The Worplesdon Witness December 2021

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

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

Christmas is here!

Christmas lights at Perry Hill.

Worplesdon Parish Council’s Christmas lights are now shining in the trees at Perry Hill and there are Christmas trees at St Mary’s church, Perry Hill and on Wood Street Village green. There are also banners wishing everybody a happy Christmas.

The Uke Rhythmics play at Worplesdon WI’s Christmas party.

Worplesdon Women’s Institute held its Christmas party with music and singing from the Uke Rhythmics. There was a seasonal buffet including Christmas cake and mince pies, with the best wrapped gift competition voted for by members and guests and raffle prizes for all.

It’s programme for 2022 includes speakers, social events, coffee mornings and outings. The first meeting on January 5 will see Matt O’Grady talk about life in Royal Navy submarines. The competition is to show your best Christmas card.

Staff and owners of Worplesdon pre-school.

Worplesdon pre-school held its Nativity play. Staff were thanked for their hard work and parents, grandparents and families were welcomed to the school to watch and enjoy. It was hailed a fantastic event.

Order your chocolate Yule logs from The Christmas Bakery.

At The Christmas Bakery at the foot of Rickford Hill there are delicious chocolate Yule logs, mince pies and seasonal decorated cakes.

Worplesdon church’s Christmas services.

Worplesdon’s churches offer coffee mornings and evening prayers via Zoom. There are also Alpha courses as well as its normal Sunday services.

The Christmas tree inside St Mary’s church.

There is a fabulous Christmas tree inside St Mary’s church.

Mike, Dan and David who have been installing the new LED lights, pictured with the Revd Alex Russell.

Work to improve lighting to the church path at St Mary’s has taken place with low energy LED lights.

There will be carols on Wood Street Green on Saturday, December 18, from 4pm, with music, muled wine, mince pies. There will be a collection for The Children’s Society. If the weather is inclement it will be held at St Alban’s church

St Alban’s church, Wood Street Village, with its Christmas tree lit.

There will be a Burns Night celebration at Worplesdon Memorial Hall on Friday, January 28. Tickets will be on sale from Monday, January 10.

Used stamps to be used by local charities fundraising can be dropped off at the parish office, through the letterbox, in a sealed bag.

A Christmas market is being held at Fairlands Community Centre on Sunday, December 19, from 10.30am to 4pm.

Jacobs Well Village Hall is the venue for a popular country market. The next one is on Friday, December 17, from 10am to 11.30am. There will also be mulled wine and mince pies. It returns weekly from January 14. On sale will be handmade crafts and foods and why not enjoy a coffee with friends as well.

The Royal oak pub at Wood Street Village is offering a festive three-course meal for £25 per head. Advance booking is essential. Pizzas are still available to eat in or to takeaway.

Father Christmas will be at the Jolly Farmer pub, Burdenshott Road, on Saturday, December 18, at 4pm. There will be carol singing at 6pm.

And he will be touring Fairlands on Sunday, December 19. His visit starts at the community Centre at 4pm. His route will take in the Fairlands estate and also with Liddington New Road and Liddington Hall Drive. Santa says he hopes the weather will be better than last year!

Worplesdon Primary School’s parent teacher association has been raising money with a Christmas hamper raffle. They were delighted to raise £935 for Children in Need in which pupils dressed up for the national fundraising event.

Lord Lieutenant’s visit to the Sime Gallery

The Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, visited the Sime Gallery at Worplesdon Memorial Hall on Wednesday, November 24.

At the Sime Gallery, from left: Surrey’s Lord Lieutenant, Michael More-Molyneux; trustees Marilyn Scott and Mary Broughton, Cllr Keith Witham, and Deputy Surrey Lieutenant, Lady Elizabeth Toulson.

He said the gallery “is another artistic gem in Surrey” and said he looks forward to returning again.

He was joined by Deputy Lieutenant Lady Elizabeth Toulson, Worplesdon’s Surrey County councillor Keith Witham, and some of the trustees of the gallery.

Tea was enjoyed in the Ta Ta café in the Tovey Room at the hall, courtesy of gallery volunteer Jo da Costa-Santos.

Last year, Ewbank’s auctioneers held an auction of promises to raise funds for NHS charities. One of the donated lots was by the gallery, a cream tea there. And the winners, four artists, have now visited the gallery. They enjoyed their tea and a talk about the gallery and artist Sidney Sime.

Generations celebrate

A family has gathered to celebrate its five generations. Shown in the photo is Peter Brown who was born in 1923. His son John was born in 1947, both of whom live in Worplesdon. Helen Paisley was born in 1966, and her daughter, Chloe Gamble, was born 1990, and her newborn son Oliver, was born in August this year.

The generations celebrate!

It is Peter’s second great great grandchild. He now has eight children, 16 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

Since 1981 the family has held a party on Boxing Day for close relatives and cousins.

Church quiz night fun

The quiz night at Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

Worplesdon Memorial Hall hosted the annual church quiz night and the team who won for the fifth time went by the name The Crew of the Black Pig.

Fifteen teams entered and there was a fish and chip supper. It was a very varied evening with one round on computer games and another on royalty.

Night full of laughter

Worplesdon resident Cheryl Knight’s show, Ode to Joyce Grenfell, held at Worplesdon Memorial Hall was much enjoyed.

Cheryl Knight’s show, Ode to Joyce Grenfell, at Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

David Willis who attended said: “I have not laughed so much for ages. Cheryl sang beautifully and presented some of Miss Grenfeld funniest monologues with the same facial features and voice.”

She was accompanied on the piano by Paul Knight.

Chamber choir’s fundraising concert

The Laudamus Chamber Choir’s concert at St Mary’s church.

The Laudamus Chamber Choir’s concert at St Mary’s church raised £745.86 for The Children’s Society. The audience sat at the rear of the church to enable the choir to sing, mindful of Covid variants.

Entertainment at Fairlands Community Centre

The centre held a murder mystery play by the Fairlands Players. At the Fairlands club there was a concert by the fabulous Rockin’ Crescendos with music from the 1950s and 60s.

News from Worplesdon Parish Council

Meetings have included a review of the Surrey Hills Area of Natural Beauty by Natural England. The parish council has the opportunity to provide evidence of why it should be included in the new designated area. More details on the parish council’s website.

Planning applications have been scrutinised including those for the North Moors allotment site at Slyfield. Other items discussed include the draft budget for the parish, replacement trees due to disease, the Queen’s platinum jubilee, borough and county councillors’ reports, grass cutting, the community payback scheme, revised road safety scheme for Clay Lane, an event application for Wood Street Village green, and annual playground inspections.

Guildford Borough Councillor Bob McShee (R4GV, Worplesdon), told the parish council that animals will be allowed to graze on the paddock off Salt Box Road and adjacent to Whitmoor Common. The paddock is now owned by the borough council and in future it may be used as a place of burial.

County Councillor’s round up

Worplesdon’s Conservative Surrey County Councillor Keith Witham notes in his December round-up that bus company Stagecoach will take over a number of local roots from December 18. Advice has been given to elderly and vulnerable people to enable them to stay safe in their homes this winter. There has been consultation on Surrey minerals and waste, flooding action, and a police round up.

To report flooding residents can contact Surrey highways on 0300 200 1003, or email flooding.enquiries@Surreycc.gov.uk

For issues on sewers and a foul water phone Thames Water on 0800 316 9800.

Road works issues in Fairlands

The road works in Fairlands Avenue.

Road repairs on Fairlands Avenue caused issues with residents. These were resolved by changing the hours of the roadworks and to enable school traffic to enter and exit the estate.

Click here for useful information on roadworks.

Go litter picking!

It is always good to meet wonderful local residents out litter picking. Jane from the Avenue is seen here picking up rubbish discarded from cars. She spent an hour doing this after dropping her son to school.

Jane, litter picking in the Avenue.

Wood Street Village is hosting a litter pick on February 5. Meet outside St Alban’s church at 3 pm. Equipment will be provided and children are welcome. The village association will buy you a drink in the Royal Oak pub afterwards.

Try something new in the new year

If you are looking to try a new hobby then you may be interested in an upholstery and soft furnishings class that starting in January in Wood Street Village on Tuesdays, from 12.30pm to 2.30pm. For more information send an email to: Janet.Rowland@yahoo.co.uk

New Year resolutions could include joining Evolve Bootcamps for your health and wellbeing along with new yoga classes at Worplesdon Memorial Hall. For details of the yoga classes, call Janet on 07788 977526.

New benches in remembrance garden

The newly created garden of remembrance at St Mary’s church has two beautiful memorial benches. One is in loving memory of Geraldine Wright (1945-2020), and the other treasured memories of Wendy Fullbrook (1942-2019).

The garden of remembrance at St Mary’s church.

The garden is in a most beautiful setting within the churchyard under ancient yew trees. The bird life is plentiful in the churchyard, often recorded by Malcolm Fincham in his Birdwatcher’s Diary reports in The Guildford Dragon NEWS.

Bus shelter gets some TLC

Work underway on the bus shelter.

Worplesdon Parish Council’s head groundsman, Peter Trevena, has been busy repairing and painting one of its bus shelters, it being at Perry Hill.

Fleecy frolics events at Merrist Wood College

Tickets are now on sale for Merrist Wood College’s popular fleecy frolics event on Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24. Pre-booking is essential as there will be no tickets on the day. Click here for details.

Sandra Morgan receives freedom of the parish of Worplesdon

Click here for separate story.

Wet, wet, wet…

There has been trouble outside Perry Hill Antiques shop with water from a damaged pipe flooding the premises.