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Ashtead Residents’ Association 8 Help for Heroes leg wax and bike ride 48

Leatherhead Residents’ Association 10 GO50 walks and cycle rides 50

Fetcham Residents’ Association 12 Save Leach Grove Wood 51

Wallace & Gromit’s Wrong Trs Day 14 Leatherhead Museum craft afternoons 54

Ashtead Village Day 16 Local history article 62

Quiz - Colours 18 Give a cat a home 64

Author’s new book on Elizabeth 1st 20 10th Leatherhead Drama Festival 66-67 66

Andy’s Blog 22 What’s on in May? Pages 68-74 68

Penny a minute parking in MV 24 Gardens of Bookhams open day 76

Quiz - Phobias 26 Cryptic crossword 78

The Street’s pharmacy set to return 30 General knowledge crossword 82

Antiques Roadshow - behind the scenes 34 Gardening - hide and seek 84

Fidelity & Fluttering - a story 36 Mole Valley Police column 86

Recipe - Serrano & porcini pasta 38 Bringing in the May 88

Simple crossword 40 Transition Ashtead 90

Book reviews 46 Useful numbers 94

What’s in here this month?

Solution on page 92

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Y up, Bruges was everything I hoped it would be and more, stunningarchitecture, museums and lovely people. We even had time to visit the

Chip Museum. An absolute hoot, we had to walk through several exhibitsshowing different potatoes (boring), but at the end of it we were rewarded witha portion of chips (hoorah)... and then there was the Belgian chocolate, sadly Idid not represent the British at all well.

Thankfully we seem to be pulling away from the long winter as finally thedaffodils in the garden have bloomed. They were threatening to bloom for someweeks as I could see their yellow buds, but they all decided to bloom en masse during the secondweek of April, and very cheerful they are too!

There is good news from Mr Abdool Kureeman about his application to open a new pharmacy in TheStreet, which was approved, we just have to wait another 28 days from 8th April for the go-ahead -more on page 30.

May sees the annual Leatherhead Drama Festival, now in its 10th year, more on pages 66-67.

Melanie Taylor, an Ashtead based author, has written a book on the relationship between QueenElizabeth 1st and the renowned miniature portrait painter, Nicholas Hilliard. An insight intoMelanie’s work behind the book can be read on page 20, along with details of where you canpurchase a copy - riveting stuff.

Flip Cargill, a very active member of, and tireless campaigner for, the Leatherhead community, isseeking your help to save Leach Grove Wood (next to Leatherhead Hospital). Time is of the

essence, her details can be found on page 51.

The BBC will be filming the Antiques Roadshow at PolesdenLacey on Thursday 16th May and I was delighted to be given aninsight into the stories of two of the members of the team,pages 34-35.

Four men will be cycling from the centre of Paris on 27th Mayand ending their 270 mile journey at the Cenotaph in Londonon 2nd June and before that, they have organised a raffle on16th May and a leg wax on 17th May - details of these eventscan be found on page 48. All in aid of the Help for Heroescharity. More power to their elbow (and legs)!

Two bank holidays to look forward to in May, falling onMonday 6th and Monday 27th. It does seem that we have a‘glut’ of bank holidays in May, then nothing until August. Still,mustn’t grumble, a day off is a day off (she says, working onthe magazine on a Sunday afternoon!).

Hopefully the weather is now brightening up and we can allspend a little more time outside in the fresh air. See you nextmonth when I shall be including, amongst other things, theAshtead Rotary’s double page spread on Ashtead Village Daywhich this year falls on Saturday 8thJune.

Cheerio ducks.

Zen GeorgePublisher01372 [email protected]

From the Publisher

AdvertisingThe Ashtead & Leatherhead Localprovides local businesses withaffordable, quality advertising. Adscost from £53 +VAT per month, perquarter page for a 10,000 residentialdistribution (yes, really!) and can bedesigned where required.

Technical & Legal stuffWhilst every care has been taken toensure that the data in this magazineis accurate, the Publisher cannotaccept, and hereby disclaims, anyliability to any party for loss ordamage caused by errors or omissionsresulting from negligence, accidentor any other cause.

No part of this magazine may bereproduced, stored in any retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form -electronic, mechanical, recording,photocopying, or otherwise - withoutprior permission of the Publisher.

All in-house artwork and editorialpresented in this magazine remainsthe copyright of Zen George.

© Zen GeorgeAll rights reserved 2013.

01372 [email protected]

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It’s good news week...

After prolonged terrible weather with icy cold eastwinds cutting everyone in half, it does appear thatspring is finally with us – albeit arriving in BritishSummer Time! And that’s not the only good news.

Abdool at Buckley Pharmacy has finally had hisapplication approved for a pharmacy in The Street toreplace the one closed by Lloyds. Subject to Contract,this one will be in the old Barclays Bank premises andwill offer many other facilities apart from just apharmacy for prescriptions including the first ' HealthyLiving Pharmacy' in Surrey. Thanks to the support ofthe Residents’ Association, Chris Grayling MP, AshteadCouncillors, local medical professionals, SAVE andcountless members of the general public, the NHSEngland (Surrey & Sussex) finally approved hisapplication earlier this month. The next few weekswill be an exciting time as this new venture takes off,and everyone at the Residents’ Association wishesAbdool and his team their best for the future.

Further good news for Ashtead is that Surrey CountyCouncil has been successful in the securing of 70%funding from the Department for Transport to improvefacilities for cycling between Ashtead andLeatherhead. This shows that having a strong voicewithin the Council pays dividends as we have donereally well in being awarded this amount of fundingcompared to many other local authorities, and isobviously great news for improving facilities forcyclists and improving safety for all road users fromAshtead to Leatherhead. The routes underconsideration are the A24 or Grange Road/Linden PitPath. Currently A24 is favourite as the bridge on

Linden Pit Path will be costly/difficult to change. Theproject is for £850K with a 70% grant given (eg.£595K). Mole Valley Cycling forum is in favour and willbe involved in the design work ready for consultationwith residents and businesses as soon as possible afterthe election.

More good news is that Surrey County Council hasallocated £90m out of the £140m Highways budget toreplacing Surrey’s worst roads over the next five years– and yes, Ashtead’s roads feature strongly in the listand are amongst the roads scheduled for repair thanksto Councillors’ strong representations. Culverhay, longoverdue for a major rebuild, will be done thisfinancial year, and many other roads we all drivealong and moan about the surface, also feature in thelists.

Last summer’s Olympics saw huge interest in the cycleraces coming through Mole Valley, and this year wehave not one but two cycle races coming to the area.The Tour of Britain’s 7th Stage will commence inEpsom on Saturday 21st September and travel throughto Leatherhead. Residents of Ashtead should thereforeget a superb view of the riders as they pass through.

The previous month also sees the Ride London eventwith riders coming again through Surrey though thistime on a different route. Residents of Ashtead will beable to see the riders as they come from Oxshott toLeatherhead, then up to Box Hill and back to Dorking.Pencil Sunday 4th August into your calendars. Detailsof both races are available on the ARA’s web site.

After a dreary winter and spring it is great toannounce good news to cheer us all up!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Yes, I would like to join the Ashtead Residents’ Association

Name: ________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Tel: ________________________________________________________________________

Enclose a cheque for £2.50 payable to Ashtead Residents’ AssociationPlease send to: Mrs C Ansett, 28 Grove Road, Ashtead, KT21 1BE

Tel: 07733 621614 | Web: www.ashteadresidents.org.uk

If you would like to receive information from the Residents’ Association via email, please visitthe Contact Us page on the web site.

ASHTEAD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONFounded 1945

www.ashteadresidents.org.uk

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THE LEATHERHEAD RESIDENTS’ASSOCIATION

On Monday April 8th, about 100 people, including3 councillors and a MVDC officer, gathered atLetherhead Institute for the LRA's largest AGM todate. Local Green Belt issues, proposeddevelopments, and the possible loss of theBarnett Wood Lane Allotments had clearlyaroused interest.

Three eminent speakers with diversebackgrounds shared their experience and broughta common thread to the fast moving evening;

'We all need to engage with our community andthe council to ensure decisions are not madeover our heads and in ignorance of our thoughtsand feelings on matters that concern ourenvironment'.

John Howarth, Director of ‘Action for MarketTowns’, and Leatherhead Area Partnership (LAP)chairman, talked of potential developmentsplanned in the Green Belt near Junction 9 of theM25: ie a hotel complex, housing, a shoppingmall, or a luxury retail outlet similar to BicesterVillage in Oxfordshire.

John questioned whether developments such asBicester Village, should be regarded asopportunity or threat to neighbouring towns.Some evidence suggested the latter, as he foundconsiderable traffic and parking problems atBicester and, and nearby, the original Bicester'dead'.

John suggested we should be gathering as muchretail information and data as possibleconcerning the Leatherhead area in advance ofsuch planning applications, with a view to eitherpreventing development altogether, or ensuringthat its financial benefits would spread toexisting retailers and the wider community.

Lucy Quinnell, owner of the Fire and IronGallery, updated progress at Teazle Wood. Heraccount of how she had galvanised thecommunity into supporting her bid to secure thefuture of Teazle Wood was heartfelt and heartwarming.

She described the erosion of the countryside withthe coming of the M25 motorway in the early 80sand the consequent destruction of large areas ofgrassland and woodland. She showed evidence of

destruction of nearby woodland and grassland asrecently as winter 2013. Thanks to Lucy, a 57acre wooded site is now safe.

Andy Smith, Surrey Branch Director of theCampaign for the Protection of Rural England(CPRE) explained the origins of the Green Beltand the reasons why it had come under threat,particularly in Surrey.

Andy expressed concern that too little was beingdone to ensure that brownfield sites wereprioritised. His passionate appeal was that theGreen Belt should only be considered whenall other possibilities had been exhausted. Hefirmly believes in MORE Great Belt as a result ofMV's Boundary review, not less.

He commented on John Howarth's, "nightmarevision of a retail village... It would destroyLeatherhead High Street once and for all.Defending the Green Belt, saving the BarnettWood Lane Allotments and thwarting plans for aretail village are all part of the same thing. Thisreally is a question of saving Leatherhead fromdevelopers!"

The mood and applause of the audience showedan appreciation of the three speakers and theirmessages.

Whilst we don't know what the future holds forthe Barnett Wood Lane Allotment/Merton CollegeGreen Belt site, this AGM showed us just howmany threats there are to the future ofLeatherhead. Please join the LRA in our effortsto continue to support the preservation of theGreen Belt and the allotments and to ensure afuture for Leatherhead as a viable market town.

Upcoming meetingsIf you have a pressing issue that you need tospeak about on the night of any closed meetingsplease come to the door at 7.20pm to pass onyour concerns.May 13th - Closed meetingJune 3rd - Open meetingJuly 1st - Open meeting-speaker-possibly the

Police Commissioner who has askedto visit us

August- Closed meeting

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Address: ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Tel: ______________________________________________________________

Enclose a cheque for £1 payable to Fetcham Residents’ Association

Please send to: FREEPOST RTCJ-XCRK-TRYGFetcham Residents’ AssociationLEATHERHEAD KT22 9HU

Website: www.fetchamresidentsassociation.org

Fetcham Residents’ AssociationFounded in 1932

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30th Rotary Ashtead Village DaySaturday 8th June

It's coming up fast, so do make a note in your diary. Saturday 8th June at QE II Field,Barnett Wood Lane (renamed last year from The Rec). The event is organised againby Village Day Director, Tim Ashton, who has made such a resounding success of theprevious five Village Days and is well on schedule for this one too.

Ashtead Rotary has a magnificent programme in the offing... a surprise guestpersonality to open the event, a fully uniformed professional ring master, The GreatAshtead Bake-Off competition, hosted by Ashtead's own celebrity chef David Gillottand judged by the august editor of this magazine. And The Stannage Stunt Team(daredevil motorbikes, fire, jumps, death-defying aerial falls and more), plus all thestalls and side shows for which Ashtead Village Day is famous.

Programmes will be on sale in local shops and Post Offices from early May. They are£2 each in advance or £4 each on the day – children under 12 free.

And, this is most important, we will be making the Rotary Community Service Awardsin the arena. These awards are given - one to an individual and a second to a group -who live or work in Ashtead and who have consistently given their time anddedication to the benefit of our Community over and above their regular call of duty.All candidates are nominated by you, the residents, of Ashtead.

So if you know of a person or a group who might qualify and who you think shouldbe recognised please make contact with Alan Howell (01372 270140 [email protected] or 4 South View Road, Ashtead KT21 2NB). It's agreat way to give public recognition to those whose contribution is so rarelynoticed. Please don't delay though, the last date for nominations is Monday 13th

May to allow time for award certificates to be printed and signed.

The Ashtead Players receive their 2012 Group Community Service Award fromCelebrity Guest Evan Davis and Rotary President Len Wood

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‘The Truth of the Line’ by Melanie V TaylorAshtead author, Melanie, offers some interesting theories

in her story of Nicholas Hilliard (left), England's firstgreat artist, from his beginnings as a studentthrough his career as miniature portrait painter toElizabeth I. Using his portraits to weaveHilliard’s personal story with the events andintrigues of Court life she offers an insight intohis life and career. The rich symbolismcontained in various portraits of the Queenbolstered Elizabeth's virginal reputation, butMelanie believes particular Hilliard portraits ofElizabeth can be read more than one way.

As the master of the layered meaning, Hilliard's“Attici Amoris Ergo” portrait (below) has baffled

scholars for generations. The translation is gibberish,so why was it included? Research at our National

Archives led Melanie to images of the queens in theilluminated ‘P’s of legal documents between 1553 and 1565 and some interestingconclusions. Her theory about this image is controversial and her explanations of both theLatin motto and why Elizabeth’s image changes in the law term Ps at the end of 1560 andbeginning of 1561 are offered as possible interpretations. You will have to decide foryourself if this young man is related to Elizabeth I.

Hilliard married Alice Brandon, daughter of the Queen'sgoldsmith, Robert Brandon to whom Hilliard had beenapprenticed, in 1576. As well as wealthy merchants,his patrons numbered Lord Burghley, Sir FrancisWalsingham and Sir Francis Drake as well as theQueen and Robert Dudley.

Appearing to be the soul of discretion it is likelyHilliard's sitter's confided many personal secrets tohim. However, his loyalty to the Queen wasabsolute. It is possible he became part ofWalsingham's spy network, but maintained hissilence on personal confidences regarding love.

Hilliard's lived through well known historical events andpainted Mary Queen of Scots several times. Trusted as hewas, perhaps he sketched her trial and execution (sketches ofher trial and execution by Anon are in the British Library). Only one minor character isfictional - James Bell, who has no voice and is Melanie's personification of all thoseunknown petty traitors surrounding the Scottish Queen.

For more information on the research behind the novel visit the website :www.thetruthoftheline.co.uk or, alternatively, email [email protected] .'The Truth of the Line' is available in paperback through www.lulu.com/spotlight/melanievtaylor001 or, for Kindle users, through www.Amazon.com.(Images © of V&A.)

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Penny a Minute Parking from 2nd AprilMole Valley District Council (MVDC) is introducing a new ‘penny a minute’ charging system inits car parks.

The basic charge for one hour’s parking will remain at 60p. After that, people will no longerbe restricted to buying hourly tickets, and will be able to buy a ticket for the amount of timethat they need.

This means that if someone puts a pound in a machine they will get 100 minutes of parking.£1.50 will give them two and a half hours.

This change follows MVDC’s strategic objectives in relation to parking. These include listeningto the views of residents and traders and helping people to use Mole Valley’s car parks toaccess the local services they need. MVDC also works to protect the environment andcharacter of Mole Valley’s towns and villages by making it as easy as possible for people topark in well located car parks. It also aims to support traders in keeping their shops open, andworks to deliver value for money for car park users and taxpayers.

Richard Burrows, Corporate Head of Service, said said “Residents have told us that they don’tlike overpaying for parking if they don’t have the right change in their pockets. This newapproach gives them the flexibility to pay for what they need. We hope that this willencourage people to spend more time shopping in our town and village centres.

“Later in the year, the Council will also be introducing new options for people to pay forparking by phone, online and a smartphone app. These convenient methods have proven to bereally popular in other areas, and will hopefully make parking in Mole Valley an even easierexperience.”

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The Street’s pharmacy set to return

Abdool Kureeman was advised on 8th April that his application to open a Pharmacy inthe old Barclays Bank on The Street, Ashtead had been accepted by Surrey PCT. Fromthat date a 28 day period of consideration commenced when others who areconcerned/affected can appeal. Abdool has written a short note of thanks, an excerptof which is below:

"Dear Friends, Colleagues and Supporters

I am elated to let you know that NHS England ( Surrey & Sussex) has considered andapproved my application. As you know we have been waiting for this outcome for over13 months now and I am grateful to you all for the continuous support you've shownover this very difficult time.

I am especially grateful to all at Ashtead Residents Association, Rt Hon Chris GraylingMP, our councillors . Also thank you to my two local GP practices, U3A, Ashtead GoodNeighbours and all the residents of Ashtead who have written in. All the letters havenot been in vain.

The new premises will allow me to deliver extended services and will be of the first 'Healthy Living Pharmacy' in Surrey. I am confident the contract will be secured and theVillage will have its Pharmacy back.

Abdool"

image courtesy of www.kennjordanphotography.com

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BBC ONE’s Antiques Roadshow will startfilming for its 36th series in the grounds ofPolesden Lacey on 16th May. Doors open at9.30am and close at 4.30pm. Entry to theshow is free but the house will be closed.

Many of the most exciting treasures seen on theAntiques Roadshow are first spotted on theFurniture Round by expert Nicholas Mitchell(pictured opposite examining a wardrobe insitu), a Roadshow veteran of 27 years standing.

‘Anyone who writes in and lives within a 25 mileradius of the venue is likely get a visit,’ saysNicholas who hits the ground running, makingand keeping as many as 20 appointments a dayover four days.

‘I may see large pieces of furniture, hugepaintings or even, in one case, the mostenormous stuffed gorilla, but the object doesn’thave to be large or difficult to transport for meto drop by. As a matter of courtesy, providingthe home is in the area, I’ll have a look.’If the Roadshow takes place on a Thursday,Nicholas makes his final selection on Tuesday.Wednesday is spent with the experiencedremovals team collecting objects and deliveringthem to the venue and on the day after theRoadshow, each piece is carefully re-packed andreturned. ‘I oversee every step of the process,’says Nicholas, ‘ and every object is packed as ifit were being transported to the moon. We’realso fiercely discreet. Apart from me, only one

other person at the BBC in Bristol holds thenames and addresses of people who write in.’

‘Going to the Roadshow is a step into theunknown for most people. If I explain how theevent works and make things a little easier,they’re more likely to have a good day.’Nicholas has become adept at matching objectto expert. ‘so I might decide to bring in a pieceof Arts & Crafts furniture for Paul Atterbury, or Imight spot a Chinese vase that I know willexcite David Battie. These days, value is lesscrucial than a good story. We do love a goodstory on the Antiques Roadshow!’

Nicholas has picked his way by torchlight acrossbroken floorboards in a derelict housesurrounded by barbed wire where a vastpersonal collection of valuable objects wasstored, and been led through a cold and emptymeat market early on a Sunday morning to lookat a selection of gory medical antiques kept in aback room. Most visits, however, are to warmand welcoming homes. ‘I’ve come away withpots of homemade jam and cuttings from plantsI’ve admired in gardens,’ he says. ‘We’re ofteninvited in for tea, but sadly, there’s never timeto stop.

When we return people’s objects, I put thesame question to everyone: “Did you enjoyyourself?” I want everyone to have a greatexperience – so do keep writing in!’

Antiques Roadshow producer Michele Burgess(pictured above right) counts her lucky starsthat she has spent the last 22 years working onone of the most successful programmes in thehistory of television.

BBC One’s Antique Roadshow - behind the scenesPolesden Lacey - Thursday 16th May - 9.30am-4.30pm

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• Regular Domestic Cleaning• End of Tenancy Cleans• Spring / ‘Blitz’ Cleans• Carpet Cleaning• Deep / Steam CleaningFirst Choice Cleaners Ltd is a family runcleaning business serving the local areasince 2005. All work fully insured. We takepride in all work undertaken and believethat our strength lies in offering a friendly,

flexible and totally reliable service.www.mycleanhome.co.uk

Michele spends earlyJanuary looking at holes ina map. ‘It hangs on a wallin our Bristol office,covered in pins to indicatewhere we’ve been in pastyears,’ Michele explains.

‘The “holes” as I call themare usually areas we can’tvisit because they consist

of mountains covered in sheep’

‘Each Roadshow is unique,’ she explains. ‘Wenever know exactly how many people will turnup, what they will bring or what will be thrownat us during the day from unpredictable weatherto sudden technical hitches. Even in brilliantsunshine, I keep a waterproof tied around mywaist. I’ve been caught too many times in asudden downpour and there’s never time to golooking for a coat.’

‘We work non-stop until after the last recordingat 7pm. We want everyone to enjoy the day so Ikeep an eye on the queue. If I notice a motherwith small children is still 100 yards from aspecialist after two hours, I do something aboutit, and my heart misses a beat if I hear atinkling sound as someone puts a bag of glass orchina down too quickly on the ground.’

‘We’re all constantly amazed and delighted byhow welcome we’re made to feel wherever wego. We visit the most fantastic buildings in thecountry. I stayed on the top floor of the Castleof Mey on a planning trip a year ago, and oncespent two hours down a coalmine at theNational Coalmining Museum at Wakefieldwhich I won’t forget in a hurry! One thing I’veyet to experience in this job is a single momentof boredom.’

If you have any furniture, which caninclude large paintings, heavy pots andindeed any items that would be difficult tocarry to the show, please send details andphotographs to: ‘Antiques Roadshow, BBC,Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR’ ore-mail them to:[email protected].

www.bbc.co.uk/antiquesroadshow

36

Ruth had never doubted Sam’s fidelity. In allthe years they’d been together, she hadn’tsuspected him at all. He may have drunkenlyflirted at parties and lusted after unobtainablefilm or television actresses but there was neverany serious cause for concern. Ruth was thesame. She loved Sam and hadn’t been temptedto stray. She did, however, develop a worryingcrush on Daniel’s French teacher, a handsomeman with a lingering handshake and a twinkle inhis eye. She also went completely weak at theknees in the presence of the muscle boundgreen- eyed Adonis who came to install theirbroadband.

Like many women her age, Ruth took pleasurein any film starring Hugh Jackman, GeorgeClooney, Ryan Reynolds or Colin Firth and shehad a secret penchant for Alexander Armstrong.

Ruth considered herself a very conventionalwife and mother, leading a pretty mundane sortof life. She wasn’t unhappy but,as the childrengrew older, she began to miss her younger selfand the excitement of an unknown future.

These days, she was also more easily shocked,particularly by the antics of her recentlydivorced college friend, Maggie, who came to afamily Sunday lunch and very publicly gave Rutha copy of a certain book involving various shadesof grey.

Maggie was Ruth’s ‘window’ into a moreunconventional world. Since her divorce, she’dthrown herself into the singles’ scene and hadmany eye opening stories to tell. She’d alsostudied the world of Facebook and trackeddown many old friends from college days.

Ruth envied her liberation and began to resentthe restrictions of school runs and meals on thetable so, when Maggie invited Ruth up toLondon to meet with some people from college,she agreed without hesitation.

As the day approached, Ruth was overcome withnerves. She looked in the mirror and tried tosee into the eyes of her twenty year old self.Eventually Ruth found her, buried under layersof experiences and memories. She peeled backthe layers and smiled. Her twenty year old selfsmiled back, with a mischievous request for anight out.

Ruth bought something new to wear and had herhair done. The mirror clearly told her that shecouldn’t physically go back in time but she wasdetermined to look as young and glamorous as

possible, particularly when Maggie told her thatJamie was going to be there.

Maggie and Ruth had studied different subjectsat college and Ruth didn’t know many of herfriends. However, she did remember JamieSpencer. He had beautiful blond wavy hair anda smile that could light up a room. He was alsoan incorrigible flirt who treated women like hetreated his library books. He’d take out severalat time, leave them scattered around,occasionally give them some attention and thenreturn them, often in a slightly batteredcondition. Ruth had been one of his librarybooks.

As she got ready to leave the house, Ruth’shead was clouded with images of Jamie and herbody was full of fluttering anticipation. Shewas pleased with her reflection and felt a bitguilty when Sam told her how amazing shelooked and wished her a lovely evening.

They were due to meet in a wine bar nearWaterloo and Ruth’s heart was pounding by thetime she got there. She also had blisters fromher new shoes. She saw Maggie and tried to lookcasual as she made her way across the room butgetting her handbag caught on a chair ratherspoiled her nonchalant persona.

The evening flowed with wine and superficialconversation. Most of Maggie’s friends weresingle or divorced and Ruth found it hard to findmuch common ground. She kept thinking aboutSam and the children. Her feet ached and thewine was making her head spin. The biggestshock of the night was Jamie. He was stillsmiling and still single. He was also completelybald.

Ruth had enjoyed taking her twenty year oldself out for the evening but, as she hobbledback to the station, Ruth couldn’t decide whatshe was looking forward to more, a cuddle fromher lovely husband or her fur-lined slippers.

Copyright Sarah LottApril 2013Website: www.thememorybook.co.ukEmail: [email protected]: 01372 373844Twitter: @thememorybook

Fidelity and Flutterings

37

Shops & Services

38

Food & Drink

39

Food & Drink

40

Art, Jewellery & Gifts

Across1 Choose (6)4 Bends (6)9 Latest style (7)

10 Work out (5)11 Scour (5)12 Remove (7)13 Arguing (11)18 Changed (7)20 Used to steer a car (5)22 Attempted (5)23 Kindergarten (7)24 Area, district (6)25 Head of newspaper (6)

Down1 Least risk (6)2 Not the winner (5)3 Type of plant (7)5 Overturn (5)6 Rogue (7)7 Bedding (6)8 Unconnected (11)

14 Loosening (7)15 Taken down (7)16 Haggle (6)17 Participant (6)19 Wireless (5)21 Expel (5)

Simple Crossword1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8

9 10

11 12

13 14 15

16 17

18 19 20 21

22 23

24 25

Solution on page 92

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Art, Jewellery & Gifts

“I am delighted with theresponse to the adverts thatFire & Iron has placed in theAshtead & LeatherheadLocal; it has proved to be aterrific way for us tocommunicate with our localaudience, reaching people inan economical and highlyeffective way. Zen isincredibly helpful andfriendly too, which makesthe whole process of placinga single advert, or planninga long-term campaign, veryeasy.” Lucy Quinnell, Fire &Iron

22 Bridge Street,Leatherhead, KT22 8BZ

Tel: 01372 377363

∗ Bespoke Framing

∗ Framed Originals

& Limited Edition

Prints

∗ Gifts & Jewellery

∗ Cards

∗ Ready Made

Frames & Mounts

We will be closed for restoration ofthe shop’s elderly wall fromWednesday 1st May 2013

and will re-open onSaturday 1st June 2013

42

Motor Services / Technology

CT CARSAudi VW Specialists

• Established 1990• Small, local, friendly garage between

Leatherhead and Guildford• Servicing and repairs (ABS brakes, clutches, tyres,

exhausts, diagnostics, air conditioning)• Free loan car• We are also Seat and Skoda specialists, but we can

also accommodate other manufacturers, just call us

Open View FarmEpsom RoadWest Horsley

KT24 6AP

Tel: 01483 285792

Why use a generalist whenyou can use a specialist?

Email: [email protected]: www.ctcars.co.uk

43

FOR ALL YOUR COMPUTING NEEDSFriendly Local Service For

SALES - REPAIRS - UPGRADESREMOTE ASSISTANCE - CALLOUTS

TELEPHONE : 01372 801545THE STREET - FETCHAM - SURREY - KT22 9RD

www.tekmate.co.uk

Technology

44

Technology

This guide was written by Les Beer from TecRes, who havebeen providing computer sulutions since 1989, how can

we help you?. For further information please call01372-370300 or email [email protected].

DATADILEMMAS

...People often find it amusing that we see very high failure rates of particular items at specific

times of year, for some inexplicable reason printers are most likely to fail in December, whereas monitors appear to fail more frequently in February and July, well history has proven harddrives are more prone to failure in May and June where the consequences can be disastrousand expensive.We had a tiling wholesaler who lost all his financial information due to hard drive failure,

eventually we did recover his data, but only after many days of laborious work and manythousands of pounds of specialist equipment was used.Now days with more information than ever being held on home PCs like photos, videos,

music, family history, financial & tax information and so one - you need ask would you beconcerned if this information was lost forever?Generally the data in your PC is stored on your hard drive, whilst the hard drive is a reliable

object it is the most unreliable bit of the computer, so what can you do about this?The obvious answer is to back up the data, but on what?The most economic solution is an external hard drive which plugs straight into the USB port

on your PC, if you have multiple computers and wish to backup on to a central shared externalhard drive then we have a range of solutions for you tooWith a massive range of devices starting from £60 for a 500Gb unit going upto 10Tb network

drives you will never need to worry about your data againUsing the correct software to automate your backup makes the task fast, reliable and simple.

We can schedule your software to backup all your data daily, weekly or monthly. Once theinitial back up has been run the following backups tend to be very quick as only the data whichhas been added or changed since the previous backup will be added to the external drive.

For May we are offering to setup, schedule and run yourinitial backup for just £30.00 on a standalone PC.If you would like more info on this solution, please call us or

drop into the store, open Monday to Saturday 9-5:30.

45

Technology

01372-370300www.tecres.co.uk | [email protected]

Retail store open Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 5:30pm

14 North Street | Leatherhead Surrey | KT22 7AW

MAY SPECIAL OFFERSSamsung 400 Ultrabook - with free 5 year warrantyIntel Core i5 CPU, 4Gb Ram, 12.5” display, 7.5 hours battery life,500Gb hard drive Wifi, Webcam, USB 3, HDMI, Duracase chasis,

Win 7 Pro, only 1.7KgSave £150 off usual price, Now only £650.00

iPads, Andriod and Windows tablets- New and used.

Apple, Samsung, Viewsonic, LenovoPrices starting from £100

we have a solution for every requirement.

~Surreys favourite Computer Store~14 North Street, Leatherhead

tel: 01372-370300Monday - Saturday 9:00-5.30pm

Onsite & Workshop Repairs, Upgrades, Virus removal, Data recovery

Print from your tablet, PC or notebook wirelessly

Epson’s Wireless printer copier scanner,Currently on Special Offer - Only £45.00

Mobile Broadband for upto 5 peopleSimple to setup and use, comes with 3Gb of data to use

on a “pay as you go” basis.Only £70.00

Lenovo 10.1” Windows 8 tablet32Gb storage, less than 600g, 10 hours battery, Bluetooth,

Wifi, 3G, Windows 8 ProOnly £510.00

46

Of Mice and MenJohn SteinbeckGeorge Milton and Lennie Smallare two migrant workers whodream of owning their own farm.George is intelligent butuneducated and Lennie is agreat hulk of a man; physicallystrong but mentally weak. Setduring the Great Depression, thepair is forced out of the aptly-named ‘Weed’, California afterLennie’s fondness for touching‘soft things’ lands him introuble. Chasing the elusiveAmerican Dream, George mustdecide what kind of a futuretheir friendship can have.

The Boy in theStriped PyjamasJohn BoyneBruno is the son of an SS officerand is also a natural-bornexplorer, so it’s no surprise thatwhen his family moves to ‘OutWith’, he has a lot of questionsabout the children who appearbehind the barbed wire fencewearing blue striped pyjamas.Bruno meets Shmuel, who livesthe other side, has a shavedhead and is constantly hungryand the two form a friendshipthat will have devastatingconsequences. Boyne’schildren’s book aboutconcentration camps is a must-read for all adults. It will stay

with you for days, weeks andmonths afterwards, just as itshould.

WonderR.J. PalacioStarting high school is toughenough for any kid, but whenyou have a facial deformity andit’s your first time stepping intothe torrential current ofmainstream education, you’rebound to be washed away.August Pullman is starting in theFifth Grade and has the ratherunenviable task of helping hisclassmates see beyond hisdisfigurement. There are tearsand laughter in equal measuresas ‘Auggie’ tries to make theright friends and find his place inthe unforgiving environment ofBeecher Prep.

The HelpKathryn StockettThis is the story of three women:Skeeter, Aibileen and Minny, andtheir attempts to change thesocial structure and confines ofa segregated Mississippi in the1960s. Young Skeeter is a whitewoman with a degree, but nohusband. Aibileen is a blackmaid who is essentially raising awhite woman’s child for her,whilst grieving for her own deadson. Meanwhile Minny is afantastic cook but an even

greater gossip. Between them,the three plan to write andpublish their own stories,revealing social scandals and‘tellin’ it like it is’.

Starter for TenDavid NichollsIt must be every teenage boy’sdream to appear on ‘UniversityChallenge’ mustn’t it? Foranyone who ever felt the oddone out, this book is testamentto the fact that within institutesof higher education, everyonecan find kindred spirits. Working-class student Brian Jackson isoff to university on a fullscholarship and he’s determinedto flex his intellectual musclesby winning a place on the UCteam.

The Joy Luck ClubAmy TanBefore Carrie Bradshaw et al,four Chinese women beganmeeting in San Francisco tocompare notes as recentimmigrants. It was 1949 and theycalled themselves ‘The Joy LuckClub’. It’s a complex anddelicately interwoven tale ofChinese mothers and daughters,revealing secrets and lies and allstriving to find a place in themodern world whilst feeling theconstant tug of their past.

How toWin FriendsFrom the playground to the workplace, we all know we’renot going to get by without a little help from our friends. Buthow do we go about forging thosefriendships in the first place? We’veput together a collection of storieswhere a friendship is central. And itjust goes to show, bonds can beformed in the most unlikely ofplaces.

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Helping heroes through pedal power

Help for Heroes is a charity familiar to many in the area, linked as itis with the rehabilitation work carried out at Headley Court for ourinjured servicemen and women. In support of this, four employeesfrom Cobham Technical Services in Leatherhead have volunteered totake part in the 2013 Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride.

This challenging ride covers 370 miles starting from the centre ofParis on 27th May and culminates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph in London on2nd June, taking in various battlefields and war graves along the route.

In support of its Help for Heroes fundraising, the Cobham team has organised a charity rafflewith cycling-specific prizes such as a cycle jersey signed by multiple gold-medal winningParalympians Dame Sarah Storey and Barney Storey MBE. Tickets are available for £1 eachfrom the Bike Beans Cycle Café on Rectory Lane in Ashtead and the draw will take place onthe Cafe’s 1st anniversary party evening on 16th May.

The team have also volunteered to have their legs waxed in public and invite you to comeand witness their pain and humiliation. Two beauticians from Exclusive Beauty Ashtead havekindly agreed to support this fund-raising event and will be tearing out hairs, follicle byfollicle, over lunchtime on 17th May in the Leatherhead Swan Centre. The team would loveyou to come along to sympathise, support or just chuckle at their discomfort.

If you’d like to support the team’s efforts with an online donation to Helpfor Heroes, please visit: www.bmycharity.com/cobhambbbr13

(L to R) Neil Gardner, Graham Degg, Dominic Godding and David Mooreat the top of Box Hill during team training for the Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride

49

The Fairfield Centre, LeatherheadAn over 60s Social Centre for pleasure, leisure

and learning in the heart of Leatherhead

All at low prices toenable you to join in

For more info on classes or services contact:The Fairfield Centre, 34 Swan Court,

Leatherhead, KT22 8AHTelephone 01372 376058Email [email protected]

• Music & Movement• Tai Chi• Pilates• Yoga• Line Dancing• Ballroom Dancing• Art Classes• Sing-Alongs

• Computer Lessons• Coach Trips• Lunches - daily• Celebrationlunches

• Hairdressing• Chiropody• Beauty Treatments

Clubs & Activities

50

Clubs & Activities

GO50 at Age UK Surrey offers guided Walks and Cycle Rides for the 50+ age group.This is just a taste of what’s on offer. Contact Richard Jeffries 01483 534706,email: [email protected] web: ageuk.org.uk/surrey/activities--events

May Guided Walks (Walking boots or other suitable footwear recommended)

Friday 3 : Lingfield : 4m Pleasant, varied, flat walk via St Piers Hospital School. Meet 10am atThe Star Inn, Church Road. Through Lingfield village, down hill & take first left. TQ389437 / RH76AH | Tuesday 7 : Blindley Heath : 5m Flat, easy walk through fields and farmland. Bringsnack. Meet 10am at Blindley Heath Cricket Pitch car park at junction of A22/B2029. TQ364453 /RH7 6JJ | Wednesday 8 : Ranmore Common : 4m Same car park, different route. Meet10:15am at free car park at west end of Ranmore Common Rd. (Not NT CP at Denbies Hillside).TQ121500 / RH5 6SS | Thursday 9 : Reigate Hill : 5m Undulating walk with fine viewsoverlooking Reigate and Dorking. Some stiles. Bring snack. Meet 10am at Wray Lane car park, topof Reigate Hill off J8/M25. TQ263524 / RH2 9RP | Tuesday 14 : Slaugham & Bolney (WSussex): 9m Beautiful, undulating walk, very varied. Pub lunch at Bolney. Meet 10am at church inSlaugham. M23 - A23, turn left 1m beyond Handcross, under A23 and ½m to village. TQ257281 /RH17 6AQ | Wednesday 15 : Godstone : 4-5m Pleasant walk through Coldharbour, over fieldsto Castle Hill (slightly steep) and return via golf course & “Hilly Fields”. Bring snack. Meet 10am atGodstone Green by pond. TQ349516 / RH9 8DP | Wednesday 22 : Polesden Lacey : 4m Walkfrom the Estate through woodland & open countryside. Refreshments available in the NationalTrust restaurant. Meet 10:15am in the pay & display car park at Polesden Lacey (free for NTmembers). TQ136522 / RH5 6BD | Friday 24 : Epsom Common : 4m Explore Epsom & AshteadCommons. Visit Roman brick works. Mainly flat, reasonably easy, but can be muddy. Meet 9:45amat Epsom Common Stew Ponds car park. B280 between Epsom & Malden Rushett. TQ184612 / KT187TR | Fri 24 : Box Hill & Headley : 8m Steep climb up Box Hill to enjoy good views from NorthDowns Way. Cross Heath to Headley – pub lunch – return via Mickleham Downs. Meet 10am atRykas car park, Burford Bridge. A24/B2209 junction. TQ171519 / RH5 6BX (T) Bus 465 / Boxhill &Westhumble station | Tuesday 28 : Chelwood Gate & Heaven Farm (E Sussex): 5m +3½m Beautiful, undulating route. Short drive to Heaven Farm for lunch, followed by another 3½mwalk. Meet 10am at Chelwood Gate. From A22 at Wych Cross turn right onto A275. At ChelwoodGate, after Red Lion pub, turn left, park in village hall CP on left. TQ413301 / RH17 7DD |Tuesday 28 : Chelwood Gate & Heaven Farm (E Sussex): 5m + opt. 3½m Beautiful, undulatingroute. Short drive to Heaven Farm for lunch, followed by optional 3½m walk. Meet Graham at10am (10:15am start) at Chelwood Gate. From A22 at Wych Cross turn right onto A275. AtChelwood Gate, after Red Lion pub, turn left, park in village hall CP on left. TQ413301 / RH17 7DD| Friday 31 : Slaugham/Nymans (W Sussex): 9m Circular walk on Ouse Valley & High WealdTrails. Picnic or pub lunch at Warninglid. Return to Nymans through fields with great views. Meet10am at NT car park at Nymans. Off A23 at Handcross. TQ265294 / RH17 6EB (T) Metrobus 271/273

May Guided Cycle Rides - All meet 10am (Please bring a bike suitable for off-road cycling )

Friday 3 : Downside: 13m Enjoy an easy ride over Bookham Common to Wisley Aerodrome. Meetat The Medicine Garden, Downside Road, Cobham. TQ107592 / KT11 3LU | Tuesday 7 :Reigate: 17m From Reigate Heath to Headley Heath and back. Hilly (both up and down). Meet atSkimmington Castle pub, Bonny’s Road off Flanchford Road, Reigate, RH2 8RL. TQ238497. Park inCP behind the pub. | Friday 17 : Walton on Thames: 12m Leisurely ride up River Thames &Wey. Meet at The Weir, Walton on Thames. TQ106681 / KT12 2JB

51

Clubs & Activities

Please help saveLeach Grove Wood

In the early 1980's, SCC decided to sell thiswood for housing. A group of residents foughtfor the woods and won. It has strategic openplan classification, but this does not ensure itssafety, so I am applying for Village GreenStatus, (supported by the LRA), to safeguardthe wood for future generations.

Many birds and animals are seen here,including song and mistle thrush, coal tits,field mice and bats. Village Green Status wouldensure that the land would remain open andunbuilt on.

If you, family, or friends have used LeachGrove Wood, (behind Leatherhead hospital)whilst living in Leatherhead, at any time in thelast 20 years, would you fill out a simple'Evidence of Use' form?

I need 340 more forms by Friday 10th May.Please phone or email me for forms [email protected]

Flip Cargill

52

Clubs & Activities

Ashtead Evening Townswomen’s Guild

At our April we had a fascinating talk byPeter Grove, the Lord Mayor of London'sBodyguard, fully dressed in all hisregalia. He told us all about theHonorary Artillery company which was

founded in 1537. They are part of the Territorial Army and currently have somemembers serving in Afghanistan. They form guards of honour at all ceremonialevents in the city of London. The original pikes had to have 4ft cut off theiroriginal length of 17ft to fit in the Guildhall. Amongst other interestinginformation he showed us how slow and laborious it is to prepare a musket forfiring!

From our next meeting we will be starting at 7.30 not 7.45. On 7th May ourspeaker is coming from Surrey Wildlife. We recently held an Easter party withmembers wearing their Easter bonnets and we have other activities arranged,including a pub lunch and by Mid Surrey Federation a trip to Whitchurch SilkMill.

You are very welcome at any of our meetings. Chairman Margery Curtis 01372272588

Ashtead Women’s Institute - April meetingAshtead Village Day will be with us again before we know it, andrequests were made for members to think ahead and support us, asalways, with our stall at the event.

A visit to Denman College was planned for new members who hadn’tyet visited our own special college, where they would enjoy a tour ofthe house, lunch, and a cookery demonstration in the newly fitted

kitchens tuition area. Surrey WI is planning another popular ‘Scarecrow at Wisley’competition in which we are invited to take part.

Our speaker this evening was Mrs Jean Haynes on The Life of a Lady Bailiff. Mrs Haynes toldus of her difficult start in this work because of being a woman, but she persevered and hasobviously had some fulfilling and entertaining years in this profession, meeting many peoplefrom very different walks of life along the way, some of whom we much enjoyed hearingabout this evening.

Before closing, final arrangements were made for our visit to the Chelsea Hospital nextweek, and for our local pub lunch later this month. Dates were given for our Reading,Theatre, Yarn, Scrabble, Walking and Craft sub-groups. We are also looking forward tovisiting Arundel Cathedral in May for the Carpet of Flowers at Corpus Christi.

The speaker at our 1st May meeting will be our WI member Rosemary Stark, on Memories ofNew Zealand.

53

Education & Tuition

Oh for a thousand tongues...That would be too ambitious, even for us, but we are stepping up ourprovision of language courses from September.

New languages being introduced include Portuguese (much in demand asmany local people spend holidays, own property, do business in Portugal).

Polish appears in our prospectus for the first time. We have taken note ofthe fact that this is the most spoken language in this country after English.So if you want to converse with your friend, partner, neighbour, barman,builder, who comes from Poland, this could be the course for you.

In the more popular languages – French, Italian and Spanish, we are stepping up the number oflevels so that whether you are a beginner, an occasional visitor to the country, wanting to brush itup, took it some time ago at ‘O’ level or GCSE, there should be something suitable for you. Ourtutors will help and advise.

English as a Second, or Foreign Language is also part of our provision and here we are introducingsome new courses – particularly a conversation class on Monday mornings, geared to intermediatelevel, and also the Cambridge First Certificate in English - a qualification which is highly regardedall over the world. The regular courses at elementary, lower and higher intermediate levels, willof course continue.

It’s all about communication!

For further information on our classes, please phone 01372 363708 or 07802 412285, collecta brochure from the Leatherhead Institute or local libraries, or visit our websitesurreyhillsonwardlearning.org.uk.

Dorking QuiltersThe speaker was Liza Jones,Chair of the Queen Mother’sClothing Guild. The Guildcollects vast amounts ofclothing for all ages, anddistributes it every year tomany charities, such asVeterans Aid, hospices,neonatal units, nightshelters, and care homes,where clothing and beddingare badly needed.

Our next meeting on May14th will be a sewingevening, when our projectwill be to make pincushions.

Our meetings are held atthe Friends’ Meeting House,Butterhill, South Street,and begin at 7.30 for 8pm.

Contact Sheena, on 01306885597 for more info.

"Having GO50 activities listedin the Ashtead & LeatherheadLocal each month has been areal help in spreading theword about healthy activitiesfor older people in Surrey."Richard Jeffries, Age UKSurrey

54

ExxonMobil donation to Fortyfoot Playgroup supportschildren’s learning whatever the weather!

Children at Fortyfoot Playgroup & Pre-School celebrated a generousdonation of learning resources from local company ExxonMobil witha special parents coffee morning where children, parents andrepresentatives from ExxonMobil were able to see the resources inaction, namely arts and crafts, an outdoor weather station and atwo-seater bike.(pictured in photo).

Aldith Bruty, Playgroup Leader, says: “We are delighted thatExxonMobil has made such a generous donation towards ourteaching resources for the children. Our children do much of theirlearning in our fabulous garden and the two major pieces ofequipment in particular will help enormously with our weather,science and physical education themes. The weather stationespecially is going to be great fun. The children are going to get alot out of it, exploring, talking about, thinking, measuring, drawing

and writing about how the weather changes.”

Ruth Long, Vice Chair of the Playgroup Committee, says: “We are extremely grateful to ExxonMobilfor their generous donation towards our learning resources for local children. As a registered charityand community pre-school Fortyfoot Playgroup aims to keep its fees as accessible as possible forfamilies who are struggling in the current financial climate.”

Pictured above: Aldith Bruty (L), Sophie Foale, Community Affairs Adviser, ExxonMobil (R), weather stationand two seater bike.

www.fortyfootplaygroup.co.uk

Leatherhead MuseumHands-on half term Craft afternoons May–June 2013

Once again we are offering three FREE hands-on Craft sessions for children and theirparents/carers on May 30th and 31st andJune 1st from 1pm – 4pm in the museum andthe museum garden.

There will be many different activities oneach of the three days as well as experienceon the potter’s wheel with Justine Munson,peg doll making, Calligraphy and maskmaking. Take part in creating the great swancollage for display around Leatherhead.

The Leatherhead Museum of local History at 64 Church Street (at the trafficlights) will also be open for everyone to enjoy in addition to the craftactivities.

For more details look for the posters or phone 01372 386050 or01372 386348

Clubs & Activities

55

Education & Tuition

56

Leatherhead Podiatry

10% off your first appointment on production of this ad (offer ends 31st May 2013)

Love your feet!

01372 374125 63b High Street, Leatherhead

• Corns• Calluses• Orthotics• Ingrowing Toe Nails• Verrucae

• Problematic Nails• Athlete’s Foot• Bunions• Sports Injuries• Heel Pain

Lesley Pennington S.R.Ch., D.Pod.M., B.Sc.Hons., HPC reg25 years experience

Health & Beauty

57

Health & Beauty

58

Health & Beauty

“Thank you so much for printing thearticle about the Ashtead FridayMarket in your magazine. We had lotsof new people in the hall and severalwanting to take a table for next time.It certainly made a difference to ournumbers and it highlighted the event,which was fantastic! Many thanksagain.” Chris Townsend, AshteadFriday Market, APMH.

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Infertility

QUALIFIED COUNSELLOR

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Ashtead PracticeTel: 01372 277802www.surreycounsellor.co.uk

Our salon is situated within Curves, 70A Kingston Road, Leatherhead, KT22 7BW (free parking)

www.cpeallingbeauty.co.uk | [email protected]: 07772 030334 | Holly: 07825 688090 Charlotte Pealling Beauty@CPeallingBeauty

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Health & Beauty

60

Clinics inFetcham &Uxbridge

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The Ashtead & Leatherhead Localis eagerly read and the perfectplace to ask for charity volunteers– we have always had anexcellent response - including acall half an hour after themagazine was delivered! VanessaSmith, Promotions Manager,The Brigitte Trust

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In the 1841 census this house in Agates Lane appears as Maryls and in 1861 as Merry Halls.Arguably one of the most pleasant looking houses in Ashtead, although much of its back land wassold in the 1970s for housing development and the old wall on the south corner had to be cut backfor an access road.

Beverley Nichols, the well-known prolific author and contributor for many years to the magazineWoman’s Own, bought the house in 1946 and stayed for some ten years. He was also a talentedmusician and composer and a close friend of many theatrical and literary figures of the day.

He wrote several books during his stay. One of these, Merry Hall was dedicated to A.E. Newby, hisgardener who is referred to in the book as ‘Oldfield’. This name is preserved in Oldfield Gardens.Many famous celebrities visited him at Merry Hall, but few local people were invited into thehouse. Exceptions were the Maples family who lived at Murreys Court opposite and Peter Yorke,the band leader who lived in Rookery Hill.

His main local interest was in the productions of the Ashtead Players of which he was a patronfrom 1954 to 1957. He wrote a most complimentary article in Woman’s Own about the 1954production of Ruddigore, recounting how the cast were invited to Merry Hall after the show, andsang and danced in the music room, repeating most of the opera.

When he moved away it was to find another house and write more autobiographical books.

He was born John Beverley Nichols: September 9, 1898, Bower Ashton, near Bristol and died:September 15, 1983, Kingston upon Thames

Goff Powell - Extracted from Ashtead A Village Transformed L&DLHS 1977 / History of AshteadL&DLHS 1995 with additions.

For information regarding Membership, Lectures and Museum opening hourscontact: Leatherhead & District Local History Society,

Leatherhead Museum, Hampton Cottage, 64 Church Street,Leatherhead, KT22 8DP

Tel: 01372 386348mail to: [email protected]: www.leatherheadlocalhistory.org.uk

Leatherhead & District Local History SocietyPotted Histories No 51

Beverley Nichols - Merry Hall

Beverley Nichols Merry Hall

63

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Health & Beauty

It’s hard to believe but this is the Tenth Anniversary Leatherhead Drama Festivaland this year runs from Bank Holiday Monday 6th May till the Gala Awards Night

on Saturday 18th May at the Leatherhead Theatre.

VARIED and EXCITING PROGRAMMEThe two weeks of drama will feature 9 Junior and 17 Adult plays. The programme which is very

varied, looks exciting and includes eight completely new plays. (Programmes available atLeatherhead Theatre or on the Festival website.) With two or three plays each evening you

are assured of a good night out, each and every night! Season Tickets are available, meaningyou can watch either week’s whole programme at a bargain price! Well worth considering.

The TROPHIESSir Michael Caine is Patron of the Festival, and the major Trophies awarded each year bear hisname. The Drama Groups, several of whom are new to the Festival this year, will be competing

in the Junior or Adult sections for the unique and prestigious “Sir Michael Caine DramaAwards” (including Best Play, Best Actor and Best Actress), the “Richard Houghton

Awards” for outstanding contribution, and special trophies for “New Writers”

ADJUDICATIONThe Festival is a competition and the plays will be performed in front of the audience and a

professional adjudicator Mike Kaiser (Member of the Guild of Drama Adjudicators). He returnsto Leatherhead again after an absence of nine years, and will assess each play and give his

verbal adjudication at the end of each evening. The Junior and Adult Winning plays will be re-performed at the Gala Awards Night on Saturday 18th May.

But do come along and judge the individual plays yourself !

DATES and TICKET INFORMATIONJunior Week – Monday 6th to Thursday 9th May at 7.00pm – £8 each.

Season Tickets (Junior Week, 4 nights) – £16.

Adult Week – Friday 10th and Monday 13th to Friday 17th May at 7.00pm – £10 each.Season Tickets (Senior Week, 6 nights) – £36.

Gala Awards Night - Saturday 18th May at 7.30pm – all tickets £15 each.

Details and Festival Photographs are available on our websitewww.leatherheaddramafestival.org

Programmes and Tickets are available from the Leatherhead Theatre Box Office.Tel 01372 365141 Theatre Website www.theleatherheadtheatre.org

An Event Not To Be Missed!

LDF-Ad_Layout 1 02/04/2013 11:18 Page 1

AT THE LEATHERHEAD THEATRE6th-18th May

JUNIOR & ADULTDRAMA GROUPSCOMPETING FORTHE

SIR MICHAEL CAINEDRAMA AWARDS

10thANNIVERSARY

Booking: www.theleatherheadtheatre.orgTel: 01372 365141

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68

WHAT’S ON IN MAY?

Thursday 2nd Surrey County Council Elections, polling stations open 7am-10pm.

Saturday 4th‘The King’s Speech’ open air cinema, Polesden Lacey from 6.30pm. Enjoy this Oscarwinning film in the glorious setting at Polesden. £12 per ticket (over 15s only) pleasebook in advance on 01372 414944

Sunday 5th &Sunday 19th

Charity Car Boot Sale in aid of Epsom Medical Equipment Fund, Epsom Hospital, DorkingRd, Epsom, KT18 7EG. 9am-12.30pm (sellers 8am). Sellers: cars £10, large cars/smallvans £12, trailers £3 extra, booking not required. Entry by donation. Email for info:[email protected]

Monday 6th

Teddy Bears’ Picnic, Abinger Sports Club, Felday Rd, Abinger Hammer, RH5 6QX. 12pm-4pm. Free entry, parking £1.50. Picnic by the stream in AH, stalls, barbeque, homemade teas, Pimms, teddy bear fancy dress classes, face painting, coconut shy, duckraces, pony rides. 01306 730411, Peaslake School

Monday 6th

May Day Music Festival 2013, Running Horse Public House, Bridge Street, Leatherhead, inaid of the Princess Alice Hospice. 2pm-8pm. Free entry. Live music, stalls, BBQ, prizedraw, family fun and more. Contact: Colin Turner, 01372 372081, email:[email protected]

Thursday 16thPolice Panel, St George’s Church, Barnett Wood Lane, Ashtead, 7pm. Useful opportunityfor residents to tell the Police what they think about crime in the area and to suggestpriorities for them to undertake over the following two months prior to next meeting.

Thursday 16th BBC’s Antiques Roadshow filming at Polesden Lacey, 9.30am-4.30pm. Free entry togrounds, but house will be closed.

Saturday 18thDorking Concertgoers, Dorking Halls, 7.30pm. Harp Duo Recital by Mélissa Kenny &Tamara Young. £15 call Dorking Concertgoers Box Office 01306 740619 or online atwww.dorkinghalls.co.uk. Students half price; children 16< accompanied by an adult free

Saturday 18thColdharbour Fete, Coldharbour Memorial Ground, Leith Hill, RH5 6HD. 2pm-5.30pm.Adults £2.50, children free. Fun dog show, Punch & Judy, tug o’war, Morris dancers,magic show, stalls, cakes, music of the 60s and much more. 01306 711846.

Saturday 25thLeatherhead Horticultural Society Plant Sale & Coffee Morning at 19 The Mount, FetchamKT22 9EB, 10am-12pm. Entrance £2 includes refreshments. Attractions include PlantSale, Cake Stall & Raffle.

Saturday 25thSt Martin’s Church, Dorking, 7.30pm. Surrey Philharmonic Orchestra; Beethoven -Egmont Overture; Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto; Schubert - Symphony No.4(Tragic). £13 from SPO Box Office 01372 276949, under 18s and Students £8

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 8thJUNE 30th Rotary Ashtead Village Day, see page 16.

Monday 27th Surrey County Show, Stoke Park, Guildford, GU1 1ER. 8am-6pm.

Thursday 2nd -Saturday 4th

Surrey Hills Music Festival, 2nd - 8pm - Denbies - ‘Baroque to Blues’; 3rd - 7.30pm - HolyTrinity Church, High St, Guildford - ‘Quatuor pour le fin de Temps’; 4th- 7.30pm - StTeresa’s School, Effingham - Gala Concert. www.surreyhillsmusicfestival.com

Monday 6th -Saturday 18th

10th Leatherhead Drama Festival, Leatherhead Theatre, see pages 66-67 or go towww.leatherheaddramafestival.org

If there’s an event in June that you’d like mentioned, please contact Zen (details p.6)before Sunday 12th May. All entries appear on a first come, first served basis.

Details correct at time of going to print.

69

What’s On?

‘Drop in’ daySaturday 27th April, 10am-4pm

Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, Woodfield Lane, Ashtead

Paper versions of the survey will be available. And we will be serving tea! On display will be lotsof information from the sub-groups, maps, examples of developments, and people from ACV onhand to answer questions and collect your views about the following:

• Housing• Green Belt Boundary review• Infrastructure, Environment & Transport• Business & Economy

Housing & Green Belt Boundary Review SurveyThe on-line survey went live at the beginning of April; we are getting a fantastic response withover 250 people completing the survey in the first week. We haven’t analysed the results yet butone of the demographics shows that we are not reaching enough younger people. Anyone living inyour home can take part as the survey is not limited to one per household. If there is anyone overthe age of 18 living at your home please encourage them to do the survey. We need a response ofa minimum of 500 to have a fair representation of Ashtead’s population and are hoping for farmore. If you haven’t done the survey yet please go to the website and sign up for the Newsletterand link to survey. The survey runs to 5th May 2013.

www.ashteadcommunityvision.org.uk

Contact: Andy Ellis 07530 373975 email: [email protected] us on Facebook Ashtead Community Vision, and Twitter @AshteadCV

70

WHAT’S ON IN MAY? - REGULAR EVENTS

Wed 1st(weekly)

Rotary Club of Leatherhead, Police Federation Headquarters, Highbury Drive,Leatherhead. 7pm-9pm. Further information from Simon Edmands on 07753 821964.

Wed 1st(monthly)

Ashtead Flower Arrangement Group, demonstration by Angie Hyde ‘The Planets’,Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall. 1.45pm-4.30pm. All welcome. Di Stirling 01372 279501.

Wed 1st(monthly)

Ashtead WI, AGM, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 7.15pm for 7.30pm, speaker MrsRosemary Stark, ‘Memories of New Zealand’. Info from Sandra Brown 01372 276736

Friday 3rd(weekly)

Morning coffee and scones served in the Ralli Room, Ashtead Peace MemorialHall. Prepared and served by volunteers to raise money to help run the Hall.

Thurs 2nd(weekly)

Sequence dancing, Leatherhead Parish Church Hall, Church Rd. 7.45pm-10.15pm. £3.More info from Mrs Gibson, 01372 374160

Thurs 2nd(weekly)

GO50 L/d Health Walk. 10.15am for 10.30am. L/head Leisure Centre, KT22 9BL. 1½hours/2-3 miles. Richard Jeffries, 01483 534706, [email protected]

Thurs 2nd(weekly)

Rotary Club of Ashtead meet at Tyrrells Wood Golf Course, 7.30pm for 8.00pm fordinner. Visitors welcome. Contact Brian on 01372 275860

Thurs 2nd(monthly)

Leatherhead Barn Dance Club. 8pm-10.15pm 1st Thurs of month. Abraham Dixon Hall,Letherhead Institute, £2.50. Ruth & Jim Gwilliam. 01403 750844

Friday 3rd(monthly)

Soup Lunch held in St. Michael's Church Hall, the Marld, 12pm-2pm. Homemade soup,bread and pudding with tea/coffee for £5. In aid of Save The Children and CAtholic Fundfor Overseas Development. Enjoy a good meal and raise funds for two charities.

Friday 3rd(weekly)

10am-12pm The Sewing Shop, Leatherhead Parish Church Hall. For all you Great BritishSewing Bee enthusiasts - all your haberdashery needs from pins to pinking shears. Can'tmake Fridays? 'Phone on 374914 with your requests. Expert advice available.

Friday 3rd(weekly)

10.30am-11.30am Leatherhead Community Market, Leatherhead Parish Church Hall,Church Rd. Cakes, plants, meat, pies, eggs and crafts together with coffee or tea. Beearly or miss out! New producers welcome.

Friday 3rd &Wed 8th

Early 20th Century English Avant Garde. An exploration of work by British artists whowere more interested in the human condition. This will provide a background for thosegoing to the L S Lowry June retrospective at Tate Britain. £10 inc refreshments: 01372272235: www.ashteadartlovers.co.uk

Sat 4thThurs 9thSat 18thTues 21stSat 25th

May walks around the beautiful Mole Valley, with Ian & Flip Cargill 01372 383468 /07766 166794 , www.livewellnaturally.co.uk, Phone before if inclement weather.Donation to charities, car share suggested, Saturdays 1½-2 hours, 4-5 miles, evenings1½ hours, 3½ miles

Saturday 4th 10am Friday St CP Hollow Lane, off Friday St RdThursday 9th 7pm Headley Heath, NT CP nr cricket groundSaturday 18th 10am Box Hill NT CP, meet outside shopTuesday 21st 7pm Wisley Lane (off A3) first CP on rightSaturday 25th 10am White Down Lane CP, off A25 west of Wotton

Sunday 5th(weekly)

Leatherhead Parish Church welcomes everyone to our services. 10.30am ParishCommunion with Children's Church, followed by refreshments.

Tuesday 7th Ashtead Evening Townswomen’s Guild, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 7.30pm, speakerfrom Surrey Wildlife, visitors welcome £2. Contact Margery Curtis 01372 272588

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REGULAR EVENTS Continued

Wed 8th(2nd Wed mthly)

Tylney Luncheon Club, Leatherhead Leisure Centre, 12.30pm. Different speaker eachmonth, visitors always welcome. More info from Pat Date 01372 454879

Thurs 9th(monthly)

Transition Ashtead Meeting, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 7.30-9pm, Keith Taylor (GreenParty MEP) will be talking about air pollution. www.transitionashtead.org.uk

Friday 10thAshtead Friday Market, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 9am-12pm, free entry. Lots ofstalls, cakes, jewellery, plants, collectables, bric-a-brac and much more, supporting theRNLI

Thurs 16th(3rd Thursmthly)

‘Stepping Stones’ Club, meets at Ashtead Baptist Church, Barnett Wood Lane at 2.15pm.Varied programme of events, (inc painting, craft, quizzes, film), refreshments inc. £2,all over 55’s very welcome. Contact Brian Chandler 01372 275206.

Thurs 16th(3rd Thursmonthly)

Third Thursday of each month. Leatherhead & District Friends Group, Leatherhead RoyalBritish Legion, 2pm-4pm. If you are over 50 and would like to join us you would be mademost welcome. For more info, please contact Jane on 01372 811422.

Friday 17thLeatherhead & District Local History Society lecture ‘The Dorking Museum Project’ byKathy Atherton, Letherhead Institute (top of the High Street) coffee 7.30pm lecture8.00pm. All are welcome

Friday 24th& Wed 29th

NHS Blood Donor Sessions, Friday 24th at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall and Wednesday29th at St Mary & St Nicholas Church, Church Rd, Leatherhead, 1.30pm-4pm and 5pm-7.30pm (timings are the same at both venues).

What’s On?

Epsom, Ewell & Districtbranch is 25 years old!

Come & help us celebrate over two decadesof saving & rehoming cats & kittens by

getting back to the 80’s

Sunday 26th May 2.30pm–5pm

Raffles & best dressed prizesShoulder pads & big hair positively

encouraged!

All members & volunteers welcome!

Venue: Mountview, Tattenham Crescent,Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5NU

RSVP [email protected]: 01737 359369

72

At Surrey Hills Onward Learning, (aprovider of adult education classes)we are delighted to have theopportunity to appear in theAshtead and Leatherhead Local.

The ‘A & L Local’ is well presented,accessible and has a widereadership, so ideal for gettingone’s brand known.

Every time we include anadvertisement we get severalenquiries which result inenrolments.

We are sure that the Ashtead andLeatherhead Local has contributedsignificantly to the rise of ourstudent numbers by some 15%during the last year. Jill Harris,Principal

What’s On?

Win one of 5 family tickets to the Surrey County Show27th May 2013

Monster trucks will do battle in the grand arena at Stoke Park, when Surrey County Showbrings together spectacular entertainment, farm livestock, horses, donkeys, ducks andmore, for an amazing family day out in the heart of Guildford.

The event showcases the quality of British farming. Come and see at close quarters the verybest examples of our native breeds and Continental cousins. Learn to milk a cow and cast afly. Enjoy a bit of rural nostalgia with the Back to Grass Roots Farming Display, listen to themusic of the Royal Logistic Corps Band, The Casablanca Steps and Godalming Youth Band.

Gates open to the public at 8am. Tickets with big discounts are available on line atwww.surreycountyshow.co.uk. Adults £12.50 (£16 on Show Day); Seniors £9.50 (£12);Children aged 5-16 £5.50 (£6) and families £32.50 (two adults, two children aged 5-16) (£38on Show Day).

To win one of five family tickets, please answer the following question:

‘At what time do the gates open to the public at theSurrey County Show on Monday 27th May?’

Send your answer, along with full name and postal address to:[email protected] by 12pm on Thursday 16th May. The winningtickets will be sent via first class post on the same day. Please note that thewinner’s details will be passed to the organisers of the Surrey County Show for futurepromotions

An Evening with the Stars fromStrictly Come Dancing

Dorking Halls - Friday 17 May, 8pm

Pasha Kovalev and Katya Virshilas (pic above),stars of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, arebringing their sensational live show toDorking. They and their talented dancers willperform stunning routines, accompanied by afull audio-visual backdrop, a Q & A session andan appearance by a local dance school.

All that, and a chance for audienceparticipation!

Tickets cost £18 and £20 from 01306 881717or visit www.dorkinghalls.co.uk.

73

What’s On?

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To make a booking, please contact the boxoffice on 01372 365 141

or go towww.theleatherheadtheatre.org

What’s On?

Leatherhead Operatic Society Presents Beauty and The BeastWed 1st May, 7:30pm, Thurs 2nd, 4pm & 8pm, Fri 3rd 7:30pm, Sat 4th 2:30pm &7:30pm£18 Concessions, £15. Child, £10. Please note Concessions are unavailable onthe Friday and Saturday evening performances.

Leatherhead Operatic Society return after their successful performances of TheSound Of Music and Oliver in 2012 with the magical stage musical of Beauty andThe Beast, based on the award winning Disney animated musical film of 1991.

The fairy tale characters come alive before your eyes as the prince, transformedby an enchantress into an ugly beast, falls in love with Belle, the village beauty.His servants, now household items, work hard to ensure romance blossoms. But ittakes more than this to break the magic spell.

The Leatherhead Drama Festival – Tenth Year AnniversaryJunior Week Monday 6th-Thursday 9th

Adult Week Friday 10th Monday 13th –Friday 17th

Gala Night Saturday 18th

Junior Week £8; Adult Week £10; Gala Awards Night £15Season Tickets available please speak to our Box Office.

Tickets for the festival are on sale now with season tickets available for both thejunior and adult week. A full list of participating drama groups, including The Leatherhead Theatre’sPerforming Arts Class, can be found on the drama festival website: www.leatherheaddramafestival.org.Once again live music on the Mezz Bar will entertain patrons during the intervals, local groups includingThe Howard of Effingham School will be performing and The Sir Michael Caine Awards will presented atthe end of festival on the Gala Awards Night. The festival now needs its audience, tickets available fromThe Theatre’s Box Office, contact details top.

Elizabeth to ElizabethThursday 23rd May, 7:30pm in the Mezz Bar, £10. Friends £8.

A celebration of 450 years of English history and music. Trio 'In Voice and Verse'celebrate the humorous highs and serious lows of English history from the firstElizabeth to the second.

Actor Lance Pierson, soprano Belinda Yates and pianist Heather Chamberlainpresent readings and music from across the centuries including pieces by Handel,Beethoven and Britton. As well as poems by Shakespeare, Milton and Betjeman.Lance has performed at The Theatre many times over the years. Belinda is amember of the Monteverdi Choir and Heather is an accomplished pianist andteacher.

Digital cinemaWe are pleased to announce The Leatherhead Theatre will be switching over to digital projection duringMay. This means we will be able to screen live performances from The Royal Opera House as well asupcoming films such as The Great Gatsby (directed by Baz Luhrman), The Big Wedding, Promised Landand Much Ado About Nothing. Details will feature on the website late May.

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Annual Gardens ofBookham Open Day

Sunday 16th June 10.30am-5pm

This is a great opportunity to pick upgardening ideas in a friendly and relaxedatmosphere. 15 private gardens, 2schools, Grange Centre and allotmentswill be open. Tickets (available from16th May onwards): £5 in advance or £6on the day, from the Old Barn Hall,Bookham, KT23 3PQ and other localoutlets.

Proceeds go towards the upkeep of theOld Barn Hall where there will berefreshments on the day. Minibustransport available around the gardenroute.

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Across1. Uncertain it's a new way to view

gran (8)5. Debags twisted emblems (6)9. Monk that puritans could turn to (8)10. An illusion from the rage I'm in (6)12. Presents made from sad war (6)13. Colour which comes from a red navel

(8)15. Country a marine might come from

(7)16. The sort of runt to change (4)20. Host spun round and fired (4)21. Material made by joining two beasts

(7)25. Entreat a deformed animal (8)26. Pile ma arranged to pierce (6)28. Ladies turned and went by boat (6)29. Noble American leader of the past

(8)30. Do go on, it's somehow wrong! (2-4)31. Prepared chard one secured (8)

Down1. Fight witnessed in Poland (6)2. A Slav's manipulated slave (6)3. Ruder son might play this game (8)4. A boy who's out of line? (4)6. Got up out of a siren (6)7. Urged and ran into splendour (8)8. Hangers I rearranged for clipping (8)11. Pick any and become alarmed (7)14. Judge employed, then rejected (7)17. Killer of a couple of donkeys at home

(8)18. Alight on, creating hate (8)19. Malign and harmful speaker (8)22. Dame OK to come to terms with (4,2)23. Skilled artist from a tortuous stream

(6)24. Hired out and sealed in a way (6)27. Dash occupied by one wreck (4)

Cryptic Crossword

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House & Garden

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A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined hisflashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice inthe dark said, 'Jesus knows you're here.'

He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlightoff, and froze. When he heard nothing more, heshook his head and continued.

Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnectthe wires, clear as a bell he heard 'Jesus is watchingyou.'

Startled, he shined his light around frantically, lookingfor the source of the voice. Finally, in the corner of theroom, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

'Did you say that?' he hissed at the parrot.

'Yes', the parrot confessed, then squawked, 'I'm justtrying to warn you that he's watching you.'

The burglar relaxed. 'Warn me, huh? Who in theworld are you?'

'Moses,' replied the bird.

'Moses?' the burglar laughed. 'What kind of peoplewould name a bird Moses?'

'The kind of people who would name a RottweilerJesus.'

81

House & Garden

82

House & Garden

Across1. Group of countries

in special alliance(4)

4. US city famous forentertainment andgambling (3,5)

8. Clouding of the lensof the eye (8)

9. Child of Adam andEve (4)

10. Country calledCymru in its ownlanguage (5)

11. City and port insouth-westernEngland (7)

13. Former monetaryunit of Portugal (6)

15. Fisherman (6)17. Preserved in vinegar

(7)19. Ring-shaped bread

roll (5)22. Skewer for holding

meat over a fire (4)23. One of Jesus'

followers (8)24. City in northern

Pakistan at theeastern end of theKhyber Pass (8)

25. Strong sweepingcut made with asharp instrument(4)

Down2. South American

cud-chewinganimal (5)

3. French castle (7)4. Metallic element,

symbol Pb (4)5. Division of the

weekend (8)6. Chris ___, ex-

husband of BilliePiper (5)

7. Plant also known asthe windflower (7)

12. Variety of melon (8)14. Apply (paint) in

small touches (7)16. Reducing to shreds

General Knowledge Crossword

by rubbing againsta perforatedsurface (7)

18. Sailing vessel withtwo masts (5)

20. ___ Island, NewYork Bay area,formerly the

principalimmigrationstation (5)

21. Russian emperor(4)

Solution in next month’s edition

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Dream Doors Kingston A5_Directory 16/04/2012 11:46 Page 1

84

Garden Hide and SeekBy Pippa Greenwood

However much effort you make with yourgarden, you can be sure that there will stillbe a few things that look awful. You mayhave made (or hope to make) beautifulborders, sensational shrubbery and lotsmore besides, but how do you cope withthose things you just cannot seem to hide?

A washing line may be essential but rarelyadds to the appeal of the garden. If yoursconsists of two large poles with a line inbetween, try growing a pretty climber upthe poles. If you use a self-clinging plantsuch as variegated ivy it won’t need anyadditional support. Alternatively make achicken wire, trellis ‘box’ or frame aroundthe posts and then allow the climber toscramble up, using plant ties if necessary.Summer flowering clematis or sweet peawill look great too. If you do use a morevigorous climber then be prepared to dosome intermittent pruning.

Decrepit sheds or moth-eaten garages canbe a real eyesore. Sometimes a thoroughscrub of the walls will do the trick, or whynot make a feature out of the shed orgarage and re-paint it. Consider erecting atrellis on one or more of the verticalsurfaces and grow a selection of favouriteclimbers up it to make an even moreattractive feature. If the garden can be alittle gloomy then it helps if you paint anysurfaces such as garage or shed walls with apaler colour.

If your heating is fuelled by gas from anunattractive and enormous cylinder or oilfrom a large green tank, you will know thatthey have to be sited in an accessibleposition. You can use hazel wattle hurdlesto hide them which are perfect as they alsomatch with the adjacent boundary fence.Try using standard fence panels in the sameway and again planting them with climbersor scramblers will help. Whatever you do,make sure that you check on it from time totime and remove excessive climber growth

so that the tank remains accessible.Is it the neighbouring garden that harboursthe eye sore which makes you want toretreat back into your house? Somethingnasty next door is of course even harder toconceal but why not add a layer of trellis tothe top of your existing fence and then useclimbers once it is in position. Hold thetrellis in position using batons of woodattached to the existing fence posts orspecial post-joining metal sleeves that youcan buy from your fencing supplier orgarden centre. Trellis is available in a rangeof shapes and need not be straight edged soyou can create a range of different looks tosuit your gardening style.

Another option is to erect a pergola or archto obscure or break up an unsightly view orthe eyesore in the neighbour’s garden andadding plants will help to add a bit moreheight and soften the outline. If youcombine some of your favourite floweringclimbers with some evergreen planting too,you should even achieve good effects duringthe seasons when the leaves have fallenfrom many plants.

Visit Pippa’s websitewww.pippagreenwood.com and sign up forPippa’s free newsletter packed full ofgardening hints, happenings, advice andoffers and you will also receive a free ebookon organic gardening. Don’t forget that youcan buy Nemaslug and other biologicalcontrols, anti-slug matting and tape,Enviromesh and signed books, autumnvegetable packs and a hand-picked selection

85

House & Garden

86

Mole Valley Police Column

Although the chancesof becoming a victimof vehicle crimeremain relatively low,Surrey Policerecommends that youfollow these simplecrime prevention tipsto help keep yourvehicle and yourproperty as safe aspossible.

Never leave anypersonal possessions in your car. Thieveswill steal satellite navigation systems,laptops, mobile phones – in fact anythingthat is left in a vehicle when it isunattended. Even less obvious items, suchas loose change and even cigarettes appealto the criminal, as they indicate that thevehicle owner leaves items that may be ofgreater value in their car.

Please don’t hide valuables in your boot orunder your seat - the thief will know whereto look! This tends to happen quite oftenwhen we receive reports of cars beingbroken into in beauty spot car parks. Beforeheading off for a walk, people place itemsin the boot or under the passenger seat,often in full view of other people at thelocation.

Also, don’t store driving or vehicledocuments in your car. Keep them safely athome. Always lock your car when you leaveit unattended, even if it is just for amoment or two. Make sure the sunroof andwindows are closed too

If your car doesn’t have an alarm considerhaving one fitted.

Keep your car keys secure at all times. If athome - never leave them within reach of awindow, door or letterbox. It is possible tobuy simple “fishing” devices from theinternet, which can be used via theletterbox to take keys that are hanging up.When out and about - never leave keysunattended in a public place, such as arestaurant or gym.

If you keep tools or equipment in yourvehicle always consider removing themovernight wherever possible.

The other type of vehicle crime that isbecoming more prevalent is the theft ofnumber plates. We have had theftsreported even when vehicles have beenparked on home driveways. What thenhappens is that the plates are used onanother vehicle which is involved in crime.At the “lowest level” the plates will be usedwhen a vehicle is filled with fuel and thedriver makes off without paying.

Some number plates are just stuck on and itis really worth considering attaching themmore securely with screw fittings. You canpurchase “tamper proof” screws quitecheaply but, whilst stocks last, you canobtain some free by calling in to the PoliceFront Counter at Pippbrook, in Dorking.

Please remain vigilant and if you seesomeone acting suspiciously, such as lookinginto unattended cars or trying door handles,then call Surrey Police on 101.

If you witness a crime actually occurringthen always ring 999.

Neil Clarke, 13363Neighbourhood Team Co-ordinator -Mole ValleyPO Box 101, Guildford, GU1 9PE

[email protected]: 101 Extension 30809

Call independent charity Crimestoppers on0800 555 111 if you have information abouta crime and don't want to leave your name.

Your local team can also be contacted byemail to [email protected]

www.surrey.police.uk

Please use the 101 number when reportingany non-emergency matters to us bytelephone. 01483 571212 can still be used ifpreferred but in an emergency always dial999.

87

House & Garden

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88

Bringing in the May

One of the best indications that summer isabout to arrive is when Britain’s hedgerowsexplode with the pink and white blossoms ofthe hawthorn.

The hawthorn is one of those quintessentiallyEnglish trees: although quietly unobtrusive formost of the year, it bursts into spectacular lifein the late spring, with flowers crowded sodensely together they look like snowfall. In theautumn it glows with clusters of red berries.

No wonder the tree features so strongly inancient folklore. The old name for hawthornwas “may” and the flower of the may tree haslong been considered a symbol of hope. It evengave its name to The Mayflower, the famousship that sailed from England in 1620,transporting a stalwart band of pilgrims tobuild a new life in America.

As its alternative name suggests, hawthorn wascentral to ancient May Day celebrations.The old Celtic festival of May Day was known as‘Beltane’ after the Celtic god of light, or thesun. The beginning of summer was alsocelebrated in Ancient Rome at the Floraliafestival (dedicated to the flower goddessFlora), which took place at roughly the sametime. May Day celebrations in Britain wereprobably a hybrid of both traditions mixed upwith Druidic tree worship, and the introductionof Christianity did little to dispel these pagantraditions.

On the first day of May, villagers would wakeat daybreak and roam through the countryside,gathering flowers and hawthorn twigs todecorate their houses. A maypole – usually thetrunk of a birch tree, stripped of its branchesand decorated with ribbons and flowers - wasset up in the middle of the village green.

In olden times maypoles were constructed withthree rings on the top - the highest andsmallest was made of hawthorn. Thecommunity danced around the pole, singingtraditional songs, while the men of the villageperformed Morris dances and the prettiest girl,dressed in floral garlands, was crowned Queenof the May.

Occasionally a May King was also chosen, andthe pair ruled over the festivities. InElizabethan times, the king and queen weregiven the names ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘MaidMarian’.

These celebrations were derived from ancientfertility rituals and the ‘greenwood marriages’that took place provide clear evidence of this.Often young girls came home from theircountry rambles with more than a garland offlowers. As one observer wrote: “I have heardeof tenne maidens whiche went to set May, andnine of them came home with childe.”

May Day festivities reached their height inEngland during the Middle Ages but in 1644 thePuritans passed a law which made them illegal.This attempt to repress the celebrationseventually failed, mainly because they weretoo deeply rooted in rural culture. When themonarchy was restored some years later andCharles II came to the throne, people all overthe country put up maypoles as a sign ofloyalty to the crown.

For the next two hundred years the oldcustoms continued, but interest in May Daytraditions began to fade. They enjoyed a briefrevival in the Victorian era but any connectionto fertility rites was deliberately overlookedand maypole dancing was reduced to aninnocent children’s game.

Sadly by this time the hawthorn – once theembodiment of hope for the coming summer –had also lost its significance, becoming justanother tree in the British landscape.

By Kate McLelland

89

House & Garden

M D Edwards & SonKitchen Specialists

M D Edwards & SonCressida House, 10 Humphrey Close, Fetcham, Surrey KT22 9PZ

web: www.mdedwardsandson.co.uk e: [email protected]

Tel: 01372 450677

Friendly Family run local business established over 25 years.Kitchens supplied and installed to a very high standard.

Excellent Portfolio and local references.We also have a complete team of qualified tradesmen:Builder, Plasterer, Electrician, Heating Engineer,

Tiling and Flooring SpecialistsFully Insured for your peace of mind

Project managed by us from design to completionKitchen facelifts also undertaken,

Choose from large range of bespoke door styles,Granite, Engineered Stone, Corian, laminate and wood worktops,

sinks, taps and integrated appliances.We also undertake remedial jobs - new hinges, drawer runners, etc.

Telephone Beverley Edwards for a free estimate

90

Transition AshteadWorking towards a sustainable Ashtead

Air pollution: the invisible killerThousands of lives are being shortened because the UK’sair is heavily polluted, with traffic being the majorcause. In most of SE England air pollution is above EUsafe limits - it causes nearly 30,000 deaths in the UKannually and contributes to 200,000 others. Averagelife expectancy in the most polluted cities is reducedby over two years.

The Main PollutantsParticulate matter (PM) refers to small particles -PM10s are those up to 10 microns (μm) in diameter,and the more danger-ous PM2.5s up to 2.5μm. Theypenetrate our lungs and are transported into the blood,increasing the risk of developing respiratory and heart

diseases. The World Health Organisation has recentlyclassified diesel exhaust particles as carcinogenic.

Nitrogen dioxide (also called nox) is a corrosive and acidic irritantformed as a by-product of combustion in vehicles and heatingsystems. Nox attacks our mucous membranes, causing diseases suchas chronic bronchitis and asthma and exacerbating heart diseases.It is also very harmful to the natural world.

Ozone is formed when vehicle exhausts react with the air. It causesinflammation of the respiratory system, asthma, restricts the functioning of the lungs and affectsphysical performance.

Air Quality Action PlansLocal authorities (LAs) in the UK are legally required to review and assess air quality in their area. Ifany EU standards are being exceeded, then that area should be designated an “Air Quality ManagementArea”. The LA must then draw up and implement an Air Quality Action Plan. LAs are not required toensure the standards are met, as some sources of pollution are outside their control, but they do needto ‘work towards’ the standards. Most of the Home Counties are in this position, including Epsom &Ewell, but Mole Valley is officially OK.

Air Pollution LocallyMole Valley DC monitors pollution levels at one site in Dorking, where all the official targets last yearwere met. Meanwhile, in 2010 in Epsom, the EU target for PM10s was being met, while nox, though justOK across most of the town centre, was excessive in Epsom High Street.

So what can we do to reduce air pollution?Individual action can make a big difference:− Reduce emissions from your home. A highly insulated home is a low emission home. Burning solid

fuels such as wood produces much more pollution than burning natural gas.− Drive less: fewer miles means less pollution; opt for a low emissions car – petrol cars have lower

polluting emissions than diesel cars - and hybrid or electric cars are even better.− When buying a car, consider the potential pollution issues - check which ‘Euro’ emission standard

it meets - the higher the better!

Tony Cooper

At our monthly meeting on Thursday 9th May, Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, 7.30-9pm,Keith Taylor (Green Party MEP) will be talking about air pollution.

For more information about Transition Ashtead and about air pollution, or to join any ofour Action Groups, visit www.TransitionAshtead.org.uk , contact our Secretary Caroline on07768 806201 or email [email protected]

91

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Ashtead Park Garden Centre, Pleasure Pit Road, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 1HU

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2nd & 10th May

Spring has finally Sprung! The new shop is packed fullof gorgeous gifts, BBQs, furniture & accessories and all

your usual general gardening goods.We now just need the sun to keep shining!

For those of you looking for something to fill those not sobright days, why not book onto one of our HangingBasket Workshops (held under cover). £25 per personincludes your basket, plants & compost, tuition and

even a cuppa & cake at the end of it!

We are holding one day courses in Photography for theHome and Garden; fun packed 2 hour iphone

Photography Workshops and a Wine Tasting eveningfor our loyalty customers on May 2nd.

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PhotographyWorkshops—17th May,3rd & 18th June

92

Ashtead HandymanNo Job Too Small

Free Estimates, Fully InsuredDecorating, Gardening,General Maintenance

Contact Steve Jenkins07734 005741/01372 [email protected]

Quiz - Colours1. Glasgow2. Konnie Huq3. Mary4. Tom Clancy5. The Scottish National Party6. Emerald City7. White (for balls numbered one to nine)8. Paris (the yellow was deemed to be too tacky)9. Magenta10. The diary room chair on Big Brother

Quiz - Phobias

1. Elurophobia - Cats2. Odontophobia - Dentists3. Nyctophobia - Darkness4. Aphenphosmphobia - Being touched5. Claustrophobia - Confined spaces6. Hemophobia - Blood7. Gymnophobia - Nudity8. Heliophobia - Sunlight9. Coulrophobia - Clowns10. Scopophobia - Being stared at

Simple Crossword solutionAcross: 1 Select, 4 Curves, 9 Fashion,10 Solve, 11 Scrub, 12 Extract,13 Quarrelling, 18 Altered, 20 Wheel,22 Tried, 23 Nursery, 24 Region,5 Editor.

Down: 1 Safest, 2 Loser, 3 Climber,5 Upset, 6 Villain, 7 Sheets,8 Independent, 14 Untying, 15 Lowered,16 Barter, 17 Player, 19 Radio, 21 Eject.

Across: 1 Pickles, 5 Nostril, 9 Semibreve,10 Totem, 11 Entrap, 12 Algerian,14 Low-down, 15 Herd, 19 Loam,20 Migrant, 24 Slovenia, 25 Donate,27 Abide, 28 Therefore, 29 Rustler,30 Rotated.

Down: 1 Pasted, 2 Comets, 3 Labrador,4 Shed, 5 Needlework, 6 Settee,7 Retained, 8 Lemonade, 13 Administer,16 Alistair, 17 Calories, 18 Insolent,21 Reveal, 22 Ragout, 23 Legend, 26 Weir

Across: 1 Parish, 4 Warhol, 9 Rabbi,10 Organza, 11 Nucleus, 12 Erupt,13 Pandora's box, 18 Arson, 20 Derrick,22 Saucers, 23 Shawm, 24 Sphinx,25 Indigo.

Down: 1 Parent, 2 Rebecca, 3 Seine,5 Anglers, 6 Hindu, 7 Lean-to,8 Horseradish, 14 Dungeon, 15 Origami,16 Cassis, 17 Akimbo, 19 South, 21 Resin.

April’s Crossword solutions

93

House & Garden

We are an Ashtead based loft conversion company who offer a full range ofservices to work with your requirements and budget. With all loft conversions weoffer:

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Other services include:• Roof window replacement and installation• Loft ladders• Part build loft conversions

Please contact us for a free quotation

T 01372 276328 W simplyroofwindows.co.uk E [email protected]

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Tel/fax. 01372 200583, Mobile 0777 444 1991 Tel/fax. 01372 200583, Mobile 0777 444 1991

94

USEFUL NUMBERSAshtead Art Group01372 272987 (Jan Cheeseman - Mem Sec)Ashtead Bowling Club01372 274690 (Jenny Williams)Ashtead Chess Club01372 813487 (Richard Jones)Ashtead Choral Society01372 272835 / 278359Ashtead Cricket Club01372 276286 (Sarah Culhane)Ashtead Day Centre Over 60s Lunch Club01372 276042Ashtead Decorative & Fine Arts Society01372 813994 (Membership Secretary)Ashtead Flower Arrangement Group01372 279501 (Di Stirling)Ashtead Friendship Centre01372 274288 (Don Butt)Ashtead Good Neighbours01372 277350 (Marian Guess)Ashtead Horticultural Society01372 274708 (Sue Jones)Ashtead Library0300 200 1001Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall01372 272921Ashtead Players/Young Players01372 279614Ashtead Residents’ Association07733 621614 (Jim Malynn)Ashtead Squash & Tennis Club01372 272215Ashtead Townswomen’s Guild01372 272588 (Margery Curtis)Ashtead Women’s Institute01372 276736 (Sandra Brown)Childline0800 1111Citizens Advice Bureau08444 111444Cruse Bereavement Care020 8393 7238Electricity (EDF)0800 783 8866Epsom General Hospital01372 735735Fetcham Residents’ Association01372 372006 (Paul Fairweather)Fetcham Singers (ladies choir)01372 276736 (Sandra Brown)Gas (Transco)0800 111999(minicom/textphone for deaf/hard of hearing0800 371787)Leatherhead Choral Society01372 277742 (Vivien Redman)Leatherhead & District Angling Society01372 377654

Leatherhead Helpshop01372 363385Leatherhead Community Association01372 360508Leatherhead Horticultural Society01372 373493 (David Wells)Leatherhead Leisure Centre01372 377674Leatherhead Library0300 200 1001Leatherhead Lions Club020 8224 5356 (David Careswell)Leatherhead Museum01372 386348Leatherhead Orchestra01372 376871 (Membership Secretary)Leatherhead Police Station0845 1252222Leatherhead Residents’ Association07986 430935Mid Surrey Community Mediation07513 524241Mole Valley Carers Support01306 640020Mole Valley District Council01306 885001Probus Club of Ashtead01372 276742 (Brian Light)Probus Club of Leatherhead01372 450930 (Andrew Crawford)Rotary Club of Ashtead01372 727573 (Keith Allardyce)Rotary Club of Leatherhead07753 821964 (Simon Edmands)Royal Association for the Deaf01306 881958Royal British LegionLeatherhead/Fetcham Branch01372 811422Ashtead Branch 01372 817492

Samaritans01372 375555Shopmobility Leatherhead01372 362400St Helier HospitalMain switchboard 020 8296 2000Surrey County Council08456 009009Surrey Trading Standards01372 371717Volunteer Centre Leatherhead01372 740394 (based at L/head library weekly)Water (Sutton & E Surrey Water)Emergencies/general 01737 772000Wildlife Aid09061 800132 (24 hr helpline)

Call David for your complete garden serviceand receive a free no obligation quote.


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Qualified Tree SurgeonsWe are fully insuredand approved bySurrey Trading Standards

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Large selection of new and secondhand machines

Part exchange service offeredComprehensive hire fleet

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