Effingham Eye: From A Tarantula To A Loo Roll!

Published on: 25 Jul, 2019
Updated on: 2 Aug, 2019

Chris Dick gives his personal monthly round-up of some of the recent local events. These include coming face to face with a tarantula, a press release from the parish council and an unusual sermon.

Chance encounter reveals world of joy, stress, tears and friendship

It was the hottest day of the year so far, clocking up over 30 degrees Celsius. It was Saturday June 29. I’d been ticked off for even thinking of walking the dogs in the rising heat so had nipped out before she-who-must-be-obeyed started getting really annoyed.

Returning along Browns Lane I met the Revd Mandy MacVean on car park duty outside the St Lawrence Church Hall. Not her usual role but who am I to question the vicar….? Which is of course exactly what I did.

Post Pals banner outside St Lawrence Church Hall, Effingham.

Mandy explained that a local charity had asked for volunteers and so she had put herself forward. She introduced me to the organiser, Vikki George, and a world opened up as though by magic of bouncy castles, Disney characters, party food, drinks, ice creams and games alongside a spirit of support and friendship.

Pictured from left: Vikki George with her friends Princess Merida of Dun Broch (readers may remember her from the Disney Pixar film Brave) and her other friends Tori and Ally Hawthorne.

It was all in aid of a charity called Post Pals and involved several character actors, three bouncy castles as well as live millipedes over 20 centimetres long. And let’s not forgot a large tarantula eager to crawl onto whoever held out a hand.

Star attraction at the Post Pals party was a tarantula!

Post Pals is a charity that supports disabled young people (up to 17 years of age), together with their family and siblings. It holds a party every year usually in Effingham and has been active, virtually unnoticed by local residents, for 17 years.

The founder, Vikki George, (pictured above), who is herself less abled than most, was everywhere. Knowing everyone there by name Vikki checked that they were okay, having a good time and enough food and drink. There was an unobtrusive timetable which Vikki ensured was cheerfully kept to.

Attendees had come from Liverpool, Ramsgate, Derby, Wales and other distant places to be with their fellow members, their families to have fun.

This annual event is the high point of the year for many of the families and requires significant levels of organisation.

Some children need specialist transport arrangements and travel separately from their parents and siblings. The charity always supports the siblings as much as the disabled children. Some of the young people live in hospital with one of the parents taking it in turns to live with them, so this party may be the only time they all come together.

Butterflies released in memory of those who died.

But it wasn’t all fun. After the games, food and ice cream, but before the creepy crawlies, they all gathered round Vikki, her father Steve and Ally (pictured above) as they read out the names of those who had died since the charity formed.

And then Vikki released a butterfly in memory of each departed soul. More than 60 butterflies were released. I watched a dad as he ushered two young children forward to watch the butterflies take to the air and heard him say: “There you go kids, now you can see and remember your sister.” It is not possible to describe how moving this was.

On a brighter note, Vikki hopes to hold next year’s party at Chessington World of Adventure. She wants all those that can make the trip to camp in the grounds (on proper beds) and perhaps have a ride. She has done it before but never camped. This location means that she will have all the right emergency services on hand while at the same time potentially doing something wonderful for the children and their families.

Group photo of most of those attending.

Finally it should be said that Vikki needs to raise at least £30,000 to ensure that her Chessington event takes place next year. Readers can donate by clicking on this link.

Since the above event Vikki George was kind enough to take part in an interview which will be posted, subject to my editor’s prerogative, soon.

Open Gardens Event weekend raises funds

One of the impressive gardens in Effingham which had been opened to the public.

Readers may wish to know that the weekend of June 8 and 9 featuring sale of art, open gardens and a talk on the Second World War, raised just over £2,000. Proceeds go to the much needed church maintenance.

Developer refused permission to convert shop into residence

Former double glazing premises undergoing redevelopment in July 2017.

This month saw a press release from Effingham Parish Council regarding a planning inspectorate’s appeal decision. The appeal had been against Guildford Borough Council’s earlier decision to refuse to a change use from a shop/ office unit to that of a residential flat on premises in Guildford Road, Effingham. The appeal was dismissed.

Ian Symes, the chairman of Effingham Parish Council, said, “Rural villages like Effingham need to protect viable businesses and shop premises from more profitable residential development, so property owners must undertake proper marketing to give commercial units the best chance of continued commercial use.

“Effingham is an attractive area for business and so long as people know that premises are available, then tenants can be found. This particular unit would attract passing trade to a retail business or could provide useful office space. We are delighted that Guildford Borough Council has supported us in this matter and that the inspector has ratified their decision. The award of costs against the developer must be a strong signal to all developers.”

And finally … ‘Who gives a crap’

Recently, the Revd Mandy MacVean treated the shocked members of her congregation to a free toilet roll. Not the sort of thing you would usually expect at church. But we live in interesting times.

The who gives a crap toilet roll.

Rev Mandy thought some people might be offended by the name of the toilet roll company: “Who gives a crap”.

She said: “Hopefully they were even more offended by the statistics that 2.3 billion people don’t have access to a toilet. Around 289,000 children under five die every year from diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That’s almost 800 children per day, or one child every two minutes.”

Mandy suggested we should all try the roll and then consider buying from the company which uses recycled paper and sends 50% of its profits to build toilets in developing countries.

Readers may donate via the aptly named website.

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