The Worplesdon Witness: It’s Christmas Here!

Published on: 25 Nov, 2019
Updated on: 1 Dec, 2019

Yule logs from the Christmas Bakery.

Introducing the first of a new regular column that sits within our Opinion section, that also features the Effingham Eye and the Ash Aspect.

Worplesdon resident and parish councillor Jan Messinger will be reporting on a range of topics covering Perry Hill, Wood Street Village, Fairlands and Jacobs Well, that all make up the area known as Worplesdon – said to be one of the largest parishes in the UK!

Here Jan gets into the festive mood with events coming up over the next few weeks.

All lit up!

With less than a month to go until Christmas Day, Worplesdon is getting into the festive season. Worplesdon Parish Council will soon be putting up the Christmas trees and switching on the lights at Perry Hill and on Wood Street Village green.

People who have a travel around when it gets dark seem to be delighted to see the village lit up. With many residents of Fairlands who decorate their house frontage, there is plenty to enjoy.

Christmas lights in the trees at Perry Hill.

Christmas fairs and more

The PTA at Worplesdon Primary School in Envis Way, Fairlands is holding a Christmas fair this Sunday Sunday, December 1, from 11.30am to 2pm.

There will be lots of stalls including top quality food, a cake auction, jolly jars, raffle and a chance to meet Santa.

The school’s forest school teacher Mrs Sherlock, along with local residents Bob and Sheila Willis, have already taken children to plant daffodils in the recently erected raised beds around the newly planted trees just outside the Fairlands shops. They have been put there by Worplesdon Parish Council.

There will be Christmas music and carols at Fairlands Community Centre on Sunday, December 1, at 3pm, featuring singers from Worplesdon Primary School and the Rhythm of Life Community Choir. The choir features Guildford Dragon NEWS writer and local historian David Rose, who sings and accompanies the choir on guitar. Not to be missed!

Festive purchases can be made at Fairlands shops. You may need a haircut for your celebrations, buy festive food or cards and party decorations along with your parcel and letter posting at the post office and party shop.

The 9,000-plus residents across Worplesdon are blessed with post offices in Wood Street Village and Jacobs Well too, both situated within village convenience stores.

Wood Street Infant School at Oak Hill is holding its PTA Christmas fair on Saturday, December 7, from 1pm to 3pm.

There will be jolly jars, raffle, a bottle tombola and lots, lots more.

Pupils will be enjoying a Yvonne Arnaud Theatre trip to see the pantomime before they finish for the Christmas holidays.

Merrist Wood College, off Holly Lane is hosting its Festive Animal Fun event on Sunday, December 1, from noon to 4pm. Limited tickets are available to meet festive animals. The event includes, story-time with Santa, festive crafts, stalls and fun at the farm with twinkle the pony.

Jacobs Well Residents’ Association is holding a children’s Christmas party on Saturday, December 7, from 3pm to 5pm. Tickets are £3 via facebook, com/jacobswell residents or call 07815 881265. There will also be a table top sale this Saturday, November 30, at 10am.

Jacobs Well residents Matt, Marta and Mia Gaskin are holding a free Christmas lunch at St Joseph’s Church Hall in Guildford town centre on Christmas Day.

They hope to serve dinner for 200 elderly or lonely people, including foreign students who do not return home over Christmas.

Matt started by inviting people to his home six years ago and this has grown requiring larger facilities. To book a place email mgaskin@unigold2000.co.uk

Merrist Wood Golf Club is a venue offering Christmas parties. See its website for more details.

There are pubs serving good food and drink in Worplesdon and Wood Street Village as well as hosting Christmas and new year celebrations.

Along with plenty of hotels, B&Bs and many Airbnbs within the area for guests to stay.

Fairlands Community Centre.

There is even the Fairlands Friday cafe, 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Held regularly on the first and third Friday of the month, in December on 6 and 20 at Fairlands Community Centre in Fairlands Avenue.

All are welcome for fair-trade tea, coffee, homemade cakes and biscuits. Toys for children and someone to listen if you want a chat.

The drop in youth café is on Friday, December 13, at St Alban’s Church Hall, Wood Street Village, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm for 10-to 15-year-olds.

With a tuck shop, hot and cold drinks and refreshments activities including table tennis, pool, wii games and music.

Christmas carols and other church services

Worplesdon United Reformed Church.

At Worplesdon United Reformed Church, Rickford Hill, the Revd Alison Toplas welcomes all to its regular services on December 1, 8, and 15, at 10am, and its carol service at 4.30pm on Christmas Eve.

Afterwards there will be coffee, mulled wine and mince pies. There will be no services on Christmas Day this year. All services last an hour.

At St Mary’s Church on Perry Hill there is a reflective carol service on Saturday, December 21, from 2pm to 3pm.

A service with nine lessons and carols will take place at St Mary’s on Sunday, December 22, from 5pm to 6pm. Singers have been rehearsing for weeks in advance!

Throughout the parish Christmas services cards will be distributed during December to inform residents of times of all St Mary’s services.

Collection boxes are in St Mary’s and St Alban’s churches for the North Guildford Food Bank. Suggested items to donate where stocks are low include baby wipes, biscuits, cereals, flour and rice pudding.

This is the time of year to give to others, and to thank those who help throughout the year to those in need of support.

For those looking for a local panto, Fairlands Players present Sleeping Beauty from this Thursday to Saturday, November 28 to 30. Telephone 07837 814894 or email fairlandspanto.co.uk for more details and tickets. It will be a good night out for all the family.

With the very apply named Christmas Bakery at the foot of Rickford Hill, the fifth generation of the family since 1860 are waiting to serve you.

You can still buy the famous lardy cake. However, I expect most people will be buying mince pies, Yule logs and Christmas cakes iced or non iced in the next few weeks.

Yule logs from The Christmas Bakery.

Christmas cakes from The Christmas Bakery.

The delicious double Yule log at £12.85 or single at £5.95, means this is a must to buy from this independent bakery.

Some products are available to purchase in Budgens at Fairlands, plus other outlets locally including the Christmas bakery shop at Ash.

You may need to work from home over the festive period, especially because of difficulty during the South West Trains strike in December.

All year round facilities with wifi may be the answer for you from Worplesdon Memorial Hall at Perry Hill.

Competitive rates are available. View its website for more details.

St Alban’s Church Hall and church room can also help with a small room or hall for hire. Call Michaela on 01483 233091, for more details or email churchoffice@worplesdonparish.com

If that isn’t festive enough, in Worplesdon we have Holly Lane too!