Met dogs star in film with Andy Murray

Transcription

Met dogs star in film with Andy Murray
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LIVING IN
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A Bigger, Better, Brighter Read
Vol. 10 Issue 11
July 2015
From Page 11
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Bodies of mother and daughter Met dogs star in film with Andy Murray
discovered at home in Esher
French Gendarmerie as part of their
investigation. The deaths have also been
reported to the Surrey Coroner.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective
Chief Inspector Mark Preston, said: “This
is a tragic incident where lives have been
lost and our thoughts are with their family
and friends at this time.
“We are in the very early stages of the
investigation but we do not believe there
to be any threat to the wider community
and I would like to reassure the public that
this is thought to be an isolated incident.
We are not currently looking for anyone
else in connection with the deaths.”
Officers are currently making a number
of enquiries in the area and ask anyone
with information which may assist their
investigation to contact Surrey Police
quoting Operation Caribou.
Man attacked with broken glass
at wine bar in Walton on Thames
A man was left with a cuts after being
assaulted at a wine bar in Walton-onThames on Saturday 27 June. The incident
took place between 12.40am and 1.00am
at Morts Wine Bar in Bridge Street.
It is believed the victim and the suspect
were involved in a verbal altercation before
the suspect allegedly attacked the victim
with a broken wine glass. The injured
man was treated for a cut to the cheek at St
Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey.
The police are looking for a man with a
tan or Mediterranean appearance, aged
about 40 years, between 5ft 11 and 6ft
tall, of a large build, with a shaved head
and a beard. He was wearing a white longsleeved shirt with black lines and dark
trousers.
Detective Constable Ben Kirby said:
"Although there were several people in
the wine bar at the time, no one appears
to have actually witnessed the assault take
place. We would like to speak to anyone
with any information which could help us
piece together what happened."
If you can help, please contact Surrey
Police on 101, quoting crime reference
number 45150055010.
With Wimbledon Championships
taking place, the Met Police has
used this opportunity to undertake
additional training and searches within
the grounds. Search dogs and their
handlers are a regular sight in the lead
up to the tournament beginning and
this caught the attention of the All
England Lawn Tennis Club and WWF.
Five year-old English Springer
Spaniel Ike who is one of the Met’s
most experienced search dogs and five
eight-week-old puppies have starred
alongside Oxshott's Andy Murray in a
social media campaign highlighting the
fight against poaching and the illegal
wildlife trade.
The campaign launched with a video
starring Ike and Andy.
The short film, narrated by Sir John
Hurt, explains that being a sniffer dog
takes talent, commitment and skill
– just like being a tennis champion.
Launched on the first day of the
world’s oldest tennis tournament, the
film encourages people to support
Andy’s passion for wildlife.
Filming took place within the famous
grounds and Ike’s searching skills
were called upon to find a tennis ball
belonging to Andy.
This will be followed later on in The
Championships with a second video
with Andy and the five Cocker Spaniel
puppies, Marigold, Marvin, Matilda,
Misha and Maramaduke.
Ike was bred by another police force
and his official kennel name is ‘Icon’hence the name Ike - and he has been
with his handler since he was oneyear-old. Now considered a pro, Ike
thoroughly enjoys work and his search
skills were put to the test during the
Commonwealth Games and Olympics.
He has searched almost all of London’s
iconic sites including the Palace of
Westminster, Downing Street and
Buckingham Palace.
Following the filming with Ike it
was the turn of the puppies known
by their litter name as ‘Mimosa’. The
puppies are part of the largest litter
the Met has had, consisting of 13 dogs
altogether and they made their arrival
on Wednesday 22 April.
Marigold, Marvin, Matilda, Misha
and Maramaduke have yet to start their
official training and won’t do until they
around nine months to a year old, so
given this they were left to their own
devices whilst Andy filmed his piece
around them.
Andy said: “Sniffer dogs do an
incredible job whether it’s keeping us
safe and secure here at Wimbledon,
or fighting wildlife crime in Nepal.
WWF’s conservation work supports
these dedicated and talented animals
and trainers to help protect some
of the most iconic, yet threatened,
species on our planet. I’m really
hoping that whilst I battle it out on
the court this summer – people will
join the battle to help fight the global
problem of wildlife crime.”
Heather Sohl, Chief Advisor on
Species at WWF-UK said: “Andy’s
support for our fight against poaching
has been fantastic in raising both the
crucial funds and awareness necessary
to help tackle the illegal wildlife trade.”
Image © Greg Armfield / WWF-UK
Two bodies have been found at a house in
Esher.
Officers attended a property on
Simmons Gate at around 10am on
Monday 29 June after concerns were
raised for two people at the property.
Sadly, on arrival the bodies of a woman
in her 40s and a teenage girl were
discovered.
Although formal identification has
not yet taken place officers believe the
deceased are Lisa Anthony (47) and her
daughter Ava Anthony (14) who were
residents at the property.
The two deaths are being linked to
the death of man in his 50s - reported
to be the teenager’s father - which
occurred in the Aix en Provence area of
Southern France on Sunday 28 June
and officers are working alongside the
Andy Murray, WWF Global Ambassador meets Metropolitan Police Service dogs at The Championships, Wimbledon to highlight the role of sniffer dogs in the global fight against the illegal wildlife trade.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Marvellous day of fun guaranteed at
Claygate Flower & Village Show
The organisers of the Claygate Flower & Village Show
asked the local community what they wanted to see at
this year’s event and now, they say, there is even more
to be excited about.
There will be ferret racing; your chance to meet and
learn about some loveable creatures, then cheer on
your favourite to win as it races its way through the
course.
Enjoy lots of comedy and fun as Greg Chapman
juggles many strange and odd things. The Claygate
Tug Of War Competition will be as much fun to watch
as it will be to enter.
And that’s not all at the biggest event of its kind in
Surrey:
Children will love the new Traditional Village Games,
where everyone’s guaranteed to win a prize. Entering
the Children’s Fancy Dress Parade - your little ones
can let their imagination run wild and come dressed as
whatever they like. Meeting all sorts of animals - from
cuddly Shetland Ponies and naughty goats, to bees
and owls and even tarantulas. Getting active with mini
rugby and of course the Children’s Races (there’s a
race for every age).
The Nostalgia Steel Band is back with its infectious
Caribbean rhythms to really get the party started. Plus
there’s Zumba, Chadsworth dancing displays, and the
1st Claygate Scout & Guide band (who recently led the
National St. George’s Day Parade at Windsor Castle).
Of course, some 2,000 remarkable exhibits are the
most popular area of the show. Enjoy displays from
talented villagers, ranging from baking to crafts,
flowers to photography.
There’ll be the hugely-popular Dog Show and
Classic Cars, imaginative gifts in the Stalls Village,
thrilling martial arts displays, Punch & Judy and the
Funfair (prices capped at £2.50).
Barry Fitzpatrick, Claygate Flower & Village Show’s
Chairman, said: "Our survey revealed that people
love the Show for its amazing community spirit, fun
family feel and for getting together with their friends
and neighbours. It’s a great celebration of the local
community and is the biggest variety of village life that
you’ll ever see!"
Tickets are available from Johnstons newsagent in
Claygate (£4 per adult / £2 per child) or on the gate
(£5 per adult / £2 per child). Children under five go
free.
For regular local
news updates
email
[email protected]
Claygate’s Gig On
the Rec sells out
This year's Gig On The Rec charity concert in
Claygate on Sunday 12 July has now completely
sold out.
Those lucky enough to hold a ticket are in for a
musical treat with one of the world's finest ABBA
tribute bands, ABBA MANIA,set to wow the
capacity crowd with such favourites as Waterloo,
Dancing Queen, Mama Mia and many, many
more.
For two of the songs the group will be joined on
stage by the 30-strong Claygate Primary School
Choir who have been invited to make a special
guest appearance.
Local singer Tracy Jane will provide the support
to the main act with the Hinchley Wood Senior
School Brass Band kicking things.
"We obviously hoped that ABBA MANIA would
be a popular choice of headline act but the response
has been amazing, it should be a memorable
night," said Event Director, Tony Shearman.
As well as the acts on stage there will also be
a licensed bar, barbecue, face-painting, blowup guitars, raffle and an auction with some top
items to bid for including a stay in a 17th century
thatched cottage, an electric guitar and amp set,
a night at the races followed by live music from
Boyzone, a visit to the studios of radio Jackie and
a Gymnastic party for 20 children.
All profits from the event will go towards
the last few payments that need to be made
relating to the building of the Clubhouse on the
Claygate Recreation Ground. The event has been
generously supported by ABC Music of Esher, The
Brightwater Brewery of Claygate and Councillor
Mike Bennison on behalf of Surrey County
Council.
Book from Dittons Library turns up
nearly 4,000 miles away in America
A book that vanished from a Surrey library has
turned up nearly 4,000 miles away in an American
city.
John Van Der Kiste and Nicola Sly’s More
Cornish Murders was last seen at Surrey County
Council’s Dittons Library five years ago.
Now the true crime book has resurfaced at Allen
County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The 160-page paperback was handed over by local
resident and big Sly fan Meaghan Good, who bought
it on Amazon’s worldofbooskusa store for $3.
Librarian Megan Bell alerted the county council
after spotting a Dittons Library label inside the
front cover and doing some online research.
A transatlantic email exchange ended with the
county council donating the book to the US library.
But how it travelled more than 3,880 miles
across the Atlantic to the north eastern US city
remains a mystery.
Megan said: “I wanted to be sure we did not
have someone’s property before we added it to our
collection. Our true crime section is very popular
with the patrons – I’m guessing this book will be
a nice addition.”
Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for
Localities and Community Wellbeing Richard
Walsh said: “The county’s latest export to America
may not have quite the same appeal as Magna
Carta does but we’re still happy to donate it to our
US friends.
“Crime paperbacks won’t suit every taste but
we’ve got a huge range of novels to download
and the shelves of our libraries are crammed with
everything from bestsellers to books about the
great charter Surrey gave to America and the rest
of the world.”
Allen County Librarian Megan Bell (left) with Meaghan Good.
LIVING WITHIN
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July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
Raids in Esher, Walton and
London lead to four human
trafficking arrests
A police investigation into a gang suspected of
trafficking women from Southeast Asia into
prostitution at hotels in the south east has led to
the arrests of two men and two women.
Mobile phones and computers were seized after
40 officers executed search warrants at properties
in Esher, Walton on Thames and Orpington.
Four people were arrested at the addresses on
suspicion of human trafficking, controlling a
prostitute for gain, and money laundering.
A 42 year old woman was arrested at an address
in Esher. In Walton on Thames, the police arrested
a 43-year-old man and a 45-year old woman. A
38-year-old man was arrested at an address in
Orpington.
Chief Inspector Andy Kundert said this was the
arrest phase of an ongoing investigation into the
trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable women
from Southeast Asia for prostitution in hotels
around Gatwick but also across the south east.
"Officers and partners from a number of
organisations have been working closely together
over a number of months to identify those responsible
for these offences and to identify victims.
"We are currently examining more than 400
hotel bookings made by men via text from two
websites.
"We believe there has been money laundering to
the tune of tens of thousands of pounds from the
proceeds of this activity."
The police have traced 10 women who have been
involved and enquiries are continuing to trace and
talk to other witnesses.
"This investigation follows valuable information
we have received from the hotels involved, with
whom we work increasingly closely to help combat
any crime of all kinds," Chief Inspector Kunder
continued.
"We are also working with the charity A21
who specialise in working with and assisting
victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation.
Representatives from this charity and police
officers from Gatwick are ensuring that we have
put in place safeguarding arrangements for any
women involved.
"The operation will continue until we are satisfied
that we have brought to justice everyone involved
in these offences and even more importantly,
ensured that those safeguarding arrangements are
in place."
A police investigation into a gang suspected of trafficking
women from Southeast Asia into prostitution at hotels in the
south east has led to the arrests of two men and two women.
Image courtesy: Sussex Police
West End Village Flower Show returns
This August Bank Holiday Saturday will see the
picturesque village green in West End, Esher,
with its duck pond, cricket pitch and unspoilt
woodland, burst into life with a host of attractions,
stalls, activities, competitions and tasty treats to
keep the whole family entertained.
It's the perfect setting for a Great British summer
day out, and best of all, entry is free!
The focal point is the spectacular marquee
displaying prize-winning flowers, fruits and
vegetables, keeping alive the origins of the show,
which has now been running for over 60 years.
It also plays host to competitions for baking,
handicrafts and photography.
Young or old, there really is something for
everyone to enjoy.
Flower Show President, Donald Mungall says,
"This is a wonderful way for the whole village to
come together whilst raising a considerable sum
for local clubs and charities. But it’s not just for
West End villagers, families from Esher, Claygate,
Cobham, Oxshott, Hersham, Walton and all over
Surrey and beyond, come down every year to join
in the fun."
West End's bank holiday weekend festivities are
set to raise over £10,000 for local good causes.
The village is just a short distance from Esher
High Street and is easily accessible from the
surrounding area, located just off the Portsmouth
Road (via Hawkshill Way or West End Lane). The
fun starts at 12.30pm
Visit www.westendflowershow.co.uk
Claremont Fan Court School
An independent co-educational school for pupils aged 2½ to 18 years
Open Mornings
Whole School - 10.00am-12.30pm
Introductory talk at 10.00am
Saturday 19 September
Saturday 3 October
Sixth Form Open Evening
Monday 28 September at 6.00pm
For further information, tel 01372 473624
or email [email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Matthew Kallenberg-Pierce
FNAEA MARLA
Peter Roberts
MNAEA MARLA
Telephone: 01372 463100
Thinking of selling, buying, renting or letting?
5 & 6 High Street, Claygate
Talk to the people with the knowledge.
www.claremont-school.co.uk
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LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Rogue trader from Six month driving ban
Cobham prosecuted for Jose Mourinho
Terence O'Dowd from Cobham pleaded guilty to five
counts under the Consumer Protection from Unfair
Trading Regulations 2008. He also asked for one
further offence to be taken into consideration. Mr
O'Dowd used the trading names "Driveway and Patio
Creations" and "Building and Driveway Creations".
He has been ordered to pay over £14,000 by
Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court after being caught by
Kingston Council's Trading Standards Team.
Kingston Council's Trading Standards Team
investigation found that four people had suffered
shoddy workmanship and had been left false
details about the company owner. Mr O'Dowd
had already been warned by Kingston Trading
Standards about the legal requirement to give
cancellation rights and correct contact details and
still was not doing so.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has been handed
a six month driving ban for driving 10mph over the
speed limit on the A3 in September. He was also
fined £750 and ordered to pay £160 costs. Surrey
Magistrates' Court in Staines received a lettter in
which he admitted the offence. Mourinho - who
already had points on his licence - was caught driving
at 60mph in a 50mph zone on the A3 near Esher.
on unauthorised mooring and that, together, we are
evicting those who don’t respect our waterways."
Councillor David Cunningham, Lead Member for
Environment and Transport at Kingston Council said:
"This action is just the beginning - our enforcement
officers will continue to patrol the riverside and take
quick, decisive action where appropriate.
"Illegally moored boats are a menace and do not
have a place in our borough and I am grateful for the
support of the Police and the Environment Agency in
helping us stamp out this problem."
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Big parcel sacks of
cannabis found in
Twickenham street
Jose Mourinho. Image courtesy Steindy
Enforcement officers remove two
illegally moored boats from Thames
Enforcement officers have removed and destroyed
two illegally moored boats on the Kingston stretch
of the River Thames. The decisive action was part
of Operation Riverside, a joint initiative between
Elmbridge, Kingston, Richmond and Spelthorne
Councils, the Environment Agency and the police. In
addition to the two boats, a number of unauthorised
structures were also removed from the riverside.
Nick McKie-Smith, Waterways Enforcement
Manager at the Environment Agency said: "This joint
venture shows that we are serious in cracking down
Teenagers in
frightening car
crash in Claygate
Proud to have served the
region for10 successful years
Emergency services rushed to the scene of an
horrific car crash in Claygate in the early hours
on Monday 15 June. When they arrived they were
amazed to see a blue vehicle held up vertically
against a wall near the railway bridge in Hare Lane.
Local residents, led by well known swiming
instructor Marion Thorley, rushed from their homes
just after 3.00am to assist the four young men and
one girl who were travelling in the car. Surrey Police,
Surrey Fire and Rescue Services, and paramedics
from South East Coast Ambulance Service and
Surrey Air Ambulance arrived minutes later.
According to the police, the occupants of the
vehicle were returning from a party. The driver and
two of his passengers managed to escape from the
car, but two other passengers had to be cut out.
An investigation is underway but reports suggest
the 17-year-old driver lost control of the car and it
flipped up after hitting either a road sign or a tree.
Two of the young men who were passengers in
the hatchback were taken by road to St George’s
Hospital with minor injuries.
The driver had recently passed his driving test.
The police said: "Thankfully nobody [was] killed."
A Twickenham beat officer patrolling her local
ward followed her nose and stumbled upon 16
laundry bags filled with cannabis that had been
dumped in the street.
PC Vanessa Figg, who was on patrol in
West Twickenham ward with PCSO Azelerab
Jedid, were walking along Selkirk Road at
approximately 11.00am on Tuesday 23 June
when they saw a number of laundry bags
dumped in the street.
PC Figg said: "Initially I thought this was
someone fly tipping. I began to look into the
bags to see if there was any name and address
within the bags to ascertain the offender.
"However, once I had opened the first bag
I could smell the overwhelming whiff of
cannabis."
A search of the bags revealed a large amount of
dried cannabis leaves, rotting cannabis, gloves
and facial masks.
A further patrol of nearby Chertsey Road
revealed 10 more blue, white and red laundry
bags - the same as the bags found in Selkirk Road.
These were searched and more cannabis leaves
were found along with a halogen bulb, gloves,
masks, air fresheners and vacuum bag packets.
Inspector Rhiannon Ivens from Richmond
Police, said: "It took Vanessa and her colleague
more than two hours to bag the 25 plus exhibits.
It just shows you never know what you may find
when out walking the beat!"
Enquiries continue to establish where the
cannabis came from.
Budget for new Portsmouth Road cycle
lanes increases by more than 230%
The budget for a well-publicised scheme that is
designed to separate cyclists from motorists along
one of Kingston’s busiest roads has been increased
from £1.4 million to £3.26 million.
Funded through the Mayor of London's miniHolland Programme, the Portsmouth Road
scheme will see the implementation of segregated
cycle tracks from Surbiton to Kingston, providing
complete and partial separation between cyclists and
motor vehicles.
Investigations during the feasibility stage showed
that in order to deliver the scheme specified in the
mini-Holland Bid document, and to accommodate
the fully-segregated two-way cycle track, it was
necessary to make structural alterations to the
retaining wall between Portsmouth Road and
Queen’s Promenade and to partially remove the
western footway.
Councillor Richard Hudson, Lead Member for
Capital, Projects and Contracts at Kingston Council,
said the scheme will provide more safety to cyclists.
"Just this week another person lost their life cycling
on London’s roads. The many benefits of cycling are
widely recognised, but we must do whatever we can
to protect cyclists and make them feel safer while
recognising the need to share space with other road
users. Painting white lines on tarmac is not enough.
It is only by delivering innovative highway schemes
like the one planned for Portsmouth Road that we
will make a real difference. And what’s more, we can
do it without significantly impacting on traffic flow."
Portsmouth Road is one of 10 major cycling projects
that Kingston plans to deliver using funding from the
Mayor of London’s mini-Holland Programme.
The Portsmouth Road scheme has been developed
in consultation with local residents.
A more detailed construction phasing plan will
be presented to both Kingston Town and Surbiton
Neighbourhood Committees before construction
begins in November. The council expects to have "the
first stage" completed by April 2016.
Further information about the Portsmouth
Road scheme and Kingston Council’s "go cycle
Programme" is available at www.kingston.gov.uk/
gocycle
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
School coach Sexual assault at
Walton bus stop
crashes into
barrier on M25
Two 12-year-old girls were taken to hospital after
a coach carrying school children and teachers
crashed into a barrier near Junction 10 on the M25
in Surrey. Police and parademics were called out
after receiving reports of a single-vehicle collision
which was causing long delays on the motorway.
One of the girls had a headache and the other
had back pain. They were treated in hospital as a
"precautionary measure".
The other passengers of the coach were taken to
M25 Cobham Services where they were given free
food and drink at Starbucks and McDonalds.
Surrey votes in
favour of cuts to
local bus services
Bus services in Elmbridge, Kingston, Runnymede,
Spelthorne and Woking will be cut at the end of
August, affecting passengers across the Living
Within region.
Surrey County Council said it needed to save
£2m by 2018 and has has agreed to run fewer
subsidised services and cut others.
The cuts include the 459 Kingston to Woking
service via Esher, Hersham and Weybridge. The
451 Staines to Brooklands service - which features
on the Abellio Surrey Bus Twitter page - will also
be withdrawn.
The 566/567 Staines to Virginia Water service
which currently runs every hour, will now arrive
every 90 minutes.
However, North West Surrey Bus Users Group
- which fought the proposals - was pleased to see
that some routes will be enhanced. "The final
outcome of the review will not affect too many
people given the extent of the financial savings
and there will even be improvements for some. For
those who will still suffer some hardship though
that will be little consolation."
Surrey said further changes would take place
elsewhere in Surrey over the next two years.
Police in North Surrey are appealing for witnesses
to come forward following an incident of sexual
assault by touching on Rydens Road, Walton on
Thames at around 7.30pm on Thursday 18 June.
Two teenage girls were waiting at a bus stop half
way along Rydens Road close to the junction with
Molesey Road when a man approached them and
touched one of the girls on the bottom. He then
went into some nearby bushes and exposed himself.
The man is described as white, around 25 years
old, approximately 6ft tall and of slim build. He
had short ginger/strawberry blonde hair and facial
stubble, slightly busy eyebrows and wonky teeth.
He was wearing blue jeans and possibly a grey top.
DC Ben Kirby said: "Prior to this incident, the girls
had been travelling on the 461 bus to Walton town
centre however it had broken down so they were
waiting for another bus to continue their journey.
"We would like to speak to anyone who was on
this bus as they might have information which will
help us to identify this individual. Equally if you
were walking along Rydens Road around the time
of the incident and noticed anything unusual please
contact us on 101 quoting reference 45150052153."
Smoking ban at
Kingston Hospital
from this October
It’s all
about the
best years
of your life
From Thursday 1 October Kingston Hospital will
be going smokefree. This means that patients, staff
and visitors will not be able to smoke anywhere in
the hospital buildings, car parks and grounds. The
ban includes tobacco products, e-cigarettes and
vaping devises.
In a press statement, the hospital said that as a
healthcare provider it is committed to promoting
health and wellbeing and believes it is important to
provide a healthier and fresher environment for all
people who visit the hospital.
This new policy is in line with The Health Act
(2006) and the National Institute for Health and
Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on smoking in
secondary care services (2013), the hospital said.
Kingston is advising smokers to who have
appointments to seek help to stop smoking.
Open Days - Saturday 3rd October 9am – 12 noon
and Tuesday 11th November 9 – 11am
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LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Marathon distance on offer at
Garmin Kingston Run Challenge
A marathon distance will be on offer when the
Garmin Kingston Run Challenge returns on
Sunday 11 October 2015. The 26.2 mile test of
body and mind endurance will join the returning
8 and 16 mile courses which will start from the
traditional point of ancient market square in
Kingston-Upon-Thames. High demand for the
new marathon distance has seen entries surpass
the combined total of the other routes.
Each of the three distances will follow a
picturesque riverside route alongside the Thames
and pass by the world famous Hampton Court
Palace. The course also touches the edge of Esher
and goes through charismatic Thames Ditton.
The Garmin Kingston Run Challenge course has
gained a reputation in the running community
for being particularly flat, making it appeal
to amateurs who don’t wish to take on tough
inclines, and also to regulars who see it as an ideal
opportunity to score a personal best time.
Plenty of help will be on hand to assist runners
of all abilities in achieving their goals. The Garmin
Pace Team will be running at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and
12 minutes per mile with flags to clearly identify
them amongst the packs of participants. The idea
behind the team is to help runners achieve a steady
pace and reach their target finish time. Those who
would prefer to track their own pace can hire a
state-of-the-art GPS watch completely free of
charge thanks to Garmin.
"We have been organising running events in
Kingston for 25 years," said Nick Rusling from
organisers Human Race Events.
"We have been keen to bring this marathon
to Kingston for a while but did not want to
compromise the 8 and 16 mile runs that people
know and love. We are delighted that after a lot of
hard work by our planning team we can offer all
three great running events on 11 October as part
of the Garmin Kingston Run Challenge."
Places in the 2015 Garmin Kingston Run
Challenge can be secured by visiting www.
humanrace.co.uk/running, where you are also able
to pre-book your Garmin hire.
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discovery fun over 90 activities.
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child with one full paying adult*.
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Sir Bradley Wiggins to race in
RideLondon-Surrey Classic
The legendary Sir Bradley Wiggins, Britain’s most
decorated cyclist, will line up on the start line of the
third Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic on
Sunday 2 August, part of the Mayor of London’s
annual festival of cycling.
It will be Wiggins’ first race on UK roads following
his sensational performance at the Olympic
velodrome earlier this month, when he set a new
UCI World Hour Record of 54.526km.The winner
of the 2012 Tour de France, four-time Olympic gold
medallist and six-time track world champion will
lead out his newly-formed team WIGGINS.
Twenty-five teams of six riders will contest the
200km race, which this year starts on Horse Guards
Parade in St James’s Park and offers the world’s
largest prize fund for a one-day race. Also confirmed
is Mark Cavendish - the Manx Missile - and his Etixx
– Quick-Step team. BBC Sport will televise the race
live, with coverage distributed worldwide.
"It’s always fantastic to race on home roads and
this race is very special,” said Wiggins. “My team is
really looking forward to it. I was amazed how many
people were out watching last year in that appalling
weather. The whole Prudential RideLondon festival
shows how much cycling has grown in this country."
"Every race wants Wiggins," said Mick Bennett,
Race Director of the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey
Classic. "He now has rock star status and generates
massive excitement wherever he races. We expect
hundreds of thousands of spectators to line the
route to cheer him on. His team is packed with great
athletes likely to feature in the Team Pursuit in the
Rio Games next year and they should perform well
in a race of this nature."
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:
"Huge crowds will once again line the capital’s
streets this August to roar on some of the world's
top cyclists. I’m sure British fans will be shouting
even louder at the sight of former Tour de France
champion Bradley Wiggins shooting past our
grand landmarks.
"London continues to showcase its ability to host
world-leading sporting and cultural events, and
Prudential RideLondon is yet another one of our
superb showpieces that helps to attract tourists,
drive the economy and inspire people of all ages
and backgrounds on to their bikes. It’s a festival of
cycling that caters for everyone, whether you are a
top professional, a committed daily commuter who
loves riding their bike or a family looking forward to
a leisurely day’s cycling along some of the capital’s
most famous streets."
Richard Walsh, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet
Member for Localities and Community Wellbeing,
said: "Sir Bradley is a cycling superstar so we can
expect huge crowds on the route in Surrey again –
and perhaps he will inspire a future icon of the road
Sir Bradley is no stranger to our local roads having raced here
in the 2012 Olympics.
to emulate his incredible achievements on the bike."
The third edition of the race, rated Category
1.HC on the UCI Europe Tour, will start at the
iconic location of Horse Guards Parade in central
London before going out through the capital to
Kingston upon Thames, Hampton Court and then
over the River Thames to Walton on Thames and
Weybridge. After 57km of racing, the first challenge
the riders will face is the 2.4km climb of Staple Lane
in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural
Beauty.
The peloton will then race through Dorking
before taking the southern approach to the ascent
of Leith Hill, the highest point in Surrey. With a
further three circuits (one more than last year) of
a loop through Dorking and up the testing 6.7 per
cent climb to Ranmore Common, this year’s race is
set to be a true classic.
The riders will then race up the famous zigzags
of Box Hill, through Leatherhead, Oxshott,
Esher and Thames Ditton before returning back
through Kingston upon Thames. From there the
peloton heads towards central London, through
Raynes Park, Wimbledon, over Putney Bridge and
alongside the River Thames through Chelsea. The
closing stages of the race go through Parliament
Square and up Whitehall to the famous 1km to go
marker from Trafalgar Square through Admiralty
Arch, where the riders will start the final sprint
along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace and
the finish line.
The Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic is
the fifth and final event of Prudential RideLondon,
the world’s greatest festival of cycling. More than
95,000 riders will participate in the five events over
the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 August.
An extensive communications campaign is
planned to help businesses and the public plan
ahead and get around on the day. This will include
a leaflet drop in July to 1 million+ residents and
businesses along the route, drop-in sessions for
local people and community access plans.
*Terms and conditions apply.
COMPLETE
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parties ‡ weddings ‡ events
The Yucky You show
19th May - 2nd September 2015
Shows run at weekends and Bracknell school holidays.
Open 10am - 5pm
every day
The Look Out Discovery Centre
Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW
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9HQXHÀQGHUVVW\OLVWV
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Tel: 01344 354400
www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/be
www.facebook.com/thelookoutdiscovery
020 8398 8720 ‡ 07976 318324
Living Within
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FRPSOHWHEOLVV#\PDLOFRP
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July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
Young local actors on stage in
Piper Of Hamelin at the Rose
Young actors from Elmbridge are performing
this month in The Piper of Hamelin at The Rose
Theatre.
The Piper Of Hamelin is a children's opera based
on the classic fable. It is written by John Rutter
and Jeremy James Taylor, the founder of National
Youth Musical Theatre, who is also directing the
show.
The cast, which includes Rose Burden and Laura
Souter, auditioned with children from 40 other
locals schools.
The show has been produced by Creative Youth,
a Kingston based Arts Charity aimed at getting
young people involved in the Arts. The show
is being performed as part of Creative Youth's
International Youth Arts Festival, which is a
two week festival based in Kingston during July,
showcasing the talents of young people from all
over the world, as well as running workshops for
new people to get involved in the Arts.
The Piper Of Hamelin is being performed just
after Living Within went to print at Rose Theatre
Kingston on Sunday 5 July at 7.00pm and Monday
6 July at both 1.30pm and 7.00pm. Tickets are
available from www.rosetheatrekingston.org.
Telephone 020 8174 0090
Full house for Aladdin Trouble
at Claremont School
Claremont Fan Court School Year 6 pupils
performed their much anticipated production,
Aladdin Trouble, to a full house.
A pantomime based on the classic tale from
1001 Arabian Nights, it was the culmination of
many months of rehearsals. With catchy songs,
colourful costumes and no shortage of special
effects, Aladdin, Jasmine, Widow Twankey and
the whole cast put on a memorable performance
that will live long in the memory.
Each and every child from Year 6 played their
part contributing to the singing and dancing as
well as learning their lines to perfection. For many
of the children it will be their only appearance
on stage in a production of this kind and they all
thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being part of
an ensemble cast of this nature.
The audience members were blown away by the
quality of the singing, acting and dancing with
more than one remarking that they had seen worse
on stage in the West End!
Wed 16 Sep – Sat 31 Oct
rosetheatrekingston.org (bkg fee)
020 8174 0090 (bkg fee)
World class theatre on your doorstep
Rose Theatre Kingston
@Rosetheatre
7
8
LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Anniversary celebrations at
Complementary Health
Well happy anniversary, to me! It’s four years since
I signed the dotted line and took over as Partner,
working alongside Paul Sullivan here at TCHP.
What a four years it’s been. Huge refurbishment,
new practitioners (and I’m glad to say all existing
ones staying put), a new website, engaging in the
world of social media, plus Yoga and Pilates classes/
workshops regularly being held. Phew, and that’s
just to name a few.
We still hold true to our original values, and
the ethos of the clinic is that of a calming space,
one filled with knowledgeable and experienced
practitioners who want to make a difference. For
those of you who haven’t yet met us, we’re on your
doorstep, so do pop in and say hello, we may have
a little nugget of info, or a treatment that could
complement the way in which you live.
Our website offers a more descriptive explanation
of who we are and what we do, but as a brief
synopsis, we have approximately 25 practitioners,
all of whom are passionate about the treatments
they offer, we tend to work collectively, steering
clients towards the appropriate treatment for them,
we don’t always get it right first time, but inevitably
there is a ‘right’ treatment for us all. It can just take a
little searching, before it makes itself apparent.
From Massage to Chiropractic, Acupuncture to
Craniosacral, Podiatry, Hypnotherapy, Reflexology
and Osteopathy, we have it available here.
Although established and known to many, we
strive to develop ourselves and reach out to more
people locally who are perhaps struggling to find a
treatment and/or therapist that suits them. It has
been said that alternative therapies shouldn’t be
viewed as a luxury but an essential part of keeping
us in shape, both mentally and physically, but here
at Complementary Health we are also aware that
treating oneself, nurturing your own health and
personal development seems to be the first thing
that slips when other pressures build.
Hopefully the Summer months will bring renewed
energy, optimism and good health to you all, but for
those who feel they are flagging, that invitation to
visit us is open, so why not give us a go.
- Zoë Ross
www.comphealthclinic.co.uk
01372 464 659
Claygate
Claygate takes
takes delivery
delivery of
of life
life saving
saving
device
device for
for Recreation
Recreation Ground
Ground
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone without
warning but particularly when participating in
sport or fitness training. That's why Claygate
Recreation Ground Trust has welcomed the
arrival of a new, fully Automated External
Defibrillator (AED) which will be housed in the
Claygate Community Pavilion ready for use in
the event of any cardiac emergency that might
happen "on the Rec".
A defibrillator is a portable device that, in the
event of a sudden cardiac arrest, checks the
status and rhythm of the heart and if necessary,
then delivers a powerful electric shock in an
attempt to try and restore a normal rhythm. A
cardiac arrest can cause death if not treated very
quickly. In fact, each minute of delay leads to a
10 per cent reduction in the chances of survival.
Using an AED, in the event of a cardiac arrest,
can quite literally save a life.
The AED, manufactured by Zoll is fully
automated and easy to use. The automated
display and voice commands take the user
through each step of the process. The AED
is also designed to decide whether a shock is
necessary and should be delivered to the patient,
as well as guiding the user through the required
Cardo Pulmonary Resuscitation process
The AED - the first in Claygate for community
use - was generously funded by the Claygate
Parish Council, Claygate Cricket Club, and
TOBY’S
Fitness Forum
Want to cycle but not sure how –
start slowly?
With the 2012 Olympic cycle route spread around the
South East and the Tour de France in Yorkshire last
year there has never been a more exciting time to be
a cyclist. You will have noticed the increased number
of cyclists on the road, not just for recreation and
keeping fit but also using it as a means of a healthy
and economic way of getting to and from work.
If you are new to cycling, as with all other forms of
fitness, start gently and work towards increasing the
distances slowly over a period of time, perhaps doing
a bit every day.
A visit to a cycle shop would is a great idea to get you
wearing some comfortable high visibility clothing.
There is no question that cyclists are some of the
fittest people in the world. Due to its low impact on the
joints, it is a sport that can be enjoyed well into old age
but we do need to be aware of certain vulnerabilities.
Claygate Royals FC.
Damian Ross, CRGT Trustee and Cricket Club
representative commented: "We’re very pleased
to have taken delivery of this life saving device.
It's something we've thought about for some
time, as more and more sport is being played on
the Recreation Ground and safety, for all users,
is paramount.
"I'm sure that within the next few years it will be
mandatory for all sports clubs of a certain size to
have access to an AED for emergency situations
and having one on the Rec could dramatically
increase someone’s survival chances.
"Training will be given for members of the two
sports clubs as well as Pavilion Café staff.
"I hope we never need to use the equipment,
but if we do we’re prepared!"
Keith and Debbie from the Pavilion Cafe with Damian Ross.
Due to the biomechanics of the cycling position there
are a few areas that we need to be aware of.
The first of these is our neck when riding on dropped
or low handlebars for long periods of time, this can
lead to neck and shoulder pain. Too much weight on
the arms can lead to wrist pain. The hunched position
on dropped handles can cause muscle tension and
pain.
A core strength programme at least once a week
can reduce the risk of any problems and, even better,
get you going faster on the bike.
The most important muscle in our body is our heart.
We need good cardiovascular fitness to generate
good blood flow to our muscles to keep them healthy
and cycling is great for this.
If you need any help, advice or a personal training
session please contact me.
– Good luck
The Complementary Health Partnership has been in existence since 1997 and has become firmly established and well-respected
over a wide geographic area.
From pre-natal through to adulthood, our aim is to offer treatments for a range of physical and emotional ailments within a
professional, and genuinely caring and friendly environment.
All of our practitioners are fully trained, qualified and insured. Working together as a team, they offer many years’ experience.
Treatments Offered:
• Acupuncture
• Therapeutic massage
• Reflexology
• Craniosacral therapy
• Hypnotherapy/NLP
• Counselling
• Chiropractic
• Nutritional medicine
• Herbal medicine
• Homeopathy
• Chiropody
The Complementary Health Partnership, 5-6 Sydney Terrace, The Green, Claygate, Surrey, KT10 0JJ
www.comphealthclinic.co.uk • [email protected] • Tel: 01372 464659
Toby Garbett is an Olympian, 2x World
Champion Rower, GB Age Group
Triathlete, Personal trainer, Mentor
& Speaker. Telephone 07971089270.
Visit www.tobygarbett.com
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
Good Gardening
They hate gardening...
So they set up Garden done.com
Friends from Esher hated spending their
weekends gardening so they set up a website
where garden owners could easily find and book
an experienced local gardener looking for work.
Co-founder Jon Sturgeon explains: "During
April and June I was spending the best part of two
hours every weekend mowing the lawn, trimming
hedges, weeding and pruning. With a young
family to entertain I realised that I needed some
help, but I couldn’t find a gardener with the right
experience or availability."
When Jon discussed the issue with friend and
co-founder Andrew Wiseman it seemed he was
not alone. "Despite what Monty Don tells you,
July Gardening with Alison Jones
Jobs for this month:
• While admiring your flowers, do a little
deadheading to encourage more blooms.
• Just a little regular effort with weeding makes a
difference.
• Roses will appreciate a rose feed, and container
plants will too – it keeps them flowering longer.
• Don’t forget to keep giving tomatoes a
fortnightly tomato food for a tasty crop.
• Move container plants into a shady position if
the sun is fierce this month, and keep them well
watered.
• Cover the soil surface of your borders
and containers with a mulch, such as
decorative bark. It helps retain moisture
and encourages deeper roots that need
less watering.
• Keep cutting the grass
regularly and trim the
edges for a neat look.
Garden done.com founders, Andrew, Mark and Jon
not everyone is green fingered... or wants to be!
For me weekends are for family and there’s little
chance of that when I’m trying to fix the lawn
mower," Andrew says.
Together with Mark Antell, a RHS award
winning Garden designer based in Claygate,
Garden done.com was born. "We’ve taken the
pain of finding a qualified, experienced, local
gardener, briefing them, then arranging to pay
them," Jon continues.
Users simply login to www.gardendone.com,
provide details of their gardening requirements,
book a time slot, pay a small deposit, then when
the work is completed to your satisfaction,
payment is taken.
All gardeners on the site are fully vetted by Mark,
a landscape gardener for over 15 years. "We only
want the best, most reliable gardeners on our site.
It’s why we ask for two customer references, we
check their equipment and make sure they have
the appropriate insurances. Anyone that doesn’t
make the grade doesn’t get on," Mark says.
Prices start at very reasonable £25 per hour.Go
GARDENDONELIVINGWITHINPDF
to www.gardendone.com to find out more.
with Alison Jones
July is such an enjoyable time to be in the garden, so
sit back and appreciate it while the days are long and
the weather is hopefully fine. There’s still lots to be
getting on with: weeding, deadheading, cutting back
and tidying, but it’s not much trouble on a sunny
evening or weekend. If you visit the RHS Hampton
Court Palace Flower Show at the start of the month,
you’re likely to come away fired up with inspiration!
It’s rose season from now until late autumn. There’s
a rose for nearly every occasion and Garsons has a
great selection of special occasion roses, which make
memorable gifts. Whether it’s for an anniversary,
birthday or wedding, there is a fantastic named
variety to suit.
Roses come in different sizes, starting with dainty
patio roses. They make an ideal container plant, since
they are neat and compact. One of my favourites that
lives up to its name is ‘Flower Power’. It has stunning
salmon-pink flowers packed full of fragrance that
bloom profusely through the summer.
If planting a rose in the garden, you can go for the
larger shrub roses or the traditional hybrid tea rose.
9
Book a Gardener
Get your weekends back
You work hard and life is busy, so why spend your weekends doing gardening jobs?
Our website puts you in touch with local, experienced and hardworking Gardeners.
If you are looking for something different, then
consider Rosa ‘Hot Chocolate’. It’s fragrant with an
unusual colour – the rust orange buds open to warm
smoky brown petals. It’s a robust and healthy rose,
which is delightful in the garden and in a vase.
Our bedding plant of the month is the dahlia, which
has become popular again. Some excellent new
introductions offer a wide range of showy flowers.
They bring the wow factor to your garden in late
summer and into the autumn months, when other
blooms have faded. The wonderful diversity of the
dahlia means you can use them in different aspects of
your garden, from containers to low growing border
plants, to stately background plants that can reach
six feet in height!
Dahlias make excellent cut flowers, which last
about a week indoors. They are easy to grow but do
need winter protection if you want them to spring
up again. They tolerate most soil types, but prefer a
sandy, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. If your soil
is heavy or clay, adding horticultural grit or sand
and compost will help lighten it, or plant them in
containers. Feed them monthly, starting before they
set buds, using a water-soluble fertiliser.
- Enjoy your July
garden!
Alison Jones is
Plant Buyer for
Garsons Farm
in West End, Esher
You can book a Ɵme that suits you, make a secure online payment and all work is
guarenteed by our pre veƩed Gardeners.
Get your Garden done visit
www.gardendone.com
10 LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Autumn warmth in Cyprus
A holiday feature by Greenstar Travel
Travelling to Tamale
Chris Edwards reports on his recent trip to Ghana
courtesy of the International Citizen Service scheme
Come late September, as the long summer days draw
to an end we begin to feel a little down thinking of the
cold, dark days ahead. Why not extend your summer
a little longer and enjoy some warm autumn sunshine
in October on the beautiful island of Cyprus?
The island offers a rich and diverse history plus
natural beauty ranging from golden beaches to
rugged coastlines, rolling hills and forest clad
mountains. For a truly captivating island escape,
luxury Cyprus holidays are the perfect way to indulge
in all that the Mediterranean has to offer.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the
Mediterranean and boasts stunning beaches and
rocky coves, beautiful scenery and traditional
villages. The locals are friendly people and the island
holds a rich cultural heritage. Also according to
legend it is the birthplace of Aphrodite the goddess
of love and beauty, meaning it is ideal for a wedding,
renewal of vows or honeymoon.
Needless to say holidays to Cyprus are an
enchanting way to experience the island whatever
your intention. Classic Collection Holidays offers
a stunning range of 4 and 5 star hotels in Cyprus to
assure constant quality throughout your stay.
One of Cyprus’ most popular holiday destinations
Paphos boasts superb sandy beaches, historical
sites and a vibrant town centre. Within Paphos
the charming seaside town of Coral Bay boasts
a splendid Blue Flag sandy beach. It is the ideal
choice for those looking to relax in the glorious sun.
Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites is an all-suite
luxury hotel offering guests spacious and wellequipped accommodation coupled with superb hotel
facilities in an impressive beachfront setting. Located
in a quieter area of Paphos, the town centre and
harbour is a 40 minute stroll away, with a handful of
shops, bars and restaurants within a short walk.
For couples looking for somewhere special, the
stylish adults only, five star Constantinou Bros
Asimina Suites is a superb hotel in an impressive
beachfront location.
Floodlit tennis courts, indoor heated pool, Jacuzzis,
fitness centre and stylish spa and sauna complete the
facilities of a hotel which caters specifically for adults.
Greenstar has a lovely offer for you to
this beautiful property which includes
complimentary half-board AND a
complimentary room upgrade.
LGW Departure
Cyprus –7th October 2015– 7 nights
5* Constantinou Bros. Asimina Suites
Hotel – Half Board
Prices from £1,266 per person
Receive a complimentary upgrade from Bed
and Breakfast to Half Board saving £203 per
person, plus a guaranteed complimentary
room upgrade from Junior Suite Land View
to One bedroom Suite Land View.
For more information on this offer or any
others call the team at Greenstar Travel on
01372 462226
Greenstar Travel has been based in Claygate for 30 years. They always take the time to make sure
the holidays they book for clients tick every box on their list. Greenstar want you to have a holiday to
remember for all the right reasons.
After spending three months living in Tamale, Ghana,
returning home to the UK has been a bittersweet experience. Though I have enjoyed regaining home
comforts like running water, a flush toilet, jumpers
and boiled vegetables (Ghanaians have a tendency to
fry everything), the country and its people have had a
profound impact on me, and I miss the life I had there
more each day.
The opportunity to spend this time in Ghana was
provided by the International Citizen Service scheme,
a UK government development programme for 1825 year olds which allows young people to work with
communities around the world that have specifically
requested help. I’d always been interested in charity
work and wanted to travel after university, and ICS offered both for free! After interviews and assessment
days, my assigned charity was ‘International Service’, who focus on projects concerning education and
human rights in South America, West Africa and the
Middle East. I fundraised £800 for the charity before I
left, a requirement of the scheme, and my assignment
in Ghana was to work at the Northern Regional Resource Centre for Persons with Disability (RCPWD).
The central message of this organisation is much
snappier than its name: ‘Disability is not inability.’ Worldwide, over 80% of persons with disabilities
(PWDs) live in developing countries, and in Tamale,
out of a population of 350,000 there are 37,000 PWDs,
88% of whom live below the poverty line. Poverty and
disability are inextricably linked, with many disabled
people suffering from unemployment, a lack of education and stigmatisation from their community solely
on the basis of physiological difference. In general,
disability in Northern Ghana is poorly understood,
with many believing it is a curse caused by witchcraft!
Therefore, the RCPWD’s central aim is to coordinate
efforts across Ghana’s Northern Region to ensure persons with disability live in dignity, with equal access to
rights and opportunities as full members of society.
To achieve this, our team of five UK and four Ghanaian volunteers attempted to ‘sensitize’ local people to
issues surrounding disability. By conducting presentations in communities and schools, doing talks on the
radio and running teachers workshops among other
activities, we aimed to increase knowledge about disability and break the stigma and myths surrounding it.
We achieved a lot over the 11 week period as a cohort,
and saying goodbye to the team was incredibly painful
after growing so close.
However, my work at the RCPWD was only half the
story of my time in Ghana. ICS brands itself as a ‘crosscultural exchange’, and this was by far the best aspect
of the trip. I had the opportunity to live with a host
family in Tamale, specifically the village of Sagnarigu,
where I learnt as much about my own culture as I did
theirs. I quickly became a local celebrity of sorts, mainly because of my white skin, but adults and children
far-and-wide knew my name without me ever having
met them. Walking through the village, I’d normally
gather an entourage of twenty children or so, all dancing, cheering and shouting ‘Salaminga hello!’ (white
man). The novelty of seeing a strange, tall, gingerhaired white guy in their rural village never wore thin,
and they always greeted me with pure joy.
In fact, nearly everyone I met in Ghana was incredibly happy and welcoming. The people certainly have
less, but if I learned anything from my time in Ghana
it’s that Africa is not quite the desolate, hopeless place
we’re led to believe. If you’d asked me to list things that
first came to mind about ‘Africa’ before I’d left, I might
have said disease, war, famine – essentially images we
are used to seeing in the media. Africa, however, is not
a miserable homogenous block of identical countries.
It’s different to the West, and never will be like the
West really, but that’s a good thing.
It’s quite difficult however to put across just how
different Ghana is to the UK. The first weeks of adjust-
ment felt akin to living permanently in a music festival:
it’s hot and sweaty, you’re tired and feel a bit strange,
you don’t eat properly and feel dehydrated most of
the time, people wear strange colourful clothing and
there aren’t the best toilet facilities. Indeed, growing
accustomed to the lack of things we take for granted
was a major challenge at first. Simple tasks like washing clothes became back-breaking two hour struggles
done manually with buckets and soap (it was difficult,
I promise!). Tamale was also a paradise for farm animals, free to roam as they pleased. I quickly became accustomed to chickens wandering about cafes, finding
goats outside my bedroom and cows settling down in
the middle of a busy street.
Seatbelts also became a rare luxury. Though again
we take these for granted in Britain, I so often wished
I had one on a number of perilous journeys down
bumpy, somewhat non-existent roads. Taxis were the
main form of transportation, and these vehicles certainly stretched the definition of ‘road safe’. Overdue
for their MOT by around twenty years, these shells of a
car would creak and groan with every turn, struggling
just to stay intact – (there was one journey where the
front door essentially fell off, and the driver asked me
to keep hold of it until we got back to Sagnarigu!)
While incredible, the experience wasn’t without its
traumas. Getting malaria for instance was not a highlight of the trip, a miserable few days where I was stuck
in bed feeling very sorry for myself. I also sustained
multiple height related injuries from ceiling fans, and
on a daily basis went through the ordeal that was the
communal long-drop. My host family unfortunately
didn’t have their own toilet, so instead I had to use the
long-drop, a small, cramped, sweaty shack riddled
with flies and cockroaches - it certainly didn’t score
highly on atmosphere and ambience....
Though in the end, even this ceased to be an issue,
and I fully embraced living in Tamale. Life is far more
simple, and I noticed that for every piece of technology
or facility they lack, it brings them closer to each other.
Ghanaians value their relationships above all else;
while we spend our time glued to our phones, computers and TV screens, they spend theirs with family,
friends, neighbours and even random strangers. Technology and social media in the West has only served to
drive us apart as individuals. We need to do a lot more
to build stronger ties with our communities here in the
UK, to connect with others and get a bit closer to life.
Ghana has opened my eyes to just how big the world
really is, how diverse we are as human beings and how
different life can be. I would urge any young person
with even a slight interest in charity work or travel to
consider ICS. It’s changed my life, and I don’t think
you’ll regret it.
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
11
New homes bring new life to Green Belt land
Four new homes in Surrey, considered by planners to be a significant improvement to their Green Belt surroundings, have been released for sale. The
new luxury barn-style properties, priced from £1.95 million, are on the market with leading local estate agent, Aston Mead.
Windlebrook Park in Longcross Road, Chertsey was given planning approval despite being on Green Belt land, as planners considered that the new
homes would mean that “the appearance of the site would be significantly improved” and that “the proposed dwellings would sit comfortably in the rural
setting”. Previously the site had been used as a kennels and cattery business
and the planning report highlights that the new properties provide a “significant increase in openness” in the area.
The new homes all have barn-style features including full length windows
and vaulted ceilings. Each property also has up to 1.4 acres of land, including a share of the stunning woodland surroundings and joint ownership of a
paddock.
Adam Hesse, Director at Aston Mead, said: “It's easy to assume an estate
agent would hate the restriction that Green Belt planning has on new development – but it's simply not true. And it's the protection of the Green Belt that
makes this part of the country such an attractive place to live.
"So when planners approve a new development because it is genuinely
an improvement on the existing landscape, that's a real opportunity! These
barns are exquisitely built and finished, they overlook a shared paddock and
your back garden leads into your own private Green Belt woodland – it doesn't
get much better than that!"
Windlebrook Park, Longcross, Surrey.
Prices from £1.95million
To view the showhome, which has been fitted in retro-industrial style,
call Aston Mead on 01932 950500.
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12 LIVING WITHIN July 2015
EAST MOLESEY
An elegant and imposing new build
family home set behind automated
gates in the heart of East Molesey.
Recently constructed, Tor House is
a beautifully presented property of
exemplary design and quality, built to
a high specification. Energy Rating: B.
Approx. 3,908 sq ft.
5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 3 reception
rooms, kitchen/dining/family room,
cinema room, utility room, garden.
Freehold
Guide Price £2,450,000
ESHER
The Beeches comprises three superb,
new properties by Langham Homes
designed for luxury family living,
ideally positioned in the heart of Esher.
5 bedrooms,4 bathrooms, 2 reception
rooms, kitchen/family room, utility,
garage, garden.
Freehold
Guide Prices from £1,795,000
There is a lack of property available and we have applicants looking across all price ranges. Call us now for a confidential
market appraisal to discuss this further.
Doug Parks
Branch Manager
See all our properties on
ESHER 01372 462211 [email protected]
and many more websites.
johndwood.co.uk
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
SHOWHOME NOW OPEN
Cavendish Gate combines timeless design with an appreciation of quality. Each
property exceeds the needs and aspirations of today’s modern, luxury lifestyle.
Work, shopping and leisure are catered for with Cavendish Gate being only
34 minutes to London from the nearby thriving town of Weybridge, yet
surrounded by open countryside, prestigious golf courses and with easy
access to the Thames and innumerable first class cultural attractions.
Prices from £1.79m
Come and visit our showhome
or for an out of hours viewing call 01932 950 500
[email protected]
13
14 LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Tel: 01372 471111
Email: [email protected]
CLAYGATE
£495,000
ESHER
Web: www.catco.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
£430,000
CLAYGATE
£479,950
A rare opportunity to acquire this elegant and spacious
ground floor apartment situated in the highly favoured
‘Foley Road’. Fabulous principle reception room, large
kitchen breakfast room and two bedrooms. The property
also benefits from having it’s own private terrace. Early
viewing essential. EPC Rating E.
A three bedroom house located just over a mile from Esher station
offering good living accommodation throughout with the benefit
of a rear garden of about 43’ in length. The house offers plenty
of scope for a purchaser to put their own individual ideas into it.
Esher town centre is within easy reach and offers a large selection
of restaurant’s cafe’s and bar’s. No onward chain! EPC Rating E.
A spacious and extended 4 bedroom family house benefiting from
a large loft conversion, which provides a master bedroom with
ensuite. Also extended to the ground floor to provide additional
reception space. Approximately half a mile from Claygate’s shops
and mainline station serving Waterloo. EPC Rating C.
CLAYGATE
CLAYGATE
WEST MOLESEY
£1,350,000
£469,950
£1,350 PCM
An entirely unique contemporary designed house of some
2,300 square feet set in a picturesque village location with
striking interior features. Each area has been individually
crafted to provide optimum in living & relaxation space;
truly a house for the discerning purchaser. EPC Rating C.
A quite superb split level apartment which must be viewed to
appreciate the wonderful living space provided. High ceilings
and excellent room sizes throughout, located, quite literally in
the heart of Claygate’s village centre with its specialist shops
and cafés and a stone’s throw from Claygate mainline station
(30 minutes to Waterloo). EPC Rating E.
An easy to run modern house located in this popular area
of West Molesey. The property offers good sized living
accommodation and includes; cloakroom, Living room, fitted
kitchen, three bedrooms modern bathroom and off street
parking. EPC Rating D. Available Early August 2015.
CLAYGATE
CLAYGATE
CLAYGATE
£1,495 PCM
A very well presented detached house situated on the outskirts
of the village with well planned accommodation designed to
attract maximum natural light. The accommodation includes
cloakroom, dining room, living room, fitted kitchen, bathroom
& W.C. attractive rear gardens, front gardens, single garage
and driveway. EPC Rating D.
£2,350 PCM
A four double bedroom detached bungalow offering very
spacious living accommodation throughout quietly situated
in this established residential road with a central green and
only minutes walking distance from Claygate’s shops and
station. EPC Rating F. Available immediatley.
£2,400 PCM
Detached house located just on the outskirts of the old village of
Claygate within a quiet cu-de-sac. The light and well planned
accommodation is arranged ideally for family needs and benefits from
four bedrooms, ensuite shower room, three further bedrooms, study/
bedroom 5, family bathroom, living room, family room, kitchen/
breakfast room, cloakroom and a lovely rear garden. EPC Rating D.
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
Boyce Thornton
Cobham 01932 868 448
Oxshott 01372 844 200
Claygate 01372 470 123
The local property experts
Coverts Road, Claygate
£585,000
A three bedroom terraced family home that has benefitted from being recently
refurbished to a very high standard. This property includes a secluded rear garden
with a detached garden studio as well as off street parking for two cars. EPC Rating E.
Coverts Road, Claygate
£549,950
A delightful two bedroom semi-detached Victorian cottage sympathetically extended and
refurbished to a high standard to provide well planned, flexible family accommodation.
Located within walking distance of Claygate Primary School. EPC Rating D.
Hare Lane, Claygate
£499,950
A two bedroom family home beautifully refurbished in recent years to a high standard.
This property is ideally situated within walking distance of the local schools, shops
and station.
Telegraph Lane, Claygate
£665,000
A conveniently located three bedroom semi detached family home benefitting from off
street parking and the potential to extend (STC). Situated in a sought after semi rural
lane leading to the open spaces of Telegraph Lane with Claygate shops and station
within walking distance. EPC Rating D.
Trystings Close, Claygate
£825,000
A detached, well presented three bedroom bungalow situated within a quiet cul de
sac. Benefitting from a large kitchen/ breakfast room, a garden studio and an option of
completing a loft conversion to create a fourth bedroom (STP). EPC Rating D.
Holroyd Road, Claygate
£395,000
A three bedroom terraced property benefitting from an open plan downstairs with
light and spacious rooms and a private rear garden. The property is located a short
distance from Claygate Common. EPC Rating C.
www.boycethornton.co.uk
15
16 LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Englefield Green
£1,995,000
A truly stunning townhouse providing the best of contemporary living in an exclusive gated
community enjoying approximately ten acres of grounds adjacent to Windsor Great Park.
Reception Hall, Cloakroom, Living Room open to Dining/Breakfast Room and Kitchen, Morning Room,
Utility Room with lift, Master Bedroom with Dressing Room and Bath, Spa & Shower Room, Two Further
Full Bedroom Suites, Double Garage, Gardens opening out to Communal Grounds.
EPC- C71.
Wentworth Estate
For Sale £1,499,000
To Let £5,500 pcm
A spacious family home enjoying a highly convenient location close to the heart of Virginia
Water village, occupying a lovely South Easterly facing plot approaching a third of an acre.
Entrance Hall, Cloakroom, Drawing Room open to Dining Room, Family Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room,
Utility Room, Boot Room/Study, Master Bedroom Suite, Four Further Bedrooms, Bathroom, In & Out
Driveway to Double Garage, Bright South Easterly facing Rear Garden.
EPC- E50.
Thorpe Green
£950,000
An exceptional newly refurbished single storey home providing over 2,000 square feet of
living accommodation, occupying a mature & private plot of approximately 0.4 acres.
Reception Hall, Sitting Room, Kitchen/Breakfast/Family Room, Master Bedroom with En Suite Shower
Room, Three Further Double Bedrooms, Bathroom, Utility Room, Driveway accessed via Electronically
Operated Gates, Mature Garden with Summerhouse.
EPC- C75.
01344 845050
6 Station Approach, Virginia Water
Surrey GU25 4DL
buckinghams.com
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
Wentworth Estate
17
£3,350,000
A beautifully presented and highly spacious family home enjoying superb living and leisure accommodation & a lovely, mature South facing plot
approaching two thirds of an acre.
Reception Hall, Two Cloakrooms, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study, Superb Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Family Room, Utility Room & Boot Room, Master Bedroom Suite with Two Dressing Rooms,
Four Further Bedroom Suites, Large Self Contained Suite, Basement with Gym/Games Room & Temperature Controlled Wine Cellar, Double Garage.
EPC- C73.
Wentworth Estate
£2,650,000
A handsome Tarrant built Tudor style home occupying highly attractive grounds of close to one acre, suitable for extension or complete replacement
with a substantial new mansion.
Four Bedrooms, Two Bathrooms (Master with En Suite), Spacious Reception Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Family Room, Garden Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room,
Two Cloakrooms, large Detached Double Garage with Spacious Guest/Staff Flat above, Wide In/Out Driveway, Beautiful Grounds backing East/South East.
EPC- E45.
01344 845050
6 Station Approach, Virginia Water
Surrey GU25 4DL
buckinghams.com
18 LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Wentworth Estate
For Sale £3,750,000
To Let £8,750 pcm
A uniquely designed brand new family home enjoying exceptional open plan living accommodation & stunning views over the 16th fairway and green of the
Championship Golf Course.
Reception Hall with vaulted ceiling, Cloakroom, Stunning open plan Kitchen/Breakfast/Family Room, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Study, Utility Room, Master and Guest Bedroom Suites with
large Balcony, Two Further Bedroom Suites, Fifth Bedroom/Leisure Room with Steam Room, Sauna & Shower, Double Garage, Landscaped Garden.
EPC- B81.
Sunninghill
For Sale £3,695,000
To Let £14,000 pcm
A stunning luxury home finished to the highest of standards & offering impressive accommodation over three floors, enjoying a Southerly facing plot on
an exclusive private road.
Grand Reception Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Library, Family Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room, Master Bedroom Suite with Dressing Room, Four further Bedroom Suites,
Family Bathroom, Two Top Floor Dressing Rooms, Spacious Games Room/6th Bedroom, Triple Garage with Annexe Over.
EPC- B82.
01344 845050
6 Station Approach, Virginia Water
Surrey GU25 4DL
buckinghams.com
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
Ascot
19
Price On Application
A uniquely designed and beautifully presented modern country house enjoying wonderful, landscaped grounds approaching three acres including tennis court
and swimming pool, in a most secluded yet accessible location.
Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study, Sitting Room, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Playroom with Sauna, Utility Room, Laundry Room, Wine Store, Superb Master Bedroom Suite, Two Further Double
Bedroom Suites, Two Further Double Bedrooms with Family Room off, Bathroom, Second Floor Gym & Games Room, Detached Triple Garage, Kitchenette, WC & Shower/Changing Room, Heated
Swimming Pool, Hard Tennis Court.
EPC- C72.
01344 845050
6 Station Approach, Virginia Water
Surrey GU25 4DL
buckinghams.com
20 LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Wentworth Estate
To Let £8,500 pcm
For Sale £2,250,000
A spacious modern home offering superb family accommodation and enjoying a
mature, private plot in excess of half an acre, close to the heart of the village.
Reception Hall, Cloak/Shower Room, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study, Library, Kitchen/Breakfast Room,
Family Room, Utility Room & 2nd Cloakroom, Master Bedroom with Dressing Room and En Suite Bath & Shower
Room, Four Further Double Bedrooms (Three En Suite), Bathroom, Detached Double Garage.
EPC- D64.
Sunningdale
£7,900 pcm
An executive family home enjoying lovely grounds approaching half an acre, at the end
of an exclusive private road yet just a short distance to the village centre.
Reception Hall, Drawing Room, Sitting Room, Dining Room, Study, Kitchen/Breakfast Room open to
Family Room, Cloakroom, Utility Room & 2nd Cloakroom, superb Master Bedroom Suite & Three further
Double Bedroom Suites. A Triple Garage, attractive west facing Rear Garden. Unfurnished.
EPC- D63.
Virginia Water
£4,750 pcm
A detached family house situated in a quiet, convenient residential location within an
easy walk of Virginia Water village and rail station.
Entrance Hall, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study, Utility Room, Ground
Floor Double Bedroom, further Bedroom, Bathroom and separate Cloakroom, Master Bedroom & Guest
Bedroom Suites. Secluded Garden, Garage and Driveway Parking. Unfurnished.
EPC- D62.
01344 845050
6 Station Approach, Virginia Water
Surrey GU25 4DL
buckinghams.com
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
Wentworth Estate
21
£13,500 pcm
A highly individually designed family home set in a lovely residential road within a short walk of Virginia Water village shops and rail station.
Drawing Room, Dining Room, Breakfast Room, Study, large open plan Kitchen/Family Room, Utility Room, 2 Cloakrooms, Three Bedroom Suites, Bedroom Four, Music Room/Bedroom Five,
Shower Room, Staff/Guest Annexe, Indoor Swimming Pool, Triple Garage. Part Furnished/Unfurnished.
EPC Awaited.
Sunningdale
£11,000 pcm
An impressive gated detached five bedroom family home located within easy reach of Sunningdale village shops and rail station and close to the golf
courses.
Drawing Room, Dining Room, Study, Kitchen/Breakfast Room, Utility Room, Cloakroom, Master Bedroom Suite plus Four Double Bedroom Suites, Attractive Gardens with Outdoor Heated
Swimming Pool, Double Garage with One Bedroom Annexe over. Part Furnished or Unfurnished.
EPC- D58.
01344 845050
6 Station Approach, Virginia Water
Surrey GU25 4DL
buckinghams.com
22 LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Cous Cous salad with artichoke
July is when I really want to be in the kitchen as
little as possible. Simple food, served as the gods
intended - sun on its back and the least possible in
the way of tampering - is the way to go when the
days are long and the outdoors beckons.
Tomatoes are one
of my favourite
features of the
month for the
ease with which
they make this
possible. If you
can find some
that have a good pedigree, and where the plants
have had some soil on their feet and some heavy
duty sunshine in their ripening, use these for
preference. The supermarkets will tempt you
with bright colours, a variety of shapes and sizes
and pretty packaging, but a good tomato needs
to taste of sunshine and warmth, and to balance
its sweetness with a little acidity, much more
than it needs to look good - inner beauty is key,
even if there is an attempt to use a little style in
presentation.
YOU WILL NEED
(4 - 6 helpings)
500g cous cous
100g feta crumbed.
100ml extra virgin olive oil
Finely chopped garlic, about 3 cloves
(large)
Start by placing the cous cous in a large bowl
covered with about 750ml cold water. Once the
cous cous has swelled with the water you need to
work it through with a fork to separate the grains.
This can take a few minutes and you may need a
little extra water but do persevere and of course be
careful with the extra water. You won’t want soggy
lumpy cous cous!
Add the olive oil and work this in followed by the
juice and zest of the lemon and the lime, the garlic
and salt and pepper.
Juice and zest of 1 lemon and 1 lime
Finely chopped small bunch of mint and the
same of parsley
Now dice the artichoke and work this in to the cous
cous along with the pepper, sultanas and finally the
mint, parsley and red onion. Check the seasoning
and adjust to your taste.
About 5 grilled artichokes , available from
all good supermarkets in jars or from the
chilled counter.
Once this is all worked in transfer to your serving
dish and add the feta. It’s ready to serve.
1 cup full of sultanas
Delicious with roast lamb.
Half a yellow pepper finely diced
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
When she’s not writing, Elizabeth runs her own
catering business. She has also set up an initiative
with volunteers who help feed patients at Kingston
Hospital at meal times.
1 finely diced red onion
Maldon salt and course ground pepper.
I have used cherry tomatoes here to match the tiny
mozzarella balls (bocconcini) that I was using, but
use whatever tomato size, shape and colour you
like and cut them how you will - sliced, halved,
quartered, torn.
Wherever you find your tomatoes, avoid putting
them in the fridge when you bring them into the
kitchen. Keep them at room temperature, let them
take on a little warmth from the sun (especially just
before you are going to serve them) and they will
reward you with their fullest flavour.
Good tomatoes need
not very much at all to
give of their best - salt,
pepper, olive oil (a
few drops of balsamic
vinegar if you have
some good stuff and
your tomatoes are not
as quite as good as they
might be), and some
fresh herbs are nice - I used basil, but you could use
oregano or other delicate herbs according to what
is available, and your own taste.
In honour of the holiday season I am not going
to cook a thing! And I am going back to barest
basics and a slight 1970’s exoticism in the form of
mozzarella and tomatoes. Only the mozzarella has
improved on these shores since we knew it then.
It has moved beyond the basic and the rubbery to
something creamier and fresher.
Place the mozzarella and tomatoes side by side
on a plate, or one on top of the other, drizzle over
a little more olive oil and serve with good bread
to mop up all the juices. What could be easier, or
more completely luxurious?
Erica x
www.acooksblog.com
Look for it packaged in its own whey, and check
the dates (it doesn’t last too long). If you are really
lucky, you might even find some fresh burrata - like
mozzarella on the outside, and creamier than it on
the inside, and melt in the mouth soft when you eat it.
I think the key to wonderful velvety cous cous is not too much water and ensuring that you really
fork it through well once the liquid has swollen the grains. I hope you will try this recipe.
Whatever you find, you can accent its flavour with
a little marination. Take the mozzarella out of its
whey and put it in a dish; sprinkle over some salt
and pepper, a spoonful of cream (if you have it),
and a spoon or two of good olive oil, then grate
over some fresh lemon zest (from an unwaxed or
washed lemon). Turn the mozzarella around in
the marinade and leave somewhere cool while you
prepare the tomatoes.
“five simple elements mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, salt
and olive oil ... you will wonder
why you didn’t think of it sooner”
~David Tanis
July 2015 LIVING WITHIN
Cobham Conservation and
Heritage Trust wins Queen's
Award for Voluntary Service
Jenny Marks’ Mad Month
Well yet again the month has zoomed by and
what a brilliant time we’ve had.
I was invited by one of my lovely chums, to the
Ritz for lunch. OMG how unbelievably grown
up were we? It’s weird because when I was a
child, my parents used to take us, (my brother,
sister and myself), to lunch there and we were
so bored! You know those meals when you’re
young, that are really stuffy and you have to
‘behave’? Your parents always end up having
a go at you for not holding your knife and fork
properly or rolling their eyes at you, as you
moan that there’s nothing nice on the menu!
Yes the word ‘spoilt’ does come to mind...
One of the joys of growing up is that you get
to appreciate beautiful food and wine with your
friends. We spent all afternoon (and I mean all
afternoon) in the dining room and watched as
the tables emptied, then filled and still we sat
chatting. I must admit I did feel a bit like a
squatter by the early evening!
As if The Ritz wasn’t enough, I was also
invited to a special ‘surprise’ anniversary
lunch at Claridge’s. Lucky, lucky me! I do love
Claridge’s and the whole art deco vibe. My
super friend Sue has been with her partner for
20 years and decided to go ‘all out’ by inviting
10 of their oldest chums to help celebrate.
She hired a private dining room and we hid
in an adjoining room ready to burst through
the doors and surprise him. Unfortunately I
became so excited as the waiter nodded that
they’d entered the room - I fell through the
doors and tripped over a chair. Well it certainly
surprised him! Needless to say, the lunch went
on until past 6.00pm and then we all went out
for dinner! Smiler (non-smiling hubby) and the
kids kept texting me asking when I was coming
home to make supper - bless them.
Work has been crazy and you can tell summer
has arrived with so many of our parties being
held outside.
We organised a super corporate family day
with a stunning marquee, games, huge hog
roast and barbeque and as we were setting all
the outside furniture up - the clouds arrived.
Isn’t it typical – the one day where the majority
of the entertainment is based outside, we have
a monsoon. Typical of the Brits though, guests
were playing croquet on the lawn and ‘wall
climbing’, even as the rain poured down. I’ve
never moved so much furniture in and out of
the rain in my life. Who needs the gym?
Our Moroccan themed parties are going
strong and we helped a couple of girls
celebrate their 18th birthdays in true style.
They all came dressed for the part and the
girls looked stunning in Arabic costume - my
younger waiters were having a time trying to
23
I’m going to throw on
some factor 50 and relax
in the garden for
five minutes, dreaming of
white sand, clear sea and
a cocktail or two.
concentrate. Having had numerous cocktails
to commence, some of the boys decided they
wanted henna tattoos - on their heads. Crazy! I
did laugh though, as some of the ‘louder’ boys
ran a mile when our snake lady appeared. They
were terrified of snakes! We had such fun and
most were still dancing at 3.00am when we
left. However I did step over a couple of bodies
asleep on the low sofas, cuddling their fezzes.
Of course it was prom time and that meant
purchasing Boy Wonder a suit. Why, oh why do
children grow so much? You spend a fortune on
clothes that seem to last a month if you’re lucky
and then they’re two sizes too small. Thank
goodness the Queen (one of my daughters),
decided to join us on the shopping experience.
Crickey, I thought shopping with the girls was
bad but how wrong was I? Having visited five
different shops and trying on I don’t know
how many suits, I ended up throwing a ‘strop’
and went in search of chocolate. Luckily the
daughter has more patience and we managed
to purchase a fab number - only to return the
next day to try on a larger size.
I was asked to dress the venue and we chose a
‘Brighton Festival’ idea. It was such a laugh with
deck chairs, plastic guitars and microphones.
When I arrived to take everything away, I was
driving towards the venue and laughing as the
guests, still looking wonderfully smart, walked
past wearing ‘whacky’ sunglasses and carrying
beach balls! The next morning I found a
number of deflated guitars alongside squashed
‘Nemo’ fish about a mile away from the party.
In keeping with the seaside idea, we also
organised a Caribbean party, featuring the
wonderful Lionel and his steel band. Typically,
they are so laid back and jolly, that the guests
couldn’t help but ‘groove’ along. The rum
punch helped, alongside some Malibu and
pineapple – Crickey I can almost smell the sea!
Well on that holiday note, I’m going to throw
on some factor 50 and relax in the garden for
five minutes, dreaming of white sand, clear sea
and a cocktail or two.
- Jenny
A voluntary group from Cobham that works in the
community to preserve the heritage and culture
of Cobham and its surrounding areas, has been
honoured with the Queen's Award for Voluntary
Service, the highest award a voluntary group can
receive in the UK.
Sir Gerald Acher CBE LVO, Chairman of the
Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust said:
"This is a tremendous achievement for the Trust and
its hard working committee and one which I am very
proud to have been involved with."
Celebrating its 10th successive year, the Cobham
Conservation and Heritage Trust continues to
promote high standards of architecture and planning
in Cobham whilst educating the local community in
the geography, natural history, history and culture of
the local area. The Trust aims to meet the need for
a strong voice in the community to ensure the best
of the past is preserved and cherished, whilst being
mindful of the needs of future generations.
The Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust
was started some 10 years ago by Sir Gerald Acher
and David Tipping, Vice Chairman to meet the
need of a stronger community voice in many of the
developments affecting Cobham, its residential and
conservation areas, high street and open spaces.
It soon represented a strong voice on the
planning agenda helping conserve much of the
built environment under threat working with the
Cobham and other local resident associations.
Heritage Day with its famous plastic duck race
was established in its first year to showcase our
community and through it Cobham's history.
A farmers market followed which still flourishes
today under independent control. Conservation
projects included The Tilt Memorial to those who
lost their lives in the Second World War and the
award winning Riverhill Regeneration project
dedicated by HRH Countess of Wessex last year as
our Diamond Jubilee project.
Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust started a
'Blue Plaque' project to recognise important people
and places from an earlier era. The Trust publishes
an informative quarterly newsletter and website
as well as publishing and promoting books of local
interest working with Cobham's local historian Dr
David Taylor.
The trust is actively developing new initiatives
including a young people's section and a programme
of local footpath upgrading. The Trust works actively
through its hard working 14 person committee,
over 150 volunteers, local schools, Elmbridge
Borough Council Leisure Services department,
Surrey County Council, the Environment Agency, St
Andrew's Church and other local organisations and
has now grown to over 1,100 fee-paying members.
The Cobham Conservation and Heritage Trust
will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant
of Surrey, Dame Sarah Goad DCVO JP later this
summer.
24 LIVING WITHIN July 2015
Saturday 11 July 2015
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