The Worplesdon Witness November 2021

Published on: 14 Nov, 2021
Updated on: 19 Nov, 2021

Jan Messinger with her round up of news from the parish of Worplesdon.

Getting into the spirit of Hallowe’en

Hallowe’en fun at the Sime Gallery at Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

The Sime Gallery at Worplesdon Memorial Hall held a children’s activity workshop that included finding spooky pictures within pictures and painting and decorating biscuits.

The Royal Oak pub in Wood Street Village held at Hallowe’en party and trail.

The Royal oak pub in Wood Street Village hosted a Hallowe’en party and trail for villagers.

The Fairlands club hosted a party with music for children and thanks go to Judy for organising it and Derek for the music. Also, Dramatic Performing Arts held a Hallowe’en workshop with Miss Emma getting in the mood.

Fruit and veg wholesalers Cheesman Bros of Wood Street Village joined in the festivities holding a pumpkin competition and giving away a fruit and veg box for the best carved pumpkin.

Cheesman Bros’ pumpkin competition.

The Christmas Bakery at Rickford was decorated for Hallowe’en festivities too. And children throughout Worplesdon went trick or treating, especially in Fairlands.

Reports of poaching at Wood Street Village pond

Anglers at Wood Street Village pond have told of their concerns for the pond, the fish and wildlife in general, saying night-time poaching takes place. They ask that if anyone see a suspicious van parked up by the pond contact the Environment Agency or the police.

Anglers at Wood Street Village pond.

They say they have previously saved ducklings that have been dumped by the pond. Thankfully, most were saved although they were very cold when found by the fisherman in the grass.

Worplesdon Parish Council’s head groundsman has cleared overgrown vegetation by the pond. Quotations are being sought to clearing bull rushes and invasive weeds. This will be carried out prior to next year’s bird nesting season.

Filming for Bollywood movie at Jolly Farmer pub

The Jolly Farmer pub in Burdenshott Road has been used for filming a Bollywood movie.

Filming at the Jolly Farmer pub.

Ballyhoo Productions sourced the location from Mumbai, India. The film is a love story of a man who meets an Indian girl while he is working in a pub in the UK.

The film is due to be released next spring. Phil Coppen, the manager of the pub, says he was happy to help and looks forward to seeing the film.

Other roles undertaken by local Guildford Borough Councillors

Cllr Ruth Brothwell has an added responsibility being a council representative with the Guildford Poyle Charities. While Cllrs Bob and Ann McShee have been selling poppies for the Royal British Legion in Guildford.

News from Worplesdon Parish Council

The parish council held its regular flood forum with 30 attendees along with more joining on Zoom.

Residents affected by recent flooding include sewage in their gardens. On the agenda were more than 20 hotspots for flooding within the parish.

The meeting was chaired by Guildford MP Angela Richardson and the next forum meeting will be in February.

Minutes of these meetings can be found on the parish council’s website.

If you experience or witness flooding it is important to take photographs with clear written details. These can be reported to Thames Water, Surrey County Council’s highways or Guildford Borough Council.

Residents are reminded of how important it is to clear ditches of debris on their property. If not this can affect someone else especially at this time of year as leaves have fallen.

Recent meetings looked at 12 planning applications, residents’ requests for prevention of inappropriate parking, adoption of a redundant phone box in Jacobs Well, permission to hold carols on Wood Street Village green, feedback on its residents survey, the future of the management of the countryside in north-west Surrey, the Queen’s platinum jubilee, Farnborough Airport, the parish newsletter, Guildford Borough Council’s application for city status, Surrey County Council’s Transport plan 2022-2023, projects and councillor feedback, budget reports and discussions about the potential loss of the Arriva bus service.

There are currently vacancies for four parish councillors.

Community centre affected by flooding

Flooding has cause damage to the floor inside Fairlands Community Centre.

More people are being urged to join the centres committee to enable it to continue to thrive.

The annual meeting of the Fairlands, Liddington Hall, Gravetts Lane Communityy Association takes place on Wednesday, November 24, at 8pm in the bar of the community centre. More details from Mandy on 07906 502442, or send an email to amanda.11ci@hotmail.co.uk

Events at Fairlands Community Centre.

Co-op takes Over store at Fairlands and repairs to bus shelter

The Co-op has taken over the store at Fairlands that was previously a Budgens.

The new Co-op store at Fairlands.

And the recently repaired bus shelter on the A323 Aldershot Road now has a visual display, for ease of knowing when the Stagecoach Kite bus will arrive. However, with the Arriva bus company closing its Guildford depot, some bus routes appear to be under threat.

Newly refurbished bus shelter at Fairlands.

Vacancy at new nursery and pre-school

The new nursery and forest pre-school at Backside Common, Wood Street Village, has a vacancy for an experience person to join the staff.

It says it is a stimulating environment that offers a natural place for children to flourish and shine. It’s nursery school newsletter informs parents of the staff and the activities children have been enjoying since opening in September. It also showcases the forest school along with home learning ideas. For more details email the manager Kelly Cooper at info@tinyacornsnursery.com

New members welcome at garden club

Jacobs Well Garden Club’s most recent meeting was on October 20, at the Village Hall. New members are always welcome. Contact Jean Meredith on 01483 563793, for more details.

Coffee and cake at St Alban’s Church

Drop in to St Albans Church in Wood Street Village on Thursdays to enjoy chat, craft, children’s play and coffee and cake.

Take a friend or a neighbour, or meet new ones in a relaxed, welcoming and friendly place. It’s free as well!

Afternoon tea at Jacobs Well

An afternoon tea was held at Jacobs Well Village Hall, organised by local resident Nick Collett.

It was an opportunity for people to take a break and enjoy each other’s company in the newly refurbished village hall lounge.

For details of the next afternoon tea email nick@nfcol.com. A £4 donation enables any profits to be donated to local charities.

On the menu for Christmas

Pubs across the parish have their Christmas menus available and these include the Jolly Farmer in Burdenshott Road, the Royal Oak and the White Hart in Wood Street Village, the Cricketers on Aldershot Road, and Worplesdon Place at Perry Hill.

Details of the Gaskin family’s Christmas lunch for people who are lonely or isolated.

While the Gaskin family from Jacobs Well  will once again be offering a Christmas lunch on Christmas Day to delivered to people who are lonely or isolated this Christmas.

Remembering those who gave their lives on active military service

Worplesdon Parish Council led two services of remembrance simultaneously on Thursday, November 11, Armistice Day.

Some of those who took part in the Armistice Day service at Harry’s Meadow in Jacobs Well.

Both in Jacobs Well, the leader of the parish council, Paul Craig, led the act of remembrance in Harry’s Meadow. He thanked bagpiper Kenneth Thomson for his many years of playing at this service. This year the the clerk of the parish council, Gaynor White, played Nimrod and the Last Post, on the clarinet.

At the other service wreathes was laid at the Lilly Bell II memorial at the junction of Clay Lane and Queenhythe Road. It commemorates the four American airmen who died when their aircraft crashed in the adjacent field on October 25, 1944.

The wreathes were laid by parish councillor Brigette Ahier on behalf of the parish council, and Emma Raggett on behalf of the Jacobs Well Residents’ Association. Photos of the wreath laying have been sent to descendants of the airmen in the USA.

Guides Isla and Evie with some of the wooden crosses outside St Mary’s Church.

On Remembrance Sunday, November 14, a service was held at St Mary’s Church, Perry Hill, that included Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. Crosses placed outside the church commemorate the 52 First World War and 20 Second World War service personnel from Worplesadon who gave their lives.

And the redundant phone box in Wood Street Village has been suitably decorated for our time of remembrance.

Redundant phone box in Wood Street Village with a theme of remembrance.

Road open on Keens Park development

Callingham Close on the Keens Park development by Montague Homes off the A322 Worplesdon Road near Pitch Place is now open.

The road sign for Callingham Close.

These new roads are named after local. men who served and died in the First World War.

George Thomas Callingham was an Aircraftsman first class with the RAF.

He was a market gardener and died on March 1, 1920, age 45. He had been married for 17 years.

His wife was Roberta Callingham of 1 Provident Cottage, Pitch Place. His daughters, Edith and Margaret, were born in 1904 and 1910, respectively.

Christmas dates for your diary

Christmas activities for children at Fairlands Community Centre on Sunday, December 12, from 3pm to 6pm. Details from Linda on 01483 826431.

Fairlands Players’ murder mystery evening, Twas A Death Before Christmas, on November 26 and 27, at 7.30pm. Tickets on 07790 400792.

Jacobs Well Christmas card fair, Saturday, November 27, 10.30am to 4.30pm, in the village hall.

Wreath making at Worplesdon Place Hotel and Restaurant on Thursday, December 2, at 7pm (tickets now available), and a Christmas market on Saturday, December 11.

Wreath workshop at the Royal Oak pub, Wood Street Village.

The Royal Oak pub at Wood Street Village has a wreath making workshop on Tuesday, November 30.

Carols on Wood Street Village green on Saturday, December 18, at 4pm. Or if the weather is poor it will be held at St Alban’s Church.

The Laudamus Chamber Choir will be at St Mary’s Church, Perry Hill on Sunday, December 5. Tickets £10, children under 16 free, with proceeds to the Children’s Society. To book email: churchoffice@worplesdonparish.com

The trees beside the green at Perry Hill will soon be lit, as will the Christmas tree at the entrance to St Mary’s Church, and Wood Street Village Green. These are arranged by Worplesdon Parish Council.

Rydes Hill Preparatory School is hosting a winter wonderland event on Saturday, December 4 from 4pm to 7pm. Tickets are £10, for a children’s glow walk, Santa’s grotto, food, mulled wine, disco and games.

Ode to Joyce Grenfell

Enjoy an afternoon at Worplesdon Memoriual Hall with a show called An Ode to Joyce Grenfell on Sunday, November 21, at 3pm. To book tickets email www.seaty.co.uk/joyceworplesdon

Farewell to tennis coach

Worplesdon Tennis Club will be saying farewell to its coach Tim Seymour, who has worked for the club for 30 years. He will be moving to Somerset.

Tennis coach Tim Seymour.

He has given tennis lessons to young and adults alike throughout his time with the club and will be missed with not only Worplesdon but by neighbouring villages.

Ron McGill’s art award

Worplesdon resident Ron McGill has won Guildford Art Society’s Claude Kaufman Award.

Ron’ winning artwork is called Towards the Harbour, Honfleur, France.

Ron McGill (right) receives his award.

One of the judges said that Mr Kaufmann loved France and felt he would have enjoyed this painting. The awards ceremony was held at West Horsley Place.

Ron also contributes articles to Fairland’s Keeping in Touch magazine and are much enjoyed by its readers.

Sign up for Surrey County Councillor’s e-newsletter

You can sign up for Keith Witham, Worplesdon’s Surrey County Councillor’s monthly newsletter by sending him an email to keithwitham1@hotmail.co.uk

This month’s newsletter includes details of Keith meeting the Chief Constable of Surrey Police in relation to tackling motorists speeding, planning delays, climate change, a new highways contractor, buses and flooding.

Prize draw winner for completing survey

The winner of a meal for two at the Jolly Farmer pub in a prize draw for completing a Worplesdon Parish Council survey, is Roger Philo.

Roger Philo (centre) receives his prize. Left, the manage of the pub, Phil Coppen, and on the right Worplesdon Parish Councillor Brigette Aheir.

He was presented with his voucher for the meal by parish councillor Brigette Ahier. The manager of the pub, Phil Coppen, donated the prize.

Fuel tanker stuck in ditch

Just days before planned roadworks to repair a part of Gooserye Road, a fuel tanker got stuck in a ditch. It had to be towed out by an even bigger recovery vehicle that had to reverse along the road from the A322.

Fuel tanker stuck in a ditch in Gooserye Road.

It is also apparent that further along at near the junction with Burdenshott Road a vehicle has mounted the verge and hit a sign bending it.

Highways issues can be reported online to Surrey County Council.

Signs up for Site of Alternative Natural Greenspace

Signs at Wood Street Village have been erected for the Site of Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG).

Sign for the Wood Street Knoll SANG.

It will be called Wood Street Knoll, and will consist of 21 hectares of wildflower meadows and grassland. There will be 2.3 km of trails.

Fungi flourishing

Fungi continues to flourish on commons and open spaces. How about this clump at Merrist Wood College?

Fungi pictured at Merrist Wood College.

Share This Post