SPRING 2018 NEWSLETTER Kindly sponsored by

Registered Charity No: 287803

1 | Page PLANNING UPDATE LOCAL PLAN The final Public Consultation on its Local Plan by Borough Council (RBC) was carried out between 11 January and 22 February earlier this year. The Ottershaw Society printed and distributed over 1,700 leaflets to most residences in the parish, entirely by volunteers. Although this was the 3rd Consultation on the Local Plan, and many of you had written into RBC with your comments to the previous two Consultations, we had to ask you all to write in again as only the responses to this final Consultation would be submitted to the Inspector. We do not know how many responses there were at the time of printing this Newsletter. RBC were planning to submit the Draft Plan to the Inspectorate by the end of March. At this stage the Ottershaw Society has requested to make representations at this Inquiry. The main change from the previous Consultations was the inclusion of The Field Nursery site down Brox Lane for removal from the Green Belt (GB). It was to form a link between the Ottershaw East site already proposed for removal from the GB by RBC and the Reserved Site of Brox Lane Nursery. This will cause considerable problems to the residents of Brox Lane as it could provide a way into this site from Ottershaw East to avoid the developer`s present proposal to enter the site from Brox Lane, which is not a public highway. BENRA were equally active in distributing leaflets and posters around the village concentrating on this development and the inclusion of The Field Nursery site. At least we all thought this was the final stages of the Local Plan, but in mid-March RBC announced that, due to a further Consultation from the Government of 7 March 2018, it was taking the opportunity offered by this latest Consultation to delay the submission of the Plan to the Inspectorate until July 2018. One reason, amongst many others, was the need to include definite proposals on solutions to the overload on all the local roads, including in particular the A320, by all the proposed developments which was highlighted in just about every response by residents to the current Draft Plan. This Travel Plan, see below, is at present only in Draft form. It is hoped that a Final Travel Plan will be available for yet another Public Consultation in May-June! The only good thing is that all of the representations sent in at the January–February Consultation earlier this year WILL be sent to the Inspector when the Draft Plan is finally submitted to the Inspectorate. But residents may well wish to comment again when they see these road infrastructure plans and how they impact on Ottershaw. TRAVEL PLANS Because of the potential of major developments in the area of the A320 in the Local Plans of the 3 local councils, the 4 Councils, (Runnymede, , Heath and Surrey County Council as responsible for transport infrastructure), have commissioned a major Traffic Survey by Arcadis. The 2nd Draft was issued in February. It looks at ALL the junctions on the A320 from to Woking. Each junction has one option to make improvements within the existing junction. Some junctions have a 2nd option to build a massive new roundabout, which will mean land take.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 2 | Page The Otter roundabout is one with both options. The Society will keep members informed as these plans progress as it could have a major effect in the centre of the village. The McLaren and 6 Crossroads roundabouts are similarly affected, plus a possible new roundabout at the Holloway Hill/Green Lane junction. At the moment there are NO plans to widen the road from the roundabout up to Woking, but looking at widening from the St. Peter`s Way roundabout back to Ottershaw roundabout. The Councils are applying for Government grants but mainly are relying on the developers of all the sites proposed in the Plan to put up the money needed.

BROX LANE RBC had previously refused A2 Domain`s application for 14 houses. At the Planning Committee on 7 March it passed the application for `up to 40 dwellings`. This was in spite of 240 letters of objection. The developer and residents are still in discussions as to the possible way forward.

ST. PETER`S HOSPITAL The development of 212 houses/flats and 116 retirement apartments on what remains of the old Botleys Hospital site, (see last Newsletter for details), the money to be used to re-build 2 of the 3 areas of staff housing on the hospital site, was granted permission subject to conditions at the Planning Committee on 7 March.

MCLAREN With the increase in employees on this site, there is a problem with car parking at shift changes, especially between 2-2.30 pm. Until the 1st shift have left, the 2nd shift cannot get into the car parks, so back up on the A320. McLarens have an application in to build a 2nd story on the existing car park which they say will solve this problem.

FOXHILLS COUNTRY and GOLF CLUB In March representatives of the Society`s Committee were invited to Foxhills by Marc Hayton, Managing Director and owner, to view the new Master Plan for the complex. This will be submitted to RBC in due course. The present building on the north wall of the Walled Garden will be demolished, but retaining the southern walls, to be rebuilt to in a more modern/environmentally 2 storey purpose building, but with windows all along the north wall of the new building giving views down the fairway to the north. This would also include better children and family facilities. The wooden staff facility on the outside of the north wall would be demolished. The outdoor pool, and the indoor pool will also be rebuilt to modern standards. The more recent building in the centre of the complex, now used for family facilities, will be demolished and replaced with accommodation for staff. More weather proof conservatories will be added to the main bar, 19th Tee, and the Fitness Centre café. All of these improvements are within the envelope of the present complex and within the present 2 storey height of the adjoining buildings.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 3 | Page OTTERSHAW BOWLS CLUB OTHER VILLAGE There is a very active Bowls Club based at ORGANISATIONS UPDATES the Memorial Fields, Foxhills Road. Its THE WI NIGHT OWL green was built by 1961. Mr. King, one of EVENT PROGRAMME the donors of the Fields, had a bowling green in his garden and started the The visitor fee is £5 and ladies can come 3 Bowling Club in 1942 playing on the Green times before we request they join. at the Chertsey Recreation Ground. Their Membership is £41 for 2018 if joining Jan- headquarters was `The Otter` Hotel until Mar, with the fee pro-rated down each they moved to the Pavilion on the Fields. quarter throughout the year (Apr-Jun 2017 was therefore their 75th anniversary. £30.75, Jul-Sept £20.50 and Oct-Dec The occasion was marked by a match £10.25). There are days out and theatre against a Surrey Presidents team-players trips planned and coffee mornings for our from all over the County. A good sunny day local chosen charity this year, The Orchard graced the occasion. In 2017 the Club had Dementia Centre in Chertsey. There is also a successful year, winning 22 games, 6 an active book club meeting once a losses and 6 cancellations. If you are month. All of this info, and more, is interested in playing or trying your hand at available on our website bowls in the coming season, starting in (ottershawnightowlswi.btck.co.uk). May, please ring Sue Brewer (01932 May 1st - The Plight of Bees 873211) for information. The Club will be Lorraine from Surrey Bees will explain how habitat holding an Open Day on Saturday 5th May loss and pesticides are threatening our bees. 2018 from 2pm onwards. Flat shoes June 5th - Summer Mystery Evening required. All are welcome. Join us for a mystery summer social event come rain or shine. July 3rd - British Wildlife in Photos Ian Rentoul, a former military aviation photographer, will share his love of British wildlife and show us some of his amazing photographs. September 4th - Dan the Fireman Local fireman Dan Pearson will impart some fire safety advice and regale us with anecdotes of his life in the service. October 2nd - Women in WWI CAMEO Peter Batty’s interactive presentation will seek to involve the audience in an exploration of women’s Why not pop into the Brook Hall, contribution to the war effort. Ottershaw on a Thursday morning October 16th - Runnymede Group Autumn between 9am and midday for a cup of Meeting - A Fun Look at British Eccentrics coffee/tea and a piece of cake? You are Susan Howe will celebrate our love of eccentricity bound to meet someone you know among and talks about some famous examples of true the 50 or so people who currently come British eccentrics (meeting starts at 7.30 - £3 every week. This is open to anyone from 1 entry fee for all). to 100+.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 4 | Page OTTERSHAW ROAD NAMES COTTAGE CLOSE Part 2 Built by W. Deakin in 1964 on part of Ottershaw Cottage garden, hence its name By Hannah Lane `Cottage Close`. As the main entrance to FOXHILLS ROAD Nos. 32-38 Chobham Road is up a path at the side of the Close, there is no vehicle This road was part of the hamlet of access to these cottages. This is known as Chertsey Lane End (the area around the `The Barracks` by local residents and in present roundabout), until it became part Church records. The author has not found of Ottershaw around the turn of the 20th any clues as to this name-any ideas? C. Foxhills is the hill to the north of Stonehill Road just to the east of the end FOXHILLS CLOSE of this road, hence the name of the estate The original field was part of the Fletcher`s of this name from 1840 on this site and Nursery by 1855. Then it was purchased in the present name of the road. On the 1729 1935 by Mr. Frederick Latham, landlord of Senex map the road runs over Heather the Otter Inn. The Close was built in Hill, which is now Ether Hill towards 1959/60 by E. & D. Simmons Ltd. of Stonehill Road. By the 1762 Rocque map it Simplemarsh Road, . Foxhills is on its present line. An original road to Close is off Foxhills Road. Chobham ran from just beyond the TRINGHAM CLOSE present entrance to the Memorial Fields across to the bend near the South Lodge The Close was built in c 1936 to house the of Queenwood, but it had gone by 1870. married male staff of the new Mental Hospital of Botleys, recently established In the award References of the Enclosure on the Botleys Estate after being bought Plan of the Manor of Walton Leigh 1802 it by Surrey County Council in 1929. It was is a `Private carriage Road from Chertsey named after the vicar, or Canon, of Lyne Lane to Potters Park`, an old farm at the Church, the estate of Botleys being in the top of the road. On the 1861 census there parish of Lyne. So this vicar was very much is no Foxhills Road, but the top half is` involved in the Hospital and likely to have Kitchenride` up to Stonehill Road. The been on the Committee. The flats and bottom part is Otter Road. On the 1865 houses at the far end were built in the Parish map in the Church archives, and the 1970-80s. 1911 census, it is called Kitchenride Road, where it has the same start and finish points as now, but a larger kink in the middle. Kitchenride was also another name for Quicksprite Lane which was the track from near the far end of the road across Botleys Park to the Mansion. Also it was the name of the Foxhills/Stonehill Roads junction. By 1950`s it was called Stonehill Lane, with Foxhills Road later that decade. Foxhills Road, was Stonehill Lane

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 5 | Page BRUNNER COURT Brunner Court was built in 1992 by Ideal Homes and a Housing Association. This site was the garages of Tringham Close at the back of Pinewood and Brodwick Cottages. MURRAY ROAD This was originally a track from Chertsey Lane End (the present roundabout area) towards the area of what is now Addlestone. In the References of the Enclosure Plan of the Manor of Walton Leigh 1802 the name is the Weybridge Road because there was no present Addlestone at that time, (it was a tiny hamlet over towards Chertsey). Then it becomes Addlestone Road once this town was being built with the coming of the railway, but also Spinney Road or Spinney Oak. The actual Spinney Wood was where Rudge Rise and Copperfield Rise are now on the south side of Spinney Hill road. The Spinney Oak was at the modern junction of Spinney Hill and Ongar Hill.

Murray Road was still called Addlestone Road on some postcards in the 20th C. Its next name was Union Road when the Chertsey Poor Law Union Workhouse was built in 1836. Then it became Murray Road after Mr. R. H. Murray, a Guardian and benefactor of the Workhouse in the 1860s. Union Road was still on the 1911 census, and used by the villagers in the 1920s. There is also a spelling of Murray as `Murrey` on one post card. Murray Road, was Addlestone Road These names apply up to the junction with the present Hare Hill (Road) and Spinney Hill. But from c1870 to 1912 from east of the junction with Slade Road up the hill, it is also called Hare Hill. This same stretch up the hill past Great Grove Farm was also known as Webbs Hill after the Webb family who farmed it for the Goslings of Botleys Park from c1854 to 1904. To those in Spratts Lane it was Barker’s Hill after a later owner of Great Grove Farm. Even in the years after WW2 the hill was steep enough that in the much more severe winters of that time, with frequent snow and ice on the roads, even buses had to have more than one attempt to get to the top. All of the land on the north side of Murray Road was Great Grove Farm. The land to the south, from Brox Road, between Murray and Slade Roads, was Brox Common and was `waste of the manor` with no buildings on it. The whole area was bought by Hon Kirkpatrick Escott living at Onger Place/ Hill House (located behind the present shops on Onger Hill) at the Enclosure Act.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 6 | Page WILSON DRIVE AND WARWICK CLARENDON GATE, GRAYS PLACE DEEPING AND SPINNEY OAK The woodland behind the houses on This estate is built on the former site of Foxhills Road on the north side was sold by the Chertsey Isolation/Fever Hospital Botleys Hospital to Deccan Kelly to which opened in 1881, the land having develop for housing in 1986. Having built been sold to Chertsey by the Gray most of the estate in 1988/9, Deccan Kelly Nurseryman family. George Gray had went into bankruptcy. Ideal Homes acquired this area of the old Brox Common eventually took over and completed the from the Hon Escott at the sale of his houses in 1992. Wilson Drive is the estate on his death in 1864. Barrett`s entrance and left hand road. The origin of Homes built the estate in 1996-8. They `Wilson` is not known. called the development `Clarendon Gate`, The road off to the right is Warwick but RBC refused permission for the whole Deeping, named after the author. George estate to be called this. They let it be used Warwick Deeping bought Orchard Cottage for one of the roads. For the other two Farm on Anningsley Park Lane. He they chose the names put forward by the continued to live in Weybridge, but built Ottershaw Society, Gray Place, after the himself a pagoda to cycle over to write his owner of the land who sold it for the books in. He was born in 1877 and died in Hospital, and Spinney Oak as one of the 1954. Son of a country doctor, he went to old names of Murray Road, see above. Cambridge University to read science and medicine. He became a doctor at a London THE SOCIETY COMMITTEE hospital and then a regular soldier in WWI, We can always do with more help. Tasks serving four years in the Royal Army can be as little or large as you want. Medical Corps. He was so horrified at what Currently we are particularly looking for he saw in the trenches that when he left someone to be our Society Secretary and the Army, he did not return to medicine people to help with refreshments at but took to writing books, novels, about 60 meetings. Please e-mail: of them. [email protected] if you can BRAMBLES ESTATE help in any way. The Hon Escott sold part of his nursery to WE WANT TO KNOW.... SO WE CAN Chertsey for the building of its Poor Law UPDATE OUR DATABASE Union Workhouse in 1836. Having become a `hospital` by 1980s it was so out of date We have recently sent out a number of that it was not fit for purpose. So the land alerts regarding the village. If you are not was sold to various developers and all the receiving e-mail alerts and would like to buildings demolished except for the please let Roger know, by emailing him at: original front façade/pediment of the [email protected] main building and the chapel.

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 for Adult Social Care and Wellbeing. Tel: 07889126439. Email: [email protected] COUNCIL TAX ROADS Once again, I begin my update on Council I am sure that residents will agree that following Tax and explain the rationale for the the recent inclement weather that there has been some deterioration in the road network. The cold proposed increase of 5.99% this year. The weather with snow has caused the small cracks to charge levied by Surrey County is made up expand and the result is the break-up of the of two elements surface. A decision was made by Cabinet this • Increase in basic Council Tax of 2.99% week (7/3/18) following the thaw that it would borrow £5m which is estimated to cover some of • Charge to fund Adult Social Care of 3% the major impacted areas. It has also called on As you will see below 66% of the money the Secretary of State for Transport to match this that the Council spends clearly shows the spend. Surrey as with many other services is burdens placed on local authorities with significantly underfunded in this area. The basis of allocating Government funding is on the length of responsibilities for Adults Social Care and road with no consideration made as to the traffic Children’s services. volume on our roads. Repeated calls to Government to relook at a more equitable funding formula have thus far not been met with any success. The following information provides a clearer picture on the way the Highways team responded to the recent cold weather: • More than 14,500 tonnes of salt was stockpiled by the council before winter. • There are 39 “gritters” in Surrey’s fleet. • They have covered more than 100,000 miles of roads so far this winter. • A typical gritting lorry run covers around 35 miles. • Roadside weather stations are used to help plan gritting runs. • Although it’s called grit, what is used on roads is salt. Adults Social Care provides services to the • Highways grits motorways and trunk vulnerable elderly, those residents with roads in Surrey – for example the M25 and A3. some form of learning or physical disability • There are more than 1,700 grit bins across and those suffering from mental health Surrey. while children’s services focus on looked • More than 50 farmers equipped with ploughs after children, those with special education are ready to clear routes. needs and a growing number of • Surrey 4×4 Response is standing by to help unaccompanied asylum seekers. support vulnerable people.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 8 | Page I will be working with our local highways MEMBERSHIP OF THE OTTERSHAW officers to identify roads (or sections of SOCIETY such) which require immediate repairs to If you want to be kept informed about ensure that these are agreed and placed local issues and are not already a member, on the list of works. please do consider joining. The current I am pleased to report that the subscription is: Single person £6, Couple ‘Runnymede roundabout’ is on target to £9, Single pensioner £4, Couple pensioners be completed within the timeframe and £6. Please contact our Treasurer, Roger budget. It will be interesting to see the Pashley, if you would like to join. e-mail: impact on the local traffic once this project [email protected] has been completed.

The Highways team is also fully engaged IDEAS FOR EVENING MEETINGS with assessing the impact on the A320 We are getting together our 2018/19 should all the housing which has been evening programme. Do you have ideas identified in the Runnymede local plan about anything you would like to see come to fruition. I will watch this area featured? Please let us know your carefully and will as usual keep the suggestions. Committee updated on developments. Our 2018 AGM Is at Brook Hall on Tuesday 25th September. SCHOOL ADMISSIONS Surrey has offered five out of six applicants their first preference secondary school FRONT COUNTER CLOSURE despite an eight per cent rise in From 31 March 2018 the front counter at applications. Addlestone Police Station was closed. The The county council processed 851 more nearest counters for our area will now be applications this year than last – enough to at Esher and Staines. Staines Police fill an entire new secondary school. Station is open Monday to Sunday 8am to 12,189 Surrey residents applied for 10pm. Esher Police Station (Civic Centre, secondary school places, which represents High Street, Esher) is open Monday to an increase of eight per cent increase in Thursday 9am to 5pm and on Friday’s from applications compared with last year. 8.45am to 4.45pm. Esher station is closed on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday’s. The Council has invested heavily in more There is no other change to the current school places by providing 18,000 more team of police officers and PCSOs who will primary and secondary places in the last remain in Addlestone. seven years. This year saw ninety-three A yellow phone will remain at the site – per cent of applicants being offered a this phone can be used to contact us on place at one of their top three choices. I 101 or in an emergency 999. know that a place at a preferred school is For more information please visit: really important to families but the cost of https://surrey.police.uk/news/closure-of- this has put a huge strain on county front-counters-march-31-2018/ council budgets. www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 9 | Page OTTERSHAW FOOTBALL CLUB by Jack Webb, Chairman OFC Ottershaw FC are a men’s football team, who have been established at open age football for 5 years. We currently play in the Premier Division of the Guildford & Woking Alliance League, with aims to enter the higher, Surrey Intermediate League over the coming seasons. We currently train Tuesday and Thursday evenings and play at 2pm on Saturdays. Our home ground is ‘The Holt’ – Ottershaw Memorial Fields. Ottershaw FC were founded in 2006 as a youth team at the Under 12 age bracket. We were well known for our organised set up and footballing ethic and believed in playing football in a competitive and fair way. Over the years we were solid contenders in Division 1 of the Surrey Primary League (SPL) and competed in several cup/plate finals. In our final year of youth football, at Under 18 level we showed we could compete at a high standard; reaching the quarter finals of the county cup, losing only 2-1 to a QPR development side. At league level we were U18 champions and losing league cup finalists to a team made predominantly of South of England amateur youth champions. That season was the pinnacle for many of our talented young players’ careers. The tables turned however the season after, when many of our talented players left to pursue their educational careers at University. After one successful and one unsuccessful season at Adult football we were then left without a team for the 2015/16 season. During the 2016/17 season we gained many experienced and good quality players as well as players returning from university, leading to a 4th place finish in Div 1 of the Guildford & Woking Alliance as well as winning the Charity Cup.

Champions of Charity Cup 2017 @Westfield fc stadium

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 10 | Page In the 2017/18 season we were promoted to the premier division, whereby we are aiming for a mid-table finish with a few games remaining. Our biggest achievement this year (and in many of our players' footballing careers) is reaching the Surrey County Cup final; after 5 straight victories against teams from Sutton, Wimbledon, Epsom and Croydon, and Petersham. This final is to be played Friday 27th April, 7.30pm KO, at Dorking’s brand new 2,500 capacity stadium known as Meadowbank. We hope to see a huge attendance for what could be the club's greatest achievement, one to be celebrated not only as a club, but as a village.

Ottershaw 2 v 1 South Wimbledon – County Cup semi Final 17.03.2018 Our plans for next year are to fund brand new top of the range equipment and a brand new sponsored home kit. Polo shirts and training tops are also going to be funded (however in time for the cup final). We are also looking to strengthen our squad and due to the number of people interested in joining, opening up the possibility of starting a reserve team. On top of this we are liaising with Runnymede council to improve the facilities at Ottershaw Memorial Fields, which will allow us to climb higher up the footballing pyramid.

Furthermore, we are looking to continue building our number of sponsors. Currently we are sponsored by ME&C Creative, Glassdoor, and the National Reserve Social Club Addlestone. We aim to give advertising to our sponsors online and around the village as well as providing them with their own kit.

Finally, we are hoping to become a greater part of the community, making ourselves more known to the members of the village, and in turn would love to see some new faces come to watch us down at Ottershaw Memorial Fields. Thanks for reading.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 11 | Page TRIDENT, A FAMILY BUSINESS AT HEART Trident Honda, Ottershaw is a case-study in how a family business can survive in today's competitive market. Established in 1963 by Michael Roberts, Trident is today managed by his sons - Richard the Managing Director, Christopher its Finance and IT Director and James the Director of Used Car Operations and has around 80 employees. Michael Roberts purchased the site from Fred Moore who ran the site as Moores Garage until 1963, before emigrating to Australia. The dealership at the time held the franchise for Hillman and Triumph, as well as holding the Shell franchise on the forecourt. The site started with staff of 3 on the pumps, Michael Roberts running the business as well as selling the cars and a site foreman who came with Michael Roberts running the service side, When we first arrived there was a lady living in her caravan on the site, where she had been for some time. It proved one of the challenges asking her to leave, proving there is very little that happens today that hasn't happened before. The site gave up Hillman to take on the Rover franchise in the late 60's and became a Rover Triumph dealer. This was followed by the various different variations of the British Motor Industry; British Leyland, Land Rover, MG, Rover, until the demise of MG Rover in 2005. The site was fortunate to be in a position to take on a The Trident Hillman Imp van that was used to Honda franchise which it has retained ever deliver parts around the area in the early 1960's. since.

Michael managed the business for some 33 years until his retirement in 1996. The business was incredibly important to him and he instilled within it a strong culture of customer care which persists to this day.

Michael continued to take a keen interest in the business right until he sadly passed away in 2017, after a prolonged battle with cancer. The family were incredibly grateful to the Woking Hospice for their care and support of Michael through his final days and the business is a keen fundraiser for the charity sponsoring many of its events, with Richard now a Trustee of the Hospice. Michael Roberts 30 January 1931 to 4 April 2017

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 12 | Page TRIDENT HONDA'S COMMUNITY SPIRIT Trident are very active in supporting local community events and have recently supported Ottershaw CofE Infant and Junior School Easter Sponsored Run where children ran a mile during the school day, receiving a medal upon completion. All sponsorship money raised from the event was matched by Trident Honda. Richard Roberts, Managing Director of Trident says, "Trident having started its life in Ottershaw takes great pride in the village and enjoys supporting the community whenever it can." Trident support Woking Hospice at a number of fundraising events throughout the year within the local community and are the lead sponsor for the Woking Hospice Midnight Walk 2018. This year's 10 mile event will be held on Friday 25th May and will start and finish at Woking Leisure Centre. Richard Roberts, managing director of Trident Honda, said: "We are delighted to be supporting the Midnight Walk again in 2018, our third year as lead sponsor of the Midnight Walk. It is always a pleasure to support the Woking & Sam Beare Hospices, thanks to the tremendous support from our staff and customers."

The 2018 Dragon Boat Race & Fun Day is also sponsored by Trident Honda, where teams will race against the competition to raise funds for Woking & Sam Beare Hospices! Teams of 12-20 rowers will take to the waters of Goldsworth Park Lake on Sunday 3 June 2018 in colourful Dragon Boats and paddle furiously across the waters to be crowned the winners. In addition to the spectacle of the races there will be lots to enjoy on the banks of the lake, including a BBQ, face-painting, plant stall, tombola, refreshments and much more. Click to register for the event: https://www.wsbhospices.co.uk/support-us/get- involved/events/event-registration/?eid=1432 Special thanks to Trident for kindly sponsoring the Ottershaw Society Spring 2018 newsletter

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 13 | Page THE CHERTSEY POOR LAW INSTITUTION or WORKHOUSE This article is based on one in the book by H.J.M. Stratton `Ottershaw Through the Ages`, with additions and updates by Hannah Lane. The Poor Law Act of 1834 encouraged the building of a new workhouse by a union of all the parishes from Walton-on–Thames to Windlesham; this would replace the individual parish workhouses. Chertsey was to house this new building, and as Ottershaw was then in this parish, it was to be located in Spinney Road, now Murray Road. It was built by Benjamin Butler of Chertsey, to the design of Sampson Kempthorne, architect to the Poor Lord Commissioners, for £4,277.

The land had been enclosed from the waste of the manor and awarded to John Kirkpatrick Escott in c1798 and bought by the Commissioners in 1834. On this site was built the pedimental block, with lodge in front, which contained the male and female paupers quarters, wings for the younger men and women, and an infirmary. Further land along Murray Road was acquired later for a new infirmary, laundry, workshops, tramps ward and a single story school, with a two storey head-master`s house attached, by 1865.

Then and Now The village school was not opened until 1870, so the Workhouse had to have its own school prior to this, but seems to have moved the children to the village school by 1878. The school was then converted into a house, now No. 2, and the school master`s house became No. 4. In the 1860`s Mr. R.H. Murray, a Guardian who gave his name to the road, built the chapel. When the Workhouse was sold in 1986 for redevelopment it was converted into two houses.

The Chertsey Union was run by a local Board of Guardians and was opened in 1839. The women from the old Chertsey Workhouse (on the site of the present railway station) were helped on their way by one quart of gin and 12 buns at the cost of 4s.4d. The new Workhouse housed a staff of the Master and matron, nurses and/or domestics, a porter and several scrubbers. The vicar/curate from Addlestone looked after their spiritual needs and two doctors attended their health.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 14 | Page There was a school master and mistresses for the children, who all resigned within a year, except for one mistress who was dismissed for `introducing gin improperly into the workhouse and obtaining flour from the kitchen`. The able-bodied paupers did outdoor work on the land of the Workhouse, or picked oakham (a chalking fibre made by picking at pieces of old tarred rope), or worked the bone mill till it was discontinued because it was thought to be the cause of chest trouble from inhaling the bone dust. The older girls went into domestic service locally. By the time of the 1871 census (the first that recorded the inmates of the Workhouse) there were 177 males and 102 female paupers, including six with babies, and 38 scholars. Quiet “mental defectives” were admitted, e.g. one who was reported as having `died from a fit caused by eating a quantity of paper!' All the paupers had to wear clothes supplied by the Workhouse and if they absconded, they were charged for stealing these clothes. However, emigration to a colony was encouraged by a fee or assisted passage. By c1914 two new children's homes (one for boys, one for girls) had been built down Brox Road, Summerfield and Grays. Mr. E.E. Summers was the Master for the children, and the land had been part of Gray`s Nursery. Children had always been separated from their parents and housed in separate buildings. The way that the children were punished was to strip them down in the yard and turn a hose on them. This site is now the six houses of Summerfield Place built in 1993. Tramps would hide their money in a bank off Slade Road before applying for the night’s lodging in the Tramps Ward as they could only be taken in if they had no money. In the mornings, at 8am when they were turned out, some would knock on the doors of the houses in Slade Road. They would ask if the owners had any hot water to make tea, then any tea leaves to spare, and finally any bread. Life for the inmates seems to have brightened up every Christmas or at other times of national rejoicing; and during the years when Mr. Summers was master there was an annual Hunt Supper of the Ripley and Knaphill harries held at the Workhouse, followed by a sing song and entertainment for the inmates, `loudly cheered and ending with the National Anthem`. On 13th December 1919 at 6pm the Parishioners of Ottershaw held a “Welcome Dinner” in Honour of all the returning soldiers of the village, from the WWI, at Murray House. The Earl of Meath proposed “Our Honoured Guests”. It is likely that he would have been a major financial contributor to the dinner. In 1930 the Poor law Unions were abolished, and the Workhouse was renamed Murray House and converted to take mental defectives. By 1986 Murrey House had been condemned and the patients moved to Botleys Hospital. Murray House was sold , and as the facade is Grade II listed, this was retained and the back of the building converted into 9 houses. The gap between Murray House and the chapel was filled with a similar design row of 5 houses to the original House. All 1-14 Murray House. The rest of the estate was sold to Messrs Laing for the new housing, except an area off Brox Road for flats by British Airways Housing Association and the Royal British Legion.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 15 | Page MAYOR OF RUNNYMEDE CLLR IFTIKHAR CHAUDHRI Cllr Iftikhar Chaudhri has been a Runnymede Borough Councillor and represented Foxhills Ward since 2012. He was elected Mayor, the first in Runnymede from an ethnic background and the youngest ever, in 2017. The role of Mayor is a non-political post and the Mayor is the civic head of the Council. Within the Borough, the Mayor takes precedence over all except the Queen and her representative, the Lord Lieutenant. This high standing is a traditional one of honour and dignity, rather than constitutional. The Mayor is the "first citizen of the Borough" and acts as an 'ambassador' for the Council. Iftikhar regards it as a real privilege to be Mayor in Runnymede, the birthplace of democracy and has always aimed to give first place to the views of the residents he serves. He is always keen to attend many community events as possible and be present in the local communities during his year as Mayor. He has a lot of community spirit and is an ex-policeman as well as a qualified martial arts instructor. We know this in Ottershaw , as he is a regular visitor at our CAMEO coffee mornings, listening intently to the views of those around him.

His family moved from Pakistan to England in the 1970s and he has lived in since 1981. The belief his Father, who is sadly no longer alive, had in his son is what spurred Iftikhar on to run for Mayor in such a short period of time. He now runs a family tiling business in Englefield Green and this has enabled him to devote time to being Mayor over this last year.

Iftikhar says that his year as Mayor has been a very humbling experience, meeting and speaking with people from all over the Borough, from business, from schools, hospitals, voluntary organisations and listening to their needs and aspirations. He warns the next Mayor not to go on a diet as there are just too many Victoria Sponges and Cream teas to enjoy !

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 16 | Page MAYOR’S WORK FOR CHARITY Cllr Chaudhri is very close with his family and therefore has chosen to support charities close to his heart during his Mayoral year. During his year of office he has been raising funds for :

THE SOLDIERS’ CHARITY (FORMERLY THE ARMY BENEVOLENT FUND) – following a visit to Pirbright he was enormously impressed with the work that the army did in the community and particularly the work of Major Frankie Howell (1st Battalion Welsh Guards). The ABF Soldiers’ Charity provide support to soldiers and veterans from the British Army, and their immediate families, when they are in need. They make grants to individuals through their Regiments and Corps and support a wide range of specialist charities that sustain the British Army ‘family’, both at home and around the world. More details can be found: https://www.soldierscharity.org

NEONATAL INTENSIVE UNIT AND THE CRITICAL CARE UNIT AT ST PETER’S HOSPITAL – Iftikhar supports this Unit because of the death of his first child at just 22 weeks, 13 years ago. More details can be found: www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/nicu

EIKON YOUTH CHARITY – Iftikhar has been both a youth worker and a police officer in former careers so wanted to help this charity which supports teenagers who have lost their direction in life. Eikon is an award-winning Surrey based charity that has been working in the local Surrey communities for over two decades, providing long-term support to some of the county’s most vulnerable young people. For more details visit: www.eikon.org.uk NATIONAL CHARITY WALK FOR PEACE On Sunday 29th April 2018, Mayor Iftikhar and the are hosting and supporting the National Charity Walk for Peace. This charity aims to relieve the suffering of the poor, the destitute and the marginalised, and to promote peace, understanding and goodwill amongst people of all walks of life and raised over £600,000 last year for charities. If you want to take part in the walk you can register here: https://charitywalkforpeace.org/guide-charity- walk-peace-2018/

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 17 | Page HISTORY OF SHOPS IN OTTERSHAW by Hannah Lane POST OFFICE Originally it was a person that was the `Receiver` for the Post Office and mail so where ever they lived became the `Post Office`. Hence the Post Office moved buildings if a replacement Receiver was appointed who lived in a different house to the previous one. The 1st record of a Receiver for Ottershaw is of James Coulton at The Hollies, where Nos. 1-4 The Hollies are now next to Trident`s, starting the Post Office as Receiver in 1844. He was also the blacksmith at where Anvilautos Garage is on the roundabout. There was a sign on the present Post Office building at 18-20 Brox Road saying `founded 1851. By the 1870 Ordinance Survey Map the Post Office, and as a general store, is definitely in Brox Road on its present site after 2 further proprietors, Daniel Field and William Attfield. But by 1895 George Rose was running the Post Office back at The Hollies and as a general store and drapery. It continued under his daughter Euphemia Rose, known as Polly Rose. It is her name on the front of the shop in the 1910 photograph. It sold just about everything in such a tiny space, sweets, tobacco, pins clothes, lemonade etc., a typical village store.

By 1899 Charles Arthur Golding had taken over the shop at No. 18-20 Brox Road as a baker and draper, but soon substituted groceries for the drapery section. In 1914 he became the new Receiver, moving the Post Office back where it has stayed until this day. At this time the site was owned by the Friary Brewery as it was part of the land belonging to the Otter Inn, who presumably had built the shop? It is likely Golding bought the shop from the Brewery as it was then owned by subsequent shopkeepers. Bread was made on the premises, hence the door on the first floor at right side used to haul up the sacks of flour by a hoist above for making the bread. See the photograph for this door, also the canopy over the entrance on the left to the shop, and the side entrance to the separate Post Office at the side.

Ottershaw Post Office Guildford Rd c1910 The Otter Post Office & Smithy The telephone service came to Ottershaw in c1910 according to Max Stratton. The exchange was located in the front part of the shop with telephone number 1.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 18 | Page It was manually operated by the operator taking the calls, then plugging the line into the required local number. From behind the window the operator could see up and down the street and where the passers-by were going to. The operator would tell callers if the person being called was not at home and had, for example, `got the recent bus to Addlestone/Chertsey/Woking` and when they would be back, or sometimes even who they were visiting in the village! And she of course listened in to the calls, so it was not a good idea to tell one`s secrets over the phone! This continued until the automatic exchange was built on the Guildford Road in 1961. Clarence Jr. Sylvester had taken over as baker and Postmaster in 1934. The shop sold everything—grocery, household small items, paraffin, haberdashery, small items such as screws and nails etc. as did all such village shops. All sold by side, no health and safety rules in those days! Then followed William Hayward and N. Larrington with Peter Brians. John Elder took over in 1964. By 1975 the canopy had gone and the shop was all in one. The entrance was the one on the left and the one on the side in the front extension had gone. The Post Office counter was immediately on the left as one went in, and very squashed it was. A charming lady, Mrs. Kingston, who was always so helpful, ran it on several days of the week. Then 2 lots of tenants; Luigi and Mary Prechezer, followed by the brothers Karten and Roy Patel, plus 2 very short term tenants. The entrance was moved to its present position on the right. In 1997 the shop was bought Ottershaw Post Office Brox Road (now One Stop) c1912 by Tescos as Dillons. Tescos changed the name to One Stop when this brand became part of Tescos.

MONDAY 7TH MAY, MIDDAY - 4.30PM AT OTTERSHAW MEMORIAL FIELDS, FOXHILLS ROAD A fun afternoon for the whole family, with a variety of stalls and fun activities for everyone to enjoy. All surplus monies raised from the event are donated to local organisations and charities. Suggested donation of £2 per adult and £1 per child or £5 for a family to gain entry into the fair.

www.facebook.com/ottershawsociety www.ottershawsociety.org 19 | Page ETHER HILL & QUEENSWOOD It is believed that Ether Hill was used as a site for the local gallows during the 14th Century and stood as a terrible warning to anyone thinking of breaking the law; Ether Hill was chosen for the site of the gallows as it could be seen from miles around.

This large wooded area mainly consists of deciduous trees that form and surround Ether Hill, and a frame work of bridle ways and paths that connect with other open spaces. Ether Hill is a great destination for all the family, whatever their age, with views across Queenswood Golf course with the woodland itself skirting the Ottershaw Memorial Fields.

The award winning Memorial Fields were donated to the council by the Borthwicks and King families -The Hon. James Alexander Borthwick and William J. King on agreement this open space remained for the recreation and enjoyment of the residents. The Memorial grounds have a natural setting with a wide range of recreational facilities for the local community. The site is open to the public at all times.

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