LOVE

SPRING 2019 NEWSLETTER

Registered Charity No: 287803 LOVE OTTERSHAW

The Ottershaw Society (the Society) is a local village organisation that has been in existence some 38 years. Over the years the Society has been key in all Ottershaw matters, and in particular, with monitoring and informing residents about planning matters that affect our village and the surrounding areas. We are currently faced with a whole barrage of proposals that very possibly will happen, more housebuilding on various sites in and around the village, some of them of very large densities, road widening/configurations to accommodate the massive increase in traffic that this will generate if and when these are approved, not to mention the huge roundabout proposal in the middle of our village, which would mean the village car park being swallowed up as part of the scheme, and in effect cutting the village in two. We, as a Society are perfectly aware that we cannot preserve ourselves in aspic and that inevitably, as with all local communities, we have to accept our fair share of new housing, but housing schemes are already being included in RBC’s Draft Local Plan as a result of Government imposing targets across all local Councils. It is imperative that Ottershaw, through the Society, continues to have a voice, particularly into the planning activities of Borough Council and aspects of Highways that are dealt with by County Council.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 2 | Page LOVE OTTERSHAW

To that end, we desperately need volunteers to step forward to fill the roles in particular, of the Secretary, Distribution and Events as the current post holders are retiring in September.

We have a new Treasurer in Julie Last, who having just filled the role would be bitterly disappointed to see the Society fold due to lack of interest. The retiring post holders have offered to mentor/assist with a handover for as long as necessary and are happy to discuss the roles in more detail, in particular Roger Pashley on 01932 872211.

Meanwhile a brief description of the roles are set out below: SECRETARY - This is a key role to ensure the wheels of the Society keep turning through its Executive Committee/AGM meetings, the handling of correspondence and through the sending out of regular Alerts.

DISTRIBUTION and EVENTS – Responsibility for the distribution of the Newsletter/other mailings and managing events like our presence at the Ottershaw May Fair. If you care about the environment in Ottershaw because you love its ‘village’ feel, PLEASE help to keep the Society alive and keep our village as a village. Talk with us at our stand at the Village May Fair on Monday 6th May 2019.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 3 | Page OTTERSHAW CRICKET CLUB Ottershaw Cricket Club has recently undergone a massive transformation from an ageing establishment to a modern sports club with a keen focus on engaging with the local community and offering excellent coaching to juniors from age 5. In association with the ECB, All Stars cricket is offered on Friday evenings from 26th April focusing on the developing ages of 5 to 8 years old. In addition, Junior training is run on the same evening from 6.15pm for ages 9 and over and all players are welcome of all abilities. We have a keen focus on the local community and the club is open to all residents on Friday evenings from 6pm. The bar is open, the BBQ is on and the atmosphere is electric.

Cricket is enjoyed by all ages, boys and girls and it is a great way to get your weekend off to a fantastic start after a long week at work. Our coaching team is qualified, vetted and very experienced in playing cricket and we focus heavily on individual development for juniors. We also have a very successful Saturday League Team who play in Division 1 of the Surrey Cricket League and then we have Sunday Social Cricket which is open to any ability.

For those who want to try it out, the first session is free and there is no commitment to join. Our registration evening for new players is on the 12th April from 6.30pm and everyone is encouraged to pop down, look at the facilities, talk to the coaches, and sign up to train, play or just join us for a refreshment and a burger. For more information, please contact: [email protected] BOROUGH ELECTIONS 2019 POLLING DAY: 7AM-10PM, 2ND MAY

On Thursday 2nd May all seats on Runnymede Borough Council will be up for election for the first time since 2000. Unlike previous elections, where only a third of councilors were voted for at any one time, this year all 41 seats on the authority are up for election because ward boundaries have changed. This means that Ottershaw residents will be able to vote for up to three candidates on polling day as three vacancies within our ward will need to be filled.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 4 | Page BRITISH EMPIRE MEDALS FOR MARY AND ROGER PASHLEY By Hannah Lane As many members already know, Mary and Roger Pashley were both honoured with an award in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List for services to the community in Ottershaw. They were# listed as recipients of the ‘Medallist of the Order of the British Empire', better known as the British Empire Medal. Mary and Roger with Jim Glover, the High Sheriff of Surrey A fuller record of their long service to Christ Church and massive contribution to the village and its community, appeared in the Parish News for January 2019. The Ottershaw Society would like to add its appreciation for all they have done for the Society over many years. They joined the 3rd Ottershaw Society on its foundation in 1981 to help `save` The Common from development for a housing estate. By 1987, Roger had become Treasurer to add to all the other organisations he was treasurer of, and Membership Secretary. Both roles he is now handing over to Julie. In recent years he has taken the initiative for many of the administrative procedures now required by law, he has also been Acting Secretary of the Society, taking an active role in planning, running its activities and composing the much appreciated Alerts that keep the membership informed of all that is going on. Mary has always provided backup to Roger, quietly getting on with matters behind the scenes. And, as at CAMEO, providing the coffee/teas at all the Members winter meetings. We can do no better than quote our Vicar, Sandra Faccini, in the Parish News: “Quite simply, Roger and Mary have, together, been quietly busy at the heart of Ottershaw for around half a century, both in the public eye and unobtrusively. Their reliable presence at Church, Ottershaw Society and other occasions, always with a warm and ready welcome to everyone, is a reassuring reminder that community matters. They are held in warm affection by all who know them and nobody more richly deserves the recognition of their service brought by their BEM awards.“ Thank you to Lynda Morris (Roger’s sister) for permission to use the photo of Mary & Roger from the Award ceremony at Loseley Park.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 5 | Page GUIDING IN OTTERSHAW FOR OVER 50 YEARS! By 1st Ottershaw Rainbows As long ago as 1909 a group of girls “gatecrashed” the first ever Boy Scouts rally at Crystal Palace asking that there be something similar for girls. A year later The Girl Guiding Association was formed, led by Agnes Baden-Powell (the sister of Scouting’s founder, Robert Baden-Powell). 1st Ottershaw Guides opened its doors to allow girls in the local area to enjoy the same adventures and opportunities to learn and have fun as Boy Scouts on 19th January 1968. 51 years later the unit is still going strong with additional Rainbows and Brownies units catering for girls aged 5-14 and beyond. Today more than 50 girls take part in Girl Guiding activities every week in Ottershaw with many more on our waiting lists. There is a common perception that Scouts have adventures and Guides focus on craft, cooking and homecraft. This couldn’t be further from the truth. While we all enjoy taking part in craft activities from time to time, who doesn’t love a home baked cookie? Many skills for life are no longer taught in school, it can be more fun to learn these in a group with friends than at home. Girl Guiding allows girls to take part in these types of activities but also offers girls so much more. September 2018 saw the launch of our new programme. Based around 5 themes- Know Myself, Have Adventures, Be Well, Express Myself and Take Action. The themes run throughout a Girl’s Guiding journey allowing her to develop her understanding and experience as she progresses from Rainbow to Brownie to Guide. Some highlights from the last year include Rainbows attending Bazazz, the Triennial event for Beaver Scouts and Rainbows at Merrist Wood, a fun day of Climbing, Zorbing, Inflatable assault courses, huge slides, and much more. We took part in National Parliament week celebrating democracy in the UK and 100 years since the first women were allowed to vote. At Christmas we met the big man himself and a couple of his Reindeer at Heronswey Winter Wonderland. The Guides attended a district camp, meeting girls from across our district, braving gale force winds and flying tents. There was fun on the water at our riverside base, Paxmead, by the Thames in . The girls built their own rafts out of cardboard and attempted to complete a course on the water. Ottershaw Guides were victorious with the most robust raft. September saw the Guides join over 10,000 girls at the Big Gig, a music concert with top acts at Wembley Arena. 1st Ottershaw Rainbows at play

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 6 | Page At the end of last summer term, all of our members, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides came together with other units from across the district to enjoy a good old fashioned Campfire at Walton Firs Campsite singing, sausages and *smores! This year is set to be just as exciting. The Brownies are looking forward to getting stuck into their Google Digital Adventure badge…from understanding how algorithms work and putting them into action, to creating their very own robot, the girls will learn skills for a digital future. They will also tackle their engineering badge and have a chance to try out golf at Foxhills. The Rainbows have just completed their Explore badge from our Have Adventures theme and are looking forward to choosing what they would like to focus on next term. The Guides have another camp planned and there are international opportunities for the girls to see the world through Girl Guiding. All of these amazing experiences are only made possible by the volunteers who run our units. We have already had to close a Brownie unit in Ottershaw because we don’t have enough adults to lead and if more people don’t step up to help other units could face closure. All units in Ottershaw are currently looking for additional adult volunteers. Everyone leads increasingly busy lives today and it can be difficult to find time to volunteer. As a new leader myself I can’t emphasize enough how rewarding helping at a unit is. Even if you can only spare a few hours a month, I’d urge you to consider joining us…you won’t regret it!

1st Ottershaw Rainbows following their promise ceremony Rainbows having fun at Bazazz

If your daughter would like to join the Guiding family and begin her adventure with us, please register her interest through our website https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/information-for-parents/register-your-daughter/

*Smores = a traditional nighttime campfire treat popular in the United States and Canada, consisting of a marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two pieces of graham cracker.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 7 | Page SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL NEWS By Melville Few Surrey County Councillor for , Lyne, Thorpe, , Ottershaw Cabinet Member: Finance. [email protected] Tel: 07889126439.

New role: I have taken on a new role within the Cabinet as Cabinet Member for Finance. This appointment will no doubt prove a challenge as the County Council struggles with ever growing demand in providing its statutory services with demand from elderly, learning disabilities and Children’s services using an ever growing share of the limited resources of the County Council. The new financial year 2019/20 will see these services account for 68% of all Council Tax collected. Having spent the last 6 years as Cabinet Member for Adult Social care, I am acutely aware of the growth in demand, and the strains on ALL local authorities who have this legal responsibility, while further information from the Government on the ‘green paper’ which will set out thoughts on the future funding of the Adults Social Care services continues to be delayed.

Community recycling sites further discussions: As a result of the recent decision to keep all Community recycling centres (CRCs) open until further clarity on the Government’s new waste strategy is available, work is in hand to try and find ways to reduce the costs of operating these centres. An interesting fact to emerge from my work to date into the costs of running the CRCs is the significant cost of removing the ‘Black Bag’ waste left at these sites. The Council pays the waste contractor per ton of product collected and apart from hazardous waste, black bag waste is the next most expensive item to remove due to further work involved in breaking the bags open and sorting the contents into items that can be recycled, incinerated or sent to landfill.

Highways: By the end of this current financial year over 53,340 potholes will have been filled on the County’s road network. Surrey County has over 4,800 miles of roads (excluding motorways) which is one of the most densely used networks in the Country. Work is ongoing with Central Government to reach a more ‘fairer’ funding formula which will take into account the congestion and not only the length of the road network.

Fire service consultation: The recent inspection of the County Fire service highlighted the lack of focus of the service on ‘prevention’. The Surrey Fire service now attends more road traffic incidents than fires. As a result of this inspection it is proposed that Firefighters will work more closely with communities to prevent emergencies happening in the first place under a new plan to make Surrey a safer place to live. This will involve going into schools, colleges, workplaces, homes and support groups to help people with “lifelong” safety, protecting them not just against house fires but also other kinds of emergencies such as road accidents and wildfires.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 8 | Page ORBIT: NEW SWIMMING POOLS OPEN Two brand new swimming pools, a sports hall, gym and health spa are just some of the features of Runnymede's newest leisure centre, the Egham Orbit, which has officially launched. The £19m centre, in Vicarage Lane, Egham, was officially opened by the Queen's cousin, the EGHAM ORBIT LOCATION: TW20 8NL - Duke of Kent, giving the royal seal of Vicarage Lane, Egham, car parking available. approval to the venue. The construction has been paid for by Runnymede Borough Council and will be run by the Achieve Lifestyle trust on the Council's behalf. In 2016, residents old and young told the Council that swimming was among their top five priorities for visiting towns in the borough. Councillors listened and three years on, the opening of Egham Orbit will allow lane swimming, individual swimming and group sessions for all ages. SWIMMING: As well as the main disabled-access eight lane 25 x 17m main pool, a 10m x 10m learner pool with splash area has been included in the brand new development. EXERCISE: Badminton, table tennis, tennis and netball are among the sports catered for at the centre, while the 110-station gym provides the latest equipment, and classes are also available. RELAX: Otium Spa provide facilities to energise, relax, including a hydro pool, sauna and steam room, with treatments for men and women available. CHILDREN: Family options are available, including a café, children's swimming lessons, gymnastics, trampolining and soft play.

OTTERSHAW BOWLING CLUB OPEN DAY SPONSORED BY TRIDENT HONDA Ottershaw Bowling Club is a small friendly bowling club situated in the Memorial Fields, Foxhills Road, Ottershaw KT16 0NQ.

On Saturday May 4th 2019 from 2pm onwards we are holding an Open Day for people to try their hand at lawn green bowls. If you are interested, bowls will be provided and experienced members will be available to help you. Novices and experienced members will receive a warm welcome. Flat shoes (trainers etc.) must be worn.

If you have any queries please phone Sue—01932 873211 or Jean—01932 344245.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 9 | Page HISTORY OF HALSTEAD By Michelle Patrick, Registrar & Marketing Manager, Halstead School In 1927 Olive Cullis (later Mrs Bidwell) and Mary Beeton founded the school at Halstead Place in Kent. Halstead Place was built in the early 18th century, near in Kent, with additions in the late 19th century. The house was rebuilt during the 1920s, and in 1921 the residue of the estate was listed for sale in the Times as ‘210 acres and four or five large houses.’ Halstead School opened with seven girls and seven boys and was the only fully co-educational recognised prep school in the country. In 1939 and with only forty eight hours notice Halstead Place was requisitioned by the Ministry of Supply for use as administrative offices during World War II. In 1952 Halstead Place in Kent was bought by Kent County Council and demolished. The school uprooted from Kent and reopened in Devizes in Wiltshire. In January 1940 the school became girls only and the school has been exclusively for girls since. In 1947 the school moved once again to the present site in Woodham Rise, . This site was built around 1892. The school opened in Woking with approximately fifty pupils with 15-18 girls in a class. In 1959 a new Reception (Kindergarten) opened and by 1960 Halstead Preparatory School had eighty seven pupils. In 1963 a prefabricated gymnasium was built and one hundred and thirty three pupils were on roll. In 1972 two new classrooms were added to the school and in 1974 a bungalow for the Headmistress was added to the grounds and the stables converted into science and art rooms. Over the course of the years there have been many new additions and further changes to Halstead Preparatory School. In 2014 a major building project, named ‘the butterscotch tart project’ (after the girls’ favourite pudding) took a year to complete. The resulting spacious new dining hall, state of the art school kitchen, art room and bespoke food technology classroom were officially opened by the then Mayor of Woking, Cllr Tony Branagan.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 10 | Page A new style uniform was introduced in 2016, the instantly recognisable Halstead turquoise was retained but the brown of the blazer, kilt and shoes was changed to navy. The infamous Halstead Summer boaters remained unchanged! In 2015 an additional classroom was added to the Pre- Prep building and the school became two form entry throughout. Land was acquired from neighbours in Woodham Rise and a wonderful Secret Garden opened in May 2016. In 2016 Halstead also welcomed two year old Nursery girls.

In 2017 Halstead Preparatory School reached the grand age of ninety and the first history book, the History of Halstead School was published. Halstead Preparatory School enjoyed celebrating its anniversary with the people and stories behind the facts of the ninety memorable years.

Throughout its history Halstead has always recognised every girl as an individual and encourages its motto “Believe in Yourself.”

The school continues to thrive with over 220 pupils and is well practised at preparing girls for a happy, heathy and successful life within a warm, friendly and purposeful atmosphere. Halstead Preparatory School looks forward to celebrating its centenary in 2027.

The Spring 2019 edition of the Ottershaw Society Newsletter is kindly sponsored by:

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 11 | Page HELP TO FIX-THE-BRIX OF CHRIST CHURCH, £10,000 APPEAL Christ Church Ottershaw was built by Sir (Thomas) Edward Colebrooke (1813-1890), who served as a Member of Parliament for Lanarkshire constituencies and as Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire. He owned Ottershaw Park between 1859-1883 and had the church built as a memorial to his heir, Henry Colebrooke, who died in infancy. However, the church was assigned to the Church Commissioners just two weeks before its consecration and so was opened to local people for worship from that time. The church is over 150 years old and the beautiful grade 2 listed building holds much history and many historic features. It can be seen on its hill from all directions and gives a visible focus for the spiritual and social life of the neighbourhood. We are a small church community, very welcoming, very friendly with a mission to love and serve in the name of Jesus. Each year the congregation raises funds for the day to day running of services, activities and maintenance of the church and parish centre. We receive no support from the Church of but we ensure that our church buildings are available for extensive use for village activities, for celebrating weddings and baptisms and to be alongside family and relatives at the end of life. It is with this in mind that we are reaching out to you, our friends and neighbours in Ottershaw, for help and support. HELP AND SUPPORT TO ENSURE CHRIST CHURCH IS HERE FOR ANOTHER 150 YEARS. We are launching an appeal to raise £10,000 to fund the urgent repair to our Church brickwork. Every 5 years under the Inspection of Churches Measure 1955, we are required to undertake a detailed Report by a qualified architect on the fabric of Christ Church. The current report includes, alongside other ongoing work, the requirement for us to repair the pointing between the brickwork where it has unacceptably deteriorated. Repointing is the process of renewing the pointing, which is the external part of mortar joints, in brickwork. If the mortar crumbles or contains a void, then water can get in causing considerable damage. The work is planned to take place after Easter 2019, so watch out for scaffolding going up after this date. If you’d like to donate to the upkeep of this beautiful grade 2 listed building, then please see how below. ✓ Pay directly into the Church bank account, CAF Bank A/c Ottershaw Church 00032354 sort code 40-52-40 ✓ by cash/cheque, send direct to the treasurer Roger Pashley, Christ Church Hon. Treasurer, FIX-THE-BRIX Appeal, 137A Brox Road, Ottershaw, KT16 0LG. Cheques payable to Ottershaw Church ✓ or online via the Fix-The-Brix fundraising page on the Ottershaw Church website If you are able to gift aid your bank transfer or cash/cheque donation then please visit our Church website where you will be able to download a copy of our Fundraising Leaflet which contains a gift aid form. Thank you for your support.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 12 | Page CHURCH CLOCK By Roger Pashley The clock at Christ Church, Ottershaw was made by J Smith of Derby (who still maintain it today) and is thought to have been added in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. The mechanism of the clock is in the ringing chamber which makes ringing harder by blocking the view between the treble and tenor bells. The clock is driven by weights which originally dropped the length of the tower. For most of its life these weights were wound up manually twice a week. A clock-winder was employed and in the 1960s paid 2/6d a week (now 30 pence) for the task. Subsequently the task was undertaken by the bellringers and then in 1990s the winding was electrified.

Today the church clock is no longer an essential tool for those in the village, as we all have our own wrist watches and are surrounded by digital information! However it is a part of our heritage. Give a thought, however, to the cost of running the clock. Christ Church does not get any grants from the Government to maintain its listed building (as happens in some other countries). So all costs have to be met by the local members. In 2013 the clock had to be repaired at a cost of £795 and the annual cost of regular maintenance is around £200.

If you would like to climb the tower and look at the clock mechanism please speak to Roger Pashley (872211).

SURREY IN THE GREAT WAR: ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS • Did your family live in Surrey during the years of the First World War (1914-1918)? • Do you have any family stories of relatives connected to Surrey during the war years, and afterwards? • Did you grow up in Surrey between the 1920s and 1950s?

Surrey in the Great War: A County Remembers is looking to interview anyone who has a First World War family story to tell. It aims to record people’s memories and stories about theirs & their family’s experiences during the Great War and its aftermath. Without this effort, such memories, which may offer unique and important historical insights, or record human achievements, might be forgotten or overlooked.

If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, we would love to hear from you! Contact the Surrey in the Great War team via email or telephone: T: 01483 518238 / 518239 E: [email protected]

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 13 | Page OTTERSHAW ROAD NAMES. No.4. By Hannah Lane BOUSLEY RISE This is now a continuation of the lower part of Brox Road. Originally it was the Bousley Farm, Bousley Rise in the 1920’s. track from the main to Road leaving what is now the Otter The track was extended turning right up Crossroads to give access to Brox Farm the hill after the lane to Bousley Farm House (demolished on the corner with house. Most of the site was offered as Slade Road) and its farmland, and onto building plots. The plots along most of the Bousley Farm. 1st part of the road were sold for houses, as were the plots along the west of the new extended track up the hill. By 1925 there were only two other houses on this extension when Mr. Harry Croxford moved his family out from , because he had TB and was advised that the country air of Ottershaw would be good for him, and built No. 68 Pondbrook for his new nursery to grow roses. He gave the road the name Bousley Rise. Brox Farm Barn, demolished by 1986 (Now After 1930 it became slowly built up on the entrance to Hunts on Brox Road) the building plots with all different houses and bungalows, many by Mr. Croxford Bousley Farm was also reached from the when he resumed his builder’s business. continuation of Spratts Lane. At the start Much of the land behind the houses on of the Rise both sides of the road were the west side up the hill was bought by the part of Brox Farm as far as Footpath 30, nurserymen family of the Mandrys. (the continuation westwards of Spratts Lane). Originally Spratts Lane footpath was a straight line to cross Bousley Rise and continue across to Brox Lane. This was the boundary between Brox and Bousley Farms. After crossing the footpath it was Bousley Farm on both sides, leading to the actual farm house, which is still there. The Fletcher nurserymen had bought both farms by 1883 for a plant and shrub nursery. By 1922 the Fletchers were selling their land. Bousley Rise, looking down from the corner of Brox and Slade Road c.1965.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 14 | Page The land behind the houses at the COLEBROOK beginning of the road and all down to and Built in 1973-5 on the ends of the gardens including Bousley Farm house was bought of the east side of Bousley Rise and Nos. by the Burree family, vegetable growers 12 to 24 even Slade Road. The name is from Barnes. They were followed by the from Sir Edward Colebrooke, owner of Van den Broek family. They sold part of the Ottershaw Park from 1859-83, but the end land for the building of Fletcher Road and `e` has been left off. This allowed the full Close. Then the adjacent land was sold for name of Colebrooke to be used twice the building of the 2 present schools in more elsewhere in the village. 1965/7. As the original track from Spratts FLETCHER ROAD Lane (Footpath 30) crossed the middle of this site, which was unacceptable to have This was built 1965/6 by E. D Simmons on public access to the school`s grounds, it land that was originally part of Brox Farm. was diverted around Fletcher Close and This farm had been bought by William Road, and back down Bousley Rise to the Fletcher, nurseryman of Coach Road off original line along the back of Meath the Guildford Road, in 1874 to extend his School. The road was not made up until area growing plants and shrubs, hence its Fletcher Road and Christ Church School name. It had been sold in 1922 to the was built in 1965/7 The making up of the Burree family to grow vegetables for the road for the building of the new school on London market. In turn they sold it to Mr. its present site in 1966-7 was an issue that Van den Broek by 1949. seemed to have caused a lot of upset both FLETCHER CLOSE in building of the schools but in particular It was built in 1972 on the site of a caravan to the existing residents of Bousley Rise as park that had housed homeless local it was `a muddy and potholed track that families after WW2. This in turn had been should be properly made up by the time on watercress beds as the stream from the new school opened`. Even then it was Slade Road crosses further up and then only adopted by Surrey Council as far as runs at the back. the Fletcher Road junction. The rest remains a private road with each side `owning` to the centre line.

Bousley Rise c.1950 looking over where now there are the fields of Ottershaw Schools, reproduced with kind permission from A Chertsey Camera Historic photographs of Chertsey, Ottershaw, Lyne & Longcross by D.M & J.L Barker

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 15 | Page SPRATTS LANE A private unmade road. Also as an ancient road it is `un-owned`. The residents closed a bar across the road once a year, usually on Christmas Day, to retain it as a private road. By 2007 the bar had been replaced by posts in the road, which could be unlocked and removed by only the adjacent residents. If access by the public is not prevented once a year, users can establish a right of way after 20 years of constant use `without interruption`. Spratts Lane and Alley was the site of the hamlet of Sprats by the 1850s, one of the three that made up what became known as the village of Ottershaw. In 1870 Spratts had only one `t`. This area was `in the waste land and wood` of Hare Hill Common, the northern end of the waste land that ran all the way down to Dunford Bridge on the Woking boundary. In 1548-50 William Drewe held 5 acres as a “freeholder of Sprottescrofte lying towards the Common”. Eventually Spratts Farm was built on the Lane The southern part of the Lane first appears between 1844 and 1865. on 1762 Rocque map to Bousley Farm. It is not until the Enclosure Plan of the Manor of Walton Leigh 1802 that it is shown joining with the present Hare Hill, the road to . But Slade Road had also been extended north to join with the top of Spratts Lane to come out at the junction of Murray Road and Hare Hill. By 1806 Slade Road had the turn at Spratts Alley into Murray Road as it is now, but Spratts Lane does now have a half east turn at its northern end to its junction with Murray Road and Hare Hill, the old north end of Slade Road as in 1802. South it continued as the boundary between Brox and Bousley Farms, now Footpath 30, and on to Brox Lane. See above for its present Images courtesy of H.J.M Stratton, taken from the diversion around Fletcher Road. book ‘Ottershaw Through the Ages’

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 16 | Page SPRATTS ALLEY OBITUARY: DR. RONALD John Bonsey founded his Potteries in this Alley by 1851. John Bonsey lived at West STEVENSON Dene in Murray Road, and as he owned Dr Ronald Stevenson died on 17th January the land to the south of the present 2019 at the age of 87. He had been living Spratts Alley, so building the Potteries by at home until November 2018 and died 1851 on his land, he needed a `road` to get peacefully at Sutton Lodge Care Home. to them from his house. But more importantly to continue to Spratts Lane as he got his sand from the triangle at the top of Spratts Lane, (this pit was still there until 1996 when this triangle of land was acquired by Runnymede Council and filled in), and the clay from his quarry at the back of his Brickworks on Malus Drive, Row Town. So did he create the Alley as it does not appear on early maps? He could then use a very short bit of the Alley to get out into Slade Road, which probably had a better road surface, to take the horse and Dr. Stevenson set up the first GP practice in carts out with the finished goods. Even Ottershaw back in 1960s and lived here with these pottery goods well wrapped in with his wife, lrene (1931-2011] and three straw there must have been breakages daughters: Kirsteen, Heather and Ruth. with the rough surfaces of all the roads in the 19th C. John is likely to have built He was instrumental in setting up the most of the original cottages on Spratts maternity ultrasound unit at St. Peter’s Lane and Alley for his Pottery workers, he Hospital and delivered many of the babies certainly owned most in his will on his who were born at that time. death in 1891. THE POTTERIES THANK YOU Banner Homes Ltd Special thanks go to Halstead Preparatory built the six new School for kindly sponsoring this edition of houses for Pelham the newsletter. Thanks also to all our Properties in 1997- guest writers in particular Hannah Lane, 1st 8. The developers Ottershaw Rainbows and Cllr Melville Few, wanted to call it we hope that you find these interesting No 2. Pottery Cottages Warren Park. and enjoy reading their articles. c1925 The Ottershaw Society wanted to recall the Also a very special mention goes to Roger old Bonsey`s Potteries for the future, even Pashley, Hannah Lane and H.J.M Stratton though these were on the other side of have provided the beautiful Alley. RBC agreed with the Ottershaw photography of the village featured in this Society, hence the name `The Potteries`. edition.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 17 | Page RUNNYMEDE LOCAL PLAN - EXAMINATION IN PUBLIC (EIP) By Brian Williams Runnymede Borough Council (RBC) submitted the final draft of their Local Plan to Government in July 2018. In September 2018 the Government appointed Ms Mary Travers BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI, a very experienced inspector, to carry out the EIP at the council chamber in . The Inspector's task is to consider the soundness of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The Inspector will take into account the representations submitted upon the Plan as far as they relate to soundness considerations. A number of informal debates took place on the principal matters identified by the Inspector, these are termed Hearing Sessions. The Ottershaw Society has been represented by Brian Williams & Hannah Lane during each session.

Runnymede covers a large area including Egham, , Virginia Water, Thorpe, Lyne, Addlestone, and of course Ottershaw. There were a wide variety of representations ranging from local residents, residents’ groups and societies to Queens Councils (QCs) some representing residents groups and others representing owners/agents with land in the Local Plan. There were also owner/agents and QCs representing owners/agents who were promoting their land that was not included in the Local Plan which are called omission sites.

Stage 1 hearing sessions commenced on Tuesday 27th November for three days and covered such topics as Legal Requirements and Duty to Co-operate, the need for Housing and Employment Land and Spatial Strategy. The third day predominantly covered Green Belt Boundaries and Exceptional Circumstances.

Stage 2 was split into two parts, part one between 5th and 7th February and part two on 19th and 20th February. Part 1 - involved discussion on topics such as Longcross Garden Village, removal of Thorpe village from the Green Belt, other Housing and mixed use sites and Detailed Policy for Housing. Part 2 - These sessions we taken up principally by infrastructure provisions. Discussion ranged from more detailed transport provision at Longcross, Educational needs particularly Infant and Junior School provisioning to Health Care.

Stage 3 is provisionally scheduled to take place the week commencing 15th July 2019. This stage will predominantly cover the A320 Corridor which stretches from the Six Cross Roads to Chertsey.

Following the closure of the Examination, the Inspector will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations, these recommendations may include modifications to the Plan, if such a request is made by the Council.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 18 | Page A320 CORRIDOR At a number of sessions the A320 corridor There are three main roundabouts in this was raised as well as Junction 11 of the scheme, the Six Crossroads at Woodham, M25. There were variances between the two mini roundabouts at the junction Highways England, Surrey County of Holloway Hill/Green Lane, by White Council(SCC) and Runnymede Borough Lodge, and the Otter Roundabout. There Council's positions and the Inspector are also two other roundabouts to be requested that they agree a statement of considered, one at Sir William Perkins’s common ground. One of the major School and the other at St Peter’s Hospital. stumbling blocks is that Highways England However it is our understanding at this consider Junction 11 of the M25 is at time that these would be part funded by capacity at peak hours and they do not the developments at Hanworth Lane and want local traffic arriving there any quicker St Peter’s Hospital respectively. than it does at present. SCC and RBC on One of The Society’s major points of the other hand are looking to improve the concern was over the car park adjacent to local highways infrastructure which will do Ottershaw Village Hall (Brook Hall) & local precisely that. shops and that issue needed to be addressed without detriment to either and The A320 Corridor will be discussed in the village as a whole. We also stressed greater depth in Stage 3 of the EIP but it is our opposition to the removal of any land worth noting that this is all very from the Green Belt. We also suggested dependent on SCC & RBC getting funding. that once designs were finalised SCC This finance is being sought from the should sponsor an exhibition/presentation Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), the at the Ottershaw Village Hall which should largest of a number of Government include representatives from Arcadis and sponsored financial pots which stands at RBC. We also sought assurances that once approximately £5.5 Billion. SCC/RBC's funding had been achieved Local application was submitted on 22nd March Residents’ Groups, Businesses, Schools, '19 and is for approximately £30 Million. Churches and Health Service Providers must be involved in any stakeholder SCC approached the Society and offered a groups, an assurance has been received in meeting to explain the HIF bid process and writing that the Society will be included in why the funding was necessary. They any such group. were also interested to hear our concerns, At the end of the meeting SCC asked if the in particular, about the Ottershaw Society would consider sending a letter of Roundabout. Roger Pashley and Brian support for the HIF bid. Due to time Williams met with Arcadis, SCC and RBC on scales, and after discussion with the 13th February at the Arcadis Office in committee members, a letter of support Guildford. SCC made it quite clear that the was sent, stating that we did not support design by Arcadis is very much conceptual the Arcadis design for the roundabout and and should funding be achieved it would containing a number of strict conditions be necessary to look at it in greater detail, (the major being full consultation) should possibly back to the drawing board! they wish to use it.WATCH THIS SPACE!! www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 19 | Page OTHER PLANNING ISSUES By Hannah Lane ST. PETER`S HOSPITAL - The Planning application for 400 houses on the remaining part of the old Botleys Hospital site was approved by Runnymede Council in 2018. They are still working on the legal conditions to secure finance for infrastructure, like the roundabout improvements on the A320 into the hospital, extra school places in local schools etc. These should be finalised by the time you receive this newsletter. So a developer should soon be appointed and work start. The money from the sale of the site will be used to rebuild 2 of the 3 residential blocks for the hospital staff on site. BADGERS WOOD, SLADE ROAD - Badgers Wood was a residential/respite care home for people with learning difficulties, owned by Surrey County Council and built in 1969/70. It was closed in 2014 and sold to Stratfield Homes (Ottershaw) Ltd.in 2018. Planning permission for 14 x 3-4 bedroom homes, terraced plus 1x pair of semi-detached, has been granted. The original building has been demolished and the development of the new houses are now well on the way. FAIROAKS - The closing date for comments was in November 2018. As this is such a major planning application both Runnymede and Councils have agreed with the applicant that further time is needed to come to a decision. If there are any revisions to the application we will inform members by an Alert and on the Website. NEW RUNNYMEDE BOROUGH WARD BOUNDARIES - The Government with the local councils has been carrying out a review of all Ward boundaries to even up the elector numbers in each Ward. In Runnymede the proposed new development sites in the Draft Local Plan have been factored in. This means the old Lyne and Foxhills Ward, which included Ottershaw, with the addition of the proposed developments sites of Longcross, St. Peter`s Hospital, Ottershaw East etc. would be far too large. So it has been split in two. Longcross, Lyne and Chertsey South that includes St. Peter`s Hospital in a new Ward, and then all of Ottershaw as a separate Ward. Ottershaw has been extended to included Gt. Grove Farm, part of Hare Hill, then a section that skirts the Ongar Hill shops and continues across the M25 into Addlestone. As there are other alterations to all Wards in the Borough, this means that at the local Elections in May 2019 ALL RBC WARD COUNCILLORS WILL BE STANDING DOWN AND OTTERSHAW WILL ALL HAVE 3 VOTES FOR 3 NEW COUNCILLORS IN THIS ELECTION. The boundaries for our Surrey County Councillors are NOT changed.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 20 | Page NHS 111 SERVICE CHANGES WI NIGHT OWLS The provider of NHS 111 services across The Ottershaw WI meet on the first North West Surrey will change from South Tuesday of each month at 8pm at East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Ottershaw Village Hall. The visitor fee is £5 Foundation Trust (SECAmb) to Care UK. per meeting (visitors can attend up to This means that as current providers of the three meetings before membership is Surrey GP out-of-hours service, Care UK required) and the membership rate for will now deliver an integrated urgent care 2019 is £42. This is pro-rated down each service made up of GP out-of-hours, NHS quarter depending on when a new 111 and a clinical assessment service member joins: Apr-Jun £31.50, Jul-Sept which makes it easier get help from a £21 and Oct-Dec £10.50. We have an wider range of healthcare professionals. amazingly busy Social Secretary organising People can expect the service to be: extra events and theatre trips throughout • Quicker – there will be fewer questions the year and the book club is still going to answer. strong. New for 2019 is that our chosen • More direct - as well as offering charity has changed so we will be diagnosis, health advice or next steps, supporting Surrey Search and Rescue for direct appointments can also be the next two years. booked with many local services. 4 June - The Ferguson’s Gang • More knowledgeable – a wider range of healthcare professionals will be on Sally Beck, a journalist and author, reveals hand to get the answers or advice you the remarkable story of the National Trust need. Gangsters, unlikely national heroes. • More helpful - as well as diagnosing 2 July – Cats’ Protection and giving treatment options, health Maggie Stoker gives us some background and lifestyle advice on a wide range of history of the charity and tells us how we topics is also available. can all do our bit to help our feline friends. 6 August - Pottery Painting If you have an urgent medical problem An extra social evening for those who and you’re not sure what to do contact fancy trying their hand at pottery painting. NHS 111 by phone or online. NHS 111 is Charges apply to cover costs. available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Fully trained advisors will ask some simple 3 September - The Power of Colour questions and depending on the situation Colour Me Beautiful consultant, Lesley you will find out what local service can Dingley, shows us how to choose the right help, be connected to a clinician, get a colours. “The best colour in the world is face-to-face appointment or be told how the one that looks good on you” - Coco to get any medicine you need. You can Chanel. also ask for a translator if you need one. 1 October - Our 6th Birthday Party NHS 111 does not replace 999 or A&E for A nostalgic evening of fun, games and medical emergencies - when someone is party food where we can celebrate all the seriously ill or injured and their life is at good things about being 6 years old! risk.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 21 | Page OTTERSHAW MAY FAIR By Darren Pearce, from the Ottershaw Community Partnership This Year’s Fair is taking place on Monday 6th May (Bank Holiday Monday) in its usual location at Ottershaw Memorial Fields, Foxhills Road from 12pm until 4.30pm. Since 2012 Ottershaw May Fair has been organised and run by the Ottershaw Community Partnership (OCP), a Community Interest Company, formed by a handful of local volunteers. Their objective is to ensure that first and foremost the much loved May Fair continues for the benefit of our village and surrounding areas. The OCP’s secondary aim is to ensure that the Fair gives back to the local community. All surplus monies made from this event are donated to good causes and organisations within the community. Since OCP’s first May Fair in 2012 we have distributed over £15,000 to organisations including Christ Church, the Ottershaw Guides, Ottershaw and Addlestone Scout groups, The Ottershaw Village Hall, New Haw Scout Group and Home Start Runnymede. Last year’s Fair was one of our most successful ever with a record number of visitors and new and exciting stall holders. Our aim is to provide ‘something for everyone ’ – for adults and children alike, young and old. This year we have some returning favourites including Punch & Judy, Bouncy castles, craft stalls and raffles, Local Interest stalls, ‘The D-Beez’ band and many food and refreshment stalls including bars, barbecues and a hog roast. Also returning this year after a few years away are the Pilgrim Morris Dancers – a firm May Day favourite! One of our most popular stalls last year was the craft gin company ‘Silent Pool’ (we can’t imagine why!) who are also returning with their popular products. New stalls are being added all the time and we’ll ensure our Facebook and Twitter pages and our listing on the Ottershaw Village website keep everybody up to date with what’s on. Vital to the success of the Fair is not only the people who help organise and assist on the day but also our generous sponsors. We’d like to say a massive thank you to both Trident Honda and Curchods Estate Agents in Ottershaw who are our 2 main sponsors again this year. Our sincere thanks go to Richard, Jonathan and their teams at both companies for their ongoing support of our event and whose businesses play a key role in the village. We would love to hear from people that would like to volunteer on the day – we are always in desperate need of volunteer support. Volunteer activities include: • Helping set up the field and marking out pitches • Greeting people at the gates and collecting money, handing out programmes • Car park duty • Checking on stallholders • Generally being on hand

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 22 | Page OTTERSHAW PLAYERS SUMMER PLAYS

Please add the date 19th or 20th July to your diaries and come and see Ottershaw Players’ very funny plays. They will be held at Ottershaw Village Hall, Ottershaw from 7.30pm.

A buffet supper is included and there will From as little as an hour – that’s all we ask. be a pay bar available. We look forward to We very much encourage volunteers to do seeing you! For more details please visit: a shift and then go and enjoy the fair. We www.ottershawplayers.co.uk are always in great need of help with the planning of future May Fairs. This does not mean you need to join a committee, it can be as simple as helping with one of the planning tasks. We start planning in LOOKING FOR A CAFE IN January and individual tasks take up very OTTERSHAW? little time – an hour or so a week. With enough people it is relatively simple and Why not try CAMEO which is open most extremely rewarding. If you think you’d be Thursday mornings at the Ottershaw able to help out either on the day at this Village Hall (Brook Hall) from 9am to 12 year’s Fair or indeed next year’s midday. For ten years now, coffee, tea and event, please do get in touch with us via delicious homemade cakes have been one of the methods below, we’d love to served by a band of volunteers from Christ hear from you. Church, Ottershaw, who run this cafe for the whole village community. All ages from Getting in Touch with the OCP: babes in arms to centenarians are Via email: [email protected] welcome. Or via our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheOttershaw MayFair Twitter: @OttershawFair Put 6th May in your diaries and come along and join the fun at the 2019 Ottershaw May Fair. There’s plenty of parking and something for all the family, and it’s our aim that Look out for the sign-board outside and you go home with a smile on your drop-in for a chat and something to eat face having enjoyed this vital village and drink if you are passing by. institution. Long may it continue!

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