The Worplesdon Witness: April 2020

Published on: 13 Apr, 2020
Updated on: 13 Apr, 2020

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

Events that did not take place!

This round-up should have included the Weyside Urban Village meeting hosted by Worplesdon’s Guildford Borough Councillors, Worplesdon Parish Council’s annual meeting, dates of events planned by the Fairlands Patient Participation group, and Rydes Hill Preparatory School and Nursery’s 75th anniversary summer garden party – postponed due to the Coved-19 lockdown.

And church services have of course been suspended, no fleecy frolics at Merrist Wood College as it is closed, and no activities in any of the local halls.

Footpaths through Merrist Wood College have also been closed.

Worplesdon Place reopens and is promptly forced to close

Worplesdon Place restaurant and hotel reopened at noon on Friday, March 20, after a major refurbishment and a new menu, only for the government to announce closures of pubs, restaurants, sports centres later the same day.

A glimpse inside the refurbished Worpledon Place on the day it reopened and then closed.

It closed just after the announcement the same evening and donated its food to Worplesdon View residential home. It had expected to be very busy on Mothering Sunday, March 23.

A new beehive in the garden of Worplesdon Place.

Jacobs Well Residents’ Association mobilise volunteers to help elderly

Following the closure of Jacobs Well’s village store on March 20, Jacobs Well Residents’ Association’s volunteers have been helping older residents with shopping, medication, and phoning for a chat, and even giving heating and plumbing advice!

Fruit and veg box offered for delivery by Cheesman Bros.

Butcher, baker and wholesaler team up to deliver food

Worplesdon’s Christmas Bakery has teamed up with fruit and veg wholesaler Cheesman Bros of Wood Street Village, and butchers Flynn’s on Aldershot Road, Westborough, to deliver food.

A service that benefits people who can’t get out to shop.

Cheesman’s has also changed its selection in its regular pre-prepared box, including more salad items and fruit to reflect the warmer weather. To order, call 01483 506470, 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Steady trade for pet food and supplies for animals

Rokers of Fairlands continues to have a steady trade, especially supplies for dogs, cats, birds, fish, small pets, horses and the smallholder.

It offers a drive-in and click and collect service from ordering on its website. It is currently open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.

Worplesdon church services uploaded to You Tube

Worplesdon’s parish churches have been offering services uploaded on You Tube. Three services in the run up to Easter had more than 270 combined views.

Free booklets available at lynchgate of St Mary’s Church, Perry Hill.

A What’s App group is keeping parishioners in touch with each other.

Regular emails from the rector, the Revd Alex Russell, have including daily quizzes with answers the following day. Those not online have been phoned by a band of volunteers.

The rector has also been helping people in need due to the coronavirus crisis in a range of ways including help getting food, and signposting to government and related services.

As churches have to fund themselves, the cancellation of regular services as well as weddings and baptisms, means regular income has notably fallen.

At a time of meeting people’s spiritual needs, people will in turn need to meet the financial needs of the Church.

Notice in front of Worplesdon United Reformed Church announcing its temporary closure.

Volunteers in abundance in Fairlands

Volunteers covering Fairlands, Liddington Hall, and Gravetts Lane areas have stepped in to help the elderly and isolated, delivering food and medication.

The initiative is being co-ordinated by by Sheila Willis and Bob Willis from their home in Fairlands.

Debbie Foster (right) is co-ordinating the volunteers delivery medicines from Rowlands pharmacy in Fairlands, and is pictured with a fellow helper.

Volunteers have also been delivering prescription medicines on behalf of Rowlands pharmacy within the Fairlands Medical Practice.

New date for 75th anniversary of VE Day commemorations

The VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations due to be held in Wood Street Village, Fairlands and Jacobs Well on bank holiday Friday, May 8, have been postponed, in the hope that they can be held on August 15 – the 75th anniversary of VJ Day

The Great British Spring clean across Worplesdon has been postponed with it now scheduled to take place from September 11 to 27.

Litter still on the verge of roads and fly-tipping incident

Litter on Whitmoor Common, off Salt Box Road.

Despite fewer vehicles on the roads, but with more people taking their daily walk or cycling, there is still a good deal of litter on roadside verges throughout Worplesdon.

Fly-tipping on Goose Rye Road on Good Friday morning.

Fly-tipping also continues as residents of Goose Rye Road discovered on Good Friday morning.

Guildford Borough Councillor Bob McShee (Residents 4 Guildford and Villages, Worplesdon) was contacted to arrange immediate removal.

Utilities work continues

Thatchers Lane in Perry Hill saw pedestrian access on the path restricted while underground works were carried out. Salt Box Road is due to have electrical cabling works. Road sweepers have been observed on the A322 cleaning the edge of the road.

Grass cutting in Fairlands for Worplesdon Parish Council.

Worplesdon Parish Council’a new grass contractor, Holly Lane Landscapes & Training, has been working throughout the parish as its staff can social distance to continue with this useful work.

Parish Council updates on its Facebook page

Worplesdon Parish Council’s Facebook page is keeping residents up to date with news and information.

It hosted an Easter drawing competition for younger members of the community for ideas of play and fitness equipment with some donated chocolate eggs as a prize. The ovrall winner was Juliet, aged seven.

Bedding plant grower offers home delivery

Perfect Choice Plants of Wood Street Village is normally a wholesale nursery supplying bedding plants to garden centres.

However, due to the crisis, rather than having to dump thousands of plants, it is offering a delivery service to households.

Orders are being taken online for a 10-mile radius of Wood Street Village. Click here for its website.

Surrey Wildlife Trust and change on the commons

Surrey Wildlife Trust staff have stopped working in line with Government advice. Therefore, the nine commons throughout Worplesdon are not being managed as usual.

If you are taking you exercise in these areas please be aware. Overhead cables maybe down, trees may have fallen or be unsafe. Urgent enquiries can be sent by email to: info@surreywt.org.uk

Car parks are closed to support social distancing.

Message on a tree on the common near Wood Street Village.

Mayor Awards for Community Service

This year’s Guildford Borough Council Mayor’s Award for Service to the Community has been postponed until later in the year.

However, you can bet there will be a long list of nominees from Worplesdon for the 2021 awards!

The most important thing for people in Worplesdon parish including Broadacres, Jacobs Well, Fairlands, Wood Street Village and Perry Hill is: stay home to protect the NHS and to save lives.

And finally… a few more images around Worplesdon parish at present.