VantagePoint Magazine December 2014 - Guildford & Villages

HAPPY CHRISTMASto all our readers from your local magazine

Inside:CHEESE AND PORT

SEASONAL SPARKLERS WIN PANTOMIME TICKETS

GROWING CHRISTMAS TREES PULL OUT CHARITY CHRISTMAS QUIZ

VANTAGEPOINT

vantagepointmag.co.uk Guildford & Villages • December 2014

MAGAZINEYOUR COMMUNITY YOUR VIEW

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“What to buy Santa for Christmas”, mused Mrs Claus.

“i KnoW, a trip to Food For Thought, so much to choose from,

i’m sure to find something i like, i mean he will like!”

With our dazzling Christmas selection you are bound to find the ideal gifts

for Friends and Family, and of course a little treat for yourself!

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Food For Thought, helping you get a bit more for Christmas. Save 20%* when you present this coupon to the cashier at time of purchase. The coupon can be used once only and is valid until the 31st December 2014. We have something for everyone, what will you choose?*excluding any other offers or discounts running during December 2014.Valid at either Food For Thought Guildford or Kingston

2-6, Haydon Place,Guildford,GU1 4LL

Tel: 01483 533841 www.foodforthoughtuk.com

North Street

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oodbridge Rd

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TO THE POINT

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We now publish fi ve community magazines which are delivered monthly by Royal Mail to 107,714 homes across the South East, which gives us the largest local circulation in the local area, all with guaranteed delivery by your postman.

Please visit our website or contact any of us below if you need any more information.

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“What to buy Santa for Christmas”, mused Mrs Claus.

“i KnoW, a trip to Food For Thought, so much to choose from,

i’m sure to find something i like, i mean he will like!”

With our dazzling Christmas selection you are bound to find the ideal gifts

for Friends and Family, and of course a little treat for yourself!

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20%OFF

Food For Thought, helping you get a bit more for Christmas. Save 20%* when you present this coupon to the cashier at time of purchase. The coupon can be used once only and is valid until the 31st December 2014. We have something for everyone, what will you choose?*excluding any other offers or discounts running during December 2014.Valid at either Food For Thought Guildford or Kingston

2-6, Haydon Place,Guildford,GU1 4LL

Tel: 01483 533841 www.foodforthoughtuk.com

North Street

HOUSE OF FRASERTowards

Guildord

Train St

Car Park

Leapale Lane

High St

Woodbridge Rd

Comm

ercial Rd

Haydon Place W

ard St

Martyr Rd

Chertsey Street A320

Leapale Rd

Onslow St

Onslo

w S

t

Bridge St

GUI1214

The local magazine produced by local

people for the local community,

Stefan ReynoldsEditor & Publisher

[email protected]

Just as the fi led of red at the Tower of London gripped the nati on, they also captured the imaginati on of our readers who were swamping us daily with entries into our competi ti on from last month to win a ceramic poppy. I’m sorry that only two of you could win but it does show what an amazing project it was! We also re-ceived some lovely comments on November’s front cover image of the Thiepval memorial, which was taken by a local reader, Andy Bailey. He took it last year while undertaking research for two of his local war memorials and more de-tails are available at www.ewhurstf allen.co.uk and www.rudgwickremembers.com.

Humph is growing as you can see and conti nues to make his presence felt in the offi ce, having recently chewed his way through our internet cable. Thankfully he could not reach anything

more serious and now limits himself to card-board when I am not looking.

Well, it is Christmas month already and we have a suitably themed editi on with contribu-ti ons from all manner of local businesses and people, including the team here. We are de-lighted to be supporti ng the Dan Eley Founda-ti on’s Bumper Family Charity Quiz which seeks to raise money for disadvantaged young people while also off ering prizes of £600. Please sup-port them if you can and I hope you have fun doing the quiz around the Christmas table.

Together with my colleagues, we wish all of our readers and all of our local adverti sers (without whom we’d have no magazine) a very happy Christmas!

3 December 2014

CONTENTS

The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and nothing can be reprinted without prior permission of the publisher. The publisher has tried to ensure that all information is accurate but does not take any responsibility for any mistakes or omissions. We take no responsibility for advertisments printed in the magazine or loose inserts that might be delivered alongside it. © Vantage Publishing Limited.

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6 Jottings Your local community noticeboard

8 Seasonal Sparklers We revisit Greyfriars Vineyard

14 Branching Out

Viv Micklefi eld visits a local grower of Christmas trees

20 Canny and Crafty Christmas Ideas From the local team at VantagePoint Magazine

23 Bumper Family Christmas Quiz In aid of the Dan Eley Foundation

28 The Perfect Cheeseboard

32 Opportunity Knocks We take a look at Port

34 Food Edible gifts for Christmas

40 Walk Ripley and the Wey Navigation

43 Profi le The League of Friends of Milford Hospital

45 Business Cards Small ads for trades and services

47 Win Enter our competitions

28 34

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Next Copy Date: 7th December 2014

- YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD 10>Jottings We would just like to thank all those that have emailed us over the past 12 months and for the many kind comments. Please keep your jotti ngs coming in, we do love hearing from you. We’d like to take the opportunity to wish all our readers a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.

Surrey Artists’ Open Studios present ‘Art Online for Christmas’. Running from 10th November - 23rd December, it’s an opportunity to buy original art and crafts from Surrey based artists, direct from their website w w w.sur reyope nstud ios .org .uk. The online shop offers a range of beautiful handcrafted artworks for sale, direct from the artist who made them, and all from the comfort of your own home! Browse through the work of over 30 artists, including paintings, limited edition prints, ceramics, metalwork, glasswork, photography, woodwork, woven crafts, textiles and sculpture. There is a wide variety of work with gift ideas to suit all budgets. Once selected, it is easy to buy your chosen piece, which will be carefully wrapped and sent to you. A perfect combination of online shopping and buying local! Some SAOS artists will be opening their

doors as usual, in the lead up to Christmas, so please check their website for details of these and other events.

A Russian Fairytale: The Art and Craft of Elena Polenova is an exhibiti on at The Watt s Gallery which opened on 18th November and runs to Sunday 8th February 2015. Elena Polenova was part of the generati on of arti sts who rediscovered the folk traditi ons of the Moscow region – its wooden architecture, furniture and children’s toys; its icons and peasant decorati ons; and its vibrant traditi on of folk stories and fairytales. She was the younger sister of one of Russia’s most famous arti sts, Vasily Polenov (1844 – 1927). During the 1870s and 1880s, Elena and Vasily spent ti me at Abramtsevo, an arti sti c colony located in a rural setti ng outside Moscow, that sought to recapture the quality and spirit of medieval Russian art. Showcasing furniture designed by Elena alongside her painti ngs of landscapes and folk-tale illustrati ons, the exhibiti on will demonstrate Polenova’s important role in the Russian craft revival of the 1880s. A visit to Watt s Gallery is always a pleasure, and this exhibiti on will make it doubly so!

Beauty of the Beasts is an exhibiti on of oil painti ngs by wildlife arti st Emma Bowring at The David

Shepherd Wildlife Foundati on Gallery, Saba House, Kings Road, Shalford, Guildford, GU4 8JU. It runs from 1st December – 31st December from Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 10am-4pm. Emma will be in the gallery on Saturday 6th December 10am- 4 pm when you will have the opportunity to watch her paint, ask any questi ons about her work or simply enjoy a chat and a mince pie. Entry is free. View and buy beauti ful framed oils, limited/open editi on prints and canvasses, greeti ngs cards. All sales support endangered wildlife. For more see www.davidshepherd.org.

Guildford Travel Club welcomes you whether you’re a ‘seasoned’ or an ‘armchair’ traveller. The Club meets on alternate Tuesdays at Onslow Village Hall at 8pm for illustrated talks on travel by a range of photographers, travellers, explorers, mountaineers and writers. On 2nd December, Chris Bradley talks on Ancient Persia and Modern Iran. He visits the sites and ancient monuments which are a unique blend of styles from Egypt, Greece and India and which sti ll delight visitors today. On 16th December, Diana Darke, author, journalist and Middle East expert, explores Eastern Turkey from the mighty Tigris and Euphrates to spectacular Lake Van and Mt Ararat. Membership for the

Jottings is your community noticeboard for local events and information, edited by Nick and Angie CrisellTo feature here, please email us at [email protected]


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7 December 2014

I could hardly believe two years had passed since my fi rst visit to Greyfriars Vineyard. First-ti me visitors turning down the long drive off the A31 Hogs Back are amazed at the sight of the North Downs in all their glory rolling away to the south, and even though this ti me I knew what to expect, the view sti ll made me stop the car for a moment to take it all in.

Neat rows of grapevines cover the slopes and even from a distance I could see the bunches of grapes ripening in the September sunshine. My previous visit had been a winter one with 13,000 newly planted vines barely making an impression in the landscape. Two years on, what a diff erent story. These vines, originati ng in Germany, are obviously thoroughly enjoying their home in the south-east of England.

It is now four years since Hilary and Mike Wagstaff bought the vineyard, with precious litt le knowledge of grape culti vati on or viti culture. Together with their brother-in-law David who took on the role of vineyard manager, the three embarked on a steep learning curve, determined to make a commercial success of what had been a hobby vineyard under the previous owners.

Mike explained that of the 400 or so English vineyards only 35-40 are on a commercial scale and he was grateful that he’d had enough money to invest in new vines, fermentati on vats, anti -

deer fencing and innumerable other necessiti es involved in modern viti culture.

Today the vineyard extends to over 40 acres with another 10 acres they manage at Shere, and aft er a very disappointi ng showing due to the weather in 2013, the 2014 harvest looked set to produce some 80 tons of grapes. If only every English summer could be as good, mused Hilary as we walked up the hill past the serried ranks of neatly trimmed vines. (In fact, when I caught up with Hilary in October, she reported a record harvest of 8-10 tonnes a day, over 100 tonnes in total!)

She stopped to examine a bunch of grapes, explaining how the leaf cutt er on the tractor takes leaves off the vines late in the season,

allowing the last of the summer sun to do the fi nal ripening for maximum sweetness in the grapes. “The weather has been fabulous this year,” she said, “perfect for grapes – calm, sett led and sunny. This year we shall start picking early in October, whereas last year we were sti ll picking into December to allow maximum ripening.

“Leading up to the harvest we do sugar readings on the grapes and when the ti me is right family and friends come to pick on the Sunday before 20 hired pickers arrive. Then the hard work begins with 300-400kg of grapes being processed by each picker each day for 10

Vines growing, wines fl owing at Greyfriars. Penny Kitchen pays a return visit to the vineyard off the Hogs Back

Seasonalsparklers


days while we process them in the winery.”

The grape varieti es are chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, vines well suited to the English climate and the chalk downs. In fact, the Downs are blessed with similar geological and soil conditi ons to the Champagne region in France. Because the English climate doesn’t normally enjoy months of unbroken sunshine, the grapes grown here are lower in sugar, suitable for dry sparkling wines. At Greyfriars the clay/loam topsoil covers several hundred feet of free draining Cretaceous chalk. The chalk was originally deposited over a hundred million years ago when this enti re area was submerged under a tropical sea.

Three awardsOn my fi rst visit the couple explained that for the moment they had given up the idea of making sti ll wines in favour of the sparkling champagne-type wine which has lower sugar levels and more acidity. The fi rst vintage produced enti rely by the Wagstaff s since taking over Greyfriars in 2010 was their award-winning 2011 Sparkling Rosé Reserve. It was made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from mature vines planted by the previous owners in the early 1990s. A poor summer and extremely warm September yielded small volumes of very ripe grapes from which 450 bott les were produced. But this wine has won awards and put their name on the map.

In 2012 they decided to take advantage of the popularity of the rosé, producing Rosé Reserve 2012, another sparkling pink fi zz. This wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes parti ally fermented in used oak barrels and again produced using the traditi onal method.

So far, Hilary explained, Greyfriars are using local wine outlets such as Drakes in Ripley, Fleurie in Godalming and Olivos in Guildford, as well as selling from the vineyard itself. They have been carefully husbanding their supply with Christmas around the corner and their own

online shop due to open. “With this good summer our volume of bott les will increase exponenti ally and then we will begin the push to sell more. At the moment it is a juggling act – to release early and run out, or keep some back.”

Future plans to buy more tanks for fermentati on had to be brought forward, adding another 30,000 litres to the current 50,000 litre capacity. They are also hoping to dig a storeroom into the chalk slope which will provide the perfect year-round temperature for the wine.

“We’re delighted with the way things are going,” Hilary told me. “We’ve rarely had negati ve feedback and we’ve now won three medals which means a lot to us. We entered our fi rst wine, the 2011 Sparkling Rosé in a few competi ti ons to see how it would fare against other wines. It won a Silver Medal in the 2014 Sommelier Wine Awards, a Bronze in the Decanter awards and more recently a Bronze Medal in the Internati onal Wines and Spirits Competi ti on.“

As more and more quality restaurants start to off er good English wines, there is no doubt that Greyfriars will soon join the Hogs Back Brewery as a local success story. I, for one, am waiti ng for the 2014 vintage to come on-stream. If the wines are anything like the great summer we’ve enjoyed this year, they should be winners.

10% DISCOUNTFOR VANTAGEPOINT READERSVantagePoint readers will receive 10% off the 2011 Blanc de Blancs and the 2012 Rosé Reserve (which both retail at just £20), saving £2 per bott le. At present all wine sales are cellar door only, so please call 01483 813712 or email [email protected] to arrange a collecti on. Simply present your copy of VantagePoint to qualify for the discount.

Greyfriars Vineyard,The Hog’s Back, Putt enham, Surrey, GU3 1AG. Tel: 01483 813712.Email: [email protected]: www.greyfriarsvineyard.co.uk.

9 December 2014

season (October to April) costs £32. Visitors are welcome and will be charged £7 on the door. Please see www.guildfordtravelclub.org.uk for further details or contact Jenny Allan, membership secretary on 01483 452399.

I suspect we are possibly too late with this one but hope not. The December meeti ng of West Surrey Branch of the Historical Associati on features a talk by Mike Simpson whose grandfather was a senior member of, and meteorologist for, Captain Scott ’s Antarcti c Expediti on. Mike has private family knowledge of the tragic events of the expediti on and some original Ponti ng photographs. ‘Two heroes of Antarcti ca – Capt. Scott and George Simpson’ is on Tuesday 2nd December at 7.30pm at St Nicolas’ Hall, Bury Street, Guildford GU2 4AW. Non members are very welcome (£3 at the door). Students free. Further details are available from Rollo Crookshank, 01252 319881 [email protected]

‘Clandon by Candlelight’ is a chance to see Clandon Park near Guildford in a very diff erent light. The ground fl oor rooms will be lit just by electric candles, very festi ve! It takes place Tuesday 2nd – Thursday 4th and Sunday 7th, Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th and Sunday 14th December, 11am-3pm www.nati onaltrust.org.uk/clandon-park tel: 01483 222482. Then on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th December, from 3pm-5pm and 8pm-10pm, they are holding Carol Concerts. Join the Oxford Singers as they herald the festi ve season in Clandon’s stunning Marble Hall. Tickets are Adult £15, Child £7, Family £37 (2 adults and up to 2 children) and includes refreshments at the interval. Booking essenti al through Guildford Tourist Iinformati on Centre on 01483 444334 or www.visitguildford.com.

The West Surrey Family History Society (WSFHS) is celebrati ng its 40th anniversary this year and the Guildford branch meets each month in the Friends Meeti ng House, Ward

Street. There is a varied programme of talks and members’ evenings throughout the year. On Wednesday 3rd December at 8pm they will be featuring Surrey on Film 1914-1953: A community in Peace and War. A fascinati ng selecti on of fi lms from the Surrey History Centre will be presented by Matt hew Piggott showing rare moving images of Surrey villages and families in the fi rst half of the 20th century. They are shown celebrati ng in ti me of peace and coming together in the stress of two world wars. Visitors are welcome to att end this meeti ng to fi nd out if they would like to join the WSFHS. Further details from Mrs I Hawkins on 01483 535986.

The dates for the anti ques collectors and craft fairs in Cranleigh & Shere are: Cranleigh Village Hall, 4th and 18th December, free entry and refreshments available, 7.30am - 3.30pm. Shere Village Hall, 14th December, free entry and parking, 11am - 4.30pm

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Soak up the charm and sparkle of a traditional Edwardian Christmas this December. Twenty-four festive scenes and activities celebrate the countdown to Christmas with a free glass of mulled wine for every house visitor. Adult £4, Child £2, Family £10

Farncombe Music Club has two great gigs in December. On Friday 5th December, they present Any Colour You Like - The Pink Floyd tribute at St. John’s Church, Farncombe. The 11-piece band are bringing their spectacular show to St. John’s Church with their true-to-the-original, exciti ng and skilful performances of many of Pink Floyd’s greatest works. The band performs solely for the benefi t of chariti es and the enti re entourage of the band pay their own expenses and ancillary costs and donate 100% of all proceeds to charity. www.acyluk.com . Tickets: £12 advance (£15 door). Then on Friday 12th December, it’s Judie Tzuke “Songs and Stories” at St. John’s Church, Farncombe. Judie returns to St. John’s Church following her sold out show here in 2012; this ti me to perform acousti cally in a show ti tled ‘Songs and Stories’. This promises to be an inti mate evening of old favourites and new songs and tales from across her life and career. www.tzuke.com. Tickets: £18 advance (£22

door). Both concerts are selling fast. For more informati on and to book ti ckets, see www.julianlewrymusic.com, www.wegotti ckets.com/julianlewrymusic. Also on facebook www.facebook.com/farncombemusicclub.

‘A Family Christmas’ is a concert for all the family at Cranleigh Bapti st Church at 6.30pm on Saturday 6th December, where you can expect an unforgett able performance of ‘Love Shone Down’ from the litt le ones of the Surrey Hills Training Choir, plus arrangements of Winter Wonderland and Silent Night from the local talents of Surrey Hills Young Voices and Glebelands in Harmony. The young choirs are joined by the Surrey Hills Singers and Adult Choir of the Year 2012 and Cheltenham Gold Cup winners 2014, the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir, both of whom promise an exciti ng programme of music. The concert will also mark the commemorati on of WWI with a small selecti on of musical hall favourites – It’s a long

way to Tipperary, Daisy Bell and others. Refreshments are inclusive aft er both concerts, where you can join the choir for a glass of wine and a mince pie (or two). Tickets are £10 for adults and £4 for children and are available online at www.surreyhills-choirs.co.uk/ti ckets. Alternati vely you can call 01483 892474 or email ti [email protected].

There is a Carol Praise on 6th December from 7pm-8.30pm at West Horsley Methodist Church, next to West Horsley Village Hall on The Street, West Horsley. This is an opportunity to sing traditi onal carols with a break for refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies. It is also possible to request your favourite carol as well.

From December, the sumptuous state rooms at Petworth House will be styled to evoke an era of faded decadence and eccentricity. Inspired by period issues of Country Life magazine, this magnifi cent 17th century mansion will present fi ve



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AttitudeProviding Live-In care takes a very special kind of person. Melody Care select their carers for their patience and understanding, as well as their ability to run a house and care in all regards for our clients. We also provide extensive training using our own in-house training depart-ment. This is to ensure each carer is up to date and fully conversant with current rules and regulations. Before the service begins we would always meet with our clients and their family to determine exactly what their needs and desires might be. We then produce a detailed and personal care plan so that the Live-In Care Assistant knows exactly what is expected of them.

Good health is something many of us take for granted. Those who have to care for a loved one with failing health know only too well the devastating effects this has on their quality of life. So often people’s worlds are turned upside down when a parent or spouse become seriously ill or lose the ability to care for themselves. It is when this hap-pens that professional help is often needed. Melody Care has an enviable reputation for providing Live-In Care Assistants to help share the burden. Whatever the circumstances might be, Melody Care will be there when the help is needed most.

w Arise and prepare the house for the day (draw curtains, open windows, etc)w Feed and walk any petsw Deliver morning tea or breakfast, newspaper and post in bed or to desired locationw Prompt or assist with any medication requirementsw Prepare bathroom for washingw Assist with all aspects of personal care if necessary (including toileting, bathing, etc)w Assist with dressing and hair care etcw Perform household duties (cleaning, laundry, etc)w Accompany Client to shops/dentist/ doctor/hairdresser/ friends or familyw Prepare and serve lunchw Break 14.00-17.00hrsw Perform household duties (cleaning, laundry, etc)w Prepare and serve dinnerw Close down the house for the night (draw curtains, turn on night lights, lock doors and windows etc)w Run a bath and prepare bedroomw Assist with all aspects of personal care and undressing, ready for bed.

A typical day for a Melody Care Live-In Care Assistant

Melody Care are very thorough in our approach to fi nding the best carers possible for each client. There are 9 rigorous steps that we insist all our Live in Carers go through before they are assigned to a client:

1. On line application via our web site confi rming name, address and other details.2. Submission of a detailed CV listing all previous work experience and qualifi cations.3. Completion of a specially designed Psychometric Test, which helps us to determine character, integrity and attitude towards vulnerable people.4. A telephone interview typically lasting 15 minutes.5. A face to face interview typically lasting 90 minutes.6. Copies of the carers passport, driving licence, utility bill, bank statement and any relevant training certifi cates are taken as part of the process to confi rm their identity and status.7. Completion of a registration form listing all the places they have lived in the last 5 years. This information is then used to apply to the “Disclosure and Barring Service” to check there is no criminal record (previously known as CRB check). Melody Care also apply to the Independent Safeguarding Authority to ensure the carer is not registered on any list that would preclude them from working with vulnerable adults.8. Melody Care contact the previous employer and a personal reference to verify that they have provided these and that the information given is genuine and complete.9. Finally, Melody Care arrange for any additional training that needs to be done to be undertaken. Sometimes a “refresher” course is required and Melody Care provide this.

NINE steps to ensure only the best Live-In Carers look after our clients by Simon Carter, Owner of Melody Care

“� ank you for caring for dad”

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Highly Recommended Melody Care are increasingly being recommended by health professionals and grateful clients alike who have experienced at first hand the wonderful care provided by the Melody Care team. “Each of your carers I have met are lovely! We all really appreciate the care package you have set up so efficiently at such short notice” wrote one client recently. Another wrote: “Melody Care have done a wonderful job of looking after mum and I know she is very fond of her carer. I would also like to say how accommodating you have all been and the care that mum has received has been really excellent.”

AttitudeProviding Live-In care takes a very special kind of person. Melody Care select their carers for their patience and understanding, as well as their ability to run a house and care in all regards for our clients. We also provide extensive training using our own in-house training depart-ment. This is to ensure each carer is up to date and fully conversant with current rules and regulations. Before the service begins we would always meet with our clients and their family to determine exactly what their needs and desires might be. We then produce a detailed and personal care plan so that the Live-In Care Assistant knows exactly what is expected of them.

Good health is something many of us take for granted. Those who have to care for a loved one with failing health know only too well the devastating effects this has on their quality of life. So often people’s worlds are turned upside down when a parent or spouse become seriously ill or lose the ability to care for themselves. It is when this hap-pens that professional help is often needed. Melody Care has an enviable reputation for providing Live-In Care Assistants to help share the burden. Whatever the circumstances might be, Melody Care will be there when the help is needed most.

w Arise and prepare the house for the day (draw curtains, open windows, etc)w Feed and walk any petsw Deliver morning tea or breakfast, newspaper and post in bed or to desired locationw Prompt or assist with any medication requirementsw Prepare bathroom for washingw Assist with all aspects of personal care if necessary (including toileting, bathing, etc)w Assist with dressing and hair care etcw Perform household duties (cleaning, laundry, etc)w Accompany Client to shops/dentist/ doctor/hairdresser/ friends or familyw Prepare and serve lunchw Break 14.00-17.00hrsw Perform household duties (cleaning, laundry, etc)w Prepare and serve dinnerw Close down the house for the night (draw curtains, turn on night lights, lock doors and windows etc)w Run a bath and prepare bedroomw Assist with all aspects of personal care and undressing, ready for bed.

A typical day for a Melody Care Live-In Care Assistant

Melody Care are very thorough in our approach to fi nding the best carers possible for each client. There are 9 rigorous steps that we insist all our Live in Carers go through before they are assigned to a client:

1. On line application via our web site confi rming name, address and other details.2. Submission of a detailed CV listing all previous work experience and qualifi cations.3. Completion of a specially designed Psychometric Test, which helps us to determine character, integrity and attitude towards vulnerable people.4. A telephone interview typically lasting 15 minutes.5. A face to face interview typically lasting 90 minutes.6. Copies of the carers passport, driving licence, utility bill, bank statement and any relevant training certifi cates are taken as part of the process to confi rm their identity and status.7. Completion of a registration form listing all the places they have lived in the last 5 years. This information is then used to apply to the “Disclosure and Barring Service” to check there is no criminal record (previously known as CRB check). Melody Care also apply to the Independent Safeguarding Authority to ensure the carer is not registered on any list that would preclude them from working with vulnerable adults.8. Melody Care contact the previous employer and a personal reference to verify that they have provided these and that the information given is genuine and complete.9. Finally, Melody Care arrange for any additional training that needs to be done to be undertaken. Sometimes a “refresher” course is required and Melody Care provide this.

NINE steps to ensure only the best Live-In Carers look after our clients by Simon Carter, Owner of Melody Care

“� ank you for caring for dad”


Is it too big, or too small? Is it too bushy or too skinny? Traditi onally the purchase of the all-important Christmas tree marks the start of the festi ve season for many families, so down at Oxenford Farm in Elstead near Godalming, the pressure is on.

Anthony and Jo Baker are fourth generati on farmers on the site, which sits in the shadow of a Pugin designed gatehouse; the farm’s history stretching back to when Anthony’s ancestors were originally tenants in the 1800s and the land was sti ll part of the nearby Peperharow estate. Where once there was a dairy herd, now they rear beef stock and the market crops have been replaced by cereals. With around a tenth of the 500 acres here dedicated to growing Christmas trees, what’s interesti ng is how this parti cular diversifi cati on came about.

As we step out on a walk around the plantati ons, Jo recalls how

it all began during WWII. “Then there were so many Canadian soldiers based near here and at Witley. We had some Christmas trees growing wild in the woods, nothing formal, and the soldiers wanted them. So Anthony’s father began to grow trees properly almost 60 years ago. Originally a large number were sold to wholesalers and greengrocers, but with supermarkets coming along, it’s changed a lot over ti me.”

These days, the fi rst trade orders can arrive at Oxenford from July onwards, with the bigger trees – anything up to an impressive 30 feet in height, being installed in shopping centres and government buildings. However, with several thousand sales to the public each year, this represents a growing part of the business.

Here they specialise in the four most popular varieti es of

Christmas tree. The Norway

From our homes to our high streets, the sight of a Christmas tree delivers the very essence of glad ti dings at this ti me of year. Viv Micklefi eld visits one local grower to discover the mystery behind the magic

Branching Out

15 December 2014

Spruce with its deep pine smell instantly evokes childhood memories, although thanks to a (slightly unfair) reputati on for shedding needles in our centrally heated homes, its popularity has dropped too. The new favourite is the Nordman Fir recognisable by its glossy needles which will sti ll get thirsty and can lose their shine if not properly cared for once brought inside. For branches that are more spaced out, the Noble Fir comes out tops. Easiest to spot amongst the forest in front of our eyes, is the disti ncti ve Blue Spruce, renowned for being a bit spiky but as Jo says, it’s a good choice if you want to stop inquisiti ve house cats taking a climb. And as she goes on to explain, how fast a tree matures depends on the variety. “Norway Spruce is the quickest growing at about a foot a year. We start with small plants known as transplants that we get from another grower. It’s very important to get the right seed stock so there’s a really good provenance. The Nordman Firs grow about six inches a year but this depends hugely on the weather, and on the growing conditi ons.

“What we want is for it to be not too dry, not too wet, with some sunshine at the right ti me. Actually, it’s the same as growing vegetables in your garden, you need a bit of everything. When planti ng the trees you need rain and especially here, because with the sandy soil it’s like the Savannah someti mes. We have to make sure they don’t dry out.”

By working the land in a 10-year rotati on this ensures that trees can be off ered in all shapes and sizes. And the good news is that this is a sustainable crop, which has a positi ve eff ect on the environment. In fact, the Briti sh Christmas Tree Growers Associati on claims that over 74,000 acres are currently given over to Christmas trees in the UK, each acre of which absorbs 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

Judging by the number of the birds around us these plantati ons also appear to provide a haven for wildlife. However, I’m curious as to why there are some areas enclosed by wire fences, while others not. “I don’t think people

Above: Cutti ng trees at Oxenford Farm

A potted history of the Christmas tree• Evergreen fi r has been used to celebrate winter festi vals for thousands of years. Ancient peoples believed these warded off evil spirits and promoted good health, while early Romans celebrated the winter solsti ce by decorati ng their homes and temples; • Germany is credited with starti ng Christmas traditi ons in the 16th century when devout Christi ans brought decorated trees into their homes and many of our associated customs began here;• In the 1840s Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their family appeared in a sketch gathered around a Christmas tree and the fashion for a decorated tree caught-on both in Britain and America;• During Victorian ti mes trees were lit with candles to remind children of the stars in the sky at the ti me of the birth of Jesus;• Thomas Edison’s assistants reputedly came up with the idea of electric lights for Christmas trees;• Britain’s most famous Christmas tree stands each year in London’s Trafalgar Square – a gift from the people of Norway since 1947 as an expression of thanks for support during WWII.

Oxenford Farm Where: Milford Road, Elstead GU8 6LAWhen: 9am - 6pm daily (unti l 24 December)www.oxenfordfarm.com / 01252 702 109

Santa Fir Christmas Tree FarmWhere: Guildford Road, Shamley Green GU5 0SQWhen: 9am - 6pm daily (unti l 3pm 24 December)www.santafi r.com / 01483 271 770

Wylds FarmWhere: Warren Road, Liss GU33 7DFWhen: 9am - 5pm (unti l 22 December)www.wyldsfarm.co.uk / 01730 891 490These farms are quality marked by the Briti sh Christmas Tree Growers Associati on, www.bctga.co.uk

Your local Christmas tree farm

Branching Out


realise that it’s not just a case of popping trees in the ground, and just leaving them,” says Jo. “We have problems here with deer, especially when the antlers are in velvet, they rub against the bark and completely destroy it; they also eat the new shoots. The rabbits munch the ti ny trees and all you’re left with is a twig. Once they wiped-out an enti re plantati on which has a knock-on eff ect six years later, when they’d usually be ready to sell.”

Aphids pose a threat too and even when the trees become established, the care doesn’t stop there. “They’ve got to be pruned every year to make sure they grow into a good shape, and we need to keep an eye out for any disease they might get. You do need to give them a lot of att enti on.” And it’s become so labour intensive, that the Bakers now have a full-ti me member of staff dedicated to looking aft er their trees.

Once the Christmas season arrives, it’s all hands on deck with the help of several dozen extra helpers to keep up with the demand. “The trees are cut on a daily basis. You can get very sophisti cated machinery but we are a relati vely small grower so, instead, use men with chainsaws. For public sales trees are wrapped using net funnels. But for the really big trees it takes a lot of manpower, even having mechanised balers we oft en have to pull these out with tractors.”

So otherworldly are the majesti c boughs reaching to the wintery skies, you almost expect to see reindeers and a sleigh appearing any moment. And while there’s litt le doubt that it’s exhausti ng work running the farm, Jo and Anthony hope that at least one of their four sons will someday take over the reins.

Having seen the love that goes into making so many people’s Christmas special it’s defi nitely well worth supporti ng a local grower. Not only are you doing your bit for the planet, it’s the equivalent of buying something with zero food miles, and as these are freshly picked trees; if looked aft er, they will keep for longer. Just as importantly, who’d want to miss out on such a lovely shared community experience, even if it takes a bit of a ‘discussion’ when it comes to agreeing on the perfect tree?

Viv Micklefi eld is a locally based writer and can be reached at vivmicklefi [email protected].

Caring for Christmas trees

• Leave the tree out of doors, or in cool, moist conditi ons unti l required for decorati ng;• Saw one inch off the stump and mount in a water holding stand OR plant a rooted tree in damp soil;• Water daily keeping away from direct heat;• If you decorate the tree with lights use a low heat producing type;• Avoid knocks by positi oning near a wall or corner.

Unless you plan to plant out a rooted Christmas tree, the branches and trunk are biodegradable and can be composted for garden mulch. Alternati vely, recycle a tree at your local garden waste collecti on point (Godalming, Haslemere) or at your local ti p (Cranleigh, Dorking, Farnham, Guildford, Milford, Midhurst).

If you subscribe to a garden waste collecti on service, Christmas trees can usually be put out in the New Year. For more informati on on all local recycling services visit: www.waverley.gov.uk www.guildford.gov.uk www.molevalley.gov.ukwww.chichester.gov.uk

Recycling Christmas trees

rooms dressed for a vintage-style country house Christmas, with a Great Briti sh twist. You’ll step into a welcoming atmosphere of log fi res and wellingtons, warm tweed rugs and evergreen trees. Even on the chilliest of Winter days, Petworth House will be sure to leave visitors with a warm seasonal glow. £5 per adult (NT members and children free). 6th Dec to 2nd Jan, 11am-3pm (closed 24th and 25th Dec). There is much more going on, so please call 01798 342207 or visit www.nati onaltrust.org.uk/petworth.

On Sunday 7th December at 8pm in an atmospheric candlelit concert at St Nicolas’ in Guildford, the Surrey Hills Singers and Surrey Hills Chamber Choir present ‘A Family Christmas’, a concert for all the family. With a soloist performance from Mike Winterbotham, there will be Christmas favourites from both choirs. Refreshments are inclusive so join the choir for a glass of wine and a mince pie (or two). Tickets are £12 for adults and £5 for children and are

available online at www.surreyhills-choirs.co.uk/ti ckets. Alternati vely you can call 01483 892474 or email ti [email protected].

On Sunday 7th December, Guildford Rambling Club is meeti ng at 10am at Lightwater Leisure Centre for an 11 mile walk. See www.guildfordramblingclub.org.uk for full details.

Join in the fun of a festi ve Santa Cruise on board a beauti fully decorated boat and travel along the Wey & Arun Canal and through a restored lock. Children under 12 years will receive a gift from Santa who will board the boat at the lock whilst adults enjoy mulled wine and mince pies. The boat departs from The Wharf next to the Onslow Arms on the B2133 in Loxwood (free car parking). The trips take 40 minutes and depart at 11am, 12noon and 2pm on Sunday 7th, Saturday 13th, Sunday 14th, Saturday 20th, Sunday 21st, Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd December. Tickets cost £9 per

person (under 12 months are free). Booking in advance is essenti al. Also 50 minute festi ve boat trips, with light refreshments on board, will run on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day at 11am, 12noon and 2pm. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Booking in advance is advisable. Call 01403 752403 or email offi [email protected] Visit www.weyandarun.co.uk/tripboats.

‘Amnesty Internati onal: Send a Greeti ngs Card to a Prisoner of Conscience’ is on Monday 8th December at St. Nicolas’s Church Hall, Bury Street, Guildford and takes place from 6.30pm – 10pm. (Pub parking opposite for £1). Join members of the Guildford Amnesty Group at their annual social event for a glass of festi ve cheer and to sign greeti ngs cards to people suff ering human rights abuse all over the world. Messages of friendship and solidarity give hope and encouragement to victi ms of imprisonment and torture. Drop in for 15 minutes or an hour; all


17 December 2014

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CHRISTMAS TREESCHRISTMAS TREESMember of the British Christmas Tree Growers Association

Oxenford 2012_Layout 1 07/11/2014 15:36 Page 1

Keep in control of your body this Christmas!

Jessica Pilates offers a way to a stronger core, a toned tum-my, longer, leaner muscles and a stress free festive season.

‘Private sessions are available in Guildford and small matwork classes around Surrey, including Onslow Village,

Normandy, Worplesdon, West Horsley and Bookham.

Group classes are of varying level to accommodate allabilities and ages with first taster session FREE!

So indulge yourself with a difference this Christmas!

To book your place contact Jess Curnier on07789 176416 or email [email protected]

www.jessicapilates.co.uk

Jessica Pilates

Awaken your body and mind

welcome. Queries to Marilyn Jarrett , secretary AI Guildford at [email protected]

Go along to the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s Fair on Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th December from 10am-3.30pm. This year it will be held in the Restaurant’s covered courtyard on Level A and everyone is welcome! There will be stalls selling gift s, books, bric-a-brac and cakes plus a tombola and a Name the Bear competi ti on. Wise Blue Owl Therapists will be off ering FREE individual demonstrati ons of Reiki, Emoti onal Freedom Techniques and Hypnosis. Also, don’t forget the Royal Surrey County Hospital’s Charitable Fund’s Christmas Raffl e ,ti ckets are currently on sale for £1 each and all funds raised will go to their Detecti ng Women’s Cancers campaign. First Prize - £1,000! Contact the Fundraising Offi ce at the Royal Surrey to purchase ti ckets or call 01483 464146/email [email protected] for more informati on.

Looking for inspirati on for that special Christmas present? Then the Wey Valley Decorati ve and Fine Arts Society may have the answer. Why not join them for their next lecture, by Mrs Clare Phillips, enti tled Stocking Fillers from Faberge at Shalford Village Hall on Wednesday 10th December for a look at the work of this iconic Russian jeweller and at the privileged realms of Edwardian Christmas shopping. Refreshments are available from 9.45am and the lecture starts at 10.45am, followed by wine and mince pies. The Society off ers a monthly programme of varied and fascinati ng talks by fi rst class speakers. There are also special interest days, visits and an annual tour for members. New members and visitors are warmly welcomed. Annual membership is £40 and visitors pay £6 per talk. If you are interested, contact the membership secretary on 01932 355113 or visit their website at www.theweyvalleydfas.org.uk.

Cranfold Job Seekers Club is a registered charity based in Cranleigh. For more informati on visit them at Cranleigh CAB, Village Way, Cranleigh GU6 8AF or call 01483 272252. They are open Wednesdays from 9.30am to 5pm and Fridays from 9am to 5pm.

Les Amiti és Françaises’s popular series of lectures in French conti nues on Thursday 11th December in the Bapti st Church Hall, Queen Street, Godalming at 7.30 pm. Cédric Cabanne, who spoke about Marseilles last year, returns to talk on La Corse - Not just Napoleon... Corsica has a long history of occupati on along its coastline; the poverty in its centre has contributed towards its traditi on of violence and banditry. The island came under French rule in 1769 - the year Napoleon was born. Under the French it was almost ignored but the arrival of ‘pieds noirs’ repatriated from Algeria changed its economic prospects. This talk fi ts in perfectly with the lecture on Napoleon – not



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Reduce the number you buy for – if you’ve not already done your present shopping agree with your family to put all your names in a hat and draw out one each to buy for. You could all agree to set a price limit on gift s too.

Buy pre-loved gift s – a new twist on buying from charity shops, try buying nearly new items in pristi ne conditi on. Second Thoughts in Chiddingfold have toys and clothes for all ages and A Change Of A Dress in Godalming has lots of branded clothing. As Nicki Bartley from Second Thoughts explains “ We can provide you with perfect presents even without the original packaging – just nestle in amongst colourful ti ssue and place in an att racti ve box ti ed with ribbons”.

Make several outf its out of one - if you are spashing out on a new outf it to wear this season buy something that will see you through several social occasions rather than focusing

on buying that one special dress. Our fashion columnist and independent stylist Kirsti e Smilie suggests opti ng for an outf it that you can dress up or down with a diff erent jacket, shoes or accessory to make for a completely diff erent look. She recommends asking for advice when shopping in bouti ques like Blush in Haslemere as shop owners and assistants know their stock. By adding a cardigan here or necklace there you can make more than one outf it. This makes your overall spend more value for money.

Edible gift s - can be quick and easy to make. Turn to our food page for some ideas.

Recycle unwanted presents – but remember who gave them to you originally!

Give useful inexpensive items – like pens, toothbrushes and soap. These are guaranteed not to end up unwanted in the back of the cupboard.

Personalised gift s needn’t be dear - use family photos and frames from a charity shop or fi nd out that person’s favourite song or a tune that you both remember and track down that single on CD or as a record (try Record Corner in Godalming). If you can fi nd the original record you can frame it as a meaningful gift if the recipient doesn’t have a record player.

Use old maps or comics as wrapping paper - Or brown paper and buy lovely ribbon to add a festi ve twist. You could also buy a Christmas stamp and ink and decorate your brown paper. Arty Craft y in Godalming have a wonderful selecti on of ribbons and stamps. They also have a great display of Christmas card ideas if you have ti me to make your own.

CANNY AND CRAFTY CHRISTMAS IDEASIt’s not even here yet but do you already feel ‘bah humbug’ about the festi ve season? Is it the thought of all the expense, hassle and running around that’s making you dread the next few weeks? The VantagePoint team have pulled together some of their favourite money-saving, ti me-creati ng and stress- busti ng ti ps to share with you.

Making your money go further


Get a free Christmas tree - you can harvest your own Christmas tree on Hindhead Common on the 20th December from 10am to 12 noon.Bring along a saw, sledge and a pair of gloves to cut down your own tree. Car parking at GU26 6AB. Donati ons for the trees gladly accepted.

Keep children busy making their own presents - while you get on with the rest of the preparati ons! C&H do a fabulous range of inexpensive kits. These include making friendship bracelets, candles, soap, cards and paper beads. The nearest C&H store is in Guildford or you can buy online at www.candh.co.uk.

Off er your services - create a hand craft ed voucher off ering your ti me to help friends or family with gardening, cleaning or decorati ng for a gift that lasts beyond Christmas. Think this would only be of benefi t just to elderly relati ves think again! Skills like knitti ng, crochet and sewing are all in vogue. If you are a Nancy Birtwhistle you’ll have the grandchildren queueing up! Skills to off er but are on your own this Christmas? You could volunteer with Voluntary Acti on South West Surrey who would love your help. Contact them on 01483 565456 (Guildford) or 01252 725961 (Waverley) or see the website for details: www.voluntaryacti onsws.webeden.co.uk.

Meet up with friends rather than buying them gift s - Make a date with a friend and do something festi ve as your Christmas present to each other. Try a Christmas wreath making workshop for example and you could even make a gift in the process. Some local ones include:

Bookham Common - with the Nati onal Trust on 5th December, £25 per person. Telephone 01372 220644 to book.

Farnham - Made in Farnham on Sunday 7th December and Thursday 11th December 10am-1pm, £45 pp at The Packhouse, Runfold. Contact Susanne Hales on 07721 770969 to book.

Milford - Squires in Milford on 10th December 10am and 6pm £20 per person. Ring 01483 324077 to book.

Send (nr Woking) - with the Nati onal Trust on 10th December, £25 per person. Telephone 01483 561389 to book.

The Nati onalk MTrust has other courses but further away. Check www.nati onaltrust.org.uk for more informati on.

Bring a dish - if you are hosti ng Christmas you don’t have to do all the catering and entertaining yourself. Ask guests to contribute, whether it’s the crackers, a pudding or wine. In fact if you don’t ask your guests might bring something anyway and you could end up with 10 boxes of chocolates instead!

Have homemade food but without making it yourself - The WI Country Market is a great place to buy cakes, sausage rolls and mince pies. You can even buy your enti re Christmas lunch from a COOK outlet (and if you heat meals in their ceramic dishes you can pass them off as your own!).

Take a break and fi nd sanctuary - if it’s all getti ng too much step inside any local church and sit in the silence. And if a traditi onal Christmas and New Year really isn’t your scene avoid it all and go on retreat (www.thegoodretreatguide.com).

Start early for 2015 - save your Christmas cards and cut them up to make gift tags for next year. Buy your pudding and cards cut price aft er Christmas and put them by for next December.

However you prepare and spend Christmas this year we wish you a joyous ti me and a happy and healthy 2015 from all of us at VantagePoint.

Creating time, experiences and memories

Reducing the hassle factor

21 December 2014

just Corsica... which follows on 22nd January. Non-members are very welcome at the lectures (£6 at the door). Brochures on Les Amiti és are available in libraries and museums. As well as a programme of lectures, members enjoy convivial dining occasions together and visits to historic houses and gardens, all with a French connecti on. For further informati on, please contact John Pett y, membership secretary on 01483 861974, john.pett [email protected] and on www.amiti esfrancaises.com.

Beauti ful, amazing, breathtaking-these are some of the words used to describe the Crib Festi val held in Christ Church, Shamley Green last year. Due to many requests they are repeati ng the event on Friday 12th December, 3pm-8pm, live music and wine 6pm-8pm, and on Saturday 13th 10am-4pm .Last year they att racted hundreds of visitors to see 55 cribs from around the world in such diverse mediums as olive wood from the Holy Land to wooden spoons and Murano glass. Their charity this

year will be Cherry Trees, a home in East Clandon providing respite care for children and young people with severe learning and physical disabiliti es. They assure you that you will fi nd the exhibiti on very inspiring and fascinati ng. Further informati on at [email protected].

Queen Eleanor’s Junior School have their Christmas Fayre on Friday 12th December from 6pm - 8pm at Queen Eleanor’s Junior School, Onslow Village, Guildford GU2 7SD. Entrance £1, children free. Festi ve family fun with Santa’s grott o, stalls and games, face painti ng, raffl e, tombolas, Christmas fl orist, choir, BBQ, bar, mulled wine and mince pies, plus much more!

Guildford Rugby Club has had a great start to the season in their new league, London Division 1 South. Having won 7 of their 9 fi xtures to date, they are fourth in the league. The next home fi xture at their Broadwater ground is on Saturday 13th December against Twickenham, kick off at 2.15pm. If

you like your rugby do come down and support your local team. The standard is very high and there is a great atmosphere. The VantagePoint team will be there in force!

There’s a special event at The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundati on, 7 Kings Road, Shalford GU4 8JU on Saturday 13th December from 1pm. Join David in the gallery for their ‘Celebrati on of Steam’. Take your children, family and friends to meet David and enjoy a fl avour of the real steam experience when the Clan Line stops to water at Shalford Stati on. A great opportunity to fi nd those last minute gift s for Christmas too! (Times are subject to change, so please check the website for details.) All sales support endangered wildlife. More informati on see www.davidshepherd.org.

Cranleigh Arts Centre has a seasonal children’s theatre off ering - Santa’s Litt le Helper. Who will help to save Christmas? Young Albert Tutt le is nearly seven years old and is in for a big surprise. For as he sleeps on



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BUMPER FAMILY CHRISTMAS QUIZ!

Fun Questions For ALL Ages!! Funds will give disadvantaged young people vocational skills and support.

OVER £600 IN

PRIZES!!

1st Correct adult entry

1st Adult entry drawn – correct

or not

1st Correct child entry drawn

Child entry drawn – correct

or not

Best adult saying Best child saying

£200 £150 £75 £100 £50 £25

Dan, from Surrey, was an aid worker with street children before a freak accident in the Amazon left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He fought to survive and

the generosity and kindness of thousands of people helped save his life.

He founded his charity so that disadvantaged young people can also be helped to overcome suffering and despair and live productive and fulfilling lives. 80% of all

funds raised go towards our training programs. Charity No. 1146478.

Thank you for your support. Have fun and enjoy a loving Christmas.

Dan, from Surrey, was an aid worker with street children before a freak accident in the Amazon left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He fought to survive and the generosity

and kindness of thousands of people helped save his life.

He founded his charity so that disadvantaged young people can also be helped to overcome suff ering and despair and live producti ve and fulfi lling lives. 80% of all funds raised go

towards our training programmes. Charity No. 1146478.


BUMPER FAMILYCHRISTMAS QUIZ

Fun questi ons for ALL agesFunds will give disadvantaged young people vocati onal skills and

support. For more details, visit www.daneleyfoundati on.org.

OVER

£600IN PRIZES!

£200 £150 £100 £75 £50 £25

First correct adult entry

First adult entry drawn - correct or not

First correct child entry

First child entry drawn - correct or not

Best adult saying

Best child saying

is delighted to be publishing this quiz in support of the Dan Eley Foundation.

23 December 2014

A. To do with inanimate objects1. B A R A A Hard P ......................................................................................2. T P C T K Black .........................................................................................3. A D Edged S .............................................................................................4. A P P A T Words .......................................................................................5. T M A G T P O A Old F ..............................................................................6. T A No P I S ..............................................................................................7. A W P Never B .........................................................................................8. L T Blue T P ...............................................................................................

B. To do with animals1. A C I A H D B A Committ ee .......................................................................2. A L C C Its S ...............................................................................................3. D L A G H In T M .......................................................................................4. L T C T G The C .........................................................................................5. T P T C B The H .........................................................................................6. L A L To T S ...............................................................................................7. T S T B T C Back ........................................................................................8. T Take T B B T H ........................................................................................

C. Botanical Secti on1. A S B Forth M F ........................................................................................2. T A O M Eye ..............................................................................................3. A R B Two T ..............................................................................................4. A R S G No M ............................................................................................5. T Nip I I T B ...............................................................................................6. Y C M Bricks W S .......................................................................................7. A F As A D .................................................................................................8. A A A D Keeps T D A ..................................................................................

D. Relati ng to parts of the body1. T Point T F O B .......................................................................................... 2. T P T Wool O S E .......................................................................................3. T Put Y F I Y M ...........................................................................................4. A M T H Grow F ........................................................................................5. A E F A E A A T For A T ..............................................................................6. T W T A Man’s H I T H S ............................................................................ 7. T H A F I Both C .........................................................................................8. T W Y F T T Bone .......................................................................................

The Dan Eley Foundati on Christmas Quiz 2014Here is a Christmas Quiz for you to do with your family. Simply complete the phrase or ti tle using the lett ers and word clues provided. There are even prizes if you don’t get all the answers correct. Good luck!


E. To do with money1. H W H The G M T R ...................................................................................2. A P S I A P Earned .....................................................................................3. T T U L A Bad P .........................................................................................4. N A B Nor A L B .........................................................................................5. L See T C O Y M .........................................................................................6. W There’s M T B .......................................................................................7. M M T W Go A ..........................................................................................8. T L Of M I T R O A E ..................................................................................

F. Film Titles1. O F Over T C N ..........................................................................................2. S O The L .................................................................................................. 3. H P A T C O Secrets ...................................................................................4. S Private R ................................................................................................5. T Years A S ................................................................................................6. The K S .....................................................................................................7. The L O T M ..............................................................................................8. T Man W T G G .........................................................................................

G. Diffi cult sayings (no words, but crypti c clues)1. F L W (star’s dying statements) ...............................................................2. B Y H I T S (seaside internment) ..............................................................3. A A A O N (large bird necklace) ................................................................4. A D I T R (golfer’s sparkling fi nd) ..............................................................5. A F I T O (cream surprise) .........................................................................6. B S O T F (Bo’s troublesome sibling) .........................................................7. B B (Marilyn’s explosive device) ...............................................................8. C A A A A L (expensive limbs) ...................................................................

H. Invent Your Own Proverb using these lett ers (Adult Secti on)A T T W T A L A N W S L …………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………….............................................................................................................................................................I. Childrens’ Secti on1. G A T Three B .........................................................................................2. L Bo P .......................................................................................................3. H D Dock ..................................................................................................4. Three B M ................................................................................................5. T Three B G G ...........................................................................................6. T T Tank E .................................................................................................7. L Boy B .....................................................................................................8. B The B .....................................................................................................

J. Childrens’ Saying (in no more than 10 words)“ I love Christmas because…………………………………………………………………………........”

Please see overleaf for entry details...

25 December 2014

The goal of the Dan Eley Foundati on is to help young people help themselves by giving them the skills and training to fi nd legiti mate employment in both Surrey and Colombia. We hope your whole family enjoys doing our Christmas quiz.

When you have completed the quiz, detach it from the magazine and please send your entries either by post to The Dan Eley Foundati on, Fieldview, Petworth Road, Witley, GU8 5QW with a small donati on to the work of the charity. We suggest £5 (cash or cheque payable to The Dan Eley Foundati on) to accompany your completed quiz.

If you live in Godalming you may prefer to drop your sealed envelope off by hand at either:

The Toy Box, 3 Wharf Street, Godalming GU7 1NNCafé Mila, 1 Angel Court, Godalming GU7 1DTEnzorosario Hair Salon, 112 High Street, Godalming GU7 1DWRichmond Arms, 149 High Street, Godalming GU7 1AF

Name ………………………………..........................................................................................................

Address …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………….............................................................................................................................

Post Code ………….............................. Tel ......................................................................................

I enclose my donati on of £ …….... and, as a UK taxpayer, I wish this donati on to be subject to Gift Aid if applicable …… (please ti ck if Gift Aid is applicable and sign below).

Please gift aid this donati on Signature …………………………………....................

Closing date is 6th January 2015. Winners will be informed by the end of January. The results will be published in the charity’s website at www.daneleyfoundati on.org.

Thank you so much for your support. A very happy and loving Chrti stmas to you all.

BUMPER FAMILY CHRISTMAS QUIZ!

Fun Questions For ALL Ages!! Funds will give disadvantaged young people vocational skills and support.

OVER £600 IN

PRIZES!!

1st Correct adult entry

1st Adult entry drawn – correct

or not

1st Correct child entry drawn

Child entry drawn – correct

or not

Best adult saying Best child saying

£200 £150 £75 £100 £50 £25

Dan, from Surrey, was an aid worker with street children before a freak accident in the Amazon left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. He fought to survive and

the generosity and kindness of thousands of people helped save his life.

He founded his charity so that disadvantaged young people can also be helped to overcome suffering and despair and live productive and fulfilling lives. 80% of all

funds raised go towards our training programs. Charity No. 1146478.



27 December 2014

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“Variety is the key to a perfect cheeseboard,” she suggests. “Combine diff erent styles, colours, shapes and fl avours so there is something for everyone.” Start with a soft and creamy cheese like a brie or camembert. Find one that is unctuous and will be at the peak ripeness when you are ready to eat it. This means keeping an eye on it in the fridge and even taking it out a few hours before eati ng to fi nish its maturing process. French bries and camemberts tend to be stronger compared with Briti sh ones so choose the fl avour profi le you most enjoy. For something really Briti sh try Isle of White Soft a rich creamy cheese made with Jersey milk, or the rich and deep fl avoured Tunworth from Hampshire.

Add to your board a hard cheese. The obvious choice is a mature cheddar but also consider less well known cheeses like Old Winchester, a cross between an Old Amsterdam, Parmesan and Vintage Cheddar produced in the New Forest. Conti nental-style hard cheeses also go well such as an aged Gruyère. Whilste

many people just use Gruyère for cooking this is a deeply complex cheese, especially if you can acquire some Premier-Cru matured for 14 months. Of course, the nati on’s favourite cheese is cheddar and this in itself comes in variety of fl avours and styles. From the more earthy, farmhouse fl avour of an unpasteurised Montgomery all the way through to the sweet, soft Godminster Vintage, there is a plethora of good cheddars to choose from. Barbers 1833 Vintage Cheddar is a good mix of savoury and sweet notes which will suit most palett es and is over two years old.

Oft en over looked are the semi-soft cheeses. This includes soft delicate cheeses like Cornish Yarg and also the washed rind cheeses.

“Washed rind cheeses are seriously underrated in the UK”, Louisa tells us. “They are much more popular on the Conti nent which is a shame considering how good they have become in the UK now.” She suggests looking further afi eld than Sti nking Bishop too. “Sussex has an amazing washed rind cheese

As the festi ve season approaches, buff ets are set, dinner parti es are hosted and hospitality ramps up. In all the festi viti es it’s easy to forget that a cheeseboard can be an easy-to-make, impressive additi on to any celebrati on. Rather than leaving it to the last minute and simply grabbing whatever is nearest, Louisa Mason from Flavour Tasti ngs gives us some top ti ps to create an impressive cheeseboard.

The Perfect Cheeseboard


called Burwash Rose. It’s creamy, rich in fl avour and washed in rose water giving it a lovely fl oral aroma. If that’s not to your taste try a fi rmer washed rind cheese like Drunken Burt whose producers are winning numerous awards.”

Of course, no festi ve board would be complete without a Sti lton, nick-named ‘King of English Cheeses’. There are now six producers who can make Sti lton under the Protected Designati on of Origin Scheme. Under these rules the cheese must be made in Derbyshire, Leicestershire or Notti nghamshire and only from pastuerised milk. This means the unpasteurised form cannot be called Sti lton but is actually named ‘Sti chelton.’ Sti lton needs very litt le explanati on but do try out the diff erent producers. Colston Basset tends to be slightly lighter in texture while Cropwell Bishop has more tang. Sti chelton can be very piquant and goes wonderfully with a glass of ruby port.

For a truly stunning board consider the colour and shape of each cheese and try to bring in some variety. The other considerati on is to include at least one non-cow’s milk cheese, like an ash-covered goat’s cheese or square ewe’s milk cheese like Flower Marie. “I love Flower Marie,” writes Louisa. “It’s defi nitely on our board this year. Soft , lemony with a lingering tang this Sussex cheese is a gem.”

Finally presentati on is everything so make sure you have a nice platt er to serve it on. This can be wood, marble or slate and feel free to experiment with how you decorate it. Frozen grapes, walnuts, edible fl owers, the list is endless. However, don’t get too carried away as someti mes less is defi nitely more!

So what ever you decide to have on your Christmas cheese board, make sure you give it some thought.

Cheesy gi� s

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If you want some more ‘cheesy’ advice or want to buy some hard-to fi nd cheeses then see Louisa’s website at www.fl avourtasti ngs.co.uk or follow her on Facebook and Twitt er.

FIND OUT MORE

29 December 2014

Christmas Eve, a big fat man wearing bright red pyjamas tumbles down his chimney like a roly poly pudding. It’s Santa and he’s come for Albert’s help! This delightf ul new show comes to life with an irresisti ble blend of music, puppetry, and high energy story telling. With lots of laughs and sing-along songs this is the perfect treat for Christmas, Oh, and there is the chance to meet Santa himself! Litt le people aged 3-7 will love this heart warming tale. It’s on Saturday 13th December at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Tickets: £8 (£7 Group deal). Call 01483 278000 (Tuesday - Saturday 10am-4.30pm) or visit www.cranleighartscentre.org.

Get in the Christmas mood with Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice’s Santa and Rudolph Fun Runs, and raise money for the Hospice whilst dressed as Santa! These festi ve fun runs are a fundraising event with a diff erence. All parti cipants are issued with a Santa suit on the day – children wear Rudolph antlers and a fl ashing red nose – and complete the course dressed in their festi ve atti re, along

with hundreds of other Santas and Rudolphs! The fi rst of the two fun runs will take place in Hindhead, at 11am on Saturday 13th December, where parti cipants will follow a 3.5km route around the Devil’s Punch Bowl, with stunning views of the beauti ful Surrey countryside. The second will take place at 11am in Aldershot, on Sunday 14th December, where the Santas and Rudolphs will complete two laps of the impressive Queens Avenue Playing Fields. Everyone is welcome to take part, and parti cipants can walk, run or jog either of the courses at whatever pace they prefer. Registrati on costs £12 for adults and £5 for under 14s and everyone who completes the course will be given a medal and a selecti on of festi ve goodies! And this year you can sti ll take part in the fun even if you don’t want to run, as the Hospice is inviti ng all spectators to come in festi ve fancy dress, with a prize for the best dressed! Registrati on fees are higher on the day, so book your place now by visiti ng www.pth.org.uk, emailing

[email protected] or calling the Hospice’s fundraising team on 01252 729446.

To celebrate Guildford’s twinning with the German city of Freiburg, now in its 35th year, the Guildford-Freiburg Associati on is running a German Christmas Market in the Guildhall in the High Street on Saturday 13th December from 10am to 4pm. Wooden toys, candles and Christmas bakery items from Freiburg will be on sale and there will be a tasti ng of wines from the Freiburg area. Glühwein (mulled wine) will be available, there will be a tombola and literature about Freiburg will also be on display.

Hatchlands Park, near Guildford is holding a traditi onal festi ve evening of music and prose in the Music Room. It’s on Saturday 13th December, from 8pm-10pm and features music and readings by Ayres and Graces. Tickets cost £16 adult and £8 child, and can be booked through Guildford Tourist

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On Sunday 14th December at Hatchlands Park they are holding a Christmas Animal Visit from 1 to 3pm. See the animals in the festi ve cobbled courtyard and then meet Father Christmas in his grott o. The gift shop will also be open. Normal admission applies. More informati on at www.nati onaltrust.org.uk/clandon-park tel: 01483 222482. Then in the evening, enjoy festi ve carols and readings for all the family. Adult £8, child £4, family £20. Booking essenti al through Guildford TIC on 01483 444334 or www.visitguildford.com.

Guildford Rambling Club is meeti ng at 10am on Sunday 14th December, in Shamley Green, for a 5 mile walk. Then on Sunday 21st in Shere for a 10 mile walk with the opti on to drop out aft er 6 miles and on the 28th for a 10 mile walk from Pilgrims Way. See www.guildfordramblingclub.org.uk for full details.

The wonderful Harlequin Chamber Choir presents a candlelit evening of festi ve choral music on Saturday 20th December at Holy Trinity Church in Bramley. Starti ng at 7.30pm Harlequin will be performing a selecti on of new carols as well as many well-loved popular Christmas classics. There will be an opportunity for the audience to parti cipate, robustly supported by the choir in full harmony ably accompanied by organist Roy Woodhams. Proceeds from the concert will go to the Bramley Music Fund, which has recently paid for Holy Trinity’s new Steinway grand piano, making this a wonderful venue for inti mate concerts. A donati on will also go to Harlequin’s current charity, Sing for Pleasure, which, among other things, hosts choral events for adults and children from a whole variety of backgrounds. For ti ckets (£10 including refreshments, with £5 ti ckets for under 18s and students) telephone Stuart White on 01483 892645 or email [email protected].

As you would expect, there are lots of Christmas events at RHS Garden Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB. One that struck the eye is the Rose Theatre Kingston presentati on of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Story Trail which runs from Saturday 20th December to Sunday 4th January 2015 (closed 25th and 31st December). Leap into the magical world of Narnia this Christmas ... Meet in the Garden and discover a land inhabited by fantasti cal fauns and busy beavers. Only the most intrepid children can unlock the secrets and save Narnia from the White Witch’s spell. The event is free once you have entered the Garden. Also, The Christmas Display in The Glasshouse is another stunning display of seasonal plants and is open from Saturday 6th December to 4th January from 10am – 3.45pm. More details at www.rhs.org.uk/wisley .

Guildford Choral Society will be performing Handel’s ‘Messiah’ in Guildford Cathedral on Saturday

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31 December 2014

Like it or not it’s now the ti me of the year when our thoughts turn to parti es, socialising, eati ng and drinking. There is just so much to fi t in even before the second week of December!

I oft en ask guests at Surrey Wine School what their favourite seasonal ti pples are. Not surprisingly many say Champagne and wines from Bordeaux or Burgundy, but sadly Port and other forti fi ed wines such as Madeira or Sherry are sti ll regarded as the drink to leave out for Santa.

Port is a wine that some people enjoy just once a year, which is a real shame as it is far more that just the rich, sweet, taste of Christmas. Get to know the diff erent styles and you will be enjoying one of the world’s great wines all year round. As Percy Croft of Croft s Port said, “Any

ti me not spent drinking port is a waste of ti me”.So with thoughts not just of Christmas 2014 but also for next year here is the essenti al guide to port and what to eat with it.

Port is a forti fi ed wine made by blending a variety of Portuguese grapes that grow in the harsh conditi ons of the Douro Valley. How harsh I hear you ask? Well workers have to dynamite the rocky ground in order to plant the vine, the roots need to grow down at least 25 metres just to get a drink. Furthermore, the vines are planted on such steep terraces that the grapes can only be harvested by hand. All this and we haven’t even picked a grape yet!

It takes three weeks to harvest the grapes as each variety ripens diff erently so workers need to climb the steep terraces ti me and again to get to ripe grapes. Once picked grapes are taken to Quintas (farms) where some are sti ll crushed by foot treading. Foot treading is not just done for traditi on or fun, it has been proved that treading grapes by human feet brings out the full concentrati on of fl avour.

While the juice is fermenti ng, a high alcohol spirit is added that kills the yeast and stops the sugar turning into alcohol, leaving the wine sweet. This process is called forti fi cati on and diff erenti ates port, sherry and Madeira from other sweet wines.

So port is born in the Douro but its fi rst steps are taken near Porto in Villa Nova de Gueia at the many port houses where it is blended. The ageing process is started during the following year.

The essenti al diff erence between styles of port is whether it is aged in wooden casks (such as ruby, tawny) or in the bott le (such as vintage). Cask aged ports are ready to drink as soon as they are bott led and don’t improve with age. Bott led aged ports will get bett er as they mature. Depending on the quality of the year a vintage port may take 15-30 years to reach perfecti on.

Basic ruby and tawny ports have young fruity aromas, are aged in wood casks for two-three years and are ready to drink as soon as it is bott led. I love to drink these wines with chocolate mousse or strawberries. The best cheese match I have found is with a full fl avoured goats milk cheese.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKSJeremy Blood from Surrey Wine School takes a look at a seasonal favourite


33 December 2014

White port is made in the same way as ruby except that white grape varieti es are used. It makes a great aperiti f wine. Simply pour 1/2 white port and 1/2 tonic over ice and add a sprig of mint or basil and you’re all set. I love to match with hard crumbly cheese such as Cheshire, or Wensleydale.

Tawny ports can be aged in cask for 10, 20, 30 or 40 years (the year shown on the bott le is an average of the years in the blend) producing wines of real concentrati on. The colour changes as it ages from rich ruby to beauti ful amber and golden hues. They also develop nutt y and caramel fl avours. Tawny ports are the most versati le, as they can be drunk chilled as an aperiti f, matched with desserts or paired with sheep’s and cheddar cheeses.

Choose your pairing carefully with tawny port as the age can make a big diff erence. The older the port the more it will match with raisiny fl avours. I absolutely love a 20-year-old tawny such as Churchill’s matched with traditi onal Christmas cake or mince pies. If you prefer desserts such as crème brûlée or toff ee puddings then try a 10-year-old tawny.

Late bott led vintage (LBV) is a port lovers dream come true. An excellent value port

made from a single year and coming from high quality vineyards and does not need decanti ng unlike vintage port. This is the top match with chocolate. It also works very well with soft cream cheese like Brie de Meaux. Taylors created the LBV style and I am a real fan of these wines.

Vintage port is the pinnacle of all port producti on and is high on the list of the world’s greatest wines. Made with grapes from a single year, vintage port spends only two to three years in cask and is immediately bott led and released for sale. Although it can be drunk when released it can be a further 20 years before it reaches perfecti on. These wines leave a sediment in the bott le so it is wise to decant them before drinking. My perfect match with a vintage port is hazelnut and chocolate tart or the classic pairing with Sti lton cheese.

Surrey Wine School together with Flavour Tasti ngs run wine and cheese evenings throughout the year. Cheese and wine, cookery and wine with a professional chef, and all the other fabulous tasti ngs are available to buy as gift vouchers. For more bookings and informati on visit www.surreywineschool.com, email [email protected] or call Jeremy on 01306 898569 or 07436 072518.

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1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 5/190C. Cream the butt er and sugar unti l very pale, then mix in the fl our and almonds, to make a soft pliable mixture.2. Press half of this mixture into the base of an 8 inch square ti n, pushing down with the heel of your hand, to make it smooth.3. To make the fi lling, combine the walnuts, dates and brandy in a food processor, to make a coarse paste, then spread this over the shortbread. Chop the cherries roughly by hand and sprinkle them over the top. 4. Crumble the rest of the shortbread mixture evenly over the top, to cover

the fi lling and press down fi rmly, to make a smooth fi nish. 5. Sprinkle with caster sugar and bake for 30-35 minutes unti l pale gold.

Here are some simple recipes for different festive sweet treats which are fun to make and give as rather special edible gifts. Plan to make them just before you intend to give them, if possible, although they do keep for several days in an airtight tin - but they never last that long in my house! Remember to set aside some time to package them in coloured boxes or gift-wrap them in shiny cellophane with sparkling ribbons. The last recipe is for an unusual chutney which serves beautifully with cold meats, especially gammon, and is very easy and quick to make, so collect some fancy jars for the Spiced Pineapple Chutney and decorate with hand-made labels.

Edible Christmas Gifts

As well as running her catering business, Glorious Food, Gill hosts regular cookery demonstrati ons, someti mes followed by a meal. Gift vouchers for these events make brilliant foodie gift s. A great supporter of local food, Gill is an approved member of LocalFoodBritain.com. Find out more about her on the Surrey secti on of the website and view the events noti ceboard for informati on about her latest demonstrati ons. www.LocalFoodBritain.com/Surrey

by Gill Potterton of Glorious Food

Ingredients

7oz/175g plain fl our3oz/75g ground almonds5 oz/125g butt er 4oz/100g caster sugar3oz/75g walnuts2oz stoned dates1 tablespoon brandy1 ½ oz/40g glace cherries

Makes 12-16

Brandied Date and Walnut Shortbread

Ingredients

4oz/100g butt er or margarine4oz/100g soft light brown sugar1 tablespoon golden syrup6oz/150g self raising fl our2oz chocolate/marzipan/dried cranberries/nuts

Makes 12-16

Christmas Cookies

1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 4/180C. Cream together the butt er, syrup and sugar unti l pale. Sti r in the fl our and the chosen fl avourings, unti l you have a workable dough.2. Roll pieces of the cookie dough into balls, arrange them on a baking tray, spaced well apart, and fl att en slightly.3. Bake for 12-15 minutes unti l golden. Leave to cool on the baking tray before lift ing off with a palett e knife.

35 December 2014

FOODFOOD

Ingredients

6oz/ 150g butt er2oz/50g golden syrup4oz/100g demerara sugar8oz/200g rolled oats1 level teaspoon mixed spice8oz/200g mincemeat

Makes 12-16

Christmas Flapjack

1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 4/200C. Weigh the butt er, sugar and syrup into a saucepan and heat gently unti l everything has melted together.2. Remove from the heat and sti r in the oats, mixed spice and mincemeat. Spread the mixture into a shallow 8 inch square ti n lined with baking parchment and level it out with a palett e knife, right into the corners. 3. Bake for 25-30 minutes, unti l

golden. Cool completely, remove from the ti n and cut into bars or squares.

Ingredients

1 large pineapple1 large cooking apple4 tablespoons cider vinegar8 tablespoons muscovado sugar1 inch piece fresh root ginger1 cinnamon sti ck2 teaspoons chilli jam/pinch of dried chilli fl akesPinch of salt

Makes 2 x 1lb jars

Spiced Pineapple Chutney

1. Peel and quarter the pineapple, making sure all the ‘eyes’ are removed, remove the core and cut into bite-sized pieces. Peel, core and chop the apple. Peel and fi nely grate the fresh ginger.2. Put all the ingredients into a large pan and sti r over a low heat unti l the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer gently for 5 minutes.3. Uncover and simmer for a further 10-20 minutes unti l most of the liquid has evaporated. Discard the cinnamon and spoon into sterilised jars. Seal and keep in the fridge.

1. Pre-heat the oven to Gas 6/200C. Line 2 or 3 large baking sheets with baking parchment.2. Melt the sugar, butt er and syrup together in a pan. Remove from the heat and sti r in the fl our. Add the lemon juice and ginger, sti rring well unti l thoroughly combined. Place dessertspoonfuls of the mixture onto each baking sheet, spaced at least 4 inches apart, as the mixture will spread.3. Bake one tray at a ti me (or you will not be able to deal with the hot brandy snaps) for 6 minutes. The brandy snaps should go golden brown, but sti ll be soft . Watch carefully, as they burn easily. 4.Cool for a minute or two then slide a greased palett e knife under each

biscuit. If you work quickly, you can shape them while sti ll hot. Roll each one carefully around a rolling pin or wooden spoon handle. If the biscuits cool too much and they become too britt le to shape, pop them back in the oven for just 10 seconds and try again.

Ingredients

4oz/100g caster sugar4oz/100g butt er4oz/100g golden syrup4oz/100g self raising fl ourjuice of 1 small lemonlarge pinch of ground ginger

Makes 12-16

Brandy Snaps


20th December at 7.30pm. For many music lovers, Handel’s Messiah defi nes both choral music and Christmas. Ever since its fi rst performance in 1741, this work has remained at the heart of musical life. Guildford Choral, under conductor and Music Director Jonathan Willcocks, is joined for this performance by a quartet of outstanding soloists and one of the leading baroque ensembles, the Hanover Band. Tickets: Front Nave: £25, Mid Nave: £17, Rear Nave: £10, West Gallery: £19. Concessions: £10 on all seats except Front Nave. Concessions are available for children, students, disabled and ES40. Tickets are available from: boxoffi [email protected] or directly from Derek Lake on 01494 675571 and also from the Guildford Tourist Informati on Centre: 01483 444333.

Good news for Guildford Rugby Club. Spinal consultants and team members from BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital have donated a spine

board to Guildford Rugby Club to help improve its fi rst aid response. The spine board, which is used primarily in pre-hospital trauma care, is designed to provide rigid support during movement of a pati ent with suspected spinal or limb injuries.BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital, who became a sponsor of Guildford Rugby Club this year, made the donati on to boost the fi rst aid response available to players during matches. The spinal board will be installed pitch side at the club and will be on hand at home games to help in case an injury occurs. “We have a duty to provide safe, eff ecti ve and immediate care to our players should they become injured during a game,” John Hines commercial director at Guildford Rugby Club commented. “We are delighted to be working with sponsors such as BMI Mount Alvernia Hospital and would like to thank them for helping us ensure a safe and prosperous future for the club and our players.”

HCPT – The Pilgrimage Trust takes disabled and disadvantaged children on a trip to Lourdes every Easter at no cost to them or their families. The charity has a catholic foundati on, though children and helpers come from all backgrounds. All helpers are trained and DBS checked. For more informati on please go to www.hcpt.org.uk see the HCPT youtube channel or email [email protected].

New recruits at Cranleigh Sub Aqua Club have just completed their Ocean Diver training and their Diving Offi cer, the “Boss”, is well on the way to achieving his Advanced Diver qualifi cati on. Last season saw them diving off the Farne Islands as well as from their boat, a 6.8 metre RIB, on sites and wrecks along the South Coast, and several members dived in the Red Sea. They meet at 7.30pm every Tuesday at Cranleigh School Pool for an hour’s training/lecture/swimming and then at the Cranleigh Sports and Social Club to plan dives for next year and


37 December 2014

The weather had just taken a turn for the autumnal when I was asked to write a review on the Burford Bridge Hotel and I was delighted at the prospect of a night with Mr. Car-los in a hotel with character, a good meal and a big glass or two of red wine.

I had looked at the hotel’s website and liked the look of the old building and the newly refurbished interior. When I looked on Tripadvisor the night before my stay, however, my heart sank a bit. The reviews were not good and my hus-band and I set off for our night away expecti ng something like Fawlty Towers without the humour.

However, to my surprise our experience of the hotel was really good. On arrival we checked in and were shown to our room. The room was impressive, large, clean, smart and very well appointed. It had in it possibly the largest bed I have ever seen; there would have been room for our four children (who we had happily left behind). It even had a Nespresso coff ee machine and a minibar stocked with com-plimentary soft drinks.

We then headed for the bar to enjoy a few proper drinks. I was impressed with the new style decor, it was contem-porary and smart while remaining cosy and comfortable. The bar staff were very keen and enthusiasti c, although some obviously quite inexperienced. I witnessed a manager showing one of them how to trim away the foil properly on the top of a bott le of wine before presenti ng it and pouring a glass for a guest.

We had a long chat with the new food and beverage man-ager Christi an, who had only been there for 10 days but who was highly experienced in the business and clearly had fi rm plans for improvement. It looks as if the management understand the teething problems that they have suff ered since reopening aft er the refurbishment, and are working ti relessly to get everything up to the correct high standard.

We had been told that there wasn’t yet a head chef in the kitchen, so we were apprehensive about what we were about to experience for dinner. We need not have worried. For my starter I had salad Nicoise which was presented on a square slate plate, lovely rare seared tuna and soft boiled quails eggs, very good indeed. My husband ordered seared scallops with squid ink sauce which were cooked very well

EAT

and looked prett y on the plate. My main course was fi llet steak which I asked for rare, and it was a huge slab cooked to pink perfecti on. Mr Carlos chose the rib-eye steak, rare again, also done just as he likes it.

Before ordering, we told the waiter what style of wine we liked and asked him to recommend a bott le to go with our steak. He chose a bott le of Argenti nean Malbec that was absolutely spot on, full bodied and full of fruit. It was a fan-tasti c bott le, and we savoured every drop.

We slept like logs in the enormous bed and in the morning enjoyed a real coff ee in our room before going to break-fast. Breakfast was good, there was an excellent selecti on of buff et items to choose from, cereals, croissants, toast, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans as well as items cooked to order. I had kippers and Mr Carlos had eggs Benedict both of which were good.

All in all a very enjoyable stay, much bett er than expect-ed and I imagine that the standards will increase week on week as the staff become more experienced. The hotel de-serves a chance to succeed and I look forward to returning in the future.Elizabeth Carlos

MERCURE BOX HILL BURFORD BRIDGE HOTELAt the Foot of Box Hill, Dorking RH5 6BX020 7660 0684 www.accorhotels.com

Burford Bridge Hotel

B O X H I L LN O R T H D O W N S

Project5:Layout 1 12/10/14 17:41 Page 1

W E S T S U S S E X


Connell & Todd combines a passion for great British places with an obsession for vintage

prints, ceramics and textiles.

To view our complete range, please visitwww.connellandtodd.com


chat over a pint. To learn more and book a free try-dive go to www.Cranleighsubaquaclub.co.uk.

Pilates classes are held weekly in Cranleigh, Hascombe, Fernhurst and Redford; massage clinics are also available. For more details, please contact, Laura, [email protected] or 07557 018276.

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice is appealing to its local community for any unwanted furniture. For the past few weeks the Hospice has witnessed a sharp decline in donati ons, which has impacted on the amount of money raised by the charity’s two Furniture Showrooms. “Furniture donati ons are an extremely important part of the Hospice’s income,” says Peter Foxton, Head of Income Generati on. “Without the generosity of our local community we would be unable to conti nue delivering such an excepti onal level of care to our pati ents and their families. We accept most items - from wardrobes to sofas - so if

you have any unwanted furniture please get in touch.” You can arrange collecti on of any unwanted items by calling the Hospice’s dedicated team of drivers on 01252 710679.

Are you looking for beauti ful Christmas cards which stand out from the crowd? Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice has 13 eye-catching designs available in its shops throughout West Surrey and North East Hampshire. The charity’s popular range is priced at £3.75 for a pack of 10, and there are cards to suit all tastes, with exclusive designs by Hospice pati ent, Linda Jackson and local Farnham arti st, Charles Bone. A host of modern and traditi onal cards including ‘Santa Owl’ and ‘Robin in the Snow’ complement three funky diaries also available this year for £2.99 in indigo blue, lime green and silver. And if you’re feeling lucky, why not take a gamble with some Tuckwell Chase Lott ery scratch cards - the perfect festi ve table decorati on! Cards, diaries and scratch cards are available from the Hospice’s 18

charity shops, online at www.pth.org.uk/our-shop or by calling 01252 729446. 100% of the profi ts from the sale of the Hospice’s cards go towards caring for people aff ected by a terminal illness across West Surrey and North East Hampshire.

Aft er the success of last year’s Project Wenceslas when £7,000 was raised, Guildford Lions Club will conti nue the project this year to help local people in fuel poverty and fuel debt. “Many older people in Guildford will be receiving their Winter Fuel Allowance shortly and, if they can aff ord it, we are asking them to donate it to those who have real problems paying their increasing fuel bills,” said Barry Jutsum, President of Guildford Lions Club. Despite Guildford being a prosperous town there are many people who suff er from fuel poverty or fuel debt. All monies raised will be deposited in the Guildford Lions Charity Trust Account and ring-fenced for Project Wenceslas. Donati ons can be made online via the Guildford Lions Club


Want to tone up & get fit? Want FAT LOSS guaranteed?Want a friendly, fun sociable club?Want full personal trainer support?

Then try www.GetFitBootCamp.co.ukFriendly Circuit Training sessions

at Sutherland Memorial Park, Burphamand a Walking/Running Club at Newlands CornerAlso available: 4* All Inclusive Beach Boot Camp on the Algarve!

Contact Rob Dale BSc (Hons) on 07793 [email protected]

Want to tone up & get fit?Want FAT LOSS guaranteed?

Want a friendly, fun sociable club?Want full personal trainer support?

Then try www.GetFitBootCamp.co.uk

Friendly Circuit Training sessions at Sutherland Memorial Park, Burpham

Walking / Running Club at Newlands Corner

Also available: 4* All Inclusive Beach Boot Camp on the Algarve!

Contact Rob Dale BSc (Hons)[email protected]

07793 036189

39 December 2014

Facing the back of the shops, head right, pass-ing behind the houses unti l emerging on New-ark Lane (the B367). Turn right and cross. Walk past the houses and keep going unti l passing a sti le out left into a fi eld. Further along the road, just beyond this sti le, go through a gap in the hedge on the left to emerge next to a large lake, Papercourt Lake (used for angling and sailing). Head anti -clockwise around the lake. When forced to choose take the left fork, into trees. Keep going unti l emerging in an open area (you are now beyond the end of the lake) and turn right. The path brings you out onto a road op-posite some houses.

Cross to take a footpath heading away from the road and passing some allotments. The path takes you along the left -hand edge of fi elds. At one point it jinks left then right, passing a footbridge and conti nuing forward. Keep go-ing along the edge of the fi eld unti l you reach a T juncti on. Here, turn right. Now, follow the path with a stream on your left unti l you see a footbridge on your left at a point where the path swings sharp right. Turn left to cross the footbridge and immediately turn right to walk with the stream now on your right. Pass a pond and eventually reach a point where you can see a lane, Tannery Lane, ahead of you. Do not go through onto the lane. Instead, follow the path as it swings left and runs parallel to the Lane but in trees, just off of its edge. Emerge in the Lane just short of some light industrial buildings, one of which is Tannery House. Go down the right-hand side of the buildings to cross a footbridge over the Wey Navigati on.

On the far side turn right and walk along the towpath to Papercourt Lock. Here, cross the Navigati on and conti nue along the towpath on the other side to reach a road bridge. Go up onto the bridge and cross it, left , then go down onto the towpath on the other side to conti nue forward. You will quickly pass (on your left ) the remains of Newark Priory. (This, an Augusti nian

Ripley and the Wey Navigation

The walk

This is an easy, fl at, fi gure of 8 walk, running past a lake and alongside the historic Wey Navigation. The walk description is provided by Guildford Rambling Club (guildfordramblingclub.org.uk).

priory, was built at around 1189. It was parti ally demolished af-ter Henry VIII’s dissoluti on of the monasteries.) Conti nue on past Newark Lock to reach Walsham Gates (the last of the original turf sided locks, opened in 1653, that were common along the full length of the Navigati on). Here, turn right to cross over the weir and then follow the path ahead to reach Ripley Green and the starti ng car park. You could lunch in a café or pub in Ripley or picnic on the Green.

Aft erwards, walk north, away from the houses and shops, along the lane through the common, passing the play-park. Follow this path to reach the lock at Walsham Gates again. Turn right to walk along the towpath to Pyrford Lock. (Along the way, on the other side, you will see the brick-built “summer house” in which the poet and playwright John Donne lived for a while. You will also pass a medieval bridge, Pigeonhouse Bridge.) At Pyrford Lock, just before the Anchor public house, turn right, through a gate and into Wisley Golf Course. Follow the yellow arrow signs along the wide track which swings out right across the course and then curves left and reaches a T juncti on where they take you left unti l, close to a small pond, the path swings left and over a fairway and a footbridge. It then passes through scrub and


Neither the publisher nor the author can accept any responsibility for any changes, errors or omissions in this route. Diversion orders can be made and permissions withdrawn at any ti me.

WALK

DISTANCE: A fi gure of 8 of 5 plus 5 miles

OS MAPS: Explorer 145 – Guildford & Farnham

STARTING POINT: The car parking area by the play park on Ripley Green.

GRID REFERENCE:5 053 1 571

REFRESHMENTS: There are a number of pubs and eati ng places in Ripley itself. Also The Anchor, Pyrford Lock, Wisley, Surrey GU23 6QW (01932 342 507) which is on the route.

Image above: Walsham Gates and Lock Keeper’s Cott age by Colin Smith

fenced corridor, through the middle of the Roy-al Horti cultural Society’s Wisley Gardens and out behind the Glass Houses to reach a road. Cross this road and conti nue forward across a large fi eld. The path brings you out on the ac-cess lane to Ockham Mill, just to the left of its buildings. (Ockham Mill is now a private resi-dence. Ockham is listed in the Domesday Book of 1086.) Go straight across and conti nue in the same directi on, along a footpath that takes you to Ripley Common and the start point.

trees and a scruff y work area and turns right to emerge close to the Club House.

A few yards along here, before reaching the Club House, take a footpath left and emerge in the churchyard of Wisley Church. (Wisley Church is well worth a look. It was originally built in 1150.) Go out onto the road (Wisley Lane) in front of the church and proceed right, alongside it. Walk past the golf club entrance then take a footpath right, to re-enter the course. Quickly reach a juncti on and turn left . Follow the path around the edge of the course to reach a footpath left . This takes you through bushes, over a small footbridge and, for a few yards alongside the River Wey, to reach the road again, by a bridge. Turn right and walk along the road unti l you see a lollipop post box across on your left .

Now, cross the road and go up the wide track opposite, passing the post box. Go up this track for 20 yards then take a footpath off right. It takes you between fi elds to the start of a wooded area. About 50 yards inside the wood, at a cross paths, take the footpath right and follow it straight ahead (ignoring left s and ignoring a fork left ) unti l you reach the small Wren’s Nest car park and Wisley Lane again. Cross and head left . Quickly fork right, off the Lane and along a concrete vehicle track. Aft er about 20 yards pick up a footpath off right which takes you, in a

41 December 2014

website at www.guildfordlions.com where there is also more informati on about Project Wenceslas. Alternati vely cheques, payable to Guildford Lions Club, should be sent to the Club Treasurer, 1 Green Lane, Guildford, GU1 2LZ.

On Sunday 28th December at 11am, Peaslake Royal Briti sh Legion Branch Commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the 1914 Unoffi cial Christmas Truces. Under the ti tle Friends or Enemies a re-enactment of one of the truces that occurred on the Western front will take place on a playing fi eld next to Peaslake Village School. The cast of 30 players and other helpers from Peaslake and surrounding villages will recreate those batt le scenes, including an exchange of mementos and gift s, and of course a football match. The morning will conclude with poems and a service of thanksgiving and prayers. There will be marquees available for the spectators and hot drinks will be on sale. There will be a bucket collecti on for the Poppy Appeal. The narrator for the event will be Brough Scott MBE, who is grandson of General Jack Sealy, who led the cavalry to France in 1914. More informati on about this unique event can be obtained from Sally Price on 01306 730047 or sally.price@bti nternet.com.

The Economy Group of the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan has prepared a Business Questi onnaire and it’s in all our interests for as many businesses in and around Cranleigh to contribute their views to www.surveymonkey.com/s/7JS3DZ2. The purpose of the Economy Group of the Cranleigh Neighbourhood Plan is “to support a thriving Cranleigh economy that creates prosperity and employment opportuniti es for its growing community.” They need to identi fy the issues, and to do so have prepared a Business Questi onnaire to ascertain basic informati on. They ask that as many businesses as possible spend fi ve minutes completi ng the survey and they will keep people informed about the results.

Merrow Ladies Badminton Club meets every Thursday morning at Merrow Village Hall from 10.15am to 12.15pm. They are a very sociable group of ladies who enjoy a light-hearted game of badminton as well as coff ee and a chat. The group has been in existence for 40 plus years but now fi nd members are fewer and are therefore recruiti ng new people. All ages and abiliti es are welcome and free taster sessions are available. For more details contact Gill on 01483 576176 or just turn up!

On Thursday 1st January, start the New Year by joining local members of the RSPB on their annual gentle ‘head clearing’ walk to fi nd and identi fy birds at Riverside Nature Reserve in Guildford. Suitable for both beginners and experts. The walk starts at 10am, will last about 2.5 hours and will try to spot birds on the lake, in the fi elds and woods and along the riverside. They hope to see about 40 diff erent species of birds, even just possibly a kingfi sher or an owl buried deep in a tree. Meet at just before 10am at the car park off Bowers Lane, Burpham GU4 7ND. Grid Ref: TQ011527. Take binoculars if you have them. Do wear warm clothes and outdoor shoes/boots. No dogs please, and the walk is not suitable for buggies or very young children. Further informati on on all their acti viti es is at rspb.org.uk/localgroups/Guildford. Any queries to: [email protected], or call 01372 467074.

Regular walking has huge health benefi ts: Getti ng involved with your local Walking for Health scheme couldn’t be easier. Find the health walk scheme closest to you. Visit the nati onal Walking for Health website www.walkingforhealth.org.uk and enter your postcode or place name in the search box. You’ll then fi nd all the informati on you need to join a group for regular walks. There are currently three walk groups in Guildford: The Boxgrove Walk Group off ers free 1-hour walks from the car-park at Boxgrove Park shops at 10am every Monday morning. Meet at 9.45am. The Fairlands Walk Group off ers free

walks from the Farmhouse Café at Rokers every Wednesday morning.

Meet at 9.45am for an hour walk or at 10.15am for a shorter, easier walk. The St Luke’s Fountain Centre off ers free walks to visitors to the hospital on Mondays and Fridays at 11am. Meet at the entrance to the Fountain Centre garden for a short walk. All abiliti es welcome and all walks are led by trained volunteer walk leaders. Just go along. It’s free! Wear waterproof footwear and take a raincoat on rainy days.

This spring, Petworth House hosts an exhibiti on inspired by Mike Leigh’s award-winning fi lm Mr. Turner. Petworth House played a starring role in the fi lm having been the home of one of Turner’s greatest patrons, the third Earl of Egremont. The exhibiti on features over 30 works of art, mostly by Turner, and on loan from major collecti ons including Tate and V&A. Alongside is personal ephemera once belonging to the arti st, such as his fi shing rod and painti ng materials, some on show for the fi rst ti me. Also on view are props and items of costume from the fi lm, together with artworks by the actor Timothy Spall, created whilst he trained for his role as Turner in the fi lm. A short documentary by Mike Leigh about the making of Mr. Turner at Petworth House features rare behind-the-scenes footage. Visitors can also tour the Arti sts’ Studio, not usually open to the public, but once used by Turner and other arti sts as a studio in the nineteenth century. Mr. Turner: an exhibiti on – 10th January to 11th March. Tickets are £12, booking essenti al, at www.nati onaltrust.org.uk/petworthturner or 0844 249 1895.

Vivace Chorus is holding another Come and Sing event on 24th January. It usually sells out and 2015 will be no excepti on because they are singing Mozart: the C minor Mass and the Solemn Vespers (1780 version). It’s at Normandy Village Hall from 10am to 4.30pm, with music supplied and their now famous lunch: homemade soup and



PROFILE

Whenever the League of Friends is collecti ng outside stores or running a stall at the village fairs, there are sti ll some people who say that they didn’t know the hospital had survived the threat of closure and thought the whole site was now going to be houses. How wrong!

Milford Hospital is the local centre of excellence for elderly assessment, day care and rehabilitati on. Normally pati ents are admitt ed following a stay in an acute hospital. The broad spectrum of experti se amongst the staff enables a comprehen-sive assessment and care programme for elderly pati ents with complex needs. The day hospital gives advice and support to elderly pati ents who are to being cared for at home. An added bonus is that the out-pati ent X-Ray service is now digitalised (i.e. online) allowing doctors at Milford and The Royal Surrey County hospitals immediate access to results. The service is available for community use as well as for pati ents att ending Milford Hospital.

The League of Friends raises public awareness and thus support for the hospital. It raises money to provide additi onal ameniti es that are not covered by the NHS. We have recently provided CD and cassett e players for talking books, arranged for talking news-papers to be available weekly and bought I-pad soft ware for the speech and language therapists to enable improved speech re-covery in stroke victi ms.

Our main focus in 2014 has been revitalising the courtyard gar-den (pictured right), with muscle power provided by the Pro-bati on Service Community Payback Scheme who we hope will come back and repair the area outside the cafe so that it too can be a useful outside seati ng area. Colourful plants were do-nated for the garden and the money raised at the village fairs enabled us to buy an aluminium globe trickling water feature, a bird sculpture that moves in the wind, new umbrellas and stands and cushions for the furniture. The garden is now even more popular and used into the evenings, providing a relaxed and se-cure environment for pati ents and their visitors.

Next we will provide additi onal wheelchairs so all who want to can get outside. We organise several regular features for pati ents and staff including a weekly library round and a confecti onary/toiletries trolley round, a summer garden party with musical en-tertainment, a lunch for staff and volunteers at Christmas and a Carol service in the wards. Every in-pati ent receives a small present from the League on Christmas Day.

We fund-raise through bucket collecti ons out-side stores such as Secrett ’s Farm Shop and Sainsbury’s, being nominated as a communi-ty charity by Waitrose, and by having stalls at both Milford and Witley Fairs. The award win-ning Rushmoor Choir is holding a concert for us on 25 April 2015 (contact Jacqui Robini on 01428653905 for £10 ti ckets) and we will be or-ganising a quiz in the autumn of 2015.

New volunteers to help us fundraise are always welcome. We would especially welcome new committ ee members with accounti ng or bank-ing experience who could assist our long stand-ing Treasurer. Contact us through our website at www.milfordhospitalleagueoff riends.com if you would like to help us in any way. It is not an onerous commitment but the work we do is really appreciated by pati ents, their relati ves and the staff of the hospital.

Please note that our AGM will be on March 20th 2015 at 3pm in the Seminar Room at the Hospital. All are welcome to att end and hear about what the hospital is doing and about the acti viti es of the League of Friends.

The League of Friends of Milford Hospital

43 December 2014

a ploughman’s. (Do some people go mainly for the homemade soup?) To apply, download a form from www.vivacechorus.org and send a cheque for £24 to 30 Shepherds Way, Liphook, Hants GU30 7HF or, alternati vely, book and pay online.

The Surrey Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 8th March. Starti ng and fi nishing at Woking Leisure Centre the closed-road running event is the biggest in the county, and will take 6,500 runners through the country lanes to the South West of Woking before returning to the town for their big fi nish! The scenic course is fl at and fast, so it’s a great place to secure your best 13.1 mile fi nish ti me! A kids race will take in a 2km closed road circuit in Woking hopefully inspiring the half marathon runners of the future. The running route will be lined with local live bands, and local club cyclists will lead the runners out onto the course. The Surrey Half Marathon will be working closely with local chariti es. Their offi cial Charity Partners for 2015 are Shooti ng Star CHASE, WWF, Woking and Sam Beare Hospices and Harrison’s Fund. They hope that runners will use the Surrey Half as an opportunity to fundraise for charity. Entries are selling fast, and prices will go up on 1st January, so ensure you enter before Christmas to secure your place on the start line. To enter, go to www.surreyhalfmarathon.co.uk . You can follow them on Facebook – www.facebook.com/surreyhalfmarathon Twitt er - @surreyhalf. Download the app – Search “Surrey Half” in your app store.

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Associati on is looking for people to be part of a Guide Dogs Support Group. Lots of voluntary roles are available from organising events, helping with collecti ons and raising awareness of the work they do. Roles are very fl exible and can be suited to how many hours you are able to donate. There is something to suit everyone! Kati e Smith, local Guide Dogs representati ve, says “Whatever

you’re interested in doing, whether you have a litt le or a lot of ti me to spare, you will be guaranteed to meet new people and have some fun! At the same ti me you will be raising funds to enable Guide Dogs to create the special partnerships which can change the lives of people who are blind and parti ally sighted.” To fi nd out more informati on, please contact Kati e Smith on 07795 611459 or email kati [email protected]. For more informati on on Guide Dogs, visit www.guidedogs.org.uk.

Affi nité, the Surrey singles social club for the over 50s, has fi nalised its winter programme. Included are visits to the Comedy Store, a gallery and a museum, a carol concert, a Christmas quiz and a New Year Dinner at Clandon Regis Golf Club. Contact the club through www.club-affi nite.co.uk.

I bet you didn’t know that Surrey can now boast its fi rst disti llery, ‘The Major’ roared into life recently fuelled by wood from Albury Estate to begin its new life powering Silent Pool Disti llery. The fi rst spirit to course its way through was apple brandy made from cider from the orchards at Birtley House in Bramley. Unti l now, Ian McCulloch and his team have been testi ng the equipment with water but all the licences have come through and the disti llery has gone live for the fi rst ti me. The verdict? “The fi rst lot we tested was 80% proof and it tasted lovely,” said Ian. “We took the glass bowl off so we could smell and taste it as it came through. You could really smell the apples.” The boiler is a 1970s Barford Invicta Major allegedly rescued from Liverpool Docks but the sti ll is a one-off masterpiece of shining metal hand-made by Arnold Holstein. Ian McCulloch and James Shelbourne began working on the disti llery project in 2013, converti ng redundant farm buildings at Sherbourne Farm on the Albury Estate next to the Silent Pool. If you read this Ian, we at Vantage

FIND OUT MORE

More Jotti ngs are available online at vantagepointmag.co.uk. To send in an entry, go online or email us atjotti [email protected].

Point will be very happy to give our considered opinion!

Situated on Ward Street, The Guildford Insti tute is a charity committ ed to providing educati onal and cultural acti viti es to the local community. The Insti tute’s new spring programme is now available with a diverse range of talks, courses, trips and acti viti es on off er. Highlights this term include an exclusive tour of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and a special talk to mark the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta given by the highly-esteemed Professor Nigel Saul. Full details of the Insti tute’s spring programme can be viewed on their website: www.guildford-institute.org.uk. Alternati vely, for more informati on please call 01483 562142 or email info@guildford-insti tute.org.uk.

Looking for new free acti viti es in the New Year? Over 50 and want to get out more? Age UK Surrey off ers Walking Football in Guildford, Men in Sheds (Ash) Walking and Cycling (all Surrey), home visits for those not able to get out (Waverley and Guildford) and even free benefi t checks to ensure everyone has their full enti tlement. You can of course volunteer for them - and as they are an independent charity – make a donati on knowing that it stays in Surrey. See the website at ageuksurrey.org.uk or ring 01483 503414.

Finally, some sad news. Two groups of Great War (1914-1918) medals in frames where stolen on 21st January 2014 from the HQ of The Royal Flying Corps Associati on. The two medals were as follows: LT.E.BREWER and SGT.A.POLLARD (M.M 15110). Please ring 01306 711114 if you have any informati on. There is a reward.

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the pond is about 10ft above the level of the very busy roundabout only 50ft away!

With staff sharing over 80 years of experience and special offers running month to month you will always receive the best service, and can be sure you are getting not only the best prices locally, but in the whole of the UK (including the internet).

In short, if you’re thinking of buying a garden building, for any reason, it’s well worth paying us a visit.

An independent family run business, established in 1995, Bourne Buildings is a familiar sight to the residents of Farnham. We are well known for our advertising banners, which overlook the Shepherd & Flock roundabout: favourites include, “Forget red roses, buy her a shed”, “Now is the Winter of our discount-sheds” and our current offering of “Shed early for Christmas”.

As well as keeping the locals amused, Bourne Buildings is now the largest garden buildings showsite in the UK and has over 200 garden buildings on show all year round, as well as thousands of stone items ranging from statues & birdbaths, to benches & urns.

Our picturesque showsite is set around an old mill pond which creates a stunning and unique environment; well worth a look even if not looking to make a purchase. Many customers, on an almost daily basis exclaim “how they have been driving past for years and never realised that the 100ft mill pond existed – let alone the extent of the selection on display”. What surprises them further is that

“Where great sheds are Bourne” ADVERTORIAL


TERMS & CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: By entering these competitions you agree to receive periodic emails from VantagePoint Magazine, Vantage Publishing Ltd and the originator of the competition you are entering. You can opt out of receiving these at any time and your data will never be passed on for use by third parties. The prizes are non-transferable and

have no cash alternative. Only one entry per person per competition and prizes will only be sent to homes with a GU, KT and RH postcode.

WIN

WIN AN ORDNANCE SURVEY RUCKSACK AND PERSONALISED MAP

Ordnance Survey produce over 650 recreational and leisure maps and you can win one of fi ve Ordnance Survey rucksacks with a custom-made map.

The winners can create their own personalised map by selecting the area and adding their own cover image and title using the map builder at www.oscustommade.co.uk, and

also receive an exclusive OS branded rucksack.

To enter, please answer the following question:

Q: How many maps do Ordnance Survey produce?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 31st December 2014.

WIN A FREE LOCAL PRINTDo you love your local town? Look forward to your next walk up Box Hill? Are you proud of the local countryside? At Connell & Todd we design and hand select gifts that evoke special memories of your favourite places: from vintage travel posters and antique guides to maps and original works of art. All our gifts can be purchased via our website www.connellandtodd.com. We will also be selling our gifts at the local Christmas markets around Surrey and West Sussex this month.We have just designed a new selection of prints of your favourite places which make the perfect Christmas gifts for friends and family and locals who have moved away from the area. To celebrate the launch of this new collection we are running a competition with VantagePoint Magazine and are offering one framed print each of Godalming, West Sussex, Box Hill, Haslemere and Hampshire. To enter, answer the question:Q: Name one of the prints you can win.Enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 31st December 2014.

TERMS & CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: By entering these competitions you agree to receive periodic emails from VantagePoint Magazine, Vantage Publishing Ltd and the originator of the competition you are entering. You can opt out of receiving these at any time and your data will never be passed on for use by third parties. The prizes are non-transferable and

have no cash alternative. Only one entry per person per competition and prizes will only be sent to homes with a GU, KT and RH postcode.

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk.Postal entries can be sent to us at the address given on page three.

B O X H I L LN O R T H D O W N S

WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO THE YVONNE ARNAUD PANTOMIME

Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and VantagePoint Magazine are very pleased to offer you the chance to win a family ticket to this year’s magical

pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

The show stars Whose Line Is It Anyway? legend Josie Lawrence as the fabulously witty Wicked Queen. Joining Josie is top cabaret performer Kit Hesketh-Harvery and Eagle Radio’s Peter Gordon. To fi nd out more please visit www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk.

A family ticket (4 seats) is available for the performance on Friday 2nd January at 7pm.

To enter, please answer the following question:

Q: Who plays the Wicked Queen?

Please enter online at www.vantagepointmag.co.uk by 31st December 2014.


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VantagePoint Magazine December 2014 - Guildford & Villages

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Transcript of VantagePoint Magazine December 2014 - Guildford & Villages