Effingham Eye: Hello and Goodbye

Published on: 30 Sep, 2016
Updated on: 17 Nov, 2016

By Chris Dick

Many of us have enjoyed a peaceful, dry and warm barbecue summer.

The kids were off school, families away on holiday and we had a welcomed silence from the clock bells at St Lawrence Church during the hot spells. Good planning!

Hello to a new butchers
While on the subject of barbecues let’s extend a warm welcome to Bevans our soon to be new butchers in The Street. They open for business, after a major refit, today 30th September.

Robin Bevan, great grandson of the founder, said: “We are investing heavily in Effingham and hope to be here for a long time. I live locally with my wife and son, so it feels right to be opening the latest branch of the family business here.”

Steve Johnson (left) next to Robin Bevan with shop fitters in new premises at Effingham

They will supply chickens, game and pork sourced from neighbouring counties and beef, hung for at least 21 days, from Scotland.

Steve Johnson, business director said: “The most nerve wracking moment of the build so far has definitely been the installation of the huge sheet glass for the front display fridge.”

Indeed I was fortunate enough to witness that final piece of half ton armour-plated glass being lifted into position during the shop refit. So much better than watching it on Grand Designs – and no it didn’t break.

Gently does it lads! The plate glass goes into the new Bevans shop front.

Commoners’ Day

By way of introducing themselves to Effingham and neighbouring villages Bevans have kindly offered to provide food for our Commoners’ Day event at Effingham Common on Sunday, 2nd October 2016 noon till 4pm.

Effingham Commoners Day (from a previous year)

Confirmed attractions include: BBQ with burgers and sausages, liquid refreshment available from Effingham Cricket Club pavillion, climbing wall (don’t forget suitable clothing and footware), face painting, guided walks, local brick manufacture, Effingham local history & Friends of Effingham Common stall, self-guided nature trail, hurdle making, Surrey Archaeology stall, ice cream van, animals (most important in the exercising of Commoners Rights), self-guided nature trail, GBC countryside stall plus a very large tractor.

So on Sunday why not join the Friends of Effingham Common, Effingham Parish Council & Guildford Borough Council’s Countryside Team for a celebration on the common.

The event will be opened by the Mayor of Guildford at 12 noon, with the exercising of Commoners Rights at 2pm.

Parish council chairman Arnold Pindar (left) and the Mayor of Guildford (2014) Cllr David Elms (centre)

On a sadder note I have mixed views on noting that our local British Legion (RBL) clubhouse in Lower Road finally closed on 23rd August.

Effingham Royal British Legion sign

The club has gone through a difficult time in recent years with a dwindling membership and a number of complaints from nearby residents to Effingham Parish Council and the police about late night drinking, and antisocial behaviour.

Visitors arriving at the premises are still greeted by building rubble and litter and a forlorn facade that gives way, on entering, to a rather dingy single storey salon – that rarely seemed to be frequented.

The forlorn facade of the recently closed Royal British Legion at Effingham

Beyond this there and at the rear of the premises was a small welcoming snug bar that used to be the haunt of a small number of friendly regulars. But overall the building is dated and has lost much of its original 1930s charm.

Members talk of a possible enabling housing development to fund new club premises. Local developers Berkeley Homes have been rumoured to be in contact with the old local branch committee. But these are early days.

So perhaps there is a bright future for the club and a few much needed new homes. Having visited the excellent West Clandon Royal British Legion Club premises this can be achieved but several other local RBL clubs have closed in recent years.

A spokesperson for The Royal British Legion said: “I understand that there has been a series of club meetings with its members to discuss its future, however to date no firm decisions have been taken by the club.

“If a resolution to close the club is taken, the lease will have to be agreed to be surrendered back to the charity who will only then review its options in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.”

Responses to Effingham Eye: Hello and Goodbye

Des Tanner Reply

October 1, 2016 at 1:53 am

It 1s sad that a once flourishing club like the legion should finish like this.

Maybe the management took their eye off the ball of late, but over the many years of being there it had a lot more positives than minuses.

It will probably suit a few nimby councillor/residents. No village day. No fireworks, No legion. Effingham is going backwards.

[Des Tanner is the president of the Effingham Playingfields Association]
- Mark Lebrock Reply
  
  March 11, 2017 at 11:06 pm
  
  Well said Des Tanner. What kind of nimby moves next to a club or pub then whines about the noise? It’s a shame it’s closed, another nail in the coffin of the community.