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Dorking & Villages • April 2016
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Woolbeding Gardens A modern masterpiece
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April 2016
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We have now started an online ‘blog’ which might be of interest to readers. This will contain some of the articles and charity profiles that don’t appear in all of our editions, new local features and more topical or time limited information that we can’t get into the magazines. You can view ‘Your Local Blog’ and ‘follow’ it by visiting our website at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk. Finally, I am really pleased that we have recently become media partners to the Godalming Run and the Guildford Fringe, which runs top class professional theatre and events across Guildford. As the local community magazine, we are delighted to be on board. Visit our blog for more information. Contact the editor: stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk
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Contributors: Julie Dansereau, Andy Goundry, Beth Otway, Gwyn Philips, Kirstie Smillie
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Print: Buxton Press Cover: Woolbeding Garden (National Trust)
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CONTENTS
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6 Jottings Your local community noticeboard
8 Fashion Woodie & Morris live on
13 Woolbeding Gardens A modern masterpiece 19 Alexander Dennis The final chapter
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22 AppArt 26 Local Business Profile Bourne Buildings celebrate their 21st anniversary
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JOTTINGS YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
JOTTINGS
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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 by the copy date shown below. Please note that space is limited and inclusion cannot be guaranteed.
We are already a quarter of the way through the year and spring has well and truly arrived. One of the main
events in April is the Queen’s birthday on 21st, however, the major celebrations seem to be taking place in May and June with Thanksgiving Services, Trooping the Colour and a massive street party in The Mall. Incidentally, The Duke of Edinburgh is 95 in June; I’ve got to say he really is pretty exceptional for his age. Anyway, there seems to be plenty going on, not least St George’s Day on 23rd April. Hope you enjoy the rest of the Easter Holidays. The Brigitte Trust and St. Catherine’s Hospice These two organisations would like to spread the word about their bereavement support group which is held at the United Reformed Church in West Street, Dorking RH4 1BS. Trained volunteers are on hand to support people at any stage of their bereavement – from weeks to decades – and the group meets informally on 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday of the month from 1pmm to 3pm. The loss of someone close to you is devastating and no timeline can be applied to grief so do get in touch with them, they are there to help you. Call Annette Phillips on 01293 447343. You can also find out more at www.stch.org. uk or www.brigittetrust.org. Mini Day at Brooklands Sunday 3rd April Brooklands Museum’s annual Mini Day will see over 1,000 examples of one of the most iconic British small cars which are expected to take the limelight at the historic site in Weybridge, Surrey. Mini owners wishing to put their cars through their paces can do so, with two opportunities to tackle the famous Test Hill at 11.45am and 3.15pm with around 30 cars in each session attempting the Hill in front of the cheering crowd. Those more interested in showing their cars off will be trying to catch the eyes of judges roaming the site to award prizes for the Best in Show, Best Classic and Best Modified Minis. The prize-giving
for this will be on the Clubhouse balcony at 2pm. Gates open to the public at 9am and the first 1,000 Minis to arrive will receive a complimentary event car sticker. Entrance fees are as follows: Adults £11; Seniors £10; Children (5-16 yrs) £6.00; Children Under 5 FREE; Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children), £30. For full details visit www.brooklandsmuseum.com or telephone 01932 857381. The 4D Theatre rides are approximately 8 minutes long each and are priced at £4 Adults, £2 Children. The half-hour Concorde Experience is £5 Adults/£3 Children. Children’s Easter ‘Create & Grow’ activities Monday 3rd to Friday 8th April 10am-5pm Squire’s Garden Centres are always good for holding interesting children’s activities during school holidays. You can Plant a Bunny Basket - Plant a beautiful bunny basket for your garden, cost £5.50. There is a Bunny Hunt - Find the names of the hidden bunnies around the centre. All correct entries receive a 100g Lindt chocolate bunny, cost £2. Activities take around 20 minutes each and are available at all centres except Chertsey. No need to book; simply turn up on the day. First come first served basis. Products available while stocks last. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. More information at www.squiresgardencentres.co.uk. CowParade Surrey The latest addition to CowParade Surrey has been unveiled. ‘Pilgrim’ is a collaboration between Kings College Guildford, Watts Gallery – Artists’ Village and professional illustrator, Becci Kenning. Taking inspiration from the history and exhibits
COWPARADE COMES TO SURREY! MAY - SEPTEMBER 2016 The World’s Largest Public Art Event
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Woodie & Morris Live On Kirstie Smillie meets the dog loving fashion gurus of Haslemere. The thing I love about boutiques is the lack of choice! It may sound a little strange but with less options you see just what you are looking for without the visual overload, as the buyers have done the hard work for you.
dresses in bold and ditsy prints at £69.95. For the purist, oversized silk t-shirts from Parisian label, Toupy, come in eight colours. Gorgeous as an evening layer worn with jeans or white linen trousers. Surprise pieces also catch your eye, including Anthropology inspired painted ceramics from £4.99, delicate beaded bracelets, perfect with spring prints at £7.50, and neat Bag in Bag faux leather bags from £29.99. Mel recently added a Dutch label, Cluse Watches, that specialise in large open face dials with interchangeable straps from £69.95.
At Woodie & Morris in Haslemere the calming layout and vision, designed by owners Mel and Clive Rollinson, offers a relaxing shopping haven. It was named after their two family dogs, and while sadly Woodie has passed away, Morris is proudly in residence most days. It all began with Mel’s PR and Clive’s retail background when they developed a wholesale business selling the first Australian Jelly sandal, Holster, to over 250 stockists nationwide. In 2009 this experience led them to start buying stock for their own venture which grew until the shop took over the business. Seven years on, Woodie & Morris is a thriving business with a loyal team of staff who put customer service at the top of the agenda, always friendly and never pushy. Mel is constantly looking for new brands that stand out from the crowd and she buys only small quantities of 6-10 pieces, so once they’re gone, that’s it. There is often an assumption that boutiques are a pricey alternative to the High Street, but these days with stiff competition from on-line retailers, independents need to span every customer’s budget. At W&M, Saint Tropez leggings sell for £14.99, and their top selling jean brand, Dr Denim, offers slim cut jeggings from £43. Dr D also offers a 36” leg, very popular for those who need a longer fit. Other top sellers include Masai Clothing Company for relaxed tunics in pretty prints and YaYa known for their great shirts.
“Clothes are about confidence - if you look good you feel good” If a label becomes too mainstream, Mel moves on to introduce something different and fresh, sourced from her regular trips around Europe. New brands include a Dutch favourite, Lien & Giel, who specialise in jersey 8
An on-going project is their own W&M cashmere collection. By cutting out the middle man, the prices are lower than known brands, with the asymmetric sleeved poncho at £145 and the boyfriend cardigan, £149. Both come in new seasonal colours including bubblegum pink, teal, denim blue and neutrals and are all machine washable. Footwear is growing fast and a popular Spanish label, Ska, offers suede ballet pumps at £60, similar to French Sole without the price tag. There are also Superga style French sneakers at £35 and Spanish espadrilles in leather and suede at £55. With more footwear brands arriving for spring, regular clients from teenage daughters to trendy grandmas will not be disappointed. With all the brands, the team are more than happy to chat with you on the telephone to discuss your needs and will send out choices by next day courier direct to your home. Now that’s service.
Woodie & Morris 7 Petworth Road, Haslemere GU27 2JB. T: 01428 641771. Email: mel@woodieandmorris.co.uk www.woodieandmorris.co.uk FIND OUT MORE
Kirstie Smillie is a Personal Stylist. Follow her style blog www.kirstiesmillie.com and email any queries to kirstie@kirstiesmillie.com or call 07773 234947. vantagepointmag.co.uk
FASHION
Above: Painted vessels, £4.99 Left: Wrap bangles, £7.50 Below: Leather lined sneakers, £35
Above: Cashmere brights for summer Below: Sleeved poncho, £145
Five top reasons to shop at Woodie & Morris 1. Free parking W&M will refund your £2 Pay and Display Parking Charge when you spend over £20, Don’t forget to bring the tear-off strip. 2. Full refunds W&M offer full refunds, within 2 weeks, if you are not totally delighted, you don’t have to settle for a credit note! 3. Loyalty rewards W&M will give you a £10 voucher when you have spent £100. 4. Doing their bit for the environment W&M will refund you 50p every time you re-use your W&M carrier bag. 5. Free courier delivery W&M offer free next day delivery for items ordered over the telephone.
Left: Prints by Lien & Giel Below: Pastel scarves from £12
“Our original ethos was to offer an affordable variety of unique lifestyle merchandise we still follow that today” Mel Rollinson, Woodie & Morris, pictured above.
April 2016
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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
of Watts Gallery in Compton, Becci worked collaboratively with the Year 10 Kings College pupils to create a design reflecting the work of Victorian artist G F Watts and his wife, designer Mary Watts. Kings College’s head of art Lucy Davis said “CowParade Surrey is a great initiative. We were keen to get involved as it’s been wonderful for our students to have the opportunity to work on a real live brief alongside a professional artist. I would encourage other schools to take part as in the 15 years I’ve been teaching there’s not been a similar opportunity – fantastic.” ‘Pilgrim’ will be available for the public to see in the grounds of Watts Gallery throughout the CowParade exhibition which runs during the summer. Visit www.cowparadesurreyhills.com to find out more. Alzheimer’s Society in Surrey People caring for someone with dementia are being offered the chance to learn more about the disease and how it affects the individual in a series of courses being run by Alzheimer’s Society in Surrey. The courses aim to help carers understand more about the condition and its symptoms, including the sort of behaviours that people may display which can at times be challenging. By understanding more about dementia, the courses help people to cope better with caring for the individual. The next free courses in Surrey are: Surrey Heath Wellbeing Centre, Windle Valley Centre, Park Street, Bagshot GU19 6AQ, starting on Monday 21st March and then 4th, 11th and 18th April. Guildford United Reformed Church, 83 Portsmouth Road, Guildford GU2 4BS, starting Friday 8th April, and then 15th, 22nd and 29th April. Surrey Heath Wellbeing Centre, Windle Valley
Centre, Park Street, Bagshot GU19 6AQ, starting on Monday 6th June, and then 13th and 27th June, 4th and 11th July. For more information on these courses and others available in Surrey, call 01403 213019. Surrey Hills Society Sunday 3rd April The Society offers a wide ranging programme of exclusive talks, visits and short, focussed walks. All of these are designed to increase the understanding and awareness of the special landscape and features which characterise the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This month on Sunday 3rd April they will explore Box Hill near Dorking on a free guided walk. On Tuesday 12th April they will host a talk by the AONB team’s Planning Consultant on current planning issues affecting the Surrey Hills. On Tuesday 19th April, there is a specially hosted event at Redhill Aerodrome - a 1930’s themed event including a talk and film about the history of the site, visit to the Air Ambulance and a lunch. Finally on Tuesday 26th April, there’s an exclusive private visit to the spectacular gardens of Dunsborough Park. Booking is essential to all their events. Further detail and more information on the Society can be found on www.surreyhillssociety.org or call 07530-949302. Live Opera and Ballet Screenings 6th, 10th and 25th April On the screen at Dorking Halls, there is Giselle from the Royal Ballet on Wednesday 6th April at 7.15pm, Don Quixote from the Bolshoi ballet on Sunday 10th April at 4pm, plus Donizetti’s
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TO FIND OUT MORE: t: 01293 447369 e: andyperry@stch.org.uk w: www.stch.org.uk Registered Charity No. 281362
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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD opera Lucia di Lammermoor (with its famous ‘mad scene’) from the Royal Opera on Monday 25th April at 7.15pm. Tickets for all three events are £17.50 and can be booked by calling 01306 881717. Horsley Garden Society Wednesday 6th April Horsley Garden Society holds flower and produce shows, meetings, lectures and visits that bring together those with an interest in gardening. New members and visitors are always welcome. They hold a plant sale which is open to the public, along with shows at which members compete for awards and trophies with their flowers, fruit and vegetables, homecrafts and handicrafts. The Spring Show and Supper is on 6th April for members and invited guests. All activities take place at the West Horsley Village Hall. Anyone interested in membership at the modest cost of £5 per annum should contact the Chairman, Roger Lindsay, email r.lindsay339@btinternet.com or the Membership Secretary, Terry Lazenby, email terrylazenby@ terrylazenby.plus.com. Watermill Jazz Every Thursday at 8.30pm There’s jazz every Thursday at the Aviva Social Club with a host of different performers. Entry is free and all musicians welcome. Tickets for jazz nights are £17-£20, call 07415 815784. Do note that in May, due to the proposed closure of the Aviva Social Club, Watermill Jazz will move to Betchworth Park Golf Club, Reigate Road, Dorking RH4 1NZ and will also change to Tuesday
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evenings. The first gig at the new venue, on Tuesday 3rd May, will feature Jacqui Dankworth and her husband Charlie Wood. Dorking Scrabble Club Thursday 7th April 7.30pm Spellbound! Are you? If so why not play the spelling game, Scrabble? The Dorking Scrabblers are a friendly group and will make you welcome whether you are a beginner or an expert. They play in the Roy Currie Room in the United Reformed Church, West Street, Dorking every Thursday. For details, ring Priscilla on 01737 767072 or David on 01306 889308. Dorking and District RSPB Did you know that Dorking has a thriving branch of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds? Joining the group is a great way to meet friendly, like-minded people in the area while learning more about birds and wildlife. They have monthly evening social meetings with illustrated talks, a quiz night or other activities; also a programme of walks at weekends and midweek. If you enjoy watching wildlife programmes such as Springwatch, just think how much more pleasure you will get from finding birds yourself and identifying them. New members are always welcome, whatever your level of birdwatching. Forthcoming midweek walks in April include the London Wetland Centre at Barnes on Wednesday 6th April, and Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve on Wednesday 27th April. A full programme of walks and evening meetings can be found at their website www.rspb.org.uk/ groups/dorkinganddistrict. For more information about
The Contemporary
Craft & Design Fair 2016
RHS Garden
WISLEY 28 April - 2 May 9am-6pm Daily
The UK’s most popular Craft Fair Held in floored marquees • GU23 6QB Admission to Garden also gives admission into Craft Fair Free Garden entry for RHS Members and one family guest
www.craftinfocus.com CIF_Wisley_92x147.indd 1
April 2016
T: 01622 747325 11/03/2016 11:29
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membership contact Dave Putland on 01372 454850 or email theputlands@aol.com. Birds Of Prey Weekend Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th April 10am to 3.30pm There is a lot happening at RHS Garden Wisley in April. One event that caught the eye is a Birds of Prey Weekend. Xtreme Falconry bring their magnificent Birds of Prey to Wisley for a weekend all about these amazing birds. There will be flying demonstrations at 11am and 2pm each day and the birds will be on their perches in between times. Free with normal Garden entry. All details on the website www.rhs.org.uk/wisley where you can also find details of all the other events going on including The Spring Craft Fair from 28th April to 2nd May. Ewhurst Horticultural Society Saturday 9th April They will be holding their Spring Show in Ewhurst Village Hall and it will be open to the public at 2.30pm. For full details contact 01483 272488 or email showsec@ewhursthortsoc.org. uk. More information at www.ewhursthortsoc.org.uk. Looking ahead, they will be holding a plant sale in the hall on Saturday 7th May from 10am to 12noon. Contact John on 01483 271812 or email dyball@btinternet.com. West Horsley Spring Litter Pick Saturday 9th April 10am Do your bit to help keep the village clean! Meet at West Horsley Village Hall where gloves, litter pickers, bags and high viz vests
Pet · Equine · Farm
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are issued. Two hours or so later enjoy coffee and cake at the Village Orchard at the junction of Ripley Lane and The Street. All welcome, young people and parents especially. Further details Cllr. Pamela Holt on 07909 963466. The National Auricula & Primula Society - Southern Section Saturday 9th April 2pm One of the country’s few remaining old Florists’ Societies will shortly be holding its Annual Spring Show at Great Bookham. It will be the 48th annual Primula Show, followed on Saturday, April 30th by the 132nd annual Auricula Show. Exhibitors from around the country will be displaying their show plants and it’s a real feast for the eye. Auriculas have been grown in the UK for some 400 years and this is a rare opportunity to see some of the finest of these traditional plants displayed to perfection. In view of increasing popularity, this year there will be new classes for Androsace at each of the shows. The shows at the Old Barn Hall, Great Bookham KT23 3PQ are open to the public from 2pm, admission is free and there will also be plant sales and refreshments. Dorking Concertgoers Saturday 9th April 7.30pm The Orchestra of the Swan appears at the Dorking Halls, in a concert presented by the Dorking Concertgoers. The programme includes two cello concertos - Haydn’s concerto in C and Vivaldi’s double cello concerto. The theme of the concert is ‘Arrivals and departures’ and this is reflected in Handel’s music for The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and Haydn’s
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Woolbeding Gardens A modern masterpiece
Quietly tucked away in the valley of the River Rother lies one of the most beautiful gardens in Sussex. Woolbeding is a modern masterpiece featuring colourful borders, a landscape garden and a collection of follies. Woolbeding Gardens is a world away from many of the grand historic gardens the National Trust cares for, and a visit here is more akin to a tour of a private garden. Special viewing arrangements mean that visitors book in advance, and are driven to the gardens twice a week via regularly running shuttle buses. This allows the gardens to retain a feeling of intimacy and tranquillity, and gives the visitors more of a ‘personal’ experience.
When you arrive, you will be welcomed into the Entrance Garden which was formally the old farmyard but now has a Mediterranean feel, with formal water pools surrounded by African lilies and olive trees.
Woolbeding is also unusual in that it is constantly changing. Experimentation with planting has given this garden a reputation as a 21st-century masterpiece that always has something new to reveal. A garden of two halves, the formal gardens are broken up into ‘rooms’, each with a different colour theme, from vibrant reds to pastel pinks, using a combination of rare and not-so-rare flowering plants. The quality of the planting means this is both a plantsman’s garden as well as a garden for anyone who enjoys gorgeous horticultural shape and colour.
Wander through the well garden and into the fountain garden where you’ll find one of Woolbeding’s hidden gems, and a mass of colour from rich pinks and splashes of blue to sunset oranges. The herb garden features a sundial at the centre and spiralling topiary balls alongside English apples climbing up the walls. In season, the beds are filled with lavender, thyme and plenty of offerings for the kitchen.
April 2016
At the heart of the garden are the West Borders. A palette of blue, white and pale yellow, roses, tulips and forget-me-nots carefully line the avenue, perfectly framing the view beyond the gates into the countryside. The walls are full of climbing roses and the borders are bursting with bloom in full season.
Beyond the garden, a gentle stroll over open pasture land provides idyllic views of the River Rother, and leads to all sorts of picturesque delights such as the quirky Tulip Folly, which is surrounded by glorious views, and space in which to picnic and relax. 13
as azaleas, hellebores and early flowering perennials. In summer, the stars of the show are the summer borders, fragrant roses, the potager, vegetable garden, and herb garden. In autumn, it’s the turn of the trees and shrubs in the Long Walk, as well as late flowering perennials. Woolbeding Gardens has an ‘orchid greenhouse’ in the garden, containing the incredible 40 year old collection of orchids lovingly amassed by Woolbeding’s previous tenants, benefactors and creators of the garden – Simon Sainsbury and Stewart Grimshaw. Surrounded by wildflowers and seating, the greenhouse contains over 120 varieties of orchid. Visitors can enter this exotic floral sanctuary during normal opening hours. Enjoy views of Woolbeding’s new folly, overlooking the garden from the parkland. Constructed of local Fittleworth stone and built in memory of Simon Sainsbury, it was designed by Richard Lincoln to complement the Tulip Temple which stands close to the main lawn.
Top: Herbaceous borders with rotunda beyond. Above: Meadow and folly (Both © National Trust, Chris Lacey). Right: Italian Fountain (© National Trust).
Take the steps down from the Tulip Folly and walk along by the River Rother. Here you’ll find meadows of buttercups, daises and foxgloves growing wildly into the sweeping landscape. Walk slowly along the hornbeam tunnel and admire the trees, twisting at every turn. Wander through the kissing gate and enjoy picturesque views over the river towards the long walk. Navigate your way along rustic woody paths to reveal a gothic summerhouse where you’ll find the River God grotto, waterfall, Chinese bridges, secret sculptures and hidden views. The 26-acre garden was the creation of Mr Simon Sainsbury and Stewart Grimshaw. With the help of notable garden designers Lanning Roper in the 1980s and the Bannermans in the late 1990s, Woolbeding has developed into the stunning contemporary creation you see today. Woolbeding is a private garden so visitors won’t find any plant labels. Instead, they’ll find friendly and knowledgeable gardeners who are always happy to answer questions and offer advice.
What are the key highlights each season?
A new 25m x 4m border has been created in the Greenhouse Garden, which will look glorious in summer. The border was designed in-house by the garden team and has been planted using a wide range of large leaf plants, as well as bright oranges, reds and yellows to complement the rest of the existing greenhouse garden. There is a ‘tropical’ bed featuring architectural plants with bold foliage, ferns and hostas, as well as a more herbaceous bed, and a gravel bed containing Aloes and Agaves. Woolbeding Gardens’ new orchard produces a riot of colour from April until June from 5,000 mixed bulbs planted in long grass such as narcissus, casmassia, eremurus and alliums. Mature fruit trees give instant impact – there are 18 apple trees of three different varieties and five trained conference pear trees, filling the orchard with fruit blossom in April and
VantagePoint Reader Offer Enjoy a free tea or coffee when purchasing any slice of cake or traybake at the Orchard Café at Woolbeding Gardens. Simply download an e-voucher from www.vantagepointmag.co.uk or present this to receive your complimentary refreshment. Offer valid from 7th-29th April 2016 only. This voucher is
not exchangeable for money and is non-transferable and Woolbeding Gardens has sumptuous displays throughout the The Surrey Hills Wood Fair. cannot be used with any other offer. year. In spring, enjoy bright splashes of bulb colour, as well
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May. A mill stone table lies in the centre of the orchard for people to sit around and picnic, or simply indulge in the sights and sounds of the orchard. This enchanting garden is a haven for horticultural enthusiasts, who can also pick up expert gardening tips at Woolbeding’s series of technical workshops. The enticing-sounding topics include an introduction to the world of orchids, how to create gorgeous summer containers, and propagation for beginners. All workshops cost just £18 including admission to the garden, and refreshments on arrival. If you want to sit down and indulge in the beauty of the garden around you, then the pretty 19th-century style French themed Orchard Café is the perfect place in which to do this. Providing a range of sandwiches, homemade cakes and barista coffee, its woodburning stove gives it a cosy feel on chillier days, whilst cool drinks and ice creams are the perfect treat for warm summer days. You’ll also find a pretty selection of gifts on offer, from gardening books to plants. These wonderful gardens can now accommodate coach groups of up to 55 people at a time, and you can book an introductory welcome talk for your group, from one of the senior members of the garden team. Whilst the cosy Orchard Café is on hand for delicious treats, and picnics are welcome in the garden, groups can also pre-book a luxurious afternoon cream tea. Bookings can be made on 0844 249 1895. FIND OUT MORE
Woolbeding Gardens re-opens on 7th April 2016 and as they are without a visitor car park, there is a complimentary park and ride scheme on hand to take you from nearby Midhurst and drop you directly outside Woolbeding Gardens. For more information or to pre-book your visit, call 0844 249 1895 or visit the website at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolbeding-gardens. April 2016
Hinton Ampner is an elegant country house whose garden is widely acknowledged as a masterpiece of 20th century design. The five hectare (twelve acre) garden unites a formal layout with varied and informal plantings in a series of outdoor ‘rooms’ in colours from cool greens, creams, and yellows, through to hot pinks, oranges and deep reds. Set in superb Hampshire countryside, there are magnificent vistas across parkland and the South Downs. Highlights of the garden include a pretty Tudor walled kitchen garden which provides fruit and vegetables for the tea-room, a dell, sunken garden with fine topiary, cherry orchard and lily pond. There’s even a little parish church in the gardens. Walk down the lichen-covered steps from the terrace and you’ll find yourself in ancient parkland littered with veteran trees. 1,600 acres of estate awaits your exploration, with dogfriendly walks through glorious beech woodland which in spring is full of native bluebells. Downloadable walks take you through the woods and parkland, telling stories of Civil War battles, war time evacuees, and ghostly hauntings. Discover trees that have been there since Tudor times, hug the huge gnarled oak that overlooked the battlefield of the Battle of Cheriton in 1644, and find out why the Victorians filled some of the parkland’s oaks with concrete, still seen today. Hinton’s planting is beautifully planned to give you scent and colour all year round. Highlights include apple and pear blossom in late spring, coupled with delicious-smelling narcissus and vibrant tulips. In June, visitors are met with a stunning display of irises and lupins, and neat vivid green rows of the first salad crops. In summer, the vegetable area is filled with runner and French beans, and the jewel-coloured stems of leafy chard. One of the stars of the show is the many varieties of exotic-looking dahlias – on show from early August right through to the middle of October. Come the autumn, huge orange pumpkins and squashes emerge, and apples and pears are ready to be harvested. Over 90 varieties of rose bloom at Hinton Ampner from June. A highly scented collection, it is well known for its repeat flowering, giving delicious fragrance and colour well into August. Hinton Ampner has an annual programme of events, from free guided garden walks every Tuesday afternoon and monthly beekeeping sessions, to live music and conservation days with Hinton’s housekeeping experts. There’s also an exciting range of outdoor activities for younger visitors, with themed trails, wild play fun including den building workshops and night-time camping! Hinton Ampner, near Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0LA. T: 01962 771305. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hinton-ampner
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Farewell symphony. The conductor, David Curtis, will also give a pre-concert talk at 6.45pm. Tickets are £14-29, call 01306 740619. Capel Tennis Club Saturday 9th April 2pm-4.30pm, Saturday 30th April 2pm4.30pm Have you ever thought about playing tennis, but weren’t sure where to start? Capel Tennis Club has 4 hard surface courts on the recreation ground which they use all year round. They are a friendly village club and have a number of social tennis sessions during the week and also have teams in the local league. Members range from 8 to 80 plus! A court is also available for public hire at £6 per hour, through Carters Garage. They are holding Free Family Open Sessions for anyone wanting to try tennis or find out more about the club on the above dates. For more information, have a look at their website www. capeltennis.org.uk.or call Dave Hall on 01306 711371. Capel Horticultural Society Spring Show Sunday 10th April 2pm Held in Capel Memorial Hall RH5 5LB, visitors will be delighted with exhibits of flowers, shrubs, vegetables, handicraft, cookery and photography entered by the young and not so young! For more information check out the Spring Show Schedule which can be found online at www.capelvillage.co.uk. Entry is £1 per adult, children under 13 free. A lovely family afternoon made all the better by tea and delicious homemade cakes! Exhibition on Screen Tuesday 12th April I thought you might like to hear about a new film called ‘Painting The Modern Garden - Monet to Matisse’. The film is part of the Exhibition on Screen series, which brings world-class art to the big screen. It will allow people outside of London to enjoy the wonderful exhibition of the same name, currently on at the Royal Academy until 20th April. As well as offering behind-the-scenes access to the exhibition, the film will transport viewers across Europe to the most beautiful artists’ gardens, exploring how painters including Monet, Liebermann and Nolde were inspired by their surroundings, and how this inspiration translated onto the canvas. The film will be released in cinemas nationwide on 12th April, and will be showing in the following cinemas in the area: Odeon Guildford - 12th April, 6.45pm. Dorking Halls - 28th April, 7.30pm. Farnham Maltings - 10th May, 7.30pm. Bingo! Tuesday 12th April 7pm Bingo is a popular regular feature in the calendar in Capel. On the second Tuesday of each month locals and visitors from further afield, young and old, gather for 8 lively games of bingo with cash prizes throughout, a raffle and a delicious cooked 2 course supper – all for £10 entry! The funds raised support Girl Guiding in Capel with various UK and overseas activities, Capel Cricket and Football Clubs and the new sports pavilion fund. They always welcome new players and hope to see you in the Village Hall from 7pm. Forthcoming dates for the diary are 12th April, 10th May, 14th June and 12th July. For more details, contact Anthony Birch on 01306 712696 or George Ede on 01306 713247. April 2016
SCHOOL GOVERNORS NEEDED FOR BRANTRIDGE SCHOOL Brantridge is a day and residential school for boys (6-13 yrs) with complex social, emotional and other difficulties and is one of three schools owned and managed by the RADIUS Trust. We are looking for a range of people and skills to join the governing body for our school. There are many transferable skills, from a variety of business and professional backgrounds, which would be an asset to our governing body. Our governors are enthusiastic for high quality school effectiveness and the best outcomes for the pupils on roll of the school. If you have an interest in the special educational needs of young people and the passion to help our school to provide the best education for our students, then we’d love to hear from you. The school is located near the village of Staplefield, near Haywards Heath. If you are interested in this voluntary role and can commit approximately one day per month to be a ‘critical friend’ for our School Leadership Team, then please don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more about this valuable and rewarding opportunity.
Tel: 01483 891100 E-mail: info@radiustrust.org 17
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West Horsley Parish Council Tuesday 12th April 8pm The monthly Parish Council meeting takes place at West Horsley Village Hall. Everyone welcome. For more information please see www.westhorsley.info or contact clerk@westhorsley.info. Polesden Lacey This is a very unusual jotting, but it might just be helpful to mention it. On the morning of Saturday 13th February 25 flagstones were stolen from the formal gardens at Polesden Lacey. The incident, which is classified as a heritage crime, occurred between 11.30pm on Friday night and 2.30am on Saturday morning. They were the original York flagstones that were part of the colonnade located at the end of Polesden Lacey’s ‘Long Walk’ - an original landscape feature installed in the early 19th century when author and playwright Sheridan owned the property. The stones are rectangular, approximately 1ft by 2ft. They are a pale grey in colour and worn by the weather and regular footfall. They are appealing for the help of anyone who saw a vehicle in the Bagden Farm area between 11.30pm and 2.30am, or who may recognise the stones being moved on, to contact Surrey Police by calling 121, crime number 45160012467. For more information about conservation at Polesden Lacey visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesdenlacey or call 01372 452048.
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Horsley Floral Decoration Group Tuesday 12th April 2pm The demonstrator on this date will be Christina Payne. The Horsley Floral Decoration Group (affiliated to NAFAS) is a friendly afternoon flower arranging club. They meet at East Horsley Village Hall on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (except August) care business that provides friendly, Lucinda Kalupka, & Registered Manager at 2 pm. They have a varied programme of demonstrators/ landon,reliable, Guildford we areNurse a family run trustworthy and competent speakers/in-house entertainment, trips, internal competitions committed providing people (optional), sales table, refreshments, etc. Visitors and new carerstowho genuinely care” with members are very welcome (February AGM Members only). Lucinda Kalupka, Nurse & Registered Manager From just an hour a day to 24 hour support le Carers who genuinely care” Do go along and join them (first visit free) for Fun, Flowers and Friendship. For more details call Beryl on 01483 831422 or e & Registered Manager Lucinda Kalupka, Nurse & Registered Manager email bjg317@virginmedia.com. Good hourly rates + paid holiday Rewarding career
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Wednesday 13th April You are invited to join Horsley DFAS when Peter Medhurst will be talking on ‘I am the very model: Parodies of Victorian Society in Gilbert and Sullivan’. Horsley DFAS meets at East Horsley Village Hall for lectures at 10.30am (coffee from 9.45) on the second Wednesday of each month except August and September. Visitors (£5) and new members welcome. For more information and the full programme phone Alma on 01372 451015 or visit their website www.horsleydfas.org.uk. Dorking Museum Exhibition Thursday to Saturday throughout April Dorking Museum’s new exhibition: ‘Dorking High Street: Chaos and Commerce’ focuses on Dorking’s historic High Street. It features oil and watercolour paintings from the Museum’s collection that are not normally on show, together with archive photographs displayed on a digital screen. As well as pictures of the annual Shrove Tuesday street football match, banned in 1897, the Museum is displaying for the first time an original
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However, the new owners kept the faith, and sales began to restart as confidence gradually began to be regained in the marketplace. Sales were helped by the fact that Transbus had started to refresh the bus product range before the business collapse, introducing the Enviro ranges of single and double deck buses, which became increasingly popular under the new owners.
Alexander Dennis – a new beginning Andy Goundry finishes his history of the iconic Dennis Brothers The collapse of Mayflower in 2004 left the Dennis Guildford operation in a dire state, with little in the way of assets, a number of unpaid and disgruntled suppliers, and a massive hole in the pension fund. The Administrators, Deloittes, made great efforts to sell the business as a going concern, however, although there was interest from companies in the USA and China as well as competitors nearer to home, they were unsuccessful until matters reached a point where closure was believed to be literally days away. At that eleventh hour, a saviour arrived in the form of a triumvirate of Scottish businessmen who took on the remnants of the Transbus operation and started the slow and painful process of rebuilding sales and, indeed the credibility of the business. At times, they must have felt that their new business, which they named Alexander Dennis, was a bottomless money pit, for as well as needing to honour many of the debts of Transbus, such as suppliers’ outstanding bills, they had to reinstate warranties on many of the more recent vehicles. April 2016
Images from top: One of Alexander Dennis’s latest innovations – the Virtual Electric bus. This takes diesel-electric hybrid technology a stage further by allowing the on-board batteries to recharge quickly from inductive charging pads built into the road surface along its route, meaning that the bus can operate for up to 80% of the time on pure electric power rather than diesel. (Photo: Alexander Dennis); One of the earliest, and high profile export wins for Alexander Dennis was of Enviro 500’s for Las Vegas. (Photo: Alexander Dennis); The name Dennis continues to be associated with fire engines through the products of John Dennis Coachbuilders, in this instance on a Scania chassis. (Photo: John Dennis Coachbuilders).
Alexander Dennis, known to all in the industry as ADL, set themselves bold targets for sales of the Enviro range, all the chassis for which were built at Guildford, and pursued aggressively sales opportunities in a number of export markets, notably North America. Although some of these were slow to materialise, ultimately they became very successful, albeit leading to significant changes in the workload of the Guildford plant, as we shall see later. ADL soon identified an opportunity for hybrid buses, and in conjunction with BAE Systems, who had developed successful hybrid bus technology in the USA, introduced hybrid versions of the Enviro 200 single decker and Enviro 400 double decker. Transport for London took a number of both models on trial against similar offerings from some of ADL’s competitors, with the Enviro 400 hybrids in particular performing exceptionally well. Further sales soon followed, both in London and increasingly in many other UK towns & cities, with over 700 sold to date. In the light of the successful operation of the Enviro 400 hybrids in London, it was a disappointment when a substantial contract for the New Routemaster hybrid buses was awarded to one of ADL’s competitors with a relatively unproven hybrid package. Whilst sales of buses were soon on a roll under ADL, unfortunately the same could not be said of the traditional Dennis market for fire engines. Traditionally, each Fire Brigade had their bespoke vehicle specification, resulting in manufacturers needing to produce 19
multiple variants, for example with different cab lengths. In a well-intentioned but ultimately disastrous attempt at simplifying matters, the Government had announced a policy called ‘Fire Buy’, whereby standardised appliance specifications were to be developed, for adoption by all Brigades. Unfortunately, this stopped the normal regular flow of orders in its tracks, as the Brigades waited to see the outcome of Fire Buy. This delay in orders was unwelcome to ADL, but in its own right would not have been catastrophic. The real problem came in the legacy of an early Mayflower cost-cutting action: they had seen little future in manufacturing Refuse Vehicles, and offloaded the Refuse Vehicle business in 1999. Ironically, the groundwork put in to developing the Elite, a new refuse collection chassis, whilst the company was in Mayflower ownership meant that Elite sales prospered post-Mayflower, and indeed the Dennis Eagle business, as it became known under its new ownership, never looked back. For a time, fire engine cabs for Guildford continued to be produced at the Dennis Eagle factory at Blackpool very successfully. As Dennis Eagles’ own production increased however, ad hoc production of fire engine cabs in small numbers became just too much of an inconvenience, resulting in the supplier advising ADL that they were unable to produce cabs in batch quantities of less than 25 identical units. This put ADL in an impossible position, since fire engine orders were typically received in much smaller quantities, and could involve many different cab variants. The ADL team fought a sterling rearguard action, first attempting Dennis Eagle to relax their stance, then seeking to get the cab manufactured by other specialist contractors although that proved prohibitively expensive. Even the feasibility of fitting cabs from other vehicle manufacturers 20
continued to prosper, with a number of new markets being developed around the world. In many cases, these markets demand local assembly, if only to avoid punitive import duties. A number of overseas manufacturing sites have therefore been established, principally in North America, Malaysia and China, with Guildford having little to do with assembling many of these chassis other than providing kits of parts for overseas assembly.
One of the many Enviro 400 hybrid double deckers which quickly became a familiar sight on London’s streets. (Photo: Alexander Dennis); A Dennis Elite refuse collection vehicle: a familiar sight on Britain’s roads, but no longer, alas, a product made in Guildford. (Photo: Dennis Eagle).
was investigated, however this option was also abandoned as it was felt that it would eliminate one of the key benefits of the Dennis fire product, namely the uniquely purpose-designed cab. The final measure was to attempt to amalgamate orders from the Brigades to achieve that 25 vehicle minimum order quantity, however this foundered because Brigade ordering schedules were driven by their budget timing, and could not be changed. Many Brigades regarded the Rapier and Sabre as the finest fire fighting appliances ever produced, renowned for their performance and handling, and were dismayed when the last Dennis Sabre chassis was quietly and unceremoniously produced in 2007. All was not entirely lost. A team led by John Dennis - the grandson of one of the founders of the Dennis empire - had previously bought out the fire body-building business from Dennis Specialist Vehicles in 1985, and started producing fire engine bodies for fitment to other manufacturers chassis as well as Dennis. Thus the ‘body-building’ element of Dennis still continues in Guildford, under the brand of JDC or John Dennis Coachworks. Back on the bus-manufacturing side of the business, sales have
Similarly, most UK-bound chassis are no longer built at Guildford. Instead, they are increasingly built at the bodybuilders themselves, using Guildford-supplied parts. Guildford’s main roles today, therefore, are to oversee the development of prototype chassis builds of new models, of which there are many, and also carrying out low-volume and specialist chassis assembly work. As far as those new models are concerned, the company continues to make inroads into a number of new markets, for example Mexico, as well as introducing a number of innovative new models such as the Virtual Electric bus. And what of the future? In recent months there has been press speculation that Alexander Dennis may shortly be sold, with the most likely new owners being a Chinese company. Hopefully, though, any new owners will still want to keep the wealth of expertise of the Guildford staff. For the present, of course, whilst the focus has changed significantly, the vehicle building traditions started in Guildford by those two Dennis brothers 120 years ago are still very much alive & well today. THE AUTHOR Andy Goundry spent his working career in vehicle design and development, with almost twenty years in senior engineering and management roles at Dennis. Since retirement he has continued a close involvement with vehicles, writing for specialist magazines and websites, as well as producing his own motoring website www.autonews.uk.com.
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Local artists from the Dorking area feature strongly in AppArt’s Easter Exhibition For the last 20 years, Evelyn and Gwyn Phillips have been organising successful major art exhibitions and sculpture trails in South West Surrey. Their 21st Exhibition will be held at Prior’s Field School, Godalming in April. Over the years the exhibition has attracted artists from all over the South East and much further afield. AppArt’s exhibitions always deliberately provide an eclectic collection of 2D and 3D work to inspire visitors and in particular youngsters interest in the creative arts. Dorking and the surrounding area is home to a whole range of talented artists who exhibit with AppArt. There are several well-known sculptors including Mary Kaun-English who produces beach fired ceramic sculptures where the outcome is unpredictable but creates some aesthetically pleasing and unusual results. Terri Smart specialises in ceramics and her work entered this year has a flora and fauna theme. Adam Aaronson and his glass foundry in West Horsley have received national attention in a recent BBC documentary on glass making. He is a painter in glass and his landscape bowls and the recent ‘bark series’
show his affinity with nature and great skills and flair in this challenging medium. Helen Tyndale Biscoe paints in acrylic and her art reflects her impressions of the surrounding countryside and landscapes. Peter Elliot works in watercolour and paints scenes wherever his travels take him. The real beauty and attraction of watercolours is demonstrated with his exquisite picture of the Saxon Church at Albury. AppArt’s exhibitions have always been a community event and local schools and adult groups have been encouraged to visit and always receive a warm welcome. Tinx Newton, the Arts Editor of Surrey Life, a great enthusiast and supporter of the arts in Surrey, will open the Exhibition on Saturday 2nd April. The Exhibition & Sculpture Trail will be open every day from Saturday 2nd April to Saturday 16th April between 10am to 4pm. Admission is free and visitors will be able to view about 500 indoor exhibits and also explore the Gertrude Jekyll inspired gardens and see over 100 large sculptures in a tranquil and picturesque setting.
Images clockwise from below: Peasfull by Terri Smart; Valley by Helen Tyndale-Biscoe; Landscape Bowl by Adam Aaronson; Advocate by Mary Kaun English; The Saxon Church in Albury by Peter Elliot; Three bark bottles by Adam Aaronson
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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
football standard (with replica balls) from this event. The Museum is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10am to 4pm at 62 West Street, Dorking RH4 1BS. For more details, visit www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk. Enquiries to admin@ dorkingmuseum.org.uk or phone 01306 876591.
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Dorking & District U3A Wednesday 13th April 2.30pm At the next monthly meeting, Roger Shaw will give a talk on the Oregon Trail and Wild West legends Buffalo Bill, General George Custer and Wild Bill Hickok. The meeting is in the Christian Centre beside St Martin’s Church in Dorking. Admission is free. For more information on the range of activities offered by the Dorking U3A visit www.dorkingu3a.org.uk. Capel Choral Society Thursday 14th April The Society is now into the last couple of rehearsals before its big day at the Leith Hill Musical Festival on 14th April. The Choir, small in number compared with some of its rivals in the morning competitions, is making the most of the set music which this year suits a fairly small choir. They will be performing The Haydn Harmoniemesse, the Serenade to music by Vaughan Williams and a number of other smaller works. The Choir will be getting rather nervous as 14th April approaches, but also looking forward to this great occasion of music making, although with some sadness too as it bids farewell to Brain Kay, the Festival Conductor of the last 21 years. It is not too late to book tickets for the first two nights of the Festival, but the last night (16th April) which includes a performance of Verdi’s dramatic Requiem is now sold out. You can order tickets through Capel Choral Society’s Ticket Secretary, Yvonne Allmond – contact her on 01403 269884, or email yvonneallmond@aol.com. For more information about Capel Choral Society and how to join, contact the Secretary, Ian Moir at ianmoir20@yahoo.com or call him on 01306 889817. See also the choir’s website, www. capelchoralsociety.com. Leith Hill Musical Festival 14th to 16th April 7.30pm This year’s Leith Hill Festival is the final one for Brian Kay, the festival conductor for the past 21 years, so it will be a very special occasion for him and also for the hundreds of singers who have enjoyed rehearsals and concerts under his baton. For his final three festival concerts, the main works are: Haydn’s Harmoniemesse and Vaughan Williams’ beautiful Serenade to Music (14th), and Schubert’s Mass in G and Purcell’s Come Ye Sons of Art (15th). On the last evening (16th), as a grand finale, the choirs will sing Verdi’s magnificent and monumental Requiem. If you haven’t already got your tickets for the last night, I’m sorry but it was sold out long ago! For the other nights, call 01483 240093, ticket prices are £9 - £22. Beare Green and Newdigate Choral Society Friday 15th April You may notice that there is quite a bit about The Leith Hill Festival, but it really is one of the big events of the year in the area. BGN’s day is on 15th April so you still have time to book your tickets through the LHMF booking office, boxoffice@lhmf. co.uk where there is no booking fee and more of the profit April 2016
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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
is directed to the festival fund. This year BGN will be singing Schubert’s Mass in G, Purcell’s ‘Come Ye Sons of Art’ plus other pieces. Their ‘own choice’ this year is something a bit different ‘Libertango’ by Astor Piazzolla. As they were overall winners at the festival last year they really have some hard work to do to try and retain at least some of their trophies. After one week off the choir will start rehearsals for their summer concert in June in Beare Green Village Hall. For details of joining the choir or future choir events ring the secretary on 01306 631115. Family Saturday Dorking Museum Saturday 16th April Pop down to Dorking Museum in West Street, Dorking and join in their Family Event. Come looking at local paintings and photographs. Can you tell where they are? How do you know they are old? Try your hand at drawing your own picture of Dorking. It’s suitable for families with children up to age 10. No need to book, just drop in anytime from 2pm to 3.30pm (they close at 4pm). All materials provided but children must be accompanied. This activity is free with museum entry but a donation would be very welcome to cover costs. Enquiries to admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk or call 01306 876591. Also, there is more information at www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/ events/family-activities-at-dorking-museum/. Vintage Jive Every Thursday 8pm to 10pm Here’s a chance to learn authentic American Jive. They teach basic 50’s rock and roll and American 40s / 50s American G.I. style. (Not Lindy Hop or modern jive). Lessons are on Thursdays
in Forty Foot Hall (Mencap), Forty Foot Road, Leatherhead KT22 8RS. (right to the end of Forty Foot Road) You will be able to learn to jive to the music of the era. The two hour session includes lesson, practice time and free tea and coffee. Individual help given if needed. All welcome. Fun and friendly environment. The cost is only £7 on the door, no course fees to pay upfront. Call 07854 621522 for more information or email vintagejive@hotmail.co.uk. Songs of Praise Saturday 16th April 7 to 9.30pm West Horsley Methodist Church, next to West Horsley Village Hall will be holding their own Songs of Praise, do go along and enjoy an evening singing your favourite hymns-old and new. This is an opportunity to celebrate The 140th Anniversary of West Horsley Methodist Church. On Sunday 17th April at 10.30am the Secretary of the Methodist Conference, The Rev Gareth Powell, will take the Chapel Anniversary Service, which will be followed by a soup and dessert lunch. For more details phone 01483 282474. Dorking South Street Caves Take a trip into history, deep underground! Dorking’s famous South Street Caves re-opened for the season at the end of March. Group tours (up to 12 adults or youths) can be arranged by appointment, to take place between the hours of 9am and 8pm. Group tours are £60 adult groups, £50 youth groups, £30 youth charity organisations. This season, they will also be running Open Days for individual bookings, £6 per person. Their next Open Day will be on Saturday 28th May (tours at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm). Booking essential. For details, visit www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/south-street-caves-2/ or email Graham Speed on caves@dorkingmuseum.org.uk. Free Computer Courses If you are over 55 and live in the Mole Valley area, you can use Age Concern’s free computer courses based in either Dorking or Leatherhead. The course runs once a week for 6-8 weeks with the option of additional weeks to reinforce and build on what you’ve learned. Topics covered will include: internet browsing, basic keyboard and mouse skills, using an iPad/Tablet, setting up and using your own email or skype accounts, and how to shop on the internet as well. Those who already own a laptop or an iPad/Tablet are encouraged to bring it to learn on, but computers will be provided as well – it’s up to you! Before going
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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD to the course, you must register your interest by telephoning 07442 017169 or 01306 899104 or by emailing them on info@ ageconcernmolevalley.org.uk. Book Sale Saturday 16th April 10am to 1pm There’s a really good book sale, not to mention coffee and cake at St Barnabas’s Church on Ranmore Common RH5 6SP. Hexachordia – The Food of Love Saturday 16th April 7pm Friends of St Mary Magdalene present Hexachordia, a trio of talented and popular professional musicians who perform expertly crafted early music programmes. They are performing The Food of Love, a special programme of music and words to mark the 400th Anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare in April 1616. Hexachordia aims to make their music accessible to as wide an audience as possible, especially those with little knowledge of music of the pre-Baroque era. The concert will be at St Mary Magdalene Church, South Holmwood, Dorking RH5 4JX. Tickets are £10 (children under 13 free) contact Pam Chiverton on 01306 888922 or email pam.chiverton@ btinternet.com for tickets and further information. The Whips Wednesday 20th to Saturday 23rd April Their next production is the very popular play by Alan Ayckbourn, Absurd Person Singular. Meet three couples in their three kitchens on the Christmas
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Eves of three successive years. The ‘lower class’ but very much up and coming Hopcrofts are in their bright new, gadget filled kitchen anxiously giving a little party for their bank manager and his wife and an architect neighbour. Next there are the architect and his wife in their neglected, untidy flat. Then the bank manager and his wife in their large, slightly modernised, old Victorian style kitchen. Running like a dark thread through the wild comedy of behind the scenes disasters at Christmas parties is the story of the advance of the Hopcrofts to material prosperity and independence and the decline of the others. It is a thoroughly entertaining play; you will have a great evening. The Whips are performing at the West Horsley Village Hall and you can get tickets from www. horsleyamdram.ticketsource.co.uk and also from Wills and Smerdon in East Horsley. Ukulele Orchestra Thursday 21st April 8pm The very popular Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain returns to Dorking Halls. Tickets are £26.50, call 01306 881717. Dorking Friends of Cancer Research UK Friday 22nd April Look out for their volunteers collecting at 6 points in Dorking high street for an hour each for their Flag Day. Please support the team with a smile and donation as you pass by or pop in to say hello at their base for the day in Hart Scales and Hodges at 159 High Street.
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April 2016
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LOCAL BUSINESS FOCUS
Shed loads of fun at Bourne Buildings on their 21st anniversary
In a continuing series helping to promote some of our great local businesses, Marcus Atkins talks to this iconic Farnham based company One of the most famous sites in Farnham is the Shepherd and Flock roundabout; it’s recognised as perhaps the largest inhabited roundabout in the UK, and anyone who has driven around this large road island will most certainly have noticed Bourne Buildings on the western outside edge of this landmark. This family run business celebrates its 21st anniversary this month, it was started up by husband and wife Denis and Debbie McKay back in April 1995. They were previously running a successful local milk round business since the couple had moved to the area in 1989, but on a chance visit to the Bourne Mill Antiques centre, an opportunity arose to develop the site adjacent to it, which had already begun to sell some sheds and a variety of stone ornaments. Soon after Denis and Debbie took over the site, they gained a reputation for their amusing and witty banners advertising their sheds which could be seen by passing motorists. One of the early ones even gained press attention at the time during the summer of 1996, when their banner read ‘P REG SHEDS COME IN FOR A TEST DRIVE’, which tied in with the launch of the new P registration cars which were available to buy from August 1st 1996. 26
For the 21 years since, there have been numerous banners which have amused and entertained passers-by, often seasonal slogans, notably ‘A shed is for life, not just for Christmas’, ‘Easter sheds - plain or milk’, ‘Now is the winter of our discount sheds’. They have even felt the nation’s desire to free the Weatherfield One, the Coronation Street character Deirdre Barlow who was wrongly imprisoned in 1998; the Bourne Buildings banner of the time was ‘Shed a tear for Deirdre’, brilliant! The Bourne Buildings site itself is quite incredible. From the road you’d never guess that there was such a huge selection of sheds, summerhouses and offices, garages, playhouses and gazebos that can be viewed, which makes choosing the right construction much easier than simply viewing from a printed brochure or looking at an image on a screen from a website. A regular comment from customers is ‘I’ve been driving past for vantagepointmag.co.uk
years, didn’t quite realise how many sheds you had on display, let alone the picturesque setting including a 100 foot lake.’ Bourne Buildings is truly a family affair, the McKay’s eldest son Craig joined the business full time 10 years ago, although he was regularly on site as a boy; he even sold his first shed at the age of just 12. Craig explained that the company’s values ‘best service, best selection, and best prices’ is an ethos which is simple and very effective. Craig tells me that Bourne Buildings have always been keen to source the best quality products from UK companies, something else of which they are proud. At the time Craig joined the family business in 2005, Bourne Buildings was open seven days a week, but the decision was taken then to close on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in order for them to enjoy their business relationship, but to maintain a healthy family relationship outside of work. So please remember when wanting to view their massive selection of buildings and ornaments, don’t visit Tuesdays or Wednesdays. They are however open both Saturdays and Sundays, and every Bank Holiday Monday and Good Friday. Despite the market changing over recent years, whereby people turn to the internet for the very best prices, Bourne Buildings have decided actively not to publish prices of their products on their website. Craig continues to explain to me that they don’t struggle with competing with other sheds online; they pride themselves that they are cheaper when comparing the products like-for-like. “An image and a price is not enough information in order to judge the quality or value for money, so people come to us to see the sheds in the flesh”. Bourne Buildings have always been pioneers in this field; they are the ones who push product development with their suppliers, whether it’s double-glazed and insulated garden offices, or whether it’s advising the producers to manufacture buildings that are no higher than 2.5 metre high, so that their customers can have the timber building in their garden without requiring planning permission. They continually pass on new customer requirements up the chain to the April 2016
Left: One of the early (and now famous) banners. Top: An aerial view of the site. Above: Just some of the items available for sale
manufacturers, and it’s this feedback that means that Bourne Buildings regularly win the country’s ‘Top Site’ award from pretty much all their suppliers. The McKays feel that the quality and sheer exhaustive selection of timber buildings on display at their site cannot be explained in words or by viewing their website. You simply must get yourselves down to the Shepherd and Flock Roundabout to see for yourself, and you can also have a chuckle as you see their latest amusing banner. FIND OUT MORE
Bourne Buildings, 39-43 Guildford Road, Farnham, GU9 9PY Tel: 01252 718481 / 725733. www.bournebuildings.co.uk. Open 9.30am - 5pm Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday
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GARDENING
With Beth Otway
Gourmet Vegetables mangetout pea, but in all honesty any variety of pea would be suitable. Just cut the tops off your plants when they reach about 12cm (5 inches) and wait for them to re-grow. Pea shoots can easily be grown in a window box or container.
I love April, it’s such a super month in the garden and there are so many beautiful vegetables that you can sow now. Did you know that it’s just as easy to grow a purple coloured carrot, as it is to grow an orange one? Carrots come in an array of colours – white, yellow, red, purple and many shades in between. Each variety has a slightly different taste and texture. I think they are all delicious and they look fantastic mixed together on the plate. Conveniently, many seed companies sell ‘Rainbow Mix’ packets of carrot seed. Carrots are very easy to grow, but you do need to take steps to avoid their nemesis, the carrot fly. By covering your carrot seedlings with Enviromesh, you will prevent the carrot fly from laying its eggs near your carrots.
Kohlrabi is an absolutely delicious vegetable, often hard to find in the shops, but it’s easy to grow in the garden. For some years now I have been growing a variety called ‘Gigant’, available from Real Seeds, which is an amazing variety. It’s delicious harvested at a much larger size than traditional kohlrabi varieties, which you don’t want to allow to grow much larger than a golf ball, or they become rather tough and woody. I’ve regularly eaten Galia melon sized ‘Gigant’ and have found it to be delicious and very tender. Later sowings of ‘Gigant’ are great for storing over winter. Almost instant gratification can be found if you sow coloured radishes, which will be ready to eat just a few weeks after sowing. Radish seed can be sown direct into the soil or in containers. If you’re sowing a row of parsnip seeds, sow some radish seeds in the same row – parsnips take a long time to germinate, whereas your radish seed will have germinated, been harvested and eaten before the parsnip requires the space. Do purchase new parsnip seed each year, this is one variety of vegetable seed that doesn’t remain viable for long and cannot be stored – why not share a packet with your friends or neighbours? There are many other gourmet vegetables that you can sow now: rapini, salsola soda, kale, salsify, scorzonera, amaranth, shallots, quinoa and pak choi. That should keep you all busy!
Globe artichokes are glorious to grow! Yes, they take up quite a bit of room, but nothing beats freshly harvested artichokes cooked until tender. ‘Gros Vert de Laon’ is a great tasting variety, as is ‘Imperial Star’, which produces a great crop of large heads even in its first year. Don’t forget that you can eat the inner part of the stem of the artichoke as well as the beautiful globes. Mangetout peas are super plants to grow. I enjoy growing varieties such as ‘Shiraz’ with its attractive purple pods, and the pretty, yellow-podded ‘Golden Sweet’, which is sweet and tender and probably my favourite. Both of these varieties produce easy to spot pods – a real bonus when you’re harvesting, and attractively coloured flowers. For pea shoots, my preferred variety would be ‘Oregon Sugar Pod’ which is marketed as a
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Above left: Globe artichokes. Right: Kohlrabi. Images by Beth Otway.
FIND OUT MORE
For more tips, advice and ideas of other lovely jobs that you could do in your garden or at your allotment this month, more ideas of seeds that can be sown now, and much more besides, please visit my website www.pumpkinbeth.com. vantagepointmag.co.uk
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ADVERTORIAL 29
The wonder of maple by Julie Dansereau The maple sugar season has just finished in the south and eastern part of Québec. For the last two weeks of March, maple syrup producers have returned to their rustic wooden cabins and have been harvesting the sweet maple water. Once again, the boiling process has given the woodlands a unique aroma, the one of maple syrup. Miss Maple has selected for you three recipes to enjoy the wonderful flavour of maple syrup and show that it doesn’t just go on pancakes! There is no better way to celebrate the return of spring. Miss Maple, who is based in Godalming, would love to hear about your cooking expertise with maple syrup. Please visit Miss Maple’s website at www.missmaple.co.uk to leave your comments and to find out more about the making of maple syrup.
Green leaf salad with maple-glazed walnuts, apple and pancetta This salad is a lovely mix of texture and flavours. Ingredients For the maple-glazed nuts (a delicious snack on their own): 60ml maple syrup, 1tbsp butter, 80g walnuts or pecan nuts. Vinaigrette (will dress any salad you like): 60ml mayonnaise, 3tbsp olive oil, ½ garlic clove finely chopped (optional), 2tbsp cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, 1tbsp maple syrup, 1tsp Dijon mustard or English mustard, black pepper. Green leaf salad: ½ red onion finely sliced (optional), 1 bag of 100g mixed green salad (rocket, spinach, watercress, etc.), 1 big apple or pear peeled and finely sliced, 4 slices of pancetta. Serves 4 Method: 1. Lay a tray with parchment paper, put aside. 2. In a small pan, bring to boil maple syrup and butter and cook for 2 minutes. Add nuts; continue cooking while stirring with a wooden spoon for about 5-7 minutes, until sugar crystals are forming on top of nuts then remove from heat. 3. Pour immediately on the tray and using a spatula spread the mixture quickly and evenly. Salt lightly, if you wish, and let cool completely (that should take 15-20minutes) then break the nuts with a knife on a wooden board. 30
4. Put the onion slices in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes to soften them and let dry on kitchen paper. 5. Cook the pancetta in a frying pan, until golden brown, and let cool on kitchen paper before breaking them in pieces. 6. Make the vinaigrette by mixing all the ingredients in a jar until smooth and creamy. 7. Slice the apple or pear just before serving. 8. In a big salad bowl or individual ones, mix gently the salad leaves with the slices of onion. Pour vinaigrette over and top with slices of fruit, maple-glazed nuts and pieces of pancetta. vantagepointmag.co.uk
RECIPES Maple-glazed salmon fillets Surprisingly for many, salmon and maple syrup go very well together. Try a simple drizzle of maple syrup over your cooked salmon and voilà! Ingredients 240g salmon fillets, 2tbsp maple syrup, 2tsp reduced salt soy sauce, 1tbsp fresh grated ginger, ½ small red chilli finely chopped, 1tbsp sesame oil, 1tsp sesame seeds. Serves 2 Method: 1. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients except the fish fillets. Pour the marinade in to an oven proof dish. 2. Add fillets skin-side up and marinate for 15 minutes 3. Preheat oven to 200ºC. 4. Simply turn fillets flesh-side up and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cook in oven for 12 minutes.
Maple syrup tart There are probably as many maple syrup tart recipes as there are families in Québec! Rich and velvety, this traditional dessert is the best way to enjoy the maple syrup season. Growing fans of maple syrup, this recipe is for you! Ingredients 250ml pure maple syrup, 4tbsp corn flour, 4tbsp brown sugar, 375ml double cream, pinch of salt, pie shell or handmade/bought pastry put on 20cm pie dish. Serves 6-8 Method: 1. Preheat oven 180ºC. 2. Put all the ingredients in a pan, mix using a whisk, and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir for 5 minutes until it thickens. Let cool for 10 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, cook blind the pie shell for 10 minutes then pour syrup mixture in and cook for 15-20 minutes. Let cool completely and serve with ice cream and fresh berries. Enjoy! April 2016
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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
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Dorking & District Preservation Society Friday 22nd April 7pm If you take an interest in the heritage, environment and community of Dorking and the surrounding villages, you are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Dorking & District Preservation Society and hear about their activities. These encompass review of local planning applications, Dorking Museum, the South Street Caves, Dorking Local History Group and the Best Development Competition. The Society also supports MVDC in the Hope Springs Eternal project and the development and promotion of the Deepdene Trail. They welcome new members who support its aims, can take part in its activities and make a contribution to the area’s future. The meeting will be held in the Main Hall of the United Reformed Church in West Street. For more information, visit www. dorkingdps.org.uk or contact Jean Pearson on 01306 711043 or email jeanosbrooks043@btinternet.com.
Dorking Bowling Club Saturday 23rd April 11am to 4pm The club warmly welcomes prospective new members at its Open Days. Their superb green and club house are tucked away at the end of Drill Hall Road, Dorking with its own car park. They are a friendly club and place equal emphasis on relaxed, social bowls as well as competitive league matches. On each Open Day they are offering a range of bowls activities from sessions with a member of the Coaching Team to target games and other fun events. Free tuition is then provided over several weeks and so if you have never played the game before or are unsure about your ability, lots of help is at hand. During the winter months, when the bowls season has ended, there is a full social calendar based in the licensed club house. If you can’t make this date, the club is holding another open day on Saturday 4th June. If you have any questions and would like to contact them, phone either Peter on 01306 640553 or Lynne on 01306 883689.
Race Night Saturday 23rd April 7pm Leatherhead Rotary are holding a Race Night at St Mary’s Church Hall, Fetcham KT22 9AZ. The cost is £12.50 per person which includes a hot supper (vegetarian option available). There is no bar so it’s a BYOB night, (Bring your own booze!). Proceeds will go to two very deserving international charities. If you can’t make the evening but would like to sponsor a race, £25, or donate a prize for the raffle, please make contact. Tickets and information to Gary Zabel on 01372 800810 or email garyzabel@ntlworld.com.
Big Breakfast Saturday 23rd April 8.30 to 11.30am The Newdigate Friends of St. Catherine’s Hospice are planning to provide a ‘Big Breakfast’ in Newdigate Village Hall. The cost for a full English breakfast plus toast, marmalade, tea and coffee will be £7.50. There will also be a prize draw and St. Catherine’s sale goods. All profits to the Hospice.
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01252 718481 / 725733 www.bournebuildings.co.uk 39 – 43 Guildford Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9PY
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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Old Barn Hall in Bookham. There’ll be something for everyone of all ages and abilities, whether you are taking the first step towards getting fit, looking for inspiration to eat healthier food, wanting to try a new sport, or simply to keep active and look after your own health. There will be demonstrations and taster sessions as well as stalls full of information and advice. They aim to raise money for charity too, and there’ll be some great raffle prizes to be won. They want everyone in the community to go along and join in the fun, so they are offering not only free entry, but also a free day pass to a local gym and health club for every individual or family attending the event. For more details, please contact communitymad.rotary@gmail.co.uk or call Michelle Howes on 07743 430889. The Horsley & Clandon Society of Arts Wednesday 27th April 8pm Their next meeting in East Horsley Village Hall, will feature artist, Ann Wilkinson giving a demonstration of Still Life in soft pastels. The following month on 25th May at 8pm in the same venue artist Ronnie Ireland will be demonstrating ‘How to Develop Ideas and Techniques’. There is a bit of a buzz in the air as this is the Society’s 50th Anniversary year. Guests are very welcome (£4). It is hoped that after attending a meeting or two, guests may wish to become members. Unusually for an Art Society, members do not have to be painters themselves but just share an interest in all aspects of art. Membership subscription is £20 single or £30 a couple per year. Refreshments are available and there is ample parking. For further information about the Society contact Mrs Robyn Cormack (Secretary) on 01483 224063.
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The Heath Players Thursday 28th Friday 29th April 7.30pm The Players present ‘The Last Bread Pudding and Other Culinary Delights’ featuring ‘The Last Bread Pudding’, a comedy by N J Warburton. The evening consists of a fish and chip supper followed by an entertainment on the theme of food! It takes place at Box Hill Village Hall and tickets cost £12, including fish and chip supper (a vegetarian option will be available, please advise when booking). Call the Box Office on 01306 887159 or email destination.caroline@btinternet.com. RHS Wisley Thursday 28th April to Monday 2nd May There’s a Contemporary Craft & Design Fair at RHS Wisley with around 160 exhibitors, so no small affair! It will be open from 9am to 6pm.
Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance This great organisation is appealing for local groups, clubs, societies and other organisations to book a talk about the life-saving work of the charity as it takes delivery of a new helicopter. The air ambulance has launched a new presentation including information about how the helicopters are tasked, the aircraft, types of missions, the crew, blood transfusions and night flying. If you would like to book a talk, please call Fundraising Support Assistant, Lucy Waterson on 01622 833833.
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WALK - Tilford to Elstead This walk has an almost six mile initial section which has in it a strenuous climb but it will reward you with some spectacular views. The second section is much shorter and more or less flat. The description was submitted by Guildford Rambling Club who will be walking it in May (see guildfordramblingclub.org.uk). You are welcome to walk it with them.
The walk 1. Cross the bridge and, on the other side, take the footpath to the left. After a level start, climb a little to a T-junction with a lane. Turn left and the lane quickly ends and continues as a track. After 250 yards fork right on a red arrow permissive path. Follow this through, ignoring lefts and rights, to a road. Go straight across to continue forward along a track for about 1/3 mile to a T-junction. Here take the red arrow option left. Now walk ¼ mile to a busy road. Turn right and walk uphill along the road for 300 yards to find a footpath left, at the side of the entrance to Keepers Cottage Stud. Follow this as it rises to pass Yew Tree Cottage and then the two Waverley Cottages and reaches another road. 2. Go straight across to join a bridleway and follow it left and then left again. Walk through to Crooksbury Hill car park. Now take the leftmost option from the back of the car park to start the long and increasingly steep climb up onto Crooksbury Hill. Stop at the viewpoint. It will have been worth the effort!
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Afterwards, with your back to the view, head right, off of the other side of the top and steeply down. Trend a little left to reach a point where a path strikes off right and runs alongside a fence. Follow this through to reach a road directly opposite the start of footpath along a wide track. Follow this for about 1/3 mile to a T-junction with a wide track. Turn right and walk out into the Crooksbury Conservation Area. Now walk for about 3/4 mile along the wide track, at one point passing out of the conservation area then passing a few houses and eventually reaching a road. 3. The Donkey PH is on the other side of this road but you will not reach it because, some 30 yards before the road, at a 3-way signpost, is a footpath left. Take this and climb up to emerge at the end of a drive. Continue forward to exit through the gate of Three Barrows (adorned with eagles) onto Seale Road. Go straight over and along the path opposite to reach another road. Again go straight over, heading towards Broomfield Cottage but then turning left onto a footpath in a field. Cross the field half-right to a gate into a wood. Walk through the wood to reach the road that runs through the village of Gatwick. Turn right, cross a stream and continue for about ¼ mile, passing the houses and going over a rise and then turning right into Attleford Lane. Some 350 yards along here, by the side of a house, take a footpath right. Pass a house and farm buildings and the track becomes a narrow path. Traverse a footbridge eventually arrive at road. Head right. Cross a bridge over a river and, 100 yards further on, turn right on a track. Emerge in a long field. Continue to exit it at the far end. The path brings you to the dead-end of Ham Lane. Follow this, to the right, for some 1/3 mile, to
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reach its end at the main road through Elstead. Turn right and walk along to the Woolpack PH, a café, shops and a little green where you could picnic. 4. After lunch, take the Churt/Thursley Road and walk to the church. Here, turn right to walk along for about 1/2 mile to the end of Westbrook Hill. At the end of the road, take the track right, into an MOD area. Follow this wide track for 1/4 mile to reach a 5-way junction. Of the two blue arrow options ahead, take the rightmost. Continue on across heathland, passing a house on the right-hand side, still following blue arrows and ignoring lefts and rights. The track swings close to the river (which is down to the right-hand side). Reach a barrier and, beyond it the angling lake at Stockbridge. Continue forward to the road by the Stockbridge parking area and turn right to walk along inside the hedge to Tilford and the start.
DISTANCE: 9.5 miles OS MAPS: Explorer 145 Guildford & Farnham, Godalming & Farnborough STARTING POINT: The parking area by the bridge in Tilford, between the cricket pitch and the river. REFRESHMENTS: The Woolpack PH, The Green, Elstead, Surrey GU8 6HD T: 01252 703106 www.woolpackelstead.co.uk The Barley Mow, Tilford GU10 2BU T: 01252 792205 www.thebarleymowtilford.com Map © Crown copyright 2016 Ordnance Survey. Media 008/16 Images: East Bridge, Tilford, a celebrated medieval stone bridge spanning the River Wey at Tilford © Colin Smith (left); The view from Crooksbury Hill by © Diane Sambrook (above).
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.
April 2016
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<33 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Ashtead Choral Society Saturday 30th April 7.30pm Ashtead Choral Society’s concert features English music, with Elgar’s beautiful and elegiac cello concerto, Britten’s brilliant piece written for children, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, and Michael Tippett’s very personal and moving oratorio A Child of Our Time. It takes place at Dorking Halls, and tickets are £16 - £20, call 07504 332354. The Dorking Group of Artists Saturday 30th April to Monday 2nd May 10am – 6pm They will be holding their Spring Exhibition at Betchworth Village Hall, Station Road RH3 7DF. Exhibiting members, many professionals among them, will be displaying over 250 pieces of new and original art, all for sale at affordable prices. The paintings will appeal to all tastes with different subjects and styles, and in a wide variety of prices and media. There will be large selection of unframed paintings for sale too. Entrance to the exhibition is free. The Dorking Group of Artists meets on Tuesday afternoons at Beare Green Village Hall from September through to Easter. Membership is open to artists of all abilities, from beginner to professional and costs just £20 per calendar year. The activities programme is varied and includes workshops and demonstrations. There is outdoor painting and sketching during the summer months. For more information contact Jane Anderson Wood, Chairman, on 01372 375123, email j.andersonwood@gmail.com.
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The Investec International Music Festival 2016 Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th May The Festival, (formerly known as the Surrey Hills International Music Festival), takes place across the Surrey Hills with a star studded ‘not to be missed’ line-up. Enjoy the music of Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Dobrinka Tabakpva performed by world class artists including the internationally acclaimed violinist, Nicola Benedetti, accompanied by The London Mozart Players, the jazz singer and Radio 2 presenter, Clare Teal who will draw on the songbooks of Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Peggy Lee as well as more contemporary artists to present ‘the divas and me’. Also, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Maxim Rysanov, Alexander Zemtsov, cellist Kristina Blaumane and much more. Tickets, selling fast, and priced at £20-£29 (concessions available), are now available to buy in person, online or by phone from the Tourist Information Centre, 155 High Street, Guildford, 01483 444334. www.visitguildford.com. See www.iimf.co.uk for full programme details. Please see our competitions page at www. vantagepointmag.co.uk for a chance to win tickets. Capel Horticultural Society Saturday 7th May 10am to 12 noon A Plant Sale will Take place in Capel Memorial Hall providing a terrific opportunity to buy all types of beautiful, well priced plants – bedding, vegetable, fruit, herbs, shrubs, etc at excellent prices. Running alongside there will be a ‘Garden Jumble’ providing a selection of second hand garden equipment, pots and furniture. Entry is free to all, with coffee and biscuits on offer too! ‘Opera under the Stars’ Saturday 21st May 2016, Effingham, 7pm Deliciously entertaining scenes and arias from the world’s favourite operas. Monies raised goes to Cherry Trees, home from home respite care for children with disabilities. Tickets cost £35 each. For more information contact Cherry Trees fundraising office at 01483 222507, events@cherry-trees. co.uk or go to www.cherry-trees.co.uk. Organ Recital at St Michael’s Church, Betchworth Saturday 21st May at 4pm Margaret Phillips, the International Concert Organist, will give a recital on the new Kenneth Tickell pipe organ in Betchworth Parish Church on Saturday 21 May at 4pm. Margaret finds playing in smaller churches is often more enjoyable than playing in larger venues such as concert halls or cathedrals. The programme has been planned to show off the many and various colours of the new organ and, in addition, to appeal to a wide audience. Tickets are priced at £15 (under 14s: £10) to include a glass of wine/soft drink. The concert will be projected onto video screens allowing the audience to view the player directly. Tickets are on sale from 01737 843498 or betchworthchurchmusic@hotmail.co.uk.
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PROFILE St Catherine’s Hospice patients who have died but our bereavement group enables us to widen our support to all Dorking residents. Nobody should have to feel alone, and we’re here to provide you with help and support. No matter who you are you’ll be welcomed, so please do drop in to see us.” Last year, St Catherine’s cared for over 2,000 people across Sussex and Surrey and received 141 referrals from Dorking alone. All of St Catherine’s care is provided free of charge and covers everything from: Inpatient Unit care and community nurses providing care in the comfort and familiar surroundings of patients own homes (including in Dorking) through to Day Hospice sessions, which help patients to live well through a variety of wellbeing activities, peer to peer advice and emotional support. With spring upon us, it’s the natural time for a clear out, taking time to reflect and to look towards the future but, when you’re dealing with bereavement, that’s not always easy. Now, a Dorking based bereavement group, run jointly by St Catherine’s Hospice and The Brigitte Trust, is encouraging residents coming to terms with the loss of a loved one to drop in for support.
For further information, please see below or simply turn up to the group at the Living Room at the Dorking United Reformed Church on every first, third and fifth Tuesday of the month, between 1pm and 3pm.
Taking place on the first, third and fifth Tuesday of the month, between 1pm and 3pm, people are invited to drop in to meet others, also experiencing bereavement, to chat and share their experiences over tea and coffee. The free, non-religious group, is run by staff and volunteers who have been trained by specialist staff at St Catherine’s and The Brigitte Trust and offers ways to cope following bereavement as well as the chance to socialise with others who understand. John has been attending a bereavement group in Oxted for nearly three years after his wife passed away under St Catherine’s care. Taking the same format as the Dorking group, he’s found has helped him cope. He said: “The hardest part is coming along to your first meeting, it takes nerve, but once you’ve got past that ‘first hurdle’ you’ll be made to feel welcome. We’re not a sad lot; we’re quite cheerful and noisy! We all support each other and talk about how we’re getting on. When I lost my girlfriend last year, the group was there to pick me up. It has been a huge support for me and to be able to sit and talk to people who know what you’re going through really helps. Nobody wants to be in a position where they have to attend a group like this but, out of a difficult and sad experience, the group brings something positive.” Annette Phillips, Bereavement Services Co-ordinator at St Catherine’s, said: “We already help family and friends of April 2016
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For further information on the Dorking bereavement group please contact Annette Phillips at St Catherine’s Hospice on 01293 447343 or annettephillips@stch.org.uk. 37
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WIN DINNER FOR TWO AND PROSECCO AT THE FRENSHAM POND HOTEL The Best Western Frensham Pond Hotel, near Farnham, Surrey, provides great accommodation in what was a 15th century house. It is set in one of the country’s most picturesque and peaceful locations, overlooking Frensham Great Pond. Recently upgraded to 4 stars by the AA, it is somewhewre you can relax in a truly rural setting. Built as a private residence for the Bishop of Winchester in the 15th century and a source of hospitality since the 1700’s, the hotel combines a unique blend of English country house charm coupled with all the advantages of modern convenience. With panoramic views of the Pond, the restaurant offers superlative service and excellent food served in comfortable surroundings. The extensive Watermark menu provides a varied and imaginative choice to all diners accompanied by a reasonably priced wine list to complement the meal. To win dinner for two with a bottle of prosecco, please answer this question: Q: The Frensham Pond Hotel was originally built as a private residence for who? Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th April 2016.
WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO THE SURREY COUNTY SHOW The best family day out this year! Enjoy spectacular Grand Arena entertainment including a world famous motorcycle stunt team, Grand Prix show jumping and the Red Devils parachute team. Hundreds of cows, pigs, sheep and horses, acres of shopping and live music. Plus terrier racing, Miller’s Ark petting farm, donkey rides, Punch & Judy, a real milking parlour, rural crafts, food and drink and much, much more! The Surrey County Show is on Spring Bank Holiday Monday 30th May at Stoke Park, Guildford. Find out more at www.surreycountyshow.co.uk. To win one of three family tickets, please answer the following question: Q: Which parachute team will be appearing? Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 30th April 2016.
WIN TICKETS TO DMITRY SITKOVETSKY PLAYS BACH Enjoy a fabulous night of captivating music in the atmospheric surroundings of Holy Trinity Church, Guildford at the Investec International Music Festival 2016 Eminent Russian violinist, composer and conductor Dmitry Sitkovetsky will perform his famed arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations which has been described as “music of a kind that can bring tears of happiness to one’s eyes.” Dmitry will be joined by violist Alexander Zemtsov and cellist Kristina Blaumane and will also present Bach’s Fifteen Sinfonias scored for a string trio. See www.iimf.co.uk for full programme details. To win one of two pairs of tickets to the concert, which takes place on Friday 6th May 2016 at The Holy Trinity Church, Guildford from 7.30pm, please answer this question: Q: Name one of the two accompanists performing with Dmitry Sitkovetsky Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 23rd April 2016. 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.