JANUARY 2015 Tatsfield Parish Magazine
Infants from Tatsfield School ready for their Christmas play
Please see page 13 for the contents list of this magazine www.tatsfield.org.uk
£1 – one copy FREE to each household SEPTEMBER 2014
PARKWOOD GOLF ACADEMY A TEAM OF 3 GOLF PROFESSIONALS LED BY HEAD PROFESSIONAL NICK TERRY, ASSISTED BY ROSS TAYLOR AND JACK HART AT THE SUPERB DRIVING RANGE FACILITY. INDIVIDUAL LESSONS ARE AVAILABLE MIDWEEK AND WEEK-ENDS FOR JUNIORS, BEGINNERS AND ALSO FOR MORE EXPERIENCED PLAYERS. GROUP BEGINNER LESSONS AND INTERMEDIATE PACKAGES, ARE AVAILABLE, WITH A STARTER 7 IRON INCLUDED IN THE PRICE. (MAXIMUM OF 4 PEOPLE IN A GROUP 5 X 40 MINUTE LESSONS + 7 IRON) ALL FOR JUST £79.00
PLEASE RING THE PRO SHOP ON 01959 577177 OR NICK TERRY’S MOBILE ON 07539 326240. EMAIL: [email protected] PARK WOOD GOLF CLUB, CHESTNUT AVENUE, TATSFIELD, KENT, TN16 2EG WWW.PARKWOODGOLF.CO.UK
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Beechwood Riding School JCG Hillboxes Farm, Marden Park BUILDERS Woldingham, CR3 7JD Brickwork Specialists Tel 01883 342266 Email: [email protected] All aspects of brickwork www.beechwoodridingschool.co.uk undertaken
Beechwood is situated in the beautiful Surrey Hills in the Patios,block paving, North Downs. All our horses and ponies used in the retaining walls school have been carefully chosen for their suitable decorative brickwork and much more temperament to achieve a happy, harmonious relationship between horse and rider resulting in every Reasonable rates rider reaching their own personal goal. Adults and References available children from 4 years old welcome. Clean tidy worker
• Separate Children and Adult Groups Call: Jamie on
• Private and semi-private lessons • Pony Parties 07921 219287
• Corporate Days • Hacks • Pony Days email: [email protected] • and lots more
RB Interiors
Interior Decorating Together with all types of maintenance and flooring inc, wood, laminate, carpet, vinyl & tiling. Fully insured Tatsfield Based References Available Rob - 07870 528254
01959 541109 Email: [email protected]
7 Telephone 01959 577010
A W Carpentry & general building services Alan Waite • Interior & Exterior Carpentry • Kitchens/Bathrooms fitted • Renovations/ Alterations • Guttering & Fascia • City & Guilds qualified • Free estimates Mobile 07984 810966
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lingerie
Kim and Jane provide a complete bra fitting service and can help with all your lingerie needs! We stock a variety of quality lingerie to suit every price range.
BEAUTIFUL LINGERIE RANGES
Entre Nous is owned and run by Tatsfield girls and you’ll be assured of a warm welcome.
Opening times Mon –Sat 10.a.m – 5.00p.m
01959 563975
22a Market Square, Westerham, Kent TN16 2AT
Art Classes
Private Lessons Commissions
Watercolour, Oil Pastel, Pencil
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M.J. Cannon Construction specialising in NEW BUILD Extensions Screw Piled Foundations REMEDIAL Underpinning Crack Repair Structural Reinforcement Systems Associated building works undertaken 40 years experience in construction industry. References available. Martin Cannon Tel: 020 8657 1067 Mob: 07885 743699
12 JANUARY 2015 CONTENTS
Advertisers’ Index 64 Martial Arts 43 Allotments 26 My Neighbour 22 Art Group 40 Nativity tableau 34 Barn Theatre 40,62 Nature notes 58 Battery danger 22 Night sky 49 Bridge 30 Not So Young 47 Brownies 28 Police 24 China trip 50 Poppy appeal 40 Council Reports 18 Puzzle 63 Debater 41 Ramblers 60 Editorial 15 School 33 Event calendar 44 School Governers 21 Fairtrade in Peru 36 Sleep out 54 For sale 29 St Mary’s 42 Gardening 32,61 Tatsfield in Bloom 23 Helpline 31 Tatsfield Singers 32, 34 Horticultural Society 39 Tatty Knitters 56 Ian Robertson 36 Tea Dance 31 Internet safety 29 TPFA 100 56 Internet safety 29 Valentine’s Day 25 Land near school 16 Vern d’Anjou 48 Legal Matters 46 Website 27 Letters 16 WI 47 Little Acorns 24 WW1 28 Magical Evening 57
13 Produced for the Village by the Parish Magazine Committee under the authority of Tatsfield Church. Managing Editor • Gerald South (577598) Treasurer • Madie Langford (577114) Distribution Manager • Terry Cartwright (577749) Advertising Manager • Maureen Perrin (577679) email: [email protected] Photographer • Ray Collins Production Team Hazel Cartwright • Tom Chorley • Jenny Lewis • Ian Mitchell Sule Morley • Christine Stainer • Carole Swetenham • Margaret Watson CHURCH CONTACTS ST MARY’S CHURCH, Church Lane, Tatsfield Anglican • Team Vicar: Revd Louise Ellis (577289) email: [email protected] The Rectory, Ricketts Hill Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2NA Hon. Curate - Revd Dr Gerald South (577598) Wardens • Mary Smith (577661) and David Eden-Riley (07973 255256) Roman Catholic • Fr John Olliver (01883 713776) COUNCIL CONTACTS Parish Council - Parish Clerk • Mrs Ana Hughes, 102a Sunningvale Avenue, Biggin Hill, TN16 3TT (701820) Chairman • Mrs Sue Smale, 21 Paynesfield Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2AT (577660) Parish Council website www.surreycommunity.info/tatsfield • email [email protected] Tandridge District Councillor • Bob David, The Briars, Ninehams Road, Tatsfield TN16 2AN (577357) Surrey County Councillor • David Hodge, 30 Harestone Valley Road, Caterham CR3 6HD (01883 337881) OTHER CONTACTS St. Mary’s Church Hall - Bookings • Sheila Cook (577443) Village Hall - Bookings Secretary • Helena Garcia ([email protected]) (07983 011028) W.I. Hall - Bookings • Sheila Cook (577443) Parish Room - Bookings • Ana Hughes (701820) Tatsfield Primary School - Head • Kevin Bellinger (577356) Tatsfield Village Club - (577330) Furze Corner Sports Pavilion - Bookings (07533 033325) Doctors • Stock Hill Surgery (580011) • Westerham Surgery (564949) Surrey Police - (101) Tatsfield Helpline - (577524) • Pet Register - Val Moore (574810) Village Website www.tatsfield.org.uk
MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTIONS We welcome contributions from village organisations and individual residents but reserve all editorial rights. Copy date for the Magazine is 16th of the preceding month. Ideally contributions should be sent as a Word attachment to an email to: [email protected], Alternatively they may left at Linda’s Stores or posted to: TatsfieldPMag, Clouds, Ricketts Hill, Tatsfield, Westerham, Kent TN16 2NB. Enquiries concerning Advertising or loose Inserts should be made to our Advertising Manager Maureen Perrin (Tel: 577679 Email: [email protected]) Small Ads These are only accepted from Tatsfield or Titsey residents (No Trade) and are free (Max 10 words plus phone number.) We will include them in the next issue space permitting. Calendar Dates Our rolling Calendar usually covers 6 weeks from publication so please give us your dates in good time. If you don’t want your event to clash with others why not check with us early. Ideas/Opinions/Articles We are always looking for items of interest - have a word with the Editor. Correspondence We welcome letters commenting on items in previous issues or on anything else. Advertisements We take no responsibility for the goods and services advertised in the Magazine.
14 EDITORIAL Dear Reader, Those of us involved in the production of the magazine send our very best wishes to you for the new year. We hope that the magazine is continuing to provide a valued contribution to Tatsfield life. It may be that not every item suits every taste, as our readership is undoubtedly a very varied one, but it is certainly our hope that there is something for everyone even if some people prefer to leave some articles unread. If there are ways in which you feel it could be improved then please do let us know – for example by a note left at Linda’s Stores addressed to the Parish Magazine or an email to [email protected]. In general the magazine can only print the items it receives – we do not have an army of reporters as a newspaper would - and hence relies very much on villagers submitting articles. If you have not done this before please consider doing so. If your interests never seem to get a mention, or if your opinions never seem to be aired, it may well be that there are others who would welcome reading about them. As you will see, some of the photos in this magazine are printed in colour and we know that some of our readers are looking for this to happen more frequently. The use of colour adds very significantly to the printing costs, for example this edition is costing about £200 more than one without any colour: our current budget would not allow this to happen every month. However printed, photographs of aspects of village life are most welcome and we encourage you to send them to us. A new feature this month is the start of a series of articles on legal matters, please see page 46. These are intended to inform readers about areas that may be relevant to them and are written by a partner at Thomas Dunton, a firm of solicitors in Orpington High Street. However the content is not specific to this firm and villagers are free to contact this or any other firm of solicitors for further advice. There is much to look forward to in Tatsfield in 2015: in addition to all the regular organisations’ events there is the 40th anniversary of the Vern twinning which will also be featured in our “In Bloom” displays. Alongside all these activities is a need for helpers. In this magazine you will see a request for more support for the Brownies [p.28], and the My Neighbour organisation [p.22] is often looking for volunteers, as are many of the village organisations, including the Parish Council. Whatever may be your skills and interests, there is almost certainly an opportunity for them to be used for the benefit of others in our area. The future well-being of Tatsfield is in our hands. Gerald South
15 LETTERS
Dear Editor, ‘The Meadow’
With reference to Barbara Hester’s letter last month re “The Meadow” below the Village School, I would like to submit the following suggestion that, after Surrey County Council have cleared the Meadow, giving due consideration to the sapling trees that were planted at the time of the School Building
a) the Parish Council take over the management of this area with a view to:
b) making the field into a dog walking area for villagers; c) the road side of the field would need to be fenced to prevent dogs running onto Ship Hill; d) the badger set would need to be fenced off to prevent the badgers being disturbed;
e) a ‘doggy poo bin’ to be installed near the access gate on Ship Hill for easy emptying by the Council;
f) place a chippings footpath around the perimeter of the field;
g) place two or three benches along the top side of the field so that villagers – not necessarily dog walkers – can sit and admire the view across and down the valley.
The formation of the “dog walking field” would prevent the aggravation of villagers walking their dogs on Westmore Green which is used for the children’s play area, football, picnics and general games and socialising.
It would be stressed that users of the field will clean up after their “pooches” which should be easier with the circular route and passing the “poo bin” on their way out.
I have spoken to the owner of the field below the “Meadow” and she considers it a good idea and would be pleased to see the area being maintained and used to the advantage of the Village.
I would be pleased to discuss my ideas further with the Parish Councillors and/or Mr Robert McDonald. George Farmer (01959 577475)
16 Dear Editor, Tatsfield Garage Update When I retired my premises were taken over by Andy Harding who ran the garage as Orpington Saab Specialists. However a few weeks ago he decided to vacate the garage for his own reasons. Over the whole period of his tenure many others have asked if they could come in should this situation ever arise. When it did, I chose to offer the tenancy to Simon Stacey. We knew Simon as a very knowledgeable and capable mechanic, already established in Biggin Hill. Simon is rapidly “finding his feet” here at Tatsfield and we are positive that he will serve the village well. My old phone number, 01959 577347, will still apply, as will Simon’s, 01959 928147 Tony Watson Editor: A revised advert for the Tatsfield Garage appears on page 77.
Dear Editor, I happened to walk to Linda's Stores at 6am recently and I was amazed at how many cars were parked on both sides on the whole length of Westmore Road. There are four new houses being built at the end by Crossways which will mean another possible four (or eight even) more cars around that area. Those houses will require some sort of maintenance which will mean vans bringing the necessary tools and equipment for repair work. And what about (God forbid) if a fire started in one of those houses along that road. I don't think that a fire engine could negotiate through that line of parked vehicles. There are other services that could possibly need access and it could be argued that as long as nothing goes wrong, the road can cope with "normal" problems. Our own Paynesfield Road is now beginning to be filled up with many cars and to motor out of The Square presently requires some "snaking" when driving my Fiat car. Goodness knows what is going to happen when this season’s aeroplane shows start in April because my Mercedes van and long caravan will surely have some problems in Tatsfield when going and coming back from airfields. Someone suggested that a possible answer would be to have double yellow lines painted on one side of the local roads but where are all of the cars going to park if that happens? Dave Bishop 17 TATSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL
I am pleased to say that William Michael Rennie, usually known as Michael, has been co-opted to fill the long standing vacancy on the Parish Council. Michael has spent much of his time in South Africa and elsewhere in the world working on financial, manufacturing and construction projects. We will make good use of his life skills.
The only planning application this month was for Valleyside, Greenway and concerned a side extension and a front porch. The Parish made no comment.
The Parish Council is updating and improving the Village Design Statement. This document sets out the principles for future development in the village that have been based on issues raised over the years in Appraisal surveys and community responses to change. The latest draft was presented for comment.
There is a lot of activity at the moment in Tandridge District Council on the planning front in terms of a robust future Local Plan setting out where, when and how much new housing should be allowed. Without these formal plans the doors can be open for unsuitable and unacceptable large scale development.
Unfortunately I have not yet heard of any adult support for the young people who wish to set up a homework and social club in the village centre. Maybe that is something for the New Year.
Surrey County Council is fully engaged with the winter weather roads programme and its website keeps you up to the minute with weather forecasts and gritting plans. In Tatsfield the bus routes, Church Hill and Clarks Lane are all Priority 1, whilst Priority 2 includes the circular route around the first sections of Paynesfield and Westmore Roads.
Finally, Tatsfield’s Christmas Carol evening on Westmore Green; were you there? I keep repeating my thanks to volunteers in our village. The tree was brought in, erected and lit by a band of stalwarts on that morning; the marque was erected, and carpeted; the band was booked and even Father Christmas joined in the fun. Do you ever wonder how these village events come together? Well come along and find out. Sue Smale, Chairman (Tel: 577660; Email: [email protected])
The next Parish Council meeting will be held at the Aileen McHugo Building at 8.00pm on Monday 12th January 2015. You can see the agenda at: www.surreycommunity.info/tatsfield/
18 TANDRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL
Building houses in the Green Belt: Most of us care about the Green Belt and about protecting it, which in essence means restricting the number of houses built in it. Nearly all – 94% - of Tandridge is in the Green Belt and the current planning rules do restrict the new house building which can take place in it. Tatsfield of course is in the Green Belt but limited infilling is allowed in the centre of the village, as it is in many other villages in the district.
Under current agreed policies, Tandridge is required to build a minimum of 125 houses a year and in fact in recent years has built an average of about 260 houses a year, well above the required figure. It is argued by some that the need for houses in Tandridge is even higher than that, and one recent piece of research came up with a figure of the need being 450 houses a year, although that figure is contested.
What is undoubtedly true is that there is great pressure to build more homes in the whole of the south east. What Tandridge is now required to do is to make new assessments of the number of new houses likely to be needed in the district in the next 15 years and also the amount of land likely to be available for, and suitable for, house building in the same period. If you just read that last sentence again, you will appreciate how difficult those two assessments will be, because Tandridge will not have a crystal ball available to help.
Some people think that Tatsfield is vulnerable because of its nearness to built-up Biggin Hill. My own view on this is precisely the opposite – I think that the proximity of built-up Biggin Hill makes a strong case in itself for maintaining a green buffer between it and Tatsfield. However, who knows what the outcome of Tandridge’s assessments will be and how great the resultant pressure for new houses in Tandridge will be. We shall see. What I can say for sure is that there will be a need over the next few years for Tatsfield’s representatives to stay close to the arguments and to be ready to make whatever case is needed to safeguard our village’s interests.
Elections in May will decide who our representatives for the next four years will be. We will be electing the district councillor for Tatsfield and Titsey and the seven councillors for Tatsfield Parish Council. I will not be standing for the district council and most of the current parish councillors intend to stand down too. So, who is going to come forward to take on these important representational roles for our village? I would be happy to discuss what is involved with anyone who might be interested and I know that this is also true of all our current parish councillors. Time is running out!
Additional weekly recycling service: I hope people have been taking advantage of Tandridge’s additional weekly recycling service which began 19 last month for textiles, shoes, small electrical and electronic items and batteries. The more we recycle, the less goes into landfill. Don’t forget: put the items in separate plastic carrier bags (supermarket size) and leave in your usual collection place in front of your property by 6 am on your usual collection day.
Tandridge Magazine: There is often criticism of councils who produce literature which is described as propaganda. Every household should have received last month a copy of Tandridge’s winter magazine. You won’t find any propaganda in it; it contains only information which you might find useful. Did you have a look at it? If you didn’t, I suggest you at least glance through it to see whether there is anything in it which you might find helpful.
Cllr Bob David (Tel: 577357 Email: [email protected])
CABLE THEFT
With the high price of copper, theft of electric and telephone cables is a rising crime, and cable thieves are operating in this area.
On 9 December somebody tried to steal the telephone cables in Ship Hill. Their action was to cut the high speed fibre broadband cable into the village, resulting in the loss of broadband for two days until the cable could be repaired.
Whilst not everyone was affected this time, it was a significant disruption to those who work from home and rely on it for their business.
Next time is could be the telephone or the electricity that is affected, so if you see any suspicious activity around the electricity pole or the telephone joint boxes in the ground, please report it to the police.
Jean Stokes would like to express her very great thanks to all those who have been so kind to her during recent weeks.
[Editor: We apologise that this note was accidentally omitted from the December magazine]
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3 Ship Hill Tatsfield Westerham, Kent TN16 2AH
01959 577356 [email protected] www.tatsfield.surrey.sch.uk
Vacancies for School Governors
As some of our Governors are finishing their terms of office, we have vacancies on the governing Body which we would like to fill.
The full Governing Body meets once a term in the evening and individual committees also have a minimum of one meeting each term. The Committee Meetings are usually either first thing in the morning or after school.
We are particularly interested in recruiting Governors who have an expertise in HR, property maintenance, data analysis or pastoral care (eg a caring profession). However, even if you do not have these particular skills but would like to be involved in the strategic organisation of the school, please express your interest to me.
If you would like to apply or would like more details or discuss this further, please contact me by letter or email via the School Office at the addresses above.
Jennifer Evans Chair of Governors
21 BUTTON BATTERY DANGERS This is an urgent safety message which deals with the dangers of button batteries that are swallowed by children or adults. The issue is that of button Lithium batteries have caused a number of paediatric deaths in the UK and probably many more that have not been associated with this product. In a nut shell the issue is that these small batteries are easily swallowed by children and easily available in Christmas cards, birthday card and small toys, as well as the Pound shops selling a sheet of 20+ for a £1. They have also been reports of these batteries being swallowed by the elderly who have confused them with their medication, and have swallowed them by mistake. This is easily done by those who are partially sighted, blind or suffering from dementia. The outcome is serious. The batteries lodge in the airways, nose or food pipe and within hours start an electrical reaction with the mucus and tissue that leads to a localised ulceration. The safety advice is: Keep any button battery out of reach If one is swallowed, get help fast Please spread this message to staff, friends, family and to the public this Christmas Bryn Strudwick. Surrey Fire and Rescue Service Community Safety Manager (07800 621 958)
This offers mediation services, for example in disputes between neighbours.
020 8144 5612 http://www.myneighbour.org.uk/
22 BLOOMING WINTER WORK
The Tatsfield in Bloom volunteers spent many Saturday mornings last autumn clearing Westmore Green of leaves. Temporarily resting on their laurels in this picture are (from the left) Ollie Holliday, Ian Longley, Jill Hancock, Jon Allbutt and Pam Bishop.
At the end of November, the volunteers spent one morning planting daffodils to strengthen the spring display around Westmore Green. As the photo shows, they had the help of a keen youngster – 10 year old George Limpenny of Ricketts Hill Road, who was there with grandmother Marian Godfrey, one of the regular volunteers.
Jon Allbutt and Bob David
23 LITTLE ACORNS
Happy New Year! The end of last term at Little Acorns was very busy. The children enjoyed their Christmas play and party and were all excitedly looking forward to Christmas. This half term the theme is pre-historic times so there will be lots of dinosaur inspired activities which I’m sure the children will enjoy. The number of children at Little Acorns continues to increase and we now have almost 50 on our register which is fantastic. We can accept children from 2 years of age and funding is available for some two year olds. We are now beginning to organise our places for September as a significant number of children will be leaving in July to start school. If you would like more information about Little Acorns or would like to register your child or have a look round, please contact Julie Barlow on 540775 during pre-school hours. These are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 0900-1500 and Wednesday and Friday 0900 – 1200. If you have a child attending Tatsfield Primary School, our breakfast club operates every day from 7.15am and includes school drop-off. Rebecca Veale, Chair of Little Acorns Management Committee (573669)
LOCAL POLICE NEWS The Seasons Greetings from your local Police Team. I do hope you all had a wonderful time over the festive period and are raring to get out there helping us keep your village as safe as possible. During the run-up to Christmas, Tandridge suffered a rise in burglaries, which is not unexpected as everyone suddenly has more desirable items on view in the house. May I ask one teeny-tiny favour – as a New Year's Resolution could we all make a check on our home security. Are all door and window locks adequate? Are outbuildings properly secured? Are the kids’ bikes put away and out of view? Could you afford one of those noisy gravel drives or motion sensor lighting? I appreciate that security measures can cost money, but think of it as insurance in case something happens to our possessions. These measures are for peace of mind. If you require any professional security advice for your home, garden or vehicle, please get in touch, our Crime Reduction Advisor, Mark Howells, will be happy to help by phone or a visit.
PCS0 Rupert Kelley Police Community Support Officer (For matters other than emergencies phone 101 for Surrey Police)
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25 DECEMBER ALLOTMENTS
Hopefully, you will all have had a lovely Christmas and as we enter the New Year, hoping you are all feeling fit and healthy ... and ready to start working your plots for the spring showings as soon as the weather allows. If you didn't prepare you plot last year ...it's too late now!!! Unless you hurry.... and you will reap the rewards for sure.
Not much to report this month, as everything naturally dies down in the winter months. You probably will all have heard by now of the sad and unexpected death of Jacko, a cheerful character and enthusiastic allotmenter - we will all miss his chatter and companionship at the site.
In my last article I reported that Mike Williams had worked tirelessly and cheerfully, moving the giant pile of wood chippings in order to make a turning circle for cars. You may now be somewhat confused - as another unsuspecting helpful soul came, spotted a perfect site for a pile of wood winter chippings - and promptly dumped another great load! Back to square one! However, as everyone is using it for pathways and surrounds, we think it will soon disappear of its own accord. We are still eternally grateful to Mike for shifting the original pile. And we will have a turning circle eventually.
Good news - a £750 grant has been secured for us by David Hodge to enable us to go to phase 2 of the drainage project, so this will be started as soon as the manpower is available.
Waitrose at Biggin Hill have given us a cheque for £55 from their green token scheme, and we give thanks to them for this kindness.
Lastly, our AGM will be in January and confirmation of date and detail will be going out to all plot holders by e-mail shortly. Liz Armitage
The next edition of the magazine should be with you by 1st February. Please see page 14 for details of submitting articles.
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www.tatsfield.org.uk
Review of the Year 2014
Year on year, the Village Website attracts a record number of visits. 2014 saw the number increase to around 10,000 with nearly ½ million webpages viewed. This is an increase of 50% on the previous year, with September registering the highest number of monthly “hits”. The reason is that around that time, the “look and feel” of the website changed when it took on a more modern and professional design and became compatible with tablets and smartphones.
Over the course of the year, the amount of “content” also increased significantly. February saw a focus on crime with links to different aspects of crime prevention and what to do if you become a victim. These links can be found on the 'Crime' webpage. In Spring, in anticipation of villagers wanting more exercise, the Village Wallet of Walks, produced by the Parish Council, was made available for download and has become a permanent feature under the heading Tatsfield Walks.
A number of the recommendations for improvements to the Website, made in the 2013 Village Appraisal, were addressed in the middle of the year. One of these, Articles For Sale/Wanted, is now used on a regular basis.
We would encourage you to keep an eye on the website from time to time as updates take place every few days. The webpage which contains a great deal of useful information is the Local Directory and consequently is difficult to keep up to date. So, if you see any out of date entries on this page, please let us know.
Trevor Sykes and Sue White, [email protected]
Replacement Hearing Aid Batteries
Every fourth Thursday, between 1.pm and 2.30pm at St Marks Church Hall at Biggin Hill
Hearing Aids can be checked and new batteries supplied. Don't forget your registration card (no repairs)
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1st Tatsfield Brownies Calling all enthusiastic potential leaders. I am looking for a couple of adults to assist in the running of the Brownie pack up at St Mary's church Millennium hall on a Thursday evening from 5.30-7.00. I have a young Duke of Edinburgh girl about to start in January but really need two more adults to make it work. Please if there is anyone in Tatsfield or the surrounding area who would like to assist in helping the Brownie pack flourish, would you make yourself known to Patti Thomas-Verweij (Brown Owl) on 07860 938839 as soon as possible
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO THIS MONTH
Despite the optimism of a few months before, the war was not ‘over by Christmas’. As 1914 ended, Turkey had just joined in on the side of Germany, with Britain, France and Russia supported by Belgium, Serbia, Montenegro and Japan. Soon, this alliance was to be joined by Italy, but Bulgaria was to ally itself with Germany.
The impact of the war on Tatsfield still appeared to be relatively light. Volunteers had gone to the front, but local newspapers were yet to begin quoting from their letters home and their accounts of conditions in the front line.
But when education officials met early in the New Year, they noted that school attendances in Surrey had been down during the previous term, largely as a side-effect of the general dislocation caused by the war. As more and more men had volunteered to fight, there was an even greater need for extra pairs of hands on the land. The autumn term had started earlier in 1914 at a time when many children were still busy hop picking, so many children started the term late.
Meanwhile the housing problem had not gone away. As reported almost monthly, the Local Government Board was calling for urgent action to improve the condition of houses which were in very poor state, overcrowded and unfit for habitation. Many of those were in Tatsfield.
Ian Mitchell, Tatsfield History Project: Email: [email protected] Tel: 577376 28 SAFETY AWARENESS
When we were young, our parents took a lot of trouble to teach us how to walk carefully and cross the roads safely - it made sense. Whilst traffic danger is still with us, the world has moved on and keeping safe applies also to our use of the Internet; we have all heard stories of stolen passwords and inappropriate pictures etc.
Unfortunately with the Internet most of us have not had the benefit of being taught how best to avoid the dangers. To help in this, ‘Safer Internet Day’ is being marked on Tuesday February 10th. If you would like to know more about what is known as e- safety, then you might try checking out:- www.saferinternet.org.uk or www.bbc.co.uk/webwise.
Tatsfield School is taking the lead by arranging an assembly to promote e-safety that week. And this will be the topic for the week’s computer lessons. The children will be using the resources on these web pages: www.kidsmart.org.uk and www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Both these sites have information for parents and carers, so you may want to check them out, and you may pick up some tips for yourself. Peter Kerry
Firewood for sale
We have excess kindling (dry stored softwood, finely chopped, in 6 inch lengths) and would like to offer some for sale. A supermarket carrier bag full for £3 or two for £5, delivered free in the village. Estelle 542680
We have excess fire wood and would like to offer some for sale. It is a mixture of mainly ash and sycamore which has been stored for 3 years plus. It will come in a builders bag (tonne) which measures approximately 0.87m cubed which we will deliver free onto your drive within the village. £50 for a generous load of logs of mixed size (with a limited number, we will have to take the builders bag back with us). Estelle 542680
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30 TATSFIELD HELPLINE
The Annual General Meeting of the Helpline was held on 2 December. Sylvia Waters, Co-ordinator, reported that again the Helpline’s voluntary drivers had met over 100 requests for transport, mainly for hospital and surgery appointments. There had also been several calls for home visits where the Helpline had also been able to assist local residents.
The Helpline was formed by constitution 20 years ago, when many of the village’s groups and clubs came into being following the Village Appraisal, and has consistently been able to meet an average of 100 requests each year. The objective of the Helpline is to assist anyone in the village in need of transport, help in the home, home visits or any other reasonable request
Is there an occasion when you might be in need of a little help? Or could you become a volunteer – it does not take up a lot of your time. In either case just give Sylvia a call on 577524.
Hazel Cartwright
TEA DANCE SOCIALS
There is just one break in December for the four-weekly Tea Dance socials and the next event will be held at the Village Hall on Wednesday afternoon January 28th which coincides with my birthday!
Tea Dances after that date will be held on Wednesdays from 2.15 - 4.55pm on February 25, March 25, April 22. All including beginners are welcome to come along and enjoy some good exercise and have a good laugh for the price of just £6 each.
Grateful thanks to all of those who attended the Christmas Tea Dance special and we sure had a great party time. All enquiries to Eileen and Terry at the Christmas Dave Bishop on 01959 577550 or email Tea Dance davebishop_dbsound @yahoo.co.uk Dave Bishop
31 TATSFIELD SINGERS
Tatsfield Singers are welcoming a new choir mistress this year, whilst Alex Deterding takes a well earned sabbatical for 2 terms. Our new teacher, Sarah Coop, is an experienced director of music who lives in the village too, and has been involved in the music at St. Mary's Church. We shall start our new Term on 22nd January and continue following the school terms until Easter. We shall be preparing for our Summer Show to be held on 27th June and we will be singing our way through many well known and not so well known songs from West End and Broadway musicals.
We look forward to encouraging new members for the choir this year. If you would like to come for a couple of sessions at the beginning of term, then you can discover how a choir begins to learn new music. You do not need to be able to read music, many in the choir are learning by ear, and gradually reading the music as they listen.
The most important aspect of our choir is how it makes the members feel. All of us will tell you, however, that we all go out from choir practice smiling and happy, no matter how we felt when we came in. Singing is good for all aspects of well-being and we all enjoy being together as a community choir. We have a tea break half way through the evening and our fees are low, £3 per session and we usually pay by the half term. If you are on holiday during the term, you don't have to pay for that period. We are currently a group of 32, seven men, eleven altos and seventeen sopranos. You do not have to audition to join us. So make a New Year resolution to come and see us at the Village School on Thursday from 7.30 ish until 9.45pm on January 22nd. 2015.
Dawn Forrester-Groom
THS GARDENING CLUB - GARDENING IN FRANCE BY JON ALLBUTT AT THE W I HALL TUESDAY 13 JANUARY AT 7.30pm
Jon will be presenting a talk about his two acre garden in south west France that includes an orchid meadow, an oak wood, big hedges, trees and shrubs, all on thin chalky soil and plenty of big flinty rocks. There will be plenty of slides of French life, countryside and of course lots of flowers! At the interval Jon will offer a taste of French cuisine with some typical local snacks.
32 TATSFIELD SCHOOL Year 4 Ancient Egyptian Study
This term, the children in year 4 have been studying Ancient Egyptians. We have been busy learning in a variety of ways.
First we had Theatre Exchange, which helped us get into role and act as if we were in Ancient Egyptian times. We had to mummify a body, build a dam, make gifts for our Pharaoh and then we discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb!
“I really enjoyed making the gifts for Pharaoh George. I was a fisherman and I had to trade fish for wood to make my fishing boat. I caught Pharaoh George an enormous fish.” Callum Hills.
We also visited the Horniman museum.
“When me and my class walked in, we saw really amazing things. I started to draw a long, dusty and dirty mummy wrapped in linen. Then I copied some canopic jars and a case of a mummy.” Olivia Halfpenny – Beeby.
“We put gloves on and held artefacts; it was so good. I held a mask, Horus’s eye and a heart scarab. We saw a mummified kestrel.” Amy Coop.
Sketch of canopic jars by Christian Rogers
33 SING AND SLURP
On Saturday 13th December, I attended the 'Sing and Slurp' celebration that the Tatsfield singers hosted in the Village Hall. This was the first time that I had been to the village concert and I wasn't disappointed with the entertainment.
First of all, they sang William Boyce's Alleluia which turned out to be my favourite piece of the night. The singers then proceeded to perform some carols, even one composed by Rupert Eales-White (a Tatsfielder!). The audience joined in with several traditional carols and we were given candles and fluorescent glow sticks to wave in time to the music - great fun!
The choir then continued with a Western-style song of 'Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney' and finished with 'Oh Come All Faithful'.
It was a festive concert and for any future years, I suggest you get in early with your ticket requests!
Emily Budgen (aged 13)
On Saturday evening, my family and I went to watch the 'Sing and Slurp' concert in the centre of the village. It was a wonderful experience and obvious that the singers and helpers had worked very hard. The harmonies were exquisite and Mrs Deterding had really pulled the whole performance together with her amazing conducting and tales about mistaken lyrics (very comical).
I'd like to say thank you to everyone involved with the 'Sing and Slurp': the singers, Mrs Deterding and the mince pie makers and the mulled wine hander- outers!
It was a delightful show and really started off my joyful celebrations in preparation for Christmas! Constance Budgen (aged 12)
CHRISTMAS TABLEAU AT ST MARY’S
Once again Sauro Gabelli has produced a magnificent nativity scene in the entrance area of the church. This is a well established custom in his home country of Italy and we are privileged to share in this tradition.
A photo is on the next page but it does not do justice to the real thing. It is well worth a visit and will be there until Sunday 11th January. Donations may be made to The Children’s Society.
34 CHRISTMAS IN TATSFIELD
Preparing for the Ship carol singing - Father Christmas and his elves having Phil Brett and some helpers start delivered their presents to the erecting the marquee in the pouring youngsters rain
The marquee gets wrapped up ready The St Mary’s carol singers raising for next year – £165 for Shelter with Dave Bishop inside it
Sing and Slurp in the village hall Sauro Gabelli’s Christmas tableau at St Mary’s PTO 35 CHRISTMAS IN TATSFIELD continued
Two photographs here have been omitted from the website version of the magazine for safeguarding reasons.
Just some of the Little Acorns at their Nativity Play – and eagerly awaiting the arrival of Father Christmas
TATSFIELD FAIRTRADE GROUP In August, Moyna Bridge, a great supporter of Fairtrade and of the Tatsfield Fairtrade group, went on a Traidcraft ‘Meet The People Tour’ to Peru. She came to Tatsfield on a very wet Sunday afternoon at the end of November to share some of her experiences and to show some of the craft products which she saw being made. Her talk, which she has summarised below gave a wonderful insight into the lives and work of artisan producers, who are supported by Traidcraft enabling them to produce and market their goods and so transform their lives through trade. ‘The People of Peru are very friendly and welcoming. We stayed in two different homes as well as a jungle lodge and small hotels. We did the usual tourist trips to Inca sites including Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley but what made this trip so special was staying with the artisans and learning about their life and work. It was definitely a ‘Blue Peter’ holiday as everywhere we went we were taught to make items and then we could buy directly from the producers.
36 In Lima we visited a silversmith and watched a ring being made, then on to a small workshop making terracotta cribs for the Christmas market. Each artisan paints fifty figures at a time using one colour at a time and completes all of them which is much more satisfying than a production line.
The next stop was a home stay up in the mountains with a Minka suppler. The family are farmers growing their own food and the husband makes ceramics with the help of an older daughter. He showed us how to make beads, ocarinas and bird whistles. He has worked for Minka but has now completed the last orders of the bird whistles which are in the Christmas catalogue. He will now have to make enough money to pay for electricity, water and other expenses from tourism and having people to stay.
The highlight of Cuzco was a visit to the school. Our guide, Efrain, when aged 6 years, had been left by his mother in the market selling goods. When he went home he found that she had left for Lima, a day’s journey away. He went back to the market and joined the street children. Eventually he met an American lady who had started to look after the children, giving them food and shelter. This is the lady who he now calls Mother. He is not at all bitter about his experience, as he says he is the only educated one of his biological family. He studied tourism at university and this year won the Wanderlust Award for the best guide in the world. Efrain has now joined the group helping the street children and has been instrumental in starting a wonderful school for girls who have been ill treated by their fathers. The parents have to go to parenting classes so life in the home improves as well as the girls getting care, love and a good education at school. Each Traidcraft tour supports the school with money for equipment and Efrain had arranged for us to take lots of treats for the girls.
The next trip was by bus to Puno during which we saw a lot of the country including the high plateau which was devoid of trees. Puno is a small town which is the starting point for the boats to the islands of Lake Titicaca. First we visited a floating island where the ladies embroidered beautiful pictures and cushion covers and made straw models of boats. Then on to Taquile Island and a steep climb to the village which was half way up the top of the mountain which made up the island. The people were fantastic and the view across the lake stunning. We made the most of it by climbing to the top and viewing the sunset, and some of us the sunrise, as well as the moonlight on the water. We had a very
37 interesting talk about life on the island where they grow their own food and fish. The men did most of the knitting. They set out their market for us and the quality of the goods was excellent.
Our final producer visit was to the ladies who knotted alpaca goods. Everything from teddy bears to scarves, gloves, jumpers and hot water bottle covers. They taught us to spin alpaca fleece, also to dance and the men to play the flute.
The holiday was the most interesting I have ever known. The people were delightful and so welcoming. Moyna Bridge
IAN ROBERTSON
Following on from Dawn Forrester Groom’s memories of Ian in last month’s mag I also remember him well as it was he who, in 1979, pulled me off the sofa, frog marched me down to Ann Jupp’s for a play reading and introduced me to the Tatsfield Drama Group.
I first saw Ian in a play called “Move over Mrs Markham” which was performed in the round in the Village Hall. He played an extremely camp interior decorator and very good he was too. Later on I had the privilege to appear in two plays with him; one as Doctor Watson to his Sherlock Holmes in ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ and the other as a prison officer to his convict in ‘My Three Angels’.
I remember that my daughter Liz, who was 7 or 8 at the time, thought he was Harrison Ford, to whom he bore a passing resemblance, and she was really pleased that he had chosen to live in Tatsfield instead of Hollywood.
Haze and I sadly waved them off from Gatwick in the mid 80’s when they upped sticks to live in the USA but, as Dawn mentioned, we had a terrific time meeting up again in 1997 when we visited them in Virginia.
Ian was a larger than life character with a wonderfully wicked sense of humour. He was always laughing and was the most delightful friend and companion. He will be sorely missed by all of us who knew him.
Terry Cartwright
38 TATSFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Programme for 2015 With 2014 now drawing to a close the committee have already looked forward to the events for 2015 programme and you can find those dates below to put in your diary and calendar that you will probably be getting for Christmas. We start with the Gardening Club on January 13th at 7.30pm (we have decided to start a little earlier this year) in the WI Hall with Jon giving us his delayed presentation of “Gardening in France”. 10th February 2015 Gardening Club 7.30pm WI Hall 10th March 2015 Gardening Club 7.30pm WI Hall 11th April 2015 the Spring Show 3pm Village Hall 16th May 2015 Plant Sale on the Bakery Green 14th June 2015 Tatsfield Garden visit 24th June 2015 Evening garden visit 8th September 2015 Gardening Club 7.30pm WI Hall 12th September the Autumn Show 3pm Village Hall 13th October 2015 Gardening Club 7.30pm WI Hall 10th November 2015 THS AGM 7.30pm Village Hall Look out for further details in the Parish Magazine, on the posters throughout the village or on the THS website, which will be kept up to date with all of the above. We will maintain the email circulation of information also.
We are pleased to say that Knights have agreed to continue their partnership with us so as a member next year you will continue to have the opportunity to obtain 10% off at their stores for the items listed on the reverse of the yearbook. It is currently in print and in January we will start knocking on your doors for your membership fees so please do help this worthwhile village society and join us. The fees will be the same as last year but if you are of a senior age, please do not be offended if we ask for a small donation towards the running of the society. This you will easily get back with your first spend at Knights. If for any reason you are missed out please contact any one of the committee members or myself, details below, and we will arrange to come round and enrol you for the sum of just £5 for a family. Free with a small donation from seniors.
Martin Allen, Chairman Tatsfield Horticultural Society. (01959 577201 or [email protected]) Web address http://tatsfieldhorticulturalsociety.weebly.com
39 POPPY APPEAL
In the anniversary year of the beginning of the First World War a magnificent total of £2,081.22 was collected in this year’s Poppy Appeal in Tatsfield. Jane Abram again organised the placing of collection boxes in the Old Ship, the Village Club, the Bakery, St Mary’s Church, Paws for Lunch, the Summerhouse, Park Wood Golf Club, Tatsfield School, Tatsfield Aquatics, the Village Hall, Linda’s Stores and the Grasshopper Inn. Together with Lorna Tory, Pam Draper, Hugo Abram, Imogen Abram and Richard Swadling Jane also stood and collected at Clacket Lane Motorway Service Station, which is in Tatsfield parish and where approximately one third of the total donations were made. Jane is grateful to all the places where collection boxes were located and we in turn thank Jane and those who helped her for their fine effort in contributing to the British Legion’s fundraising in support of the welfare of our Armed Forces.
TATSFIELD ART GROUP
Have you seen the selection of paintings in The Ship? They have all been painted by members of Tatsfield Art Group. We meet on Monday evenings term-time in the Village Hall and welcome all artists, new and established. We currently have spaces available in our friendly village group.
Diary Dates: January 19 and 26 Pippa – collage; 2 February Bring new paintings for Old Ship. If you are interested and would like to come along (your first two evenings are free), or if you would like more information about our group, please give one of us a call. Carol Gaskell (Tel: 577724) and Sue White (Tel: 570097)
BARN THEATRE AT OXTED
BABES IN THE WOOD Presented by the Oxted Players 7.30 pm on Friday 9 January, 1.30 and 5.30 pm on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11, 7.30 pm on Wednesday 14 to Friday 16, 2.30 and 7.30 pm on Saturday 17 January Tickets from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01883 724852
MERRY OPERA – THE BARBER OF SEVILLE 7.45 pm on Saturday 24 January Tickets from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01959 561811
40 DEBATER It seems that Christmas comes around much quicker each year and once again a million thanks must go to the huge team that made the 9th annual Christmas Carol Singalong held outside The Ship on Friday December 12, and sponsored by the Parish Council, such a wonderful success. This has grown to be a typical Tatsfield event. At present it looks as though Friday December 18 will be the fixture for next year 2015. I'd like to say a special thanks to all of you. You are a super lot and the attendance figures showed how much all of your necessary work was appreciated.
For a change we (Jan and I) were here at Tatsfield and so went to the Sing and Slurp by the Tatsfield Singers held at the Village hall on the day after the Singalong and what a great night it was. How smart the group on the stage looked and what a wonderful sound they all made when singing a good mixture of well chosen music. This was all conducted under the slim smartly dressed, fast talking Alex Deterding, whose name was not mentioned in the programme.
The gifted lady opened the show with a story about her super fancy decorative black tights that might fall down around her ankles, due to a possible elastic problem. It set the scene for a "everyone join in with the fun" evening and so it proved to be. One item that was extremely moving to me was "The First Noel / Pachelbel's Canon" so beautifully performed that I could have listened to it over and over again. If there was such a thing as a DVD recording made, then please put my name down for a copy.
It reminded me of the evening a few years ago at the W.I hall when I had been invited to make a press report for the Surrey Mirror newspaper to witness the first meeting of a group of men and women of what was eventually named "The Tatsfield Singers". That evening I listened as each one of the nervous attendees were asked to sing and few lines of a well known song to a person that listened intently to hear what sort voice was presented. Well the result of that "audition" was well and truly expressed on this evening and they have all been well and truly honed into an excellent group - well done each and every one of them. As most of you who have seen me, know that I always have my camera ready for a picture and so it was "live" at the "Sing and Slurp". Unfortunately I never got the picture I wanted because the conductors tights remained firmly in place.
And the niceness of Tatsfield carries on because the following Monday evening the door bell dinged away and upon opening the door there was a group of carol singers venting forth with "The first Noel, the angels did say". The evening was a full starry job with no wind, in fact it was all just perfect. When I first joined the BBC Receiving Station here in 1952 as a young engineer, I thought "this place will do me for a couple years". It's funny how time flies! Dave Bishop
41 ST MARY’S MATTERS
Not surprisingly December has been a very busy month at St Mary’s! Here’s just a taster of some of what has gone on!
Open the Book Toy Service In our ‘all age’ service this month we thought about the good news of Christmas and how we could share that good news. A collection of toys was made for Welcare in Redhill and a contribution of toys was also received from Tonia Say of Busy Bees Nursery. The following week I delivered the toys to Welcare, where I was given a very warm welcome and the toys received with much appreciation. We have since had a thank you card that reads:
Welcare would like to thank St Mary’s Tatsfield for the generous donations this Christmas. We make use of these donations throughout the year.
Each Christmas we have a toy choosing event, where we invite families to come and choose toys for their children and other family members and at Christmas we give the family a gift of a game they can play together. We give books out on world book day. In the summer term we provide simple educational toys and equipment to these children about to start school. For families who may be experiencing financial problems we, we are able to help by allowing the parents to choose a few toys for a birthday.
Without the support of local churches and organisations we would not be able to offer these gifts. Thank you for enabling Welcare to support families throughout the year by this kind donation.
The next Open the Book Service is on Sunday 4 January at 10 am. ‘We three Kings of Orient are!’ Join us as we hear the story of the three Wise Men.
Flower Rota January – Jan Maynard
100 Club Results November draw: 74 S. Payne £25, 80 J and G South £15 December draw: 49 A. de la Torre £50; 40 M. Perrin £25; 64 I Edwards £15
42 Choirs and Orchestras Throughout December adults and children have been rehearsing to sing and play instruments at the various Christmas services. A report and photos will follow in the February magazine.
Carol Singing for Shelter On Wednesday 15 December a merry band sang Christmas Carols around the village to raise money for Shelter. The Weather was a vast improvement from last year (not very difficult!) and we raised a fantastic £165. Thank you to everyone!
Aladdin: March 7 in Tatsfield Village Hall Don’t miss Tatsfield’s Pantomime performed by young people and children. It will be brilliant. Details of times and how to buy tickets will be in the next magazine but put the date in you diary now!
Records 22 November Burial of ashes of Geoffrey Dunn
TATSFIELD MARTIAL ARTS opens 8TH january 2015
ON THURSDAYS IN THE SCOUT HUT 3.30 – 4.15 Judo Reception Year 4.30 – 5.30 Judo Under 8s 5.45 – 7.00 Judo Over 8s 7.15 – 8.30 Seniors (15+) Ju Jitsu
FIRST LESSON FREE For more information contact [email protected]
43 REGULAR EVENTS THIS MONTH These events, weekly unless stated otherwise, normally take place at the times given below, but there can be variations e.g. in school holidays. Please check with the organisers if necessary. Sun 10.00 am Church service – StM Mon 9.00 am PCSO Rupert Kelly Surgery – Linda’s Stores [to 10am] 9.30 am Tots on Top – CH 1.30 pm Bridge Club – WIH 7.00 pm Scouts – SH 7.30 pm Art Group – VH [Term time] 8.15 pm Bingo – TVC Tue 7.00 pm Pilates – TPS Wed 10.00 am WI Pop In – WIH 6.00 pm Cubs – SH 8.00 pm Yoga – VH Thu 9.15 am Said Communion Service – StM [3rd Thursday only] 10.00 am Over 50s Yoga – WIH 3.00 pm WI Darts – WIH 5.30 pm Brownies – CH 7.30 pm Duplicate Bridge – WIH 7.30 pm Tatsfield Singers - TPS 8.00 pm Table Tennis – VH Fri 2.00 pm Short Mat Bowls –VH 5.30 pm Badminton club for Juniors - VH 8.00 pm Badminton Club - VH Sat 11.00 am Parish Council Café -The Bakery [to noon]
ADDITIONAL EVENTS THIS MONTH Thursdays various Martial Arts – SH [see page 43] 1 Thu 10.30 am Ramblers 4 Sun 10.00 am Open the Book for Epiphany – StM; 11.30 am Said Eucharist 5 Mon Tatsfield School INSET day 6 Tue Tatsfield School term Waste and food collection 11 Sun 10.00 am Family Eucharist – StM 10.30 am Ramblers 13 Tue Recycling and food collection 11.00 am WI, joined by NSY at 1230 for lunch and entertainment – WIH 7.30 pm Gardening Club - WIH 15 Thu 9.15 am Said Communion - StM 18 Sun 10.00 am Family Eucharist – StM 20 Tue Waste and food collection 22 Thu 7.30 pm Tatsfield Singers restart - TPS 25 Sun 10.00 am Family Eucharist – StM 10.45 am Ramblers 44 27 Tue Recycling and food collection 28 Wed 2.15 pm Tea Dance – VH
ADDITIONAL EVENTS NEXT MONTH Feb 10 7.30 pm Tatty Knitters – Bakery 7.30 pm Gardening Club - WIH Feb 14 7.00 pm Valentines Party for Project Trust – Park Wood Golf Club Feb 16 Tatsfield School half term starts Swimathon – details in Dec. mag or www.titsey.org.uk/Swimathon 25 2.15 pm Tea Dance– VH
FURTHER AHEAD Mar 8 6-8pm Fairtrade event in Tatsfield, 25 2.15 pm Tea Dance - VH Apr 22 2.15 pm Tea Dance – VH Apr 27 Tatsfield School term ends
Venues AMB - Aileen McHugo Building • CGA - Community Games Area CH - Church Hall • FC - Furze Corner SH - Scout Hut • StM - St. Mary’s Church • TPS - Tatsfield Primary School TVC - Tatsfield Village Club VH - Village Hall • WIH - Women’s Institute
If you would like your village event included in this diary in future please send details to: [email protected]
Advance notice for Fairtrade Fortnight 23 February to 8 March 2015
The national focus is on core commodities, sugar cocoa and tea.
The main event for Tatsfield will be on Sunday 8th March 6.00- 8.00pm in the village hall. Further details to follow but please put this date in your new 2015 diary now.
45 LEGAL MATTERS Planning for the future As more people own their own property, extended families become commonplace and life expectancy increases, it is important to think about who will look after us in old age and who should benefit from our estate when we die. Making a Will provides an opportunity not only to make sure you leave your estate in accordance with your wishes but also to consider the impact of Inheritance Tax and care home fees. Why do you need a Will? It is always recommended that you have a valid Will as it enables you to: Say who you wish to benefit from your estate; Consider and provide financial care and guardianship for your children or future children and other dependants; Avoid the complications of intestacy (where you die without having made a Will); Enables you to appoint the most appropriate person to manage your estate as Executor. Do you already have a Will? If you have one, is it time for a review? We recommend you review your Will every two to three years. It should be updated to reflect any change in your circumstances, including: If you have recently married or are contemplating marriage; Buying a property in joint names; If you are contemplating divorce proceedings; If anyone mentioned in your will has died; Any major change in your financial circumstances, such as an inheritance; Changes in the law relating to Inheritance Tax. If you do not have a Will Your estate will be distributed in accordance with the Law of Intestacy. If you have no relatives your whole estate could go to the crown! A widow may not automatically inherit all her husband's estate and vice versa. Cohabitees will not benefit. A Grant of Letters of Administration has to be obtained appointing Personal Representatives to administer the estate. For more information please visit our website at www.thomasdunton.co.uk For advice on your individual circumstances please contact us on Freephone 0800 371219 or email [email protected]
46 WI
Our meeting in December was our Christmas party, with an early start of 1pm.
The hall was beautifully decorated with a Christmas tree, tinsel and baubles and Bing Crosby was singing all the old favourites to welcome our members. Mulled wine was served and after welcoming everyone and our special guest, Rosemary Pearson our area WI advisor, and a few brief announcements, we got down to the serious business of sampling the lovely buffet provided by all the members, cold meats, quiche, salads, etc, and then the lovely puddings. Needless to say most people went up for seconds.
We had a quiz provided by Shirley, (we have some very clever people who got a hundred percent) and then charades from Sue, and finally pass the parcel. Our afternoon ended with tea and mince pies, and a gift for everyone.
Our next meeting will be a joint one with the NSY on 2nd January, WI will start at 11am for our usual business, and then will join the Not So Young who will provide lunch. Pat Walsh
NOT SO YOUNG CLUB
The Christmas Lunch on the 13th of the month was very successful and I think, was enjoyed by everyone.
It was quite a task this year, with the big reduction in committee members, but we did get it all together eventually! That was thanks to extra help from Michael Garrard, Pamela Miriam, Pat Walsh and Maria, who did the washing up.
We sang some carols and George, as usual, gave us a humorous reading.
Many thanks, also, are due to the club members who brought such generous prizes for the raffle. All this goes to the Club still having a good credit, even after giving them all a free dinner! Not forgetting those who gave generously in buying raffle tickets! So - well done to everyone!
The meeting on the 13th January is, once again, being combined with the W.I. members, PLEASE BE THERE FOR 12 30p.m.
On behalf of the Club, I would like to wish everyone Good Health and Happiness in 2015. Babs Heffernon. (540602) 47 48 THE NIGHT SKY IN TATSFIELD – JANUARY 2015 The New Year may well be a time for looking back and taking stock, but it’s also a time for looking forward to what the next twelve months has in store. Astronomically speaking, 6th February brings an opposition of Jupiter, which will provide us with some excellent views of the giant planet as it passes at its closest to Earth for this year. Opposition is so called because the planet is opposite the Sun in the sky and so rises at sunset and vice-versa in the morning. It is therefore visible throughout the hours of darkness.
On 20th March there is a total solar eclipse visible from the Faroe Islands and Spitsbergen with a large partial eclipse (87% of the Sun obscured) visible from our area. The event begins at 9.10am and concludes at 10.21am with maximum eclipse occurring at 9.31. All times are in GMT.
Then on 23rd May it is Saturn’s turn to reach opposition when, due to its north pole being tilted towards Earth, the ring system will be superbly presented to us.
We are fortunate this year that the two strongest meteor showers occur with no significant interference from the Moon. The Perseids reach maximum on 13th August, with the Geminids peaking on 14th December.
In between the two, on 28th September, there is a total Lunar eclipse visible in its entirety from the UK. That’s the good news, the bad news is that it occurs at an unsociable time of the night, lasting from 2.07am until 4.27am (BST).
The January night sky is dominated by the brilliant Orion, that lies almost due south, and his retinue that surround him. If you draw a line through the stars in Orion’s belt down towards the horizon you will come to the brilliant star Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. If you use the stars in the belt but draw a line upwards in the opposite direction you pass close to the bright star Aldebaran in the constellation of Taurus. In mythology this star represented the eye of the bull. Due east is the bright planet Jupiter at an altitude of twenty degrees lying within the boundaries of Leo. If you have binoculars and can mount them on a tripod, take a look at Jupiter and see how many moons you can spot.
For the majority of the time the planets move sedately from west to east due to their own proper motions around the Sun irrespective of the daily rotation of the Earth that carries everything from east to west. At times though the planets appear to stop in their tracks and move in the opposite direction (retrograde) for a while before resuming their proper motion. This is nothing to do with the planets themselves, but is simply a line of sight effect caused by the Earth catching and passing the slower moving bodies. Brian Mills FRAS
49 AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIP TO CHINA MAY – JUNE 2014 (Part 1) Imagine our surprise when we saw a trip offered by the RHS, in celebration of 100 years of Chelsea Flower Show, to be accompanied by Roy Lancaster CBE and Jim Gardiner, RHS Director of Horticulture. This was for one group of 28 to follow in the footsteps of plant hunters, Ernest Wilson and Joseph Rock. Louis has always had a yearning to see plants such as Rhododendron growing in their natural state.
The group met up with Roy and Jim at Chelsea Flower Show in May 2013, where we learnt a little more of what we might be privileged to participate in.
We added our own tailor-made tour for our first two weeks in China before joining the Plant Seekers group and this is what we managed to fit in:
Beijing (formerly Peking) was our starting point; with 22m residents and 5m cars; the 9m bicycles, in the Katie Mellua song, have changed into electric scooters and you don’t need a licence or any training/test before you can drive them with all your family on board – you can only imagine the chaos they cause.
Tiananmen Square, a must see, was very colourful - planted up for their May Day celebrations. Forbidden City is a Mecca for the Chinese, very interesting but you do need good elbows to see the Emperor's throne.
The Summer Palace was amazing. The Dragon Queen had a lake made, smaller but same shape as one in Kunming, creating a hill out of the spoil on which to build a temple. We walked along the covered walkway, which has many thousand individually painted scenes of places around China, painted for the Dragon Queen to look at as she strolled along nearly a kilometre, travelling back by Dragon boat.
We had a fantastic private tour of the Botanic Garden, with one of their staff/researchers, called Yeh. A fair amount of trees and shrubs we had never heard of before, the largest rose garden in China and even a bright yellow lilac (Syringa), bred at Beijing BG.
Into Jinshanling in Mongolia, which is still part of China, we walked a section of the Great Wall, altogether about three miles in 4 hours and in 31 degrees but so worth it.
Visited one of the Ming Emperor tombs, built 27 metres underground a bit like the Egyptian tombs, and walked the Sacred Road, which leads to 13 Ming emperors' tombs, built by the last Ming Dynasty Emperor before he died.
In the Bell and Drum Towers we were privileged to see the Drum Ceremony. The bell is now only rung for Chinese New Year.
50 An acrobatic display in a theatre was amazing, their strength, flexibility and timing plus five motorcyclists inside a six metre diameter metal mesh ball - mad or what? Followed by authentic Peking Duck - somewhat different from the Crispy Peking Duck we have in the UK.
Before leaving Beijing we visited the Temple of Heaven, which is in a large park where locals were doing three types of Tai Chi, dancing and singing. It is still the largest wooden structure in the world built 600 years ago, approximately 100 feet high, a circular building with a three tiered roof.
The temperature range in Beijing was 28 to a sweltering 34C. Our last day in Beijing was overcast with pollution but most of the rest of our time was fairly pollution free.
To cut pollution in Beijing they restrict new cars to only 6000 each year, but with 22m population your chances of getting a licence to buy one are very slim.
An absolute must see for us was the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an (population 10m) and it was the most fantastic place to visit, with not only the Great Hall that we have all seen in the media but also the commanders’ section and two of only four bronze chariots, each with four ponies. Truly amazing and all made 2000 years ago. Of the annual 2m visitors, 75% are Chinese.
So far they have uncovered 1000 warriors but they know that in total there are 8000 in all, so lots more digging in the future.
The Terracotta Warriors were there to guard the Quin Emperor and the 7000 workers who built the Tomb were all slaughtered once they had finished so that no one would know how to get into the tomb. The tomb still has not been opened because it is believed that there are two rivers of poisonous mercury surrounding the tomb.
A walk on the city wall, all re-built in the 1980s, was interesting but best of all for sights, smells and sound was a visit to the Muslim quarter, which is like a great bazaar selling anything from kebabs made of jelly fish; goat's feet "trotters"; naan bread like you have not seen before; sweet sticky rice cake topped with dates and honey; flat crunchy nuts with honey and sesame seed smashed into a flat cake with great mallets and allowed to go hard; noodles of all sorts. Most abundant were walnuts, some huge, some salted and roasted. 51 Two professors took us on a private tour around Xi'an Botanic Gardens. This botanic garden opened in 1950s but is moving to a new site as the town has engulfed it.
The first of seven internal flights today took us to Wuhan, a city of 12m residents, a manufacturing area, mainly textiles, chemical factories and Citroen make cars here for the Chinese market. Badly polluted, the residents rarely see the sky. The city is at the junction of the Jun and Yangtze rivers so is hot and very humid. 30 degrees when we were there. In Wuhan they have 33 universities, with 1.2m students.
Our first Bullet Train ride took us to catch our boat, Victoria Selina, for a trip along the Three Gorges of the Yangtze. 80% of goods are trafficked along the Yangtze between Shanghai and Chongqing, even boat transporters carrying five or six decks of new cars, use the river.
Visited Three Gorges Dam; building started in 1993 and will be completed in 2015 at a cost of £18bn; 45% of the money spent on relocation of people. 32 turbines produce 1bn megawatts of power, which is 3% of China’s needs, saving 110,000,000 tonnes of CO². 1.3m people were re-located before the Dam was flooded in 2010.
The Dam blocked passage by boat along the river so they have built a five lock system, lifting 100 metres, each section 280metres x 34 metres; free passage takes about three hours, each bay takes six river cruise boats, our lift was late evening.
A small boat took us along a tributary where it was fascinating to see the coffins (2000 years old) wedged high in the rock face of the hill/mountain, which was their old method of burial in the area, so the dead are nearer to the Gods? Passed through Wu Gorge and Quatang Gorge, first very beautiful, second very narrow. Last remaining coffin burial high up in the rocks in Quatang Gorge.
Disembark at Chongqing, population 33m, largest city in China, 24 degrees and 83% humidity. It is a manufacturing city, in particular making Suzuki and Ford cars along with motorcycles, which are mainly exported to other areas of China, which are flatter. Chongqing is very hilly. Our guide says Ford stands for FIX OR REPAIR DAILY! They also make HP computers and Apple IPhones, exported to Europe by rail via Russia, Poland and Germany.
The Dazu Rock Carvings site was one of our must see - WOW AMAZING. Carved out by Buddhist monks 800 years ago and took about 80 years, the overhanging rock has protected them from the elements. They have recently featured on a couple of BBC4 programmes.
52 Train to Chengdu, 190km/h. They do like steps in China and Chengdu station has loads, up and down about 150 to exit with all our baggage, helped thankfully by a young Chinese guy.
Couldn’t be in Chengdu without visiting the Pandas - oh how cute and cuddly are they, young ones, some 6 months old and others 18 months very playful. Older pandas lying around, probably because it is in the 30's very humid - melting weather. No new babies because they are all born August or September only.
Chengdu was the finish of our tourist holiday but the beginning of our Plant Seekers trip; you may have seen the article by Roy in the October Garden magazine.
Met up with our fellow Plant Seekers, Roy and Jim and guides over dinner. One of our fellow travellers went to junior school with Louis in the 1950s; they did manage to conjure up about 16 names of fellow classmates between them. Sandy and Louis Philibert
Next month – Part 2 : Plant Seekers Tour Begins
53 MAGAZINE THANK YOU
Many of those involved in the production and delivery of our magazine gathered for a celebratory drink in the WI hall in December.
We particularly thanked Bob David (on the right in the picture to the right) for his oversight of the magazine, extending to over 200 editions. In the picture are copies of his first and last editions.
Also present were three stalwarts of the team (left to right): Tom Chorley, Geoff Groom and Ken Munday
SLEEP OUT IN SOUTHWARK
We all get excited as Christmas approaches and look forward to spending time with our family and friends celebrating. However there are people less fortunate who don't look forward to the long winter nights sleeping rough not knowing where their Christmas dinner is coming from.
My Mum passed me a copy of the Bridge magazine in mid November where the Robes Project Winter Night Shelter Sleep Out on 28 November 2014 was featured. Being an adventurous type where sleeping in a tent half way up the Himalayas is my idea of a holiday, this piqued my interest. 'Sleeping out in a beautiful setting such as London Southwark Cathedral could be fun' was my initial
54 thought. Then it hit me - sleeping rough is not fun for many people, many of whom are young and vulnerable or who have just fallen on bad times who often do not know when or where they might next find secure shelter or a hot meal. My own happy, settled childhood came flooding back and my initial thought of fun turned to one of determination to raise money to help people in our local area less fortunate than ourselves living in leafy, safe Surrey. Regularly attending St Mary's church, being in the diocese of Southwark, I wanted to support the only church run winter night shelter between the London Bridge and Croydon and help keep it running into April where the annual Sleep Out is apparently their main fundraising event.
Last year the shelters, located in church halls, accommodated up to 20 guests a night, helped 50 people to stop sleeping rough and provided 2,970 warm dinners, bed spaces and breakfasts. This year more support is needed to keep the shelters running for the whole winter and to continue the running of its Weekly Lunch Club for the homeless guests of the shelter.
So I registered with two weeks to go and set up a JustGiving page (www.justgiving.com/s-cook1). That was it, no backing out now, no matter what the great British weather threw at me. In fact I was secretly hoping for a horrendous downpour as people sleeping rough do not have the luxury of nipping indoors for a hot cup of tea. I arrived at Southwark Cathedral on the Friday evening slightly apprehensive but energised nonetheless - after all what is one cold, wet night out of 365. The event was wonderfully organised with light entertainment when we arrived - some had gone alone like me, some were in teams from local businesses or churches within the diocese. Canon Roger Royal amused us all with his theatrical delivery of a mini auction to raise even more funds - after all who could resist a painting of Doorkins Magnificat, the cat who mysteriously turned up in Southwark Cathedral in 2008 and is now the prime resident !
For those that wanted, one could attend the Compline service, beautiful night time prayers perfectly finishing the day before we hit our sleeping bags on what was fast becoming a very uncomfortable slab of cold, concrete. I had not considered how noisy London was with the trains constantly running, drunk people staggering around and the lights that never switch off, the Shard being a key offender, a wonderful piece of architecture but believe me it is very bright !
A bell was rung at 6.45am the following morning for those still managing to cling onto the remnants of sleep. For those that wished, the morning Eucharist at 7am on the Saturday morning delivered by Bishop Christopher felt a fitting end to a thought provoking occasion. Others went straight to a well deserved hot breakfast. I had felt very protected by the constant monitoring throughout the night by the Red Cross volunteers shining torches in our faces whilst we slept to make sure we were OK. I did wonder as I woke bleary eyed from one such
55 encounter, whether those truly sleeping rough had the same protection and care as us, I suspect not.
So next time you buy your umpteenth take away coffee, maybe spare a thought for those where the cold pavement is their bed for most of the year and perhaps consider donating the few pence to the many worthy homeless charities established - may be in particular the Robes Project in our own diocese who is doing its utmost to support and help our local folk.
I will definitely be sleeping out next year and it would be great if a few more people from Tatsfield could perhaps join me in support. So watch this space !
I would like to thank all those who have contributed so generously towards this appeal. So far I have raised about £550 and the overall total is about £49000.
Susie Cook
TATTY KNITTERS
Happy new year to you all!
We had a lovely meal in the Bakery for our December get together, lots of fun and games, topped off with a delicious meal.
Due to the fact the Bakery may not be open in time for our January meeting, we have decided to have a rest and hold our next knit and natter in February on the 10th. The usual time of 7.30 til 9.30’ish, buy your own drink, cakes provided.
All crafters welcome. Val Quick (Tel: 57626: 07761 571071)
TATSFIELD PFA 100 CLUB RESULTS
Congratulations to the 100 Club winners for November 2014:
1st prize: Jon Maynard £40.50 2nd prize: Mary Wiggins £27.00 3rd prize: Roger Luck £13.50
Les Eames
56 57 NIGEL’S NATURE NOTES Correspondence:
Very little news this month (none in fact), although we did receive this previously unreported message from myself back in October (05.10.14):
‘At last - I've spotted a Tatsfield Red Kite! It was purely by chance. I was shutting the boot of the car when I saw the reflection of a large bird in the rear window. I looked up, assuming it was an unusually low flying Buzzard, but no; that V-shaped tail was very obvious as it circled around, right over Greenway. Brilliant!’
Adventurer Jim (Yeeles) was kind enough to respond:
That's fantastic news, Nigel. Welcome to the club! The Buzzard was once a local rarity and now quite common. Dare we hope the Red Kite is heading the same way? Not too sure the people running the 'shoots' will share our delight in these sightings, though.
A controversial comment, Jim – excellent! Gerald, our editor, is actively encouraging debate so you’ve instantly earned a ‘brownie point’. Of course, you won’t actually be awarded it until someone responds. Oh well, it was worth a try.
Other sightings:
Well, today (08.12.14) has turned out to be an unusually good one in terms of bird visitors to our garden. Just before lunch I sighted my first Redwing of the season, sitting quietly and all alone in one of our acer trees. This helps me to confirm a sighting of a few days ago when, eating breakfast, I thought I saw three or four Redwings fly over in a mixed flock. The accompanying birds were almost certainly finches of some kind or another. I’ll be particularly interested to hear of Siskin, Redpoll or Brambling sightings since this would indicate that they travelled here together from Northern Europe or Scandinavia. And then, as if that wasn’t excitement enough, after lunch, George spotted a Parakeet on the nut feeder. Now, some of you will be thinking, ‘That’s no big deal. We have those in our garden regularly.’ Ah, yes, some of you do. But those of us on the western side of the village see them much less often. In fact, to our knowledge, this is only the second or third time one has visited our garden, although we do see them flying over from time to time, or rather, we hear them!
Some notes for the winter: I am, admittedly, one of those wimpish people who prefer to spend the winter months indoors. (Don’t worry fellow wimps; it’ll soon be spring!) But I do find, to my advantage, that peering out of the window to see what’s feeding from the well-stocked bird station can be particularly rewarding at this time of year. Needless to say, the greater the variety of foodstuffs on offer the greater anyone’s chances of attracting something unusual. My advice is - experiment. Scraps are great – bread, cake, fruit, fish heads, meat. Put it out and see what happens. Of course, for virtually guaranteed results, hang a variety of nuts and
58 seeds. You will find that you need containers with different sized holes for the different varieties. Nijer seed, for example, needs a specialist feeder with tiny, slit-like holes for Goldfinches to feed from. Sunflower seeds, on the other hand, need large openings to prevent blockages and easy access. Whatever you decide, don’t be disheartened by the apparent lack of visiting birds. You can’t be staring out of the window all of the time. You may well be surprised by what visits when you’re not looking! And, of course, as we all know, birds come and go as they please. One day you may have a dozen Goldfinches feeding from your nijer, the next they may not appear. And they may not appear again for several days or even weeks. Why is this? Who knows? It remains an unsolved mystery. The thing is not to give up. They’ll probably appear again when you least expect it. Like when the feeder’s got wet and the seeds have congealed, blocking the feeding holes! Regular maintenance of your feeding station is important. Clear away any uneaten foodstuffs from the bird table and give it a good wash down. And don’t forget to offer a supply of fresh water. Even if you have a garden pond, some species will appreciate having a shallow bowl of water nearby to drink from and to bathe in. And while we’re on the subject of maintenance, don’t be too hasty in clearing out your nest boxes. I know it’s advisable to do so before the next breeding season, but bear in mind that not all species choose to sit out all night long, getting their feet stuck to the icy branches. Some prefer to find a nice, cosy shelter, like a moss-lined nesting box. And why not? Wimps are to be found throughout the animal kingdom!
Pond dipping – part 2: You doubtless remember reading the report of our spring pond dipping adventures? Well, as promised, the intrepid team went to work again during mid-September. Were we to be as excited by our finds as previously? Yes, we were. And it wasn’t just Jennifer who was screeching with excitement! The cause of this? Not just one or two but what seemed like an endless discovery of immature Smooth (Common) Newts! Also on our list of finds was a Damselfly nymph (Demoiselle), a couple of Pond skaters, a Whirligig beetle and some Lesser water boatman. Such wonderful names! Many thanks to Jennifer, Eleanor and Heather (Evans), and to Hannah and Lara (Smith), for making the afternoon such a purposeful and enjoyable one. Next month I must remember to leave space for a team photograph!
And finally, many thanks to those of you who have returned your ‘Bird Survey’ sheet. Your thoughtfulness and active participation is greatly appreciated. Happy New Year!
Any news, views or observations? Contact: [email protected] Alternatively, drop a note in to ‘Linda’s Stores’ or to ‘Primrose Ridge’, Greenway.
59 TATSFIELD RAMBLERS
Thursday 1 January 2015 New Years Day Leaders: Jean Turner and Katy Secombe Venue 10.30 am Westerham Green Map Ref: TQ446540 Postcode: TN16 1AS Length This will be a circular walk with no refreshment stop. But the Grasshopper on the Green and the George and Dragon will be open when we return. Sunday 11 January Leaders: Jean Turner and Katy Secombe Venue 10.30 am Shoreham (Kent) Station Car Park. Map Ref: TQ525614 Postcode: TN14 7RT Length 5 miles. 3 hours. To Otford via Shoreham Cross and the golf course. Back across the golf course. Pub stop at the Bull. Sunday 25 January Leader: Jan Shepherd 10.45 am Andrews Wood Car Park, Shacklands Road, Badgers Mount. Map Ref: TQ502616 Postcode: TN14 7BD Length 5 miles. 3 hours. This is a walk on the North Downs with some hills (including one long one). It follows the Sevenoaks District Council’s ‘Orchid Walk’, with a detour to the Darenth Valley Golf Club at Shoreham.
Walks can be subject to change at very short notice. Please either telephone or check the website www.westerhamramblers.org.uk. The ramblers do not carry insurance. They started as an informal group and never felt it necessary, so everyone is responsible for themselves (and their dogs).
Angela and Roger Sawyers (Tel: 577434 E-mail: [email protected])
60 GARDENING IN TATSFIELD The speculation about the weather for the next two months has varied from another mild winter to lots of snow and ice but my guess is that we are likely to see some more winter weather this month. If you are aiming to grow vegetables next year then now is a good time to turn over our Tatsfield clay and expose it to whatever frosts we get. The freezing and thawing action will break down the clay and save a lot of soil bashing in the early spring. But be careful not to tread all over freshly turned clay, let nature do the job and be patient!
If the ground is frozen over it is best to avoid planting as mixing frozen soil around bare roots can cause damage, it will also be difficult to settle the soil around the roots leaving too many air pockets. Timing is everything and there is also the challenge of planting shrubs and trees before the end of February to reduce the amount of watering you may need to do next spring and summer. Container grown plants may take some years to grow away from the root ball especially if the root ball is packed with roots. When buying trees and shrubs don’t hesitate to tap the root ball out of the pot and have a look to make sure there is a good balance of root and soil. If you can only see lots of roots wound around each other it is best not to buy as there will a high risk of the plant drying out after planting even if you use lots of organic supplement and a surface mulch.
The decision about when is best to cut back a hedge can be more about when it is more convenient to the owner than the needs of wildlife. I was surprised to hear a discussion exactly along these lines recently relating to ‘laying’ a hedge. This is an ancient method of strengthening a hedge to create a natural stock (animals) proof barrier around the margins of a field. Cutting part way through and laying the stems at an angle will result in strong growth coming up through the old stems, these growths can then be cut to the desired height. It is vitally important to complete any hedge cutting work by the end of February at the latest to avoid disturbing early nesting birds. Make sure you are clear about the owner of the hedge; it may not be yours and might mean that you need permission! Remember too that a hedge is an important habitat for other wildlife, some of them depend upon the hedge for vital cover at night and also to hibernate, so please be careful! Jon Allbutt 61 SOUTHERN COUNTIES DRAMA FESTIVAL
AT OXTED’S BARN THEATRE
The All England Theatre Festival has a history dating back to 1919 when the British Drama League was formed. It is the only national competitive one act drama festival in the UK and organises an eliminating series of festivals which lead ultimately to the British final. The Southern Counties Drama Festival, (previously The Betchworth Festival), a preliminary round of this festival has been an important part of local amateur dramatics in Surrey and Kent for more than 60 years.
The result is the return of an exciting week of festival drama in 2015 from February 23 – 28 at the Barn Theatre in Oxted, with 15 groups competing against each other for a place in the the next round of festival.
We also hope that our Patron, the newsreader Nicholas Owen, may be able to attend during the week. Nicholas is a well-known journalist and TV presenter of the news, on the BBC News channel and BBC One. He was born in London and initially educated at Hamsey Green primary school just up the hill from the Barn Theatre. He began his journalistic career at the Surrey Mirror in 1964, soon moving to Fleet Street and thereafter switching to television reporting in 1981, since which he has become a household name. Moving to ITN for over 20 years he then returned to the BBC in 2006 where he continues to present news and current affairs programmes. As a Strictly Come Dancing contestant he was voted off in the first week of the show in 2006 and decided the news desk was the best place for him. As a member of Reigate Amateur Theatrical Society (RATS) he enjoyed the live stage and has taken part in this festival and on the Barn stage, as a competitor, when in 1977 he won the Best Actor Award in Two Gentlemen of Soho.
With a mixture of youth and adult teams during the week, most entrants are experienced in festival and some have had recent success in the further rounds that lead to the English and British finals.
Tenacity and perseverance has ensured that this festival endures and you can support the endeavour by ordering your tickets by telephoning 01959 561811 or ordering online from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk . General enquiries can be answered by telephoning 01959 561811 or by email at [email protected]. More information is also available at www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk/scdf.html
This year’s selection of plays is an eclectic and interesting mix of comedy, tragedy and drama and a week not to be missed.
62 PUZZLE PAGE Can you match the pupils of our Primary School? Once again some members of Year 6 took the National Primary Maths Challenge recently: they were Madeleine Budgen, Harvey Ellis, Jed Ephgrave, Tamara Spaulding, and Jared Wiercx. This is a paper of 25 increasingly demanding questions. Our five entrants achieved 87 correct answers out of 125 – well done to them. Here are a couple of the questions that were answered well by our Tatsfield youngsters. No calculators allowed! A. Last year Gareth was 13 times older than his son Herbie. This year Gareth is 10 times older than Herbie. In how many years’ time will Gareth be 7 times older than Herbie? B. In 1588 an Italian mathematician called Pietro Cataldi discovered that: 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 [in short, 219 1] is a prime number. When this number is divided by 5, what is the remainder? [By the way, these questions do not require laborious arithmetic: there must be a more subtle way than brute force, an approach that rarely appeals to Mathematicians.] Here are some of them enjoying their success.
219 – 1. 5. ?????
Gerald South Editor: Answers to these and to the Christmas Crossword will be in the February magazine
63 Index of Advertisers This magazine relies on its advertisers for income. Please respond by making use of them when possible Accountants/Finance Electricians Picture Framing IQ 81 David Alexander 82 Tatsfield P Framing 65 Kempster & Dale 82 H.Lilley & Co, Supplier 74 Plumbers Park House 74 Estate Agents David Rudd and Son 11 Attractions Howard Cundey 5 Ian Street 71 Beaver Water World 69 Fitness Pre Schools Bouncy Castles 83 Moor Energy 85 Honeys Nursery 81 Titsey Place 2 Tai Chi 7 Kestrel Childrens Beauticians Funeral Directors Centre 78 Charlene Spiteri 5 Alex Jones 70 Little Acorns 9 Mobile Chiropodist 83 W. Uden & Sons Ltd 73 Restaurants
Summerhouse 65 Garages The Bakery 3 Mobile hairdresser 68 Motorist Centre 8 Riding
Builders J.Panther 88 Beechwood 7 B.H.Plastering 79 Sunningvale Services 87 Mayfield 69 Cannon Constructions 12 Tatsfield garage 77 Saddlery, gun room 6 A.W.Carpentry 8 Gardens Soft Furnishings
JCG Builders 7 Knights Garden Centre 70 Accent Furnishing Ltd. 67 Ling &Sons 4 Eartbound Services 79 Benasa 70 Denis.H.Reeves 66 Heritage Management 83 Taxis
David Smith 73 Woodstone 65 A25 5 Car/Van Rental Golf Discovery Cars 75 Practical Rental 84 Parkwood Golf Club 76 Streaky Cars 12 Charities Golfing Pro. 3 Therapy
Chartwell Cancer 77 Homecare Homeopathy 78 Chimney Sweeps Helping Hands 85 Hypnotherapy 67 Bunting 75 Home Maintenance Remedial Massage 67 Milborrow 79 Caroline Mee 75 Timber
Churches Mike Cosgrrove 79 Ryall & Edwards Ltd. 80 New Life Church 11 DP Bespoke 72 Oakland fencing 9 Cleaners Ray Dry 78 PMJ Fencing 68 Sharron Bullen 77 Jaycy 67 Tree Surgeons
T & C Ultra 65 Dave Jeffrey 86 Acacia 12 Clocks B.A.L.Leech 77 G.A Lake 72 James Marten 86 RB Interiors 7 Television
Computers David Waite 85 Digital Vision 10 MR Computing 88 Insurance Tutorial
Dance Flexible Health 66 Adie's Art 10 Dance First 77 Kitchens Piano Lessons 86 Disco Evergreen Kitchens 6 Private Tuition 82 Hits Disco 3 Lingerie Window Cleaners
Double Glazing Entre Nous 10 Waites Windows 72 Glass & Glazing 68 Petcare Drains Pet watch 6 Drain Man Direct 86 64 T & C Ultra Cleaning Services
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77 KESTRELS CHILDREN’S CENTRE
Would like to say a BIG HELLO To All The Parents OF Under 5’s
Who Live in TATSF IELD (Do you know there are currently 76 of y ou !)
Kestrel is based in Caterham, but our Outreach Team are happy to visit you at home to help with any family hiccups that may be troubling you:
In the past we have helped families to work through issues such as:
· HEALTH: Breast feeding & weaning advice, baby massage, toilet training, child development & individual needs of children, smoking cessation & healthy eating · FINANCE: Including guidance on benefits , tax credits, budgeting & dealing with Loan Sharks · EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT: Including literacy, numeracy, language, access to Job Centre Plus & WEA · RELATIONSHIP ISSUES: Parenting, Separation & Divorce and the effect on the family
We can also be contacted via Tatsfield school or Tots on Top. Join us on Facebook, by typing Kestrels Children’s Centre into the group search facility or alternatively view our web site for more information www.kestrelschildrenscentre.c o.uk
To arrange to speak to us call Tara on: 01883 348641
RAY DRY
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As Independent Financial Advisers we provide unbiased advice on a wide range of financial options. Our initial 45 minute meeting is free at either our offices or your home, so what do you have to lose, other than a preconception that because we offer financial advice, we’re naturally dull and uninteresting!
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IQ Wealth Management IQ Wealth Management is a trading name of Philip Clarke who is an appointed representative Aileen McHugo Building of Paradigm Financial Advisers Ltd. Paradigm House, Brooke Court, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 3ND Westmore Green Tatsfield which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage. Kent TN16 2AG •The FSA does not regulate tax planning. ‘Equity Release - this is a lifetime mortgage Tel: 01959 571300 to understand the features and risks ask for a personalised illustration’. Fax: 01732 866622 [email protected] k Www.iqwealthmanagement.co.u k “Busy little bees come to Honeys Nursery”
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