GODSTONE & SOUTH GODSTONE April 2023 50p MAGAZINE Magazine available by annual subscription (email [email protected]) and from Godstone News and The Emporium, High Street, Godstone.
Welcome to the April issue of the Godstone & South Godstone Magazine We would like to thank you for your continued support of the Magazine through annual subscription. As mentioned last month, after 10 (probably closer to 15!) years, we are having to raise the price of the Magazine Annual Subscription from £5 to £10. This is to meet the rising costs of producing what we hope you will agree is the BEST local Magazine around! To ensure you continue to receive the Magazine in the coming year, our team of wonderful volunteer distributors will be knocking on your door in April to collect the annual subscription. If you could have it ready and waiting, the volunteers would very much appreciate it. One change we have been able to make this year is the inclusion of COLOUR into the Magazine. We hope this will enhance your enjoyment of reading about local events, activities, important information and news relating to both villages. Thank you and best wishes The Magazine Committee List of Advertisers: Alex Jones Funeral Directors Allenby Coach Hire Cameron Building & Landscape Services Campton Insurance Brokers (UK) Ltd Lions – Caterham, Oxted and Godstone Chalmers Electrical Services Chevington Clinic Classique Curtains & Dressmaking Corozon Business Concierge Crown Vet Clinic D F Jackson Painting & Decorating Days Garage Dormouse Creations – Wool on Wheels Downland Pest Control Flower Farm Farmshop Flowers for Florists Fox & Hounds Country Pub & Dining Godstone Dance Academy Godstone Farm Day Nursery & Pre-school Home Heating Services Ltd India Village Takeaway Knights Garden Centre Kohler Home Improvements Ltd Lawrences Auctioneers Ltd Mark Cottingham Landscapes Ltd MR Computing Ltd N Blyth Plumbing & Heating Nick Geard Furniture Norman Proctor Painter & Decorator Nuex Sealed Units Ltd PAC Handyman Services R. C. Larkin Blacksmiths Rayners Town & Country St Stephen's School Nursery Suzanne Otto Counsellor Taxi Service – Phillip Clarke Titsey Place Top Notch Electrical White Hart Barn (Godstone Village Hall) Hire White House Dental & Implant Centre Windmill Garage Woodlands Joinery The Magazine is not responsible for the accuracy of any advertising material or the usefulness of an advertised product or service. The appearance of an advertisement in this Magazine is not an endorsement of an advertiser’s goods or services.
WHAT’S ON AT A GLANCE WHB = White Hart Barn, Godstone; YC = Youth Centre, Godstone; SSC = St Stephen’s Church; SNC = St Nicholas’ Church; SJC = St John’s Church; SGSCP = South Godstone Sports Club Pavilion Date Event APRIL Time Page Sat 1 Café Connect, YC 10.30am to 12.30pm 21 Sun 2 Community Presentation Day, WHB 11.30am onwards 4 Mon 3 Parish Council Meeting 4 Tue 4 South Godstone Crafters, SSC 2pm 17 Wed 5 Godstone Gardeners’: Lawn Mowers, WHB 7.30pm 22 Thur 6 British Horological Institute mtg, WHB 7.30pm 18 Mon 10 Easter Egg Hunt, Godstone 3pm 9 Wed 12 RSPB talk: Birds of Moor and Mountain, WHB 8pm 18 Sat 15 COPY DEADLINE for the MAY Magazine 2 Sat 15 O&L Music Society Solem Quartet Performance 7.30pm 30 Sun 16 RSPB All-day Field Trip: RSPB Pulborough Brooks 8AM 18 Wed 26 Arts Society Limpsfield: The Art of Trickery 2pm & 7.15pm 31 Fri 28 RSPB Half-day Field Trip: Knepp Estate, Sussex 8.30am 18 2 nd & 4th Tuesdays – CAMEO Club, WHB 2.30-4pm 12 2 nd Tuesdays – WI South Godstone, SSC 8pm 14 3 rd Wednesdays – WI Godstone Afternoon, YC 2.15pm 15 4 th Wednesday – WI Godstone Evening, WHB 7.30pm 16 Mondays – Baypond Baby & Toddler Group, YC 9.30 – 11.30am 10 Tuesdays – Coffee & Co, SSC 10am-12noon Tuesdays – Strictly Dance Class, The Pavilion, S Godstone 7.30pm Thursdays – Mums’ United Baby & Toddler Grp SSC 9.30am-12pm 11 East Surrey Walkers & Ramblers Wellbeing Walks 24/25 Barn Theatre … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 31 Eden Valley Museum various events 28 Date Event MAY Time Page Tue 2 South Godstone Crafters, SSC 2pm 17 Wed 3 Age Concern Coronation Celebration Tea, WHB 3pm 12 Thur 4 British Horological Institute mtg, WHB 7.30pm 18 Sun 7 South Godstone Coronation Events 6 Mon 8 Parish Council Meeting 4 Sat 13 Hurst Green Singers CONCERT 7pm 30 Sat 20 O&L Choral Society MUSICAL EVENING 5pm 29 Sun 21 North Downs Community Orchestra CONCERT 5.30pm 29 Mon 22 Annual Parish Meeting 4 For details of useful contacts & local organisations see pages 34 & 35
The copy deadline for the MAY edition of the Magazine is SATURDAY, 15TH APRIL Please copy to [email protected] or phone 07792 654362 CHURCH SERVICES APRIL UNITED BENEFICE of St Nicholas’ Church, Godstone, St Stephen’s Church, South Godstone, St John’s Church, Blindley Heath. Date Place Time Service 2 nd St Nicholas’ 9am Holy Communion (BCP) St Stephen’s 10.30am Family Service Palm Sunday St John's 10.30am Holy Communion St Nicholas' 10.30am Holy Communion Monday 3rd St Nicholas’ 7pm Compline with reflection Tuesday 4th St Stephen's 7pm Compline with reflection Wednesday 5th St Mary's Chapel 10am Holy Communion St John's 7pm Compline with reflection Thursday 6th St Stephen’s 7p m The Last Supper Friday 7th St Nicholas’ 10.30am Act of worship with procession to the green St John's 2pm The Final Hour 9 th Windy Gap 6am Dawn Service Easter St Stephen's 9am Holy Communion St John's 10.30am Holy Communion St Nicholas' 10.30am Holy Communion 16th St Stephen's 9am Holy Communion St John's 10.30am Holy Communion St Nicholas' 10.30am Holy Communion 23rd St Stephen's 9am Holy Communion St John's 10.30am Morning Prayer St Nicholas' 10.30am Holy Communion 30th St Stephen's 9am Holy Communion St John's 10.30am Holy Communion St Nicholas' 10.30am Holy Communion NEW HORIZONS If relatives or friends would like to write their own recollections of a deceased resident of Godstone or South Godstone, then please send them to the Editor for possible inclusion.
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To register your interest and book a tour visit: www.godstonefarmdaynursery.co.uk Offering lots of stimulating play in a natural environment. We make use of our plentiful 45 acres to create enriching experiences for children in their formative early years.
OXTED, SURREY HOUSE AND GARDENS OPEN ON SATURDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS, GARDENS ONLY ON SUNDAYS Information Line: 07889 052461 www.titsey.org Titsey Place, with its stunning garden, lakes, woodland walks, walled kitchen garden and park offering panoramic views, enchants visitors. Enjoy the fine family portraits, furniture, a beautiful collection of porcelain and a marvellous set of four Canaletto pictures of Venice. After visiting the mansion house and grounds, why not relax in our tea room where light refreshments are available. Open season: 17th May to 27th Sept 2023 House and gardens open: 1pm to 5pm every Wed and Sat. Also end of May and Aug bank holidays. Guided tours of the house at 1.30, 2.30 and 3.30pm (limited 20 per tour) Tea rooms open: Wed, Sat, Sun 12.30pm Gardens only open: Every Sun 1pm to 5pm NGS open days: 28 May, 25 June, 16 July, 13 Aug Classique Curtains and Dressmaking •BESPOKE MADE-TO-MEASURE CURTAINS• •LOOSE COVERS AND SOFT FURNISHINGS• •DRESSMAKING AND ALTERATIONS• Contact Debra Wilson 07535806308 E mail [email protected] Website www.classiquecurtainsanddresses.co.uk
FROM THE CLERGY 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' Philippians 4:13 St Stephen’s School in South Godstone has chosen this verse to underpin the values and vision it tries to live by as it educates many of our children. They are words at the end of a longer passage in which St Paul reflects on the high points and low points of his life, and his confidence that God was with him at all times. He rejoices that God will always guide him and inspire him, and lead him to achieve great things. These words are a guide to the school and can be a guide to all of us this Lent. Below is a reflection I wrote based on this passage which can be read as a poem, or sung as a song. I will rejoice in you today I say again rejoice For you will guide me on my way If I seek out your voice So dear Lord Jesus guard my heart And you will set me free For I can do all things through you and you will strengthen me Help me to seek whatever’s true And hold it in my mind The things that are most excellent are what I aim to find So dear Lord Jesus inspire me So that your truth I see For I can do all things through you and you will strengthen me If I am rich or I am poor You will be at my side You will help me achieve my all And you will be my guide And if I ask more help from you You’ll listen to my plea For I can do all things through you and you will strengthen me Peter O’Connell 1
2 You are invited to a Community Presentation Day to learn about full fibre broadband in Godstone. To be held on Sunday, 2nd April The presentation day will be run in conjunction with at the White Hart Barn, Godstone There will be two identical presentations at 11.30am and 3pm with an opportunity for businesses to talk with representatives from F&W Networks at 1.30pm. Come along and have all your questions answered. Complimentary tea, coffee and cake. GVA, Tilburstow Hill Farm Cottage, Tilburstow Hill Road, Godstone, RH9 8LY [email protected] Also see page 8 GODSTONE PARISH COUNCIL Village Sign The lovely wooden sign that hangs on Godstone Green near the zebra crossing came down in high winds many months ago. The sign was in need of some restoration and the Parish Council would like to thank John Younger for volunteering to undertake the work to restore it to its former glory. John, in collaboration with Dave Harman, will ensure that the sign is rehung for us all to enjoy again for many years to come.
3 New Path on Godstone Green The Parish Council is busy preparing its application to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to install a new tarmac path to connect the playground to the existing tarmac path. The Parish Council wants to install the new path to make the playground even more accessible and during the wetter months it will also mean it will be less muddy trying to get to the playground. A notice and information about the application will be available on our website and noticeboards shortly. Benches There are a number of benches on Godstone Green that show signs of wear and tear and need repairing. The Council is pleased to advise that work on all benches in need of repair will start shortly. Small Community Projects fund (Surrey County Council) There is a Small Community Projects fund to support capital community projects, now open for applications, for projects worth between £1k and £50k. For more information and to make an application visit: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/community/voluntary-community-and -faith-sector/funding/community-projects-fund Annual Parish Meeting The Annual Parish Meeting, which is called by the Parish Council Chairman, will be Monday 22nd May 2023. The Annual Parish meeting is not a Council meeting but a meeting of the Parish electors which takes place between 1st March and 1st June. Electors can contribute to the agenda and it is a meeting which gives the community the opportunity to celebrate local activities and debate current issues. More information will be advertised on the Parish council noticeboards and website. Parish Office Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control the Clerks availability and work pattern continues to be disrupted over the next few months. Please continue to contact the office by email and make an appointment if you wish to attend the office. Thank you for your understanding at this time. Parish Council Meetings The next meeting of the Parish Council is on Monday, 3rd April. There has been a change to the Parish Council’s annual meeting date, originally scheduled for 8th May 2023, which will now take place on continued over page
4 SOUTH GODSTONE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION www.southgodstoneresidentsassociation.co.uk [email protected] SGRA (South Godstone Residents’ Association) Coronation events – Sunday, 7th May 2023 We are pleased to be working with South Godstone Sports & Community Association to bring an afternoon and evening of events to mark the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort. We extend this warm invitation to all residents and businesses across the Godstone parish and hope you will join us. Details on page 10. Highway Defects We are really pleased to advise that our engagement with Surrey County Council has paid dividends and we have seen some really great work to return our neighbourhood to the way we would like. We do recognise that there are many demands on Surrey County Council at the moment so we are very grateful for what has been achieved. At last the railings around the A22 pedestrian crossing island have been replaced following the accident back in November. Deep potholes in Easter Way have been patched. We have an agreement to have the yellow box junction on the A22/Harcourt Way junction repainted in the next batch of line painting works along with the yellow lines outside St Stephen’s school. Road markings at the junction of Lagham Road and 15th May, the meeting date has been changed due to the coronation of King Charles III. Information about meetings is published on the website and the parish noticeboard. For more details about committee meetings please check the website or contact the Clerk. The Parish Council Contact Details, Tel: 01883 744209; Email: [email protected]; The Bounty, Godstone Green, Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8DY. If you want further information on any details on Parish Council matters and cannot access the website or noticeboards please contact the Clerk.
5 A22 are due to be repainted before the end of March. Some of the faded white lines around our village have also been accepted into the next line painting phase freshening up our roads and making them safer for everyone. Hopefully the miserable wet weather has gone away for a while but we also have agreement for the Council gulley sucker to attend to a blocked drain on A22 opposite 14 Evelyn Cottages. We really welcome this work by Surrey County Council, thank you. We have also been working with OpenReach regarding the surround to the inspection covers on A22 outside the church and the rocking inspection cover further north on A22 outside 10 Evelyn Cottages near the cut through from Lagham Park. Parking The parking enforcement teams have been out and about to deter the number of vehicles which continually park on the double yellow lines at the junction of Easter Way and Hunters Chase/Harcourt Way. These vehicles are obscuring lines of sight for drivers and are causing a danger to motorists and pedestrians alike. Please, if your vehicle is regularly left in this area, kindly consider an alternative place to park. Mrs Amanda Blackburn, the Executive Head Teacher at St Stephen’s Primary School, has been very supportive in our request to parents and guardians that vehicles dropping off and picking up children at the school do not park on the yellow zigzags outside the school. Again, we welcome the relationship with the school. Full Fibre Broadband It is not long to go now until the first of the connections take place. So many people are looking forward to having full fibre broadband to their homes and businesses. If you would like to know more about what full fibre could offer you, why not pop along to the White Hart Barn on Sunday, 2nd April for one of the identical presentations being given by F&W Networks which will be providing the cabling network for both Godstone and South Godstone. Timings are 11.30am and 2.30pm. Do have a look on the South Godstone Residents’ Association website (www.southgodstoneresidentsassociation.co.uk) for background to the full fibre broadband project, information on the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) currently offered on the F&W Networks cable network and a set of frequently asked questions. If you have questions about full fibre broadband to your property, you can reach F&W Networks by email on [email protected] continued over page
6 SpeedWatch We put a proposal to Surrey County Council on how we would like to address the matter of vehicles driving at excess speed through and within our village community. Regrettably, there are not funds available to make the changes we had requested through the “general fund” but there may be another way to follow up our proposal. We continue to make enquiries and push for action to help deter speeding vehicles and will keep you updated on our progress. We will leave no stone unturned in this regard. Godstone Railway Bridge roadworks How amazingly disappointing that despite extensive signposting that the road would be closed from the early hours of the Sunday morning until the early hours of the Monday morning, residents from both within South Godstone and further afield felt it necessary to strike the road closure barriers, knocking them over, and then drive through a closed road. The road had been closed for driver safety in case anything should have fallen from the railway bridge as a result of the works. Thank you to all those residents who regularly picked up the toppled road closure barriers and reinstated them. A MESSAGE FROM F&W NETWORKS TO GODSTONE We were pleased to announce, in late 2022, that we would be bringing a fibre broadband network to South Godstone after successfully engaging with the residents. Work is expected to begin in May 2023, with the first homes being connected in the Autumn of 2023. Given this success and the huge community support, we’re delighted to announce that we will be extending our network further into Godstone. Godstone has become included in the Gigabit Voucher Scheme, the government infrastructure funded project designed to prioritise eligible areas with financial support to get gigabit speeds. This is fantastic news for the Godstone community. F&W Networks is encouraging residents to apply for Project Gigabit Vouchers which will be used to subsidise the installation of the full fibre network and bring fast and reliable internet to your property. We will be hosting two identical presentations to the community on 2nd April 2023:
7 continued over page Presentation 1 | 11h30 | WHITE HART BARN High Street, Godstone, Surrey RH9 8DU Presentation 2 | 14h30 | WHITE HART BARN High Street, Godstone, Surrey RH9 8DU The team will be available between these times for any additional questions or discussions around the project. You can register for your voucher for Godstone here: https:// fwnetworks.co.uk/%20godstone/ South Godstone residents may still request a voucher here: https:// fwnetworks.co.uk/south%20godstone/ Or https:// southgodstoneresidentsassociation.co.uk/fibre-broadband GODSTONE PRESERVATION SOCIETY Ashill Developers are due to speak at the GVA meeting on 15th March about their proposed development of Godstone Quarry for 140 dwellings, a new Doctor’s surgery and a car park for the village. All would be situated north of the A25, on the right as you leave Godstone for Bletchingley. The area of Godstone Quarry for development has largely been under water for the last three months (see photo). Ashill plan to build in the hollow, unlike with the Linden Estate where the quarry was filled in before any building started. Ashill have recently heard from Tandridge District Council that they will not need an Environmental Impact Assessment before submitting their planning application. This partly because the development is of under 150 homes and this means one less hurdle for Ashill who could submit their planning application any time now. We have heard of no other planning applications of concern to our village at present. We have continued to tidy a few footpaths and are cheered by the sight of daffodils around
8 BAYPOND BABY & TODDLER GROUP GODSTONE at St Nicholas Youth Centre, Bay Path, Godstone Every MONDAY 9.30am - 11.30am (doors open at 9.15am) (Term time only) ALL WELCOME - no need to book in advance. Join our Facebook Group for updates For more information, contact: [email protected] the village including those on Greenview planted by villagers in memory of former residents and family members. They make an attractive tribute. Our leaf clearing was hampered in the autumn due to the record November rainfall so when the weather improves we will hope to catch up with more. Help welcome as ever. There is always rubbish to gather around the village. A dump of some five rubbish bags on the edge of the road opposite the White Hart Inn was unusual, however, it proved intriguing! There was rubbish, recyclables and rotting food but also a virtually new pair of gents M&S jeans and jogging bottoms, a boy’s polo shirt, a pair of child’s gloves, a soft, fluffy child’s blanket, three pairs of trainers (we sold two Nike for £13!), two excellent floor cloths, a plastic box of sweets with about 200gms remaining and lastly a (?) gold plated teaspoon! After washing and minor repairs most items are already in use again. I wonder what else is around Godstone to be salvaged. The leaves of our bluebells are growing rapidly now despite some cold snaps. I think that our bluebell woods will be beautiful before our next magazine so I hope that you will be able to get out to see them. I wish you all a happy sunny Easter and weather permitting I will have help arranging an Easter Egg Hunt at around 3pm on Easter Monday 10th April. Please let me know if you are interested in coming. Tel Mary S-M 01883 744389
9 MUMS’ UNITED – SOUTH GODSTONE (and Dads, Grandparents and Carers) BABY & TODDLER GROUP at St Stephen’s Church Every THURSDAY 9.30am – 12noon (doors open at 9am) Come with your little ones and meet with friends, whilst members of the Mothers Union provide refreshments, chats and baby cuddles! For more information, email: [email protected] Residents of Godstone and South Godstone are invited to join a day and evening of celebration on Sunday, 7th May to mark the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Camilla, Queen Consort. The celebration has been jointly arranged by South Godstone Residents’ Association and South Godstone Sports & Community Association. Please join us for the Community Big Lunch from 12.30pm. Prebook a ploughman’s lunch through South Godstone Residents’ Association website or just come along with your own lunch from home, everyone is really welcome! Tea, coffee and homemade cake will be on sale all afternoon. The bar will be open from 12 noon. We will be hosting a free of charge children’s disco from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, no need to pre book, just come along. From 8pm until late, an adults’ disco will take place. We look forward to seeing you, everyone welcome at South Godstone Sports & Community Association’s pavilion on the corner of Hunters Chase and Lagham Road, South Godstone.
10 CAMEO CLUB We all enjoyed a lovely lunch together with mini-bus transport supplied by the Lions Club. This was Cameo Club’s annual trip out for lunch which was very enjoyable, no cooking and good company. Come along & join us on 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month at the White Hart Barn 2.30-4pm. Enjoy friendly company with other local residents. Transport can be provided – call Rosemary on 01883 741809 for more details.
11 ST STEPHEN’S C O E PRIMARY SCHOOL This term St Stephen’s is very busy visiting places. Our Year 4 class visited Bough Beech Reservoir and Water Treatment Works. The children were involved in a number of activities during the day, including climbing the dam, viewing the reservoir, entering the valve tower and walking along the underground tunnel underneath the reservoir to inspect the pipes carrying water to the treatment works. They toured the treatment works and followed the process of cleaning water from beginning to end, learning about water usage and the importance of saving water through quizzes and experiments. Our Year 3 class will be visiting Gatton Park in Reigate. During the trip the children will take part in two tailored learning workshops; Forest Experience and Shipwrecked. The forest experience includes exploration of the Cedar Woods, which is Gatton’s Forest School area and will include a range of activities such as: bug hunting, woodland crafts, team games, shelter construction and, weather permitting, a camp fire. The second workshop sees the class shipwrecked! The class will have to work together to follow a set of riddles and complete a range of challenges to crack the secret code. Our Year 1 class will be visiting Chessington Zoo and the children will come face-to-face with over 1,000 incredible animals, including lions, tigers, gorillas, monkeys, penguins and underwater creatures in the SEA LIFE centre. The children will also take part in a workshop about Animal CSI which has been part of our science topic this half term. Our Year 2 class is visiting Godstone Village as part of our Spring topic on local history and geography. Our Year 5 children went to Henley Fort for their residential trip; this trip was the first experience of staying away from home for some of our children. They woke up on the second morning to a blanket of pristine white snow! Lots of fun was had making snow angels and the odd snowball! The trip was designed to give the children a ‘back to basics’ experience. The children slept in a yurt village, located high on the Hog’s Back in Guildford with far reaching views. Many of the tasks the children undertook involved learning through nature and the environment supporting the outdoor and adventurous activities of the National Curriculum. continued over page
12 The children have celebrated World Book Day with the whole school dressing up as their favourite character from their chosen book (opposite). The children and staff displayed a vast array of imaginative characters and costumes to boot. Our Year 1, 2, 3 and 5 children are enjoying curriculum swimming in our newly refurbished indoor swimming pool. Whilst other year groups are investigating our Forest School area, building dens, identifying different types of trees and generally getting closer to nature. As a school we are looking forward to our Easter preparations with many events being planned by the PTA. The PTA has organised an Easter hamper and we are hopeful that it is as successful as our Christmas hampers. WI SOUTH GODSTONE Once again we were delighted to welcome Debbie Lewington to our March meeting to talk, on this occasion, on “The History of Ballroom Dancing and developments in the 20th Century”. Ballroom dancing in the UK began about 120 years ago, although the oldest of the current ballroom dances is the Viennese Waltz which emerged in the second half of the 18th Century. Debbie is in love with dance in all it’s forms from ballroom to flamenco and everything in between. Along with various bursts of wonderful music she enthused the joys and benefits of dance for one and all and I must say I agree with her!
13 continued over page Looking forward, there is much going on at South Godstone WI. There’s a trip to the amazing Miller Centre shortly to see Sheridan’s “The Rivals” followed soon after by the film “Elvis” (not to be missed!). Later in the month we’re off to see “Is There Life After High School?” at the Barn Theatre and Di and Viv and Rose at the Miller. We continue to have lots of lovely walks with our Walking Group, held regularly 2-3 times a month and, of course our Book Club, held once a month. Our Craft Group (with friends who play various games and cards) is also held on a monthly basis. Our speaker for April is Joanna Bogle who will speak on the Courage and Conviction of the Englishwomen who Rescued Jews in Italy in WW2. We meet at 8pm on the second Tuesday of the month in the Jubilee Room at St Stephen’s Church, South Godstone. We welcome new members so do come along if you want to make new friends and would like to find out more. We have a full programme of speakers and events planned for 2023. For further information please email: [email protected]. Pat Field WI GODSTONE AFTERNOON Our meeting in February began with a sad but fascinating talk given by Paul Robbins, a very welcome returning speaker. It centred around a village in rural France called Oradour sur Glane, where most of the residents suffered a massacre by the Nazis on 10th June 1944, four days after D-day. Paul described in some detail the events that led up to the dreadful atrocity, one of many that took place in the 2nd World War. The massacre was carried out as a collective punishment response for resistance activity thought to be operating in that area but in fact the 643 villagers who were killed that day were just peaceful civilians going about their daily lives. There were 36 survivors. The last living survivor, who would have been 18 at the time of the massacre, died in February this year aged 97. After the war a town with the same name was built nearby but the ruins of the old one were preserved as a memorial to the victims.
14 Our speaker in April will be David Allen. His talk is entitled The Weird and Wonderful World of the Law’. In May Cathy Shelbourne will entertain us with a talk about ’Pirates of the Caribbean’. We are looking forward to our Beetle Drive and Afternoon Tea which will take the place of our normal meeting in March. A delicious selection of scones, cakes and sandwiches will be provided by the Committee, and it is always a very enjoyable event. Our popular clubs continue to meet once a month:- Play Reading, Book Club, Knit & Natter and Lunch Bunch. Brunch Club members meet on the last Friday of the month at the Godstone Club at 10.30. To get in touch please email our president Brenda Davis at [email protected] or just come along and meet us. Visitors and new members are always welcome. WI GODSTONE EVENING Our group continues to be busy with lots of different activities happening each month. Whilst it’s a little while ago, I’d like to report on our February meeting when we welcomed volunteers from Godstone Group RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association). They spoke with amazing enthusiasm about the history of the Godstone group, & about what happens during a typical riding session. Interestingly, when the group first formed, it was from the stables at Stangrave Hall, with clients attending from the Royal Earlswood Hospital. The group has gone from strength to strength, necessitating several moves. They are now based at Tandridge Priory Stables in Barrow Green Road. The sessions are obviously fun and include social and therapeutic activities e.g. doing exercises and playing games. The benefits for the clients extend beyond the enjoyment of each session, to very real improvements in physical health, mental health & general wellbeing. Each session lasts about an hour & is dependant on volunteers to assist, support & encourage. They are a lovely group of people but they are short of volunteers, if this is something you might be interested in please contact them at www.godstonerda.org.uk Whilst horses & riding aren’t my thing, I left the meeting feeling really pleased that our WI had chosen them as a charity to support this year. We meet on the fourth Wednesday of each month, at the White Hart Barn. Our meetings officially start at 8pm, but members gather from
15 SOUTH GODSTONE CRAFTERS Do you like crafts like knitting, crochet, sewing, spinning etc, or want to learn something new? Why not join us once a month on the first Tuesday afternoon to create, talk and have tea/coffee with cake. Each session you can either try something different or bring along a project on which you are working. 4 th April – Try your hand at crochet and make crochet bunny basket to hold mini eggs etc or turn the basket into a plant holder. Bring a crochet hook and wool if you have them. Not too confident at crochet? There will be plenty of people on hand to help. 2 nd May – A chance to try out finger weaving and turn your handiwork work into a book mark or small mat. In June and July we will be offering the opportunity to try you hand at using air-drying clay to create a pot and the following session to paint and varnish it. All this for just £3 a session! Open to all! We meet at 2pm on the 1st Tuesday of the month at St Stephen’s Church Hall South Godstone RH9 8EY Contact Carol Carey 01342 893189 or Fiona Sabey 07746423262 for further information. Over the last couple of months members have been knitting, crocheting, sewing, making pompoms for their Spring wreaths. During our March session they made their base and added their handmade decorations. The results were amazing. 7.30pm for a pre-meeting coffee/tea & chat. We welcome new members so please come along if you’re interested & would like to find out more.
16 BRITISH HOROLOGICAL INSTITUTE SOUTH LONDON BRANCH We meet at the White Hart Barn on the first Thursday, 19.30 for 20.00 start. Our next meeting is on Thursday, 6th April, our speaker is Anna Rolls Curator of the clockmakers museum. The following meeting is on 4 th May at the Soper Hall Caterham, West Dean Students will be speaking about their experiences at West Dean. We welcome guests but request that if you attend more than three times in the year you become members. EAST SURREY RSPB GROUP April sees most of our summer migrant birds arriving in our area. The first swallows should arrive in early April with numbers building up throughout the month. House martins tend to arrive a little later but in both cases the first birds are likely to be seen over local lakes and ponds together with sand martins, the first of which may well have arrived by the end of March. The middle of the month should see the first cuckoos arrive but these birds are now less common in our area, although still common in northern parts of the country. In the case of all arrivals timing is very dependent on the weather systems in Europe. Willow warblers usually start turning up in early April but the numbers remaining in the south of the country to nest has declined in recent years. Similar species such as the chiffchaff will have started arriving in late March with numbers building up through early April. Whitethroats, lesser whitethroats, sedge warblers (opposite ©RSPB) and garden warblers all start arriving from the middle to the end of the month.
17 continued over page Ring ouzels are often reported along the North Downs in the middle of April as they move to their breeding grounds on the northern moorlands. Spotted flycatchers and swift will start arriving at the end of the month. If anyone hears cuckoos calling in our area and if anyone have house martins and swifts nesting on their houses this summer perhaps you would be kind enough to let me know. The group indoor meeting in April is on Wednesday 12th at the White Hart Barn, Godstone, starting at 8pm. This meeting starts with our AGM, which is usually a short affair, and is followed by a talk this year given by our special speaker Dr Andre Farrar, whose talk is entitled Birds of Moor and Mountain – Controversy or Co-operation: hill farming or grouse shootings, is there a new vision for the future of our Uplands? Everyone is welcome, admission £5 including refreshments. The all day field trip in April is on Sunday 16th to Pulborough Brooks RSPB Reserve in Sussex. Meet at Godstone Green car park at 8am. A half day field trip in April is on Friday, 28th to Knepp Estate in Sussex. Meet at Godstone Green car park at 8.30am. For further information on group events and activities visit: hppts:group.rspb.org.uk/eastsurrey or contact me. Keith Brandwood 01883 742740 GARDEN JOTTINGS DAMAGE FROM SEVERE WEATHER Normally plants will be able to cope with cold, wet, dry or hot weather throughout the year, otherwise they will not survive to flower and reproduce the following season. So what adaptations have plants achieved to get to this stage? As the season turns to winter, the cold weather forces plants to either drop their leaves (deciduous) or have leaves adapted to the cold weather in winter (evergreen). Trees and shrubs may have waxy surfaces or in the case of conifers, needles that do not lose much water during the freezing periods. However even during the coldest spells, plants are still able to bring moisture up from the ground through their roots and replenish water lost in these cold periods. The ground may freeze but only down to a couple of inches. The rest of the soil is still able to provide moisture. Take a look at plants grown in containers that have
18 frozen completely, they suffer badly as moisture cannot be replenished. These plants need to be covered or placed in a sheltered environment, not because they are tender, but it avoids the roots becoming frozen. Plants are at their most vulnerable during early spring when new shoots start to emerge. Late frosts will cause a lot more damage because plants are stripping out the sugar reserves accumulated from autumn and these lower concentrations of sugar mean they have lost their ‘Antifreeze’. As a result even mild frosty nights will badly damage new buds and shoots. Wisteria flowers (opposite) and Acer shoots are a case in point. Fleecing these will help to reduce the damage. The reason gardeners suffered from such a devastating frost at the start of December was because up until then the weather had been very mild. Plants had not accumulated their sugars and so were not able to resist the minus temperatures that occurred for several days. Evergreens were particularly hard hit with normally hardy varieties like Ceanothus and Hebes turning brown. All is not lost as these should recover from the base. Hot summers with little rain have been a recent problem for gardeners. Trees have deep roots that can tap water in the driest weather, however perennials and shrubs only have surface roots. A lot of moisture is lost from the soil surface so if a deep mulch can be laid on during winter or early spring, any rain that falls during this period will be locked under the soil and even though the surface of the mulch is dry - underneath it will still have moisture. Be generous and put down at least four inches if not more. You can safely bury perennials during winter, they will grow through the mulch in spring. Heavy rains that cause flooding in the garden are a constant problem for gardens with clay soils. By digging the edges of borders and throwing the soil in the centre, you create a mound from which gravel and organic matter can be added and dug in. This further raises the bed and it will sit above the flooded soil. Plant roots can still get oxygen and even if the deeper roots are flooded, surface roots will still be able to function.
19 Advertising In This Magazine Is Effective! Please remember to mention the Magazine when contacting advertisers. Thank you Winds are generally unpredictable but seem to be more violent due to the warmer weather, the extra energy in the system will feed into more intense weather. Contrary to what people may think; tall, slender trees like poplars can withstand strong winds as their canopy does not spread out like a sail. Oak trees were particularly hard hit last autumn with a lot of broken branches that were torn on the tree. They are still hanging now waiting to drop eventually. Crown pruning to give a more compact dense tree will reduce the destruction. If branches have been lost, try and balance the shape of the tree by pruning opposite to where the original branches have been lost. Next month: Daring Dahlias in the Garden Paul Grimmer – Plants N Gardens
20 GODSTONE GARDENERS’ CLUB Hello everybody. I had hoped that by now we would have been enjoying slightly warmer weather but I am writing this on the 8th March and guess what - snow - lots of it. Pretty, but really - haven’t we had enough of this Winter - it seems to have gone on and on for ages. My garden, although I have been able to do some clearing, is still in dire need of more attention but it will have to wait until true Spring weather arrives. The daffodils give us hope that there are better things to come. We had our first meeting of the year in March and it just shows you cannot count on anything. I had booked Russell Bowes to give us his talk on “Poisons”, those that grow naturally in our gardens. I always make contact with our Speakers three or four days in advance, just to make sure we haven’t been forgotten but I couldn’t contact Russell by ‘phone, landline and mobile or email! I had a word with Jean Jones, our Chairman, and we decided to get a Quiz ready and just as well. At about 5pm on the afternoon of our meeting, Jean received an email from a past member, and still a good friend, who had seen our monthly Newsletter and that Russell Bowes was our speaker. She was able to inform us that Russell had died and not only that, had died at Christmas. I was truly shocked. No one has taken his website down, there are details of all his talks this year - lots of them to different clubs and societies - so you see that Quiz came in handy. Anyway, Jones and Pocock swung into action, like the practised duo they are, and a good time seemed to be had by all. A couple of members said how much they had enjoyed themselves. Next month we have our Annual Spring Challenge versus Hurst Green Gardening Club, at Godstone this year. Most of my daffodils will be over and the tulips not ready - c’est la vie. At our meeting on the 5 th May we have Clive Gravett coming to speak on the History of the Lawn Mower and he is threatening to bring two or three ancient models with him! This is a specific request from one of our Members but anything to do with lawns and lawn mowers bores me rigid... Anyway, don’t let me put you off, come along and join in the fun. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at the White Hart Barn, 7.30pm for 8pm. Visitors are £3 per visit. We serve tea/coffee/biscuits and there is a Raffle - wouldn’t you know. Sylvia Pocock
21 EAST SURREY WALKERS East Surrey Walkers are in full swing organising our 40th Anniversary Festival which will take place later in April between the 22nd and 30th. We hope you may join us to celebrate. Situated in Caterham High Street is a former rectory in front of the building is a beautiful cedar tree. The tree is known to be approximately 250 years old. Not only does the tree enjoy great age it is also the subject of folklore and superstition. The tree is alleged to be cursed and haunted. Various stories concerning the origins of the curse have been handed down for generations. One legend indicates that the tree is haunted by the spirit of a young girl who similarly haunts the rectory. There are other versions of haunting by a nun and monk who have allegedly been seen under the tree. The main legend is that of a witch who was executed either by being hung from the tree or tied to it until she died. It is said that in the course of her execution she placed a curse on the tree. The nature of the curse is such that if you talk while passing under the tree something bad will befall you and or your loved ones. A similar version of the curse is that if you share gossip under the tree similar themes of the gossip will return to harm you. The superstitious, and those who are not sure, refrain from talking when under the tree. A number of the superstitious further believe that to avoid the curse it is necessary to hold your breath when under the tree. I cannot tell you that ESW walk leaders have mystical abilities in dealing with management of curse or superstition this is left to the individual. I can assure you that our leaders are trained, responsible individuals who exercise their experience and ability to ensure walk participants have a safe and enjoyable walk experience. wi nter for years? Wher e it's li kel y to snow Keep your pets safe East Surrey Walkers wish you Happy Walking Stephen Hanks
22 HISTORY CORNER Last instalment of GODSTONE THROUGH THE AGES BY ST NICHOLAS YOUTH CLUB Swan Built about 260 years ago part of the Swan was originally the village Poor House. It was known that it was nearly burnt down in the 19th century and when in recent years an old beam was removed during renovations evidence of the fire was seen. Whyte Hart Probably the oldest building in the village, built during the reign of Richard II and apparently much honoured by visits from Royalty including Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria. Most of the original WELLBEING WALKS YMCA If you are keen to start, or return to, some outdoor activity, we recommend that you come along and participate in one of our wellbeing walks. Walking, however short the distance, can benefit everyone and tick every box towards better health. Just one short walk at a gentle pace can put us in a better mood and leave us feeling more confident. And walking regularly boosts our wellbeing and helps us manage our health and weight. Because it’s gentle on our joints, it’s safer than other forms of exercise too. Our aim is to provide everyone with easy access to free, friendly short group walks, within easy reach of where they live, to help them become and stay active. Joining our walks will exercise those muscles, lift your mood and improve your social life. You’ll be amongst a friendly bunch all walking for their own reasons - whether to ward off illness, manage health conditions, boost wellbeing, or just find company. All our walks are risk assessed and led by volunteer walk leaders. You’ll be in safe hands. Have a look at our programme of walks and sign up using the following link: https://beta.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/wellbeing-walksgroups/ramblers-wellbeing-walks-east-surrey Signing up online is for those with an email address. If you don’t have email, there is an alternative. For extra information on the walks or our volunteering opportunity, contact: [email protected] 01737 779979 Ramblers Wellbeing Walks YMCA East Surrey
23 building survives though it recently underwent renovation and slight changes in design. Though the entrance to the courtyard has been built over, the old courtyard I tself is still preserved. AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS PART 1 BY KAREN JACKSON Cruising, I think, is like Marmite. I love it - and fortunately for me, for so does Alan (although possibly not to the same extent) but it is not to everyone’s taste. I grew up messing about on boats – initially crewing for Dad (galley slave really!) and then racing dinghies. There is something magical about being on the water, a sense of freedom. On a cruise I can do nothing (or rather, I can knit) and not feel guilty about it. If one is at sea there is a detachment from the responsibilities of life ashore. Ever since my first cruise over 20 years ago I have wanted to do a ‘Round the World’ trip. But time (lack of) and money (lack of) hampered my ambition. Retirement overcame the first hurdle and Mum’s death last year (at the age of 102) dealt with the second. Mum would approve of my spending my inheritance on a cruise - after my step-father died in 2011, she and I would take a cruise each year. She enjoyed being afloat as much as me. As the departure date approached, the more excited I became! Everyone at St Stephen’s became used to me telling them almost down to the last minute how long until the cruise started. I was like a kid counting down to Christmas! DAY 1 Finally the day came, our bags were packed and ready (had I put in enough wool to last for over 11 weeks?) and we set off for Godstone station. We love train journeys and this one took us to Redhill, Three Bridges (where we had a 50 minute wait) and thence to Southampton and the ship - all in four hours. We had been on this ship, The Borealis, before and so everything was familiar. Within a short time, bags were unpacked and the knitting needles were out! We set sail (not that the ship has any of course) early evening. The Bay of Biscay was kind to us and after two days cruising we arrived in Lisbon, Portugal. DAY 4 Lisbon is built up the side of seven hills, overlooking the River Tagus. From the ship, the buildings appear tiered as though displaying their varied colours for our benefit. The weather, initially not
24 encouraging, brightened up and the sun came out. We opted for a hop on hop off bus ride. This took us through the old town (which was looking rather sad and unloved) then westwards into the modern section which had broad avenues, green areas and shops which don’t have prices on the items in the window. We were then taken eastwards back to the coast and northwards to the wonderful Jerónimos Royal Monastery (below) and the UNESCO-listed Belém Tower, once the starting point for many of the voyages into what was then, the unknown. Finally back to our starting point passing the Monument of Discoveries which especially commemorated Henry the Navigator. After the shock of being ashore and actually having to do something, we now had three days at sea in which to recover. Alan and I do very different things on board - he does the intellectual stuff and goes to the lectures while I, if not knitting or reading, enjoy playing table tennis or going to the gym (which I reckon entitles me to cake with afternoon tea). If our activities allow, we meet up for morning coffee, lunch and tea. Dinner we have about 7pm and then either return to the cabin and watch a movie or go to the entertainment in the theatre. There is an excellent on board theatre company who put on musical shows, as well as guest musicians, singers and currently a magician. DAY 7 Having cruised via the Straits of Messina which are between mainland Italy and Sicily. Jerónimos Royal Monastery
25 DAY 8 saw us arrive at the port of Brindisi. Despite living in Italy for a year and visiting the Apulia region, we had not been to Brindisi. Its position on the east coast of Italy and its natural harbour gave it strategic importance for the Romans and successive occupants. It became a staging point for pilgrims to the Holy Land. Among historic structures still standing are two Roman columns, marking the end of the Appian Way (which was built to link Brindisi with Rome) and the 13th century Swabian Castle. We did our own thing in Brindisi and discovered a lovely museum in the Piazza Duomo. This provided a fascinating history of the area up to the end of the Romans, including displaying items of household crockery, some of which dated back 5000 years. However it was clearly thought that nothing of significance had happened after that! Two days of cruising across the Mediterranean brought us to Port Said. DAY 11 From there I took a tour to Cairo and Giza. The bus trip each way was over three hours but my, was it worth it! Everyone knows what the Pyramids and the Sphinx look like but to actually be there is something else. I was taken by surprise however by the number of horses, camels and dogs. Tourists were offered horse and camel rides or the opportunity to have their photo taken on one or the other. The dogs, looking amazingly well fed, languished in the shade - even if that was up the side of a Pyramid - and watched the activities of the tourists in the midday sun. The tour included a trip to the newly constructed Grand Egyptian Museum which is a most amazing building. I was told that it is the biggest museum in the world and one of the reasons why Egypt wants the Rosetta stone returned. Not yet fully open, we were allowed into the atrium which houses an enormous statue of Rameses II, carved out of a single piece of granite. Continues next month Day 12 – Suez delay and the Temple of Luxor! Karen Jackson
26 WHAT’S NEW AT THE EDEN VALLEY MUSEUM? There are plenty of new things to see at the Eden Valley’s own social history museum, with two new displays this month, plus a Craft Fair on Saturday 29th April. The first display celebrates 50 years of the town’s Twinning relationship with Mont St Aignan in France, timed to coincide with a group visit from our French counterparts in May. Over the years there has been a rich variety of visits, with sports tours, gardening groups, and walking groups and even a cycle trip between the two towns. These events have generated a diversity of artefacts, gifts and photos, which will be on display until 1st July. The second display, ‘Royal Celebrations in the Eden Valley’ is timed to coincide with the Coronation, with a collection of memorabilia and photos celebrating Royal events right back to Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. The past inhabitants of Edenbridge certainly knew how to put on a show, with processions, floats, fancy dress and every shop decked out with Union Jacks. The display also features a fascinating window into the 1950s with invoices detailing the planning for Hever village’s 1953 celebration, complete with hire of 12 inch television for the villagers to watch. Also new this year is a display telling the curious story of an interaction between Clementine Churchill and a communist vicar of Crockham Hill. The Craft Fair in the museum courtyard will feature folk music and ploughmans lunches as well as a variety of stalls. Look out for ads giving more details. For more info contact Hilary Brand 01732 500554 Plaque depicts Henry II and Thomas Becket. In 1176 the king built a church dedicated to Becket in Mont St Aignan in penance for his unwitting role in his murder.
27 NORTH DOWNS COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA We have been busy rehearsing for our ‘Summer Smooth Concert’, which will take place at 5.30pm on Sunday 21st May at Hazelwood School’s lovely Bawtree Hall. Further concert details including how to buy tickets are available on the orchestra’s website. The Concert programme is made up of a variety of easy listening pieces, with the orchestra’s usual ‘Something for everyone’ approach ranging from Santana’s Smooth, Mission: Impossible, some Latin American music through Shaker and Celtic folk music to some short Mozart and Tchaikovsky pieces. The orchestra recently celebrated its 7th birthday with some cake and drinks at their rehearsal on 22nd March. The very first rehearsal was held on 23rd March 2016 in the Godstone Scout HQ. Over the years the orchestra has grown much bigger, to an average of 60 performers at their recent concerts. Rehearsal venues are in the wider Oxted area currently. To find out more, please visit www.thefunorchestra.co.uk
28 AWARD-WINNING STRING QUARTET BRINGS LATE BEETHOVEN MASTERPIECE TO OXTED Praised for their immaculate precision and spirit and cultured tone, the Solem Quartet has established itself as one of the most innovative and adventurous string quartets of its generation. They are performing in Oxted on Saturday, 15th April in a programme including Beethoven’s great string quartet in A Minor. The concert takes place in the Bawtree Concert Hall of Hazelwood School, Oxted, starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £30, with free entry for under-25s, available from www.olms.org.uk For more information contact Robert Stein, OLMS press relations on 07941 120953 or email [email protected] EXCITING SUMMER CONCERT FEATURES FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN’S NELSON MASS The Hurst Green Singers are busy preparing for a thrilling concert to be presented on 13th May; it promises to be a very special occasion. The varied programme of music curated by the choir’s Music Director, James Meaders, will commence with John Rutter’s festive Te Deum and Handel’s beloved Coronation Anthem, Zadok the Priest. Following this expansive concert opening, the main feature will be the magnificent Nelson Mass by Franz Josef Haydn, thought by many to be his greatest single composition. The local choir will be accompanied by a professional orchestra and highly accomplished and talented soloists from the Royal Academy of Music: Emilia Bertolini (Soprano); Hera Protopapas (Mezzo-Soprano); Guy Benon (Tenor) and Alex Bower-Brown (Baritone). The Summer Concert will be held in the Bawtree Hall, Hazelwood School, Oxted on Saturday 13th May at 7pm. Tickets are priced at £15 and can be ordered from [email protected] or at the door (unless previously sold out). It promises to be a wonderful evening of memorable music – so book your tickets without delay.
29 THE ARTS SOCIETY LIMPSFIELD We meet at St Peter’s Church Hall, Limpsfield RH8 0DG. Guests £5, Half Year Membership £21. Our next talk is on Wednesday 26th April at 2pm and repeated at 7.15pm. We will be welcoming popular speaker Ian Keable who will be giving a talk on The Art of Trickery – how magicians were depicted in major artworks. Please join us...all welcome! https://theartssocietylimpsfield.org.uk/ A NIGHT AT THE THEATRE BARN THEATRE MAY The Oxted Players – Blithe Spirit A fussy, cantankerous novelist finds himself haunted by the ghost of his late first wife Tuesday 16th – Saturday 20th (2.30 (Sat) & 7.30). Tickets £13 The Wild Murphys – One Night in Dublin A celebration of the music and song of Ireland – see page 38 Friday 26th (7.30). Tickets £22 - £26 All-England Theatre Festival Eastern Area Final Enjoy some of the best one-act plays in the south east of England this year. Sunday 28th (2.00 & 6.30). Tickets £12 one session, £20 both sessions JUNE The Oxted Sessions – Jesse Malin Jesse Malin - acclaimed New York singer-songwriter - brings his renowned live show to Oxted. Thursday 1st (7.45). Tickets £24 An Evening with Nicholas Owen, - Journalist, Writer and Broadcaster How to survive nearly 60 years in the media – and still be working! Friday 2nd (7.45) Tickets £18. Information pertaining to all the above shows can be obtained from: www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 15a High Street, Westerham. Kent. TN16 1RA. 01959 561811
30 This c1905 postcard view of ‘The Rose & Crown’ in the High Street, closed down in the early 1900s. The Proprietor was Thomas Quested. Note the room on the left for cyclists! Postcard courtesy of Roger Packham Since 1970 the premises have been occupied by Campton Insurance Brokers (UK) Ltd, specializing in Commercial and Personal life insurance. Grahame Brooks THEN...AND NOW
31 March Solutions APRIL CROSSWORD BY MOOGI
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