The Worplesdon Witness August 2022

Published on: 18 Aug, 2022
Updated on: 18 Aug, 2022

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

News from The Sime Gallery

The Sime Gallery held its first Sime Art Reception hosted by Grant and Christine Sessions for Worplesdon residents keen to widen the knowledge that it has an art gallery.

Grant Sessions with the chairman of the trustees of the Sime Gallery, Mary Broughton.

A brief presentation was given by Marilyn Scott and Mary Broughton both trustees of the gallery that is within Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

The Sime Gallery reception in Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

Guests had wine and canapés and visited the wonderful and varied collection of art works produced by Sidney Herbert Sime (1865-1941) who lived at Perry Hill Worplesdon, from 1904.

The event was sponsored by estate agnets Seymours and Mr Sessions had acquired a vast array of raffle prizes.

It is expected money raised from the evening will be £3,000.

The Sime Gallery will be buying an additional display cabinet to enable more of the artist’s work to be seen by visitors.

One visitor who enjoyed the event, said: “What a great space and impressive art collection. I look forward to returning to have a more leisurely look at Sime’s work.”

Children busy at the xart activities workshop.

During this summer’s school holidays primary age children attended an art activities workshop, prepared by trustee Cath Mirmak.

The Sime Gallery will have extended opening hours for Heritage Open Days. These will be: Friday, September 9, from 2pm to 4pm; Saturday, September 10, from 11am to 4pm; and Sunday, September 11, from 2pm to 4pm.

There will be a talk by Stephen Cranstone and a children’s workshop with a printing theme on the Sunday.

Click here for more details.

Wholesale grocer goes greener

Cheesman of Wood Street Village is introducing an eco-friendly electric delivering van to its fleet of vehicles.

Cheesman’s new eco van.

It has also received an award from the Surrey Lieutenancy in appreciation for Cheesman’s outstanding support for the community.

The Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, thanked the business for its hard work, commitment and selfless dedication.

Cheesman’s supplies businesses, schools as well as customers who wish to buy direct from its base at Luxford Farm, off Broadstreet. Open 8am to 3pm weekdays and 7am to noon on Saturdays.

Bakery also has an electric vehicle

The Christmas Bakery at Rickford now has a fully electric vehicle as well as a new Facebook page featuring its products and how they are made.

Open 7.30am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, the bakery also offers event and party catering. Its online shop highlights its sandwich and cake platters. This also includes a click and collect cake service.

Sam with Paws For A Snack’s promotions stall at The Christmas Bakery.

The bakery also sells Paws For A Snack items for dogs, including home-made treats made with natural vegan dog-friendly ingredients, in addition to pies with sweet potato and vegan pea puree and cakes.

Give space to horses and their riders

Rural life in Worplesdon sees horses enjoying the area too. I met Abbie with her horse Troy and Torie with her horse Murphy, who were exercising their horses on a summer’s day.

Abbie with her horse Troy and Torie with her horse Murphy.

They explained that some motorists do not follow rule 215 of the Highway Code – to be careful of horse riders and horse drawn-vehicles when approaching or overtaking

Motorists should slow down to 10mph and allow two meters of space between their vehicle and the horse and rider.

Abbie and Torie care about their horses and enjoy local bridleways. However, they have to use roads to get from one place to another.

Through recent speed data recordings, Worplesdon Parish Council has found the A323 Aldershot Road and Clay Lane are still showing a high number of vehicles being driven over the 40mph and 30mph speeds limits, with some speeds in excess of 100mph being recorded.

Cider festival at the Royal Oak Pub

The Royal Oak pub in Wood Street Village is hosting a cider festival on Sunday, August 28, from 3pm.

There will also be real ale and pizza, and bands including Los Doritos, plus a raffle and cake sale raising money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital, which is one of only three stand-alone children’s hospitals in the UK.

Parish lunch date and weddings at St Mary’s

The next Worplesdon parish lunch will be on Tuesday, September 20.

Diners need to book the week before, call the church office on 01483 233091.

St Mary’s church bells ring out on Friday nights as ringers practice. And with recent church weddings, it’s something rather special to note one in particular had this vintage police car as part of its wedding vehicles.

Celebrating centenary of Worplesdon Memorial Hall

And the bells will be ringing on Thursday evening, October 13, to mark the centenary of Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

A weekend of celebrations begin with a reception from 3pm on Friday, October 14, a jazz evening on Saturday, October 15, and on Sunday, October 16 there will a talk by Geoff Burch and David Rose on the hall’s first 100 years, plus musical entertainment from Sunflower productions.

Revised date for annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Fairlands, Liddington Hall and Gravetts Lane Community Association will now be on Tuesday, September 6, at 8pm in the bar at Fairlands Community Centre.

Looking ahead, there will be a Christmas afternoon tea on Sunday, December 18.

News from the parish council

A new bench on the green at Perry Hill has be installed following a donation to Worplesdon Parish Council.

The plaque on the new bench.

It was from monies held by Perry Hill’s United Reformed Church before it closed.

The bench features an image of the church (formerly a Congregational chapel) with the wording: “In Memory of United Reformed Church Members The Burch, Tickner and Philps families all of whom enjoyed views over this Green”.

People who are descended from these local families are delighted with the bench, made from recycled materials, as it provides a welcome rest along a footpath by the green.

Sue and Steve Fry sitting on the new bench.

Among the the first visitors to sit on the bench were Sue and Steve Fry out on a walk.

Books donated to schools

Worplesdon Parish Council has donated books to local schools to mark the Queen’s platinum jubilee.

Worplesdon Primary, Wood Street Infant and Rydes Hill Preparatory School had their books delivered by parish council chairman Nigel Mitchell.

Rydes Hill Preparatory School is waiting until September 7 to see if it is the winner the of Independent School of the Year Award 2022, having been shortlisted in July.

What you parish council has been doing

A round up of Worplesdon Parish Council meetings included: discussing nine planning applications, Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council councillors’ reports; a formal complaint over the duck feeding sign in Jacobs Well; badgers on Broadstreet common and new play equipment at the Cricketers pub; an application to extend a track over common land; land management and financial reports; application for Wood Street Village Show on July, 15 2023; a memorial bench for Wood Street Village’s John Gunner; a grant request for Whitmoor Common Association; construction of a short path in Harry’s Meadow at Jacobs Well, to a watercourse; and appointment of additional staff.

The public are always welcome to attend meetings and there are still vacancies for parish councillors, with elections taking place next year.

The parish council is a statutory elected local authority which acts as a voice for local opinion by keeping in close and regular contact with its electorate and provides a focus for voluntary organisations within the area.

The pond at Jacobs Well with its water level lower due to the drought. The parish council looks after the pond.

Platimum beacon installed and other news from Fairlands

Fairlands’ platinum jubilee beacon on the community centre.

Fairlands’ platinum jubilee beacon has been installed on top of the community centre as a permanent reminder of a great and historic day.

Local historian and writer David Rose is the guest speaker at Fairlands Women’s Institute on Tuesday, September 13, his illustrated talk being Guildford Past and Present.

The group meets in ther main hall at Worplesdon Primary School from 7pm to 9pm and new members are welcome.

The community centre continues to run an art group, is home to Fairlands Players, Bizzy Bees crafts, Guides, Rangers, Rainbows and Brownies, Move it or loose it, Meditation, Zumba, Pilates, Surrey Swing dancing and Ceroc.

Bar entertainment continues with bingo, quizes and music, with Saturday, September 3 featuring Decades music.

Opening hours are Fridays 4pm to 11pm, Saturdays 7.30pm to 11pm and Sundays noon to 4pm.

Road improvement

Picture shows the resurfacing on Gooserye Road.

There has been further resurfacing of Gooserye Road, this time closer to A322 junction.

Chamomile seen growing on the green

Chamomile has been discovered growing on Wood Street Village Green and photographed by Janet and Peter Sutton.

Chamomile growing on Wood Street Village green.

Commonly used in tea, this wild plant is only found in a few areas of southern England. It prefers to grow in mown or grazed grassland and open places. However, chamomile is facing high risk of extinction in the wild.

Mixed success for cricketers

Both Wood Street Village and Burpham & Worplesdon Cricket Clubs are having mixed success this season.

However, providing activities for young children, hopefully they will be the players of the future.

Groundsmen at work on the cricket pitch at Worplesdon Memorial Grounds.

Clubs are struggling to keep their cricket squares green and with the outfields being just dried grass.

Water leak finally repaired

A water leak near St Mary’s Church at Perry Hill has finally been repaired by Affinity Water.

The water leak near st Mary’s Church, Perry Hill.

The water firm has thousands of water leaks in the South East of England, while has reminded customers to stay cool and keep hydrated in extreme hot weather.

The UK is now officially in a drought and people are asked to use water wisely.

Summer fete at care home

Worplesdon View care home has been providing a range of things to do for residents based on afternoon tea as well as exciting garden activities.

Its summer fete is this Saturday, August 20 from noon to 4pm.

Dine with wine at the White Hart pub

The White Hart pub in Wood Street Village has dine with wine evenings every Wednesday; a Thirsty Thursday two for one cocktails from 5pm to 9pm; Gin fizz Friday from 6pm; and children can eat for half price on Sundays.

From September 5, Worplesdon Place will host a quiz night every Monday at 7.30pm. £2 per person to enter, with a £50 bar tab for the winning team.

It also says: “This is the place to celebrate your wedding and the events co-ordinator Emily is waiting for your call.”

If you are looking for work, join the team by emailing worplesdonplace@youngs.co.uk

Bovan brows are great egg layers says Rokers

Rokers animal feeds and tack at Fairlands announces it will be selling Bovan Brown chickens, saying they are easy to manage and great egg layers.