VantagePoint Magazine January 2016 - Dorking & Villages

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Dorking & Villages • January 2016

VANTAGEPOINT Your best view of what’s going on locally

MAGAZINE

Happy New Year!

Inside: INTERIORS THE HISTORY OF DENNIS - PART 4 50 YEARS OF THE YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE WIN TICKETS TO GODALMING OPERATIC SOCIETY IN LEATHERHEAD The local magazine produced by local people for the local community, delivered by your local postman

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

Sales: 01306 776679 Editorial: 01483 421601 VantagePoint is published by Vantage Publishing, a Godalming based local magazine business which was first established in 2009 when we launched our first community magazine.

We now publish five community magazines which are delivered monthly by Royal Mail to 108,193 homes across the South East, which gives us the largest local circulation in the areas we cover, all with guaranteed delivery by your postman.

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

YOUR LOCAL TEAM Firstly, may we wish all our readers and advertisers a very happy and prosperous New Year.

As we enter our seventh year publishing our local community magazines, we continue to get terrific feedback from so many of those who send us the monthly Jottings. Farnham Lions have just told us that “you remain our principal source of bookings” which is always good to hear.

In order to further improve the service we offer to local people through the Jottings, we have made a small and hopefully useful change to make it more obvious what event or organisation each Jotting is about.

They also remain in date order with the date more prominent. Please let me know what you think.

January 2016

Stefan Reynolds Editor & Publisher

THE ONLY ROYAL MAIL DELIVERED

MAGAZINE PRODUCED by

LOCAL PEOPLE

for

THE LOCAL

Following suggestions from readers, we are also now offering to send all our Jottings to you by email at the beginning of every month. We usually get between 250 and 300 Jottings each month and this will enable you to receive all of them at the same time. They will be arranged by edition (Dorking, Farnham, Godalming & Cranleigh, Guildford and Haslemere, Midhurst & Petworth) and this will enable you to easily see what is happening in other areas. The Jottings will also be searchable so you can seek out events that interest you. To sign up to get this new monthly service, please visit www.vantagepointmag.co.uk.

We have lots more planned for this year, so keep tuned in!

COMMUNITY WWW.VANTAGEPOINTMAG.CO.UK

Contact the editor: stefan@vantagepublishing.co.uk

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

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

Nick and Angie Crisell, Jottings 01483 421601 jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Barbara Maddison, Sales 01483 418141 / 07802 498858 barbara@vantagepublishing.co.uk

Contributors: Andy Goundry, Beth Otway, Malcolm Ring Print: Buxton Press Cover: Mother and child in the snow - NT John Millar

3

CONTENTS

Rugmart 0116_Layout 1 07/12/2015 15:38 Page 1

The local magazine produced by local people for the local community

13

28

Rugmart

"The Place to buy Rugs"

6 Jottings Your local community noticeboard

9 Interiors A little inspiration...

13 The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre at 50 We celebrate their golden anniversary

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

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

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

18 The Meath Epilepsy Charity Malcolm Ring profiles a fine local organisation

21 Dennis Brothers Andy Goundry with his fourth installment

24 Local Surrey Performing Arts Library

26 Gastro Latest food and drink news

28 Gardening Seasonal flowers

30 Recipes Hold that diet

34 Walks Rudgwick to Walliswood

D F AN OF Large/Oversize Rugs Afghan Rugs Rugs LEPersian 0% A 5 S O CEP T AN- U R EATraditional LE Rugs Tribal Rugs Runners CL SA CKEAR O STW Y E N Contemporary Rugs Designer Rugs Modern Rugs Underlay provided for all types of flooring

SALE ENDS 16TH JANUARY!

37 Profile Midhurst U3A

38 Business Cards Small ads for trades and services

39 Competitions Win one of three great prizes

Visit us for a wide choice of Modern & Contemporary Rugs

Rugmart

The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing can be reprinted without prior permission of the publisher. The publisher has tried to ensure that all information is accurate but does not take any responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We take no responsibility for advertisments printed in the magazine or loose inserts that might be delivered alongside it. © Vantage Publishing Limited.

4

2 ‐3 Woodbridge Road, Guildford, GU1 4PU. Tel: 01483 578874 email: info@rugmart.co.uk www.rugmart.co.uk

Surrey's BIGGEST Rug Shop vantagepointmag.co.uk

Our specialist team of private client solicitors can help you with:

SOLICITORS & NOTARIES

Wills • Trusts • Powers of Attorney • Court of Protection Deputyship Applications • Probate and Estate Administration Estate and Inheritance Tax Planning

Please contact Joanna Pashley for an appointment on 01306 502959 or j.pashley@downslaw.co.uk 156 High Street • Dorking • Surrey • RH4 1BQ • 01306 880110 • www.downslaw.co.uk

1 in 4

patients’ care is funded thanks to gifts in wills Every gift, in every will, makes a difference to the care we provide.

TO FIND OUT MORE: t: 01293 447369 e: andyperry@stch.org.uk w: www.stch.org.uk Registered Charity No. 281362

January 2016

5

JOTTINGS YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

10>

GET OUR MONTHLY JOTTINGS DIRECT TO YOUR EMAIL INBOX JOTTINGS

If you would like to receive ALL our monthly Jottings directly into your email inbox at the beginning of every month, please sign up at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk

Happy New Year!

First of all, we wish all our VantagePoint readers a very Happy New Year. You will notice that this month we have made a change to the layout of Jottings with each one starting with a heading and a date where appropriate.

Hopefully this will make it easier for our readers to refer to events, but do let us know what you think. This is definitely a month for awards; I think we have mentioned no less than four award winners, in all the edition, who have each excelled in their particular field. Well done to you all. Finally, another big thank you for sending in your Jottings and for sending, where possible, attachments in Word format, it does help us a lot.

in 1903. Today, they offer high quality adult learning opportunities, which stimulate and engage students in a friendly and relaxed environment. In the Fetcham & Bookham branch they are running courses on: China, Current International Affairs, Georgian History, Astronomy, Forensic Science, Bee Keeping, The Life of William Cobbett (A Surrey Man). All courses are held either at The Leatherhead Institute or The Barn Hall, Bookham.

For further details, or to request a brochure, contact Joy Tapping on 01306 713355 or email rolfey27543@ btinternet.com or go to www.weafetchamandbookham. org.uk.

Lunchtime Recital at St Martin’s Saturday 2nd January 12 noon The first recital of the year begins with a piano recital at St Martin’s given by Dorking pianist the Revd Mike Stewart. He will play a programme of popular romantic music including Beethoven’s Pathétique sonata, music

by Chopin, and two virtuosic pieces by Liszt - the concert study Un sospiro and the Concert paraphrase on Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’. Free entry, call 01306 884229 for more information.

The Friends of Dorking A big thank you from The Friends of Dorking to everyone who so generously supported their recent collection outside Sainsburys and Waitrose. Altogether, £259.95 was collected, which will be used to help fund this year’s Christmas lights around the town. Over £25,000 needs to be raised each year to fund the town’s Christmas lights and summer hanging baskets. If you would like to help the Friends of Dorking brighten up the town, please visit www. friendsofdorking.org.uk or contact Simon Edmands on 07753 821964 or info@friendsofdorking.org.

WEA Fetcham & Bookham Branch Tuesday 5th January The WEA is a Charity Organisation, originally founded

Beare Green and Newdigate Choral Society Wednesday 6th January 7.45pm A retiring collection at their successful Christmas Concert

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

DORKING & VILLAGES

DELIVERED TO 19,350 LOCAL HOMES Like us on Facebook at Vantage Point Magazine

@VantageLocalMag

For more articles and Jottings, visit it us online at

www.vantagepointmag.co.uk Next Copy Date:11th January 2016 6

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Crawley Clinic_Layout 1 11/07/2013 14:29 Page 1

Laser Treatment for the Fungal Nail Infection and Warts Healthy Feet For Winter

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

www.breladesvets.com

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

A safe, effective treatment for toes and feet including toenail fungus and warts.

The treatment involves painlessly passing the laser beam over the infected nails.

Treatment sessions will take approximately 15 minutes.

GenesisPlus is very safe.

No side effects or adverse reactions have been reported. Most patients describe the procedure as being painless with a small hot pinch at the end.

50% OFF a course of treatments* 3 treatments 4-6 weeks apart *terms and conditions apply.

Crawley Clinic

16a Brighton Road, Southgate, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6AA Ring the clinic for weekly cosmetic treatment special offers Tel: 01293 538538 info@crawleyclinic.com www.crawleyclinic.com

ning illnessreg.charity 288923

Visiting families facing life-threatening illness Volunteer 2016

be a family member, a friend or business colleague and

f emotional support and practical help at home. Practical al for treatment can sometimes be hard to manage, and ust offers a volunteer who will visit weekly and build up a If you are a car driver with just , company and time to listen to many of the feelings and

Sadly, many of us are touched by cancer - it can be a family member, a friend or business colleague a four hours each week to spare The Brigitte Trust needs more male and the news can be devastating. female volunteers to make a real difference to the lives of families affected by cancer, MND or any lifeCrawley. Volunteers, who should be car drivers, are a free volunteer The Brigitte Trust offers serviceand of emotional support andemotional practical help at home. threatening condition.

Volunteers are fully trained supported to offer vital support and Prac cal visits. practical helpdriving, alongside the careand of the medical teams. for treatment can sometimes be hard to manage, a issues like shopping getting to hospital ebsite our volunteers can make a real difference. The Trust offers a volunteer who will visit weekly and build u Come and joinwith onepatient of our new introductory volunteer trainers andtovolunteers andfeelings relationship and carer, offering respite,sessions, companymeet andour time to listen many of the find out more. concerns serious illness can bring.

Our next free Sharon training on courses in Dorking and Crawley. Volunteers, who should be car drivers, are Please phone 01306run 881816. www.brigittetrust.org asked for a commitment of four hours weekly to local visits.

Call2016 Sharon January

today on 01306 881816 or visit our website

7

<6

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

RESTAURANT

Tennerfest

Monday to Saturday 6pm to 8pm

Great Meal – 3 courses for only £10.00 (+£2.50 for duck & fish dishes)

50% off every Sunday

Enjoy Sunday lunch or dinner at half price Check out our menu at www.britishrajsurrey.co.uk

For diners & collection takeaways Advance booking essential

(£2.95 packaging charge applies to takeaways)

Call to reserve your table now.

British Raj Restaurant

Fine Indian Cuisine using the best authentic ingredients At Surrey Hills Hotel, Horsham Road, Capel, Dorking Surrey RH5 4PG Tel: 01306 713630 – takeaway service Tel: 01306 710005 – bookings 8

11>

raised funds for Surrey Air Ambulance and Beare Green Community Centre. During the interval the audience enjoyed free mince pies and mulled wine. However, it’s back to business as rehearsals for the Leith Hill Musical Festival resume on Wednesday 6th in Newdigate Village Hall. This year the choir will be singing ‘Mass in G’ by Schubert and ‘Come Ye Sons of Art’ by Purcell, which was the Ode for the birthday of Queen Mary in 1694, as well as other pieces. Last year the choir won seven trophies and were overall winners of the competition – no pressure this year then! Some of the choir members will be taking part in singing The St. John’s Passion on 13th March in the Dorking Halls, also as part of the LHMF. If you would like to join this friendly, successful choir please come along on Wednesday evenings. No auditions or ability to read music are necessary. Further details, if required, from the secretary on 01306 631115.

Jive lessons Thursday 7th January If you have always wanted to jive properly you have the chance to learn authentic American Jive. They teach basic 50’s rock and roll and American 40s / 50s style. (Not Lindy Hop or Modern Jive). Lessons are on Thursdays in Forty Foot Hall, Forty Foot Road, Leatherhead KT22 8RS. 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. 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.

Dorking Museum The museum has extended its popular ‘Dorking 1915’ exhibition into the beginning of the year. This is the second in the Museum’s series of special Home Front exhibitions commemorating the centenary of the Great War. By mid-1915, several thousand troops were billeted in the Dorking area, transforming Dorking into a garrison town. The exhibition shows the impact that this had on local life in the town and surrounding villages, as well as looking at the dilemma facing local men – patriotism or pacifism? It also examines the issues faced and actions taken by local Quakers, the impact of the war on the suffrage movement and the efforts of local peace campaigners. The Museum is open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am-4pm. Entry is £2 adults, £1 concessions, Under-5’s free, £4.50 family ticket.

Dorking Museum is at The Old Foundry, 62 West Street, Dorking RH4 1BS. www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk and on Facebook and Twitter. Tel 01306 876591. vantagepointmag.co.uk

INTERIORS

A little inspiration...

Now that Christmas is just a distant memory, we can now think about preparing for 2016. Updating our homes is surprisingly therapeutic mainly because we live day to day with everything that surrounds and a change can be invigorating, not to mention getting the creative juices flowing. An easy way to transform a room is to decorate using new colour ways.

There are wonderful exotic and tropical prints on offer with everything from flamingos to palm leaves, both available as fabrics and wallpapers, teamed with the latest paint colours of teal blues, gentle greys and dusky pinks the choice of expression is vast. Try some of the new generation of paints such as Little Greene matt emulsion not only environmentally friendly but also washable and great for high traffic areas like hallways.

We are lucky to have so many local companies that specialize in fabrics, curtain making, soft furnishings, inspirational wallpapers and second generation paints. Being local means that great service and advice is included.

Look out for local upholsterers to breathe new life into tired chairs and sofas. Samples of paints, wallpaper and fabrics are readily available and can be used to create a mood board to capture inspiration and feeling.

Little Greene wallpaper starts at £57 per roll.

Little Greene matt emulsion paint emulsion from £64.50 for 5 litres.

Available from Cornmeter Church Street, Godalming Tel: 01483 415571 www.cornmeter.com

Striking patterns for curtains.

Mitchells Fabrics, Milford and Haslemere Milford: 01483 411900.

Haslemere 01428 656567 January 2016

9

INTERIORS

Chic, stylish striped carpet for a stunning floor by Brintons.

Available from Godalming Carpets, Meadrow, Godalming Tel: 01483 416969 www.godalmingcarpets.co.uk

Furla Sky fabric (top). For curtains and soft furnishings.

Snappy Orange fabric by Prestigious. Bright and fun fabric perfect for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rooms.

Both from C& H Guildford Tel: 01483 301380 www.candh.co.uk

Varenne Ionian fabric by Villa Nova. One of the new collections featuring simple cut-out shapes.

Available from Freelance Soft Furnishings, Farnham Tel 01252 737428 www.freelancesoftfurnishings.co.uk

Mosaic finial on spun brass metal pole, a perfect accessory for your new curtains.

Available from Calico High, Godalming Tel 01483 421990

10

vantagepointmag.co.uk

<8

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Watermill Jazz Thursday 7th January 8.30pm There’s jazz every Thursday at the Aviva Social Club.

The line-up for January is: Ray Gelato and the Giants on 7th, A Tribute to Toots Thielemans on 14th, Curios on 21st and Joe Locke - Love is a pendulum on 28th. As well as the regular Thursday evening concerts, they also hold monthly jam sessions normally on the first Sunday of every month from 2pm onwards. Entry is free and all musicians welcome. Tickets for jazz nights are £17-25, call 07415 815784.

Cranleigh Antique Collectables and Craft Fairs Thursday 7th January The fairs take place from 7.30am - 3pm on Thursday 7th and 21st January. Entry is free and freshly cooked refreshments will be available. It takes place at Cranleigh Village Hall, Village Way GU6 8AT. You can also take the opportunity to visit the nearby fresh produce market.

Contact Paul on 07983 84491 if you have any queries.

NEWdigate Theatrical Society Friday 8th January 7.30pm There is another chance to see the NEWTS production of ‘Babes in the Wood’ in January. This version was very cleverly written, mainly in rhyme, by local resident Tina Calcutt and was produced to raise much needed funds for new equipment for the Newdigate children’s playground. Owing to the success of the December performance the pantomime will be performed again on Friday 8th at 7.30pm and Saturday 9th January at 4.30pm and 7.30pm in Newdigate Village Hall. Tickets, to include a glass of wine or soft drink, are £10 (£5 for children) from 01306 631148.

The Leatherhead Institute From Friday 8th January The Institute is a veritable hive of activity, indeed activities. There are talks, walks and musical afternoons mostly followed by tea and cakes. There is a new Art/ History programme on Wednesdays that are due to start on 27th January when Paul Pickering will focus on Venice for two weeks. Further lectures will be given by Dr Katy Brown and also a new lecturer, Jessica Saraga. Subjects vary from renaissance painters to looking at the works of artists from the English Neo-Romantics to the St. Ives School. There is weekly Bridge, starting on 8th January,

13>

and Scrabble is played every other Friday also from 8th January. On Monday afternoons from 2pm-4.30pm there is snooker and table tennis, £1 for members and £2 for non-members. If you are not a member go and try some of these activities and you may feel that you would like to join! Details of all that happens at the Institute can be found in the January - April newsletter available from Sarah on 01372 360508. Sarah will also tell you all about membership, which is only £5pa, or click on to the website where you can find full information about the Institute, www.leatherheadca.org.uk or email them on 1ca2@btconnect.com.

Southern Pro Musica Saturday 9th January 7.30pm Southern Pro Musica, the professional orchestra providing Music for Guildford, are offering an evening of sparkling glamour in the company of Messrs Strauss, Puccini and Tchaikovsky, guaranteed to banish the January blues and leave everyone with a spring in their step. Taking place at The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford ‘Champagne Classics’ celebrates some of the brightest, most popular and most melodic work by a range of brilliant composers. More information and tickets at www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk/production/ champagne-classics.

The Dorking Dog Walker Regular or ad hoc bookings welcome Excellent references

Tel 07880 738084

GET JOTTINGS BY EMAIL JOTTINGS

January 2016

Get all our monthly Jottings direct to your inbox.

Sign up at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk 11

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

<11

Capel Choral Society Monday 11th January The choir will be ‘back to work’ on Monday 11th January to start rehearsing in earnest for the Leith Hill Musical Festival in April. They have a lot of good music to cover – a large Haydn Mass (the ‘Harmoniemesse’), Vaughan Williams lovely Serenade to Music, and six other small pieces. The start of the Choir’s ‘Spring Term’ is an excellent time for new singers to join. Singers of all voice parts will be very welcome, particularly tenors and basses! Festival tickets are on sale now, so book yours now, particularly for 14th April when Capel Choral will be performing all the set works in a combined chorus with the other three choirs in its Division. For more information about Capel Choral Society and how to join, contact the Secretary at sec@capelchoralsociety.org or call Ian Moir on 01306 889817. See also the choir’s website, www. capelchoralsociety.com.

The Horsley Floral Decoration Group Tuesday 12th January 2pm The group, affiliated to NAFAS is a friendly afternoon flower arranging club. They meet at East Horsley Village Hall on the second Tuesday of each month (except August) at 2pm. They have a varied programme of Bourne Buildings May 14_Layout 1 11/05/2015 14:51 Page 1

Bourne Buildings *** PICTURES SHOW ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES FROM OUR VAST RANGE ***

Greenhouses

Sheds

8x6

10x8

ONLY £229

ONLY £469

17>

Demonstrators/Speakers/In-house entertainment, trips, and internal competitions (optional), sales table, refreshments, etc. Visitors and new members very welcome (February/AGM members only). Do go along and join them (first visit free) for fun, flowers and friendship!

For more details, call Beryl on 01483 831422 or email bjg317@virginmedia.com.

Leith Hill Timeline Choir Tuesday 12th January 7.30pm-9.15pm Music lovers are invited to begin 2016 in glorious harmony by attending an open session with the choir at The Punchbowl Inn, Okewood Hill. The choir is a community singing group with a difference; open to all, with no auditions and no requirement for members to be able to read music, it is set apart by its specially arranged and artistically ambitious repertoire, which celebrates the history of the local area, from medieval to modern times. Choir Director and driving force behind the project is Capel-born composer and singer Stef Conner, who is known internationally for her album ‘The Flood’, in which she set ancient Mesopotamian poetry to new music, as well as her time performing with the Mercury Prize-nominated Northumbrian folk band The Unthanks.

Rehearsals take place every Tuesday evening during term THE LARGEST SHOWSITE IN THE UK OVER 200 BUILDINGS, 5000 STONE ORNAMENTS & 100 FURNITURE SETS ON DISPLAY

Playhouses

6x4 FEATHEREDGE

8x6 SHIPLAP

5x5 1-storey

7x5 2-storey

ONLY £229

ONLY £399

ONLY £319

ONLY £599

Summerhouses

***STOCK ITEMS***

INCLUDING LOCAL DELIVERY & VAT

***STOCK ITEMS***

WIDE RANGE & GREAT DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

OVER 35 ON SHOW

OVER 60 ON SHOW

OVER 35 ON SHOW

OVER 70 ON SHOW

NOW IS THE WINTER OF OUR DISCOUNT SHEDS Garden Offices

Garages

Stone Ornaments

Garden Furniture

OVER 20 ON SHOW

OVER 10 ON SHOW

OVER 5000 ON DISPLAY

OVER 100 SETS ON DISPLAY

WINTER OPENING HOURS (NOV, DEC, JAN, FEB) 10.00am – 4:00pm Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

**WE ARE CLOSED ON TUESDAYS & WEDNESDAYS (ALL YEAR ROUND)**

12

01252 718481 / 725733 www.bournebuildings.co.uk 39 – 43 Guildford Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9PY

vantagepointmag.co.uk

The

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre at

Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is one of the country’s leading regional producing theatres – and it is currently celebrating 50 years of first-class productions. As well as entertaining the local community, much of the theatre’s work has also toured the country and enjoyed West End success.

Building a Theatre for Guildford The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Trust was established in 1961 in response to local demand for the construction of a larger theatre. Among the Trust’s patrons were Dame Sybil Thorndike, Sir Michael Redgrave and his daughter, Vanessa.

The site was provided by Guildford Borough Council at a peppercorn rate and the purposebuilt horseshoe shaped theatre was designed by a local architect Mr John Brownrigg. It took two years to build and was only made possible by the generosity of hundreds of enthusiastic Guildford and Surrey play-goers who donated nearly 70% of the original cost in covenants and gifts, led by the Founding Chairman A.W. Graham-Brown.

opened!”. Among the guests at the foundation ceremony were Loelia, Duchess of Westminster; Lord and Lady Hamilton of Dalzell and Sir Richard and Lady Nugent.

On September 18, 1963, Vanessa Redgrave ‘laid the foundation stone’, imprinting her footprint in the concrete floor of what would later become the Theatre foyer. She said: “From the first moment that I heard plans for the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre I was very, very interested. I can’t wait for the Theatre to be

The theatre had to hold three ‘opening nights’ to allow all the local Founder Members to attend and the production transferred directly to London where it also enjoyed a successful run. This was the fore-runner of many plays that would follow suit and transfer to London: during the first 10 years, the Theatre presented over 230 productions, of which 36 transferred to the West End.

January 2016

After a high profile fundraising campaign, the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre opened on 2nd June 1965 with a Gala performance of A Month in the Country starring Ingrid Bergman and Michael Redgrave. Actor Dirk Bogarde opened the evening with a prologue specially commissioned from the playwright, Christopher Fry.

13

“

The Under the Theatre’s first Artistic Director, theatre Laurier Lister (in post 1964-1974), plays were usually produced on a fortnightly was made basis, with the annual Christmas possible pantomimes enjoying a longer thanks to the run. In 1974, Lister was succeeded generosity of as Artistic Director by Val May who strove to counter financial hundreds of pressures by increasing the enthusiastic number of works received from Guildford and touring companies or produced Surrey playin partnership with West End management. goers who donated nearly James Barber, the Theatre’s General 70% of the Manager since 1984 (pictured below), original succeeded Val May in 1992 and the number of touring and pre-West End cost

”

transfer productions received by the Yvonne Arnaud increased and the theatre continued to produce its own shows.

For James, this theatre has been a part of life since it was built: he has fond memories of being brought to the theatre in the 1960s to see Flanders and Swann, Joyce Grenfell and, of course, the Pantomime.

Of the theatre’s 50th anniversary, James says: “It’s incredible that despite all the regional theatres that have closed around the country, including in Surrey, the Yvonne Arnaud is celebrating its 50th birthday. I am very blessed to have worked in this beautiful Theatre, in this beautiful place, for 35 of those 50 years”.

Yvonne Arnaud

The 1990s saw the Yvonne Arnaud expand, when part of the 18th century Town Mill beside the theatre became the Mill Studio, providing a venue for small-scale drama and to encourage a repertoire of productions that would not otherwise be seen in Guildford. It also created a home for the Youth Theatre’s activities.

The theatre today Under the Directorship of James Barber, Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is a busy producing and receiving house, creating shows in Guildford and touring nationally, with many productions transferring to the West End. The Yvonne Arnaud’s exciting programme of events features a range of new work, established classics and award-winning productions, as well as a diverse selection of music and opera, ballet, film seasons, an art exhibition, family shows and an annual pantomime.

Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre opened its doors as a proud memorial to the much-loved French actress Yvonne Arnaud who had made her home first in Effingham Common and then London Road in Guildford. Her warmth, humour and talent gave Yvonne an unrivalled position on the English stage for nearly fifty years.

Equipped with two performance spaces (the Main Stage and the Mill Studio) and home to the Yvonne Arnaud Youth Theatre, the venue offers a brilliant mix of activities for young people and adults all year round.

A long-time Guildford resident, Yvonne had been a supporter of the local arts scene and was a Director of the Guildford Theatre Club from its incorporation in 1946 until her sudden death in 1958.

Extensive catering facilities are available to suit all pockets, with multiple theatre bars, the Riverview Restaurant and the Riverbank Café. Whether you’re looking for coffee, lunch, afternoon tea or a complete night out, the Theatre’s picturesque riverside setting offers something for everyone – not just theatregoers.

In 1964, Dame Sybil Thorndike said: “Those of us who loved Yvonne as an actress feel her spirit behind this theatre for Guildford – a town which has been eager for good, live plays – and a theatre of its own, coupled with the name of a great actress, will be a further mark of the town’s energy and enterprise”.

14

vantagepointmag.co.uk

50 Years of Legendary Actors The last half-century has seen an astonishing array of actors appear on the Yvonne Arnaud stage.

The early years saw performances from Max Adrian in The Cardinal of Spain; Sybil Thorndike’s penultimate role in The Viaduct; Wendy Hillier and Gladys Cooper in Somerset Maugham’s The Sacred Flame; Alec Guinness’s riveting scientist in Time Out of Mind; Joan Plowright in The Cherry Orchard; Edward Woodward in The Dark Horse; Susan Hampshire and Gerald Harper in House Guest; Janet Suzman in The Three Sisters and Dorothy Tutin in Macbeth.

The 1980s saw the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre take its first show to Broadway: Shaw’s Pygmalion starring Peter O’Toole, Lionel Jefferies, John Mills, Dora Bryan and Amanda Plummer. The decade also welcomed appearances from Rex Harrison and Edward Fox in The Admiral Crichton, Leonard Rossiter in The Rules of the Game; Leslie Caron, Kate O’Mara and Dinsdale Landon in The Rehearsal; Derek Jacobi in Breaking the Code; Penelope Keith in Dear Charles; Beryl Reid in A Little Bit on the Side; Alan Bates and Felicity Kendal in Ivanov; Judi Dench and Michael Williams in Mr and Mrs Nobody; Vanessa Redgrave and Christopher Reeve in The Aspern Papers.

Actors to take to the Guildford stage in more recent years include: Felicity Kendal, Josie Lawrence, Nicky Henson and Robert Bathurst in Alarms and Excursions; Barry Humphries and Emily Perry in Edna: The Spectacle; Gene Wilder in Laughter on the 23rd Floor; Rick Mayall and Stephen Fry in Cell Mates; Helen Mirren and John Hurt in A Month in the Country; Michael Gambon in The Caretaker; Penelope Keith and Una Stubbs in Star Quality; Joan Collins, Frank Llangella and Moira Lister in Moon Over Buffalo; Richard Briers and June Whitfield in Bedroom Farce; Edward Fox in The Winslow Boy; John Barrowman in Beautiful and Damned; David Suchet in Man and Boy; Patricia Routledge and Roy Hudd in Solid Gold Cadillac; Timothy West in The Old Country; Anthony Sher in Kean; Rosemary Ashe, Lynda Baron, Susie Blake, Michele Dotrice, David Horovitch, Roy Hudd, Sam Kelly, Maureen Lipman and Simon Rouse in When We Are Married; Charles Edwards, Jonathan Hyde, Emma Fielding, Ian McNeice and Joss Ackland in The King’s Speech and Ben Miller in The Duck House.

Some of the fabulous actors who have appeared at the Yvonne Arnaud. From top: Ingrid Bergman and Michael Redgrave in A Month in the Country, performed on the opening night in 1965; Alan Bennet and Patricia Routledge in Talking Heads (1992); Judi Dench in Mr & Mrs Nobody (1986); Helen Mirren and John Hurt in A Month in the Country (1994); and Ben Miller in The Duck House (2013).

Looking ahead...

Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre continues to celebrate its anniversary year, welcoming the New Year in theatrical style with a New Season programme of events that includes: Alan Ayckbourn’s first revival of his classic comedy Confusions (Wednesday 13th – Saturday 23rd January) and the world première of his latest work Hero’s Welcome (Friday 15th – Saturday 23rd January); Featuring a large live orchestra with over 30 musicians, the Russian State Opera presents Madam Butterfly (Monday 1st – Tuesday 2nd February); Guildford School of Acting present Our House: The Madness Musical (Saturday 12th – Saturday 19th

January 2016

March); William Nicholson’s stunning West End hit Shadowlands (Thursday 18th – Saturday 27th February) stars Stephen Boxer; Richard Bean’s brilliantly observed drama Toast (Monday 21st – Saturday 26th March) stars the Olivier Award-winning actor Matthew Kelly; Winner of the 2014 Molière Award for Best Play, The Father (Tuesday 29th March – Saturday 2nd April) sees Kenneth Cranham reprises his indelible West End performance. Ballet and Opera screenings from the Royal Opera House and a Film Season (Monday 29th February – Saturday 5th March) also feature.

For a complete guide to what’s on at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, please visit the website at www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01483 440000.

15

Coping with difficult relationships at Christmas Christmas is a time of year that can be stressful for many families. We often find that we spend more time with the family than we are used to and work hard to keep everything together and as pleasant as possible.

The festivities can be made particularly difficult if your relationship is already strained. Money worries, increased drinking, straying at the office party or secret mobile phone conversations and texting can also contribute to tensions and arguments between couples at Christmas.

The start of a New Year is seen by many as the chance to take a long hard look at their relationship and to consider making a fresh start by dealing with issues that have long been pushed to one side.

However, it can be bewildering for those considering separation and divorce. It can turn your whole world upside down and trigger many painful and upsetting emotions, such as grief, disappointment, stress, anxiety and fear about the future.

The support of family and friends will be invaluable but taking advice from those who have been through divorce may not be a wise move because every situation is different. They won’t necessarily know all the relevant details or history and almost certainly won’t take an objective view.

discuss the various options open to you for resolving issues, including mediation or collaborative law which offer not only cost effective, but also emotionally less damaging alternatives to court proceedings.

However, you may feel anxious about contacting a family solicitor and having to discuss your personal circumstances to a complete stranger when you are already in a low emotional state. All of our family solicitors understand that when a relationship ends it is never easy and we are here to offer you the help, advice and support you need. We believe in dealing with issues in a non-confrontational way but maintaining a positive and direct approach. We encourage our clients to try to maintain open communications with their former partner for the benefit of any children. Should it be necessary, we will represent you through any Court proceedings. We will always act professionally and maintain your needs and interests as our priority but treat you sympathetically and with care Should you require advice to help you understand the position you would be faced with if you do separate or divorce, please do not hesitate to contact our Family Solicitor, Nicola Conley on 01306 502293.

Downs Solicitors LLP, 156 High Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1BQ www.downslaw.co.uk

There are emotional and practical issues which you will have to consider which include financial arrangements, accommodation, as well as arrangements involving children. So it is important you get legal advice at an early stage from a specialist family solicitor. They will 16

vantagepointmag.co.uk

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

<12

time and the introductory session on Tuesday 12th is open to all and free to attend, but booking is essential, as space is limited. Anyone interested in attending can register online at www.timelinesongs.org, or contact Stef to reserve a place: info@timelinesongs.org or call 07843 666874.

Chair exercises at The Christian Centre Tuesday 12th January 11am Why not pop along for some gentle exercise to music, designed for the more mature person, at the Christian Centre, Dorking starting on Tuesday 12th.

It’s a friendly group and it will do you a great deal of good.

The Three Bridges Spiritualist Church, Crawley Wednesday 13th January 7pm This is a very friendly and well established spiritualist church that has been around for many years. They are a self funded church so everything that comes in goes back into the church. They hold a service every Wednesday evening. Their doors open at 7pm, the service starts at 7.30pm - 9pm and everyone is welcome. It’s £4 on the door, which includes a raffle ticket that is drawn at the end of the service and a lovely cup of tea or coffee. They are holding one to

20>

one reading evenings throughout the year as well as special clairvoyant evenings. They are currently fund raising for a new church roof and you can purchase a roof slate for £5 each with a picture and message in memory of a loved one. Contact Tina on 07518 303618 (Monday Friday 3-5pm), More information at www. threebridgesspiritualistchurch.co.uk.

Horsley Decorative & Fine Arts Society Wednesday 13th January The society meets at East Horsley Village Hall for lectures at 10.30am (coffee from 9.45pm) on the second Wednesday of each month except August & September.

The lecture on 13th January will be Photography as Fine Art by Brian Stater. Visitors (£5) and new members welcome. For more information and the full programme phone Alma 01372 451015 or visit their website: www. horsleydfas.org.uk.

Chair Exercises at Brockham Village Hall Wednesday 13th January 11.15am Chair exercise to music for the more mature person will take place at Brockham Village Hall starting on Wednesday 13th. Do go along and join this friendly group, it will do you the power of good!

Our specialist team of family law solicitors can advise and guide you through: Divorce • Civil Partnership Dissolution • Children-related issues Matrimonial Finances • Co-habitation Agreements/Issues Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements

30 MINUTES LEGAL ADVICE FOR ONLY £60

SOLICITORS & NOTARIES

*

Please contact Nicola Conley for an appointment on 01306 502293 or n.conley@downslaw.co.uk *New appointments only. We reserve the right to charge our current normal hourly rate if the initial appointment exceeds 30 minutes. Includes VAT. Please mention Vantage Point.

156 High Street • Dorking • Surrey • RH4 1BQ • 01306 880110 • www.downslaw.co.uk New Ad Nicola Conley.indd 1

January 2016

8/6/15 10:34 AM

17

The Meath Epilepsy Charity If someone is affected by epilepsy and has associated (and often severe) physical and learning disabilities, then there is a very special charity offering accommodation and friendly support services in Godalming. It is situated immediately to the west of the railway station; its main and very beautiful Grade II listed building is quite easy to spot from the platform through the trees.

The house and grounds in Westbrook Road were donated by Lady Meath in 1892 to establish what she is reported to have said should be seen as “a home not a hospital….. a home of comfort, all being as bright and cheerful as possible”. That home later became the organisation that we now know as The Meath Epilepsy Charity.

The purpose of this article is to set out where we are in 2016, to give a little information to everyone locally regarding epilepsy and disability and to ask for your support, be it a financial donation, a bequest in your Will, your time as a volunteer or a donation of old or unwanted furniture for our latest social enterprise, Changing Perceptions.

The Charity’s objectives are twofold. Firstly, to support, care for and protect the physical and mental health of people living with epilepsy and associated learning and physical disabilities through the provision of suitable accommodation, specialised assistance, skills training, leisure and sports pursuits. Secondly, to promote integrated services that empower and enable people to live fulfilled lives as independently as possible.

The Meath provides a progressive pathway of care and support, ranging from a residential service, offering 24 hour care seven days a 18

week, to support in a person’s own home for as many hours as they require. Personally tailored assistance is afforded to each person in order to ensure that they remain safe and happy and take as much control in their life as they are able.

Currently, there are over seventy five people living at the Meath’s historic site in Westbrook Road. The accommodation is grouped into small ‘family’ units, with each resident having their own room which they can personalise as they wish but sharing a communal kitchen, lounge and dining area, where they cook, eat and spend quality time with their friends.

Many would never have been able to form friendships before coming to the Meath. But with a little assistance – and there are qualified staff on duty round the clock - people living with epilepsy and associated disabilities can achieve in areas which they had never dreamed possible, using their hitherto undiscovered creativity and skills and thus succeeding alongside their peers.

Over the last few years, the Charity has been growing its supported living service off-site, providing the same high quality care and support to people living more independently in tenancies of their own around the local area. It has also expanded its specialist accommodation at Westbrook Road.

Work has now been completed on the building of an exciting new high needs residential unit that cares for the Charity’s most disabled clients. Its twelve residents are housed across two floors with everyone having the benefit of assistive technology, much of it bespoke. The contemporary building lies between the old Grade II listed building and the railway station.

Fundraising to meet the £2.3 million building cost began back in 2010.

People supported by the Meath come from all walks of life.

Almost all have multiple problems, the common denominator being epilepsy which, in itself, can appear in a wide variety of forms. The causes of epilepsy also vary; for many, epilepsy was apparent early in life but, for others, the cause may be a head injury following a car accident or, as happened to one resident, the result of being beaten up when on the way back from his school. vantagepointmag.co.uk

However, providing comfortable, safe accommodation and the chance to meet and make friends with other people similarly affected is only half the story. It is clear that encouraging people to engage in healthy activities, whether they are creative, academic, everyday skills or sports pursuits, help enormously with people’s holistic welfare. To this end, the Meath offers a wide choice of activities on-site, as well as access to many more within the local area, enabling people to achieve their own personal goals and ambitions and to live a far more fulfilled lifestyle.

The Meath’s Skills and Enterprise Centre was developed from the Charity’s historic day services, which helped residents gain the most from their day. The Centre now boasts a wide array of enterprises, including a modern gym, IT centre, expressive arts workshop and a pottery, with an on-site catering outlet, Café Meath, which also provides skills training to some of the people supported by the Meath. All of these facilities are open to the general public with every penny taken ploughed back to charitable use.

The Meath now runs two shops in Godalming High Street.

ARTHOUSE Meath, at 96 High Street, opened three years ago and provides both a sales outlet for the pictures, mugs, tea towels, cards, shirts, aprons and wrapping paper which the residents design in association with professional art tutors and a studio, visible from the shop, where customers can meet and talk to the artists as they paint and draw.

The finished products, which are of an extremely high quality, are the work of a number of artists, helped by their art instructors and carers, together with a whole production team including designers, print makers, marketers, photographers

and, very importantly, a team of willing volunteers behind the sales counter.

The second shop, called Changing Perceptions, is at 133 High Street and was formally opened in December 2014 by the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP. Here old or redundant furniture is collected, stored, upcycled or re-purposed and then sold. The shop area at the front is very bright and cheery and includes a specialist Tea Shop where you can obtain an excellent cup of loose-leaf tea or fair trade coffee in addition to buying a piece of furniture.

To the rear, the premises has a large storage area and a workshop where the Changing Perceptions team, which includes people supported by the Charity, volunteers and Meath staff, receive and prepare the donated furniture for display. The premises has its own parking area at the rear, accessed via the South Street car park, which makes dropping off donations of furniture or collecting purchases far easier.

Sales have been extremely successful, to the extent that much of the furniture is sold the moment it goes on display! However, the key to developing this exciting new social enterprise is not only to attract many more customers, but more importantly to maintain our wonderful band of volunteers in addition to reaching out to everyone to consider Changing Perceptions as you contemplate what to do with any unwanted furniture. So, please, if you have furniture to donate, or wish to volunteer to help at either ARTHOUSE Meath or Changing Perceptions, then please phone the Meath on 01483 415095.

The amazing thing about all of the wonderful services that the Meath offers is the self esteem and confidence that is grown as a result, which goes a long way to giving people a real quality of life, despite the challenges that they face everyday. So, by supporting one of the area’s oldest charities, you will not only be helping continue its valuable work, you will also be helping make an incredible difference in someone else’s life. And that is priceless!

The author of this article is Malcolm Ring, a Trustee of the Meath Charity and – perhaps more importantly - the proud father of Emma, resident at the Meath.

FIND OUT MORE

For more information, please visit the website at www.meath.org.uk.

January 2016

19

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

<17

The Story of Guitar Heroes at G Live Friday 15th January 7.30pm If you like music and guitars you will love this show. Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Hank Marvin, Brian May and Slash are just some of the outstanding guitar heroes you will have chance to experience in one amazing show! This live concert style ‘rockumentry’ will be performed by one extraordinarily talented musician - Phil Walker, and backed by his exceptional band. Tickets: £20* (*A £2 per ticket booking fee applies. No booking fees for Groups and Friends). Call the Ticket Desk on 01483 369350 or book online at www.glive.co.uk. More information about the show on www.storyofguitarheroes.com.

tropical plants. Butterflies in the Glasshouse is a must for all the family, for photography enthusiasts or for anyone looking for a great day out. Visitors can round off a walk and butterfly visit with afternoon tea or a two-course lunch in the restaurant for £12 per person throughout February (booking essential). There will also be butterfly biscuits baked fresh at Wisley by the Taste of Wisley bakers.

Visitors can beat the queues and pre-book a time slot for weekends and half term at www.rhs.org.uk/wisley.

Age UK Surrey This local charity works across Surrey to help improve the lives of older people aged 50+. Their services are designed to enable people to remain independent and informed, healthy and active and connected to their communities. The number of people aged over 85 continues to grow in Surrey. 214,000 people are aged over 65! This must be the month for awards because Age UK recently announced they were the winners of 3 categories at the Living and Ageing Well Awards 2015. For information about their services, visit www.ageuksurrey.org.uk or call 01483 503414.

RHS Garden Wisley Saturday 16th January – Sunday 6th March Butterflies will cause a flutter and provide a kaleidoscope of colour in the Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley with over 7,000 butterflies being released providing a kaleidoscope of colour. 40 different species, from giant Owl to delicate Glasswings, will be set against the vibrant backdrop of

GET JOTTINGS BY EMAIL JOTTINGS

Surrey Hills Society Saturday 16th January The Surrey Hills Society offers a wide ranging programme

Get all our monthly Jottings direct to your inbox.

Sign up at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk

Spend £25 in-store on pet food and pet accessories and use this voucher to receive £5.00 OFF

£5

www.lillico.co.uk

For all your Pet, Equestrian and Agricultural needs, Feed, Bedding, Clothing and Equipment.

22>

OFF

*

Simply present this voucher at the till for your money off.

Voucher

* T&C’s apply. Only valid when presenting voucher. Not to be exchanged for monetary value.

Does not apply to sale items. Valid until 31/01/2016. Strictly one voucher per person. Valid for Dog & Cat Food Only.

Attlees Country Store

Opening Times: Monday to Friday - 8:30am to 5pm, Saturday - 8:30am to 5pm Telephone: 01306 884289 or 01306 883533 · Parsonage Mill, Station Road, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1EL 20

vantagepointmag.co.uk

The continuing story of

DENNIS Brothers

Britain’s oldest vehicle manufacturer was established in Guildford. In the fourth article in his series, Andy Goundry continues the story.

When Hestair took over Dennis in 1972, production was at an all-time low and losses approached £1 million. Hestair’s solution was to embark on a dramatic rationalisation programme. One of their first steps was to sell the sprawling Woodbridge Works site, renting back less than half the buildings. Out too went promising new, but high-cost projects, such as a proposed high-performance front-wheel drive, low-floor ambulance. Lawn mower production was moved from Guildford to Hestair’s farm machinery division in Kent. Axle production was also ended, leaving Woodbridge Works to concentrate on vehicle assembly rather than component manufacture.

Initially, Hestair continued to target the traditional Dennis customer base of local authorities with their regular demand for fire appliances and specialist trucks. Production for all other markets, including haulage, was all but abandoned. However, this left the company with a very small marketplace of only around 300 vehicles a year, which was clearly too small to financially sustain the business.

The need to increase production to profitable levels caused the company to focus on the Middle Eastern market, which had grown rich on the dramatic oil price rises of the early 1970s.

Dennis were soon selling a range of vehicle types to Iraq, the Gulf States and Libya, including fire appliances and refuse collectors as well as hundreds of Delta 16ton trucks.

Ironically, many of these very

January 2016

successful products were in fact designed prior to the Hestair takeover. With better marketing of these new models, perhaps Dennis could have avoided being taken over.

All this income and profit from the Middle East allowed the revitalised company to develop new modern products with reduced manufacturing costs. One of the most successful of these was the RS/SS series of fire appliances, which went on to a 16-year production run of over 1,750 vehicles. The RS/ SS shared a common cab design with a new refuse collection vehicle, the Phoenix, which was equally successful.

Not content with reaping the rewards of this success, Dennis management then felt the time was right to re-enter the bus business. British Leyland, whilst dominant in the market, were intent on forcing their standard products onto customers, which did not sit well with the traditionally conservative bus operators.

Dennis launched their rear-engined Dominator double-decker in 1977, and were quickly successful in gaining good orders from around the UK. In parallel, Dennis also developed the front-engined Jubilant double-decker specifically for Hong Kong, then a new market for them but one which was to play a major role in the company’s future, for the Jubilant was to prove a great success in this notoriously arduous location. Indeed, ten years after introduction, all 364 Jubilants sold to Hong Kong’s major operator, KMB (Kowloon Motor Bus), were still in operation, a level of reliability almost unknown previously.

Capitalising on this success in Hong Kong, Dennis then developed the Dragon, a big 3-axle decker capable of carrying 172 passengers. Again, sales were substantial, with over 1,000 in operation with KMB by 1992. Indeed, the level of Hong Kong business helped Dennis to survive a major downturn in the UK bus market in the early 1980s.

A model of the Dennis Jubilant, one of 364 models sold to Kowloon Motor Bus, all of which were still in operation 10 years after their introduction.

21

Management changes at Hestair in 1982 prompted a muchneeded review of the vehicle building activities of the group, for there were similar products from various plants being marketed in competition with each other. Hestair management wisely decided to focus each of the Hestair plants on their most successful products, and so the Guildford factory became responsible for two key markets, bus and fire chassis.

The Guildford fire engine body-building business, no longer particularly profitable due to the costly unique requirements of each fire brigade, was sold off, and the body-building business went on to be re-formed as JDC, John Dennis Coachworks. This was run by the grandson of one of the original founders of the company, and continues at Slyfield in Guildford to this day.

Similarly, refuse collection vehicle operations were centralised at the Hestair Eagle plant at Warwick, and production of cabs moved to Hestair’s Duple Coachbuilders factory in Blackpool.

With the new-found focus on bus and coach manufacture, Dennis at Guildford identified an opportunity in the early 1980s for a light and economical yet durable coach. In an inspired and brave approach, Dennis’s designers took a new, compact Cummins engine and placed it midships in their new chassis, unlike the competition which had big, heavy rear-mounted engines. The new coach, the Javelin, was launched in 1986, and as operators became familiar with the new-to-them Cummins engine, it gained substantial orders, selling 1,300 by 1994.

This operator acceptance of Cummins engines was key to developing one of Dennis’s next, and most successful models of all time. The UK bus market was undergoing massive

change in the early 1980s as the industry was effectively de-nationalised and opened up to free competition. As a result, numerous small operators sprang up, intent on providing local services using comparatively cheap van-based buses. Experience soon showed that these van conversions struggled with the rigours of everyday bus operation, and Dennis reasoned that a small, economical purpose-built bus would be more durable.

Enter the Dennis Dart, a little bigger and heavier than the van conversions but much smaller, lighter and more economical than a conventional ‘big’ bus, thanks to its lightweight economical Cummins engine and unusually small wheels. Expectations for the success of Dart were modest, with sales predictions being in the hundreds. In the event the Dart went on to become Britain’s most successful bus, selling over 10,000 in its production life.

A development of Dart, the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 is indeed still in production, so total sales are now approaching 20,000. Compare that build record with the much better known Routemaster, which only managed around 3,000 sales!

However, whilst Dennis was enjoying success with the Dart and other models, by the late 1980’s their owners, Hestair, were losing interest in vehicle building, having diversified into other areas of business. In 1988, senior directors from the various Dennis businesses in Guildford, Warwick and Blackpool formed a new company,

Probably the most successful bus type in the world – the Dennis Dart. This is one of the thousands which have been operated in London. Photo: Dennis Society 22

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Trinity Holdings, to buy the vehicle-building businesses from Hestair for £27 million.

Under Trinity Holdings management, the Guildford business again flourished. Now renamed Dennis Specialist Vehicles, they moved from the now-outdated Woodbridge Works to a new purpose-built factory at Slyfield in 1990, which was muchneeded to cope with the volume of orders for Dart in particular.

The success of Dart was followed up in the latter half of the 1990’s by the development of an innovative range of low-floor buses, ranging from the Dart SLF (for Super Low Floor) to the Trident double deckers, which included a 3-axle version for the key Hong Kong market.

One of the hundreds of Dennis Dragons bought by KMB (Kowloon Motor Bus) in Hong Kong. Interestingly, this bus gained a second life when it eventually returned to the UK for use as an open-topper in London operated by Big Bus Tours. Photo: Danny Chan

The very well-regarded Dennis RS fire appliance. That rather utilitarian squared-off appearance belied an incredibly strong and spacious, at the time almost the only purpose-built fire engine cab designed to be easy to use by a full crew equipped with breathing apparatus etc. Photo: Dennis Society

Fire engine sales were equally buoyant in this period, thanks to the Sabre chassis which was also highly successful. Whilst the smaller Rapier, a very agile and impressive appliance, achieved fewer sales due to its limited payload, it formed an impressive ‘halo product’ for the company, and won several plaudits for its technical excellence, not least a Design Council award.

By any standards, whether volume of sales, turnover, or profitability, Dennis was on a roll at that time, and the business was ready to embark on the next stage of its growth. For Dennis’s management team, the next logical step was to once again become a builder of complete vehicles by merging the Dennis chassis-building business with Plaxtons, a bodybuilder with which Dennis had traditionally enjoyed very close links.

Plans for this amicable merger were however dealt a blow when Alexanders, a rival bodybuilder, grew concerned at the potential impact on their business. The parent company of Alexanders, Mayflower Corporation, had also eyed the 1990s growth of Dennis and therefore began a hostile bidding war for Dennis, eventually taking over the company in 2001 and renaming the bus-building business Transbus International.

Mayflower believed that they could continue to grow and profit from the Guildford chassis business, which they combined with their Alexanders body-building operation, and unwittingly over-extended themselves in buying Dennis Specialist Vehicles.

Cost-cutting soon became the order of the day, resulting in several unwelcome measures such as the sale and leaseback of the Guildford site. Other businesses within the Mayflower empire were similarly over-extended, and eventually Mayflower collapsed into Administration in 2004, taking with it a large percentage of the pension fund of the loyal workforce. This was probably the lowest point in the history of the business, and, for a time, it looked as if closure was on the cards, however in the nick of time a late saviour was found, as we shall see in the next chapter of this series. © Andy Goundry ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Almost the last chapter in Dennis fire engines – the superb Rapier. As well as selling in the UK, several were sold into mainland Europe, much to the chagrin of their local manufacturers. Indeed, a number served in Erfurt, Germany, right in the heart of Mercedes and MAN territory! This one, however, served much closer to home, with West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. Photo: David Rowell January 2016

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.

23

LOCAL The Surrey Performing Arts Library Did you know that you have access to an awardwinning performing arts library, one of the largest in the country? And all you need is a Surrey library card.

Their stock covers music, dance, theatre, cinema and radio and they welcome everyone, from those with an interest to professionals. They also stock thousands of vocal, orchestral and play sets for groups. So please do go in and have a browse.

History of the Library The roots of the Library go back to the late 1930s when a Music and Drama Library containing sets for choirs and drama groups was established in Esher. A review in 1977 saw the establishment of the Library as we know it today in Dorking, firstly at the Drill Hall, then in West Street, and finally in its current home in the Visitor Centre of the Denbies Wine Estate. Recently the library has celebrated receiving the IAML Excellence Award for Music Libraries in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

What they have Scores - Their scores collection suits the needs of instrumentalists and singers of all standards and they also keep extensive collections of full, miniature and study scores.

Plays - Their play collection covers the standards, modern plays, monologues and plays for children, plus older and rarer plays, with a good selection of foreign plays.

Books - Their bookstock collection provides in-depth material covering all aspects of music, dance, theatre and cinema.

Audio-visual - Their extensive collection of CDs and DVDs covers music, dance, theatre, cinema, sound effects and tutorials.

Sets – They stock thousands of vocal, orchestral and play sets for groups, plus sets of libretti. These sets are listed on the website for perusal.

You also have access to:

• Online resources – Naxos Music Library (streaming service), Oxford Music Online (including Grove) and Zinio (magazines). These are all available from home.

• Rhymetime for the under 5s on Tuesdays at 2pm • Digital piano – free to play and no booking required • Quiet study room • Internet computer and Wifi – free to use • Magazines and journals covering our subject and interest areas • Listening facilities for CDs, cassettes and vinyl Vaughan Williams Collection Vaughan Williams had strong connections to Dorking all his life. His family home was Leith Hill Place (now open to the public) and after some time in London he returned to Dorking, living in ‘White Gates’ (now demolished) just off the Westcott Road from 19331953. Vaughan Williams was the first conductor of the Leith Hill Musical Festival, a post he held from 1905 until 1953.

Because of his local associations, Surrey libraries had accrued much material connected with Vaughan Williams and the Leith Hill Musical Festival. In the late 1970s a start was made to establish a Ralph Vaughan Williams collection of published books, scores and recordings. Since then the collection has grown, with the acquisition of most subsequently published books on the composer, reprints of his own writings, new publications and editions of his scores and most of the vast quantity of his music issued on CD. Additionally, local publications, programmes, cuttings, pictures and other materials have been added to the collection.

Since the move of the Library to the Denbies Wine Estate in 2000, it has been enhanced by a permanent display on Ralph Vaughan Williams’ life and works.

Friends of Surrey Performing Arts Library (FOSPAL) The Library has a very supportive Friends group which was formed in 2000 following the move to the present location of the Library. FOSPAL arrange a number of talks each year covering a wide range of topics relating to the arts. The talks take place on Saturday afternoons at the Library and admission is free. In addition, members’ subscriptions and donations help enhance the services and equipment in the Library.

FIND OUT MORE

Denbies Wine Estate, London Rd, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6AA Phone: 01306 875453 www.surreycc.gov.uk/performingartslibrary 24

vantagepointmag.co.uk

<20

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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. On Saturday 16th January you have a second opportunity to blow away the winter cobwebs with a walk around the Gomshall area finishing with a warming afternoon tea at Tillings. Booking is essential to all our events. Further detail and more information on the Society can be found on www.surreyhillssociety.org or 07530 949302.

West Horsley Parish Council Tuesday 19th January 8pm The Parish Council meeting takes place at West Horsley Village Hall. Everyone welcome. For more information see www.westhorsley.info or contact clerk@westhorsley.info.

Peaslake Players - Aladdin Friday 22nd January 7.30pm Peaslake Players present a pantomime with all the traditional trimmings, plus a few surprises along the way, and accompanied by sing-a-long songs, colourful dances and enough corny jokes to last until next winter!

It takes place at Peaslake Memorial Hall and the first performance is on Friday 22nd. There are further performances on 23rd, 24th, 28th, 29th and 30th January. Evening performances start at 7.30pm with matinee performances at 2.30pm. Full details and tickets at www.peaslakeplayers.co.uk.

27>

40th anniversary year is a good one!” Many thanks and well done to everyone who has supported them.

LeatherHead Start Saturday 23rd January This local charity is holding a Coffee Morning at the Christian Centre, Church St, Dorking on Saturday 23rd January from 10am-12 noon. Do pop in, they look forward to seeing you there.

Ballet Screenings at Dorking Halls Sundays 24th 3pm and 31st January 2pm There are two ballet screenings at the Dorking Halls. First is a live broadcast from the Bolshoi ballet in Moscow with an adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew. The second is a recording from the Royal Opera House featuring a Frederick Ashton double bill - Rhapsody, using the music of Rachmaninov’s wonderful Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, and The Two Pigeons. Tickets for both screenings are £17.50, call 01306 881717.

Horsley Garden Society Wednesday 27th January The society holds flower and produce shows, meetings, lectures and visits that bring together those with an interest in gardening. In their three shows members

Walk for Health The new Walk for Health programme in Mole Valley offers free, friendly, short walks, led by volunteer walk leaders.

All the walks are gentle and are between 30 to 90 minutes long. The new Walk for Health leaflet contains details of the walks’ timetable, levels of difficulty and starting points. The leaflet is available throughout Mole Valley and can be downloaded at www.molevalley.gov. uk/walkforhealth.

Dorking Friends of Cancer Research UK

Last month we profiled this wonderful organisation and it was immensely gratifying to receive the following email from them. “Just a quick note to thank you for the

magazine’s support during 2015 and for the profile in the December issue. I’ve already heard of one person who gave us a cheque for £100 after reading it. Let’s hope our

GET JOTTINGS BY EMAIL JOTTINGS

January 2016

Get all our monthly Jottings direct to your inbox.

Sign up at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk

www.architecturesurrey.co.uk

25

gastr

...for the lovers of local food and drink

A taste of France in Dorking The people of Dorking are very lucky. Not only do you live in a beautiful town with the wonderful Box Hill on your doorstep, you now also have a Côte restaurant; and a lovely one as well. The setting follows the traditional theme of a Parisian bistro and it looks great. On my recent visit, the staff were all charming and attentive, which they always are in any Côte I have visited, which is quite a few for good reason.

That is because I think Côte is a terrifically good chain of restaurants.

I have never had a disappointing meal and when I have had minor issues, usually due to them being so busy, the staff have handled the situation not only very well, but also very discreetly and generously. It’s an impressive achievement.

Now to the food. The menu changes sparingly and seasonally, which does mean that most of my favourites are usually available. They also have a very reasonably priced pre-7pm menu during the week of two courses for £9.99 or three for £12.99 which really is a steal. Add in monthly specials and you should be spoilt for choice.

sourdough bread, and the King Prawn Gratinée in a lovely tomato and garlic sauce with croutons.

Other choices include excellent breaded Calamari (pictured) and traditional favourites like French Onion Soup. My only minor quibble (as a half-Frenchman) is that you have to pay for bread.

There are light mains and then a good choice of fish and meat dishes, including Breton chicken and of course very good steaks. From the ‘plats rapides’ menu you can have a minute steak and frites or my usual choice of ‘poulet grillé’, a lovely flattened and grilled chicken breast with a delicious creamy mushroom sauce, served with gratin potatoes.

I always have additional frites because they are always terrific. One of my bugbears is when frites are actually fat chips (which alas now happens in France); happily here they are the real deal. There are other sides available, the braised peas are recommended but my

French mum thought the French beans a little underdone. The braised red cabbage is excellent but only available from time to time sadly.

Puddings are not really my thing although I have been known to have the Coupe Noire (vanilla ice cream with warm dark chocolate sauce) which is lovely. My colleague Marcus however says the Crème Caramel is sensational and better than he has had even on his French travels. Praise indeed! There are about eight more choices and of course cheese. The wine list is fairly well chosen and suits most wallets, and the Breton cider is delicious. Two dessert wines and ports complete the picture and will end a satisfying meal.

I cannot really praise Côte more highly. It does what it does very very well and I always enjoy going there. Prices are realistic, the restaurants are pretty and buzzy, the food is lovely and the staff are excellent. I want one in Godalming.

Fingers crossed!

Stefan Reynolds 2-3 St Martins Mews, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1UT Phone: 01306 889682 www.cote-restaurants.co.uk

Two of my favourite starters are the Charcuterie Platter, which includes lovely duck rillettes and excellent smoked duck breast with grilled

Time to make marmalade!

Marmalade making time is here so don’t delay The first of the seasons Seville oranges will be on sale at Kingfisher Farm Shop from the first week in January.

Jars and sugar will also be available.

Abinger Hammer Dorking RH5 6QX Email: info@kingfisherfarmshop.com, tel: 01306 730703.

Send us your food news to gastro@vantagepublishing.co.uk 26

vantagepointmag.co.uk

<25

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

32>

compete for awards and trophies with their flowers, fruit and vegetables, homecrafts and handicrafts. All activities take place at the West Horsley Village Hall. On 27th January, Mr Paul Templeton will be talking about ‘Environmentally Friendly Gardening’. They welcome visitors. 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.

The Horsley & Clandon Society of Arts Wednesday 27th January 8pm The society will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2016 and have many celebrations planned. To herald their golden year, they are exhibiting some of their work at the Royal Surrey County Hospital up to 15th January.

This follows a very successful Annual Exhibition of members’ work held in East Horsley in October 2015.

Their monthly meetings begin again on Wednesday 27th with a demonstration by the esteemed artist, Roger Dellar on ‘Textures in Landscape/Seascape’ in acrylics. This will be in East Horsley Village Hall. Visitors for the evening £4. All are very welcome. Refreshments available and there is ample parking. Details of further events will be published in future issues of VantagePoint. For further information about the Society contact their Secretary, Mrs Robyn Cormack on 01483 224063.“Based in West Clandon, Guildford we are a Guildford family runwe are a family ru “Based in West Clandon,

Recruiting Hom in your local Recruiting Home Carers Recruiting Home Carers ar

in your local in area your local area “Based in West Clandon, Gu “Based in West Clandon, Guildford we are business tothat providing people business is committed towith providing people TALK - Supporting people with aphasia afterthat strokeis committed a family run business that is committed to with business that is committed This very important charity needs people to support friendly & reliable Carers who genuinely care” friendly & reliable Carers who genuinely care” providing people with friendly & reliable people with speech and communication diffiKalupka, culties Nurse & Registered Manager Lucinda Carers who genuinely care” Recruiting Home Carers Carers w friendly & reliable following a stroke. Volunteers work with stroke Lucinda Kalupka, Nurse & Registered Manager

Lucinda Kalupka,local Nurse & Registered Manager recoverers enabling them to practise all aspects of inhour your From just an hour a day area to 24 hour support From justThey an hour support communication in a supportive environment. havea day to 24 Lucinda Kalupka, Nurse & Registered “ Based in West Clandon, Guildford wehour are a family runrates + paid ho Good hourly Rewarding career 5 groups in Surrey and currently need volunteers to From just an hour a day to 24 support Good hourly rates + paid holiday Rewarding career business that is committed to providing people with join them on Tuesday mornings and afternoons at St. Paid mileage Flexible hours friendly &Paid reliable Carers who genuinely care” mileage hours • Rewarding career Catherine’s Hall, Guildford. If you’ve gotFlexible time to spare Work in your local commun Comprehensive support Lucinda Kalupka, Nurse & Registered Manager (term time only) and would like to knowComprehensive more please Work • Flexible hoursin your local community support & training contact the TALK Coordinator Susan Houston on 01784 From just an hour a day tosupport 24 hour support & training • Comprehensive & training 420371, email info@talksurrey.org.uk. You can find more Good hourly rates + paid holiday Rewarding career • • Good hourly rates + paid holiday • information at www.talksurrey.org.uk.

Paid mileage Flexible hours • • • Paid mileage Work in call your local community Comprehensive support For• further information Matthew.

•please Work incall your local community & training Ewhurst Players Sleeping Beauty For further information• please Matthew.

Friday 29th January - Friday 6th February Call us today on This year’s action-packed Pantomime from the Ewhurst For further information please call Matthew.

Players promises the usual fun and frolics. It’s a lovely, info@homecountiescarers.co.uk Call us today on 01483 224 985 traditional tale with all the elements info@homecountiescarers.co.uk that will bring you www.homecountiescarers.co.uk a truly magical story for both young and old to enjoy. info@homecountiescarers.co.uk There’s live musicians and songs to www.homecountiescarers.co.uk get you rocking

• • •

• • • • • • • From • just an hour• a day to 24 hou

• Rewarding career Flexible hours • 01483 224 985 Call us today on 01483 224 985 support • &Comprehensive training

and warm the heart. Don’t miss out on this fun-filled family treat. Sleeping Beauty takes place at Ewhurst January 2016

www.homecountiescarers.co.uk

27

GARDENING

With Beth Otway

Seasonal flowers a number of Open Afternoons through the year where you can purchase freshly picked flowers, and there’s always the option to purchase the flowers from local florists who stock their flowers. If you wish to purchase flowers on a regular basis, money saving subscriptions are available. I recently caught up with Claire, from Plantpassion, who told me she hopes to have lots of scented Narcissus, Anemones, Tulips and Alstroemerias, plus lots of local foliage, available for Valentine’s Day.

We’re fortunate in Great Britain to have four seasons to delight in, each one distinct. They offer us special moments, opportunities and sensations that we look forward to each year, making each season particularly special.

Seasonal flowers are equally significant. Just like seasonal food, we rejoice in their arrival, celebrating their colours, fragrance and beauty.

Flowers always make such a wonderful gift. If you’re thinking of buying flowers, don’t forget to think seasonally. There are so many charming and beautifully scented flowers you could buy that would make a truly special and heartfelt gift, especially for Valentine’s Day next month.

Many people associate roses with Valentine’s Day, but it’s worth remembering that imported roses will have been picked quite a long time ago by the time the recipient receives them and won’t last very long. British cut flowers will naturally be fresher. I personally think seasonal cut flowers are more charming and sincere.

Plantpassion is a flower farm in East Clandon in Surrey, set up by Claire Brown, to provide locally grown seasonal, scented and sustainable cut flowers to florists, companies and private customers. If you live very locally, delivery is available if you order flowers via Plantpassion’s website (www.plantpassion. co.uk). If you’re not that local, Plantpassion has 28

In the 1890s, the ‘Violet Train’ used to carry violets from the South West to London to sell at the flower markets. These days many of the flowers sold at the London markets are imported from abroad and consequently many of us miss out on the joy of receiving a posy of violets. Groves Nurseries sell posies of violets during February when their violets are in flower. The posies are sent out by post - there are 20 highly scented violets in each posy and they come in a lovely range of colours. The posies are £5 each, postage is £5.99 per parcel. Due to the unpredictable nature of the British weather and violet flowering times, the nursery takes orders over the phone for their violet posies. Telephone 01308 422654 for more information and to place an order.

At Easton Walled Gardens in Lincolnshire, when they started renovating and restoring the gardens, thousands of snowdrops were discovered growing, hidden from view in the undergrowth.

The snowdrops were probably planted in Tudor times and have since multiplied and spread, forming colonies of pretty nodding white flowers that flower each February. Easton Walled Gardens send out bunches of ten flowering snowdrop bulbs, freshly lifted from the gardens. The variety they send out is Galanthus nivalis, the common snowdrop, which is easy to grow and thrives on many different soil types; it will grow happily in clay, chalk and sandy soils. The honey scented flowers are a delight at this time of year. The flowering snowdrop bulbs are posted out in a protective tube surrounded by tissue, the snowdrops are wrapped in cellophane and tied with a ribbon - they make a lovely gift, that if planted in the garden, can be enjoyed every Valentine’s Day, as the snowdrops will flower each February and will over time multiply in your garden.

Top left: snowdrops. Left: Anemone coronaria ‘Lord Lieutenant’. Both by Beth Otway

FIND OUT MORE

For more information on seasonal cut flowers, gardening jobs for the month ahead and much more besides, please see Beth’s website at www.pumpkinbeth.com vantagepointmag.co.uk

Hold that diet....

Here we have three reasonably easy courses for you to enjoy in the New Year. They are not especially decadent and yet neither are we counting the calories. January can be such a dispiriting month that there is little point in making it worse by not eating enjoyable food. The Thai broth comes from Four Gables Food Academy (www.fourgablesfoodacademy. com) and is simple yet comforting. The other two courses come from Red Mist Leisure (www.redmistleisure.co.uk) who own a number of local pubs including the Stag at Eashing, the Royal Exchange at Lindford and the Wheatsheaf in Farnham. Pork belly is a very flavourful cut and excellent value for money while the cheesecake may look fiddly but is in fact very easy to make and a great favourite of most people.

Brined and Slow Roasted Belly of Pork with celeriac purée, sautéed greens and cider jus Ingredients For the pork: Half a pork belly, boned and rolled, skin removed, 3 litres of water, 300g table salt, 300g soft dark brown sugar, 1 bay leaf, 1 star anise, 5 peppercorns, 5 juniper berries, 2 cloves, 1 large carrot roughly chopped, 1 onion roughly chopped, a sprig of thyme For the celeriac: 1 small head of celeriac, peeled and chopped in 1cm dice, 1 onion, finely sliced, 3 sticks of celery, finely sliced, 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, 100g butter, 150ml vegetable stock, 100ml double cream, salt and white pepper to taste For the cider jus: 2 litres homemade beef or pork stock, 250ml dry cider, 1 sprig of sage For the greens: 100g pancetta lardons, 2x 500g bag of washed baby leaf spinach Serves 6 Method: 1. Three days before you wish to serve your dish you will need to make the brine. Fill a pan with the water, sugar, salt and spices. Gently heat to dissolve the salt and sugar, and boil for three minutes. Empty into a bowl large enough for the pork belly and chill.

Place the pork into the brine ensuring it is completely submerged and refrigerate for three days.

2. Four hours before serving, preheat oven to 150 C. Remove pork from brine and rinse under cold running water for 20 minutes. Place on a roasting tray on a bed of 1cm chopped onion, carrot and thyme, and roast for 3 hours.

3. Meanwhile, place the stock in a pan and reduce by three quarters.

4. An hour before serving, make the celeriac purée.

Sweat the onion, celery and celeriac with the thyme in butter on a low heat for about 10 minutes, ensuring it doesn’t colour. Add the veg stock and cream and simmer until soft. Puree well and season. It should be 30

the consistency of a loose mashed potato. Keep warm until serving.

5. When the pork is done, remove from the oven tray and wrap in foil. To make the jus, drain all of the fat off the tray, pouring a small amount into a jug to use later and discarding the rest. Place the tray on the heat and deglaze the tray with the cider. Reduce by half and pour into the pan of reduced stock, ensuring you scrape all the caramelised bits into the sauce. Add a sprig of sage and leave to cook out for 20 minutes. If you wish, thicken with a little cornflour. Before serving pass through a sieve into a jug.

6. While the jus is cooking out and the pork is resting, heat a teaspoon of the pork fat in a sauté pan and render down the pancetta on a low heat. Once crispy, pour off half the fat and add the spinach, a little at a time, until it all wilts down.

7. To serve, warm up the purée and spread on the middle of the plate. Top with the wilted spinach and a slice of the pork belly. Serve with your jus. vantagepointmag.co.uk

RECIPES Thai Coconut and Vegetable Broth This can be easily adjusted in spice and by the types of vegetables you put in so it is wonderfully versatile...

Ingredients 1½ tbsp Thai curry paste, 1tsp vegetable oil, 1 litre vegetable stock, 400ml can half-fat coconut milk, 2tsp brown sugar, 175g medium egg noodles, 2 carrots cut into matchsticks, half a 300g bag beansprouts, juice of 1 lime, 3 spring onions halved and finely sliced lengthways, a handful of roughly chopped coriander, red chilli cut into thin strips for garnish Serves at least 6 as a starter Method: 1. Place the curry paste in a large saucepan or wok with the oil. Fry for 1 min until fragrant.

2. Tip in the vegetable stock, coconut milk and brown sugar. Simmer for 3 minutes.

3. Add the noodles, carrots and simmer for 4-6 minutes,

until all are tender. Mix in beansprouts. Add lime juice to taste and some extra seasoning, if you like.

4. Spoon into bowls and sprinkle with spring onions, coriander and chilli.

Bakewell Cheesecake Ingredients For the cheesecake: 530g full fat soft cheese, 1 tsp almond essence, 400ml double cream, 75g ground almonds, 1 vanilla pod, 130g white chocolate For the base: 165g digestive biscuits, 85g melted butter, 1 tsp almond essence, 75g ground almonds For the raspberry coulis: 2 punnets fresh raspberries, 100g caster sugar, water to cover For the jelly: 300ml water, 70g caster sugar, 100g raspberry coulis (above), 3 gelatine leaves Serves 6 Method: 1. Make the biscuit base by blitzing all ingredients until fully mixed together. Line a cake tin with cling film and press mixture into the bottom making sure you have an even base. Place in the fridge and allow base to set.

2. Make the raspberry coulis by placing caster sugar and fresh raspberries into a saucepan and cover with water just above the level of your ingredients. Bring this to the boil on a high heat and then allow to simmer gently for approximately one hour. Pour your mixture into a food processor and blitz until completely smooth then allow to cool and refrigerate.

3. To make the cheesecake mixture, whip double cream until firm peaks appear being careful not to over whip, put to one side. Mix together soft cheese, January 2016

sugar, vanilla, almond essence and ground almonds until smooth. Add whipped cream and raspberry coulis (setting aside 100g for jelly) to mix and gently fold until mixed through evenly.

4. Take your biscuit base from the fridge when set and spread your mixture into the cake tin evenly trying to achieve a smooth top. Place back into the refrigerator and allow to set again.

5. Make the jelly topping by putting all ingredients together in a saucepan and use the same method as the raspberry coulis. When jelly has cooled, but making sure not to allow it to set, spread evenly across top of cheesecake. Finally allow to set once more in refrigerator.

6. To serve cut into desired sized portions and top with mint, icing sugar and toasted flaked almonds.

31

<27

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

Village Hall and performances are on: Friday Jan 29th 7.45pm / Saturday 30th 2.30pm (matinee) and 7.45pm. Sunday 31st 2.30pm. Friday Feb 5th 7.45pm / Saturday 6th 2.30pm (matinee) and 7.45pm. Tickets are £8 and can be booked online at www.ticketsource. co.uk/ewhurstplayers or call 01483 272378. The Box Office opens on Monday 4th January at 9am. You can learn more about The Ewhurst Players at www. ewhurstplayers.com or find them on Facebook.

Table Top Sale Saturday 30th January 2pm-4pm This first top table sale takes place at Powell Corderoy Primary School, who, by the way, are celebrating their bicentenary year. Find a bargain or hidden gem and enjoy a warming cup of tea and a well deserved end of January treat. All welcome! Email The Friends of Powell Corderoy for more details at fopcs@pcps.co.uk. The school is situated at Longfield Road, Dorking RH4 3DF. Philharmonia Orchestra Saturday 30th January 7.30pm One of the musical highlights this month must surely be the visit by the Philharmonia Orchestra to Dorking Halls, playing music by Mozart, Beethoven and Prokofiev.

The Philharmonia is one of Britain’s leading orchestras

36>

and for this concert it will be conducted by Michael Collins, the brilliant clarinettist who has now extended his career into conducting too. He will play the lovely Mozart clarinet concerto, one of the outstanding works for the instrument, as well as conducting Beethoven’s fourth symphony and Prokofiev’s high-spirited and very enjoyable Classical symphony. Tickets £14-£29, call 01306 740619.

Dorking Scrabble Club The Dorking Scrabblers meet on Thursday evenings and are a friendly group that will make you welcome whether you are a beginner or an expert. For details, ring Priscilla on 01737 767072 or David on 01306 889308.

Guildford Shakespeare Company Monday 8th - Saturday 27th February This February, Guildford Shakespeare Company will be commencing their 10th Anniversary Year with The Winter’s Tale. Shakespeare’s great late play will be staged at the newly restored Holy Trinity Church

GET JOTTINGS BY EMAIL JOTTINGS

Get all our monthly Jottings direct to your inbox.

Sign up at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk

New Year’s Resolution?

Join in January and get first month free!

Taekwon-Do lessons for fitness and self defence. Come when it is cold, wet, and dark, and we are inside training and having fun!

E: richard@surreytaekwondo.com W: www.surreytaekwondo.com T: 07818 224532 32

vantagepointmag.co.uk

’Kingfisher’

Farm Shop info@kingfisherfarmshop.com

01306 730703

44 years of retailing the best of British food and 157 years growing in Abinger Hammer

Watercress beds, Abinger Hammer, Dorking, Surrey. RH5 6QX

Now available for January 2016

’Kingfisher’

Opening Times Farm Shop Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sunday10am-4pm

Farm Shop

info@kingfisherfarmshop.com Flower Shop 01306 730703 Watercress beds, Abinger Hammer, Dorking, Surrey. RH5 6QX Tue-Sat 9am-5pm Sun and Mon closed

info@kingfisherfarmshop.com 01306 730703 Abinger Hammer, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6QX

Rudgwick to Walliswood This is a largely flat walk through fields and woods, passing an interesting old chapel. The walk description is provided by Guildford Rambling Club (guildfordramblingclub.org.uk). The club will embark on this walk on 24th January. Visitors are welcome to join them.

The walk 1. From the parking area walk north along the road to reach the Kings Head. Take the footpath right that goes through the churchyard behind the pub and out of the back onto a lane. Turn right and walk past Highcroft Cottage. The lane becomes a path.

Continue forward. At a cross track go straight on.

At a 4-way signpost go straight on, through a gap in the hedge. Head straight out across the field then jink right and left to enter a wood. Go through the wood to reach and pass a house and continue forward along its drive to reach a 3-way signpost at a road.

2. Turn left. Immediately after a house is a 3-way signpost. Turn right and follow the Sussex Border Path along the right-hand edge of a field. Reach a concrete track and turn left along it. Follow this all the way to a road by Bury St Austen’s Farmhouse.

Go straight across and through farm buildings and the concrete track continues all the way to Ridge Farm. Walk through the buildings and on to reach

VANTAGEPOINT

Walks

COMING SOON! All the walks we have previously published will soon be available to download.

Please email walks@vantagepublishing.co.uk to sign up.

The local magazine produced by local people for the local community 34

a road. Cross, jinking left and then turning right, along a footpath. Pass the side of Honeywood House and continue through trees and along its access track for ½ mile to reach a road. Turn left and walk for 100 yards to take a footpath right, into a field. Cross ½ left to a stile into another field.

Walk up the right-hand side until forced left a little way and then turn right to continue forward.

3. At the bottom of the field, go over a stile and turn right to walk anticlockwise around the next field. Take the second stile right and follow the lefthand edge across and along in the edge of trees.

At a 3-way signpost at a field corner go straight on and continue along field edges to pass through Rose Hill Farm to reach a road. Turn right and walk about 250 yards to find a footpath left, at the righthand side of the entrance to Chapel House Farm.

Follow the path along the left-hand field edge and then reach the pretty little Oak Hill Chapel (built in 1899) in the middle of a wood. At the porch turn left and walk along the ‘stepping stones’ path to go down steps and over a footbridge into a wood.

4. Turn right and immediately take the left-most of two more footbridges. Follow the track through the wood for ½ mile, ignoring all lefts and rights, until emerging on a road in Wallis Wood with the Scarlett Arms pub and green immediately to your right.

5. From the pub, go along the road to the right for 300 yards to reach a left turn to Oakwood Hill etc.

Here, look for a footpath right, on the other side of the road. In the field head out half-left (crops or no crops) to reach a gate onto a road, about 100 yards to the left of a ‘tudor’ cottage. Turn left and walk along the road, following it as it swings right and passes Ewhurst Brick Works. After about 500 yards, find a footpath right and along a wide track.

Reach some buildings and take a stile left, into a field. The path swings right and exits into trees and then is much overgrown for over ½ mile. At a big gate you are forced right, in a corridor alongside a fence. The path swings right, still in a corridor but now with a fence on the other side. You are forced left. At a yellow arrow go right and quickly cross a plank footbridge into a field. vantagepointmag.co.uk

WALK

6. Head out to the far left corner to exit. Go over another footbridge and reach a T junction with the drive of Hoopwick Farm. Cross and take a footpath right, into a field. Walk along the right-hand edge, ignoring a footbridge on the left. At the far side go through a gate into trees and continue forward.

Emerge to walk along the right-hand side of a field.

Go through a gate, right, onto a concrete track.

This takes you across a field and continues in the next, after you have crossed two stiles. Follow the second section of concrete track straight out until almost reaching a high, green metal stake fence.

Here, turn left and walk parallel to the fence. When it ends trend right to find a stile, right, at the edge of a garden of a house (Pollingfold Manor). Follow the path as it emerges on a drive and continue to a road.

field. Follow the path left and into the next field.

Here, head half-left to a stile out onto a road.

8. Turn right and walk 100 yards to find a footpath left. Go over a rise and follow a fenced corridor to the left. Go over a stile and along the right-hand side of a field. Take a stile right, onto a path which you follow left, between gardens. Emerge on a road with a ‘Rudgwick’ sign immediately to your right. Turn right and walk to the start.

7. Turn left and walk for 100 yards to take a footpath right, along the track to Tillhouse Farm. Follow the track as it swings sharp left to pass the house and continue on into a field. Walk down the right-handside for about 300 yards to turn right, through a gap, into a large field. Head out across it half-left, aiming towards a large house, Maybanks Manor. Reach its drive and turn right to walk round towards another house, Ruet. The drive bends left close to the house and, on this corner, look for a kissing gate, on the left. Take this into a field and walk along its left-hand side. At the first corner, go forward through a clip chained gate into another

DISTANCE: 10 miles

REFRESHMENTS:

OS MAPS: Explorer 134 Crawley & Horsham, Cranleigh & Billingshurst

The Kings Head, Rudgwick T: 01403 822200 The Scarlett Arms, Walliswood T: 01306 627243

STARTING POINT: Turn off the A281 north into Rudgwick and use a lay-by on the right, before you reach the Kings Head.

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.

January 2016

35

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

<32

on Guildford High Street and in all there will be 24 performances. The play is set circa 1860 with the Sicilian royal family emulating the conservatism of the British Victorian Court. I believe there will be a moving stage, trapezes and Indian folk dances! Tickets at £18 are available from the Box Office on 01483 304384 or online at www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk.

Dorking Friends of Cancer Research UK Wednesday 10th February 9.30am – 11.30am The first event in their 40th anniversary year is a Celebration Coffee Morning at Betchworth Park Golf Club, Reigate Road, Dorking RH4 1NZ, on Wednesday 10th in support of Cancer Research UK. There will be coffee and Danish and a raffle with fabulous prizes. There will also be local artisan stalls selling handmade gifts and cards.

Tickets £10. For tickets call 01306 711688 or 01737 842084 or email dfcancerresearchuk@btinternet.com.

The Brigitte Trust Yet another award to a local organisation! The wonderful charity The Brigitte Trust and its volunteers have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for voluntary groups. The presentation to the Dorking-based charity was made at a special reception at Denbies Wine Estate which saw a reunion of volunteers,

staff, trainers and trustees from the past thirty years numbering almost 100 people. Long service pins for volunteers marking 5 and 10 years service were also awarded. When a family member is diagnosed with cancer or another life-threatening illness it can be a lonely and frightening time. The Brigitte Trust offers a free volunteer service of emotional support and practical help at home. The service may also provide the family carer with a break, driving to medical or other appointments, shopping or just sitting quietly and listening. For more about the charity and to enquire about volunteering call 01306 881816 or visit www.brigittetrust.org.

Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre The theatre continues its 50th Anniversary celebrations, announcing another spectacular New Season programme of events on the Main Stage and Mill Studio, to entertain throughout the New Year. If you are not on the postal list and would like a copy of the new Anniversary Brochure, email your address to lbutler@yvonne-arnaud.co.uk and they will pop one in the post to you.

FIND OUT MORE

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

r u o Y t Ge ANT" "BAA-RILLI

"GUARANT EED!"

House Valuation Report There is no cost or obligation for this valuable service.

For your

instant online valuation estimate

Visit: EweMove.com/dorking Text: Dorking1 to 60222

Book your free no obligation market appraisal, call: 01306

36

406 506

vantagepointmag.co.uk

PROFILE inChoir in Dorking world famous Abbey Road Studios to record a charity single of Fat Boy Slim’s ‘Praise You’ for Children in Need. They visited Boston in early November, Prague in December and will shortly be embarking on a trip to Norway.

As well as these exotic ventures, they have travelled to Arundel, Bath, Leeds Castle, the Minack Theatre, Wakehurst Place and many other locations in the UK.

It’s January and time to dust off your New Year’s Resolutions...

Do any of these sound familiar?

Start a new hobby.

Make new friends.

Laugh more.

Help raise a few £s for charity.

Get healthy.

It looks like we can potentially help you achieve all of your resolutions this year!

Did you know that singing is good for your health? It’s true! By joining inChoir or simply by keeping up to date with what we’re up to*, you are looking after your well-being! Their sessions are full of fun and laughter, alongside singing beautiful arrangements of a whole range of uplifting modern songs from The Beach Boys and Andrew Lloyd Webber to Daft Punk and Bruno Mars, and anything in between.

Sometimes the hardest step to take when starting something new is the first one. Will they make me sing on my own? Will I stand out as the only new person there? Will I have to read music? Will there be an audition? But in reality, none of these things will happen; they are a very friendly and welcoming group, and by the end of your first session, they guarantee you’ll feel totally at home, and ready for your next week’s session.

To join them, you can sign up online, call 01342 760078 in advance or just come along. They look forward to seeing you there... * Please note that there is no medical evidence to suggest that watching us or reading our blog will improve your health, but we like to believe that it will.

inChoir arrived in Dorking last summer and has been going from strength to strength since then. Performing at Dorking’s Gala Night, and in St Paul’s Church for the Christmas Craft Fair, were particular highlights of the Christmas season and over the course of 2015, they raised over £10,000 for various charitable causes. They are very excited about what 2016 will bring!

While their Dorking choir is relatively new, they have nearly 900 members across 12 adult choirs in 10 locations. Whether you have only sung in the shower, performed your whole life or have never sung a note, all are welcome. There is no need to read music or learn words and all performances are optional.

They operate a ‘pay as you go’ option so there is no need to pay termly in advance unless you choose to do so.

If you wish to perform, they offer many opportunities both locally and further afield, often joining several branches of inChoir together and raising money for charity. In November, for example, nearly 400 inChoir members travelled to the January 2016

FIND OUT MORE

inChoir meets each Thursday in Crossways Community Baptist Church, Junction Road from 10.30am - 12 noon. We offer a free taster session, so come along and give them a try! www.inchoir.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/inchoir 37

BUSINESS CARDS

Window Wizard 0115_Layout 1 05/12/2014 09:52 Page 1

Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Plumbing

Reliable, local plumber.

No job too small. 24 hour call out.

Call Paul Buckland on 07751 538694/01306 500219

Essential Tree Care

Specialists in

Tree Felling / Reduction â&#x20AC;˘ Stump Grinding 07769 856815 or 01306 501992

FOR ALL YOUR DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIRS

DOUBLE GLAZING REPAIR SPECIALIST W W W W W W W

Broken down sealed units...

New hinges, fire & child safety...

New mechanisms, windows & doors...

Patio door repairs...

Broken handles....

Front & back doors dropped...

Drafts & leaks on your windows...

No call out charge.

seth@essentialtreecare.co.uk www.essentialtreecare.co.uk

Playground â&#x20AC;˘ Many Special Events â&#x20AC;˘ Light Railway (Sundays) â&#x20AC;˘ Picnic Areas â&#x20AC;˘ CafĂŠ Open Wed-Sun & BH â&#x20AC;˘ 10am to 5pm Tilford â&#x20AC;˘ Farnham â&#x20AC;˘ Surrey â&#x20AC;˘ GU10 2DL â&#x20AC;˘ 01252 795571

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Simple, Contemporary, Radicalâ&#x20AC;?

Want to �ind out more?

www.quaker.org.uk www.dorking.quaker.eu.org or telephone 01372 454363

www.rural-life.org.uk

New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resolution?

Join in January and get first month free!

Fully insured NICEIC approved electrician Local, skilledChristopher and reliableKendall company Christopher KendallChristopher Kendall Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Projects M 07585 446365 E07585 christopher.kendall@hotmail.co.uk No jobMtoo big or too small 446365 M 07585 446365 E www.ckcircuits.com christopher.kendall@hotmail.co.uk E christopher.kendall@hotmail.co.uk Call Chris on 07585 446365 www.ckcircuits.com www.ckcircuits.com

* External & Internal Windows * Conservatory Roofs * Soffit & Fascia Cleaning

Tel: 01483 898628 Mob: 07748 825450 www.oasiswindowcleaning.co.uk

* Regular, Reliable Service * Residential & Commercial * Frames & Sills Washed Every Time

Free No Obligation Quote - All Work Fully Guaranteed 38

Taekwon-Do lessons for fitness and self defence. Come when it is cold, wet, and dark, and we are inside training and having fun!

E: richard@surreytaekwondo.com W: www.surreytaekwondo.com T: 07818 224532

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

My business card advert in VantagePoint magazine generates me around ÂŁ25,000 worth of business every year...

JP Orrin Decorating, Godalming

â&#x20AC;?

vantagepointmag.co.uk

Enter at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk

COMPETITIONS

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

WIN A FREE ADVERT IN VANTAGEPOINT MAGAZINE VANTAGEPOINT VantagePoint is offering local businesses a free quarter page advert in the area of their vantagepointmag.co.uk

Haslemere, Midhurst & Petworth • January 2016

Your best view of what’s going on locally

MAGAZINE

Happy New Year!

choice in our February issue. We publish five magazines in the wider local area and with guaranteed delivery by the Royal Mail, we offer the very best way of advertising to the widest possible local audience.

This competition is open to all local businesses and if you do not have a suitable advert, we will design one for you. All you need to do is answer the following question and send us the answer, together with your name, company name, full contact details and the edition you would like to appear in (either Dorking, Farnham, Godalming & Cranleigh, Guildford or Haslemere, Midhurst & Petworth).

Inside: INTERIORS MIDHURST U3A THE HISTORY OF DENNIS - PART 4 50 YEARS OF THE YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE WIN TICKETS TO THE CAKE DECORATING AND SUGARCRAFT SHOW

The local magazine produced by local people for the local community, delivered by your local postman

Q: What is the total circulation of all our five editions?

We will contact the winner by 11th January to sort out the quarter page advert prior to insertion in the February issue, which goes to press on the 15th January for distribution week commencing 1st February - so please ensure you will be available to supply or approve an advert at short notice. Only one entry per business.

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 10th January 2016.

WIN TICKETS TO CAKE DECORATING AND SUGARCRAFT EXHIBITION 2016 Baking is a popular pastime and food fans are increasingly taking the next step to sugarcraft, discovering how to decorate their cakes like works of art. From basic cake decorating skills to the latest trends, tricks and techniques, creative cake makers will find it all at Squires Kitchen’s 30th Anniversary Cake Decorating and Sugarcraft Exhibition 2016 at the Farnham Maltings on 11th–13th March 2016.

The show includes, demonstrations amazing cake displays, Wedding Cake Showroom, Cake Decorating Competition and mini classes with top tutors. Find out more at www.squires-exhibition.com or call 0845 617 1810.

To win one of three pairs of tickets, simply answer the following question: Q: Which anniversary is Squires Kitchen celebrating?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 29th January 2016.

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE GODALMING OPERATIC’S THE GRAND DUKE The Grand Duke is one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s rare gems. Their final collaboration, this charming little-known comic Operetta promises a real treat for G&S fans and those just wanting to see something new in 2016! It will be performed by the awardwinning Godalming Operatic Society at the Borough Hall, Godalming from 16th to 20th February and at The Leatherhead Theatre 25th to 27th February. (Evening performances 7.30pm and Saturday matinees 2.30pm.)

GOS, together with VantagePoint, is giving you the opportunity to WIN a pair of tickets for the performance at Godalming on Thursday 18th February and a pair of tickets at Leatherhead on Thursday 25th February.

If you don’t want to chance it, tickets for both venues can be obtained from the Main Box Office – Tel: 01252 703376 or visit the website: www.godalmingoperatic.org.

To win, please please enter online at www.godalmingoperatic.org by 29th January 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.

£23.00 a month

swim membership.

Benefits of a swimming membership: ■ Offers great value for money ■ Includes unlimited swimming ■ Single and family memberships available ■ 100% money back guarantee To add gym and classes, contact us for details.

£29.99 a month

gym membership.

Monthly gym membership includes: ■ Unlimited use of the gym ■ Induction to the gym ■ 100% money back guarantee ■ Short term commitment To add swim and classes, contact us for details.

Contact us today!

DORKING SPORTS CENTRE Reigate Road,Dorking, RH4 1SN

01306 870180 www.dorkingsportscentre.co.uk

Operated by Places for People Leisure Ltd in partnership with Mole Valley District Council.

A one-off start up fee is applicable on all memberships. Terms and conditions apply.

PFP98907