calendars and decorations.

Cakes, preserves, spring bulbs, books and more. There’s a Grand Draw with many attractive prizes and a coffee shop selling filter coffee, tea, filled rolls, home bakes etc.

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A Life on The Ocean Waves: Why Seabirds like the Seychelles (and even helped to build some islands!) is the subject of a talk on Saturday 14th November at 2.15pm at Haslemere Educational Museum. Chris Feare has studied seabirds in Seychelles since 1971. During visits to all of the country’s seabird islands he has seen how seabirds cope with different habitats, how man’s activities have affected them and how some seabirds have played a part in islandbuilding. Most of Chris’s work has concerned how seabirds behave on the islands but new technology, in the form of miniature tracking devices, is now opening up insights into their lives at sea where they spend most of their lives. Some of the results are astounding! Non-members are welcome but are invited to contribute £3. See the website www. haslemerenaturalhistorysociety.org.uk or email info@ haslemerenaturalhistorysociety.org.uk.

There’s a Winter Fair in aid of Petworth Cottage Nursing Home. It’s on Tuesday 17th November and will be open from 10am-4pm. 0ver 30 high quality stalls, including books, toys, gifts, stocking-fillers, silk flowers, clothes, jewellery, oven-ready game and much more.

Perfect for peaceful Christmas shopping! Coffee, cakes and light lunches available in the café. Entrance £5. Free Parking. The Nursing Home is situated at: The Upwaltham Barns, Upwaltham, Petworth GU28 OLX (on the A285 Petworth to Chichester Road).

Anyone wishing to improve or recover their German language skills is invited to attend free taster lessons in Midhurst. The Brush up Your German Group will appeal to those who studied German a long time ago and wish to regain some skills either for holiday or business travel.

Organiser Michael Morley said: “These classes are a fun and stress-free way to learn and improve German and are delivered in a light-hearted and informal group setting. There is no pressure to demonstrate ability in class to speak or read German and there are no tests and homework is entirely optional.” There is no enrolment and the first two lessons are free; further lessons are pay as you go. The group meets on Thursdays from 7pm to 9pm, at the Roman Catholic Church Hall, in Bepton Road. For further details E-mail mmorley@gmx.com or call Michael Morley on 01403 752715.

Macmillan Cancer Support in Midhurst will be holding its annual Tree of Hope Service at St Mary’s Church October 2015

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PROFILE

Haslemere Vision Community Land Trusts: a solution to the housing crisis?

The fact that Haslemere and surrounding villages are on the sharp end of the national housing crisis takes a while to sink in. Surely our leafy lanes cannot be the scene of a crisis, apart from some pretty tense scuffles over parent and child parking bays? Yet evidence of younger age groups leaving the area is clear. A 15% decline in the 30-35 year old group alone is mainly attributed to difficulties of finding family homes at reasonable cost. In reality the figures are likely to be higher. With almost 50% of property purchases made by London buyers (many of the same age with young families of their own), the real figures of local young leaving are probably hidden by commuter replacements.

It is difficult for those in local jobs to compete with commuter salaries. It is therefore our dental nurses, carers, hairdressers, retail workers and the like who are faced with tough choices on whether or not to move out of the area in which they grew up. 71% of local emploters who responded to a Waverley survey highlighted a lack of affordable housing in the local area impacting on their ability to recruit or retain staff.

Affordable housing is the phrase oft bandied about as the solution, but many view the phrase with suspicion.

Does it mean ugly estates or flimsy construction? Well, not necessarily. It simply means any housing funded in a way that enables it to be sold at 80% or less of market rates. This includes homes for those on the register for social housing as well as a variety of schemes to provide homes rented at below market rates or sold under a variety of subsidised and joint ownership schemes e.g. part-rent, part-buy.

These homes are usually funded via profits from larger open market developments. The proposed Sturt Farm development south of Haslemere station has promised approximately 54 affordable homes within walking distance of local amenities and public transport (so people on lower incomes don’t have to budget for a car as well). This approach makes use of economies of scale to lower build costs and integrates different types of housing. However sites in this area are rarely big enough to accommodate additional homes, especially not in central areas.

Developing the existing brownfield sites within our settlement boundaries will provide funding for only a few more affordable homes. The only way to ensure a major increase in the supply of affordable homes, relying on the open market and commercial developers, would be to allow substantially larger developments outside the settlement boundary. When land is as

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scarce as it is in this area, surrounded as it is by steep hillsides and beautiful countryside, the community may need to seek more innovative solutions to finance smaller developments of housing that is affordable to young people and local workers.

So what other options are there? Matthew Bowcock of Haslemere Vision says: “residents could combine to form a Community Land Trust (CLT) to develop and manage homes, ensuring they are truly affordable based on what people earn in the area, not just for today but in perpetuity”.

A CLT is a practical umbrella under which communities can club together to fund, design, build and manage affordable housing, new community facilities or even a pub or other business premises. They may seem like a cutting edge idea but there are already 170 CLTs nationwide (although 50% have formed in the last two years). CLTs can be used to purchase and develop self-build plots as per the Ashley Vale development in Bristol (www.wildgoosespace.org.uk/avag) which is featured on the current series of Channel Four’s Grand Designs.

Taking control of such a development project may seem daunting but communities around the country are demonstrating that it can be done. If residents are interested in investing their time, smaller developments, led and controlled by a CLT, could help to solve the shortage of affordable housing in the area. In addition, the community and local land owners may be more interested in supporting a development led by a CLT, which is more likely to explore innovation, variety and to have a distinct local character.

You can express your views on affordable housing and CLTs by responding to the Haslemere Vision Housing Consultation which will be landing on your doorstep on 7th September. The Consultation is a huge opportunity to influence the future of the area and we hope every resident takes the time to express their views.

FIND OUT MORE

Download or fill it in now at www.haslemerevision.org.uk.

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Easebourne on Thursday 3rd December at 6.30pm.

They invite you to remember a loved one who will not be with you this Christmas by dedicating a light on the Macmillan Tree of Hope. All donations received will help fund the Macmillan Palliative Care Service, based at Midhurst Community Hospital, supporting their patients and their families living with cancer and other life threatening illnesses in Midhurst and the surrounding areas including Milford, Witley, Haslemere, Hindhead, Liphook and Midhurst. Dedication forms will be available

from 1st October from The Pearson Unit, Midhurst Cottage Hospital, Midhurst, the Macmillan Charity shop in Midhurst or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/sussex and download a dedication form. Alternatively please email toh.midhurst@btinternet.com.

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Visit www.vantagepointmag.co.uk to see Jottings from our other areas online. To send in an entry, go online or email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk.

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Please enter online unless otherwise stated. Postal entries can be sent to us at the address given on page three.

WIN A COPY OF THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF: CELEBRATIONS Every year The Great British Bake Off celebrates anew the special place baking holds in our national identity. Millions tune in each week to see the latest line-up of amateur bakers don their aprons and head for the iconic marquee in the heart of the British countryside. Like a well-proven dough, Bake Off popularity has risen to great heights since it started in 2010.

This year The Great British Bake Off tie-in book is devoted to recipes that make a celebration, no matter how large or small the occasion. From family meals to birthday parties, homecooked teas to the big dates in the community calendar, nothing says celebration like a home-made bake.

The book contains the best of the baker’s recipes from the new series as well as delicious recipes from Mary and Paul. Published by Hodder & Stoughton in hardback, priced £20.

To win one of five copies, please answer the following question: Q: For how many years has The Great British Bake Off been going?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th October 2015.

WIN SUNDAY LUNCH FOR FOUR AT CAU, GUILDFORD Argentinian steakhouse CAU Guildford is offering one lucky person the chance to win a Sunday roast for four people. This buzzing, family-friendly restaurant brings a touch of Buenos Aires to the highstreet with Argentinean beef, handmade burgers, a weekend brunch menu and an extensive wine list.

Enjoy CAU’s infamous roast rump of beef, Yorkshire pudding, josper roast carrots, beef fat roast potatoes and onion rings served with red wine gravy.

The prize will include a starter, Sunday roast and dessert per person, drinks not included.

To win, please answer the following question: Q: From which country does CAU originate?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th October 2015.

CAU Guildford, 274 High Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3JL. Tel: 01483 459777. www.caurestaurants.com.

WIN TICKETS TO HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING The Haslemere Players October production is the award-winning Broadway musical, ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ - a toe-tapping comic gem, bristling with humour, romance and song, with an exhilarating musical score by Frank Loesser (of ‘Guys and Dolls’ fame). Showing at Haslemere Hall from Tuesday 20th – Saturday 24th October, (with a matinée on the Saturday), this hugely entertaining 1960s satire of American big business, office politics and all it holds sacred, follows the meteoric rise of the young and ambitious, J. Pierrepont Finch, who, with the help of a book of the same name, schemes, scams and climbs the corporate ladder from a lowly window cleaner to the Chairman of the Board at The World Wide Wicket Company...

Tickets are available from Haslemere Hall – 01428 642161 or online at www.haslemerehall.co.uk.

To win a pair of tickets to the VIP civic reception and show on Wednesday 21st October, please answer the following question: Q: What is the name of the leading man in ‘How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying’? a) D. Pierrepont Robin b) S. Pierrepont Bird c) J. Pierrepont Finch Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 12th October 2015.

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: By entering these competitions you agree to receive periodic emails from VantagePoint Magazine, Vantage Publishing Ltd and the originator of the competition you are entering. You can opt out of receiving these at any time and your data will never be passed on for use by third parties. The prizes are nontransferable and have no cash alternative. Only one entry per person per competition and prizes will only be sent to homes with a GU, KT and RH postcode.

Boo! 3 month membership

ÂŁ99

Membership includes: Gym, swim, classes and 3 Personal Training sessions

Contact us today.

Haslemere Leisure Centre

01428 658484 Farnham Leisure Centre

01252 723208 For more details visit:

The Edge

01428 644577 Cranleigh Leisure Centre

01483 274400 Godalming Leisure Centre

01483 410500

www.placesforpeopleleisure.org

Places for People Leisure Ltd in partnership with Waverley Borough Council.

Terms and conditions apply. Membership oďŹ&#x20AC;er only available 1st to 31st October 2015.

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