The Worplesdon Witness September 2024

Published on: 13 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 14 Sep, 2024

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

Worplesdon Pre-school rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

Following an inspection by Ofsted, Worplesdon Pre-school has been rated “good”.

The pre-school was inspected on July 8 and Ofsted’s report was published on August 13.

The pre-school is based at Worplesdon Memorial Hall, Monday to Friday term time only, with seven staff, with early years education for two- to four-year olds.

The staff at Worplesdon Pre-school.

Coffee and cake morning for Macmillan

A charity coffee and cake morning for cancer support charity Macmillan is being held on Saturday, September 28, from at 11.30am on Wood Street Village green. There will be Maypole dancing at noon.

News from Worplesdon Parish Council

The awareness of dangers that inconsiderate motorists pose to horses and riders (and themselves) was given to members of the parish council by Nicola King of the Pass Wide and Slow campaign.

Nicola will be leading a tour on Sunday, September 15, starting at 11am at Holly Lane to raise awareness of the campaign that calls for motorists give a 2m space when passing horses or horse-drawn carriage to help prevent catastrophic consequences.

The six-mile route will go from Holly Lane to Aldershot Road, to Frog Grove Lane, with a break taken at White Hart pub and then back. All welcome to attend.

The parish council has awarded Nicola £100 for reusable banners to promote this event.

Surrey Wildlife Trust has advised the parish council that it is willing to provide funding for an expanded wildflower area at Harry’s Meadow in Jacobs Well, and less harrowing.

Work is planned for September subject to receiving the grant.

There be a hedgehog awareness campaign with roadside signs in Fairlands warning motorists to take care.

The council will be gifting the three local schools hedgehog project packs to also raise awareness.

The former White Lyon pub pictured from the green at Perry Hill.

Eight planning applications have been discussed. The White Lyon at Perry Hill proposes a change of use from a public house to conversion to create an office and five apartments.

Worplesdon Rifle Range at Pitch Place has applied to remove some ash trees due to ash die back.

Tree surgery is required on trees managed by Worplesdon Parish Council, at a cost of more than £7,000.

In Coombe Lane, Perry Hill, ditches are to be cleared jointly by Worplesdon Parish Council and the owners of Perry Hill Farm.

Additional overtime has been granted to the parish’s ground staff to undertake the works.

Parish churches’ round up

The monthly youth club at St Alban’s Church in Wood Street Village resumed on September 6.

Coffee mornings on the first Saturday of the month from 10.30am take place at Worplesdon Place hotel and restaurant. Dogs are welcome.

A concert takes place on Saturday, October 12, featuring the finalists of the Worplesdon Young Musicians competition at St Mary’s Church, Perry Hill.

Harvest festival is on Sunday, October 6, at St Alban’s Church with lunch afterwards.

The men’s breakfast club is on October 12, and a quiz on November 9.

The parish is making progress towards recruiting its new rector. The role will be advertised from late October with interviews on December 11 and 12.

It is hoped the new rector could be in place by the spring of next year

St Mary’s has welcomed visitors Margaret and her husband from Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Her eight times great grandparents married at St Mary’s in 1523.

News from the Sime Gallery

The Sime Gallery held a well attended fundraising barbecue on Worplesdon Memorial Hall’s recreational grounds.

The Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Mary Creswell.

The Mayor of Guildford, Sallie Barker, with her consort Phil.

Visitors included the Vice-Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Mary Creswell, and the Mayor of Guildford, Sallie Barker, with her consort Phil.

Steel band True.

Around 150 people were entertained by True, a steel band.

The Chris Ewbank’s Memorial Lecture is on November 17 with speaker Nick Higham, BBC arts correspondent. The title of his talk will be The Art of Laundry.

Gallery members will be attending the presentation evening of the 2024 Guildford in Bloom competition on September 24, hoping for an award.

The gallery’s second major exhibition this year is being held at the Heath Robinson Museum in Pinner, Middlesex, from September 25 to January 5.

In his autobiography, William Heath Robinson acknowledged Sidney Sime as an influence.

Tennis club’s finals day

Worplesdon Tennis Club members with their trophies and president Sam Pake.

Members of Worplesdon Tennis Club held their finals day with its annual club championships and with some excellent tennis being played, followed by a barbecue.

New from the pubs

Worplesdon Place hotel and restaurant has a pet bowl painting event on the evening of September 25, in aid of the charity Dog’s for Good. Advance booking is essential.

It also held a “meet the landlord” event to see all things Worplesdon Place.

Brewery and pub company Young’s Day will be on September 19 to celebrate its 193 “years young”.

The Jolly Farmer in Burdenshott Road opened at 10am on Sunday, September 8, for bacon or sausage baps and for people to watch the runners go by taking part in the Surrey Half Marathon.

The Pilgrim Morris Men in action.

On September 4, Win and her staff hosted the Pilgrim Morris Men for their traditional dancing.

The dancers reported that the menu was exciting and the beer was excellent.

The Tempest being performed in the garden of the Jolly Farmer pub.

It has also hosted an outdoor evening performance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, which was well attended by about 70 people. Four actors played the numerous parts.

The Cricketers at Rydes Hill is under new management.

It is is hosting an “official opening party” on Saturday, September 14.

There will be quiz nights and new menus include Sunday roasts for £14.95.

The pub can also be booked for wakes or other gatherings. For details call 01483 575901.

Open mic nights are coming to the Royal Oak at Wood Street Village, and the White Hart has curry nights every Wednesday with, Indian, Thai and Japanese cuisine.

Tea afternoon raises £100

The September tea afternoon at Jacobs Well Village Hall raised £100, which will be donated to the National Eczema Society. For details of next month’s meet, email at nick@nfcol.com

Bootcamp’s discount registration offer

Evolve Bootcamp, the fun, social group fitness sessions, is offering an end of year challenge registration at discounted prices for the remainder of 2024. Contact mark@evolvebootcamps.co.uk

Sessions are held at Bullens Hill Farm, Jacobs Well. There is a large variety of equipment with 16 sessions a week.

Events at Fairlands Club

There will be quiz nights at the Fairlands club (within the community centre) on September 18 and October 16, and bingo on September 19, October 3, 17, and 31.

On Saturday, October 5, there will be music by Gronya. The club opens at 7.30pm.

Fairlands, Liddington Hall and Gravetts Lane Community Association hosts afternoon tea by Robert and Rowena on the first Wednesday of the month at Fairlands Community Centre.

Entertaining swing music enjoyed by Women’s Institute

Members of Worplesdon Women’s Institute, who meet at Worplesdon Memorial Hall on the first Wednesday afternoon of the month, enjoyed some highly entertaining swing music by Paul at its September meeting.

The picture shows them enjoying tea.

Fairlands Women’s Institute meets at Worplesdon Primary School on the second Tuesday of the month, from 7pm to 9pm. For details email its president at infofairlands@surreyfedwi.org.uk

New members are welcome at both groups.

College’s freshers week

Merrist Wood College’s freshers week takes place from Monday to Friday September, 16 to 20.

Local organisations including the Sime Gallery and Worplesdon churches will be attending.

Women’s health event

The Fairlands Practice Patient Participation Group women’s health event is on September 25, and is being held at 6.30pm at Worplesdon Memorial Hall.

Horses and their foals

Abi Johnson took this photo of horses and foals on Wood Street Village green heading towards the common on September 2. Not an everyday sight!

Gardening club’s show

Jacobs Well Garden Club held its annual flower and vegetable show Sunday, September 1.

Members enjoyed a Fittleworth House and Gardens visit in West Sussex in August where the head gardener provided a tour of woodland and walled traditional flower and vegetable gardens.

In the Nick of Time

Jacobs Well Social Club has live music with singers Nick of Time on September 23, 7.30pm for 8pm, and a quiz night on September 28.

Cleaning drains at Perry Hill

Staff from Surrey County Council’s highways team have undertaken drain cleaning on the A322 opposite Perry Hill antiques.

There are things the public can do to prepare for flooding and reporting issues.

For information go to the page on Surrey County Council’s website.

To report flooding you can also phone 0300 200 1003.

End of successful cricket season

The cricket season has come to an end with Worplesdon and Burpham Cricket Club celebrating its successes at its presidents day.

End of another season for Worplesdon and Burpham Cricket Club.

The first team secured back-to-back promotions and the second team finished mid table in a tough division.

The Sunday team were runners up in the Village Cricket League.

The sponsors were thanked for their financial support of match balls and matches.

Football season has kicked off

Worplesdon Phoenix Football Club’s first match of the new season was was on September 7 at Kings College which they won 8-1, while the reserve team played at Woolmer Hill.

The reserve side is looking for a linesman. This is a paid position. For details send an email to wpfc@gmail.com

Training is on Tuesdays at Northmead School’s playing fields and on Thursdays at Worplesdon Memorial Hall recreation ground.

The first team will be playing at home on September 21 against Laleham and away on September 28 at Badger Park against Hambledon.

Care home’s fete

The Silver Birch House care home off Keens Lane has fete on Saturday, September 14.