The Worplesdon Witness March 2022

Published on: 12 Mar, 2022
Updated on: 13 Mar, 2022

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

Lily raises £340 for Ukrainian families

The daughter of the owners of the Royal Oak pub in Wood Street Village became worried and upset about the plight of people in Ukraine and its attack by Russia after hearing the news on the radio while on her way to school.

Lily from Wood Street Village has raised £340 for people in Ukraine.

Lily, aged seven, started to raise funds after her siblings donated some of their money and soon friends and customers from the pub did too making a total of £170. One customer was so impressed he matched it with the same amount, making the total up to £340.

The money will be given to the Disaster Emergency Committee of the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Storms led to fallen trees, fences, walls and power cuts

A fallen tree at Worplesdon Place.

The stormy weather during the last week of February resulted in electrical power cuts to households in Fairlands, Wood Street Village and around Whitmoor Common.

Some were without electricity for up to 27 hours, with others up to seven hours. Trees, fences and walls were blown down with two trees down at Worplesdon Place.

Occupants move into Halifax Close

People have moved into the new homes along the A323 Aldershot Road at Clasford.

The new development at Halifax Close, off the A323 at Clasford.

The close has been named after the Second World War RAF Halifax bomber aircraft that crashed on March 10, 1941, on what is today Merrist Wood Golf Club, killing four of its six-man crew.

Believed to have been accidentally shot down by “friendly fire”, a plaque commemorating the aircraft and its crew was installed on the 14th green of the golf course in 1997.

Half-term fun at the Sime Gallery

Volunteers at the Sime Gallery, at Worplesdon Memorial Hall, turned out in force for a children’s art activity afternoon during the half-term holiday at the end of February.

Sime Gallery volunteers.

Sime often featured trees in his landscape paintings and this relates nicely to the forthcoming Queen’s platinum jubilee green canopy plant a tree scheme. There will be a street party on the memorial hall’s grounds to celebrate the jubilee on June 5.

The gallery is open on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons with refreshments available. Children are more than welcome with adults and visitors comments always include how amazing Sime’s artwork is and how much they enjoyed the tea and cake!

Children having fun at the Sime Gallery’s half-term activities.

Click here for details of the parish’s jubilee events.

News from the parish council

One hundred saplings have been planted by the parish council at the bottom of Harry’s Meadow in Jacobs Well.

Also known as whips, the young trees were donated by Surrey County Council and the planting was undertaken by parish councillors, staff and residents.

Planting the saplings at Harry’s Meadow in Jacobs Well.

At the council’s meeting on February, 24, nine planning applications were scrutinised, there were land management and health and safety reports, and a report of antisocial behaviour at Wood Street Village green.

Also, a tree preservation order between Church View and St Mary’s Garden at Perry Hill was looked at, concerns over recent power cuts addressed to power networks, finance and budget reports, grass cutting tenders for the next three years, a botanical survey and management plan for Harry’s Meadow, and a licence application for live music at a festival to be held at Merrist Wood College.

There will be an extra-ordinary meeting on March 24 to review all policies and procedures and its annual meeting is the next day at 7.30pm at St Alban’s Church Hall, Wood Street Village.

The flood forum meeting at Worplesdon Parish Council’s office.

Guildford’s MP Angela Richardson chaired the bi-annual Worplesdon Flood Forum in which the parish council looked at flooding issues (20 hotspots) with input from Guildford Borough Council, Surrey County Council, the Environment Agency and Thames Water.

There continue to be vacancies for parish councillors. If interested, email the clerk Gaynor White at clark@worplesdon-pc.gov.uk

Road closure rescheduled

Surrey Highways will now close Holly Lane for three nights, starting on March 25, from 7pm to 5am each night for road repairs.

Fairwood Helpers thanked

The volunteer driving service Fairwood Helpers has been thanked by the ready meals shop chain Cook at its Burpham branch.

Some of the helpers went to the shop to be thanked, as during the pandemic they delivered some 4,000 Cook-prepared meals to people. As a company, Cook gave away £1 million worth of meals across the UK during the lockdowns.

The Mayor of Guildford, Marsha Mosley, also attended.

Merrist Wood College news

The Brick People Lego Day takes place on Saturday, April 2. There will be games and challenges and more. Tickets for either a morning or afternoon session to booked in advance.

Fleecy Frolics returns over the weekend of April 23 and 24, pre-booked tickets only for the event that celebrates nature, countryside crafts and of course lambs.

Get into action with Evolve Bootcamp.

The Evolve Bootcamp is celebrating International Women’s Day throughout March and to encourage more girls and women to engage in exercise to improve physical and mental health. Twenty free unlimited outdoor sessions are being offered. To apply send an email to hello@evolvebtb.com

Consultation for the Weyside Urban Village

A consultation event for the proposed Weyside Urban Village development at Slyfield, that includes a part of the parish of Worplesdon, is taking place at Jacobs Well Village Hall on Tuesday, March 14.

New service times at Worplesdon churches

From April 3, Sunday services at both St Mary’s at Perry Hill and St Alban’s at Wood Street Village’s will start at 10.30am. The change has been made after a review of the styles of and the times of worship.

Guildford Muslim community buys redundant Worplesdon United Reformed Church

There will soon be a new group of worshipers at the redundant Worplesdon United Reformed Church as the building has been bought by the Guildford Muslim community.

They have been looking for their own place of worship for a number of years and see the chapel as the perfect place for them.

The purchase was overseen by Yameem Deedar, the owner of the Shahin Tandoori Restaurant on Woodbridge Hill. He is well known for his fundraising for local causes and provided the catering at last summer’s jazz festival on Wood Street Village green.

Estate agents Gascoignes were adverting the property for £650,000.

Perry Hill Chapel was built in 1822 under the auspices of the Surrey Mission Society and later became a Congregational chapel. In 1971 there was a UK-wide amalgamation of church groups, and the chapel became part of the United Reformed Church. The last service held by the Perry Hill Chapel was on November 14, 2020, on Zoom due to the pandemic.

Worplesdon WI’s spring sale

Worplesdon Women’s Institute is holing a spring sale on Saturday, April 16. See poster for details.

Dog club’s day at Memorial Hall

The Southern Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club held its “testing day” at Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

Enjoying the Southern Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club’s meet at Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

A vet gave dogs a health check as the club returned to the hall now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted.

Memories of Worplesdon Memorial Hall sought including the night the Stones didn’t turn up to play!

The hall will be celebrating its 100th birthday over the weekend on October 14 to 16.

People’s memories and any photos of the hall and its events over the years are still being sought.

It’s also known that sheep were grazed on the long grass in the field and it was used by Perry Hill School during the Second World War. Plus the infamous night in the early 1960s when the Rolling Stones were booked to play there but didn’t turn up, leaving many ticket-holders disappointed.

If you have memories and photos email Jan Messinger at jan@wmh.org.uk

Bakery and pub news

The Christmas bakery has extended in opening times to 4pm, Monday to Saturday.

Sandwich board sign at The Christmas Bakery.

The Jolly Farmer pub on Burdenshott Road has a wine and food evening with an Argentinian theme on April 30.

The Worplesdon Place Hotel and Restaurant is holding a wedding fair on Sunday, March 19.

The Cricketers pub at Rydes Hill has a Ray’s Fusion Eats menu night on Sunday, March 13. It has quiz nights on April 1, May 6 and June 3.

St Pat’s Night at Fairlands Community Centre’s bar

Fairlands Community Centre’ bar is celebrating St Patrick’s Night but on Saturday, March 19, with Irish music by the Uke Rhythmics.

Take part in a treasure hunt on the field on Easter Sunday, April 11. There will also be a colouring competition and an Easter bonnet competition. Click here for details.

The community centre offers a range of clubs, including art group Bizzy Bees, craft classes, move it or loose it, zumba, pilates, Surrey Swing jive and strolls, lindy hop and ceroc. Guides, Rangers and Brownies also meet on Wednesday and Thursdays.

The new floor at Fairlands Community Centre.

The hall has new flooring and lighting and welcomes the community back for these activities along with the licensed bar.

Anyone for pizza?

The Stonerose Pizza Co’s van visited Jacobs Well on Friday, March 4, for the start of a monthly trial, 5pm to 8pm.

It also goes to the car park at Worplesdon Memorial Hall on Wednesdays, 5pm to 8pm.

Cricket returning soon

With summer coming, Worplesdon has three cricket clubs who all welcome new members.

The Wood Street Village family orientated club has two Saturday league sides, Sunday friendly side and a colts team for eight-yer-olds and upwards.

Worplesdon and Burpham Cricket Club plays at the memorial ground at Perry Hill. It is a friendly club with two Saturday teams and on Sunday team and a colts team. The club is holding a quiz night on April 9.

Fairlands Cricket Club was formed in 1962 and also welcomes new members.

A time to dance

The local ceroc dance franchise is under new ownership by Kevin Meager.

Lights are on ready for dancing.

It offers fun fusion dance styles in a sociable way and meets at Worplesdon Memorial Hall on Thursday evenings, while on Saturday, March 19, there is a meet up at Fairlands Community Centre at 8pm, pay on the door.

Meet the manager of Worplesdon View care home

Worplesdon View care home invites people to meet its manager on April 9. See poster for details.

Easter parties for children at Jacobs Well

There will be Little Bears Music and Koala Kids parties at Jacobs Well Village Hall on Wednesday, April 6, for children up to the age of five, with older siblings welcome too.

Click here for booking details.

Comic Relief at Worplesdon Primary School

Worplesdon Primary School in Fairlands will have a week of activities for the national Comic Relief fundraising event.

Included will be a “habitats for red noses” competition, a bake sale, red nose races and red mufti.

Marking World Book Day