VantagePoint April 17 - Dorking & Leatherhead by VantagePoint Magazine

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Dorking & Leatherhead • April 2017

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|| YOUR LOCAL TEAM When you read this, the clocks will have changed and the warm weather will have arrived. That said, I remember one year watching the first Grand Prix of the season alongside a barbecue in February and then having snow in April, so I could well be wrong. Our thoughts will no doubt be turning to holidays and I am very pleased that we are working with a local travel company, Inghams, who are based in Godalming and are wellknown for ski, lake and mountain holidays. They are promoting their summer lakes and mountain breaks in this issue, so do take a look. Coincidentally, I have booked my own walking holiday this spring to Madeira, a new destination to me which has been well recommended. I will report back!

April 2017

Stefan Reynolds Editor & Publisher

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Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the VantagePoint Travel Show on Saturday 1st April at the Wilfrid Noyce Centre in Godalming from 1pm to 4pm. It will be a good opportunity for you to talk to travel companies and operators about the many holiday opportunities now available to us all. A final plug too for the Farnham Wine Festival which takes place at the Farnham Maltings on 7th and 8th April. There will be three sessions (Friday and Saturday evenings from 7pm-11pm and Saturday afternoon from 12 noon-4pm. There will be over 140 wines to taste alongside four local producers' wines, plus entertainment, music and food. Please visit www.vantagepointevents.co.uk to buy tickets in advance. Contact the editor: stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Marcus Atkins, Sales Director 01483 420173 / 07702 132157 marcus@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Lauren Broughton, Sales 01483 661088 / 07852 041227 lauren@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Contributors: Andy Goundry, Phil Kemp, Beth Otway, Gwyn Phillips, Kirstie Smillie

Liz Godfrey, Sales 01483 661089 / 07788 748826 liz@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Jesse Boon, Sales 01483 418141 / 07542 710508 jesse@vantagepublishing.co.uk

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|| CONTENTS The local magazine produced by local people for the local community

RUGMART Surrey’s Biggest Rug Shop www.rugmart.co.uk

6 Jottings Your local community noticeboard

9 Motoring Thinking of buying an SUV?

14 The Theatre in the Woods Phil Kemp visits a new opera house in Surrey 19 Art Local artisits exhibiting at AppArt this Easter

Visit us for a huge range of Modern, Contemporary & Bespoke rugs

20 Fashion Kirstie visits the Ordri boutique in Farnham

24 Local Wedgwood at Leith Hill Place

28 Gardening Beth’s favourite cut flowers

31 Recipes Spring lamb

34 Walk

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|| JOTTINGS YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

JOTTINGS

Jottings is your community noticeboard for local events and information, compiled by Jane Gosden. 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.

With the lighter evenings arriving I’m enjoying achieving more in the garden, I hope you are too. This month’s jottings are full of wonderful Easter activities for all the family as well as regular clubs, meetings, talks, exhibitions and concerts for you to join in with. We are so lucky to have such a fabulous community around us, so why not try something new this month? RHS Wisley Easter Garden Detectives and Bunny Hunt Saturday 1st to Monday 17th April Hop through the garden on the trail of the Lindt gold bunny. Bring your family along for a full day of Easter fun every day and join in with arts and craft sessions. Follow the clues to lead you to a delicious treat for your best Easter ever! Normal Garden admission applies. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/wisley for full details. Dorking South Street Caves – Cave Tours Open days 1st April and 29th April Take a trip into history, deep underground. Dorking’s famous South Street Caves date back to the 17th century. See the galleries, well shafts and wine cellars and visit the ‘mystery chamber’ 50ft below street level. Tours take place between 9am and 8pm. For details and bookings please visit www. dorkingmuseum.org.uk/south-street-caves-2. Dorking Museum: The Deepdene Trail Open day 2nd April, Group tours by appointment in April The MVDC Hope Springs Eternal project brought the revitalised landscape of the Deepdene alive, and the Dorking Museum walks team runs guided walks on the Deepdene Trail. Tours last for an

hour and a half and take in the grotto, woodland walks, parterre and temples, featuring spectacular views across the Weald. For details and booking, visit www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/thedeepdene-trail/ or email admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk. Dorking Local History Group Monday 3rd April 7.30pm The guest speaker is Colin Dawson, who will be speaking on Swaines Farm, Leigh, the history of a building from 1470 to 2017. It will also be their Annual General Meeting. It is £2 on the door or an annual single membership fee of £8 or £10 for couples. Please contact John Patterson on 01306 888401 or jhp3660@yahoo.co.uk for any information. Held at Crossways Community Church, Junction Road, Dorking. Sprinkle some sparkle and get to the Easter Market! Tuesday 4th April 10am to 2pm This popular fundraiser for Ewhurst Parish Church is a friendly, welcoming event with a difference. Their range of eclectic stalls will tempt you out of the house for unusual gifts and treats, there’s something for all ages and pockets. And for those with an interest in antiques and collectables, an expert from a local auctioneers will be on hand. Need a lift? A free vintage bus will run from Ewhurst to The Parrot Inn Forest Green, RH5 5RZ and back, connecting with route 53 to/from Guildford and Cranleigh. Dorking Scrabble Club Every Wednesday at 7.30pm For a friendly game of Scrabble, pop along to The Roy Currie Regain the use of your conservatory

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Room, United Reformed Church, West Street, Dorking. You will be welcomed whether you are a beginner or an expert. For more details ring Priscilla (01737 767072) or David (01306 889308).

Steve Tilston and Jez Lowe. On 19th April singer/songwriter Huw Williams and on the 26th April Singers’ Night again. For full details of this month’s programme and more visit www. dorkingfolkclub.org.uk.

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory Musical Theatre Workshop Tuesday 4th to Thursday 7th April 10am-4pm Four jam packed days of singing, dancing and acting. The workshop will be lead, as always by a professional, West End actor from the professional production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The cost is £150 and it is held at St Teresa’s School, Effingham, RH5 6ST. For more information please visit www.guildfordfringe.com.

Dorking Museum Family Holiday Fun Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Thursday 13th April, from 11am to 3pm The Museum is putting on fun, hands-on family activities for the Easter holidays; ‘Spring time and the Victorians’, ‘Spring Chickens and Easter Eggs’ and the Museum’s ever-popular Easter Egg Hunt – but with a new twist this year! There is no need to book, all materials will be provided and the event is free with museum entry. Held at 62 West Street, Dorking, RH4 1BS. For more information and general enquiries visit their website at www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk.

Happiness - a play by Paul Mathews at The Nomad Theatre Tuesday 4th April to Saturday 8th April Things are not always black and white when it comes to love and marriage. Phillipa and Christopher are due to get married in two days’ time but a family funeral leaves Phillipa wondering whether marrying Christopher will bring her the happiness her heart desires. Find out what happens in this funny and well-written play that has many twists and turns to keep you in suspense until the end. Online bookings can be made at www. nomadtheatre.com or phone 01483 284747. Nomad Theatre, Bishopsmead Parade, East Horsley KT24 6RT. Dorking Folk Club Every Wednesday at 8.30pm On the 5th April it will be Singers’ Night. On the 12th April see

Music at The Dorking Halls Various dates during April There are several events, both live and screened, at the Dorking Halls this month. The Leith Hill Musical Festival runs for three days, under its new festival conductor Jonathan Willcocks. There is one opera screening, a recording of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly from the Royal Opera. There are also three ballet screenings. Live from the Bolshoi in Moscow comes A Hero of Our Time. Jewels, comes live from the Royal Ballet and features the music of Fauré, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. And finally there is a recording of Coppelia from the Australian Ballet. Call 01306 881717 for all bookings.

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MOTORING ||

Thinking of buying a new

SUV?

SUV sales are booming. It's easy to see why, given their lofty height offering a commanding view over the top of lesser motors, together with perceptions of improved safety and grip, say Andy Goundry. Prestige brand manufacturers seem to have capitalised on this booming market by pushing prices ever higher. Typically, a Range Rover can now easily cost well over £100,000. Surprisingly, in these increasingly diesel-discriminatory days, many prestige models are either only available with diesel engines, or confine petrol power to higher-priced versions. For example, whilst Range Rover Evoque prices start from £30,600, the cheapest petrol version is significantly more at £44,100. However, if prestige brand prices don’t appeal to you, plenty of other excellent SUV models are available offering much more for your money whilst still providing similar if not better levels of performance and quality. Some are very low-priced, such as the Dacia Duster whose prices start from only £9,495. Incredible value for money, but beware that the basic specification is exactly that: by the time a few options such as air-con are added the price can increase quickly. A better choice may be the Korean SsangYong Tivoli: not a model of which many people are aware, but well worth considering as its starting price of £12,950 includes such goodies as a five year warranty, air conditioning and cruise control. Volkswagen Group offer some impressive SUVs in the midprice range. The group, including VW, Skoda, Seat, Audi and indeed Porsche, have succeeded in offering a wide range of SUVs catering for all budgets and tastes, thanks to extensive component-sharing between their brands. In fact, this sharing extends to the sites where the SUVs are manufactured. Audi Q3s, definitely one of today’s premium SUVs, are built at a Seat factory in Spain, whilst a Skoda factory is home to the Audi Q5. Typical of this commonality is the Volkswagen Tiguan. With levels of quality as good as any of the prestige brands, the mid-sized Tiguan is available in a wide range of versions and prices, from an effective 1.4-litre petrol starting at a reasonable £23,140 up to a mighty 240PS / 500Nm diesel. I tried a Tiguan in extremely well-specified SEL form, which features Volkswagen's 4 Motion four-wheel-drive system along with lots of useful equipment. The standard specification includes a an 8” touchscreen navigation system, adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, a 12.3” customisable dash display screen, and parking sensors front and rear, all topped off with a panoramic, opening sunroof. And all for a starting

April 2017

Images from top: : SsangYong's Tivoli – a lot of car for the money, and better quality than you might expect; Volkswagen Tiguan: quality to match the best; Possibly the best Skoda yet – the Kodiaq; and Seat’s multiple award-winning Ateca

price of £31,170, almost identical to the base model Range Rover Evoque, which lacks most of those features and is only 2-wheel-drive. Despite the SEL’s already comprehensive specification, Volkswagen had equipped the test car with just about every option in the book, resulting in an on-the-road price of around £40,000. Not cheap, however kitting an Evoque to a similar level would set you back closer to £55,000. To us, the Tiguan seemed more spacious and smooth-riding than the Evoque, and quality levels of interior trim felt similar. One feature

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likely to appeal to caravanners and others is an impressive 2,500kg towing capacity, only 200kg less than the much bigger and more expensive Volvo XC90 and much greater than the 1,800kg of the Evoque. When the optional trailer reversing system is specified, the Tiguan should make a superb tow car. On the safety front the Tiguan scores highly, having recently been nominated as ‘Best Small SUV’ by Euro NCAP, the organisation responsible for assessing European car safety standards. Currently available with 5 seats, a 7-seat version of the Tiguan is also expected soon. In the meantime, seven seats are already offered by the newlylaunched and slightly larger Skoda Kodiaq. Sharing most of the Tiguan’s engine and transmission options, the Kodiaq range is a little cheaper and even more extensive. For example, for a driver who needs to venture off-road regularly, the Kodiaq Scout version offers rugged bodywork, with plastic panels protecting the lower sections of bodywork together, with a raised ride height and 4-wheel-drive in all models. Prices for the Kodiaq range start from a very reasonable £21,495 for the 1.4 petrol S model. Even a top-of-the range 2 litre 180PS petrol ‘Edition’ model at £33,545 comfortably undercuts an equivalent Land Rover Discovery Sport, one of the few other 7-seat SUVs in this size, and which is presently unavailable with a petrol engine. Last but certainly not least within the Volkswagen Group SUV line-up is the smaller Seat Ateca, starting at £17,990. This Spanish-built SUV has only been on sale for a few months, yet has deservedly already garnered many awards, including What Car’s ‘Best Small SUV of 2017’.

The Ateca is again available with a wide range of engine and gearbox options, ranging from an economical 1.0 litre petrol engine with 6-speed manual transmission and 2-wheeldrive, up to a 190hp 7-speed auto with 4-wheel drive. Our test car was a 1.4 litre Eco TSI 150PS petrol, 2-wheel-drive manual gearbox version, a specification likely to be the choice for many families. Emissions and fuel consumption are impressive, with only 123g/km of CO2 and a claimed combined fuel consumption of 52.3mpg. The top of the range ‘Excellence’ model with this engine retails at £24,440, although equipment levels of some of the lower specification models are almost as good and usefully cheaper. The days of Seats being of humdrum quality are long gone. Closing the doors gives a reassuring

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Ride, on the optional 19” wheels fitted, was perhaps a little on the firm side, although still soft enough to cushion the passengers from the worst of our dreadful road surfaces very eﬀectively. Roll, often the bugbear of similar tall SUVs was well-controlled, and overall the ride and handling package was well-judged.

‘thunk’ of solidity. Indeed, anyone used to the premium feel of a Golf will be instantly at home inside the Ateca, for trim materials and finishes are of excellent quality, tactile soft-feel materials being used almost everywhere. The interior oﬀers plenty of room for passengers, and not at the expense of luggage space either, for the Ateca’s boot oﬀers 510 litres of space, usefully more than most family hatchbacks. All four doors open wide, making for very easy entry and exit to all the seats. Once aboard, legroom is generous as well. All this within compact external dimensions – at 4363mm long it’s only just over 100mm longer than a Golf, and only 40mm wider. One of the highlights of driving the Ateca was its smoothness and extremely low noise levels. Performance from the 1.4 litre engine was entirely adequate, thanks to the diesel-rivalling 250Nm of torque on tap from only 1500 RPM.

As with the Tiguan and Kodiaq, safety is given a high priority. Front Assist and City Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Protection are standard on all models, constantly scanning the road ahead for collision risks, sounding warnings and triggering emergency braking if need be. Additional safety features can be specified including Adaptive Cruise Control, Traﬃc Sign Recognition and Lane Departure Warning. The awards and praise are well-deserved for this excellent family-friendly motor, especially at a price point which undercuts most of the opposition by some margin, together with a class-leading residual value after 3 years of up to 50% according to CAP experts. As alternatives, then, to the likes of Range Rover, BMW and Mercedes, the SUV models from Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen make a lot of sense. Try them before you buy that Evoque, X3 or Q5 – you might be pleasantly surprised. Image from top left: Tiguan's Head Up Display – an incredibly useful option; Kodiaq’s upmarket cabin.

FIND OUT MORE Andy Goundry spent his entire working career in vehicle design and development, and since retirement 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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Leatherhead’s Lunchtime Concerts Thursday 6th and 13th, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 27th April at 12.30pm Alice in Wonderland, the Trio Opal from the Royal Academy of Music, organ concert in Christ Church, Epsom Road and finally the Ellis Ensemble. The concerts in Leatherhead Methodist Church (LMC) are free to enter with a retiring collection to cover costs. A full programme and details for all these concerts will be found at www.musiconthursdays.org.

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Leatherhead District Museum Reopens Thursday 6th April The Museum reopens at the 17th century Hampton Cottage in Church Street with a brand new theme celebrating the Local History Society’s 70th anniversary. Local artist Cathy Brett is creating stunning new visuals for the exhibition and will host a formal re-opening ceremony at 10am on Saturday 8th April. Hampton Cottage will be open from April until December on Thursdays and Fridays between 1pm and 4pm and Saturdays between 10am and 4pm. Call 01372 386348 to leave a voicemail message or email staff@lheadmuseum.plus.com.

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The Heath Players Present Their Spring Production Thursday 6th and Friday 7th April 7.30pm Join them for an evening at the seaside featuring: Sparrows by Charles Mander – a one act comedy with a fish and chip supper interval (included in the price). Followed by an entertainment with a cornucopia of seaside treats. Held at Box Hill Village Hall, KT20 7JT. Tickets £14. Call the box office on 01306 887159 or email destination.caroline@btinternet.com. Vintage Jive Lessons Every Thursday Learn to Jive to the music of the era, authentic 40s and 50s style. Everyone is welcome for these fun and friendly lessons. There is also a bar available. Held at North Leatherhead Community Centre, Kingston Road, Leatherhead KT22 7NX. The lessons are £7 per person, payable weekly. For more information please call 07854 621522.

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10/01/2017 11:42:47

The

Theatre

in the Woods Phil Kemp talks to Wasfi Kani about bringing opera to Surrey for everyone of all ages to enjoy in the grounds of West Horsley Place. Wasfi Kani literally couldn’t believe her luck when, within a few weeks of learning that the acclaimed Grange Park Opera she had established in Hampshire was losing its home of eighteen years, a lifeline was thrown to her by the broadcaster Bamber Gascoigne, who had just unexpectedly inherited West Horsley Place near Guildford. Wasfi is the founder of two opera companies and, not surprisingly, is absolutely passionate about opera. She is determined to not just make opera accessible to all, but to introduce youngsters to musical culture at a young age. “We have a project called Primary Robins, where we give 1,800 children in primary schools half-an-hour of singing classes every week, particularly those that don’t have any music in school and with low Key Stage Two results,” Wasfi explained, her enthusiasm showing brightly in her eyes. “You don’t need to put a massive amount of eﬀort into getting five-year-olds loving opera. In Durham, in Nottingham, in Surrey and many other places we get them singing. That is probably the beginning – the beginning of their love of music.” 14

Wasfi was bestowed with an OBE in 2001 for her inspiring work in prisons. She founded Pimlico Opera in 1989, a touring company that works with HM prisoners to produce annual co-productions with inmates. Pimlico Opera has performed to over 55,000 members of the public in prison productions working with over 1,000 prisoners since the company’s inception. During my visit to West Horsley Place, with personal guided tour of the new opera house in-waiting with Wasfi, I was keen to find out what drives her to take on seemingly impossible projects. My quest didn’t take long. “I started the opera festival from nothing in Hampshire in 1998. The lease was nearing its end and out of the blue one of our landlords decided to terminate the lease. This was in March 2015. So, there I am thinking I’m going to have to start from square one again, when I heard that Bamber has inherited this house. He is 82 and doesn’t know what to do with it,” she explained as we stood on the lawn in front of the impressive façade of the imposing 50-room country house.

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t Horsley ra and Wes

Park Ope s to Grange

us attendee

previo asfi Kani, From left: W

“Bamber is what I describe as a liberal intellectual. He was saying he didn’t want it to fall down, and he wanted many people to enjoy it. So when I told him that Grange Park Opera didn’t have a home and we want to move it closer to London, he got it straight away and immediately said this would be the perfect place for an opera festival.” The house and 300-acre estate has been made over to the Mary Roxburghe Trust, in the name of Bamber’s great-aunt from whom he inherited West Horsley Place, and which will provide a performance centre and a place for the study of arts and crafts.

shape of La Scala in Milan, is being built from the ground up on the other side of an enormous orchard with its snaking crinkle crankle 18th century walls, and within sight of the grand old house. The Duchess of Roxburghe’s ashes were fittingly buried beneath the foundations of the new opera house by Bamber Gascoigne’s wife, Christina, in September. “We started the build in June last year and it’s taken us about eight months to get this far,” she said, embracing with her gesticulating hands the huge skeleton of steel and concrete towering above us. “There’s about six miles of steel and 146 piles reaching a height of 19 metres. It’s all being fabricated oﬀ-site of course and is like a big Meccano set. We have one team working on cherry pickers fed by a crane who are fixing pieces of steel together.

Standing within the steel skeleton of what Wasfi describes as ‘our theatre in the woods’ you can see the enormity of the task that has been taken on. The opera house, modelled on the four-tiered horseshoe

"The site foreman Stuart talks to the factory each day ordering what pieces he needs for tomorrow, and is working to an incredibly tight schedule. The floors are on four diﬀerent levels and are all precast concrete – all designed for a quick build. We’re going to be using that stage at the beginning of May when sets will start arriving! There’s a complicated technical fit-out that has to happen, but that’s all lined up.”

Bamber is what I describe as a liberal intellectual... he got it straight away and immediately said this would be the perfect place for an opera festival

I looked at Wasfi incredulously, and then back at the enormous building site which, although a hive of activity with the build teams working in earnest (including twelve carpenters dedicated just to laying the wooden floors), is still very much a stark shell open to the elements on all sides. She responded to my jaw-dropped expression with her usual breathtaking enthusiasm.

April 2017

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Place

From left: Bamber Gascoigne and the interior of the new theatre

This was quickly dispelled by Wasfi’s inspiring description of the finished theatre. “The big question was of course how we could build it to be ready in 2017. The tight deadline because of the operas and the contracts we had already committed to, projects that started over four years ago. You’re either going to do something temporary, or we say okay we’re going to do the real thing. So we designed for a quick-build to achieve just this". Commencing in June, West Horsley Place will start their first opera season which includes Jenufa by Czech composer Leoš Janáček; Wagner’s Die Walküre; and Puccini’s Tosca. The Theatre in The Woods is also hosting an evening with the Royal Ballet’s Principal Artist Zenaidi Yanowski, who dances whilst Grange Park Opera’s patron Sir Bryn Terfel sings. Visitors will enjoy a full Grange Park Opera experience. The extensive gardens, with its ancient box hedges, will welcome audiences to enjoy champagne picnics during extended half-time intervals, under canvas if the weather dictates. Dining will also be provided in the house, with its beautiful 17th century red-brick façade hiding the 15th century expansive oak-beamed residence behind, and within in its long history has entertained within its walls the good and the great, including Henry VIII. “The Grange Park Opera House, with its orchestra pit and all those tiers seating 650 people, will not just be used as a traditional opera house. I’ve always said this is a building for many people from many walks of life. I’m not just building it for rich people,” explained Wasfi earnestly. “The thing that I’m slightly fixated on is that I think it’s very diﬃcult for young artists, and by artists I mean singers and actors, to show their work. I’ve seen for example some wacky opera going on in a London pub, young people putting enormous eﬀort into their show. I want to give them a real stage. So if they want to come to Surrey and put on their opera, we can ticket it for them and we can market it for them, and I don’t want to make any money in the process.” I was still subconsciously unsettled by the sight of the unfinished steel and bare concrete structure in the woods, and so close to the opening of the new opera house 16

“For the interior I was thinking of going for a standard white and creamy gold décor, until someone said to me: ‘You know, it’s in the woods, so the woods need to come into the theatre’. So, we’re going for pale green and blues with a lovely painted ceiling. There will be bunches of metal oak leaves scattered across the front of the balconies, all linked by sweeping staircases.” And the exterior, not just concrete blockwork surely? Predictably for this inspired project, far from it. “The planners wanted us to do something in keeping with the house, so the outer skin is going to be an elegant and decorative brick façade to match the ancient walls of the house and gardens.” Just before my tour ended, Wasfi was keen to re-emphasise the fact that she wants to make opera accessible to all-comers. “Britain has got this thing about opera being elitist. It’s not. You don’t need to know anything about opera. All you have to do is walk into that theatre, sit down in a seat and have a load of feelings. Whatever feelings you have are the right feelings. That is not elitist. We have also been oﬀering tickets under our Meteor Scheme to under 35-year-olds for £35 for good seats.” And my slight confusion over exactly what the new theatre is called was also quickly put to rest. “I don’t want people to get bogged down on the idea that it’s called the Grange Park Opera House, or just Grange Park. That’s why we have this other name, with it aﬀectionately known as The Theatre in The Woods.” Phil Kemp is a freelance writer and photographer based in Godalming. www. weyriver.co.uk. FIND OUT MORE For more information about the Theatre in the Woods and Grange Park Opera's 2017 programme, please visit www. grangeparkopera.co.uk.

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Exhibition: Sensing Wonder comes to Leith Hill Place Until the 1st May The re-opening of the National Trust’s, Leith Hill Place sees a unique collection of large silk paintings produced by Englefield Green based artist Wendy Undazan going on show. The collection of stunning silk paintings has been inspired by nature from different parts of the UK and have been chosen for their spring-like feel, reflecting the spring flowers in bloom in the Grounds. More information can be found by visiting www. nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill-place. Marie Curie Community Fundraiser, Swimathon celebrates its 30th anniversary Friday 7th to Sunday 9th April Swimathon, the world’s biggest annual fundraising swim is back and swimmers across the UK are being encouraged to jump in one of over 600 participating pools and raise funds for Marie Curie. For further information about Swimathon, including how to sign up and where there is a pool participating near you, please visit www.swimathon.org. Workers’ Education Association (WEA) Courses Various dates throughout the year The WEA have courses running on International Affairs, followed by Grand Houses and Stately Homes, Astronomy - The Modern Universe, An Introduction to Dressmaking, First World Civilisation and the British Empire (Accident or Design?). In addition, for the Summer Term, from the 4th May Europe’s Royal Families. All courses are either held in the

Adam Aaronson Glass Studio

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Barn Hall, Bookham or the Leatherhead Institute. For further information contact Joy Tapping on 01306 713355, visit www.weafetchamandbookham.org.uk or email enquiries@ weafetchamandbookham.org.uk. Discovering Donkeys at Tanhouse Farm shop, Newdigate Saturday 8th April noon to 4pm For anyone who owns or is simply interested in donkeys, there will be an opportunity for you to meet donkeys and experienced donkey owners at Tanhouse Farm Shop and Tea Room, Rusper Road, Newdigate, RH5 5BX. There will be donkeys to meet, practical demonstrations and children’s activities, but sorry, no donkey rides. Admission is free. For more information contact Barbara on barbara24@fastmail.fm. Walking in Dorking – historic guided walks Group bookings throughout April Take a trip into Dorking’s history with a guided walk of the town to see hidden Dorking. Your knowledgeable Museum guide will reveal the forces, events and personalities that have shaped the town and its architecture and reveal the secrets that lie behind the streets of modern Dorking. Tours last 90 minutes. For details, visit www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/guided-walksaround-dorking or email admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk. Birds of Prey Weekend at RHS Wisley Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April Bring the whole family to discover all about birds of prey. See the magnificent birds up close, with agility displays at 11am and 2pm. Normal Garden admission applies. Visit www.rhs.org.uk. Capel Tennis Club Free Family Open Sessions Saturday 8th April 2pm to 4.30pm. As Spring approaches, are you looking for ways to enjoy the warmer weather and take some exercise? Ever thought about taking up tennis? These free sessions are for anyone wanting to try tennis or find out more about the club on Racquets and balls are available, just bring suitable shoes. For more information go to www.capeltennis.org.uk. Teas In Church Capel Village From March to November 3pm to 5pm The tranquil village of Capel lies just off A24 between Dorking and Horsham. Join them for regular culinary delights on Sunday afternoons, including a huge array of locally baked cakes and delicacies.

www.adamaaronson.com

adam@adamaaronson.com T: 01483 375035

Gallery, glassblowing courses and works to commission Foxbury Barn (next to Squires), Epsom Road, West Horsley, Surrey, KT24 6AR

Beare Green and Newdigate Choral Society Saturday 8th April The choir are now about halfway through rehearsals in preparation for their day at this year’s Leith Hill Musical Festival. They would be really pleased if you would come and support them. Please book through the LHMF booking office: boxofﬁce@ lhmf.co.uk or 01403 240093 where there is no booking fee and more of the profit is directed to the festival fund. Events at Polesden Lacey Dorking Various events throughout the year Polesden Lacey have a superb line up for you this spring and vantagepointmag.co.uk

AppArt’s Easter Exhibition - showcasing work from local artists

AppArt’s annual Easter Art Exhibition & Sculpture Trail will take place again at Priorsfield School, Godalming. AppArt is a community-wide art event which attracts visitors from all over the Home Counties to see one of the most varied collections of paintings, sculpture and other art media in the South East of England. Internationally renowned sculptor Philip Jackson is opening AppArt’s Easter Exhibition and Sculpture Trail and he is also taking part. We are delighted that we will be able to show his Venetian-inspired work The Dorking area is full of talented artists and their work will feature strongly at AppArt’s exhibition. Adam Aaronson glass studio in Horsley is establishing an international reputation. His glass sculptures were the main feature of the artwork created for Parliament’s “New Dawn” His unique hand-blown glass will be well-represented at AppArt. Helen Pittick specialises in equine sculptures and “Back on Her Feet” was presented to the Queen at Surrey University last year. Mark Goodchild fabricates unusual sculptures from scrap metal and his large globe “Stratford International” is a good example of his work. Terri Smart produces colourful ceramics of plants and animals and “First Bite Too” illustrates this. Clare Pavey produces strong realistic sculptures of animals and her study of “Rowen” captures the character of the dog. Stephanie Wright’s swirling and vivid coloured ceramics are sure to attract attention such as “Tangerine Tango.” Francis Jordon paints in various media and this year her mixed media is certain to make a “Splash!” Tessa Pearson’s mono block prints focus on plants and “Long Golden Teasel” reveals the quality of her work. The Exhibition & Sculpture Trail will be open every day from Saturday 1st April to Easter Sunday 16th between 10 am 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 from top: Long Golden Teasel by Tessa Pearson and Rowan by Clare Pavey

April 2017

For further information go to www.appartonline. co.uk or www.facebook.com/AppArtSurrey.

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No Ordinary Audrey Kirstie Smillie meets Audrey Filtness, owner of Farnham’s fashion boutique Ordri. Originally brought up in the midlands of Ireland, Audrey’s grandmother and mother had fashion boutiques while Audrey studied pattern cutting before landing a job with fashion designer John Rocha in Dublin. Moving to Farnham after meeting her husband, she opened her first shop because she "just couldn't find any creative clothing". Now relocated to the idyllic Upper Church Lane, a stone's throw from where she was on Downing Street, Ordri is an exciting boutique brimming with designer goodies, sneakers, candles and unique handmade jewellery.

"I am so passionate about what I do, whether it’s on the shop floor meeting customers, or out sourcing exciting brands.” The store appeals to mothers and daughters alike and is filled with aﬀordable basics alongside hero pieces selected with customers who want something diﬀerent from the high street in mind. There are 100% cashmere knits by Wyse, silks by Rixo, Custom-Made and Samsoe Samsoe and great jeans by Ida, Oui, MosMosh and Maison Scotch. Each season Audrey likes to change the brand mix around, keeping her core looks and then adding new companies for an injection of fresh ideas for her regulars.

Images from above left: Cabbage & White necklaces, from £35; Parkminster candle in tin, £10; Wyse cashmeres jumper from £170; Maruti pumps, £95.

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FASHION || “Women's shopping habits have changed as so many work from home or when at work, it’s smart casual. Some find that difficult and that’s where we come in to help combine what they have with pieces they need.” Audrey offers an appointment only service on Mondays and her next venture is to set up a small website of key pieces, as they have being selling a lot to visitors from London and Europe using their Instagram page which can be found @ordriboutique. Over the years, as the seasons have shifted, Audrey has adjusted her buying so that during the colder months, January to March, she sells cashmere and knitwear and then with in the warmer autumn months she still stocks lighter resort pieces. Clothes are displayed with just a few sizes on view, in outfit suggestions instead of blocks of all the same piece, encouraging a mix of labels to suit a modern wardrobe of all budgets. Unique gifts on offer come from Parkminster Candles, a family-run business based near Brighton, producing amazing oils and candles, the most popular named, ‘Tomato Leaf’, and SandyBay Candles from Essex who will personalise with your name and special dates. “I love supporting and buying into small cottage industries which are usually family-run. Cabbage White Jewellery is run by a local Guildford mum, hand-making gold and silver initial necklaces as well as amazing star and thunderbolt pieces.” Audrey’s aim is to create a relaxed, welcoming store full of inspiring pieces and with a beer fridge for husbands. It’s these unique touches that will keep boutiques like Ordri high on your shopping list.

Ordri

12 Upper Church Lane, Farnham Tel: 01252 891555 Open Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm; and 6pm on Friday and Saturday. Open Mondays by appointment only, call for more details.

To celebrate 15 years in Farnham, Ordri are offering 15% off purchases in April 2017 April 2017

Images clockwise from top left: Wyse cashmere jumpers from £170; Scotch & Soda sheer shirt, £84.95; Lollys Laundry printed shirt, £84.95; Mos Mosh Jeans from £89; Custommade £159 and sweater, £159.

FIND OUT MORE Kirstie Smillie is a Personal Fashion Stylist. Subscribe to her style blog www.kirstiesmillie. com for weekly updates, and email any queries to kirstie@kirstiesmillie.com or call 07773 234947. Follow on Instagram @smilliekirstie

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summer. From Lazy jazz Sundays, Pop-up Shakespeare, Summer Ranger Walks, Bat walks, Go wild summer crafts and a Donkey Derby! For full details on these events and more go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey or telephone 01372 452048. Friends of the Dorking Community Hospital Volunteers If you can spare a morning or afternoon weekly, fortnightly or monthly to help run the coffee shop they would love to hear from you and it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the Shop Manager Eileen Stanbridge 01306 884178 or make enquires at the coffee shop.

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Box Hill’s New Riverside Walk Opens The National Trust at Box Hill is delighted to have opened up just over 80 acres of conservation-grade farmland for public access immediately below the famous viewpoint at Box Hill. Snaking its way down the hill, the new walk, called the Riverside Walk is a three mile route taking in some of the finest views and stretch of river that Box Hill has to offer. There is also car parking, toilets and a café. Free copies of the walks leaflet and map can be picked up at the visitor centre, or downloaded at www. nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill/trails/box-hill-riverside-walk. Watermill Jazz at Betchworth Park Golf Club Dorking Various dates throughout April A stunning lineup this month including Patricia Barber, The Scott Hamilton Quartet and a Tribute to Bobby Wellins. For full details on these events and bookings visit www.watermilljazz.co.uk, call 07415 815784 or email boxofﬁce@watermilljazz.co.uk. Reigate Road, Dorking RH4 1NZ.

Betchworth Archives Gardens Exhibition Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th April 10am to 4pm Betchworth Village Archives are holding an exhibition entitled ‘Gardens, Glasshouses and the Horticultural Society in Betchworth’. It will feature newspaper articles, drawings, photographs and paintings together with some of the researched history of the large (and small) gardens in Betchworth. Entry is free and it will be held in The Hamilton Room, Church Street, Betchworth RH3 7DN. Dorking United Reform Church Holy Week & Easter Services From Sunday 9th April Join Dorking URC for a variety of services over the Easter period. Palm Sunday through to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to Easter Day. For a full programme please call 01306 889644 or visit www.dorkingurc.org.uk.

Bookham Wine Club talk ‘New from Spain’ Monday 10th April 7.30pm On her fourth return visit to the club, Angela Bawtree will take members on a journey of the lesser known wine producing areas of Spain, discovering wines from small wine makers who use traditional methods and grape varietals that may be new to many. Definitely an evening not to miss. Meeting in the Harrison Room of the Old Barn Hall in Bookham. For more information please visit www.bookhamwineclub.org.uk.

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April 2017

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LOCAL ||

Leith Hill Place

has been a real team eﬀort. Many of the volunteers at the house have been involved in researching, designing, interpreting and displaying the ceramics. Working within the confines of the Grade II* listed building has often been a challenge, but it’s a real sense of achievement to display this historic collection in its original setting.”

A collection of Wedgwood ceramics will be on display at Leith Hill Place this year, returning to the house for the first time in over 50 years. Assembled by Ralph Wedgwood, cousin to the well-known composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, the collection contains over 140 pieces of Wedgwood ceramic ranging from tea sets to vases, beads and even a pair of earrings. Whilst most people associate Wedgwood china with the distinctive blue colour, the grounds for the pots were also made in black, lilac and green among other shades. Items from the collection in these more unusual colours will also be on display. Not all items from the Wedgwood collection will be on display at Leith Hill Place. Some of the more significant items are already on loan to other museums such as the British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, including plates from the ‘Frog’ service created for Queen Catherine of Russia and a first day vase, one of only seven thrown on the very first day the Wedgwood factory moved to Etruria in Staﬀordshire. Natalie Savage, Visitor Operations Manager for the National Trust at Leith Hill Place said, “Putting this exhibition together 24

Vaughan Williams inherited Leith Hill Place in 1944 and a year later passed it to the National Trust for the benefit of the nation. The house was then let to Ralph Wedgwood, who made it his family home and proudly displayed his collection of Wedgwood ceramics, which in the 1950s was open for the public to view two afternoons a week. Ralph assembled his collection from family inheritances, auctions and one-oﬀ purchases. Subsequent generations have added their own items to the collection, showing the timelessness of the ceramics and the diversity of the factory. Natalie continued, “One of the more exciting finds when researching for the exhibition was an inventory from 1955 of the items at Leith Hill Place, which listed not only a description of each item, but also its location in the house. Where possible we’ve tried to restore items to their original position.” The exhibition is being held in memory of the late Sir Martin Wedgwood and will run from 28th April to 29th October on Friday-Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 11am-5pm. Entrance to the exhibition is free, but admission charges for Leith Hill Place will apply. National Trust members receive free entry.

Top: Leith Hill Place. Left: Ralph and Iris Wedgewood.

FIND OUT MORE A series of special events will be held throughout the year and will be advertised on the National Trust website: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ leith-hill-place

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Basketball for Learning disabled young people Every Monday 6pm-7pm The Scorchers Foundation charity, who run alongside the Surrey Scorchers Pro Basketball team are running Basketball sessions for young adults 16+ with Intellectual (Learning) disabilities. The first session will always be free and then they will be at a reduced rate of £2 per person for the time being. The basketball takes place at St Peter’s School, Merrow on Monday nights. They would be delighted to see more young people coming along to join in and have some fun. For more information please call 07810 122389 or email the foundation at foundation@surreyscorchers.co.uk. Horsley Garden Society They hold flower and produce shows, meetings, lectures and visits to bring together those with an interest in gardening from beginners to experts. New members and visitors are always welcome. Membership is only £5 per annum, contact the Chairman, Roger Lindsay for details via email: r.lindsay339@ btinternet.com or the Membership Secretary, Terry Lazenby via email: terrylazenby@terrylazenby.plus.com. Dorking Walkers Every Tuesday and Thursday How about walking regularly with a friendly local group. For more details on the walks please contact Ann on 01306 888745 or visit their website: www.surreycommunity.info/ dorkingwalkers.

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Horsley Floral Decoration Group Tuesday 11th April 2pm Demonstrator Claire Bryant subject “That will come in handy one day”. Club competition “Unusual container”. The Horsley Floral Decoration Group is a friendly afternoon flower arranging club meeting at East Horsley Village Hall on the second Tuesday of each month for a varied programme of Demonstrators, Speakers, trips, sales table, refreshments, etc. Visitors and new members welcome. For more details please phone Beryl on 01483 831422 or email bjg317@virginmedia.com. The Daffodil Show, Wilsons Wood at RHS Wisley Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th April Hundreds of blooms in over 100 classes, the perfect place to see the range of daffodils grown and learn how to grow and show them. Normal Garden admission applies. For full details on this and other events please visit their website www.rhs.org. uk/wisley. Fitness Challenges Fund Hospice Care If you’re looking for a new challenge this year, then look no further! Whether you’re a couch potato who won’t even run for the bus, or a gym bunny looking for a new high – Phyllis Tuckwell has a huge range of challenges, which will get your adrenaline pumping! Choose your challenge and show everyone what you’re made of. Visit www.pth.org.uk/getﬁt-for-phyllis to see the full range of challenges on offer or contact the Fundraising team on 01252 729446 / fundraising@pth.org.uk to sign up now!

Muddy Mission 5K or 10K obstacle course Dorking, Surrey Saturday 17 June 2017 Go on a muddy mission to help find a cure for Parkinson’s. parkinsons.org.uk/muddymission

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<25 JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Horsley Decorative and Fine Arts Society Talk Wednesday 12th April 10.30am The April talk is by Frank Woodgate, entitled ‘John Singer Sargent: Much More Than Just A Modern van Dyck’. East Horsley Village Hall, Kingston Avenue KT24 6QT at 10.30am (coffee available 9.45am - 10.15am). Visitors (£5) and new members welcome. For more information and the full programme phone 01372 451015 or visit their website, www. horsleydfas.org.uk. Easter Cruises on the Wey and Arun Canal Loxwood Friday 14th, Sunday 16th and Monday 17th April Themed Easter Cruises will be running over the Easter weekend with plenty of Easter characters to entertain you. The trips depart at 11am, 12 noon and 2pm. Children will receive a chocolate gift from the Easter Bunny. Tickets £10.00 per person including refreshments. Booking in advance is advisable at www.weyandarun.co.uk. Dorking Folk Club Meeting weekly on Wednesday nights from 8.30 pm The weekly program alternates between booked guests and “Singers’ Nights”. The club’s “Singers’ Nights” showcase local non-professional musicians and performers who get together and perform in an informal, friendly and supportive atmosphere. These evenings are open to all types of performance and acoustic music styles; musicians, singers, poems and monologues are all welcome. If you are not a performer please come along, join the audience and enjoy the evening.

For further details please check out their website www. dorkingfolkclub.org.uk. Entrance is usually £9 for Guest Nights and £3 for Singers Nights. Dorking Golf Club, Deepdene Avenue, Dorking, RH5 4BX. Cadbury Egg Hunt Hatchlands Park Friday 14th to Monday 17th April 11am-4pm Explore the parkland this spring with a fun trail. Solve the clues and claim your Cadbury chocolate prize. Normal admission applies plus £3 per trail. Visit www.nationaltrust. org.uk/hatchlandspark or telephone 01483 444334 for more details. Learn a New Skill for the New Year at RHS Garden Wisley Various dates throughout the year Choose from more than 110 adult education courses and workshops, including 25 new courses. Learn new skills including garden design, photography, creative crafts and horticulture. Learn how to weave willow bird feeders, identify trees in summer and winter, or develop your photography skills in the beautiful surroundings of the RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey. New courses at Wisley include, Designing Gardens for Dementia, Botany and Beer or you could study Social Media for Gardeners or Understanding Your Soil. Wisley’s Courses and Workshops 2017 brochure can be downloaded from the RHS website, www.rhs.org.uk/wisley or email adult learning@rhs. org.uk to request a pdf or posted copy. RHS Garden Wisley, GU23 6QB.

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Volunteers needed Emotional support and practical help at home Life-threatening illness can strike out of the blue and can be devastating for the family. It’s often hard to cope – not just with the routine of hospital visits and treatment but with the emotional strain and worry. Our trained volunteers can make a real difference. reg.charity 288923

Brigitte Trust volunteers offer respite for a carer and the chance to share some of the many feelings and concerns serious illness brings. Volunteers visit weekly, helping people facing any life-threatening condition when it’s increasingly hard to cope at home. Sitting and listening can be the most valuable help of all. Join our next volunteer “taster session” and training course. You’ll gain the skills to support local people at a time of real need.

Call 01306 881816 today 26

www.brigittetrust.org

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Easter Open Day at Albury Vineyard Easter Saturday 15th April This is fantastic family-friendly open day with activities for kids, a vineyard bunny run and sparkling wine tasting for grown-ups - Perfect! Tickets are £5 for adult (includes tastings and 10% discount on purchases), £2.50 for children (includes chocolate) and can by booked online at www.alburyvineyard.com. Albury Organic Vineyard, Silent Pool, Shere Road, Albury GU5 9BW.

Afternoon Teas in Capel Church Sunday 16th, Monday 17th, Sunday 30th April and Monday 1st May from 3pm This delightful Surrey village is hosting teas in Church on various Sundays throughout the spring, summer and autumn months. The local ladies of The Friends put together an amazing display of cakes and savouries and all washed down with tea, coffee or squashes.

The Passion of Jesus at Guildford High Street Easter Saturday 15th April 12 noon and 2.30pm They are delighted that the closing prayers will be offered by Cardinal Vincent Nicholls for the first performance and Reverend Lucy Winkett for the second performance. They will need lots of volunteers to make this a success, so please email admin@ wintershall-estate.com if you can join them. They are running a free coach from Wintershall or you can make your own way to the Square on Guildford High Street. For full details visit www. wintershall-estate.com.

Tea on The Green, Brockham Easter Monday 17th April 2.30pm to 5pm Please pop along for charity afternoon tea on the green in aid of St Catherine’s Hospice. Tea and cakes as well as tombola and open garden. Last year they raised nearly £1,000 as a result of the event. Held at Brockham Church Hall.

Dorking Museum exhibition: ‘Medieval Betchworth’ Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout April The Museum’s new spring exhibition gives a flavour of life in a medieval village. Drawing from manorial records, the exhibition examines life on a medieval manor. The Museum is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10am-4pm, at 62 West Street, Dorking RH4 1BS. For more details, visit www. dorkingmuseum.org.uk. For all enquiries send your email to admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk or telephone 01306 876591.

Simply Scones Cream Teas at The Grange, Bookham Tuesday afternoons 2.15-3.30pm Simply Scones cream teas are back in the Victorian Conservatory of The Grange Centre for People with Disabilities. They have been closed for building work, but are back with delicious (not to mention huge) scones made and served by people they support as part of a mini catering business. To book, please call 01372 452608, £3.50 per person. Newdigate Local History Society Tuesday 18th April 7.30pm Talk by Andrew Wates on his much-loved horse ‘Rough Quest’, the Grand National winner who sadly died last October. Held

Voluntary Action South West Surrey Voluntary Action South West Surrey is a local support and development organisation working with the voluntary sector to provide advice, support and information. Volunteering not only helps the charities, organisations and community groups who depend on volunteers but it also greatly benefits the person giving their time. If you would like to find out more about what volunteer roles are available and how you can get involved, you can contact their volunteer centres on 01483 565456 or 01252 725961 or email guildfordvc@vasws.org.uk. Living Easter in Effingham Saturday 15th April at 3pm Following the success of Effingham’s first Living Nativity, please join them as they present the first Living Easter. Meet outside the Sir Douglas Haig pub and follow the Easter story presented in an accessible and family friendly way at various locations around the village. Ending back in the Sir Douglas Haig pub where a complimentary buffet will be provided. The afternoon will also include an Easter Bonnet Parade and Easter eggs will be given to the kids. The Unattached Group (TUG) Spring Activities TUG are now looking forward to a Spring of new activities. The Unattached Group (TUG) is a Surrey based group of about 70 single professional people aged 49 - 69 who enjoy times together including informal weekly pub meets, meals out, theatre and cinema trips, walks, quizzes, bridge, opera and book clubs. New members welcome. For information to www. theunattachedgroup.co.uk or call Maggie on 07855 008897. April 2017

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GARDENING ||

With Beth Otway

My favourite cut ﬂowers... I'd like to introduce you to some of my favourite cut flowers; these beautiful, easy-to-grow flowers don't require any cosseting. You can sow these flowers from seed this month directly where they are to flower, so there's no messing about with potting seedlings on, and no need for a greenhouse or any special kit or equipment.

Chiltern Seeds stock Nigella damascena 'Albion Green Pod', which as its name suggests, produces white, ruﬄed flowers followed by green seed heads, and Nigella damascena 'Albion Black Pod', which produces white flowers followed by dark maroon-coloured seed heads. Consider growing both varieties to complement each other, although you may decide to opt for Chiltern Seeds' pack of Nigella species and forms mixed, or Nigella damascena 'Persian Jewels' mixed.

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There are so many fabulous varieties of Nigella available. I am particularly fond of Nigella damascena 'Double White', which I purchased from Sarah Raven. I have been growing this Nigella cultivar for quite a number of years now; I simply can't be without it. I enjoy the fernylooking foliage produced by Nigella damascena 'Double White', and I adore its white ruﬄed flowers. The flowers are followed by attractive green seed heads, which increase in size as they develop towards maturity. The seed heads look wonderful in a vase and dry well too, but don't cut them all - leave some to self-seed for next year.

Lagurus ovatus 'Bunny Tails' is a super-hardy annual to grow; happiest when sown directly onto sandy soil, this lovely grass produces soft, silky panicles, which are green at first and fade to cream as they age. These pretty panicles, which resemble cute bunny tails, are easily dried and last indefinitely.

Chiltern Seeds stock every colour of Centaurea cyanus, also known as cornflowers, from white to darkest maroon, pink, purple, and of course every shade of blue. Ideal for poorer soils, cornflowers will flower from June to September if you pick the flowers regularly. Also favouring slightly poorer soils, Gypsophila elegans 'Covent Garden' is a delightful, single flowered Gypsophila that can be sown directly during April and May. Sunflowers are real bringers of joy! Available in a range of colours and sizes, including dwarf varieties for containers, the tallest strains for world record attempts, and multiheaded varieties for cut flowers, you can sow every type of sunflower this month. Scabiosa atropurpurea produces large flower heads in colours from almost black, purple, pink, red, blue, and white. Sow directly from the end of April and throughout May. Dahlias produce fantastic cut flowers. Whatever your favourite dahlia, you can plant their tubers outside from the middle of April onwards. Since I first saw Dahlia 'Café-auLait', I was smitten with its sumptuous, creamy peach-coloured blooms. However this lovely Dahlia is rather shy at flowering, only producing flowers sparsely and on occasion, so if you're short on space and want to grow an abundance of blooms, opt for another more floriferous dahlia. I am head over heels in love with Dahlia 'Classic Rosamunde' which produces utterly charming, semi-double pink flowers all through the summer until the first frosts. My Dahlia 'Classic Rosamunde' plants are always much admired for their dark bronze coloured foliage and beautiful rose pink blooms, which are so popular with butterflies and bees. Another of my firm favourites is Dahlia 'April Heather', a fabulous collarette type dahlia, which features soft yellow petals bathed in blush pink - it's a real delight. Images from top: Cornﬂowers; Dahlia 'Classic Rosamunde'; Nigella damascena 'Double White'; and a sunﬂower.

FIND OUT MORE For more gardening advice for the month ahead, a calendar of specialist plant fairs and much more besides, visit my website www.pumpkinbeth.com

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

at Newdigate Village Hall. Entry is £1 for members and £2 for non-members. All visitors welcome. For further information call 01306 631233. Affinité the Surrey based social club for mature singles The club has a fantastic programme of lunches, Saturday night dinners and informal club nights. Plus visits to the theatre, cinema, concerts and places of interest. If you would like to get yourself a social life and a bunch of new friends, contact the club through their recently re launched website www.clubafﬁnite.co.uk.

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Beautifully designed & crafted outdoor spaces for you to enjoy

Shakespeare’s Birthday Bash Returns to Guildford Three dates from 19th April Now in its 6th year, Will’s Birthday Bash is Guildford Shakespeare Company’s annual celebration of William Shakespeare birthday, 23rd April 1564. The award-winning theatre company have lined a programme of 3 events, kicking off with a special staged reading of Shakespeare’s last play, Henry VIII, on Wednesday 19th April. On 22nd and 23rd April the company’s ever-popular Sonnet Walks will take to the streets of Guildford again. Finally, on Sunday 30th April, GSC’s brand new Young Company will be presenting their first public performance. For more details call the Box Office on 01483 304384 or visit their website www.guildfordshakespeare-company.co.uk. A Celebration of Weddings in Words and Music Saturday 22nd April 7.30pm This concert will consist of familiar music played at weddings together with some poems and readings suitable for weddings. There will also be some choir items. So if you are planning a wedding or would like to hear again the music that might have been played at your wedding or to hear some old, some new and some humorous readings. Then this is the evening for you. Held in St. Michael’s Church Betchworth. Tickets are £12.00 to include a glass of wine. For full details call 01737 832806. Forever Jackson Stage Show hits the Harlequin Theatre Thursday 24th April Saluting 30 years of Michael Jackson’s platinum-selling Bad album, award-winning, critically-acclaimed stage show Forever Jackson is coming to town. All the million-selling hits feature including: Thriller, Beat It, Billie Jean, Can You Feel It, Blame it on the Boogie, I Want You Back, Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough and Rock With You. Tickets are available from the theatre box office now.Harlequin Theatre, Warwick Quadrant, Redhill, RH1 1NN. Dorking Business Breakfast Group Every Thursday from 7am This is Dorking’s oldest and largest business networking group with members from over 30 local businesses. They meet at Betchworth Park Golf Club near Dorking, to exchange business referrals and discuss matters affecting the town. For further information about Dorking Business Breakfast Group, please visit www.dorkingbbg.com or follow @DorkingBBG on Twitter. Leatherhead Rotary Club Appeal From Wednesday 25th January to Tuesday 2nd May As in previous years, Leatherhead Rotary Club is appealing to April 2017

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RECIPES ||

Spring Lamb

For me, spring roast lamb is probably my favourite Sunday lunch. Simon Hopkinson is also my favourite food writer. His book Roast Chicken and Other Stories was voted the most useful cookery book of all time by fellow chefs, restaurateurs and writers. Simon Hopkinson pairs his lamb with Gratin de Jabron by Shaun Hill, who runs the Michelin starred Walnut Tree Inn in Abergavenny. The perfect accompaniment is French peas, so easy and much better than plainly boiled ones! SR

Roast Leg of Lamb Ingredients: 1.8kg leg of lamb 2 x 50g tins anchovies A small bunch of rosemary 4 large garlic cloves, peeled and sliced lengthways into three 75g butter, softened black pepper 1/2 bottle white wine Juice of 1 lemon and a bunch of watercress, to garnish Serves 4-6

Method: Preheat the oven to 220C/Gas 7. With a small sharp knife, make about 12 incisions 5cm deep in the fleshy side of the joint. Insert a piece of garlic, half an anchovy and a small sprig of rosemary into each incision. Push all of them right in with your little finger. Cream the butter with any remaining anchovies and smear it all over the surface of the meat. Grind over plenty of black pepper. Place the lamb in a roasting tin and pour the wine around. Tuck in any leftover sprigs of rosemary and pour over the lemon juice. Put in the oven and roast for 15 minutes. Turn the oven temperature down to 180C/Gas 4 and roast the lamb for a further hour, or slightly April 2017

more, depending on how you like your meat. Baste from time to time with the winey juices. Take the meat out of the oven and leave to rest in a warm place for at least 15 minutes before carving. Taste the juices and see if any salt is necessary it shouldn't be, because of the anchovies. During roasting, the wine should have reduced and mingled with the meat juices and anchovy butter to make a delicious gravy. If it's too thin, a quick bubble on the hob should improve the consistency.

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Taken from Roast Chicken and Other Stories by Simon Hopkinson and Lindsey Bareham (Ebury Press, ÂŁ16.99)

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RECIPES ||

Gratin de Jabron A version of gratin dauphinoise. It has two advantages over the standard method. First, preboiling the potatoes in their jackets means that there will be a potato ﬂavour to the finished dish as well as a creamy texture.

Ingredients: 1kg maris piper potatoes 150g unsalted butter 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed salt and freshly ground white pepper 200ml milk 300ml whipping cream Serves 4-6

Method: Pre-heat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4. Wash and sort the potatoes. They need to be steamed in their skins, so it helps if they are about the same size. Steam until they are only just cooked, so they are still slightly firm in the middle. Melt, but do not brown, the butter with the crushed garlic in a saucepan. Mix together the cream and the milk. When the butter has melted, scoop out the garlic pieces and spread them around the bottom

of your baking dish so they form a buttery garlicky base layer. Peel then slice the potatoes and lay them into the baking dish. Generously season with salt and pepper and spoon over the remaining melted butter, then pour over the milk and cream. Bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

Petit pois à la française Ingredients:

Method:

100g butter 1 large cos lettuce 6 spring onions, white part only, thickly sliced 500g frozen peas Salt and freshly ground white pepper Several mint leaves, chopped

Slice up the spring onions sauté them gently in the butter. Cut the lettuce into shreds and add them to the spring onions. Add the peas and mix together.

Serves 4-6

Season and then add just a small cup of water so the peas just braise with the lettuce and onions. Cook for just 5-10 minutes until cooked to your liking, add the fresh mint leaves and then serve.

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Mole Valley residents to help them support West Hill School in North Leatherhead by collecting vouchers for schools from Sainsbury’s supermarkets. Thanks entirely to the generosity of Mole Valley residents, Leatherhead Rotary Club has been able to present almost 60,000 supermarket vouchers to the school, enabling them to ‘buy’ hundreds of pounds worth of equipment to support their pupils. Please send your vouchers to Leatherhead Rotary Club, c/o Donovan Hewitt, The Leatherhead Theatre, 7 Church Street, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8DN. Leatherhead Rotary Club Meetings They meet at 7pm most Wednesday evenings at the Police Federation Headquarters in Highbury Drive, Leatherhead. For further information about the club and its wide range of community, fundraising and social activities please visit www. leatherheadrotary.org.uk or contact Simon Edmands on 07753 821964 or leatherheadrotary@gmail.com. Ashtead Bowling Club Free Indoor Coaching Session Wednesdays and Thursdays Sessions are tailored for beginners and provide an excellent introduction to the sport of bowling. A £1 fee is required to cover temporary membership for the day. When the green opens at the end of April, you would be eligible for full membership of the club with use of all its facilities. Please contact Mike Bradford on 01372 273142 to book a session. They have a thriving club with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Local History Society Monthly Meetings Third Friday of each month 8pm The society has a full programme of lectures held at the Leatherhead Institute’s Dixon Hall. Every talk starts at 8pm, with coffee served from 7.30pm. Admission costs just £2. Guests are always welcome but why not join the Society itself? You will receive your own copy of the quarterly Newsletter, packed full of news and fascinating articles, as well as the annual Proceedings, the Society’s local history studies with fully referenced details of historical research projects. For more information go to www.leatherheadlocalhistory.org.uk. Dorking Museum Gallery Talk: ‘A Sense of Place: Medieval Betchworth’ Thursday 27th April 7pm. Museum archivist, Jane Le Cluse’s talk, based on the work carried out for the Betchworth Village Archives exhibitions and the current Dorking Museum special exhibition, gives a flavour of life in a small medieval village in the 11th to 15th centuries. Doors open 6.30pm, entry £5, which includes a glass of Prosecco. Visit www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk, email admin@ dorkingmuseum.org.uk or phone 01306 876591 for more details and bookings. Spring Craft Fair at RHS Wisley Thursday 27th April to Monday 1st May Craft In Focus is delighted to be returning to RHS Garden Wisley this Spring to be staging its annual contemporary craft and design fair within the Garden. This has become one of the most popular contemporary craft events in the UK and is an event not April 2017

• Caring Independent Practice • Advice on all aspects of Pet care • Discounted Health Plan available • Consultations by appointment • 24 hour emergency service

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Opening hours: Monday – Friday 0830 – 1830 hours, Saturday 0900 - 1100 hours Sunday emergency Clinic 1000 – 1100 hours 20 Knoll Road, Dorking RH4 3EP - 01306 883086 Rothwell House, Church Road, Bookham KT23 3JP - 01372 452531 Station Road, Gomshall GU5 9LE - 01483 205066

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Chanctonbury and Steyning: A Ring with a View This walk takes you along a stretch of the South Downs with fine views all round and, after a visit to a lovely small country town, along a lower route full of interest and back over the Downs again. The going is easy over the chalk downs but you may encounter mud on the lower paths in the wetter seasons, when ankle boots are an advantage. The walk has two parts: a high road, with fine views, and a contrasting low road with many beautiful points of interest. Both towns offer good opportunities for refreshment. For full instructions, and bigger maps, please visit www.fancyfreewalks.org.

The walk 1. Go past the metal barrier at the end of the car right at the tree line. Follow this flinty path, walking park, signposted South Downs Way, on a flinty path beside a wood on your left. After 400m, you reach a uphill. At the top, at a fingerpost ignore a footpath fork by a post with blue arrows. left and, 20m later, ignore a cinder farm track right. 4. Take the right-hand fork, slightly uphill. The path Just after a gas relay station on your left, ignore a goes between concrete posts by a field on the right marked bridleway by a gate on the left and continue and enters woodland. Just 15m into the woodland, on the track. After 50m, leave the track by forking fork left on a long path downhill through the wood, left on a signed path and going through a wooden avoiding bike paths on your left. After 250m, the gate, soon passing chalk earthworks on your right. path comes to a junction where you can see over to Close by in the valley is Washington village. Rock your right a waymarker post and a wooden swing Mill (now sailless) can be seen just to the right gate. Turn right to the gate and go pointleft yourthrough feet a newThe path path of a sand quarry. Built in 1823, it appears on the it (or through the wide gap on itsonleft). village’s shield and was lived in by the composer leads down and emerges from the woods by a new John Ireland. Keep straight ahead on a steep chalky wooden swing gate,&with firstDowns view of Steyning Chanctonbury, Steyning theyour South path uphill and go through a wooden gate atAthe below. After 250m of open hillside, your path goes Ring with a View top. Keep in the same general direction up the through a wooden swing gate into woods. Keep Distance: 12½ km=8 miles easy-to-moderate walking grassy slope. You have a fine view to the left Region: over West right on a narrow but straight path. It takes you Sussex Date written: 5-aug-2010 the Weald to the North Downs. As you ascend,Author: the Hautboy through a small wooden gate on a12-oct-2016 straight route Last update: sea comes into view, near the big town of Worthing. between hedges and later an unneeded wooden Refreshments: Steyning, Washington At the other side, at the highest point on the grass, gate a trackhopefully by some allotments. On Maps: Explorer 121leading (Arundel) &onto 122 (Steyning) not needed Problems, We depend on your feedback: go over a low bank to the Dew Pond in its ring of changes? reaching a road, keep feedback@fancyfreewalks.org straight ahead and, just Public rights are restricted to printing, copying or distributing this document exactly as hawthorn. after it bends right, turn left through a barrier seen here, complete and without any cutting or editing. See Principles on main webpage. 2. Turn right away from the pond and go through down to the main street of Steyning, opposite the High hills, views, village, country town, woodland a wooden gate by an information tablet. Turn Dolls House Shop. At the time of writing this shop Brief also does “psychic readings on Fridays”. The walk left on the track, beside a cattle grid, headingIn for the Chanctonbury Ring. It is better to shiftThis left willyou continue leftoffrom here, but cannot come walk takes along a stretch the South Downs withyou fine views all round and, without after a visit to a lovely small country alongtown. a lower route up the grassy bank and walk on a parallel grassy first seeing sometown, of the of interest and back over the Downs again. The going is easy over the ridge which has views on both sides, headingfull for 5. After your visit, return westwards along the High chalk downs but you may encounter mud on the lower paths in the wetter the left-hand side of the Ring. On reachingseasons, the when Street, pastarethe Dolls House on your right. ankle boots an advantage. The walk Shop has two parts: a high road, Where with fine views, a contrasting lowright, road with many beautiful Chanctonbury Ring, you can walk on a clockwise the and street bends leave it by keeping Both towns offer good opportunities for refreshment. To circular course to obtain an overall view ofpoints theof interest. straight ahead on Mouse Lane, a name that seems enquire at the Frankland Arms, ring 01903-892220. In Steyning the choice ancient earthworks. Continue from the Ring onis the so appropriate for the small cottages that occupy wide. wide track, part of the South Downs Way (SDW), thepreviously lane. the In eastern only 100m, just 20 past the mile lastwalk thatched This walk was part of a longer km=12½ Thisgo longer walk is now available big zipper by in 10m, heading past a cylindrical tank, then through a taking gatein Sullington. cottage, diagonally left onasaa track and, combining itfork with the walkon Sullington, Chantry & the South Downs. Zip by a cattle grid. In ½ km, at a 4-way junction, keep right a hidden narrow footpath, going over a points are indicated in the guides. straight ahead. stile and into a meadow of wild grass. (If overgrown, The walk begins at the Washington car park. The nearest postcode is 3. In another ½ km or so, a track joins from the right. on120. the turn rightthe after RH20 4AZ, continue grid ref TQ 119 Buttrack careful and ! It is best to ignore satnava metal After 400m, at the end of a meadow on the left,foratthealast mile gate.) path another as it The might lead youmeets to the wrong car park. path For full from details the left see at the end of this text ( Getting There).a An alternative start new 3-way fingerpost, turn left on a path between and continues beside ribbon fence. At the end, (preferred by many walkers) is Steyning (postcode BN44 3YB), where wire fences, thus leaving the SDW. Your path turns go over stile and fork on narrow footpath, there is parking near theachurch. You can also left park at theaChanctonbury Ring car park, postcode BN44 3DN (start at Low Road section 3 ). Washington

DISTANCE: 8 miles OS MAPS: Explorer 121 (Arundel) & 122 (Steyning) STARTING POINT: The walk begins at the Washington car park. The nearest postcode is RH20 4AZ, grid ref TQ 119 120

Low Road Steyning Chanctonbury Ring A24

Image: Chanctonbury Ring by Led Chatfield

short cut

High Road

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Bird’s Eye View

Wiston House

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WALK ||