The Worplesdon Witness December 2022

Published on: 15 Dec, 2022
Updated on: 14 Dec, 2022

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

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Worplesdon Parish Council has two Christmas trees, one at the entrance to St Mary’s church at Perry Hill and the other on the green at Wood Street Village.

Christmas tree at the entrance to St Mary’s Church.

Christmas lights on the green at Perry Hill.

Christmas lights at Perry Hill Antiques.

There are also lights in the trees at Perry Hill and Dave Jenkins of Perry Hill Antiques has joined in this year with seasonal lights around his shop and a tree made of flags.

Mince pies at the Christmas Bakery.

The Christmas Bakery at Rickford has its Christmas cakes, a range of decorated gingerbread, shortbread and best of all chocolate Yule logs.

Cheesman’s fruit and vegetables of Wood Street Village has all your Christmas requirements including chutneys, a selection of jams and cheeses.

Fairlands and Jacobs Well village halls have held their seasonal Christmas markets.

There will be carol singing at Wood Street Village green on Saturday, December 17. And also at Worplesdon Place hotel and restaurant on December 21.

Worplesdon Place hotel and restaurant looking very festive.

New owners of the White Hart pub

The White Hart in Wood Street Village’s phone is now working, 01483 662243, for those wishing to call for a reservation or email hola@thewhitehartpub.com

It is offering a New Year’s Eve menu with a DJ from 10pm until 1am.

Owners Axel Murrie and Lee Johnson, Olly, the head chef and Jay, the general manager welcome visitors over the festive season.

There is a Christmas three-course set menu for £45.

Christmas fare at the Royal Oak pub

Throughout December the Royal Oak pub in Wood Street Village is offering a three-course meal for £28.

It hosted a wicker wreath session on December 1. Check out its Christmas lights too.

The Royal Oak pub lit up for Christmas.

Festive season at the Jolly Farmer and the Cricketers pubs

The Jolly Farmer on Burdenshott Road continues its food and wine pairing, along with carol singers.

Look out for its doggy days and a welcoming log fire.

The Cricketers at Rydes Hill has a New Year’s Eve party from 7.30pm, and says: “Get on your dancing shoes for the disco throughout the night.”

It also has a Christmas party menu until December 30 and a Christmas Day menu. To book for Christmas Day ring 01483 575901.

Christmas church services and other events

There is a full programme of services at both St Mary’s and St Alban’s churches.

The Posada Christmas festival Mary and Joseph (pictured above) have been travelling around the parish going to people’s homes and schools.

Bobble hat Christmas tree.

A bobble hat tree is at St Albans’s Church for a suggested donation of £5 in aid of the East Clandon charity Cherry Trees, and you can get a hat for yourself or a gift.

Burns Night will be celebrated on January 20 at Normandy Village Hall. Tickets £20 and children £5.

Young Musician of the Year competition

The competition aims to encourage music within Worplesdon.

Initial judging took place on December 11, and the quality of the entries was superb, including flute, bassoon, piano, oboe, violin, French horn, voice, cello, trumpet, guitar, drums and saxophone.

The judges were extremely impressed with the musical talent which exists in Worplesdon and are looking forward to the quarter-finals.

Click on the link for more details. www.worplesdonparish.com/worplesdon-young-musicians-latest/

Curate bids farewell

The curate of Worplesdon Parish, the Revd Barry Hanson, will be leaving on December 31.

There will be a united service on January 8, at 10.30am at St Alban’s Church to say bid him farewell, followed by a bring and share lunch.

Barry has done a great deal for the parish and is wished well for his future ministry by all.

Barry dressed in orange at St Alban’s Christingle service earlier in December.

New mosque takes shape

The Guildford Muslim community has been busy with its refurbishment of the former United Reformed Church chapel on Rickford Hill.

Much work is taking place so its members can worship there. Now officially a mosque, its new sign can now been seen on the front of the building.

The new mosque in the former Guildford United Reformed Church’s chapel.

Quiz night enjoyed by all

Worplesdon churches has held a quiz at Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

Fifteen teams battled the 15 rounds and enjoyed a fish and chip supper.

Quizzers from far and wide returned to see old friends and filled the hall.

Setting up the for quiz night.

Scenes for Netfix’s The Crown filmed at St Mary’s Church

It’s not every day a film crew comes to Worplesdon.

Some of the film crew’s vehicles.

But for two days in December they did, complete with a green Mini car, a blue Ford Escort estate and an old Rover police car, plus actors of course.

They then went to film at Brookwood Cemetery.

Sime Gallery’s first annual talk

The Sime Gallery, at Worplesdon Memorial Hall, has held its first annual talk.

Held at St Mary’s church and titled New Dawn, it was given by Mary Branson and nearly 100 people attended.

Mary Branson giving her talk.

Mary spoke about her contemporary light structure celebrating women’s suffrage that is sited at the entrance to St Stephen’s Hall at the Houses of Parliament.

It is a permanent addition to the Parliamentary art collection and celebrates 100 years of votes for women.

It is a light instillation of 168 Venus symbols made of glass discs. It was turned down to just one light when the body of Queen Elizabeth II lay in state at Westminster Hall.

Parish council round up

A round up from Worplesdon Parish Council includes a flood forum chaired by Guildford MP Angela Richardson, damage to recently installed fencing to assist safer crossing for Merrist Wood College students on Holly Lane, and vehicles have been driven again onto Wood Street Village green leaving large ruts.

The flood forum meeting.

Residents have been interested in a planning application in Gravetts Lane to demolish stables and replace them with 10 homes. This, along with the other 10 planning applications, the parish council is due to consider at its meeting on Thursday, December 15.

Other items on the agenda at the meeting include, approving the 2023-24 budget and a proposed development off School Lane, Perry Hill.

A meeting was held at Jacobs Well Village Hall on December 6 for residents regarding a proposal for highway improvements on the A320 Woking Road in relation to the Weyside Urban village development at nearby Slyfield.

Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council, who own parts of Stringers Common, plan to apply to the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs for an order to deregister sections of common land to improve the junction.

More flooding!

Flooding has occurred at usual hot spots near Rokers in Farlands, Perry Hill and in Wood Street Village.

Flooding again at Perry Hill.

At Perry Hill, Affinity Water spent two days digging a large hole in a verge to make repairs in relation to water being off in other parts of Guildford.

Affinity Water digging deep!

New buildings at Rokers

Equestrian and supplies store Rokers’ new buildings are coming along. The first part of new retail building is complete.

The current store is open as normal although the entrance is now through the first left-hand entrance, and the Farmhouse Café is also open.

The second part of the development is expected to completed by the spring, then the existing building will be taken down and the third part of the development will replace it.

The children’s play centre is built and fitting out will begin after the retail buildings are finished.

Body shop awards for Silvester’s

Silvester Crash Repair garage on the Aldershot road at Clasford has received a NBRA UK Bodyshop award.

Silvester’s are proud of their award.

The garage has been servicing vehicles for decades and is a trusted crash repair centre.

Click on the link for the garage’s website: www.silvestercrashrepair.uk or phone 01483 237001, or email shop@silvestercrashrepair.uk

Celebrations at Worplesdon View care home

Worplesdon View care home celebrated the 30th celebration of Barchester healthcare with a Laurel and Hardy cabaret by Lucky Dog Theatre Productions.

The care home has been supporting Age UK Surrey by selling Christmas cards, while Remembrance Sunday was marked by unveiling two new silhouette statues from the Royal British Legion.

The silhouette stautues at Worplesdon View care home.

Its Christmas trees are up and can offer respite care over the Christmas period with good company, enriching activities and delicious food.

Party time for Worplesdon Women’s Institute

Worplesdon WI held its Christmas party at the Memorial hall with a competition for the best cracker, along with entertainment from harpist Margaret Watson.

She performs her varied repertoire at a variety of venues, often wearing resplendent costumes.

Harpist Margaret Watson.

Children shine at drama showcase

At Dynamic Performing Arts’ Christmas showcase at Worplesdon Memorial Hall children were encouraged to shine.

The young performers pose for a photo.

Dancers and performers provided an afternoon’s entertainment and enjoyed delicious cakes.

There were ballet dancers, modern dancers, tap and street stars. They were showcasing their class performances from their weekly Saturday morning sessions.

Look out for Santa!

Don’t forget, Santa will be on his sleigh around Fairlands on Sunday, December 18, from 4pm starting at the community centre.

The proposed route is listed in the December issue of the Fairlands, Liddington Hall and Gravetts Lane Community Association’s (FLGCA) magazine.

Fairlands Seniors’ Christmas tea party is being held at the community centre  on Sunday afternoon, December 18.

In January there will be bingo at the community centre on Fridays January 13 and 27, family skittles and fish and chips on Saturday, January 7, and a quiz night Wednesday, January 18, in the community centre’s bar.

FLGCA’s annual meeting will be held on January 23 at 8pm in the bar.

Also, Auntie Esmes’ pet grooming at Fairlands has a raffle with pet-themed prizes.

Raffle with pet-themed prizes.

Tickets are £2 each with a profits going to local charity No Boundaries Dog Rescue.

Charlie Brown’s hair and beauty salon’s raffle will be drawn this weekend (December 17-18) too.

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