The Worplesdon Witness April 2021

Published on: 14 Apr, 2021
Updated on: 16 Apr, 2021

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

Opening time again!

With the latest lifting of restrictions as part of the government’s pandemic roadmap coming into place on Monday, April 12, pubs in the Worplesdon area reopened their outdoor seating areas.

Worplesdon Place with a light dusting of snow on Monday morning, April 12.

This was despite a flurry of snow in the morning.

The garden at the Jolly Farmer pub.

At the Jolly Farmer pub in Burdenshott Road, on the edge of Whitmoor Common, manger Phil and his staff welcomed customers to plenty of undercover seating.

At Worplesdon Place on Perry Hill, there are pods to sit in as well as a marquee.

Outside seating at Worplesdon Place.

And also benches near the lake, where this week people of all ages have enjoyed some time out during the second week of the Easter school holidays.

The hotel reopens for accommodation on May 17.

At the White Hart pub in Wood Street Village, its manager, Paul, is opening from noon to 11pm.

Marquee at the Royal Oak pub.

Dave and Natalie at the Royal Oak pub in Wood Street Village have a marquee ready for when it reopens on Friday, April 16, at 3pm.

While at the Cricketers pub on Aldershot Road at Rydes Hill, Kevin and his team welcome customers with a menu that includes lighter bites, traditional pub classics, kids meals and Sunday roasts.

Rokers Farmhouse Café at Fairlands will reopen on Saturday, April 17, from 9am to 4pm, and then on Mondays to Fridays from 8.30am to 4pm, serving breakfasts, brunches, lunches or coffee and cake.

Surrey County Council elections

The elections are taking place on Thursday, May 6. The candidates are Keith Witham (Conservative), Gina Redpath (Residents 4 Guildford & Villages, Phillia Dolan (Liberal Democrat) and Amanda Creese (Labour).

The date also sees the election of Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

Polling stations will be at Worplesdon Memorial Hall, Fairlands Community Centre, Jacobs Well Village Hall, and St Alban’s Church in Wood Street Village.

Risk assessments conducted by Guildford Borough Council at polling stations in the borough to ensure safe voting in light of Covid-19 include one-way systems in the venues and electrostatic cleaning before the venues open on the day.

Easter trail at St Mary’s Church

Pat of the Easter trail at St Mary’s churchyard.

Worplesdon parish churches held an Easter trail through the churchyard at St Mary’s on Perry Hill, with six Stations of the Cross. They were in place from Palm Sunday to Easter Monday.

members of the Evolve boot camp move some recently felled logs into place.

Members of the Evolve boot camp helped move some recently felled logs into place that helped church members lay out the trail.

The trail and the six Stations of the Cross were well received by visitors to the churchyard. One local resident said” I will have to go back without my dog, so I can sit and take it all in.”

Tennis courts pressure washed

The courts at Worplesdon Tennis Club, at the recreation ground at Perry Hill, were given a pressure wash ahead of players returning on March 29.

Annual membership is less than £2 per week. The club is affiliated to the Lawn Tennis Association and has been granted its Tennis Clubmark, which includes tennis coaching, competitions for adults and juniors,, while members can also apply for tickets for Wimbledon.

Playing tennis again in Worplesdon.

Courts can be booking during the day and also during the evenings when it is also flood-lit.

Football match on the recreation ground.

And some former players who were there to watch.

Saturday, April 10, saw a football match played between Worplesdon and Burpham.

The match was a somewhat rare spectacle of late and those who watched it did comment on the players’ lack of match fitness!

Worplesdon cricketers keen to get playing again.

Cricket will soon be under way at the recreation ground as well.

Sime Gallery to reopen on Sunday, May 23

The opening coincides with the 80th anniversary of the death of artist Sidney Sime who lived with his wife Mary at Crown Cottage Perry Hill from 1904 until his death on May 22 1941.

The incoming Mayor of Guildford, Marsha Moseley, will be visiting on the opening day, while on May 22, the gallery’s volunteers will be visiting Brookwood Military Cemetery marking Sime’s death.

Sime served in the army for a short while during the First World War, despite being aged 51 years. He was discharged with a duodenal ulcer of Armistice Day, November 11, 1918.

During the first part of the Second World War Sime drew some interesting illustrations with his unique way of his thoughts into art form.

A double rainbow!

A remarkable double rainbow was seen over Perry Hill on Friday, March 26.

A double rainbow over Perry Hill.

The month brought most weather conditions and even a sprinkling of snow more than once!

However, the Easter weekend saw sunshine ideal for families to meet outdoors, walking or in gardens as lockdown rules began to change for all.

Meeting up with some special people!

It is interesting the people you meet at St Mary’s churchyard.

I have now seen three photographers this past month taking pictures of wildlife and the flowers.

This keen photographer is on Instagram as dianalou9.

This includes a person who goes on Instagram as dianalou9 and posts photos.

I also met Malcolm Fincham whose Birdwatcher’s Diary in The Guildford Dragon NEWS now numbers 229 editions.

Malcolm Fincham with his trusty camera photographing wildlife.

We are delighted to see his his photos of much-loved birds and other wildlife at Whitmoor Common, Britten’s Pond and in the churchyard.

Phone box decorated for Easter

Tina Lewis decorated the redundant phone box in Frog Grove Lane, Wood Street Village with an Easter theme.

She placed a twig tree with bows and ribbons and space for others to leave a message remembering those who had died of Covid-19, as well as sweets for children.

New gate on Broadstreet Common

A gate has been installed on Broadstreet Common near the road that leads to fruit and vegetable wholesalers Cheesman Bros.

The new metal gate on Broadstreet Common.

Others barriers and blocks have also been installed to prevent unauthorised access to the common that is rich in wildlife. The area is managed by Surrey Wildlife Trust on behalf of Surrey County Council.

Meanwhile, Cheesman Bros, that is also open to the public, has added cakes, jams, relishes, soft drinks and juices to its range for customers who visit.

Asparagus, rhubarb and Jersey Royal potatoes are always seasonal favourites, and look out for the resident peacocks who roam the yard.

News from Wood Street Village

The Wood Street Village Association is hosting a litter pick on Saturday, May 15, at 3pm. Meet outside St Alban’s Church.

Its Maypole and Cricket 150th anniversary event takes place on Saturday, June 26, from 10am to 1pm, on the green.

New Maypole dancers over the age of six years are welcome. Phone Janet Sutton on 01483 825709, for details.

There will be a mini plant sale on the green on Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2, along with the annual village show on Saturday, July 17.

More details on the Wood Street Village Horticultural Society’s website.

Registration for Wood Street Village Cricket Club’s colts starts on Friday, April 16. The first team has a home league match on Saturday, May 1, and a friendly match on Sunday, May 2.

Trauma discharge therapy on offer

Walking On Air Well Being, based at Broadacres, is offering trauma discharge therapies by its trained bio-physical-social therapists.

Appropriate for all ages, check out its website, or phone 01483 454000.

SANG update

The site of Suitable Alternative Green Space (SANG) for public use in Wood Street Village is accessed from Frog Grove Lane.

It covers 21 hectares and is being created to off-set the building of a potential 1,000 homes within a 5km radius.

Its management will be the responsibility of a land trust on behalf of the land’s owners.

The land trust is a charity with managing partners being Surrey Wildlife Trust, the National Trust and the RSPB.

Planting of hedges and trees as part of phase one for the scheme was completed last year.

The fields on the former farmland will be mown annually and will be developed as a wildflower meadow.

It features a wide circular footpath and another path that leads to Bailes Lane in Normandy.

A helping hand

Fairwood Helpers continue to offer support to people in need due to the pandemic, although it is not currently operating its transport service.

Call 01483 237691, if you need help.

It’s for an electronic sign

People may have spotted a black pole that has been erected on the side of the road at Rickford, Perry Hill.

The newly installed pole.

It has been placed there by Surrey County Council and is for an electronic mobile variable message sign-board.

News from Merrist Wood College

The Earthlings forest school held sessions over the Easter holidays that included pebble painting, a mud kitchen, and storytelling around a camp-fire.

Parent and toddler sessions are also available on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings.

The college was featured on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh, with goats and rabbits at the farm.

A view across the fields at Merrist Wood College.

Junior animal keeper days have resumed and a family friendly fun run, called Bubble Rush, takes place on Saturday, June 10.

Guildford’s MP Angela Richardson has said she is delighted the college is one of 16 others that will receive funding from the FE Capital Transformation Fund.

The money will help provide further high quality services for students, including buildings.

Time for a trim or pilates

Barbers and hairdressers who have reopened include Charlie Brown’s and Blendz in Fairlands and the Hair Room at Jacobs Well.

All with safety Covid measure in place.

People can now sign up for pilates classes at Fairlands Community Centre. Apply by email to paul.kassell@ntlworld.com

Performing arts workshops for children

Dynamic Children’s Arts resumes Saturday sessions from Saturday, April 24 at Worplesdon Memorial Hall, Perry Hill.

The workshops are packed with drama, dance, singing, arts and crafts.

Land for burial ground off Salt Box Road

Guildford Borough Council has bought land off Salt Box Road for a burial ground.

The field, a former horse paddock, will, in time, be a haven for wildlife and aims to improve biodiversity.

More litter on Whitmoor Common and new wooden posts to prevent unauthorised parking

Trash left hanging on a tree branch on Whitmoor Common.

Dog poo in plastic bags and other litter continues to be hung in trees on the common – if it’s yours please take it home and dispose of in your own wheelie bin.

Litter and fly-tipping has increased over the past year. Community recycling centres in Surrey have installed vehicle number plate recognition cameras to monitor vehicle usage.

New posts on the grass verge along Salt Box Road.

Wooden posts have been placed on the grass verge along Salt Box Road adjacent to the double yellow lines on the road.

The speed limit is 40mph along Salt Box Road as it is on the A322 from Pitch Place to the roundabout with Holly Lane at Perry Hill.

Round-up from Worplesdon Parish Council

Planning applications lodged with Guildford Borough Council have been observed for an extension at The Christmas Bakery to provide a tea room, plus extra parking, as well as tree crowning at various locations in the parish.

An event application for the Wood Street Village Summer Show, and a request to its cricket club to under-let its pavilion to a pre-school have been received.

There has been maintenance work on White House Pond in Jacobs Well, quarterly inspections of play areas in the parish, and a plan to fell two trees on the green at Perry Hill for safety reasons and to replace them.

To see where people have suggested community projects could receive funding from Surrey County Council, click here.

An extra-ordinary meeting was held for councillors to review all parish council policies.

The annual meeting will be on Thursday, May 20.

The parish council website has been updated to reflect letters of condolence sent by the chairman on behalf of the parish and as sign of respect to the Queen on the death of Prince Phillip.

Worplesdon Parish Council’s letter of condolence.

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