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Inside this issue

Brewery Road development update

Village Show gets new venue

Mystery of our forgotten goliath

The magazine of Horsell Residents’ Association

The Resident

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Spring 2011

Cherry blossom on High Street, Horsell. Photo © Tricia Nigh

The Resident – Spring 2011

The ResidentPublished by

HORSELL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION LTD

Magazine team:Editor: Sarah Johns – Tel. 0772 907 3405Ann Harington – Tel. 761624Peter Hobbs – Tel. 824069Dorothy Smith – Tel. 836031Janice Worgan – Tel. 762526Please e-mail any comments, articles, letters or Horsell photos to the Editor:[email protected]

Published by Horsell Residents’ Association Limited. A non-profit company limited by guarantee. Registered number 5377490.

Text © individual authors as named. Photos © Sarah Johns, 2011 except where indicated.

Printed by: Arrow Offset, Craven House, Lansbury Estate, Woking GU21 2EP E-mail: [email protected] Tel. 01483 799900

No responsibility for the quality of goods or services advertised in this magazine can be accepted by the publishers or printers. Advertisements are included in good faith. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the prior permission of the Publishers. The Publishers do not necessarily agree with the views expressed by contributors, nor do they accept any responsibility for errors of interpretation in the subject matter of this magazine. All reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy in preparation of the magazine but the publishers cannot be held legally responsible for errors in the articles or the return of unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or projects. Whilst every care is taken, no responsibility can be accepted for the safety of material submitted.

Horsell Residents’ Association Contacts

President: Dorothy SmithTel. 836031; [email protected]: Rob HarrisTel. 855449; [email protected]. Secretary: Colin KramerTel. 761455; [email protected]. Treasurer: Janice WorganTel. 762526; [email protected] Secretary: Peter HobbsTel. 824069; [email protected]

Editorial

Photos, articles & community events deadlines

Summer 2011 • 17 JuneAutumn 2011 • 11 July

Please e-mail Sarah Johns at [email protected]

Advertising deadlines

Summer 2011 • 1 MayAutumn 2011 • 1 July

For advertising rates, please contact Peter Hobbs (details on left).

The Sixth Annual General Meeting of the Company will

be held at The Village Hall, High Street, Horsell

on Tuesday 12th April 2011

Commencing at 7.30 pm

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the 5th AGM of the Horsell Residents’ Association Ltd.

3. Matters arising.

4. Chairman’s report.

5. Treasurer’s report.

6. Election of Directors.

7. Election of members to the Management Committee.

8. Election of an Independent Examiner of the Company’s accounts.

9. Any other relevant business.

10. Guest Speaker:-

Roger Chamberlain, Chairman of Horsell Village Hall Trustees:

Presentation of proposals for a new Scout Hut and extension to the Village Hall

I hope you will find this edition of the magazine packed full of interesting articles about Horsell and Woodham!

Read about Horsell’s forgotten goliath, the new venue for the Village Show and the 1st Horsell Scouts Hundred celebrations - amazing that the pack is 100 years old.

This issue has all the dates and venues for Horsell and Woodham’s top Summer events - the May Fayre, the Garden Safari and the Village Show.

Tricia’s photo on the front cover shows, despite all the cold weather, Spring really is on its way!.

Sarah


Independent Day School for Girls & Boys aged 3-13

www.st-andrews.woking.sch.uk

Come and see how we can help your

child reach their full potential

~ Caring, family atmosphere ~ Personal attention ~~ High academic achievements ~

~ Strong emphasis on Music, Sport & Art ~~ Extensive programme of after school activities ~

Church Hill House, Horsell, Woking, Surrey GU21 4QWTelephone: 01483 760943

Reg. Charity No. 297580 Established to promote and provide for the advancement of education

On 8 February 2011, Woking Borough Council’s Planning Committee voted to approve

WWF-UK’s application to build on Brewery Road car park.

The Committee meeting was the culmination of discussions between the Council and WWF-UK, the global environmental charity, which began back in 2008.

We’ve reported previously that WWF-UK plan to build a flagship headquarters. The charity decided that the canal-side location met its ambition for a site which would combine the benefits of an urban well connected location (Woking) with a green and ecologically diverse environment.

As well as the building itself, the application included the provision of covered public car parking space as well as a ‘piazza’ area for public use. The general public have been broadly supportive of the new, environmentally friendly building.

The main issues raised by councillors during the Committee meeting included disabled access across the site, development of the canalside and disruption to local residents.

Access for pedestrians and cyclists between Brewery Road and the ‘wooden’ bridge over the canal was raised several times. The plans currently show that the pedestrian way will be elevated. WWF-UK plan to provide disabled access via a lift and a ramp, but concerns were raised in the meeting over the maintenance and safety of the lift. .

Concerns were also raised about disruption to residents living

Brewery Road development goes aheadalongside the Brewery Road site, and for those currently using the car park.

In January, Horsell Residents’ Association arranged for a public meeting between local residents, councillors and representa-tives from WWF-UK. Over 200 people crowded into Horsell Village Hall to question David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of the charity and representatives of Woking Borough Council. Residents had two main concerns.

Does it set a precedent for more commercial development along the north side of the canal? Why is the Council giving the Brewery Road site to WWF?

The WBC has confirmed that only the Brewery Road and Kingswood Court sites are included in the “Town Centre” in the Local Plan. The Council’s Planning Committee approval for Brewery Road car park site will not set a precedent for other sites on the north side of the canal.

The Council, as landowner, has agreed to grant WWF a licence to redevelop the site, at WWF’s expense.

When the development is complete the Council will retain freehold ownership of the site and grant WWF a long term lease in respect of its headquarter building and take back a lease, at no cost to the Council, of the car park and public areas around the headquarter building.

The HRA has taken up local residents’ concerns with the WBC, about the financial benefit to Woking from this development. As they say, watch this space!

VOLUNTEER!The HRA is run by local residents just like you.

The HRA ensures that Horsell & Woodham is represented at local and county levels.

If you’d like to volunteer (eg. distributing The Resident, joining the Committee or writing reviews of local events), find out more at:www.horsellresidents.com

Subscribe to ‘What’s On in Horsell & Woodham’ for exclusive news, updates and reviews: www.horsellresident.wordpress.com

Follow us on Twitter: @horsellresident


Horsell history – a tree-mendous sight!

Those who lived in Horsell in the ‘70s and ‘80s might remember an enormous log which used to

be displayed on two stone plinths outside what was once Brewsters timber yard, on the site currently occupied by Jewson (Arthurs Bridge Wharf).

It was an unusual object impossible to forget for those who saw it, and it has an interesting story behind it, told in the papers of a local resident F. G. H. ‘Harold’ Hawkins.

Harold Hawkins worked in the Horsell timber trade for 47 years from the age of 18. Brewster & Co Ltd, where Harold worked, was located on the site of Jewson, then known as Arthurs Bridge Wharf. Timber was brought up the Thames to Kingston and then loaded onto canal barges and towed to Woking by horse, along the Basingstoke Canal.

Harold tells how ‘The Great Log’ was the largest piece of sawn timber ever imported into the UK. Measuring a massive 72 feet by 24 inches by 24 inches, it came nearly 5,000 miles by ship from Canada’s western forests near Vancouver.

The timber was originally ordered to be imported in 1962 for use by the North Thames Gas Board for its gas works at Beckton, East London, the largest coal-based gas works in the world. They needed timber to repair the wharves and jetties where

the coal barges arrived. When this particular log arrived by ship in the Pool of London just below Tower Bridge, there was “exceptional interest” in its enormous size, and Harold Hawkins himself went up to London from Horsell to see it unloaded.

However the Great Log was never used at the gas works, which became redundant because of the growing use of North Sea gas. Instead, it was sold back to Brewsters in Horsell. Harold remembers it being transported from London to Horsell on an articulated lorry, with the

final right angled turn from Chobham Road into Brewery Road proving particularly tricky.

When it arrived in Horsell, Brewsters decided to use the Great Log for public display and publicity purposes. They erected it horizontally over the main entrance, across two stone plinths, and during the ‘70s and early ‘80s they encouraged parties of school children to guess the number of matches the log would make. The correct answer was over 58 million matches!

In the ‘80s, when Brewsters eventually became Magnet Joinery, and the timber importing part of the business was sold off to Harcros, Magnet asked Harcros to remove the Great Log. Harcros simply had it laid it aside on the ground. Sadly it is still there, on Horsell Moor just in front of the Jewson’s yard – where, if you look carefully, you can find it slowly rotting under brambles.

We can’t help wondering whether the Log could be saved and put on display in Horsell again. If you’ve got any ideas about what we could do with the Log to save it from rotting away, please write to us or email us at The Horsell Resident. Maybe the Pirates who made Pegasus could make a sculpture for the Queen Elizabeth Gardens, or to go on the green in front of the Cricketers!

Helen Cammack, South Road

With many thanks to Nicholas Enticknap, Ann Harington and the Woking History Society for providing original source material written by the late F G H ‘Harold’ Hawkins of Brewster & Co (Woking).

A sad end to the goliath of Horsell

Teaspoon shortage hits HallHorsell Village Hall has a shortage of teaspoons. If you’ve got some old teaspoons lurking in your cutlery drawer, looking for a new home, don’t throw them out.

A few years ago the Hall had a shortage of cutlery. Everyone came up trumps and we received as many as we might need, with the exception of teaspoons. We would love to have some, rather than the plastic ones.

If you’d like to donate your teaspoons to the Hall, please contact Penny Kramer on 01483 761455.


Scouts celebrate 100 years in HorsellFascinating facts about 1st Horsell Scout Group by Tony Bowan

1st Horsell Scout Group was one of the first Scout Troops registered in Woking in 1911. The first Scout Troop was registered locally in June 1911, the Scoutmaster was W.H. Vidler who lived in Cheapside, assisted by C.A. Fenn from Vale Farm and three others, Records show five warranted officers (leaders/helpers) 14 boys and ten Rover Scouts. The original Cub Pack was registered in 1916.

It was started by Rev. E. J. Bentley the curate, other supporters in the early years were Granville Wallis, a church councillor and sidesman and Cannon Norman Pares. During 1915 the Troop was run by Rev. Vernon Johnson.

During both world wars the Troop was involved in collecting paper, picking potatoes, acting as messengers, collecting lichen for field dressings and welcoming evacuee children to the primary school.

2011 sees 1st Horsell Scout Group celebrating its centenary. The Group was founded in 1911,

just days after the launch of the Titanic.Happily, unlike the Titanic, the Group has gone from strength to strength over the years, thanks to the enthusiam and support of local children and helpers.

This year sees a festival of special events to mark the occasion, and to raise much-needed funds for a new Scout HQ building.

► Mon 2 May, 11.45 to 4.30pm, Wheatsheaf Recreation Ground. A ‘Centenary Special’ - the 33rd Grand May Fayre will feature The Tigers Army Parachute Team.

► Sat 4 June. The Horsell Hundred Birthday Party. For Beavers and Cubs with scout support – Fun, games, some fun, squash more fun and A BIG CAKE!

► Sat and Sun 2-3 July. The Centenary Family Activity Camp for all ages. A family camp at Birchmere with loads of activities and games plus a special family camp fire.

► Sat and Sun 21-22 September. The Devizes to Woking Challenge. 100 miles and 100 participants with canoes, cycles, runners and walkers.

► Sun 9 October. Church Celebration at St Mary’s Church, Horsell.

The Cubs in 1928, with formidable Pack leader, Miss Alice Duckring. Photo courtesy Horsell Scouts and Guides


All change for the Village Show

In 2010, our intrepid reporter Helen Cammack, from South Road, visited the Show for the first time.

The bunting was up, the sun was shining (thank goodness), and I was on my way to my first Village Show. I rocked up at the gate at 2pm just in time to see the Year 2 girls from the Village School preparing to dance around the maypole in front of the Village Hall.

Elaine Cooper, the school’s head, gave the girls a pep talk in a small huddle, then the girls took their positions and the music started. There was hardly an error as the dancers whirled under the maypole, ‘weaving’ and ‘undo-ing’ their green, blue, yellow and red ribbons, making colourful arcs and patterns around the pole, for an apprecia-tive audience of parents and friends.

The dancing over, I made my way into the village hall itself to see the show exhibits. I was amazed that one village could produce so much... well, produce. There were flower arrangements, proudly displayed rows of home-grown vegetables, and delicious looking cakes, each with a little card announcing the name of its creator and whether it had won a prize.

Then it was time for the Punch and Judy. The two-year old we’d arrived with was enthralled, as were most of the children, the older ones joining in by shouting and screaming “Watch out for the crocodile!” In these high-tech times it was wonderful to see some simple puppets create so much fun.

Towards 4 o’clock I had a chat with a lady called Nomad from the Beaver Scouts who, together with the exotically named Electra and Luna, was running several games. The two local Beaver Scouts groups (Trailblazers and Adventurers) had joined forces to bring us Stomp Rockets, Hoop-la and Roll-a-Coin. The Stomp Rockets were particularly popular with children, who could make their own paper rocket, and then blast it up into the sky by jumping on a fizzy pop bottle filled with air. By the time we chatted, about 60 children had already blasted their rockets!

As people were drifting away I asked for their comments. Becky and her baby son Ollie had just moved to the area and were visiting the show with Ollie’s grandad. “How did you hear about the Show?” I said. “We knew about it even before we moved to Horsell”, said Becky. “In fact it was one of the reasons we moved to Horsell – we liked the fact that Horsell is the type of place to have a Village Show”.

According to the organisers, entries to the Show were slightly down this year. I felt my face blush with embarrassment. Here I was, enjoying all the Show had to offer and I hadn’t entered a thing. Next year,

Horsell, just you wait - I have the limerick prize in my sights. I’m practising already...

In Horsell, despite its small sizeSome wonderful folk organise

A great Village ShowSo next year, please go,

And enter yourself for a prize!

Children from the Village School dance around the maypole. Photo © Helen Cammack.


MONDAY 4 – SATURDAY 9 APRIL

BOX OFFICE 0844 871 7645 bkg fee ambassadortickets.com/woking

HHHH ‘DUNCAN PRESTON IS OUTSTANDING AS ATTICUS’

THE GUARDIAN

We know it is only Spring, but that is not too early to let everyone know that the venue for the

Horsell Village Show is changing!The 2011 Show is to be held in the grounds of Horsell C of E Junior School in Meadway Drive. “Why?” you may very well be asking.

Well, it is flat – better for pushchairs and wheelchairs with less chance of tripping up and no stairs to negotiate to see the photos, art and children’s sections.

There is so much more space, giving us the chance to grow – just like the giant marrows in the Veg Classes at the Show last year! We hope to look more like a traditional village show, with marquees and stalls dotted everywhere.

We’re aiming for a really fun afternoon for the whole family. There will be the usual competitive side, but we hope to have fun elements too such as Morris Dancers, a bouncy castle, craft stalls, competitions (including that favourite from last year – the paper aeroplane contest), maybe a band, the Punch & Judy Show, face painting, Horsell Village Evening WI teas, and much more.

It is all still at the planning stage, but do please put SATURDAY THE 23RD JULY AT 2.00 PM IN YOUR DIARY NOW!

If you would like to book a craft stall, please contact Marion Piper, whose telephone number is given below.

If you have any time to spare to help with things like putting up marquees, manning a stall, selling raffle tickets, helping with the tombola and setting up/clearing up, the Committee would be absolutely delighted! Please contact Diane Fagence (Chairman) on 01483 762621 or myself on 01483 855108.

We would love the whole village to give us their support in our new venture. If it is successful, we hope to hold the show in Meadway Drive every year, but we cannot guarantee anything without you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and please, please, do come along on the 23rd July – we are sure you will have a great time. Please look out for further news of the show as the year goes by.

Marion Piper – Secretary, Horsell Village Show www.horsellvillageshow.co.uk

New venue – Horsell C of E School

Just some of the volunteers, visitors and entries from last year’s Show.


The Bedser Trail on Woodham Common

Horsell Common Preservation Society (HCPS) and Surrey Wildlife Trust have been leading a

project on Woodham Common since early 2009. With the help of local volunteers and sponsorship from Woking Borough Council a footpath has been created in the woodland area between Monument Road and Chertsey Road.

It has been named the Bedser Trail, after Horsell’s famous cricketer. Sir Alec Bedser himself visited the site of the 1.2km (0.7 mile) trail and met some of the volunteers involved in constructing it before his death in April 2010.

The resulting circular path among the pine trees can be easily accessed from the car park at Monument Road near the Six Crossroads roundabout.

An important aspect of the trail is that it passes near to the Bronze Age Barrows on this part of the common. There are two ‘bell barrows’ and one ‘disc barrow’, named for their shape.

These are rare examples of burial mounds (or ‘tumuli’), dating from around 3500 years ago and are recognised as scheduled monuments by English Heritage (meaning they are legally protected because of their national importance).

The best-preserved barrow is about 28 metres across and over a metre high. The previous paths on the common led walkers directly over the barrows. The new trail passes close by, allowing access while protecting the site.

Now that winter is finally behind us, the days are longer and warmer (hopefully!), why not make the most of Horsell’s green spaces?

This is just a small part of the 1000 acres under the protection of HCPS. Visit their website at www.horsellcommon.co.uk for more information on the trees, plants and wildlife you can see on Horsell Common, the history of the society and to find out about becoming a member.

Greta Hughson, High Street

Photos of the Bedser trail, January 2011. © Greta Hughson

Organising a street party for the Royal Wedding?Find out everything you need to know to make the party run smoothly from www.woking.gov.uk

The closing date for applications to close streets is Wednesday 13 April at 5pm. Apply online or pick up a copy from the reception desk in the Civic Offices.

For more information please contact Gary Cordery, WBC Health & Wellbeing Development Officer on 01483 743424 or e-mail [email protected]


Neighbourhood Watches won’t waitSomething interesting is happening in the quiet

world of Neighbourhood Watches. No, we are not going to pose for a naked calendar, but we are rousing ourselves into action.

Neighbourhood Watch is a street-level approach to keeping our communities safe, and we have a close relationship with the Police, especially the local Bobbies and Crime Reduction Officers. Across Woking there are about 225 Watches in place, but that’s less than a quarter of roads. So a programme to expand the network to 500 is being launched in October. If you are given a leaflet at your supermarket or have one delivered through your door, please find a minute to complete the form and send it back.

There’s more to the campaign than just expanding the network. We strongly believe that the aim of any Watch is not just to improve security but also to strengthen the ties between residents. We should be aware of the vulnerable and be ready to help. We should join in on litter-clearing and replanting days, and find new ways to enrich our community.

The first step is getting to know each other – a street party or garden barbecue is a great way of doing this. Four streets in Woking have done this for the past two years as part of the Big Lunch initiative. It really helps everyone get to know each other!

These local experts can also speak with a louder voice in shaping the way Woking develops. The Prime Minister promises to give neighbourhoods a stronger voice, and we in the Woking

Association of Neighbourhood Watches (WAN) are ready to take advantage of this new thinking coming from Whitehall. To the strengths of our Watch grassroots, we can add the power of the WAN network.

So why not get a Watch started in your road, or give your existing Watch a new lease of life? “Watching” sounds very passive but Neighbourhood Watch has the potential to channel the efforts of the local community into real action.

Contact Tony Kremer on 01483 764351 or at [email protected] for more information.

Tony Kremer, Waldens Park Road

The 2010 Big Lunch in Waldens Park Road


Voice in a Million by Rhian Harrison

On the 1st of February, I and 28 other year 6 pupils travelled up to London to take part in the

Voice In A Million concert 2011 at the amazing O2! The reason for this was to raise money for BAAF (British Association for Adoption and Fostering).

We came in to school as if it were a normal day, then at lunchtime we set off on the coach. Although we were very aware that there were going to be thousands of other children participat-ing as well as us, when everybody had arrived in the O2 arena for the rehearsal, I was extremely surprised at how many of us there actually were! The arena itself was more enormous than I had ever imagined! However, what shocked me most were the huge voices of the solo singers, many of whom were adopted or fostered themselves. I did wonder whether it was just their voices or whether they were singing along to a CD.

When it was our turn to sing our hearts out, everyone was really enthusiastic. I tried to sing as loudly as possible, so that our single voices would be heard over the other 7,500! We were also doing some simple but effective actions such as clapping, swaying and waving. We could hardly wait for the actual performance.

During the break, we were given our Voice In A Million T shirts, which we would wear for the performance. I knew it was a very special keepsake! We were also handed a glow stick for added effect when we were doing the actions. A few minutes later, the hosts for the night kept us entertained by getting us to do a giant Mexican Wave! It looked absolutely amazing going all the way

around the arena. After this, as the audience started to arrive, the hosts called out the names of all the different schools and that school had to get out of their seats and make as much noise as they possibly could! When Horsell’s turn finally came, I felt so proud and important to be representing our school.

When it was finally time for the concert to start at 7.30pm, all the lights went out except for the spotlight and our tiny glow sticks. The host spoke a few words, and then the first soloist stepped forward and sang into the microphone…

Soon it was our turn to join in with the singing and I tried to make the most of every song because I knew I would remember it forever. In between the songs there were a few very emotional speeches, which helped us remember what the evening was all about.

When it came to the last song I was very sad and couldn’t believe it had ended so quickly, but I was also extremely proud of myself, as I am certain everybody else was.

I would like to say a special thank you to Miss Benton and Miss Oakley who were responsible for organising the trip for us.

Rhian Harrison

Year 6, Horsell Church of England Junior School

► If your school would like to contribute to our new Schools section, please contact [email protected] for details.


Community newsHorsell Bowling Club welcomes new membersWe are all looking forward to the 2011 season and would welcome new members to our “Introduction to Bowls” on Saturday 16th April from 10.00 a.m.

This is a day designed to encourage novice and experienced players to join our members for a try out, chat and coffee at our clubhouse in Queen Elizabeth Gardens.

Phone 01483 480131 or email [email protected] for more details.

Members of Horsell Bowling Club at President’s Day, the last match of the 2010 season. This was followed by a meal and the presen-tation of trophies to club prize winners. Photo © Tricia Nigh.

Collegium Regale Concert 2011At 8.00 pm on Friday 8 April 2011, Collegium Regale, a group of seven choral scholars and an organ scholar from the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, will once again be giving a concert in St Andrew’s Church, Goldsworth Park in aid of the Woking Hospice.

The King’s College Choir is world famous for its annual TV and radio broadcasts of “Carols from Kings”. On this occasion Collegium Regale will be performing a varied and highly entertaining programme which includes madrigals, sacred music, folk and pop songs, all unaccompanied, and some pieces of organ music.

Refreshments will be served during the interval and the concert will end about 10 pm.

Tickets cost £15 and are available from Mike and Rosie Lipscomb on 01483 760655 or from Emma Cartwright at the Hospice on 01483 881752.

Don’t forget!It’s the annual Horsell Garden Safari on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June.

Look out for the posters, pick up a programme from High Street shops or contact either Gail on 01483 7694521 or Penny on 01483 761455 for more information.

++Stop Press++Stop Press++Horsell Scouts and Guides are having a Jumble Sale in their HQ in Horsell High Street on Saturday 26 March at 2pm.

Please bring any jumble to the HQ on the morning of the Sale, after 9am, or phone 01483 764932 or 01483 772172 for collection (no large furniture).

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