The magazine of Horsell Residents’ Association The Resident Free! Published and distributed by volunteers to every Horsell household
Spring 2011 Inside this issue
Brewery Road development update
Village Show gets new venue
Mystery of our www.HorsellResidents.com forgotten goliath
Cherry blossom on High Street, Horsell. Photo © Tricia Nigh The Resident Editorial Published by HORSELL RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION LTD I hope you will find this edition of the Advertising deadlines Magazine team: magazine packed full of interesting articles Editor: Sarah Johns – Tel. 0772 907 3405 about Horsell and Woodham! Summer 2011 • 1 May Ann Harington – Tel. 761624 Autumn 2011 • 1 July Peter Hobbs – Tel. 824069 Dorothy Smith – Tel. 836031 Read about Horsell’s forgotten goliath, the For advertising rates, please contact Janice Worgan – Tel. 762526 new venue for the Village Show and the Peter Hobbs (details on left). Please e-mail any comments, articles, letters 1st Horsell Scouts Hundred celebrations - or Horsell photos to the Editor: amazing that the pack is 100 years old. [email protected] Photos, articles & community This issue has all the dates and venues for events deadlines Published by Horsell Residents’ Association Horsell and Woodham’s top Summer events Limited. A non-profit company limited by - the May Fayre, the Garden Safari and the Summer 2011 • 17 June guarantee. Registered number 5377490. Village Show. Autumn 2011 • 11 July Text © individual authors as named. Please e-mail Sarah Johns at Photos © Sarah Johns, 2011 except where Tricia’s photo on the front cover shows, [email protected] indicated. despite all the cold weather, Spring really is Printed by: Arrow Offset, Craven House, Lansbury on its way!. Estate, Woking GU21 2EP Sarah E-mail: [email protected] Tel. 01483 799900
No responsibility for the quality of goods or services The Sixth Annual General Meeting of the Company will advertised in this magazine can be accepted by the publishers or printers. Advertisements are included in good faith. No part of this magazine may be reproduced be held at The Village Hall, High Street, Horsell in any form whatsoever without the prior permission of the Publishers. The Publishers do not necessarily on Tuesday 12th April 2011 agree with the views expressed by contributors, nor do they accept any responsibility for errors of interpretation Commencing at 7.30 pm in the subject matter of this magazine. All reasonable care is taken to ensure accuracy in preparation of the Agenda magazine but the publishers cannot be held legally responsible for errors in the articles or the return of 1. Apologies for absence unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or projects. Whilst every care is taken, no responsibility can be accepted 2. Minutes of the 5th AGM of the Horsell Residents’ Association Ltd. for the safety of material submitted. 3. Matters arising.
Horsell Residents’ Association 4. Chairman’s report. Contacts 5. Treasurer’s report.
President: Dorothy Smith 6. Election of Directors. Tel. 836031; [email protected] 7. Election of members to the Management Committee. Chairman: Rob Harris Tel. 855449; [email protected] 8. Election of an Independent Examiner of the Company’s accounts. Hon. Secretary: Colin Kramer Tel. 761455; [email protected] 9. Any other relevant business. Hon. Treasurer: Janice Worgan Tel. 762526; [email protected] 10. Guest Speaker:- Membership Secretary: Peter Hobbs Tel. 824069; Roger Chamberlain, Chairman of Horsell Village Hall Trustees: [email protected] Presentation of proposals for a new Scout Hut and extension to the Village Hall
Page 2 The Resident – Spring 2011 Brewery Road development goes ahead
n 8 February 2011, Woking Borough Council’s alongside the Brewery Road site, and for those currently using OPlanning Committee voted to approve the car park. WWF-UK’s application to build on Brewery Road car In January, Horsell Residents’ Association arranged for a public park. meeting between local residents, councillors and representa- tives from WWF-UK. Over 200 people crowded into Horsell The Committee meeting was the culmination of discussions Village Hall to question David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of between the Council and WWF-UK, the global environmental the charity and representatives of Woking Borough Council. charity, which began back in 2008. Residents had two main concerns.
We’ve reported previously that WWF-UK plan to build a flagship Does it set a precedent for more commercial development headquarters. The charity decided that the canal-side location along the north side of the canal? Why is the Council giving the met its ambition for a site which would combine the benefits Brewery Road site to WWF? of an urban well connected location (Woking) with a green and ecologically diverse environment. The WBC has confirmed that only the Brewery Road and Kingswood Court sites are included in the “Town Centre” in As well as the building itself, the application included the provision the Local Plan. The Council’s Planning Committee approval for of covered public car parking space as well as a ‘piazza’ area for Brewery Road car park site will not set a precedent for other public use. The general public have been broadly supportive of sites on the north side of the canal. the new, environmentally friendly building. The Council, as landowner, has agreed to grant WWF a licence The main issues raised by councillors during the Committee to redevelop the site, at WWF’s expense. meeting included disabled access across the site, development of the canalside and disruption to local residents. When the development is complete the Council will retain freehold ownership of the site and grant WWF a long term lease Access for pedestrians and cyclists between Brewery Road and in respect of its headquarter building and take back a lease, at the ‘wooden’ bridge over the canal was raised several times. The no cost to the Council, of the car park and public areas around plans currently show that the pedestrian way will be elevated. the headquarter building. WWF-UK plan to provide disabled access via a lift and a ramp, but concerns were raised in the meeting over the maintenance The HRA has taken up local residents’ concerns with the WBC, and safety of the lift. . about the financial benefit to Woking from this development. As they say, watch this space! Concerns were also raised about disruption to residents living VOLUNTEER!
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Independent Day School for Girls & Boys aged 3-13 The HRA ensures that Horsell & Woodham is represented at local and county levels.
If you’d like to volunteer (eg. distributing The Resident, joining the Committee or help your writing reviews of local events), find out Come and see how we can full potential more at: child reach their www.horsellresidents.com ~ Caring, family atmosphere ~ Personal attention ~ ~ High academic achievements ~ Subscribe to ‘What’s On in Horsell & ~ Strong emphasis on Music, Sport & Art ~ Woodham’ for exclusive news, updates ~ Extensive programme of after school activities ~ and reviews: Church Hill House, Horsell, Woking, Surrey GU21 4QW www.horsellresident.wordpress.com Telephone: 01483 760943 Reg. Charity No. 297580 Follow us on Twitter: @horsellresident Established to promote and provide for the advancement of education
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The Resident – Spring 2011 Page 3 Horsell history – a tree-mendous sight!
hose who lived in Horsell in the ‘70s and ‘80s final right angled turn from Chobham Road into Brewery Road Tmight remember an enormous log which used to proving particularly tricky. be displayed on two stone plinths outside what was When it arrived in Horsell, Brewsters decided to use the Great once Brewsters timber yard, on the site currently Log for public display and publicity purposes. They erected it occupied by Jewson (Arthurs Bridge Wharf). horizontally over the main entrance, across two stone plinths, and during the ‘70s and early ‘80s they encouraged parties of It was an unusual object impossible to forget for those who saw school children to guess the number of matches the log would it, and it has an interesting story behind it, told in the papers of make. The correct answer was over 58 million matches! a local resident F. G. H. ‘Harold’ Hawkins. In the ‘80s, when Brewsters eventually became Magnet Joinery, Harold Hawkins worked in the Horsell timber trade for 47 years and the timber importing part of the business was sold off to from the age of 18. Brewster & Co Ltd, where Harold worked, Harcros, Magnet asked Harcros to remove the Great Log. was located on the site of Jewson, then known as Arthurs Bridge Harcros simply had it laid it aside on the ground. Sadly it is Wharf. Timber was brought up the Thames to Kingston and then still there, on Horsell Moor just in front of the Jewson’s yard – loaded onto canal barges and towed to Woking by horse, along where, if you look carefully, you can find it slowly rotting under the Basingstoke Canal. brambles.
Harold tells how ‘The Great Log’ was the largest piece of sawn We can’t help wondering whether the Log could be saved and timber ever imported into the UK. Measuring a massive 72 feet put on display in Horsell again. If you’ve got any ideas about by 24 inches by 24 inches, it came nearly 5,000 miles by ship what we could do with the Log to save it from rotting away, from Canada’s western forests near Vancouver. please write to us or email us at The Horsell Resident. Maybe the Pirates who made Pegasus could make a sculpture for the The timber was originally ordered to be imported in 1962 for use Queen Elizabeth Gardens, or to go on the green in front of the by the North Thames Gas Board for its gas works at Beckton, Cricketers! East London, the largest coal-based gas works in the world. They needed timber to repair the wharves and jetties where Helen Cammack, South Road the coal barges arrived. When this particular log With many thanks to Nicholas Enticknap, Ann Harington and arrived by ship in the the Woking History Society for providing original source material Pool of London just below written by the late F G H ‘Harold’ Hawkins of Brewster & Co Tower Bridge, there was (Woking). “exceptional interest” in its enormous size, and Harold Hawkins himself went up to Teaspoon shortage hits Hall London from Horsell to see it unloaded. Horsell Village Hall has a shortage of teaspoons. If you’ve got some old teaspoons lurking in your cutlery drawer, looking However the Great Log for a new home, don’t throw them out. was never used at the gas works, which became A few years ago the Hall had a shortage of cutlery. Everyone redundant because of came up trumps and we received as many as we might need, the growing use of North with the exception of teaspoons. We would love to have Sea gas. Instead, it was some, rather than the plastic ones. sold back to Brewsters in Horsell. Harold remembers If you’d like to donate your teaspoons to the Hall, please it being transported from contact Penny Kramer on 01483 761455. London to Horsell on an A sad end to the goliath of Horsell articulated lorry, with the
Page 4 The Resident – Spring 2011 Scouts celebrate 100 years in Horsell
011 sees 1st Horsell Scout Group celebrating Fascinating facts about 1st Horsell Scout Group 2its centenary. The Group was founded in 1911, by Tony Bowan just days after the launch of the Titanic. 1st Horsell Scout Happily, unlike the Titanic, the Group has gone from strength Group was one to strength over the years, thanks to the enthusiam and of the first Scout support of local children and helpers. Troops registered in Woking in 1911. The This year sees a festival of special events to mark the first Scout Troop was occasion, and to raise much-needed funds for a new Scout registered locally HQ building. in June 1911, the Scoutmaster was W.H. Vidler who ►►Mon 2 May, 11.45 to 4.30pm, Wheatsheaf Recreation lived in Cheapside, Ground. A ‘Centenary Special’ - the 33rd Grand May Fayre assisted by C.A. The Cubs in 1928, with formidable Pack leader, will feature The Tigers Army Parachute Team. Fenn from Vale Miss Alice Duckring. Farm and three Photo courtesy Horsell Scouts and Guides ►►Sat 4 June. The Horsell Hundred Birthday Party. For others, Records Beavers and Cubs with scout support – Fun, games, some show five warranted officers (leaders/helpers) 14 boys and ten fun, squash more fun and A BIG CAKE! Rover Scouts. The original Cub Pack was registered in 1916.
►►Sat and Sun 2-3 July. The Centenary Family Activity Camp It was started by Rev. E. J. Bentley the curate, other supporters for all ages. A family camp at Birchmere with loads of in the early years were Granville Wallis, a church councillor and activities and games plus a special family camp fire. sidesman and Cannon Norman Pares. During 1915 the Troop was run by Rev. Vernon Johnson. ►►Sat and Sun 21-22 September. The Devizes to Woking Challenge. 100 miles and 100 participants with canoes, During both world wars the Troop was involved in collecting cycles, runners and walkers. paper, picking potatoes, acting as messengers, collecting lichen for field dressings and welcoming evacuee children to the ►►Sun 9 October. Church Celebration at St Mary’s Church, primary school. Horsell.
The Resident – Spring 2011 Page 5 All change for the Village Show
n 2010, our intrepid reporter Helen Cammack, from Towards 4 o’clock I had a chat with a lady called Nomad from the South Road, visited the Show for the first time. Beaver Scouts who, together with the exotically named Electra I and Luna, was running several games. The two local Beaver The bunting was up, the sun was shining (thank goodness), and Scouts groups (Trailblazers and Adventurers) had joined forces I was on my way to my first Village Show. I rocked up at the to bring us Stomp Rockets, Hoop-la and Roll-a-Coin. The Stomp gate at 2pm just in time to see the Year 2 girls from the Village Rockets were particularly popular with children, who could School preparing to dance around the maypole in front of the make their own paper rocket, and then blast it up into the sky Village Hall. by jumping on a fizzy pop bottle filled with air. By the time we chatted, about 60 children had already blasted their rockets! Elaine Cooper, the school’s head, gave the girls a pep talk in a small huddle, then the girls took their As people were drifting away I asked for positions and the music started. There their comments. Becky and her baby son was hardly an error as the dancers Ollie had just moved to the area and were whirled under the maypole, ‘weaving’ and visiting the show with Ollie’s grandad. “How ‘undo-ing’ their green, blue, yellow and did you hear about the Show?” I said. “We red ribbons, making colourful arcs and knew about it even before we moved to patterns around the pole, for an apprecia- Horsell”, said Becky. “In fact it was one of tive audience of parents and friends. the reasons we moved to Horsell – we liked the fact that Horsell is the type of place to The dancing over, I made my way into have a Village Show”. the village hall itself to see the show exhibits. I was amazed that one village According to the organisers, entries to the could produce so much... well, produce. Show were slightly down this year. I felt There were flower arrangements, proudly Children from the Village School dance around my face blush with embarrassment. Here displayed rows of home-grown vegetables, the maypole. Photo © Helen Cammack. I was, enjoying all the Show had to offer and delicious looking cakes, each with a and I hadn’t entered a thing. Next year, little card announcing the name of its creator and whether it had Horsell, just you wait - I have the limerick prize in my sights. I’m won a prize. practising already...
Then it was time for the Punch and Judy. The two-year old we’d In Horsell, despite its small size arrived with was enthralled, as were most of the children, the Some wonderful folk organise older ones joining in by shouting and screaming “Watch out for A great Village Show the crocodile!” In these high-tech times it was wonderful to see So next year, please go, some simple puppets create so much fun. And enter yourself for a prize!
Page 6 The Resident – Spring 2011 New venue – Horsell C of E School
e know it is only Spring, but that is not too early It is all still at the planning stage, but do please put SATURDAY Wto let everyone know that the venue for the THE 23RD JULY AT 2.00 PM IN YOUR DIARY NOW! Horsell Village Show is changing! If you would like to book a craft stall, please contact Marion The 2011 Show is to be held in the grounds of Horsell C of E Piper, whose telephone number is given below. Junior School in Meadway Drive. “Why?” you may very well be asking. If you have any time to spare to help with things like putting up marquees, manning a stall, selling raffle tickets, helping with Well, it is flat – better for pushchairs and wheelchairs with less the tombola and setting up/clearing up, the Committee would be chance of tripping up and no stairs to negotiate to see the absolutely delighted! Please contact Diane Fagence (Chairman) photos, art and children’s sections. on 01483 762621 or myself on 01483 855108.
There is so much more space, giving us the chance to grow – We would love the whole village to give us their support in our just like the giant marrows in the Veg Classes at the Show last new venture. If it is successful, we hope to hold the show in year! We hope to look more like a traditional village show, with Meadway Drive every year, but we cannot guarantee anything marquees and stalls dotted everywhere. without you.
We’re aiming for a really fun afternoon for the whole family. Thank you for taking the time to read this article and please, There will be the usual competitive side, but we hope to have please, do come along on the 23rd July – we are sure you will fun elements too such as Morris Dancers, a bouncy castle, craft have a great time. Please look out for further news of the show stalls, competitions (including that favourite from last year – the as the year goes by. paper aeroplane contest), maybe a band, the Punch & Judy Show, face painting, Horsell Village Evening WI teas, and much Marion Piper – Secretary, Horsell Village Show more. www.horsellvillageshow.co.uk
Just some of the volunteers, visitors and entries from last year’s Show.
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The Resident – Spring 2011 Page 7 The Bedser Trail on Woodham Common
orsell Common Preservation Society (HCPS) Now that winter is finally behind us, the days are longer and Hand Surrey Wildlife Trust have been leading a warmer (hopefully!), why not make the most of Horsell’s green project on Woodham Common since early 2009. spaces? With the help of local volunteers and sponsorship from Woking This is just a small part of the 1000 acres under the protection Borough Council a footpath has been created in the woodland of HCPS. Visit their website at www.horsellcommon.co.uk for area between Monument Road and Chertsey Road. more information on the trees, plants and wildlife you can see on Horsell Common, the history of the society and to find out It has been named the Bedser Trail, after Horsell’s famous about becoming a member. cricketer. Sir Alec Bedser himself visited the site of the 1.2km (0.7 mile) trail and met some of the volunteers involved in Greta Hughson, High Street constructing it before his death in April 2010.
The resulting circular path among the pine trees can be easily accessed from the car park at Monument Road near the Six Crossroads roundabout.
An important aspect of the trail is that it passes near to the Bronze Age Barrows on this part of the common. There are two ‘bell barrows’ and one ‘disc barrow’, named for their shape.
These are rare examples of burial mounds (or ‘tumuli’), dating from around 3500 years ago and are recognised as scheduled monuments by English Heritage (meaning they are legally protected because of their national importance).
The best-preserved barrow is about 28 metres across and over a metre high. The previous paths on the common led walkers directly over the barrows. The new trail passes close by, allowing access while protecting the site. Photos of the Bedser trail, January 2011. © Greta Hughson
Organising a street party for the Royal Wedding?
Find out everything you need to know to make the party run smoothly from www.woking.gov.uk The closing date for applications to close streets is Wednesday 13 April at 5pm. Apply online or pick up a copy from the reception desk in the Civic Offices. For more information please contact Gary Cordery, WBC Health & Wellbeing Development Officer on 01483 743424 or e-mail [email protected]
Page 8 The Resident – Spring 2011 Neighbourhood Watches won’t wait
omething interesting is happening in the quiet Sworld of Neighbourhood Watches. No, we are not going to pose for a naked calendar, but we are rousing ourselves into action.
Neighbourhood Watch is a street-level approach to keeping our communities safe, and we have a close relationship with the Police, especially the local Bobbies and Crime Reduction Officers. Across Woking there are about 225 Watches in place, but that’s less than a quarter of roads. So a programme to expand the network to 500 is being launched in October. If you are given a leaflet at your supermarket or have one delivered through your door, please find a minute to complete the form and send it back. The 2010 Big Lunch in Waldens Park Road There’s more to the campaign than just expanding the network. We strongly believe that the aim of any Watch is not just to Association of Neighbourhood Watches (WAN) are ready to take improve security but also to strengthen the ties between advantage of this new thinking coming from Whitehall. To the residents. We should be aware of the vulnerable and be ready strengths of our Watch grassroots, we can add the power of the to help. We should join in on litter-clearing and replanting days, WAN network. and find new ways to enrich our community. So why not get a Watch started in your road, or give your existing The first step is getting to know each other – a street party or Watch a new lease of life? “Watching” sounds very passive but garden barbecue is a great way of doing this. Four streets in Neighbourhood Watch has the potential to channel the efforts of Woking have done this for the past two years as part of the Big the local community into real action. Lunch initiative. It really helps everyone get to know each other! Contact Tony Kremer on 01483 764351 or at These local experts can also speak with a louder voice in [email protected] for more information. shaping the way Woking develops. The Prime Minister promises to give neighbourhoods a stronger voice, and we in the Woking Tony Kremer, Waldens Park Road
The Resident – Spring 2011 Page 9 Voice in a Million by Rhian Harrison
n the 1st of February, I and 28 other year 6 around the arena. After this, as the audience started to arrive, Opupils travelled up to London to take part in the the hosts called out the names of all the different schools and Voice In A Million concert 2011 at the amazing O2! that school had to get out of their seats and make as much noise as they possibly could! When Horsell’s turn finally came, I felt so The reason for this was to raise money for BAAF proud and important to be representing our school. (British Association for Adoption and Fostering). When it was finally time for the concert to start at 7.30pm, all the We came in to school as if it were a normal day, then at lunchtime lights went out except for the spotlight and our tiny glow sticks. we set off on the coach. Although we were very aware that The host spoke a few words, and then the first soloist stepped there were going to be thousands of other children participat- forward and sang into the microphone… ing as well as us, when everybody had arrived in the O2 arena for the rehearsal, I was extremely surprised at how many of us Soon it was our turn to join in with the singing and I tried to make there actually were! The arena itself was more enormous than I the most of every song because I knew I would remember it had ever imagined! However, what shocked me most were the forever. In between the songs there were a few very emotional huge voices of the solo singers, many of whom were adopted speeches, which helped us remember what the evening was all or fostered themselves. I did wonder whether it was just their about. voices or whether they were singing along to a CD. When it came to the last song I was very sad and couldn’t When it was our turn to sing our hearts out, everyone was really believe it had ended so quickly, but I was also extremely proud enthusiastic. I tried to sing as loudly as possible, so that our of myself, as I am certain everybody else was. single voices would be heard over the other 7,500! We were also doing some simple but effective actions such as clapping, I would like to say a special thank you to Miss Benton and Miss swaying and waving. We could hardly wait for the actual Oakley who were responsible for organising the trip for us. performance. Rhian Harrison During the break, we were given our Voice In A Million T shirts, which we would wear for the performance. I knew it was a very Year 6, Horsell Church of England Junior School special keepsake! We were also handed a glow stick for added effect when we were doing the actions. A few minutes later, the ►►If your school would like to contribute to our new Schools hosts for the night kept us entertained by getting us to do a giant section, please contact [email protected] for Mexican Wave! It looked absolutely amazing going all the way details.
Page 10 The Resident – Spring 2011 Community news Horsell Bowling Club Collegium Regale Concert 2011 welcomes new members At 8.00 pm on Friday 8 April 2011, Collegium Regale, a group of seven choral scholars and an organ scholar from the Choir of We are all looking forward to the 2011 season and would King’s College, Cambridge, will once again be giving a concert welcome new members to our “Introduction to Bowls” on in St Andrew’s Church, Goldsworth Park in aid of the Woking Saturday 16th April from 10.00 a.m. Hospice.
This is a day designed to encourage novice and experienced The King’s College Choir is world famous for its annual TV players to join our members for a try out, chat and coffee at our and radio broadcasts of “Carols from Kings”. On this occasion clubhouse in Queen Elizabeth Gardens. Collegium Regale will be performing a varied and highly entertaining programme which includes madrigals, sacred Phone 01483 480131 or email [email protected] for more music, folk and pop songs, all unaccompanied, and some details. pieces of organ music.
Refreshments will be served during the interval and the concert will end about 10 pm.
Tickets cost £15 and are available from Mike and Rosie Lipscomb on 01483 760655 or from Emma Cartwright at the Hospice on 01483 881752. Don’t forget!
Members of Horsell Bowling Club at President’s Day, the last match It’s the annual Horsell Garden of the 2010 season. This was followed by a meal and the presen- Safari on Saturday 18 and Sunday tation of trophies to club prize winners. Photo © Tricia Nigh. 19 June.
++Stop Press++Stop Press++ Look out for the posters, pick up a programme from High Street Horsell Scouts and Guides are having a Jumble Sale in their HQ shops or contact either Gail on in Horsell High Street on Saturday 26 March at 2pm. 01483 7694521 or Penny on 01483 761455 for more information. Please bring any jumble to the HQ on the morning of the Sale, after 9am, or phone 01483 764932 or 01483 772172 for collection (no large furniture).
The Resident – Spring 2011 Page 11