The Worplesdon Witness September 2023

Published on: 15 Sep, 2023
Updated on: 20 Sep, 2023

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

Worplesdon receives awards at Guildford in Bloom competition

The Sime Gallery, Homestead flowers and Worplesdon Primary School all received awards in this year’s Guildford in Bloom competition.

And special recognition goes to allotment winner John Steer. Over the years he has received seven awards of which three were silver gilt and four gold, including this year.

Keen gardener John Steer with his gold award.

He cultivates one a half plots and is the warden at the allotments off Larch Avenue in Bellfields.

John has previously volunteered with Worplesdon Parish Council with its working parties with land management.

Fly tipping on the increase

Mattresses dumped by the pond at Wood Street Village.

Fly tipping is on the rise and reported items at Wood Street Village include three mattresses dumped by the pond on the green, and another mattress left in a layby beside Aldershot Road at Clasford.

One of the white good that has been dumped in the slip road at the foot of Rickford Hill.

White goods have been dumped in the slip road beside the A322 at the foot of Rickford Hill and rubbish has been tipped at an important drainage area at Jacobs Well.

Items including mattresses can be taken to the the Slyfield community recycling centre.

Signage at roundabouts damaged

Signage at the roundabout at the junction of Holly Lane and the A322 at Perry Hill has been damaged.

Repairs being undertaken at the Perry Hill roundabout.

However, on September 8 workmen from Surrey County Council were undertaking repairs.

The damaged A322 / Salt Box Road roundabout.

The roundabout on the A322 at its junction with Salt Box Road has also been damaged with the signage having fallen on to the roundabout itself.

Sime Gallery’s barbecue was a big success

Despite the rain earlier in the day and at the end of the event, the Sime Gallery’s barbecue was a huge success.

Above and below, pictures from the barbecue evening.

It was held outdoors under gazebos as a precaution, and with 173 people attending.

It raised money for the gallery to continue outreach projects with the charity halow, which supports young adults with learning disabilities.

There was a raffle and auction along with music from Marianne and Emily of Guildford Jazz and singers Robyn and Pippa.

The event received sponsorship from Durrant Construction and the Surrey County Councillor for Worplesdon, Keith Witham.

The Mayor of Guildford, Masuk Miah, visiting the Sime Gallery.

The Mayor of Guildford, Masuk Miah, attended and visited the gallery for the first time.

The next Sime Gallery event will be a talk by Professor Francis Spalding. See poster below.

Heritage Open Days in Worplesdon

Ready for Heritage Open Days visitors at St Mary’s Church.

The annual Heritage Open Days weekend in Worplesdon, included St Mary’s Church at Perry Hill.

Of interest in the churchyard is a beautiful memorial to Margaret Hamilton Fellows (died 1926) and her infant grandchild Atholl George Adam Baron Hay, who died in 1925.

The memorial in St Mary’s churchyard.

The child died at its grandmother’s home, Tangley Place at Pitch Place, where Worplesdon View care home now is.

The memorial takes the form of a sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick. It is called Silence a Figure for a Tomb.

It was positively identified in 2019 by Jonathan Cross from Art UK, who was asked by Historic England to go and track it down in Worplesdon.

Children’s taking part in garden art activities at the Sime Gallery.

The Sime Gallery also opened for children’s garden art activities for Heritage Open Days as well as its normal Sunday opening hours of 2pm to 4pm.

Some came by bike!

Interested artists attended as well as residents on their bicycles who had highlighted it as a place to visit from the 40-plus venues across the borough of Guildford.

Church news

A meeting is being held at St Mary’s Church on Tuesday, October 3, at 3pm, titled Double Flush.

It is to discuss a new kitchen and toilet at at the church!

The youth club at St Alban’s Church, Wood Street Village continues on the first Friday of the month, from 7pm to 9pm.

The club is for young people aged between 10 and 16 years old, £1 entry.

The parish lunch is on Tuesday, September 19, 12.15pm to 1.30pm.

Meet for the monthly coffee morning at Worplesdon Place Pub & Rooms, from 10.30am on the first Saturday of the month, with dogs welcome.

Comfy rooms being updated

Worplesdon Place Pub & Rooms is updating its comfy rooms.

It says the refurbishment will not affect guests staying in any of its 29 rooms.

The venue is surrounded by beautiful grounds with black sawns on its ornamental lake.

Musical story about an ugly duckling called Honk

Sunflower Productions, who first helped fundraised 10 years ago with the production Calendar Girls, are back at Worplesdon Memorial Hall where it all started.

This time with their production of the musical story of the Ugly Duckling called Honk.

As you will see in the flyer, all monies raised are for teenage and young adult cancer services. Book your tickets now.

Football season under way

Worplesdon Phoenix football club’s season has started.

The first team won on September 9 away to Shottermill and Haslemere.

People are being invited to support and cheer them on them either home games at the Worplesdon Memorial Hall’s recreation ground or at away matches.

They is also looking to recruit linesman. This is a paid role. Email to wpfc@gmail.com for details.

Routemaster double-decker bus seen at wedding

Featured in August’s Worplesdon Witness was a vintage bus that took guests to a wedding at Worplesdon Place Pub & Rooms.

The vintage London Transport Routemaster bus.

This month it’s the turn of the Fairlands-based double decker former London Transport Routemaster bus, for a wedding at Hunt’s Farm.

The photo was taken by Mark Strudwick of Fairlands.

I think we enjoy our vintage buses whether we are young or old!

On demand bus service now available

The Connect on demand bus service is now available.

An app can also be downloaded to use the service that covers parts of Worpledon.

News from the parish council

There was a planning and general purposes and finance committee meeting on August 31.

Two members of the public spoke about their concerns over a potential loss of livelihoods should planning permission be granted at Hester’s Yard, 116 Oak Hill, Wood Street Village.

A bench in memory of Wood Street Villager John Gunner is to be ordered.

Twelve planning applications were reviewed, while pavement improvements at Wood Street Village by Surrey County Council have been well received by residents.

Changes for the Surrey County Council division of Worplesdon includes placing Wanborough parish in the Worplesdon division, proposing the southern section of Ash also in the Worplesdon division.

Jacobs Well would be placed into Guildford North division, with Rydes Hill in Guildford West division, with a boundary running behind Bramble Close and Dorrit Crescent.

Worplesdon Parish Council has objected saying the changes “fail to accurately reflect the existing separate and distinctive communities of Broadacres, Fairlands, Jacobs Well, Perry Hill and Wood Street Village”.

Finance matters included a payment list as of August 31, of £30,249.47. It includes a £10,000 grant for a new community centre in Fairlands.

Jacobs Well Residents’ Association has now formally been resolved and Worplesdon Parish Council will temporarily look after the £4,828 residual funds in a restricted account for two years.

If no successor is found, the funds will be released into an unrestricted Worplesdon Parish Council account for its own use.

The removal of a broken bench outside the Co-op at Fairlands and installing a new one was agreed.

The next meeting is on October 12, members of the public are welcome to attend to listen or speak on agenda items for a maximum of 10 minutes at the start of meetings.

The full council meeting will be on September 21 at 7.30pm. An agenda is available on parish council notice boards or online via its website.

The latest from Rokers

Rokers building work’s final phase of its shop has started.

Building work under way at Rokers.

The old building has been demolished and owner Bunny Roker, who will be 93 in October, can still be seen enjoying a coffee in the Farmhouse café. He started the business in 1962.

Schools news

Rydes Hill Preparatory School has a bear hunt open morning on Sunday, October 8, from 10am to noon.

Visitors can tour the nursery and the school and meet the teaching staff.

Worplesdon Primary School’s drop off time for pupils is now 8.45am to 8.55am, and pick up from 3.20pm.

Pupils at The Haven will finish for the day at 3pm.

There are plenty of dates for tours for parents viewing the school for places next year.

For more details, email office@worplesdon.surrey.sch.uk or telephone 01483 232126, to book a place on a tour or view its video tour online via its website.

Fashion show well attended and Fairlands news

A fashion show at Fairlands was well organised, well attended and a nice evening, held at the community centre.

New classes at the centre include an easy walking cardio keep fit class on Wednesdays, from 10am to 11am. Take a towel and the first class is a free trial.

There are also quizes and bingo nights as well as Funatics music in the club on Saturday, October 7, from 7.30pm.

Fairlands Women’s Institute meets on the second Tuesday of each month with tea, coffee and biscuits and a chat. Times: 7pm to 9pm, at Worplesdon Primary School’s hall on Envis Way.

Care home’s summer fair

Worplesdon View care home held its summer fair with performances from Ukes ‘n’ Sing, Rachael with Sing for Joy from Synergy Dance Outreach and the Worplesdon View’s choir.

Families enjoyed beautiful weather, fairground games as well as a match the owner to the pet contest, as seen in the photo below.

Pumpkins at Merrist Wood College

Merrist Wood College is holding its Pumpkin Patch event on October 25 and 26.

Book early for Christmas!

Some say it is never too early for Christmas. For those who are counting down the days, the White Hart pub in Wood Street Village now has its Christmas party menu available.

And the Jolly Farmer pub on Burdenshot Road has also announced its too.

Fairlands Players has announced details of its pantomime. Oh yes they have! It’s Aladdin and is being held in November.