VantagePoint Dorking & Villages April 2016

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Dorking & Villages • March 2016

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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. This gives us the largest local circulation in the areas we cover, all with guaranteed delivery by your postman.

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YOUR LOCAL TEAM I am very proud this month to announce that VantagePoint has become a member of Surrey Hills Enterprises, a body that seeks to bring together and promote independent companies, organisations and artisans based within the Surrey Hills. Please take a look at our main article this month which explains more about this wonderful local initiative.

Another initiative we mentioned last month is the CowParade, the world’s largest public art event, which is coming to Surrey and beyond from May to September. It’s an exciting project which will raise money for local community projects and enterprise schemes that benefit and enhance the Surrey Hills landscape. VantagePoint is a media partner for this exciting event and

March 2016

there is lots planned to take advantage of the sight of these beautifully decorated cows within our magnificent landscape.

Stefan Reynolds Editor & Publisher

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I recently went to a very interesting and informative tour of the Silent Pool Distillery near Albury, a fellow member of Surrey Hills Enterprises. They have a great story to tell about a process that is suprisingly complicated and I am quite a fan of the end product. It is well worth a visit to find out for yourself and meet the friendly team.

Finally, we welcome a new member to the VantagePoint team. Lauren Broughton has joined us part-time to help out in the office and we are delighted to have her on board!

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: Paul Crisell Beth Otway, Karen Taylor Print: Buxton Press

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CONTENTS

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The local magazine produced by local people for the local community

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

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

To feature here, please email us at jottings@vantagepublishing.co.uk by the copy date shown below.

Please note that space is limited and inclusion cannot be guaranteed.

Seeing that the price of petrol is rapidly falling reminded us of the following notice we saw recently in a pub in Dorset - the average human walks 900 miles a year and drinks 22 gallons of beer, which means the average human gets 41 miles to the gallon! Anyway, Happy Mother’s Day to all you mums and we hope you all have a lovely Easter holiday.

Chair Exercise Takes place at the Christian Centre, Dorking on Tuesdays at 11am. Why not pop along for some gentle exercise to music designed for the more mature person. It’s a friendly group and it will do you a lot of good! There are also chair exercises at Brockham Village Hall on Wednesdays at 11.15am. Exercise to music designed for the more mature person to increase strength and flexibility. You will be most welcome to join this friendly group.

Dorking Folk Club Every Wednesday 8.30pm at Dorking Golf Club Dorking Folk Club’s 2016 season has got off to a good start, with some great guest acts in January and February.

March promises to provide more great entertainment for devotees of folk, traditional and acoustic music. On 9th there’s a showcase evening featuring Jim McLean and The Rusty Rovers. On 30th they welcome Steve Turner. The other Wednesdays are Singer’s Nights which feature local, nonprofessional acoustic performers. The club meets at Dorking Golf Club, Deepdene Avenue, Dorking RH5 4BX. More information and the rest of the club’s full spring programme at http://dorkingfolkclub.org.uk Dorking Scrabble Club Thursday 3rd 7.30pm Spellbound! Are you? If so why not play the spelling game, Scrabble? The Dorking Scrabblers are a friendly group and will make you welcome whether you are a beginner or

an expert. They play in the Roy Currie Room in the United Reformed Church, West Street, Dorking every Thursday. For details, ring Priscilla on 01737 767072 or David on 01306 889308.

Vintage Jive – Surrey Thursday 3rd March 8pm-10pm 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 every Thursday 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.

Squires Garden Centres Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th March 10am-5pm All their garden centres, except Chertsey, will be holding a ‘Plant a Gift for Mum’ activity where you will be able to plant a beautiful basket for Mum with 3 colourful plants and decorate with a bow. The cost is just £5.75 and 20% of the price will be donated to Greenfingers, a charity that creates magical gardens for children’s hospices. There is also ‘Make a Mother’s Day Card’ where you can get creative and design your own card using flowers, stickers and coloured pencils to decorate for just £2.50.

COWPARADE COMES TO SURREY! MAY - SEPTEMBER 2016 The World’s Largest Public Art Event

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March 2016

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Music and genius at

Leith Hill Place Looked after by the National Trust, Leith Hill Place is the childhood home of the famous English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. This March his piano will go on display to the public for the first time.

Ralph Vaughan Williams lived at Leith Hill Place, near Dorking throughout his childhood, from the age of two until he was twenty, when he left to go to Cambridge University.

while composing The Lark Ascending in 1914, through to later works such as the film music for ‘Scott of the Antarctic’. Prior to returning to Leith Hill Place, the piano has undergone repairs including a new tuning plank and re-stringing.

He became one of the most prolific English composers of the 20th-century. He composed nine symphonies and numerous choral and chamber works, as well as film scores, operas, music for ballet and the theatre, solo songs, song cycles and instrumental pieces.

Gabrielle Gale, National Trust Manager for Leith Hill Place said: “We are thrilled that an instrument so key to Vaughan Williams’ life and work now has its permanent home at Leith Hill Place and can be seen and enjoyed by our visitors. It is quite an unassuming instrument, said to suit the character of the man and it sat in the composer’s study where he used it to try out musical ideas, so it is a ‘workhorse’ rather than a concert piano.”

He collected English folk songs and this strongly influenced his style. His romance for violin, The Lark Ascending, has twice been voted the nation’s favourite classical piece.

But just as importantly, he was a teacher, lecturer, conductor, writer and friend to other composers and musicians.

“Although the piano would not have originally been at Leith Hill Place, we felt it was the best home for the instrument since Vaughan Williams’ later Dorking home is no longer there. In keeping with the spirit of the composer, who believed that music should be enjoyed by everyone, the piano will be played on certain days and for special events at the house.”

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ study piano has generously been gifted to the National Trust and will now be looked after at Leith Hill Place.

A Broadwood upright, with a model name of ‘Honeysuckle’, the piano dates from 1900 and was purchased secondhand by Vaughan Williams from the Royal College of Music on 30 thOctober 1905. It was delivered to his Chelsea address: 13 Cheyne Walk and came with him and his wife when they moved to ‘The White Gates’ in Dorking in 1930.

He kept the instrument close to hand through his most productive and important years: 8

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“We want to express heartfelt thanks to the donor of this important gift and for the support of the Vaughan Williams Society, Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust, Leith Hill Musical Festival, Royal College of Music and the Wedgwood family, many of whom still live locally.”

The composer’s widow, Ursula Vaughan Williams, gave many of his personal and musical items to friends and family when her husband died. The piano had gone first to one of his students and then to his widow’s niece. A chance conversation with the publisher of her aunt’s memoir convinced her to donate it to the National Trust in 2015.

The making of a musical genius A member of the Wedgwood family, the composer’s mother Margaret brought her young family back to live at Leith Hill Place with her parents Josiah III and Caroline (nee Darwin) after the early death of her husband, Arthur Vaughan Williams.

Ralph was brought up surrounded by the beauty and tranquillity of the Surrey Hills and his affinity for the area was a recurring theme throughout his life. He went to school at nearby Charterhouse in Godalming before going on to the Royal College of Music and to University.

He returned to the Royal College to study with Sir Hubert Parry and specialise in composition. He studied for short periods with Bruch in Berlin and Ravel in Paris before developing his unique English style.

He was passionate about bringing music into everybody’s lives – editing the English Hymnal even although he was an atheist himself, and helping to start the Leith Hill Musical Festival – an annual competition for amateur choirs, which is still going strong.

He urged people to make their own music, however simple.

Feel close to his creative genius at Leith Hill Place Vaughan Williams was a modest man and wanted his legacy to be the music he left behind. With this in mind the National Trust invites you to relax and enjoy visiting Leith Hill Place where he grew up and experience the joy of his music as you do so.

Leith Hill Place opened to the public for the first time in 2013, after nearly 40 years of being tenanted by the Hurtwood House School. The house is largely unfurnished with an informal atmosphere. There are soundscape tours of the attics and a popular summer recital series of classical music. Tea and coffee are available to enjoy; and cakes and scones are baked in the historic kitchen by National Trust volunteers.

Top left: The north face of Leith Hill Place. Above left: Ralph Vaughan Williams (by kind permission of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Charitable Trust. Left and top right: The piano (National Trust / Richard Mogridge).

FIND OUT MORE

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ piano is on display at Leith Hill Place from 4 March 2015. The house is open 4th March to 31st October 2016, Friday to Monday 11am to 5pm. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/leith-hill-place.

March 2016

Ralph Vaughan Williams & the Piano

By Graham Muncy

Throughout his life Vaughan Williams, along with numerous other composers, used the piano as a composing tool – there was always the same small upright piano in his study, in addition to a grand piano in the main room in his Dorking house, The White Gates. In fact, Ralph had to learn the piano as a child at Leith Hill Place, his first teacher being his Aunt Sophy and he played duets with his sister and elder brother from “funny old volumes”.

At the age of 7, Ralph began violin lessons and discovered that he felt much happier with a stringed instrument than he had ever done with the pianoforte!

Even so, Ralph did not escape the keyboard altogether in that he moved on to the organ, with a small instrument being installed at Leith Hill Place. He later studied for and passed the Royal College of Organists Fellowship and became a real church organist for a short period.

Ralph Vaughan Williams is not the first British composer who springs to mind when we think of the piano. Nevertheless he wrote for the piano and there are the arrangements of some of his best known pieces for piano, either solo or duet, such as the Greensleeves Fantasia or Linden Lea. 9

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Leith Hill Place The house opens for the new season on Friday 4th March.

Over the winter their DIY volunteers’ most important job has been making the new museum room ready. This will house several exhibits with a Ralph Vaughan Williams connection, including the study piano on which he composed several of his best known pieces. As well as conservation work, they have been organising special days for Mothers’ Day and Easter. On Sunday 6th March, Mums and Grandmas accompanied by their children can get in to the house free (up to two free entries for a family group). What better way to celebrate the day than a cream tea at Leith Hill Place? Dogs on leads are welcome. On Sunday 13th March at 1.45 and 3.15pm, local historian Patrick Newberry will give more of his engaging talks about the origins of the house and tower.

Booking is advised (0844 249 1895), but tickets at £2 will be sold on the door if still available. Normal admission charges for non-members apply. The Easter bank holiday weekend (25th to 28th March inclusive) will feature a musical Easter trail in the garden from 11am to 4pm, with an Easter egg prize for every child. The cost is £3 per trail; normal admission charges apply if you wish to enter the house. Your four-legged friend is also welcome on the lead!

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normally on the first Sunday of every month from 2pm onwards. Entry is free and all musicians welcome. Tickets for jazz nights are £17-£20, call 07415 815784.

Dorking Friends of Cancer Research UK 2016 is a very special year for Dorking Friends of Cancer Research UK, it’s their 40th anniversary! They would like to thank local people for their generosity during last year which has enabled them to send over £35,000 to Cancer Research UK. This has helped fund new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Indeed, since the committee started in 1976 over £650,000 has been raised and they hope that with continued local support their 40th year’s fundraising total will be the best yet. I have to say that this is an amazing effort and reflects the generosity of people living in and around Dorking.

Women’s World Day of Prayer Friday 4th March 11am This is a day led by the women of Cuba. All are welcome to the service in Crossways Community Baptist Church, Junction Road, Dorking.

Dorking Philharmonia Saturday 5th March 7.30pm Their concert will include two symphonies, Schubert’s sixth and Haydn’s seventh (Le midi), and two serenades, Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, and the Wind Serenade by Richard Strauss. Takes place at St Paul’s Church and tickets cost £12, call 01306 730640.

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Mary Frances Trust Saturday 5th March 10.45am There’s a free one hour free walk for health. Meet outside Leatherhead Theatre, Church Street Leatherhead just before 10.45am. There is also a half hour walk on Thursday 18th March. I’m afraid I don’t have details of time and meeting place but you can call 01372 375400 ext105 or go to www. maryfrancestrust.org.uk

to the public, along with three shows at which members compete for awards and trophies with their flowers, fruit and vegetables, homecrafts and handicrafts. All activities take place at the West Horsley Village Hall. Anyone interested in membership at the modest cost of £5 per annum should contact the Chairman, Roger Lindsay, email r.lindsay339@ btinternet.com or the Membership Secretary, Terry Lazenby, email terrylazenby@terrylazenby.plus.com.

Box Hill Bugs At Box Hill Bugs they aim to inspire a connection with the natural world in our pre-schoolers. They love a good sing-song and jumping in puddles, using experiential learning techniques to achieve EYFS objectives. Dress for the weather and come ready for adventure! The new Bugs term runs from week beginning 11th April and runs for 6 weeks with 45 minute sessions now available on both Mondays and Tuesdays! Booking is essential. To ensure that they have space for everyone and that the children get a chance to grow and develop their relationship with them, the woods and each other, they ask that you book your place for the whole term. Cost: £22 per child, per term. Email learningboxhill@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01306 878554.

Lunchtime Concert Saturday 5th March 12noon This month’s lunchtime concert at St Martin’s church will be given by cellist Claire Deniz with Alan Brown at the piano.

Free admission, call 01306 884229 for any enquiries.

Horsley Garden Society Horsley Garden Society holds flower and produce shows, meetings, lectures and visits that bring together those with an interest in gardening. New members and visitors are always welcome. They hold a plant sale which is open

Madame Butterfly Saturday 5th March 7.30pm The Russian State Opera will be screened live at the Dorking Halls, performing one of Puccini’s finest and best-loved operas. The emotion and drama of Puccini’s music will be enhanced by the presence of a large orchestra. Tickets are £30.50 - £34.50, call 01306 881717.

RHS Garden Wisley Sunday 6th and throughout March There are lots of early spring time events at Wisley starting on Mother’s Day on 6th. Why not spoil your Mum. Early spring flowers will be abundant so take a relaxing stroll in the garden and have an afternoon tea (booking essential).

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Garden is open from 9am – 6pm. To book, go to the website, www.rhs.org.uk/wisley or call 01483 225 329. Kick start your gardening year at Wisley’s Spring Plant Fair which takes place from Friday 18th – Sunday 20th March. Pick up quality plants from specialist growers and nurseries.

The event will take place in the Wilson’s Wood area of the Garden. All information is on the Wisley website www.rhs. org.uk/wisley. One final event I should mention is Wisley’s Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt and Easter holiday activities, ‘Garden Detectives’. It runs from Saturday 19th March to Thursday 10th April. Take your family along for a full day of Easter fun every day and join in with arts and craft sessions with the ‘Garden Detectives’ theme. Follow the clues to lead you to a delicious treat for your best Easter ever! As activities run from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 3.30pm and vary daily, do check the details which will be on the website, www.rhs.org.uk/wisley. Also, check out all the other great events happening at Wisley in March Mother’s Day with the National Trust Sunday 6th March If you are still looking to treat your Mum on her special day, the National Trust has a number of rather nice ideas. Share an experience together, whether it be a delicious afternoon tea, a spring time stroll or making your very own gift, you can really treat mum and show her just how special she is with a day out at one of their houses and gardens. Some of their top spots for a day out in Surrey include: Claremont Landscape Garden in Esher, Tel: 01372 467806. Hatchlands Bourne Buildings May 14_Layout 1 11/05/2015 14:51 Page 1

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The Heath String Quartet Sundays 6th and 20th March 3pm Presented by the Dorking Concertgoers, The Quartet gives two more recitals. They continue their voyage through the complete Tchaikovsky quartets, playing no.2 and no.3 - both contain much gorgeous music. The concerts also include Ravel’s delicious quartet, Bartok’s adventurous fifth, and quartets by Haydn and Mozart. Tickets for both concerts are £20, call 01306 740619.

Surrey Hills Society The society offers a wide ranging programme of exclusive talks, visits and short, focused 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 Sunday 6th March they will explore Hindhead Common on a free guided walk. On Tuesday 8th March they will host a fascinating talk with the Mayor of Farnham, a Town Clerk and a leading local architect about the history and intriguing THE LARGEST SHOWSITE IN THE UK OVER 200 BUILDINGS, 5000 STONE ORNAMENTS & 100 FURNITURE SETS ON DISPLAY

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9:30am – 5:00pm Monday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10:00 – 4:00pm on Sundays

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March 2016

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

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Our enterprising

Surrey Hills Established over three years ago, Surrey Hills Enterprises aims to raise awareness of local businesses under the ‘Surrey Hills’ banner with the aim of developing the Surrey Hills brand which appeals to discerning customers who are increasingly concerned with the provenance of goods and the authenticity of trades and crafts they buy.

Surrey Hills Enterprises is a not-for-profit organisation which runs local and popular events and brings together organisations, independent companies and artisans based within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) via a membership scheme.

Their vision is to promote the Surrey Hills as a national asset for the benefit of local businesses in order to enhance the community and conserve its unique heritage.

All members benefit from increased awareness of their business through an on-line directory, use of the Surrey Hills trademark, a high level events and networking programme, PR and social media.

“

The events that Surrey Hills Enterprises put on include the National Wood Fuel With its Conference and the rich heritage Surrey Hills Wood Fair which attracts of wooded increasing visitor slopes and rolling numbers each grassland, the October.

All profits made by Surrey Hills Enterprises, a Community Interest Company, are put back into the Surrey Hills through a series of projects which enhance, protect and preserve

Surrey Hills has provided inspiration to some of the country’s greatest artists and writers.

Their next event is the annual Surrey Hills Sculpture Garden at Birtley House near Bramley (see right) and the exciting Dame Penelope Keith CowParade Surrey, Patron, Surrey Hills for which VantagePoint AONB is a Media Partner.

Please see overleaf for the latest news on this exciting event.

”

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The Surrey Hills Wood Fair. vantagepointmag.co.uk

the landscape, promote the rural economy, educate visitors, residents and businesses and promote partnership.

They are proud of the diverse produce, crafts, activities and places to stay that bring life to the Surrey Hills landscape and there are some outstanding businesses featured in the Surrey Hills Enterprises directory.

From fantastic local pubs serving up the highest quality local food like the Parrot Inn in Forest Green, The Wheatsheaf in Farnham, The Stag on the River in Eashing, Stephan Langton in Friday Street to the quintessential English Tillings Tea Room & Corner House Cafe. They’ve also got producers and suppliers galore from Sweet Jenny’s Honey to Albury Organic Vineyard, Denbies Wine Estate and Silent Pool Gin to mention just a few.

They also now have VantagePoint as we have just joined! Take a look for yourself to experience the very best of the Surrey Hills.

Surrey Hills Sculpture Garden The stunning 48 acre Birtley Estate provides the perfect venue for this annual Sculpture exhibition which takes place from 30th April to 5th June.

Featuring sculptures from across the UK, this is the largest temporary sculpture exhibition in Surrey and attracts sculptors from across the UK. It offers the chance to enjoy sculpture displayed in a relaxed and informal setting, from both local up-and-coming sculptors to top names in the world of sculpture.

The Surrey Hills Sculpture Garden is kindly sponsored by Charles Russell Speechlys, Investec Wealth & Investment and Wilkins Kennedy Accountants and Business Advisors.

The exhibition is open daily from 11am–5pm with free parking.

Entrance is just £5 for adults (under 16s are free of charge), the price includes a catalogue and unlimited re-entry to the exhibition. Birtley Estate is situated just 5 miles south of Guildford on the A281. With the bulk of the 170 exhibits set in the stunning formal gardens, this is an ideal opportunity to enjoy the stunning grounds too.

All sculpture is for sale and proceeds from commissions go to the Surrey Hills Trust Fund; this fund supports local community projects and enterprise schemes that benefit and enhance the Surrey Hills landscape.

FIND OUT MORE

For further information and members of Surrey Hills Enterprises, visit

March 2016

Benefits of being a member of Surrey Hills Enterprises • Use of the Surrey Hills logo under licence on product packaging and promotional material.

• Entry into the members’ web directory and a dedicated website page on the Surrey Hills Enterprises website with content controlled by members themselves.

• PR and marketing opportunities under the ‘Surrey Hills’ banner.

• Access to the established Surrey Hills social media network (Twitter and Facebook).

• The opportunity to feature as ‘Member of the Month’ on the Surrey Hills website and social media network.

• Cross-promotional marketing with other Surrey Hills Enterprises businesses.

• Invitations to networking and training events.

• Discounted entry and exhibition space at major Surrey Hills Enterprises events such as The Wood Fair and The National Wood Fuel Conference, CowParade Surrey events and the Surrey Hills Food, Drink and Music Festival.

• Access to member services at preferential rates including legal/financial advice and surveying.

• Support with funding applications.

• Membership offers, discounts and promotion.

To become a member of Surrey Hills Enterprises you need to be: • A producer, activity provider or a supplier of locally sourced products or services in the Trading Standards defined Surrey Hills Boundary.

• Running your business sustainably and following ethical & legal employment and trading practices.

• Be passionate about the Surrey Hills.

• Strive to ensure that your products are of the highest quality and produced with care and commitment to reflect the image of the Surrey Hills.

Membership rates are very reasonable, from as little as £17 per month depending on the size of your businesses.

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CowParade update..

CowParade Surrey is the world’s largest public art event and will see cows positioned around Surrey from May-September.

The idea is that each cow is ‘sponsored’ by a business, school or charity and decorated by a local artist. The cows, which can be standing, sitting or grazing, will then be herded to the inaugural Surrey Hills Food, Drink and Music Festival on 3rd September where they will be auctioned off for charity. Those judged to be extra special will be auctioned at a gala dinner held at a unique London location later in the year.

The latest addition to the CowParade herd was unveiled at the end of January at Coverwood Farm, the official CowParade HQ. Affectionately named ‘Trusty the Surrey Hills Cow’ by Chairman of the Surrey Hills Trust Fund, Neil Maltby, the Cow was designed to help raise awareness and understanding of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Said Neil Maltby: “I’m delighted with the design of ‘Trusty the Cow’. I felt strongly that this was a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of the Surrey Hills landscape and the organisations that are in place to help protect this special area. ‘Trusty’ will not only form part of CowParade Surrey but will also help us longer term to promote and educate people about the Surrey Hills when we take her around the County to shows and events.“ Designed and painted by local artist Ali Clarke, who took her inspiration from the established Surrey Hills trademark and the rolling hills, Ali commented: “‘The design for the Surrey Hills cow was inspired directly by the established brand of the organisation. The trademark represents the undulating Surrey Hills landscape and was inspired by the work of Walter Bailey the sculptor commissioned for the boundary markers and artworks across the AONB. The fluid shapes transfer so well on the undulating form of the cow. It was apt that I should paint this alongside real cows on a farm in the heart of the Surrey Hills.”

‘Trusty’ is the second cow to be officially unveiled, with lots more planned in the coming months.

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Cow ‘sponsors’ can choose a charity of their own to benefit from half of the auction proceeds, with the other 50 per cent going to the Surrey Hills Trust Fund, a charity established to conserve and protect the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, leaving a legacy for generations to come.

CowParade Surrey has already secured offers of support from key organisations including the National Trust, schools and Surrey businesses such as Sandown Park Racecourse and Vines BMW. The Vines BMW Group, as well as sponsoring a Cow, have also supplied the promotional vehicle to Surrey Hills CowParade.

Sean Kelly, Vines Group’s Managing Director, said: “The Surrey Hills CowParade is a brilliant arts initiative to promote enterprise in the county and we are delighted to become a sponsor.

As well as branding a BMW X5 to promote the CowParade, we will also have our own dedicated cow and we hope to encourage other businesses across Surrey to support this wonderful event which will hopefully raise lots of money for good causes.”

VantagePoint is delighted to have been chosen as one of only three media partners to help this great local initiative. Please look out for exciting CowParade features over the coming months.

CowParade was born in Switzerland in 1998 and has been staged in more than 80 cities and towns worldwide. Over the years 3,000 cows have been decorated by more than 5,000 artists. CowParade New York had 450 cows and was seen worldwide by 45 million people. The highest-grossing cow was created by designer John Rocha for CowParade Dublin in 2003 – studded with thousands of pieces of Waterford Crystal it was auctioned for $146,000 – quite a lot of moo-lah indeed!

For more information on how to take part call the Surrey Hills CowParade team on 01483 661150 or visit the website at www.cowparadesurreyhills.com.

If you are interested in sponsoring a cow, please contact Marcus at VantagePoint on 01483 420173, or email him at marcus@vantagepublishing.co.uk for a sponsorship pack.

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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characters of the Farnham area. On Sunday 20th March, come and join the Society for a busy family day at Bocketts Farm. It is the perfect time to meet the new-born lambs and other exclusive activities. Booking is essential to all their events. Further detail and more information on the Society can be found on www.surreyhillssociety.org or call 07530 949302.

Horsley Floral Decoration Group Tuesday 8th March 2pm The Horsley Floral Decoration Group (affiliated to NAFAS) is a friendly afternoon flower arranging club. They meet at East Horsley Village Hall on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (except August) at 2 pm. They have a varied programme of Demonstrators/Speakers/In-house entertainment, trips, internal competitions (optional), sales table, refreshments, etc. Visitors and new members are very welcome (Feb/ AGM Members only). At the next meeting, on Tuesday 8th, the demonstrator will be Graham King. 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.

Dorking U3A Wednesday 9th March 2.30pm The monthly meeting is at The Christian Centre, Dorking.

Guide and lecturer, Ian Bevan will give a talk about the Inns of Court in London. Visitors welcome. Then on Sunday 13th

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March, Dorking U3A is holding their 25th anniversary tea at Denbies, Dorking. Finally, on Friday 18th March, there’s a U3A study day at the Yehudi Menuhin Hall, Stoke d’Abernon.

Former Bletchley Park guide Hugh Davies talks about Spying through the Ages. More information on all these events at www.dorkingu3a.org.uk.

Horsley Decorative & Fine Arts Society Wednesday 9th March If you would like to learn how Constable created those incredible landscapes, such as The Haywain and Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, you are invited to join Horsley DFAS when Sarah Cove will be talking on Constable’s Great Landscapes, the materials and techniques. Horsley DFAS meets at East Horsley Village Hall for lectures at 10.30 am (coffee from 9.45) on the second Wednesday of each month except August & September. 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.

Live Opera Screenings Wednesday 9th and Monday 21st March 7.15pm There are two further opera screenings at Dorking Halls.

Mozart’s The Magic Flute, live from English National Opera at the London Coliseum (9th), and Mussorgsky’s great dramatic masterpiece based on a dark chapter in Russian history, Boris Godunov, live from the Royal Opera House (21st).

Tickets are £17/£17.50, call 01306 881717.

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

March 2016

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

The Heath Players The players are looking for actors and actresses for the well known comedy by Mike Leigh, ‘Abigail’s Party’. Do you remember seeing the original on TV with Alison Steadman, absolutely brilliant! Anyway, they are intending to stage this play on 24th and 25th November, with rehearsals starting in September at their usual venue, Box Hill Village Hall. If you are interested in taking part in any way, they hold their regular meetings on Tuesdays at 8pm. You can contact Caroline Siggins on 01306 887159 or email destination. caroline@btinternet.com. More information at www. heathplayers.co.uk.

National Vegetable Society Surrey District Association Thursday 10th March 7.30pm The Association will hold their AGM in the Lovelace Room, East Horsley Village Hall, Kingston Avenue, East Horsley, KT24 6QT. You are invited to join them for tea and coffee at 7.15pm, before the AGM. Their meeting will follow, starting at 8.15pm, when they will welcome The RHS Senior Examiner, Ray Broughton, for an informative talk about ‘Greenhouses and Vegetables’.

East Horsley Parish Church, St Martin’s Friday 11th March There’s a Family Film Club night with Pizza at 5pm and a film at 5.30pm. It takes place in the Canterbury Rooms, behind the church and all are welcome. On Sunday 20th March, There is ‘Spiritual Cinema’ at 6pm. This is an

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opportunity to come together to watch a film, and then over a light supper, discuss what meaning it has on our lives.

Films will range from recently released movies to some of the classics. Again, it takes place in the Canterbury Rooms and all are welcome. Details from Renos on 01483 283713. www.easthorsleychurch.org.uk Brockham Choral Saturday 12th March 7.30pm On a clear, sunny morning in 1941, a young 19 year old Canadian, John Magee, took off in his Mk1 Spitfire and climbed to an incredible 33,000 feet. Sadly, his life was to end a short while after, but his memory lives on as, on his return to earth, he was so moved by the experience that he recorded his feelings in the form of a poem that was widely published. Ian Assersohn, an award-winning local Surrey composer, was also moved to set the poem to music and the choir are delighted to feature ‘High Flight’ in their forthcoming concert, From Sea to Sky. If you want to hear this performance, together with a delightful programme of other pieces on the theme, do go to St Martin’s Church, Dorking. Tickets are £10 in advance, £12 on the door, £5 under 25’s in full-time education. Available from Maria Chadwick c/o Friths, South Street, Dorking, call 01306 882728 or you can go to www.brockhamchoral.org/tickets. sap. Further information from Reuben Suckling on 01483 283957.

National Eczema Society Saturday 12th March 2pm The West Surrey and North East Hants Support Group of the National Eczema Society are once again organising an information afternoon at The Surrey Technology Centre, Surrey Research Park, Guildford GU2 7YG. Their speaker is Dr. Susan Chan, Biomedical Research Centre Clinical Research Consultant in Paediatric Allergy, who will talk about the ADAPT trial, which is a clinical study to find a treatment for severe eczema in children and adolescents.

Eczema is a skin condition that affects up to 1 child in 5 in the UK. Eczema can have a serious impact on both the child and their family, with constant itching and disturbed sleep. Some children have such severe eczema that the usual treatments do not help them. Everyone is welcome to come along and learn more about this distressing, itchy skin condition. There is no admission charge but a raffle will be held and donations are most welcome. National Eczema Society literature will be available. The Society is grateful to the Quality Water Company for supporting this event. For more information call Vicky on 01483 827668 or visit www. eczema.org.

Guildford Rambling Club Sunday 13th March 10am The club is meeting at Reigate Heath for an 8.25 mile circular walk. Visitors welcome. Details from David on 07935 887499 and on www.guildfordramblingclub.org. uk.

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A plant for your palm RHS Wisley takes a look at Bonsai trees ahead of an exhibition next month Bonsai is the art of growing dwarf trees and shrubs from seedlings or rooted cuttings. It requires careful training, pruning and container restriction. The latter gives bonsai its name as it translates as ‘tray cultivation’. This is a fun and beautiful way of cultivating plants on a miniature scale. Shohin is a Japanese small bonsai that is between 6 – 8 inches.

Bonsai began in China, though most believe that Japan has this honour and indeed, many of the leading masters are Japanese. The art of miniaturising trees in China is known as penjing, or pensai. This style of gardening has a rich history, and there are styles within the style of Bonsai.

The watering regime, pruning and pinching out mean that these plants are certainly not easy maintenance but the rewards are great. There are many ways of beginning a bonsai collection.

Perhaps the easiest for a beginner is to buy a plant from a reputable nursery or specialist bonsai centre.

However before you do so, it is well worth finding out more about bonsai.

Start your own Bonsai collection Most trees and shrubs can be grown as outdoor bonsai. The act of restricting growth causes the leaves to become reduced in size. The pruning techniques for Bonsai are specific to the individual species of tree. Naturally smallleaved plants such as azaleas lend themselves most readily to bonsai, but bear in mind that their leaves will become smaller still. Scot’s pine (Pinus sylvestris), larch (Larix sp.), Cercis sp, maidenhair tree (Ginkgo sp.), Lonicera nitida, yew (Taxus baccata) and Japanese maple (Acer sp.) are all good for starting your collection off.

Trees for your home Indoor bonsai are rather like houseplants. They are usually tropical or semi-tropical species and require lots of light, constant temperature and humidity, along with regular watering (as for outdoor bonsai). Depending on the species, some will lose a few old leaves in the spring to make way for some new ones; others will lose leaves in autumn/winter. Plants regularly used are Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia), silver jade plant (Crassula arborescens), weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), celtis (Celtis bungeana) and olive (Olea europaea).

In the clouds ‘Niwaki’ Cloud pruning is a Japanese method of training trees and shrubs into shapes resembling clouds.

It is known as ‘Niwaki’, the translation of which is ‘garden tree’. The style is said to depict the distilled 20

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OUT & ABOUT The Spirit of Shohin Bonsai Weekend RHS Garden Wisley Saturday 2nd–Sunday 3rd April This spring the Sutton Bonsai Society returns to RHS Garden Wisley to present the art and beauty of Shohin Bonsai. This fascinating two day exhibition will include competition classes, demonstrations, workshops and plant sales.

These will be judged and led by Taiga Urushibata, one of Japan’s foremost young bonsai artists. Taiga will be joined by Maarten van der Hoeven, owner of Bonsai Plaza. Their participation has elevated the event to a level rarely seen outside Japan for a Shohin show.

Sutton Bonsai Society will also be offering plants for sale, special displays, care information, and a re-potting and styling service. Bring your own Bonsai to the Wisley Plant Centre on the day (from £5 per tree).

Shohin Spirit of Bonsai Weekend at RHS Garden Wisley takes place from 10am-4pm at the Hillside Events Centre. Normal garden admission applies.

Top: Taiga Urushibata and father, Nobuichi Urushibata , at the family nursery.

Above: Niwaki trees (Pinterest)

essence of the tree. This type of pruning does not have to be used in solely Japanese-style gardens; it can be used as a feature in gardens of many different styles.

Crafting your own clouds You can start off with any size plant. However, there are a couple of things to consider:

Other events coming up at RHS Wisley Until 6th March Butterflies in the Glasshouse 12th March Alpine Society Show 18th–20th March Spring Plant Fair

Cost: small plants will generally cost less and allow for more artistic licensing. Larger plants will be more expensive yet save many years of waiting for the plant to get to the desired height.

19th March-10th April Easter Garden Detectives and the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt

Rate of growth: slow-growing species will take longer to reach a mature size so it might be worth buying a larger specimen or choosing another variety if time is a problem.

9th April Cyclamen Late Spring Show

Plants that are cloud pruned can look very much like bonsai trees. The only difference between niwaki and bonsai is that bonsai are grown in containers and niwaki are grown in the ground. The size of the plant has nothing to do with the naming, it is purely from how it is grown. Both subjects are highly prized art forms with Japanese gardeners taking years to be qualified in this specialised area.

March 2016

2nd April-2nd May Orchids on display in The Glasshouse

9th-10th April Birds of Prey Weekend 11th-17th April National Gardening Week 23rd April Photography Morning & Iris Society Late Spring Show For more information, please visit the website at www.rhs.org.uk 21

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

St John Passion Sunday 13th March 7pm The Leith Hill Musical Festival begins with the annual performance of a Bach Passion, this year the turn of the St John Passion and the youth choirs day. This will be Brian Kay’s final Passion as festival conductor, after 21 years, so is a rather special occasion. The youth choirs day always sees a huge amount of young talent on display and is well worth a visit. It takes place at Dorking Halls and tickets are priced at £9 - £22. Call 01403 240093.

The Deepdene Trail The team at The Deepdene Trail are looking to uncover more images of the original Deepdene Estate to help them with the creation of a new Virtual Tour. Do you have photos, drawings or a painting that could help? Councillor Vivienne Michael, Executive Member for Community Engagement & Residents Services said, “This Autumn, The Deepdene Trail will open to the public. We are currently creating a historic Virtual Tour of the site as it was in 1825, enabling those who are unable to visit or who want a preview of the experience, to see The Trail online. The Virtual Tour is just one part of this exciting project, providing a new visitor destination for all to enjoy a short walk from Dorking town centre and stations.

The site works are well underway and they are developing an App to guide visitors around The Trail. If you would like to follow progress, The Deepdene Trail is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.” All images received will be carefully studied for their content and returned safely to their owners. If you have something to show please do call on 01306 885001, or email TheDeepdeneTrail@molevalley.gov.uk.

Surrey Family History Society Monday 14th March 8pm Do you want to know who you are? Then go along to the Oddfellows Hall in Dorking High Street and hear Tony Kelly from the SFHS on how to explore your family history. His talk will start about 8pm in the small hall to the left at the top of the stairs. Everyone is welcome and refreshments will be provided during the evening. They look forward to seeing you there.

West Horsley Parish Council Tuesday 15th March 8pm The monthly Parish Council meeting takes place at West Horsley Village Hall. Everyone welcome. For more information please see www.westhorsley.info or contact clerk@westhorsley.info.

Prostate Cancer Patient Support Group Tuesday 15th March Do you have concerns about prostate cancer? The Support Group is meeting for an informal lunch at the Onslow Arms, West Clandon on Tuesday 15th at 12noon. It’s a great opportunity to meet others who are happy to share their experiences. Family and friends are also welcome.

For further information contact Reg or Maggie on 01483 425626.

March 2016

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Leatherhead Community Association A number of walks have been organised and they are all designed to be gentle, at modest pace, with few stiles and easy gradients. There are longer walks which include a pub or cafe stop and morning walks and strolls; something for everyone. They are all on Wednesdays and usually start at 10.30am and Peter Humphreys will give you all the information that is needed, call him on 01372 378347. Non-members are welcome and the first walk is free. Go to their website www. leatherheadca.org.uk to see their full spring programme of ‘Art History Lectures with a difference’, ‘Tea and Talks’, and Recorded Music afternoons, and the Educational Classes which are run by various tutors and the WEA covering a wide range of subjects. Don’t forget there is now weekly Bridge, table tennis and snooker, and also Scrabble every other Friday. Sarah, on 01372 360508 or lca@btcopnnect.com, is always very happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Youth Showcase Awards Friday 18th March 7.30pm A celebration of youth takes place at the Youth Showcase Awards, which will include performances by local artists as well as a jazz band medley. This is a free event at the Dorking Halls (though you do need to obtain a ticket). Call 01306 881717.

Knights Garden Centre Friday 18th March 6.30pm The centre in Betchworth, is holding an informative and

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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humorous evening with Jim Buttress from the BBC’s Big Allotment Challenge. Jim is a very entertaining speaker with a wealth of garden knowledge. He was superintendent of the Royal Parks for 25 years and his clients have included Her Majesty the Queen and his old friend the Queen Mother.

There will also be tastings from the Hogs Back Brewery and Wrights Original Ginger products, a BBQ and refreshments will be provided with proceeds going to ‘Thrive’ a charity that uses horticultural therapy to change lives. They will be having planting demonstrations with a step by step guide to planting your spring and summer containers and cut flower demonstrations to produce an Easter arrangement.

For further details, call Knights Garden Centre on 01737 842099.

RHS Garden Wisley Saturday 19th March to Sunday 10th April This Easter, get kids outdoors with free activities available every day at RHS Garden Wisley. (25th March – 10th April) These include music, storytelling and hands-on activities for young gardeners. Join in the Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt (19th March – 10th April) to hop about the garden on the trail of the Lindt Gold Bunny, following clues to lead to a delicious Lindt treat. Wisley bursts into life in spring as fresh new foliage and beautiful blossom fill the garden.

Spring bulbs will be blooming and, at the Hilltop Borders, a mass of daffodils in any colour except yellow are on Crawley Clinic_Layout 1 11/07/2013 14:29 Page 1 display, along with colourful hyacinths full of scent.

Normal garden entry applies and events and activities are suitable

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for all the family. For more information, visit www.rhs.org. uk/wisley.

Easter Egg Hunt Saturday 19th March Do come down to Dorking Museum and join in their Family Saturday Event. Follow the clues around the museum, discover things that you might not have seen before and claim your prize at the end! All materials provided but children must be accompanied. Suitable for families with children up to age 10. No need to book, just drop in anytime from 2pm to 3.30pm (they close at 4pm). This activity is free with museum entry but donations are welcome to cover costs. The museum is situated at 62 West Street RH4 1BS. Enquiries to admin@dorkingmuseum.org.uk or call 01306 876 591. Website www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/events/ family-activities-at-dorking-museum.

Leatherhead Rotary Club As in previous years, Leatherhead Rotary Club is appealing to Mole Valley residents to help them support West Hill School in North Leatherhead by collecting ‘Active Kids’ vouchers from Sainsbury’s supermarkets.

The vouchers are being given out when you spend £10 or more and will be available up to 3rd May. Over the past eight years, the Club has been able to present over 50,000 vouchers to the school, enabling them to ‘buy’ hundreds of pounds worth of equipment to support their pupils! West Hill School (www.west-hill.surrey.sch.uk) is

’Kingfisher’

Farm Shop info@kingfisherfarmshop.com Beautiful flowers for 01306 730703 Watercress beds, Abinger Hammer, Dorking, Surrey. RH5 6QX Mother’s Day and Easter

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Paul Crisell, Acting Headmaster of Barrow Hills School, Witley.

SCHOOLS

“I don’t want to go to school” - every parent’s nightmare ”I don’t want to go to school today.” These are the words that every parent dreads hearing, especially in the fraught chaos that usually accompanies the morning routine of most families.

But before the panic sets in, visions of having to find another school at short notice, potential home schooling, not to mention new uniforms take over, it might just be worth reading this article.

A child may not want to go to school for a number of reasons.

I can certainly cast my mind back 38 years and recall quite clearly not wanting to go to my Reception class on a handful of occasions.

I can’t even remember why, but I do remember clinging to my mother for dear life, crying, kicking and making a noise that must have emanated throughout every corridor in the building.

I can also remember being aged 13 and getting out of the car on a Sunday night to be dropped off at boarding school and not being terribly happy about it. But to put these events into perspective, what I know now is that after all those years of attending school as a pupil, I definitely got over those occasional ‘off days’ and actually came to really enjoy the school environment. So much so that I’ve invested the last 25 years working in one as a teacher!

Whilst it is not a common occurrence in the school where I teach , there are – and I’m sure always will be – some occasions when children simply don’t want to come to school. For the parent, this can be - depending on the scene a child makes or what they say – at the very least frustrating, often upsetting and sometimes extremely worrying.

Typically, these scenes tend to play March 2016

themselves out when time is at a premium and everyone is rushing around determined not to be late for their morning appointments.

Quite often the statement comes as a bolt out of the blue and you have absolutely no idea why your child is showing a sudden resistance to school. But rest assured, there are steps that you can take to get to the root cause of the issue – if indeed there is one at all.

So, what are the potential reasons behind your child’s clear aversion to school?

Unsurprisingly, there could be just one or just a few reasons. These include being separated from the established bond with mum who provides a sense of security and support; the change of routine which can trigger anxiety; feelings of inadequacy if they are struggling to complete a particular task / in a particular subject or friendship issues. It can sometimes even be the stark realisation that school is now part and parcel of everyday life and your child is rebelling against the fact that the freedom to choose what to do most of the day is gone.

Or even something as simple as not wanting to use a different lavatory!

What is important at this stage, is how you as a parent respond when faced with a child who simply does not want to let go. Firstly, let your child know that you are in charge, not them, so be quietly assertive but stay calm. Hand your child over to the teacher quickly and do not linger (tempting I know) in the background to check that all is well.

Children rarely stay unsettled for

more than a few minutes but are quite capable of putting on a show if it means it might get the parents’ attention.

Even the youngest children will know how to ‘press your buttons’.

Any school worth their salt will call to provide reassurance that your child has settled on the first day or two that he / she might exhibit this type of behaviour. After that, no news is good news and you can assume that your child is fine and getting on with their day. The teacher will most likely confirm this to you at pick up time.

Do talk to your child’s teacher so that you can both dig deeper and try and identify the reason behind the reluctance to go to school. You can then work together as a team to develop a strategy to deal with the problem - and then stick to it.

At home, focus on talking about the positive aspects of school, create a sense of excitement about what might be happening during the upcoming week (the teacher can tell you this) and yes, possibly use simple rewards such as a play in the park (but not money or sweets) to encourage the appropriate behaviour and acceptance of the need to go to school with minimum fuss.

It’s not easy being a parent and sometimes you may find it helpful to share your experiences with other mums and dads, as most have had to deal with this type of issue at some point in their child’s life. Likewise, staff at the school will have a wealth of experience you can tap into, along with useful practical solutions to change your child’s perception of the school environment.

Getting to the bottom of what is upsetting your child is key. Once that is sorted, you can look at how to overcome the problem and soon, not wanting to go to school will be a thing of the past.

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King William IV, Mickleham Serving Great Food All Day

Lovely Mother’s Day Lunch Enjoy our wonderful gardens in bloom. Open Over Easter for lunch and dinner.

The historic building was built in 1790 as an ale house for workers at Cherkley Court. Its stunning views have been enjoyed for over 200 years.

We strive to give our customers quality products and courteous service. All our food is prepared from scratch inhouse by our professional chefs.

All our ingredients are locally sourced wherever possible – meats from Nash Farm, breads from Westcott Bakery, and fruit and vegetables come directly from Covent Garden.

Eamonn and Anne wish you a pleasant visit and both hope that you agree that the King William IV is Surrey’s best kept secret!

Telephone: 01372 372590 Web: www.thekingwilliamiv.com The King William IV is situated directly behind Frascati Restaurant, 25 yards up Byttom Hill on the A24 between Leatherhead and Dorking

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JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

an Ofsted-rated ‘outstanding’ special school in Kingston Road, North Leatherhead with 100 secondary-aged pupils from 11 to 16 with learning difficulties and Autism.

From September 2016, West Hill will begin a four year transition to become a county-wide primary school for children with learning and additional needs. Please send your vouchers to Leatherhead Rotary Club, c/o Donovan Hewitt, The Leatherhead Theatre, 7 Church Street, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 8DN. NGS Charity Garden Opening Sunday 20th March 2pm-5pm Albury Park GU5 9BH. Step back in history and take this NGS exclusive opportunity to explore 14-acres of pleasure grounds designed by John Evelyn in 1670. Enjoy the views from amazing terraces stretching for ¼ of a mile. Admission £4.50, children free. Home-made teas.

On Easter Monday, 28th March from 2-6pm and daily from Tuesday 29th March to Sunday 3rd April (10-6pm) Vann, in Hambledon GU8 4EF will be opening its beautiful woodland vale carpeted with hellebores, spring bulbs and chequered snakeshead fritillaries. The historic house is a picturesque backdrop to this 5-acre English Heritageregistered garden, a great favourite with Gertrude Jekyll fans. Admission £6, children free. Parking in field, not road, please. For more details, photos and maps go to www.ngs. org. You can also find out about all the other NGS gardens that are opening.

March 2016

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PSDS exhibition ‘This is Me’ Tuesday 22nd to Sunday 27th March Local Surrey charity, Providing Support for children with Down Syndrome and their families. (www.psds.info) are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year and part of their celebrations include an exhibition of photographic portraits called ‘This Is Me’. It’s a collection of 50 wonderful photographs celebrating the unique individuality and enormous potential of children with Down syndrome.

The exhibition will take place at The Gallery, Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking (RH5 6AA) during Down Syndrome Awareness Week and will be open to the public from 9.30am - 5pm daily. For information about PSDS or This Is Me visit www.psds.info or contact Helen on 07940 432053.

The Horsley and Clandon Society of Arts Wednesday 23rd March 8pm The artist, Frances Jordan will be giving a demonstration: - ‘Maple Leaves’ using wet-in-wet Watercolour - Frances is a very popular artist who has visited a number of times and provided interesting and informative evenings.

Guests are welcome (£4). Refreshments are available and there is ample parking. Meetings take place on the fourth Wednesday each month at 8pm in East Horsley Village Hall for demonstrations / talks. This is the start of the HCSA’s 50th Anniversary year and information will be available next month of the special plans to celebrate this Golden year. It is hoped that as many members as possible will get involved. For information about the

27

GARDENING

With Beth Otway

Container plants for bees and butterfiles over three seasons. This particular cultivar has large, candy pink flowers, but you’ll find different coloured flowering Gerbera from the same series.

Thyme is another super plant to grow in containers. When you’re harvesting thyme, resist temptation to remove your stems in their entirety from the very base of the plant. Instead cut your harvest from the tips of your plant which will encourage bushy growth. There are so many varieties of thyme to choose from, varieties of Lemon thyme provide a delicious flavour in cooking, as does Orange-scented thyme.

Whether you’ve got a garden, patio, balcony, or a windowsill, remembering to choose flowering plants that produce pollen and nectar that bees and other pollinating insects can access is a wonderfully worthwhile thing to do. By encouraging nature into your area you can really transform your garden, bringing the whole area to life. There’s nothing more entertaining than watching bees, butterflies and moths in your garden. These fascinating insects will raise your spirits and inspire you.

If you’re looking for beautiful plants that will grow well in containers and encourage bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other precious pollinating insects to your garden, the following suggestions will help you: Erigeron karvinskianus is such a pretty flower.

It adds a delicate softness to walls, steps and other areas of hard landscaping, giving them a touch of beauty, and a delicacy that might have previously been thought impossible. It’s also a super choice for hanging baskets, containers and window boxes, flowering non-stop from early summer to the first frosts.

I love growing hardy Gerbera garvinea in containers. My plants have survived without any special care through the coldest of our winters, growing larger in size each year. They produce such an abundance of flowers that I also use them for cut flowers. With regular feeding and deadheading, my Gerbera garvinea have flowered non-stop from early spring until they have really been hammered by the frosts in winter. Gerbera garvinea ‘Sweet Surprise’ is part of a new series of hardy Gerbera that have been specially bred to provide hardy plants that produce a continuous display of flowers

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Other worthy candidates to grow in containers to provide pollen and nectar for pollinating insects include: Lavandula angustifolia, Origanum, Cosmos, Limnanthes douglasii, Calendula officinalis, Osteospurmum, Aubrieta, Clarkia, Sarcococca, Sedum and Scabious.

Single-flowered varieties provide accessible pollen and nectar – avoid double-flowered varieties. Try wherever you can to provide a continuous supply of nectar throughout the year. Look out for the ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ logo on plants at your local garden centre or nursery.

None of the plants I have mentioned here require a peat-based compost, so use a peat free alternative growing media. I’ve had excellent results using Dalefoot Composts, a range of peat-free composts made from 100% natural ingredients including bracken and sheep’s wool. Dalefoot’s wool-based potting compost is ideal for containers, the sheep’s wool that’s incorporated into this compost has naturally absorbent properties which provide extra water retention. This means that your containers require less watering which is a bonus.

If you have the choice, position your containers in a sunny spot as butterflies like the warmth and will be more inclined to visit your plants. Deadhead your plants regularly to encourage further flowering and keep your containers well watered. Avoid using any insecticides or pesticides in your garden as they are very damaging to insects and wildlife.

Top left: Gerbera garvinea ‘Sweet Surprise’ (Garsurprise) (Garvinea Sweet Series). Above left: Sedum with a small Tortoiseshell butterfly. Right: Calendula officinalis. Images by Beth Otway.

FIND OUT MORE

For inspiration, tips and advice on some lovely jobs you could do in your garden or at your allotment this month, and much more besides, please visit my website, www.pumpkinbeth.com. vantagepointmag.co.uk

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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Society contact Mrs Robyn Cormack, Secretary on 01483 224063.

Horsley Churches Together March 25th 10am Everyone is invited to an ecumenical Good Friday outdoor Service organised by Churches Together in Horsley and Ockham. It will be held whatever the weather and usually lasts about 45mins. It will be held on the grass outside the shops at Station Parade in East Horsley. Hot Cross buns will be distributed afterwards!

Dorking Museum WWI Home Front exhibition Until 26th March There is a last chance to see the second in the Museum’s successful series of special exhibitions commemorating the centenary of the Great War with a focus on the Home Front. Dorking 1915 highlights Dorking’s transformation into a garrison town and the impact of the thousands of troops billeted here on the life of Dorking and surrounding villages. It explores the dilemma of patriotism and pacifism – whether or not to serve, and the move towards conscription. It also takes a close look at Dorking’s Quakers, pacifists, and other objectors, and at the suffragette movement and its quest for votes for women. The Museum is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 10am to 4pm at 62 West Street, Dorking RH4 1BS. For more details, visit www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk. Enquiries to admin@ dorkingmuseum.org.uk or phone 01306 876591.

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3 Counties Church Sunday 27th March and 3rd April 10.15am They warmly invite you to their Easter celebrations. All are welcome to go along to services for all the family to enjoy.

During the 27th March service there will also be baptisms taking place so another reason to celebrate! 3 Counties Church is situated in Hammer GU27 3QW. Contact 01428 653011 or office@3countieschurch.org. More information at www.3countieschurch.org.

Plant a Bunny Basket 29th March - 1st April and 4th 8th April 10am – 5pm All Squire’s Garden Centres (except Chertsey) will be holding a ‘Plant A Bunny Basket’ where you can plant a beautiful bunny basket for your garden. The cost is £5.50. For the children there is a‘Bunny Hunt’. Find the names of the hidden bunnies around the centre. All correct entries receive a Lindt chocolate bunny! Cost is just £2.

Lisa Pulman at Dorking Halls Wednesday 30th March 7.30pm You can hear Liza Pulman singing some of the favourite songs from Hollywood movies, with accompaniment from the Joseph Atkins Orchestra. Tickets are £21.50 - £23.50, call 01306 881717.

The Three Bridges Spiritualist Church, Crawley This is a very friendly and well established spiritualist church that has been around for many years. They are a self

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29

Celebration cakes you can make and decorate at home

Baking at Easter Quick Cakes FOR BUSY MUMS

Karen Taylor

Easter is always a great time for baking and this extract from Quick Cakes for Busy Mums by Karen Taylor, £14.99 (B. Dutton Publishing) offers you a couple of colourful recipes. Please see www.vantagepointmag.co.uk for a chance of winning a copy.

You can get all your cake decorating supplies from Squires Kitchen at www.squires-shop.com or pop in store at 3 Waverley Lane, Farnham. Karen will be demonstrating at Squires Kitchen’s 2016 Exhibition at the Farnham, Maltings from 11th-13th March! Find out more at www.squires-exhibition.com.

‘Hoppy Easter’ Cupcakes 1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/350°F/gas mark 4.

2. Cream the butter (or margarine) and sugar together in an electric mixer.

3. Slowly add the eggs, then the flour and vanilla and mix until fully combined. Make sure you scrape the bowl with a spatula between mixing.

4. Place the cupcake cases in a muffin tin and spoon approximately 50ml (1¾fl oz) of mixture into each one.

Bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes.

Ingredients 175g (6oz) butter (or margarine) 175g (6oz) caster sugar 3 medium eggs 175g (6oz) self-raising flour 1tsp vanilla extract Apricot jam, boiled and cooled Edibles SK Sugarpaste: 72g (2½oz) Bridal White, 220g (7¾oz) Bridal White coloured with Dark Green and a touch of Yellow paste food colours 20g (¾oz) SK Pink Sugar Dough 1 pack SK Sugar Florist Paste (SFP): Pale Yellow with a touch of Orange paste food colour SK Quality Food Colour (QFC) Pastes: Dark Green, Orange and Yellow SK Edible Glue Small amount of SK Instant Mix Royal Icing Equipment 12 x SK Dotty Cupcake Cases in Pink, Spring Green and Yellow 12-hole muffin tin 6cm (2 3/8”) round cutter Small blossom cutter Piping nozzle: no. 1

5. Once the cakes are baked and spring back to the touch, take them out of the tin immediately. Leave to cool before decorating.

6. Brush the top of each cupcake with a little cooled, boiled apricot glaze. Roll out the yellow-green sugarpaste to a 3mm (1/8”) thickness and cut out twelve 6cm (2 3/8”) circles of paste. Place these onto the cupcakes and smooth them down with the palm of your hand.

7. Shape 4g (just under ¼oz) of Bridal White sugarpaste into a long teardrop shape for the bunny’s ear. Flatten it slightly with the palm of your hand and taper the top of the ear into a point. Roll out a small amount of Pink Sugar Dough and cut out an inner ear shape. Attach it in the centre of the ear with edible glue.

8. Make another ear in the same way but fold it over in the middle. Trim the bottom of each ear straight and use edible glue to attach them to the cupcake. Repeat to make 11 pairs of ears for the remaining cupcakes.

9. Roll out the yellow SFP thinly and cut out 36 little blossoms. Pipe a small dot of royal icing into the centre of each flower using a no. 1 nozzle. Stick one to the straight ear with edible glue. Secure the remaining blossoms over the top of the cupcakes.

Makes 12

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vantagepointmag.co.uk

RECIPES Easter Egg Biscuits

Ingredients 200g (7oz) unsalted butter 200g (7oz) caster sugar 1tsp vanilla extract 1 egg, lightly beaten 400g (14oz) plain flour Apricot jam, boiled and cooled

4. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to 5mm (¼”) thick. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper, place the biscuit dough onto the tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Edibles SK Sugar Dough: 200g (7oz) Pink, 200g (7oz) Yellow 200g (7oz) SK Sugarpaste: Bridal White coloured with Dark Green and a touch of Yellow paste food colours SK Quality Food Colour (QFC) Pastes: Dark Green and Yellow SK Quality Food Colour (QFC) Dusts: Orange and Yellow SK Professional Dust Food Colour: Rose 80g (2¾oz) SK Instant Mix Royal Icing

6. Place the cookies on two baking trays lined with parchment so they are not touching then bake in the oven for 10–15 minutes. The biscuits should be slightly brown around the edges when baked. Leave to cool.

Equipment 2 x large baking trays Easter egg (or oval) cookie cutter Round cutters: 6mm (¼”), 9mm (3/8”), 1.2cm (½”), 1.5cm (5/8”) Piping nozzles: 2 x nos. 1.5 Makes 24 1. Place the butter, sugar and vanilla extract into an electric mixer and cream them together until wellcombined and creamy. Avoid over-mixing as this will cause the biscuits to spread as they are baking.

2. Add the egg until well combined, then turn the mixer down to the lowest setting and add a little of the flour. Gradually add all the flour and mix until a dough is formed.

3. Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/375°F/gas mark 5.

March 2016

5. Cut out 24 egg shapes using the egg- or oval-shaped cookie cutter.

7. Brush the biscuits with cooled, boiled apricot glaze.

Roll out the green-coloured sugarpaste to 3mm (1/8”) thick and cut out eight egg shapes from the paste. Lay a piece of sugarpaste onto each cookie and smooth down with your hands. Repeat this method with Pink and Yellow Sugar Dough to make eight pink and eight yellow egg cookies.

8. Roll out a small amount of the remaining green sugarpaste thinly and cut out a circle using each of the different-sized round cutters. Attach the green circles randomly over the pink eggs using edible glue.

9. Make up the royal icing according to the packet instructions and divide it into two bowls. Colour one half with Rose dust food colour and the other half with Yellow and a spot of Orange dust food colours.

10. Fit a small piping bag with a no. 1.5 nozzle and fill 2/3 with pink royal icing. Starting from the left and piping one line at a time, pipe a crisscross pattern over the yellow cookies. Pipe loops across the middle of each of the green cookies in pink royal icing.

11. Fit another small piping bag with a no. 1.5 nozzle and fill 2/3 with yellow royal icing. Pipe zigzag lines above and below the pink line on the green cookies.

31

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<29

JOTTINGS - YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD

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 one reading evenings throughout the year as well as special clairvoyant evenings. They are currently fundraising 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.

Dorking Museum exhibition: ‘The High Street: Market or Football Pitch?’

Opening Thursday 31st March Dorking Museum’s new exhibition focuses on Dorking’s historic High Street. It features oil and watercolour paintings from the Museum’s collection that are not normally on show, together with archive photographs displayed on a digital screen. It includes a well known painting of the High Street as a cattle market, by noted local artist Charles Collins, on loan for the exhibition. As well as pictures of the annual Shrove Tuesday street football match, banned in 1897, the Museum is displaying for the first time an original football standard (with replica balls) from this event. This exhibition runs until July.

Dorking Dramatic & Operatic Society Wednesday 6th to Saturday 9th April at 7.45pm ‘A Different Way Home’ by Jimmie Chinn started life as a radio play. Such was the reaction that it was extended into a double bill and premiered at the Oldham Repertory Theatre where it received the best actor and best new play in the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.

This deeply moving and astutely observed play is being played by two award winning actors. Their powerful voices remind us of the need for families to communicate and for love to transcend prejudice. Tickets (£10 for members, £11 non members) available from the Dorking Halls Box Office tel: 01306 881717 or www.dorkinghalls. co.uk. Also coming up: friendly, informal Read Through/ Auditions for ‘Separate Tables’ by Terence Rattigan on Sunday 21st and Sunday 28th February at 2.30pm, both at the Green Room Theatre, Dorking (more details 01737 843956).

West Horsley Spring Litter Pick Saturday 9th April 10am Do your bit to help keep the village clean! Meet at West Horsley Village Hall where gloves, litter pickers, bags and high viz vests are issued. Two hours or so later enjoy coffee and cake at the Village Orchard at the junction of Ripley Lane and The Street. All welcome, young people and parents especially.

March 2016

Capel Choral Society Thursday 14th April With just six weeks to go to the Leith Hill Musical Festival, rehearsals in Capel Memorial Hall are ramping up in their intensity. The choir will be singing under Brian Kay’s baton for the last time on the evening of 14th April, when together with the other three choirs in Division 1 of the Festival it will be performing Haydn’s Harmoniemesse and Vaughan Williams’ lovely Serenade to music. On Saturday 16th, the Festival will be rounded off in style with Verdi’s dramatic and operatic Requiem. Demand for tickets to all the concerts is high, particularly the last night, so if you intend going to one or more get your order in now!

You can order tickets through Capel Choral Society’s Ticket Secretary, Yvonne Allmond – contact her on 01403 269884, or email yvonneallmond@aol.com. For more information about Capel Choral Society and how to join, contact the Secretary, Ian Moir at ianmoir20@yahoo.com or call him on 01306 889817. See also the choir’s website www.capelchoralsociety.com.

Hexachordia – The Food of Love Saturday 16th April 7pm Friends of St Mary Magdalene present Hexachordia (a trio of talented and popular professional musicians who perform expertly crafted early music programmes) performing The Food of Love, a special programme of music and words to mark the 400th Anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare in April 1616.

Hexachordia aims to make their music accessible to as wide an audience as possible, especially those with little knowledge of music of the pre-Baroque era. The concert will be at St Mary Magdalene Church, South Holmwood, Dorking RH5 4JX. Tickets are £10 (children under 13 free) contact Pam Chiverton on 01306 888922 or email pam.chiverton@btinternet.com for tickets and further information.

The Newdigate Friends of St. Catherine’s Hospice Saturday 23rd April 8.30am-11.30am They are planning to provide a ‘Big Breakfast’ in Newdigate Village Hall on Saturday 23rd April between 8.30am and 11.30am. The cost for a full English Breakfast plus toast, marmalade, tea and coffee will be £7.50. There will also be a prize draw and St. Catherine’s sale goods. All profit to the Hospice.

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.

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WALK - Reigate Heath to Ironsbottom This walk takes you through woods and fields to Ironsbottom and the Three Horseshoes. The walk was submitted by Guildford Rambling Club who will be walking it in March (see guildfordramblingclub.org.uk).

Visitors are welcome.

The walk From the car park on the right-hand side of the road (walking away from the A25), walk further along Flanchford Road, taking a path just off the road and parallel to it. When you reach a point where you can see a windmill up on the hill to your right, take the path up to it and emerge in a golf club car park.

Turn left and walk a few yards to find a footpath branching off right and down a slope to cross a fairway. Head towards a lone house and take the track running away from the golf course and along its left-hand side. At a junction by a stream (the Mole) turn left. Reach Dungates Farmhouse and turn left down a path at its far side.

Follow this path down through fields to reach a mill pond and Wonham Manor (a converted mill) and a road. Go left for a few yards to take a footpath out right. Follow this through a field, passing pill boxes on the right and on the left. In the next field stay on the left-hand side, ignoring a gap on the left by a power line pole. Beyond it, reach a gate/stile on the left and go through onto a track. Turn right.

Ignore a footpath left which goes up a few steps.

Instead, stay on the wide track to reach and cross

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the Rice Bridge footbridge. At a 3-way signpost on the other side, take the left-most option, staying close to the trees. Follow this as it strikes out across a field.

On the other side go through a gap and over a stile and another footbridge. Head out to pass the right-hand side of a lone oak and continue forward to reach a kissing gate in a hedge. Go half-left over the next field (see a small barn over to your left) and take a stile, right, into the next field. Walk along the right-hand edge of this and the next field. Emerge on a wide track leading to a road, emerging next to Hillview Farmhouse. Go straight across the road and cross a field. On the far side go over a stile and a plank footbridge then turn right to walk along the edge of the next field. Go through a gap and then head out half-left to the far corner of a large field to reach a kissing gate onto a road. Turn left and walk a few yards to the church, the green and the Plough pub in Leigh and to a phone box displaying a history of the village.

Take a footpath left, into the churchyard and past the church. Go out of the back along a corridor which emerges in a field. Cross this field slightly right to reach and cross a footbridge in trees.

Continue forward to emerge in a large field. Turn right and walk along the edge until reaching a stile on the right which takes you into another field. Turn left and walk to and through a gate then continue forward along a field edge (ignoring a stile that can be seen off to the right). Reach a gate through into a fence/hedge corridor. This widens into a grassy corridor between trees. At a T junction with a wide track turn right. Quickly reach an amazing old oak (see later) and, immediately beyond it, take a track forking left. Follow this out into a field and then turn right to walk towards the right-hand side of a large barn. Pass the barn and turn right to follow the access track which swings left to reach a tarmac drive. Turn left. Walk down to pass a 3-way signpost and, immediately beyond it, a bridge (Dabdon Bridge). About 25 yards beyond the bridge, take a path out right. This crosses a field and emerges on a road by the Three Horseshoes pub in Ironsbottom. You could picnic in the field.

After lunch, walk back across the field and over the bridge to reach the 3-way signpost that you passed earlier. Here, turn left to cross a small field. Go through a gap and half-right across the next field.

Go over a double stile into the corner of another vantagepointmag.co.uk

WALK SPONSORED BY field and walk along its left-hand edge. Exit over a stile and follow the path to emerge on a drive at a 3-way signpost. Follow a bridleway sign along the drive to the right. The drive becomes a wide track then narrows. Keep going forward. Reach a T-junction with a concrete track and turn left. The concrete gives way to dirt and you quickly reach and pass once more the amazing old oak. Continue forward. The track becomes concrete again. Pass a stile/gate and then pass a high wall and some of Burys Court Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accommodation buildings.

Just past the latter is a 5-bar metal gate on the right and, immediately beyond it, a stile right, into a field. In this field, head left, paralleling the river which is on the right-hand side. Go through a gap and then swing right a little to continue forward along the bottom of a grassy bank. Near the end of the bank, climb up left to reach a stile onto a road, opposite a house. In the road, turn right and walk to cross Flanchford Bridge. At the far side of the bridge turn right onto a track. Quickly reach a signpost forking left into a field. Cross this field a quarter right and go through a gap onto a wide track. Quickly go straight over two cross tracks and continue along the left-hand side of a field. Ignore a gap on the left and stay at the left-hand side of this field to reach and pass a house and emerge on a road. Turn left.

Walk about 300 yards along here until you can turn right, into Clayhall Lane. Again walk about 300 yards to take a footpath, through a kissing gate, left. Head out a quarter right across a field, through a gap and on across the next field. Exit through a kissing gate onto a cross track at a 4 way signpost. Here, turn left and walk down slope to reach a T-junction with a concrete track. Turn left.

The track becomes broken tarmac and dirt. Reach a T-junction and turn right to walk along a wide track (ignoring an immediate yellow arrow left).

Follow the track up and over a rise and down to pass the Skimmington pub. Pass a 3 way signpost and continue on, ignoring a road right, to a junction at the corner of a section of a golf course. Take the track right, passing the course and quickly reaching a bridleway forking left and into trees. Follow this to the start.

DISTANCE: 8.25 miles OS MAPS: Explorer 146 Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate STARTING POINT: Pass Buckland on the A25 on the way to Reigate and, just before the Black Horse pub which is on the A25 at RH2 9JZ, turn right down Flanchford Road, alongside Reigate Heath. There

are car parking areas on both sides of Flanchford Road a couple of hundred yards past the houses.

REFRESHMENTS: The Plough, Leigh The Three Horseshoes, Ironsbottom Image: Houses on Ironsbottom Š Copyright Robin Webster

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.

March 2016

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WRITE YOUR WILL FOR FREE AND WRITE AN END TO CANCER By using the Free Will Service to write a gift in your Will to Cancer Research UK, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll help develop long-term research that will help save thousands of lives across the UK.

THREE EASY WAYS TO USE OUR FREE WILL SERVICE: 1

Contact your local Legacy Manager, Kerensa Haxby, to find out more: telephone 01273 204110 or email Kerensa.Haxby@cancer.org.uk

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Find your local solicitor by using our postcode finder at cruk.org/solicitor

3

Find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to Cancer Research uk at cruk.org/legacies For a full list of Terms and Conditions please see our website cruk.org/legacies Registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666) and the Isle of Man (1103).

Registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666) and the Isle of Man (1103).

PROFILE We can bring forward the day when all cancers are cured and write an end to cancer.

In the 1970s, less than a quarter of people with cancer survived. But over the last 40 years, survival has doubled – today half will survive.

Cancer Research UK is determined to accelerate progress and see three-quarters of people surviving the disease within the next 20 years.

We want survival in the UK to be among the best in the world. We are focusing our efforts in four key areas – working to help prevent cancer, diagnose it earlier, develop new treatments and improve current treatments by personalising them and making them even more effective.

But we can’t achieve our mission alone. We rely on each and every one of our dedicated scientists, doctors and nurses, and especially the generosity of our supporters across the UK. With your help, we can beat cancer sooner.

Gifts in Wills fund more than a third of Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work, and play a significant part in our ground-breaking advances. These gifts make longterm research and pioneering trials possible, leading to new tests, kinder treatments and cures which will help us write end to cancer.

of events that reveal how your money is used, what is happening in your local area, the progress that is being made in the fight against cancer, and how gifts in Wills help beat cancer sooner. The next exclusive event is in Dorking this month.

So join us for an informal and informative afternoon discovering the power of legacy gifts and the breakthroughs they bring. Spend time with like-minded supporters and dedicated volunteers. ”It was a true eye opener to the difference we’re making together in taking away the fear of cancer. My legacy gift will be a way to protect my children, grandchildren, and even their children.” Patricia, event attendee.

You can join Cancer Research UK at our upcoming legacy event at Denbies Wine Estate, in Dorking, on Tuesday 15th March to learn more about the progress being made and how you can help beat cancer by writing a gift in your will.

Contact your local Legacy Manager, Kerensa Haxby, to find out more and reserve a place or for further information about leaving a gift in your will or details of other events.

You can get in touch either by telephone 01273 204110 or email kerensa.haxby@cancer.org.uk.

You can meet the people who are helping to beat cancer.

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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.

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