newsletter - Surrey County Council

SURREY
COUNTY COUNCIL
Staff Retirement Association
NEWSLETTER
Issue 114
April 2016
From the Chairman /Editor
As a follow up to the article on Guilford Cathedral in the last issue of the Newsletter, it was agreed to make a donation to the
Cathedral Appeal. The following is taken from a letter received from the Fundraising Officer:‘We really appreciate the assistance of the SCCSRA with our Appeal’s final push. To acknowledge your kind support, all
sponsors’ names will be written in the MAKE YOUR MARK manuscript. We will also include the SCCSRA name in the online list
of benefactors.’
This is the time of year when our members who pay by cheque are invited to renew their membership. We sincerely hope
that you will stay with us.
From time to time I am asked for clarification on the eligibility of surviving spouses for membership of the Association. The
situation is that on payment of the standard subscription they become full members with voting rights. The Newsletter will
be mailed to them on a regular basis and all the group meetings are open to them.
For information.
Surrey Snippets found in this publication are taken from information received weekly from SCC.
I am looking forward to meeting you at the A.G.M on 15 June 2016.
Connie Norris
In this issue:-
Nonsuch Park
4
At a glance
3
Parking at Newlands Corner
15
Association Matters
28, 29
Puzzles
16, 17
Dear Auntie Chris
5
Rediscovering Romania
7
Dylan’s Diary
9
Solutions
31
Group reports
19-25
Surrey Snippets
30
Information on renting property
26
The Mouseman
13
Memories
11
Volunteering
18
Front cover Montage created by Connie
Disclaimer: Articles and views produced herein are those of individuals and given in good faith. The SRA and its Executives
disclaim any liability thereof.
2
AT A GLANCE
Meetings April 2016 to July 2016
Date and Time
Topic
Location
Thursday 7 April 2.30 pm
The Great Storm 1987
Staines
Tuesday 12 April 2.00 pm
Hedgehog Rescue
Camberley
Thursday 14 April 2.00 pm
Windsor Great Park
Woking
Thursday 21 April 2.30 pm
AGM & You’ll never believe it but
Redhill
Friday 29 April 2.00 pm
AGM & ‘Ain’t we cute’ and more!
Epsom
Thursday 5 May 2.30 pm
History of Heathrow AGM
Staines
Tuesday 10 May 2.00 pm
Camberley Alzheimers Cafe
Camberley
Thursday 12 May 2.00 pm
A miscellany of Guildford during WW1
Woking
Thursday 19 May
‘Outing’
Redhill
Friday 27 May 2.00 pm
A Life of Grime
Epsom
Thursday 2 June 2.30 pm
Grandma flew Spitfires
Staines
Thursday 9 June 2.00 pm
Flying from a pilot’s point of view
Woking
Tuesday 14 June 2.00 pm
‘ Tea Party’
Camberley
Thursday 16 June 2.30pm
Doctor at Sea
Redhill
Friday 24 June 2.00 pm
My Icelandic Adventure
Epsom
Thursday 7 July 2.30 pm
Songs of the Sea
Staines
Tuesday 12 July
Visit to Living Planet Centre Woking
Camberley
Thursday 14 July 2.00 pm
The Venetian collection
Woking
Thursday 21 July 2.30 pm
The Great Storm and how it changed my life
Redhill
Friday 29 July 2.00 pm
Wigs and Gowns
Epsom
AGM WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE 2.00PM
County Hall Kingston
3
NONSUCH PARK
Nonsuch Park is a large open space situated on the borders of Epsom & Ewell and Sutton & Cheam, and owned
jointly by them. It is all that remains of the large area that King Henry VIII acquired on which to build Nonsuch
Palace. Work on this Palace began in 1538, just after his son, Edward, was born. Unfortunately, when Henry died
in 1547, Nonsuch was unfinished.
The Palace was later finished and passed
through the hands of many owners, the last
being Barbara Villiers, mistress of King
Charles II. She demolished it and sold it as
building materials, together with the land,
to pay her gambling debts. Although the
Palace remains were excavated in 1959,
they were covered up again. All that
remains today to show where this Palace
was are 3 obelisks just inside the Ewell
gates.
Near the Cheam gates is the present day
Mansion House. This was built in 1802 by
Samuel Farmer, MP for Huntington and
replaced an earlier building on this site. Several generations of the Farmer family lived here until it was bought in
1937 by a consortium of the local authorities, and officially opened in September 1937 as part of the Green Belt
around London.
Today the Park is an oasis within the urban area, and popular with walkers, bikers and joggers alike. - There is a
small café in the front of the Mansion House which opens daily!! Although you are unable to drive through the
park, there are car parks inside each of the 3 gates – Ewell, Sparrow Farm and Cheam, and another by the Mansion
House.
The Friends of Nonsuch was formed in 1991 to “Fight for the preservation of the Nonsuch Park Estate.” The
Mansion House is a Grade II listed Georgian building, and with the museum, is open on many days (see Friends of
Nonsuch website), but the grounds are open daily. Recently, the Friends commissioned a scale model of Nonsuch
Palace by Ben Taggart. This took 1250 hours to complete and can be viewed on certain days. It explains why
Nonsuch got its name – “No Such Palace like it.” Henry VIII was competing with Francis I of France, and was
determined not to be outdone!
Whatever the season, Nonsuch Park is worthy of a visit.
Article provided by Kay Foale (Epsom and Ewell Group)
4
Dear Auntie Chris,
I’m going to tell you about a really wonderful holiday. We travelled by almost every means of transport
except railways and submarines.
We set off for Heathrow Airport in a taxi. A plane took us to Bergen Airport which is in Norway. Then a
coach took us to the town of Bergen. On the way we passed Troldhaugen which is where Edvard Grieg the
composer lived. We didn’t have time to visit his house.
Bergen is a town which gets a lot of rain. It rains on 300 days of every year and it was raining when we
got there. We were going on a long voyage on a ship on the Hurtigruten. This is Norwegian for the “Fast
Route”. The ship was called the
The Bryggen
“Nordnorge” which means North
Norway. We couldn’t get on the ship
until evening, so we had plenty of time
to explore the town.
We saw lots of brightly coloured
houses in the part called “Bryggen” and
a very big market selling all sorts of
things especially fish. Then we went to
what looked like a train station. It was
called the Floibanen Funicular. I asked
Daddy what is a cular and why is it fun. He said I was being silly. Funicular is a Latin word meaning a thin
rope. The funicular had two carriages attached by a thin rope. When one came down the hill, the other
was pulled up. We went to the top and could see all over the town. We could see the Nordnorge in the
dock.
When we came down again our coach was waiting to take us to the ship which it did. We went on board
to our cabins which were on the seventh deck. That was very high up. The Hurtigruten ships carry
passengers and all sorts of goods. They sail at eleven o’clock in the evening every day of the year. At one
port they unloaded a box of cucumbers and at another six
tractors. I was allowed to stay up to see how we set sail.
We were going to be on the ship for eleven nights and would
visit thirty four ports. When we had unpacked, we went to
the restaurant for our supper. There lots of things to choose
from and I enjoyed my meal.
Next day we visited Alesund, Mold and the Royal city of
Trondheim We had a long stay here and visited the Ringve
Museum of Music and a hands on science museum. This was
great fun. We saw a Stave Church which had been built
in1170 and then moved bit by bit to Trondheim a few years
ago. That’s a church made of wood which is easier to move.
Soon we reached the Arctic Circle. When we went in for
dinner we were welcomed by Father Neptune. He put a
5
Globe marking the Arctic Circle
small cube of ice down our backs to welcome us to the Arctic.
He gave each of us a certificate to say that we had been to the Arctic.
Our next port was Tromso. Outside the town hall there were two stuffed
polar bears. They were HUGE! We visited the Ice cathedral which has lovely
stained glass windows. These were put in in 1965. I liked Tromso.
Next we stopped at Hammerfest and then Honningsvag. These towns are
further north than anywhere else in the world. We had a coach excursion to
the North Cape. On the way, we stopped at a Sami settlement to see how
these people lived. I think it was put on for tourists because I saw a Rolls
Royce parked behind the tents. The North Cape was very exciting because
we had to walk through an ice passage to get to the sea.
Ice Cathedral
Our last stop going North was at Kirkenes. This town was completely
destroyed during the war. We went by coach to the Russian border at Murmansk and on the way saw
lots of caves where 3000 people hid and lived after they homes had gone. The Russian border was quite
frightening with armed guards behind the fence. There was a long gap between the two borders to keep
people out.
Now we started to go back to Bergen. We should have gone to the Lofoten Islands but the sea was too
rough. It was so rough that the captain told the passengers to go and lie down until the storm passed. It
was so rough that a lot of the cooks were taken ill and couldn’t prepare any meals. Mummy and Daddy
were very sick but I wasn’t. Four hours later the captain told us that we could get up again. My camera
fell down and was broken, so I haven’t any photos to show you. But your friend Connie has some and
has put them in with this letter.
Some of the passengers were school children going back to boarding school. They had to go to this sort
of school because there were no schools in the small villages. At Kriistiansund, the fishing capital, we
could see workers slicing smoked salmon and putting it in packets to send to England to sell.
Soon we were back in Bergen where we stayed the night. In the morning we went off to the airport and
were soon home again. Connie says she has a friend called Fred who will sell you holidays like this at a
special price if you are a member of her staff club. Do ask her.
I’m sorry this is so long, but there has been so much to tell you.
With lots of love,
Robin.
Mother and Child Sculpture at North Cape
See page 2 for up to date details of Fred’s offer.
Connie
6
REDISCOVERING CHRISTMAS IN ROMANIA
For more than 20 years my wife Eleanor and I have enjoyed being local volunteers for Operation
Christmas Child, a project of the Christian charity Samaritan’s Purse. In 2014 almost 20,000 shoeboxes
were collected from the Woking and Guildford areas and sent to 5 countries including Romania. In
December 2014, just before Christmas, I had the opportunity to make a further trip to Romania. I joined
a team of 13 volunteers from all over the UK headed by an area manager for Samaritan’s Purse.
Our base for the week was a hotel in the town of
Mangalia on the Black Sea coast of Romania. Our hosts
for the week were the Speranta (“Hope”) Church in
Mangalia and Dorel and Mustafa, the pastor and assistant
pastor of the church, collected us at Bucharest airport.
On our arrival we were given refreshments at the church
and for the next 5 days Lidea, the pastor’s wife, invited us
all back for a home cooked supper.
Over the next five days, we travelled to a number of
towns and villages in the area attending about 30 events.
These took place in village schools and churches and in
bigger venues such as the civic halls in Mangalia and
Constanta. Some events just involved meeting families in
the open air in a village or a market place.
In the local town of Medgidia we visited an orphanage, which cared for about 35 children with severe
disabilities. We sang carols and played with the children, using the balloons, bubbles and glove puppets
we brought with us. At one event in a town hall, we were invited to take part in the nativity play and
given a few words to say in Romanian as we played various roles (in my case, a wise man!)
Whatever the venue, the common factors were music, worship and the delight of the children as they
opened the shoeboxes lovingly put together by children and families in the UK. For many children, it
was very clearly the first time they had received a present put together especially for them.
Via our translators, at each event we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves and to explain why we
had come. The format at most school events included carol singing and a short talk about why gifts
were exchanged at Christmas. At the church venues, we were welcomed into a service arranged by the
local pastor and there was always a nativity play in full costume and singing by choirs usually including
very confident young children.
7
Our last full day in Romania was a Sunday and we attended a morning service at the Speranta Church.
We returned in the evening for a lively joint carol service with other local churches taking part. Between
the two services we were able to thank our hosts and their team by taking them out to lunch in a local
restaurant.
The following morning, on our journey back to Bucharest airport,
we had time to reflect on how privileged we had been to spend a
few days with such an amazing group of Romanian Christians
helping to give out shoeboxes to about 4,000 children.
None of this would have been possible without the support of
churches, schools and individuals in the Woking and Guildford
area whose shoeboxes brought joy and hope to thousands of
needy children. What better way could there be to celebrate
Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ?
Stephen Shurville
To find out more about ‘Visiting Romania with Operation Christmas Child’ come to Stephen’s
presentation at the Woking group meeting on Thursday 10th August.
8
DYLAN’S DIARY – or it shouldn’t happen to a human…
Big black screens, and all that……
I’m used to Mam and occasionally Dad - before he went to the strange place in the sky – sitting in the untidy room,
looking at the quiet, black screen thing. It’s a little bit like the noisy screen thing that she watches, sometimes with Auntie Jean
and, occasionally, Johnnie in the comfortable room with the floppy chairs and sofa. Mam calls it that: Dad used to call it
‘settee’, and Johnnie calls it ‘couch.’ (Humans, eh?!) She doesn’t know, but when Mam goes to bed, I climb onto the floppy
sofa. Mmmm……. SO comfy!
Usually the black screen thing is quiet, and it allows Mam to write things into it. And she bangs with her fingers onto
the keys of the other black boxy-looking thing in front of the screen. That allows words and pictures to come up on the screen.
Is there no end to the things Mam can do with this machine?! One day last week I sat watching her intently – mainly
because I wanted to catch her eye to remind her that she hadn’t yet fed me. She seemed to be very pleased with herself when
she got some sort of moving picture up on the screen. I think humans would call it a video, or a cd or dvd. Or even a film, or
recording. (But who cares?!) Anyway, it looked like a gang of men and women of all ages, sitting in a half-circle, all smartly
dressed in black and white, making the noise some people call ‘music’.
Each of the gang was holding a strange wooden thing on his or her shoulder. And they were gently moving thin pieces
of wood tied with string up and down over the strange wooden things. And also there were two people at the end of the back
row, each holding on to a huge wooden thing on the floor, and bashing those with similar string things, but very much bigger.
“Lovely!” cried Mam, in delight.
Lovely?! It sounded as if people were being tortured. Or – worse - animals.
The screeching noise that came from the smaller wooden things was terrible. And from the large wooden things it
wasn’t so bad – but still horrible.
I recognised the thing that a lone gentleman was bashing in the corner. It’s called a piano. I know that, from what Dad
used to tell me. It seems Mam’s mam had one, and she used to bang on it every afternoon. Sometimes Mam’s mam sang along
with the piano-bashing.
“Yes, I had a very musical mother!” Mam used to say to Dad.
“Yes, until she played the piano and sang along with it!” Dad would retort, laughing.
9
But in actual fact, Dad was quite fond of his mother-in-law. He often mentioned to Johnnie that his grandmother (Johnnie’s,
not Dad’s!) had a lovely singing voice. Something called ‘contralto’. And that she sang like someone called Kathleen Ferrier.
Whoever that was….
“She did indeed!” Mam would add, and Auntie Jean would agree.
And it seems Mam’s grand-mother and grand-father, also, were such good singers that they had been in something
called the Udders-Felt Choral Society.
Mam’s brother Paul was the most musical in the family, and had been one of the people in the video with a screeching
wooden thing on his shoulder, which I’ve since heard is called a ‘violin’. He was, it seems, a concert violinist. Whatever that
is…. Apparently he was good enough to screech his wooden thing with a fat Italian singer called Pants-a-Rotti.
Then the room went quiet. I stopped my loud panting, and gave up trying to catch Mam’s eye to get my dinner.
The humans were suddenly very sad: something to do with both Uncle Paul and Pants-a-Rotti having died. Especially
Uncle Paul, who had been only forty. (Forty?! That’s two hundred and eighty in dog years!!!)
Then Mam perked up and said, “Ah! I’ve found the recording I was looking for, Jean!”
“Ooooh, let’s put it on! Is it the lovely video of Paul and the orchestra playing our favourite composer, Beethoven?!”
replied Auntie Jean, looking excited.
BEETHOVEN?! That’s a DOG! Even I know that. It’s a famous dog who sometimes appears on the noisy screen in the
floppy room.
I hear he also appears in those big buildings with HUGE screens where people go in their hundreds. Cinemas, I think
they’re called. Yes – Beethoven appears in those too. He’s definitely a dog, not a composer. Whatever that is……..
Auntie Jean appeared at the door of the untidy room, drying her hands, as she had been washing something in the
room where the nice food smells are. I turned my face with my sad eyes to her. Maybe she would feed me?
Yes!!
“Hasn’t Mam fed you yet, Boyo?” she laughed. “Come on, I’ll do it.”
I followed her, skittering along the shiny floor in the long, thin room Mam calls a ‘hall’ and Auntie Jean calls a ‘passage’.
Auntie Jean continued in conversation.
“The trouble with Mam is that, when she decides to hunt for a special recording, she won’t give up, no matter what.
Then she has to sit and view it. Everything else is forgotten for a while. Folk could even be waiting for a meal.”
‘Or dogs’, I mused, giving Auntie Jean one of my grateful but pitiful looks. By the looks of him, Pants-a-Rotti could
afford to miss a few meals. But I couldn’t.
“Aw, you poor old love. Come on: eat your dinner. Fresh water too.” And she patted me on the rump. Then -“Jean!” shouted Mam from the floppy room.
“Yes. What?”
“I’ve found a video of our Paul and orchestra playing Bach.”
BARK??!!!
How DARE they?! This is now going TOO far.
It’s NO good: I’ll NEVER understand humans. I’ll write again soon.
Love, © Dylan. Email: Dylansdoodling@aol.com
10
MEMORIES
As I read Brenda Glover’s fascinating account of her memories of the 2nd World War in the December
Issue my own memories came flooding back to me.
I was born in Ashford in 1931 and was nearly 8 years old when war was declared. My father, (George
Turner), taught physics as his main subject at Ashford County School which is now the college. Shortly
after war broke out my twin sister and I were evacuated to my aunt and uncle’s in a small village in
Northumberland. In hindsight I suspect that my uncle and aunt were required to have evacuees and felt
that it might be better to have the devils they knew rather than the ones they didn’t. During the two
years we spent with them we had a daily walk of about a mile, there and back to go to the village school
where all the juniors were taught by just one teacher in a big hall –like classroom. When I became a
teacher I often thought of that amazing teacher who somehow managed to cater for all the educational
needs of such a large age range of pupils. The village was quite wide spread and I recall that in the event
of a possible air-raid a sheet was to be hung out of an upstairs bedroom window of one of the houses
situated high up on a hill. This never happened!
In 1941 we returned home, I suspect because my parents had concern for our education for those were
the days of the 11+ exams. By that time, with a shortage of teachers, my mother had herself returned to
teaching and taught at Echelford Junior School where she remained up until her retirement. My father
was not called up and continued teaching physics at the school all during the war not only to the school
children but also on a weekly basis to some of the trainee nurses from Ashford Hospital. He also
organised the senior boys of the school to do fire-watching duties at the school overnight in case enemy
aircraft dropped incendiary
bombs. He was also a member of
the A.R.P. (Air Raid Precautions).
When the air-raid sirens sounded
he would go out on duty whilst we
four children and our mother took
shelter in the house. My brother
had a bed erected under the stairwell in the passage and we three
sisters and our mother somehow
squeezed into the Morrison shelter
erected in the kitchen. This was
like a metal table with wire mesh
Morrison Shelter
walls and there we would try to
get some sleep if it was night time.
I remember also each household was supplied with a stirrup pump which was a device that enabled you
to pump water out of a bucket to put out flames of an incendiary bomb should it fall on your house.
Fortunately one never did. However in the latter part of the war a V2 rocket, fired from the shores of
France, fell in the garden of a house very close to us. By this time there were far fewer air-raids and so
we had returned to sleeping in our beds upstairs, that night we were awoken by the ceiling plaster falling
onto our heads. Fortunately the blackout curtains erected at every window prevented the shattered glass
11
from falling on us. We stumbled downstairs in our bare feet and amazingly none of us were cut by the
debris. We should have vacated the house
whilst it was being repaired room by room but
Stirrup Pump
we were allowed to stay and during that period
my twin sister and I slept at night with our
friend in their Morrison shelter. They lived in a
street very near us. I remember too that when
the roof of the County School was being
repaired after a bombing raid that the
workmen repaired it in such a way that a big V
for victory sign, together with the Morse code
for the let V (dot, dot, dash) was displayed.
Unless the roof has been altered since that
time it will still be seen this day.
As a whole I do not recall being very frightened during the war, only when the doodle bugs or V 2s were
sent across. The drone of the engine was quite loud and when it cut out it became very quiet and you
nervously waited wondering whether it would fall on your house. Obviously there were a lot of food
restrictions and it must have been quite difficult for women to provide enough food for their families with
all the rationing that took place. I ca recall watching my mother as she preserved eggs in icing glass and
runner beans in salt. However as a child all I can recall is the sweet rationing. I believe we were only
allowed about 2-3 ounces of sweets a week with the coupon being carefully cut out of your rationing
book by the shop assistant each time you purchased some. Although you couldn’t buy any in advance you
could save up your month’s supply which I sometimes did to buy birthday presents for some of my family.
This was a time when the community pulled together to help and support each other and we were united
in our aim to do all we could to support the country in its war against the enemy.
Barbara Lownsbrough.
12
THE MOUSEMAN
Part 1
Have you ever heard of the Mouseman?
No? Nor had I until I first went to KILBURN
YORKSHIRE, in early 1980’s. We were on a
coach tour of the Yorkshire Dales. The
driver said we’d enjoy our visit. We did and
left with a souvenir, in company with
others.
Robert Thompson was born in 1876, in
Kilburn. His family’s cottage became his
home. Today it’s the centre of Robert
Thompson’s Craftsmen Ltd. He enjoyed seeing English oak and longed to carve it using traditional skills.
His father apprenticed him to engineering for 5 years. Aged 20, he returned home. He visited Ripon
Cathedral regularly. Here he studied the mediaeval wood carvings of William Bromflet.
Robert worked as a joiner with his father after learning to repair and build farm buildings, visions of
Ripon Cathedral’s oak carvings in his mind. Working long hours he’d little time to study mediaeval wood
carving. Gradually he developed his ideas for his future carving on English oak. He learnt about seasoned
oak in use and the tools employed – particularly the adze which created a ripple surface finish.
There were easier ways to carve and prepare oak, but, Robert began to store oak as long planks, piled up
with each plank separated by a latt (a small stick). It breathed outside for about 5 years. When created
his furniture would have a long life, perhaps 300 years. His apprentices would know this too.
Whilst working for his father he also worked in stone, making gargoyles and a WW1 memorial. He
created a pulpit for Yearsley church and altar rails for another. In 1905 he married and had a daughter,
Elsie, in 1909.
In 1914, great changes occurred everywhere. Robert had to provide for his family, plus jobs for local folk
who were not at war. Robert Thompson was exempt, but, young men from his business were sent
overseas to fight in unbelievable conditions. In 1918, peace returned and the men came back to resume
their jobs. Sadly many didn’t survive.
Robert was still Kilburn’s village carpenter, but, he was ambitious. He met Father Nevill, a priest at
Ampleforth College. He said he wanted to erect a crucifix in Ampleforth’s cemetery. However, he
couldn’t find a carpenter with the necessary long pieces of oak. When Robert was asked if he could help,
he said “yes”. A long lasting friendship resulted. He also developed his trademark – a mouse. He created
it by accident. A fellow wood-carver commented ‘being as poor as a church mouse’. Robert carved one
and loved it!
Explaining the trademark to his grandsons, Robert said he thought of a mouse scraping its way quietly
through wood, parallel to his workshop in the Hambleton Hills. His motto is ‘industry in quiet places’.
The mouse is a lasting trademark. It isn’t dominant, just unobtrusive. Today, an apprentice must be able
to carve a ‘good’ mouse before he completes his apprenticeship.
13
From 1919 Robert Thompson’s reputation grew. By 1954 Thompson’s mouse was everywhere in Britain
and further afield. It can be found in Westminster Abbey, in business headquarters, educational
establishments and domestic houses. Thompson’s work is applauded everywhere.
Robert Thompson died in 1955. By then 35 men and boys were employed in the Kilburn workshop. He’s
buried in Kilburn churchyard, close to the House of the Mouse
Kilburn has changed little with the passing years. It appears to be a sleepy English village, but, the
furniture made here goes worldwide. People come to the Visitors’ Centre from worldwide. They listen to
the history of Robert Thompson’s creation. They look at order books and ledgers revealing prices.
Craftsmen are seen at work using Robert’s techniques. Opposite the centre are today’s workshops, where
you can view work in progress from a Gallery. Small items and large pieces of furniture are on view. Items
can be ordered, some small pieces can be carried by the purchaser.
Large furniture commissioned receives special treatment. All wood needed for use is carefully researched.
200 to 300 oaks are used annually. In 2006 Ian Thompson Cartwright, Robert’s great grandson, was
invited to the Sir Douglas Hume’s estate to see 200 felled oaks. He purchased all, they were transported
to their saw-mills at Ampleforth. They were cut into planks and stored until seasoned. There is always 5
years of oak stored.
Each piece of furniture commissioned is the work of one carver. According to the piece ordered the
craftsman will select grain of the oak, colour, time of seasoning and the thickness required for the chosen
piece of furniture. A rough shape will be cut, then it goes to the work bench. Time there will depend on
the chosen piece.
14
The adzing process is done next.
This is the ripple effect
characteristic of Thompson
furniture. The adze follows the
craftsman’s pencil marks which
match the grain direction. A lot of
this work can be done on the floor!
Adze work completed the piece
goes to be sanded. This is done by
hand, then it is placed in the fuming
chamber which is fitted with
ammonia vapour. This is when the
soft honey colour is gained. The
process replaces urine which was
used in the Middle Ages. 24 hours is the usual time depending on customer’s choice of colour. Waxing, by
brush, then the wood is hand polished. Upholstery comes last.
Details on furniture and where to find examples of House of Mouse carving will be in part 2.
Priscilla Odell
Photographs are of items owned by Priscilla.
‘Thanks to IAN THOMPSON CARTWRIGHT who supplied ‘MOUSEMAN’. The Legacy of Robert Thompson of
Kilburn.’
CAR PARKING AT NEWLANDS CORNER
I am a member of Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT). Will I still
have to pay for car parking?
From spring 2016 if you’re parking at Newlands
Corner for more than 20 minutes there will be a
charge.
Yes.
How much will it cost to park?
I am a Blue Badge Holder. Will I have to pay?
There will be a range of charges depending on the length of
your stay. It will cost £1 an hour up to a maximum of £4
which is the charge to stay all day.
No. Blue Badge Holders have free car parking. There are
also special marked bays next to the cafe for their use.
I am only dropping in – do I still have to pay?
Will the car parking charges apply to motorbike users?
No. You can stay for 20 minutes for free.
No.
I visit the site regularly - will a season ticket be available?
Extracted from the surreycc.gov.uk website
Yes, an annual pass will be available that means you can
park as often as you like for £40.
15
ACROSS
CROSSWORD 45
1. Setter has no idea (1, 6, 1, 4)
9. 31 across has it blinking or fluttering (4)
10. High-reaching scope of outstanding debts (9)
11. Fossil found in the coalition (4)
13. Give out remodelled item (4)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
15. Find delightful fields at the cathedral with a
Welsh girl (7)
9
10
11
17. Special ice cream on surface of water (6)
12
13
15
14
18. Wishing to be moving on one foot less quietly
(6)
16
17
19. Dog has a fit of pique (3)
18
19
21
23
25
20
21. Duncan would have performed a 19 down (7)
22
22. Drunk at a fair from this almond concoction 7)
23. A gent, say, is lively but not right (3)
24
26
25. Many arrive at the Spanish accommodation
(6)
27
28
27. Break a promise in the delivery room! (6)
29
30
31
32
28. Dismount at Waterloo (7)
33
29. Weakens when nails are clipped (4)
34
31. He has an eye to the future (4)
35
33. Take a taxi to the city and rent a coupe (9)
34. Have a doubt about the instrument (4)
35. Songster with a fondness for Christmas romance (6, 6)
DOWN
15. Nudged by a bony protuberance (7)
2. “Ring around the moon” or a saintly head (4)
16. Musical piece curtailed in part of the Mass (7)
3. Have a large part of the meal (4)
19. Father’s dance step (3)
4. Take the edge off – hunger perhaps? (6)
20. Make an effort to score five points (3)
5. Star tie removed by an entertainer (7)
24. Have a particular liking for, but not the whole thing (7)
6. Express surprise to the jester making a come back - a back 26. The continental employer is moved to a Greek island (6)
scratcher (6)
27. Payment due from an alien visitor in military accommo7. Tanner famously gives up me for another (4)
dation (6)
8. Does he have to make snap decisions? (12)
30. Wear raincoats the wrong way round for a trick (4)
11. Speciality of the West Country but no delicacy (7, 5)
31. Could be 21 across or 4 down shining nightly (4)
12. Shock about a knight altered by his annual review (9)
32. Sore back or broken heart caused by his attention? (4)
emmarjay
14. Chief structure that holds a lot of information (9)
16
Famous Buildings
In which city would you find the following
buildings?
1. Palace of Holyrood House
7. La Scala
2. Burj Khalifa
8. Azteca Stadium
3. Teatro de Colon
9. Sagrada Familia
4. Petronas Towers
10. Robie House
5. Bolshoi Theatre
11. Smithsonian American Art Museum
6. Pompidou Centre
12. Pitti Palace
SUDOKU Place each of the digits 1 to 9 in each row, column and 3x3 box
3
9
3
8
4
1
2
2
4
7
3
2
9
4
3
3
2
1
6
8
1
6
6
8
8
5
4
7
5
7
1
5
9
7
5
8
2
4
7
3
9
9
2
2
8
3
9
2
3
8
7
5
8
8
2
9
1
6
17
1
2
1
6
8
3
6
5
3
6
2
2
1
4
1
6
8
7
2
5
9
9
7
7
9
5
Time to volunteer from SCC information items.
‘At the start of 2016 Surrey County Council launched a county-wide campaign to encourage more people in Surrey to
volunteer. The campaign aims to show how residents can make a difference no matter how much or little time they have to
give. We'll be directing them to the volunteering section of our website which is packed with information and inspiration to
help residents find a voluntary role to suit them. We're also encouraging people to share their volunteering stories on Twitter
and Instagram using the hashtag #timetovolunteer. ‘
Thinking about volunteering but don’t know where to start?
Perhaps you always planned to volunteer when you retired
but have found you have less free time now than when you
were working!
With volunteering roles of all shapes and sizes available in
Surrey, finding something that makes a difference and fits
around your lifestyle could be easier than you think.
Not sure where to start?
Head to surreycc.gov.uk/volunteer, a hub for all things volunteering that’s packed with inspiration for the different ways you
can give your time, including stories from people volunteering in Surrey.
You’ll also find details of your nearest volunteer centre where advisers can help match you with local opportunities and a link
to Do-It, a national database where you can search roles by your location, interests and availability.
Not sure if you have enough time?
Did you know that more than half of volunteers in Surrey do it for a few hours a month or less?
There are lots of reasons why it’s not always easy to make a regular volunteering commitment, whether its last minute
babysitting or spontaneous trips away.
Luckily there are lots of ways you can volunteer on a flexible or one-off basis. Visit our website or talk to someone at your local
volunteer centre to find out what’s available where you live.
Don’t just take our word for it...
Malcolm Price, a volunteer treasurer for Camberley Care, explains how his local volunteer centre helped him to find the right
role.
“When I retired I wanted to volunteer but didn’t know where to look, particularly to find something local rather than with a
large national charity,” he says. “I also have family commitments so didn’t want to be tied down to regular hours.”
“I went to Camberley Volunteer Centre for a chat and they were marvellous, emailing round local organisations and finding me
the role at Camberley Care. I volunteer for about one afternoon a week, and can either work at the charity’s office or from
home.”
“Speaking to an advisor at a volunteer centre is a wonderful starting point for anyone who wants to become a volunteer.”
Whether you’re getting involved in volunteering for the first time, or have been volunteering for years, we’d love to hear from
you. So if you’d like to share your story with us or you have any questions about volunteering, please contact:
employeevolunteering@surreycc.gov.uk
Article provided by
Miriam Selman
Apprentice Trainee
New Models of Delivery
Tel: 0208 213 2863
Email: miriam.selman@surreycc.gov.uk
Room 235 | County Hall | Kingston Upon Thames | KT1 2DN
18
support for people with Alzheimers,
their family and friends
CAMBERLEY AREA
Group Representative:
14 June
Tea Party to Celebrate the Queen’s
90th Birthday. Time for nostalgia and
lots of red, white and blue!
12 July
Visit to the Living Planet Centre in
Woking
Angela Warner 01276 507614
e-mail angela.jw@outlook.com
We meet at the Guide Headquarters in Crabtree Road,
Camberley. The HQ is right at the end of Crabtree
Road, on the turning circle next to the railway line and
has ample parking. Meetings start at 2pm
EPSOM AREA (includes Ewell, Banstead and Sutton)
Sheila Willis came to us in November with a talk
entitled “Who dun the Whodunnits”. She began with a
quiz type format to test our knowledge which dredged
up memories from the past. Altogether it was a very
pleasant afternoon.
Group Representative: Pat Life (0208 337 2025)
Email Contact: chris.kay310@btinternet.com
In December we held our Christmas Celebration
organized by Chris. Tea was delicious, the games were
challenging, Fr Christmas came with presents and we
all went home with a big portion of Christmas cake,
made by Doris and truly delicious.
Meetings: Monthly on Friday (usually the last Friday in the
month) at Bourne Hall, Ewell from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm. As
well as a speaker there is time for tea and a chat.
Buses from many local areas including Kingston, Epsom,
Morden, W/Park and Cheam Village stop outside Bourne
Hall or close by.
Our New Year lunch was at the Ely once again and gave
us an opportunity to catch up over a nice lunch.
Our meetings are open to all members of the Association,
and their guests. Come along, enjoy a warm welcome, make
new friends and share the activities of a very lively group.
Whilst you are there why not enjoy what Bourne Hall has to
offer – one of the best libraries in Surrey, a Local History
Museum, coffee shop and enjoyable grounds including a
lake to stroll around. If you are a member and haven’t
visited this group then phone Pat Life or email Chris and Kay
and ask for a copy of the programme. Contact details are
above.
We are now looking forward to a varied programme
through the coming year
I have been trying to contact members who have
recently joined the Association and who live in our
area and I hope I haven’t missed anyone. If I have it
wasn’t intentional and please come along and meet us
anyway – bring your family and friend too. Also if you
have been retired some time, but have never been to
our meetings we would love to see you – you don’t
have to come every month, just drop in when you like.
For our October meeting, Ian West visited us to talk about
‘Buildings of Kingston upon Thames’. He last visited us four
years ago, and spoke about ‘Early 20th Century Ewell’. He is
very interested in how buildings were constructed,
subsequently modified and the social history linked to them.
Using old slides, his presentation started by showing us
images of buildings that were constructed in the 15th
Century. He explained how the wooden frames were braced
together to form a solid weight bearing structure. In some
ways, each floor of a timber framed house is like a big box,
one or more built above the other. Often the base of the
each floor was made slightly larger than the floor below.
This had the advantage of reducing the amount of rain
running down the sides of the building. There were no
gutters and drain pipes, as we have nowadays. The infill
Future Events:12 April
Hedgehog Rescue
Sue Kidger
10 May
“Camberley
Alzheimers
Café”
Maureen Hume, the founder of the
Café will be telling us about this
19
between the timbers was made up of wattle-and-daub,
laths, plaster, stone or brick.
location – ‘Eden Walk’ site in the 1980’s. Then the company
‘Next’ followed after ‘Boots’ left the premises. A company
called ‘Jack Wills – Outfitters’ now occupies the same
property. Ian referred to many other buildings in and around
the Kingston upon Thames area, providing snippets of
information, much of it social history. Details from ‘Census
Returns’ greatly help to give information about who
occupied various buildings over the years. With so many
historic buildings in Kingston, Ian had plenty to choose from
for his presentation. It is fair to say, that he left many of us,
wanting to know more. Always a good sign of someone that
knows their subject, and can bring their story alive!
Until the 17th century England had a plentiful supply of oak,
which was the most common material used for timber
framing. As oak is hard and durable, it greatly aided these
old buildings to survive until the present day. For too many
years, wood had been used for building, heating, and for
making charcoal. So from the 17th Century the use of stone
and bricks came in to general use.
One of the oldest parts of Kingston surrounds ‘Harrow
Passage’ which links Apple Market and the Market Place.
The ‘Old Harrow’ Public House, gave its name to the
passage, and has a Crown Post Roof which dates it to the
15th Century. Around 1912 the doors of the ‘Old Harrow’
closed for the last time.
In November, Roger Hind arrived with his Keyboard to give
us his talk entitled ‘Sentimental Journey’. In the introduction
to Roger, we were told that he had retired after 35 years of
teaching music at schools in Surrey.
Roger was born and brought up in Southport for the first
eighteen years of his life. His father was a good pianist and
had never played outside of his house. He introduced his son
to playing the piano and it was from that moment that
Roger never looked back. He started piano lessons and later,
at the age 12-13 started organ lessons. Eventually he went
to College and became a Music Teacher.
One of Ian’s slides showed a Watercolour (by Ed. Hassell
c.1827) of a building called ‘Elmfield’ c.1754. This relates to
Tiffin School in Kingston. The school was established in 1880.
Following the First World War, the school needed more
space to expand. In 1929 a site in London Road (Kingston)
called ‘Elmfield’ was found which had enough space to
create numerous new buildings. Already in existence, was
the three storeys Georgian Townhouse called ‘Elmfield’
originally built in 1754 (now a Grade II listed building). Tiffin
School became an Academy in 2011.
Roger regularly plays the church organ, and loves and plays
Jazz regularly at the ‘Watermill Jazz Club’ in Dorking. For him
Jazz is always creative! From time to time he plays in a Big
Band at East Grinstead. His teaching skills were highlighted,
in the way how he interacted with our members. Asking us
questions, and giving us clues, if we didn’t get the answers
right! He had a sense of humour which always goes down
well with our members.
The old Town Hall in Market Place was built around 1838.
The Guildhall (a new Town Hall) was built in Kingston Hall
Road in 1935 and later greatly extended. Close by, is an
Edwardian building - Nos. 14 -16 Market Place which was
originally ‘Phillipson’s Library’ until ‘Boot’s the Chemists’
bought the site in 1908. It was their Architects that created
the heraldic frieze, elaborate stucco style, half timbered
front. This was extended in 1929. All in all, a very dramatic
At this point, Roger played part of “On the Sunny Side of the
Street”. He explained that he used a wide “stride” (style).
Basically, the left hand plays rhythmic notes or chords,
whilst the right hand plays the melody, often with
embellishments. The use of the ‘stride’ was popular, starting
with Chopin and Johann Strauss, and later on, the likes of
Charlie Kunz, and later on still, Winifred Atwell, and Mrs
Mills etc. These names and the reference to sheet music,
records, and in the 1950s ‘Radio Luxemburg’ broadcasting
popular music brought back many memories. Roger loves
Classical, Church, Popular, Musicals and, as said before, Jazz
music. This was very much reflected in his excellent playing
ability on his Keyboard.
Before Roger’s visit, he had been asked to play a Christmas
tune at the end of his visit to us. He played ‘Walking in
Winter Wonder Land’. We enjoyed his talk and music and
hope that he’ll return to us again. To end our last meeting
frontage which makes the building look older than it really
is! It is well worth a visit! ‘Boots’ moved to its present
20
this year at Bourne Hall, we had tea and mince pies. This
reminded us that Christmas was just around the corner.
NO DOGS, NO MOTHER-IN-LAWS
On the 11th December, twenty of our members met together
for Christmas Lunch at the ‘El Patio Restaurant’ at Derby
Square, Epsom (next door to Epsom Library). In fact, it was
the same building as last year but then the restaurant was
called ‘Il Ponto’. It is still under the same Management! It
was good to meet each other, and not surprisingly, to chat
about what plans were a foot for the coming festive season.
As is customary, Pat wished us all the best for Christmas and
the New Year, and thanked Val for arranging the meal and
bringing us all together once again.
Village:
SNAPPER (with Speed Camera symbol above
sign)
Name
(Near Barnstable, Devon)
Also depicted were photos of the Welsh Botanic Gardens in
Carmarthenshire. It was opened to the public for the first
time in May 2000. Prince Charles officially opened the
gardens on the 21st July. Sadly, due to a shortage of visitors,
the garden ran in to financial difficulties. In 2004 the Welsh
Assembly Government and others offered a financial
package to secure its future, which was accepted.
The first speaker to visit us in 2016 was Colin Jones who gave
us an excellent Power Point Presentation. For as long as
Colin can remember, he has been a gardener, photographer
and traveller. As Chairman of the Sanderstead Horticultural
Society and a listed lecturer for the Surrey W.I. and the RHS,
he has a wealth of knowledge. The title for his presentation
was ‘Blooming Britain’. The talk started in the Scilly Isles in
the south-west of England and covered the British Isles and a
garden close to Dublin! The photographs were excellent and
highlighted what a huge variety of gardens we have in our
Country. The photographs included Tresco, Sissinghurst,
Chatsworth, Eden, Helligan, Powis, Hidecote and Tatton Park
to name but a few. Then, on to the oldest botanic garden in
Great Britain which is at Oxford. The University of Oxford
Botanic Garden was founded in 1621 as a Physic Garden for
medicinal research.
The pictures covered every type of garden imaginable –
Arboretums, Botanic Gardens, Landscape, National Trust
Properties, Private Houses, Woodland, Wildflower locations,
and so much more.
Colin did mention that Wildflower Gardens are said to be
trendy these days! He then added, just to diversify, he had
visited a Confetti Farm at Pershore (Worcestershire). The
Company had gone in to business to create confetti from the
petals of Cornflowers, Delphiniums, Hydrangeas, Lavender
and Roses. Being biodegradable the confetti is ‘Venue
Friendly’!
With spring not far off, the title ‘Blooming Britain’ was so apt
and with Colin’s expert knowledge and his humour the talk
was very well received. So much so, that we have asked him
to come back to us next year.
There are over 5000 gardens open to the public including the
RHS Gardens: Wisley in Surrey, Rosemoor in Devon, Harlow
Carr in Yorkshire and Hyde Hall in Essex. Colin pointed out
that the RHS have announced that a fifth RHS Garden is to be
created by bringing back the historic gardens at Worsley
New Hall in Salford.
Future meetings:29 April
‘A’int we cute!’ and more
Also included, were amusing photos of garden, pub and road
signs that Colin had collected over the years. These gave us
all a good chuckle!
27 May
A Life of Grime
Mr Vic Quale
SIGNS
Examples:
Gardens:
AGM
24 June
TRESPASSER WILL BE COMPOSTED
My Icelandic Adventure
Mrs Ann Chance
NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS!
29 July
POSSIBLY EDIBLE
Toilet:
GENTLEMEN LEFT, LADIES ALWAYS RIGHT!
Pubs:
NO WIFI HERE – TALK TO EACH OTHER
Wigs and Gowns
Mr Peter Thompson
21
had been the subjects of books and films. The list was
lengthy, King Edward V11th and Mrs Kepple/Lily
Langtry, Bonnie & Clyde, Dr Crippen & Cora Turner,
Mussolini & Clarissa and Nelson & Lady Hamilton.
STAINES (includes Spelthorne and Runnymede).
Group Representative
Mr. Keith Penfold
01932 2259l5
E-mail: xscckeithp@hotmail.co.uk
Mary ended the afternoon with the story of enduring
love of friends of hers (no names given this time).
Meetings at 2.30 pm on the first Thursday of every
month in the Methodist Hall in Thames Street, Staines,
except December (Christmas lunch).
Outings
New members always welcome.
The ‘Outings Organisers’ gave details of possible
outings for Group Members to include a Tour, behind
the scenes at the Royal Opera House And an evening
visit to The Woking Theatre.
November 2015 -; ‘The Goodhews’ entertained the
Group with an afternoon of music. Ann a soprano and
pianist accompanied Robert on the saxophone, both
also giving solo performances.
The walking group is currently waiting for more settled
weather before arranging possible dates.
The very varied choice of music included items from,
Romeo and Juliet, The Mikado, La Traviata, The Sound
of Music ,ending the programme with I’ve Got Rhythm.
Future Meetings:7 April
December 2015
The Storm of 1987
Bob Ogley
The Christmas Lunch held at the Mercure Hotel in
Staines was enjoyed by 50 members and guests of the
Staines Group, all agreed it was a very happy prelude
to the Christmas period.
5 May
A.G.M
History of Heathrow
Barry Dix
January 2016
2 June
John Pearson came to Staines with an entertaining and
informative talk on the world of cheese and wine. His
personal knowledge followed a career as a ‘Buyer’ for a
major retailer he was also able to give details of the
share each supermarket had of customers. The U.K.
produces a wider range of cheese than France but
consumption is second to Ireland as the smallest
consumer in the E.U., Greece being the largest
consumer. John gave the Group his recommendation
for a wine worth buying, but suggested keeping it for
2/3 years. The afternoon ended with three samples of
cheddar cheese provided for each member, after
voting, it was agreed the cheapest was the best!
Grandma flew Spitfires
Richard Poad
7 July
Songs of the Sea
Steve Poole
4 August
Florence Nightingale
Paul Whittle
February
Mary Forlenza made a return visit to Staines, this time
to talk of ‘Great Lovers’. The Group were reminded of
Lovers who had made the Headlines or about whom
22
All tours are guided as a safety measure as it is possible
to get lost in the maze of caves.
REDHILL, REIGATE and DISTRICT
GROUP
Group Representative:
November we had a talk by Peter Swann entitled All
That Brass
Mr Eric Edge 01737 764269
Hon. Treasurer:
Peter first told us a bit about his family life growing up
as a son of a Salvation Army Leader. He spent his
school years at ten different schools including Reigate
Grammar School were he was in the school band. He
spoke about the early use of the Trumpet in the bible
by Ezekiel and Joshua, its use by the Romans. He told
us about the Post Horn used in the middle ages & by
Royalty. The Bugle used by the Infantry. Also spoke
about the Trombone
Mrs Molly Groves 01737 765717
We meet on the Third Thursday of every month in the
Methodist Centre, London Road, Redhill.
Friends and spouses are always welcome to our
meetings which start at 2.30 till 4.30pm and we always
finish with a cup of tea & biscuits and time for a
friendly chat.
He entertained us by playing each of those instruments
and finished his talk by playing a tune on a Trumpet
made of Plastic.
We usually meet on the first floor, room Bletchingley.
Our speaker for October was Brian Williamson who
spoke about the use of Chislehurst Caves as a place of
safety during the blitz.
December 22 members and friends sat down to a
Christmas Lunch at the Redhill Golf Club, a fitting way
to end the year.
Chislehurst Caves near Bromley in Kent are a labyrinth
of man made caves dug for chalk used in Lime Burning
and Brick Making during the building of London and
Flints for guns of years ago.
Future Meetings:21 April
Covering almost 22 miles at up to 30 metres deep.
They were first opened to the public in 1900 as a
showplace.
A.G.M
‘You’ll never believe it but ……
Mel Rees
Over the last hundred years they have been used for
various means, storing munitions for Woolwich Arsenal
during the 1914-18 war.
19 May
‘Outing’
16 June
Doctor at Sea
Mushroom growing during the 1920s, 1930s and
during the Second World War as London’s largest deep
Air Raid Shelter.
Dr R Cruthers
21 July
Over 15,000 people from London & Kent would use
these as a shelter outside London. Pitches were sold at
one Penny per night per 2 adults (children were free)
or 6 pence for a week. Strict rules about the use of a
pitch were applied and these were forfeited if not used
for 2 consecutive nights.
The Great Storm
Bob Ogley
The caves even had it’s own fully equipped Hospital.
Still in use today there is a Gift Shop and Café.
23
Butler, and the "search for Scarlett" led to 1,400
women being interviewed for the part. The original
screenplay was written by Sidney Howard, but
underwent many revisions by several writers, including
Ben Hecht, in an attempt to get it down to a suitable
length. The original director, George Cukor, was fired
shortly after filming had begun and was replaced by
Fleming, who in turn was briefly replaced by Sam
Wood while Fleming took some time off due to
exhaustion.
WOKING GROUP
Group Representative:
Mrs Connie Norris
01276 26821
connie.a.norris@talktalk.net
Speaker and visits organiser
Mrs Rosemary Christophers 01483 772801
We meet at the Trinity Methodist Hall, Brewery Road,
Woking at 2.00pm on the second Thursday in the
month. We are a short walk from Woking station. A
very warm welcome is extended to all members of the
Association, partners and friends. Tea or coffee and
biscuits are available after the meeting for a small
charge.
The film premiered in December 1939.
In December we were once again at The Cricketers in
Horsell for our Christmas Lunch. Much enjoyed by all.
We were sad to hear of the death of Phyllis Lock, who had
been a regular member of our group.
Phyllis Audrey Lock, 9thJuly 1926---18thNov2015. Phyllis
had worked for S.C.C. from July 1965 until retirement.
Her funeral service was held at St Peters Church on the
1st Dec 2015, attended by friends from the group.
She had a stroke and left Woking to live near her family,
nephew John, his wife Jill and their two daughters.
January 2016
At the time of her death she was in Avon Reach Nursing
home, Mudeford where she was very happy(2013---2015).
The year started with me (Connie) presenting ‘ A taste
of Myanmar’. It took the form of a slideshow of the
cruise along the Irrawaddy River from Mandalay to
Pyay , followed by a stay in Yangon (Rangoon).
Recent meetings:-
In November David Allen gave a fascinating, factual
account about ‘The making of Gone with the Wind’.
Gone with the Wind the novel written by Margaret
Mitchell, first published in 1936 and adapted into a
1939 American Film.
Before publication of the novel, several Hollywood
executives and studios declined to create a film based
on it, including Louis B. Mayer and Irving Thalberg at
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and David O. Selznick of
Selznick International Pictures. Selznick changed his
mind and in July 1936—a month after it was
published—Selznick bought the rights for $50,000.
The production of the film was troubled from the start.
Filming was delayed for two years due to Selznick's
determination to secure Gable for the role of Rhett
VIKING MANDALAY our home on the Irrawaddy
24
On 11 February we had an interesting talk by Julie
Beavan, whose mother had spoken to us last year on
her career in the Diplomatic Service, on her experience
hunger meant that classes finished by noon (the older
pupils returned in the evening) and this had given Julie
a chance to visit markets and forts in the surrounding
areas – though keeping at a distance from the palaces
along the seashore. She had formed a choir and
orchestra at the school and also in the church, which
was 200 strong, from many nationalities and sang to
2000 people at a Christmas celebration. The churches
had been in a prominent position on the main
promenade, but had been re-located further inland to
enable development to take place. Clothing, for
reasons of modesty in an Islamic country and also
because of the heat, tended to be all-enveloping and
white, and girls would wear much gold as an indication
of wealth. A fascinating insight into a very different
world.
as a teacher of Information Technology and music in an
international school in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the
United Arab Emirates. She had lived as a child in the
Middle East and returned in 2000 as a teacher in the
school which had 2500 children, and was private and
very costly. In spite of this her classes were never
fewer than 41 and she was responsible for teaching
children from the age of 9 to A level equivalent. Strict
teaching, private tuition outside school and frequent
examinations ensured that children’s progress was
three years ahead of that of the UK – and the teachers
were also tested to see that they had enabled the
weaker pupils to catch up.
Future Meetings:14 April
Windsor Great Park
Andrew Fielder
12 May
Guilford during WW1
David Rose
9 June
Flying from a pilot’s point of view
Lorimer Burn
Julie introduced us, too, to life in the UAE beyond the
school. It is a strict Muslim country, with no alcohol
permitted and the Ramadan fast kept very strictly even
for some of the younger children. Heat and ensuing
14 July
The Venetian collection
Paul Whittle
25
DO YOU SUPPLEMENT YOUR SURREY PENSION BY RENTING OUT A PRIVATE PROPERTY?
ARE YOU DEFINITELY TAKING, OR PLANNING TO TAKE, (A) NEW TENANT(S) THIS YEAR?
If you answer YES to the first question and “well YES I might be” or something similar to the second question, then
THIS CONCERNS YOU.
The law about Landlord and Tenant has recently changed with new guidances published in February 2016 about
the changes. It is no longer sufficient to have just a “gentlemens’ agreement” of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy act
pack main form signed and witnessed between you, and a welcome handshake shortly afterwards. Concerns
which we have – and hear expressed almost every day in various media – about the legitimacy of immigrants have
made an important and necessary change which means that landlords now have a legal duty to perform certain
document checks on prospective tenants, called the ‘Right To Rent’ checks, and to keep copies, before they let all
or part of a property. Crucially, you should check all adults who will live in your property regardless of what you
believe their nationality to be. Check all new tenants; it’s against the law to only check people you think aren’t
British citizens. Your check must include people who will live in the property but are not named on the tenancy
agreement. You should check all people over the age of 18 who will live in your property as their only or main
home.
Note that if you are renewing a tenancy with someone who started their tenancy with you before 2016, and there
is no break between the end of the old tenancy and the renewal, then you do not have to perform the checks. The
checks are only at the start of a new tenancy.
You should make Right To Rent checks (including any follow-up checks and reports necessary) if you tick all four of
the following boxes:
Box 1: You are one of the following:
 a landlord letting private rented accommodation; or
 a landlord or occupier allowing a lodger to live in a property; or
 a tenant or occupier sub-letting a property; or
 an agent appointed in writing by a landlord to take responsibility for complying with the Scheme
Box 2: Your property is located in an area the Scheme is running in – (writer’s note: this is certainly all of England
with effect from January 1st 2016)
See https://eforms.homeoffice.gov.uk/outreach/lcs-application.ofml
Box 3: The tenancy was agreed on or after the date of the Scheme implementation (as in paragraph 3 of the
introduction, you do not need to conduct checks on people already living in your property); and
Box 4: Your property is not exempt from the scheme. Exempt properties are:
 accommodation arranged by local authorities or relevant NHS bodies in response to a statutory duty
 care homes, hospitals and hospices
 social housing (including private properties let to social tenants)
 hostels and refuges
 tied accommodation
 student accommodation
 long leases
26
If the tenant is only allowed to stay in the UK for a limited time, you need to do the check in the 28 days before the
start of the tenancy. You are advised to see https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents/who-tocheck for more information if you believe your property is exempt from the scheme. Note: if a person is living in
one place only in the UK, this is their only or main home. A property would usually be a tenant’s only or main
home if:

they live there most of the time

they keep most of their belongings there

their partner or children live with them

they’re registered to vote at the property

they’re registered with the doctor using that address
If they live in multiple properties, you should check them unless you are satisfied they have an alternative only or
main home. See the above Government website link for more information.
Check their original documents
Use your search engine on the Internet to find “Right to Rent Document Checks: a User Guide February 2016”.
This is a 39-page document which tells you exactly what you have to ask the tenant to provide. When you’re with
the tenant, you need to check that:

the documents are originals and belong to the tenant

the dates for the tenant’s right to stay in the UK haven’t expired

the photos on the documents are of the tenant

the dates of birth are the same in all documents (and are believable)

the documents aren’t too damaged or don’t look like they’ve been changed

if any names are different on documents, there are supporting documents to show why, e.g. marriage
certificate or divorce decree
If the tenant is arranging their tenancy from overseas, you must see their original documents before they start
living at the property.
You must follow the landlord’s code of practice https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-rentlandlords-code-of-practice on illegal immigrants and private rented accommodation.
Help to make a check
Call the landlord’s helpline to get help making a check.
Landlord’s helpline
0300 069 9799
Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4:45pm
Friday, 9am to 4:30pm
What happens if you are caught not having done the checks
There is a very substantial fine indeed….
Happy letting!
Keith Penfold
Vice-Chairman, Surrey CC Retirement Association
With acknowledgements to the gov.uk website Home Office pages for some of the above text
27
ASSOCIATION MATTERS
We no longer have an office at County Hall. If you
Membership and financial matters should be
need to contact us please telephone, mail or e-mail directed to Adam.
as follows:Connie and Irene will do their best to deal with
Connie Norris, Chairman/Newsletter editor
queries of a general nature.
Mrs. C. A. Norris
If telephoning try to do so before 21.00hrs
11 Warwick Close,
Camberley.
Surrey GU15 1ES
E-mail: connie.a.norris@talktalk.net
Telephone 01276 26821
Irene Lill, Secretary
Mrs. I Lill,
Newsletter
66 Ruskin Road,
Staines,
Middlesex,
TW18 2PX
Email: irenelill@btinternet.com
Copy for the August Newsletter should be sent to
Connie Norris by 17 June 2016 at the latest.
If possible, please e-mail copy, typed in ‘Microsoft Word’
using ‘Calibri’ font. Photographs or drawings to enhance
your article would be much appreciated.
Telephone 01784 450050
Adam Smith
Hon Treasurer & Membership Secretary.
The date for the distribution of the next Newsletter is
Wednesday 27 July 2016 at County Hall Kingston. If you
would like to help, please contact a member of the
committee for further details. Expenses are paid for
travel and lunch.
Mr. A. Smith
16 Shalford Road,
‘Stuffing’ at County Hall
Guildford
Wednesday 27 July 2016 at 10.00 a.m.
Surrey GU4 8BL
Executive meetings at County Hall
Email: winifredsmith28@googlemail.com
Wednesday 15 June 2016 11.00 a.m.
Telephone 01483 565758
In addition to the group representatives we would
welcome the support of other members at these
meetings
28
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
Mrs. Daphne Anspach
Epsom
Kathleen Harris
Kingston upon Thames
Mr. Terence Ashcroft
Farnham
Linda Mumford
Ripley
Mr. Barrie Baker
Bookham
Mrs. Elisabeth Perrin
Bracknell
Mrs. Theresa Baker
Walton on Thames
Mrs. Beverley Rhodes
Blackwater
Mrs. Josephine Best
Staines upon Thames
Mr. Christopher Slade
Guildford
Ms. Ruth Bolton
New Malden
Mr. Lawrence Walker
Redhill
Mrs. Jill Christie
Horley
Mrs. Sally Warnke
Godalming
Mrs. Janice Clements
Bognor Regis
Mr. Alister Watson
Walton on Thames
Mrs. Susan Dowling
Ashford
Mrs. Christine Winnett
West Ewell
Mrs. Barbara French
Chiddingfold
IN MEMORIAM
Mr. Kenneth Cooke
Epsom
Mrs. Hanna Medhurst
Leatherhead
Mrs. Gladys Fisher
Feltham
Mr. Michael Rose
Tiverton
Mrs. Eileen Kenning
Peterborough
Notes from the executive meeting held on 22nd February 2016
Changes to the Articles of the Association.
After almost 30 years it is time to consider whether the articles reflect present day needs.
The proposed changes, see over page, would in particular simplify the Treasurer’s role. Receipts and Payments
Accounts would reduce the work load and the change in the signing of cheques could reduce postal costs and
possible delay in payment .
The other proposed changes would give us more flexibility but not detract from the running of the Association.
Arrangements for the AGM on 15 June 2016 were confirmed.
The current officers are all offering themselves for re-election as follows:Chairman
Mrs . Connie Norris
Membership Secretary
Mr Adam Smith
Vice Chairman
Mr. Keith Penfold
Membership Treasurer
Mrs. Elisabeth Doust
Hon. Secretary
Mrs. Irene Lill
Minutes Secretary
Mrs. Karen Mc Gough
Hon Treasurer
Mr. Adam Smith
Newsletter Editor
Mrs. Connie Norris
Adam has indicated that he will stand down as Membership Secretary in 2017. We would be pleased to hear from
anyone who would be interested in this role .
29
CORRESPONDENCE
I found your details on the Surrey County Council Staff Retirement Association site and wondered if your members would be
interested in knowing about us.
I manage a team of volunteers who offer emotional support to victims of crime. Our support enables them to find strength as
they recover from the devastating effects of crime. We support all ages and all crimes, matching the client with an
appropriately trained volunteer. Volunteers are trained without expense to themselves to offer a unique service without
which many of our client's would have no support at all.
Many are surprised at the level of professionalism of our volunteers. Many can't believe that such a trusted vital service is
provided by volunteers. There's nothing else like it.
Some volunteers choose to take further training to support more serious crime such as Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
Some are trained to support Children, Young and Vulnerable persons.
Through experience I have found that retired professionals from the teaching profession often become the best volunteers.
Would any of the groups be interested in me coming to talk to the them about it?
Kind regards,
Lori Adderley
Victims Services Delivery Manager – North Surrey
T: 01483 630292 / M: 07984 291827 / E: lori.adderley@victimsupport.org.uk
SURREY SNIPPETS
Recycling campaign - a county-wide Surrey Waste Partnership campaign has been launched to encourage residents to recycle
from every room in the home. Many people recycle from the kitchen, but there are also lots of items that can be recycled in
the bathroom, bedroom etc. As well as helping the environment, if everyone in Surrey recycled as much as they could, it
would save taxpayers more than £2.9 million a year. Visit the Recycle for Surrey website to find out what can be recycled in
the county.
Textiles recycling campaign: A three month campaign to encourage Surrey residents to recycle their clothes and home textiles
has been launched. The campaign highlights that all clothes and home textiles can be recycled, rather than thrown away. Last
year in Surrey more than 11,500 tonnes of clothes and home textiles were thrown away that could have been reused or
recycled instead. Visit the Recycle for Surrey website for more information.
Changes at community recycling centres: A campaign has launched to inform residents about upcoming changes at
community recycling centres (CRCs). From 1 April there will be a slight reduction in opening hours, five CRCs will be closed for
one or two days a week and there will be charges for some non-household materials - plasterboard, rubble, refillable gas
bottles and tyres. A leaflet will be given out at all CRCs and is available in other locations including council offices and libraries.
There will also be online and newspaper advertising to highlight the changes to residents. Visit the Surrey County Council
website to find out more.
Helping residents stay independent - Surrey County Council is encouraging people with hearing or sight
impairment and problems with mobility to find out about the care and support options available to them. They can
find key information about the support and activities available locally on the Surrey Information Point website
at:surreyinformationpoint.org.uk
Surrey road users urged to report potholes – Surrey residents are being encouraged to report potholes by going
online. Surrey County Council is repeating the plea as winter weather, which is always a cause of potholes, means
that reporting faults and getting them fixed is more important than ever. The public can also report a range of
other problems by going to http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/do-it-online/report-it-online
30
SOLUTIONS
SUDOKU
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CROSSWORD 45
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Mexico City
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Chicago
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Washington DC
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Florence
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