The Worplesdon Witness, August 2020

Published on: 14 Aug, 2020
Updated on: 15 Aug, 2020

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

Blaze on Whitmoor Common

About two hectars of Whitmoor Common was affected by a fire on Wednesday afternoon, August 12.

The burnt patch of Whitmoor Common photographed two days after the fire of Wednesday, August 12.

Surrey Fire & Rescue reported nine of its vehicles attended the blaze and Salt Box Road was temporarily closed.

Guildford’s MP visits Sime Gallery

Guildford MP Angela Richardson visited the Sime Gallery at Worplesdon Memorial Hall on Wednesday, August 12, a rearranged visit that had originally been scheduled for April.

Guildford MP Angela Richardson at her visit to the Sime Gallery.

The MP spent over two hours hearing about the gallery by some of the trustees including Mary Broughton (pictured above right), Marjorie Stewart (pictured above left) and Jan Messinger.

The gallery can now receive donations by card as well as cash and the MP was first to use the newly purchased card reader.

The gallery is currently open on Wednesdays and Sundays from 2pm to 4pm, appointment only.

Following government guidance, it offers a small intimate venue for family or bubble to visit in a safe environment with toilets and parking, with an art competition running until the end of August. More details on its website.

Death of John Collier – ‘a kind and thoughtful man and a true Christian’

Parishioners at St Mary’s Church, Perry Hill, are mourning the death of John Collier, who was verger and church warden for many years.

As a child he sang in the choir and attending Sunday school and later became a bell ringer and tower captain of St Mary’s bells.

He lived at Fox Corner until he married Lynn and they moved to Church Crookham. However, he continued his regular commitment to St Mary’s traveling by bus or train to get to Worplesdon and would regularly be seen walking in all weathers up Holly Lane for Sunday services.

His role as verger meant he attended every wedding and funeral and also dug the graves in the churchyard.

A truly outstanding commitment to St Mary’s church throughout his life, it was with great sadness that as the doors of the church reopened for the first service in four months that his death was announced to the 18 worshipers present.

Churches open after reviewing indoor space

St Mary’s Church and St Alban’s Church (Wood Street Village) can now welcome 30 and 20 worshipers respectively, under social distancing rules as set by the Diocese of Guildford.

St Mary’s Church, Worplesdon.

Weekly services also continue online via YouTube. They have been prerecorded from harvest festival to Christmas.

On-line Zoom coffee mornings on Sunday continue to be held.

Funerals will be held at St Mary’s and baptisms at St Alban’s, while weddings will resume in line with government and Church of England guidelines.

For details click here.

Busy bees at Worplesdon Place

Worplesdon Place hotel and restaurant has some new beehives with jars of honey to be given to hotel guests.

Bee hire at Worplesdon Place.

While its honey bee gin comes with a wedge of honey comb topping it off.

Diners are advised to book in advance including Sunday roasts and afternoon teas.

It is participating in the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme from Mondays to Wednesdays. Click here for more details.

Download the Youngs app to make payment easier as it is currently not accepting cash.

Others participating in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme

The White Hart at Wood Street Village, the Jolly Farmer in Burdenshott Road and Rokers Farmhouse cafe in Holly Lane are all participating in the government’s discount scheme of up to 50% of bills up to £10 per person.

Treats for dogs too at Rokers Farmhouse cafe!

Cost of clear up after un-authorised travellers’ camps said to be more than £50,000

Worplesdon’s Surrey County Councillor Keith Witham.

Worplesdon’s Surrey County Councillor Keith Witham (Con) reports that the clear up cost of recent un-authorised travellers’ camps on Broadstreet Common has been over £50,000 to the tax payer.

And residents are reminded to ensure trades people have the valid licence for waste disposal including garden waste, as these items have been included in the refuse left by the travellers.

There have been site meetings in the area with officers from Surrey County Council, Surrey Fire & Rescue Service and Worplesdon Parish Council’s clerk, looking at more permanent solutions.

Cllr Witham is currently undertaking an online residents’ survey on issues affecting them. Click here for his Facebook page.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream for one night only

Worplesdon Memorial Hall is hosting Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Scoot Theatre on Monday, August 24 on the adjacent recreational ground.

Performances are at 3pm and 6pm.

Tickets must be booked in advance, click here for details.

If you fancy a game of tennis…

The tennis courts at Worplesdon Memorial Recreation Ground. Worplesdon’s Parish Council’s groundsman Peter Trevenacan inspects them for the last time before hand over.

Two tennis courts leased by Worplesdon Parish Council have been returned to the trustees of Worplesdon Mamorial Hall and recreation ground.

For details on booking a court contact Worplesdon Tennis Club

All in a day’s work

The duties of Worplesdon’s Parish Council’s groundsman Peter Trevenacan include inspecting the parish’s playgrounds, painting bus shelters looked after by the parish, along with general repairs, removing vegetation, clearing drains and replacing damaged parish items, as well as liaising with other agencies.

Worplesdon’s Parish Council’s groundsman Peter Trevenacan.

Fairlands news

The club at Fairlands Community Centre has reopened. Volunteers have been busy decorating and making changes the main hall hoping to reopen it in September

The popular free local magazine of the Fairlands, Liddington Hall and Gravetts Lane Community Association is planned to be printed in colour later this year.

Debbie Foster with her certificate.

More than 25 people nominated Fairlands resident Debbie Foster for an award from Guildford MP Angela Richardson, for her volunteer work throughout lockdown.

Debbie is also volunteer for Fairwood Helpers who continue to support people with transport to GP surgery appointments, prescription collections and shopping.

Extra volunteer always required, call 01483 237619.

Jazz on the green at Wood Street Village

Despite the Wood Street Show cancelled this year due to the coronavirus, the Wood Street Jazz Festival will take place on Sunday afternoon, August 23.

Jazz on the Green at Wood Street Village takes place on Sunday, August 23.

Click here for more details and to book tickets.

Walking on air along Broadstreet

Since 1999 the former Women’s Institue hall along Broadstreet at Rydes Hill, has been the home of Walking On Air Well Being.

Walking On Air Well Being’s premises on Broadstreet, Rydes Hill.

Founder and master therapist Jane Lee installed a hyperbaric oxygen chamber there in 2006.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry. An increase in blood oxygen temporarily restores normal levels of blood gases and tissue function to promote healing and fight infection.

Jane says the therapy can also be used to help resolution of serious burns, soft tissue and bone injuries including fractures, infections and wounds.

It has benefits for diabetes and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. The hyperbaric oxygen helps patients cope with the heavy regime while having treatment.

It also has a vast amount of uses including for mental health, bereavement, brain injury and pre and post surgery.

Click here for Walking on Air Well Being’s website.

Or call 01483 454000.

Happy 90th birthday

Jacobs Well residents have wished Heather Kidman a happy 90th birthday.

Heather Kidman. Picture: Jacobs Well Residents’ Association’s Facebook page.

Heather has volunteered at many local events and well as being a committee member of Jacobs Well Residents’ Association.

She was amazed to receive 84 birthday cards.

Click here for details of Jacobs Well Residents’ Association.

Christmas Bakery

The Christmas Bakery at the foot of Rickfod Hill is now allowing three customers at a time in the shop. Face masks must be worn.

Plea to take your litter home

The grassed public areas throughout Worplesdon have been enjoyed by many people, but litter continues to be a problem.

Guildford Borough Council is reminding people there is a £150 fine for dropping litter, rising to £2,500 if a charge goes to court.

News from Merrist Wood College

Events at Merrist Wood College have included its dog day care, outdoor cinema, while meet the meerkat experiences are now running again.

Children who have attended Earthlings forest school’s summer camps, held at Merrist Wood College, made quills from rheas’ feathers using local blackberries squashed up for the ink, along with foraging for apples and blackberries to cook crumble on a campfire. .

There was also pond dipping, bug hunting and nature walks.

And Charlotte Ng, who runs Earthlings forest school, even found time to make scrubs for NHS for healthcare workers in Guildford.