The Effingham Eye: End Of Year Round-up

Published on: 7 Dec, 2019
Updated on: 7 Dec, 2019

Chris Dick gives his personal report on Effingham events past and future including: a council update on a possible nature reserve, an up and coming humorous Living Nativity play, a reopened cafe and an ingenious new market.

Council meeting update

At Effingham Parish Council’s meeting on Tuesday, November 26, councillors agreed to ask Guildford Borough Council (GBC) to designate Effingham Common as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

This could be a real bonus for the wildlife and add some further protection against development.

The former coffee bar reopens as Layla’s

The Revd Mandy MacVean welcomes Euna and her husband Ian Shier (behind the counter) to the parish.

You are sure of a warm welcome at the reopened cafe in The Street, Effingham.

The former coffee bar, now renamed Layla’s, has been bought by Euna and Ian Shier of Fetcham.

Ian is a professional chef with a successful string of cafes behind him in the Guildford area. However, Layla’s will be run by Euna.

The decor is being changed to reflect the mellow single origin coffee from Peru which Euna now serves.

And there is a tasty range of food including quiches, cakes and sandwiches – mostly cooked by Ian – available throughout the day.

They have some exciting plans to increase the number of people they can serve but these are early days – they have only been open for five days at the time of writing – so here is not the place to go into any premature details.

The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 7am to 5.30pm and Saturday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Euna said: “I will be working here six days a week so it will seem as though I am sleeping here too.”

Judging by the repeat visits and the welcome everyone receives it already looks like this cafe will become a much needed drop-in community hub.

A new village market

Another good idea has emerged, this time from the parochial parish council (PPC) rather than its secular counterparts.

The PPC has given the go ahead for a monthly market in St Lawrence Church. It will not be the first church to broaden its links with the wider community but it will be a first for Effingham.

The idea was put forward by the Revd Mandy MacVean following a suggestion from a local resident who does not wish to be named.

Opening early in the new year, subject to funding availability, it will provide space for stalls to sell a range of products including homemade jams, cakes and plants.

Residents will be encouraged, by the opportunity to buy reasonably priced items, to meet others over cups of teas, coffee and biscuits.

While individual stalls are normally freestanding these stalls will make use of the church pews partly covered with boarding.

The side chapel will be the refreshment area. Proceeds will go to the cost of maintaining the churches of St Lawrence, Effingham, and All Saints in Little Bookham.

Living Nativity

Details of the Effingham Living Nativity play.

This year the popular Effingham Living Nativity play will take place on Friday December 20.

It will start at 6pm outside the Haig public house.

The script has been revamped and is apparently even more humorous than previous years.

However it is unclear whether the whole performance will suffer as it is missing one of the crucial three kings …. mmm … perhaps not …. in past years I only had one line that I managed to get wrong every time!

Last year about 70 people were expected but 130 people attended. I have been assured, that this year there will be enough mince pies to enjoy with the hot chocolate.

Its all free and usually ends at the Haig pub with some free nibbles. But, understandably, you do have to buy your own drinks.

Little Bookham in the First World War

Historian Vivien White at Manor House School giving a talk on Bookham during the First World War.

Readers will be pleased to know that the Vivien White talk, entitled Little Bookham in World War I, raised £733 plus donations. The talk, which took place at Manor House School on Friday November 22, was attended by more than 80 residents.

Finally for 2019 ….

Readers may wish to read a series of interviews given by our Mole Valley parliamentary candidates. At the time of writing this article Brian Bostock (Lab), Paul Kennedy (Lib Dem) and Lisa Scott-Conte (Green) had provided their contributions.

The Steam Dream pulls into Effingham Junction to pick up passengers bound for the Bath winter market on November 29.

And this really is finally for 2019. Happy Christmas to all our readers and my thanks to the regular contributor to these articles for this photograph of her recent Steam Dream trip to Bath on Friday November 29.

She and her husband (happy birthday Paddy!) reported that it was a long day but well worth it as the Bath winter market was excellent.

She said that the train was wonderful, although it was a long day and … it’s not cheap!

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