The Farnborough Society Recent Events

THE FARNBOROUGH SOCIETY preserving the past, shaping the future

Newsletter: Issue 15 February 2016

RECENT EVENTS

Recycling: The Never-ending Story with Ruth Whaymand We were delighted to welcome Ruth along to tell us what more we can all do to boost Rushmoor’s poor recycling rate. She gave a very informative and self-assured presentation, and it was clear that the audience had a real determination to understand the problems and to make sure they were doing all they could personally to improve matters. Ruth began by outlining the service currently provided: weekly general waste; fortnightly recycling, glass and garden waste; bulky waste upon request, and charged; clinical waste weekly/on request. She emphasised that the quality of the collection service is very high, even in severe weather, when RBC uses a 4-wheel drive vehicle with snow plough to reach more inaccessible areas. Rushmoor’s collection cost, at £54 per household, is the highest in Hampshire, mainly due to the retention of weekly general waste collection. At the same time, we achieve only 26% recycling, placing us firmly in the bottom quartile nationally, which leaves us woefully short of the 40% target that was set by the Government to be achieved by 2010 and even farther adrift of the 67% target by 2015 set by Waste Strategy 2000. At the moment, therefore, it looks extremely unlikely that we will achieve the target set by the EU of 50% by 2020 and failure will incur penalties against RBC. Ruth went on to explain the ‘waste hierarchy’ which aims to reduce the amount of waste going to the incinerator. She made the point that there are measures to be taken even before recycling becomes an option, such as reducing packaging during manufacture and changing attitudes about making things last. If recycling is the best option, however, society benefits in a number of ways: conservation of natural resources and habits; energy savings; mitigating climate change; reducing costs; raising awareness of environmental issues. But the concept of recycling is hardly new. Farnborough once had a regular food waste collection to feed pigs, a practice no longer possible because of the risk of foot and mouth disease, and during WWII metals and waste paper were among the materials collected towards the war effort. By the latter part of the 20th, however, we had lost the recycling habit. Then, in the 1980s, bottle banks began to appear around the borough. In 1994, RBC introduced the bag and hook system, superseded in 2002 by the familiar blue bins. Kerbside garden waste collection began in 2005, glass collection in 2009 and battery collection in 2012. What happens to all this recyclable material? A fleet of nine 26-tonne vehicles, each capable of carrying 7 tonnes of waste, generally fill up twice a day. The contents of green bins, blue bins and glass boxes goes to Eelmoor Road waste transfer station, while garden waste goes to Little Bushywarren near Basingstoke to be processed into compost. From Eelmoor Road, the recyclable material is sorted to capture anything that can be re-used in some way and the rest goes to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Alton. The complicated system at the MRF separates paper and card, which goes to a paper mill for pulping. In answer to a question from the audience Ruth explained that shredded paper does not yield the long threads necessary for reprocessing, and tends to clog up the machinery. The cans collected will go to a processing plant to be melted and rolled into sheeting, which can be used for cars, aeroplanes, new cans, etc. Plastic bottles will be melted down into small beads, which can be used for pipes, plant pots, and even fleece clothing. When asked why many plastics are excluded from recycling, Ruth told us that the molecular structure of such things as trays and yoghurt pots makes them unsuitable because their polymer strands are too short to produce good quality new plastics. Glass in crushed and colour sorted. Then it is simply made into new bottles. At Little Bushywarren, our garden waste is first shredded, then put into Toblerone shaped piles. The material is turned every two weeks, then screened to produce compost in 16 weeks.

The kerbside battery collection is funded by battery manufacturers and keeps potentially harmful material from contaminating the waste collection process. Where does the material from our green bins go? To the Energy Recovery Facility at Chineham. Nothing goes to landfill. At the ERF, it is incinerated to produce energy. Metals and bottom ash are recycled. This whole process can take as little as seven days, with the customer driving the service by making the right choices. RBC tries to help us do that wherever possible, by, for instance redesigning the recycling bins for communal use to reduce contamination. They use Arena magazine, the RBC website and social media to educate and inform. Working with elected members, the Council is actively exploring ways to improve recycling rates, such as the recently introduced furniture re-use project, and is currently engaged in competitive dialogue towards procurement of a new contract for waste collection services. Additional information on recycling can be found on the RBC website: http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk

The Royal Aircraft Factory at War With Graham Rood

Graham started the lecture by setting the scene from the start of the Factory in 1907 to the start of the Great War in 1914. This included the important work of Edward Teshemaker Busk in developing the stable aeroplane only to lose his life in an aeroplane accident in late 1914. There is a memorial to Busk at the FAST Museum. At the start of the War the aerial services (RFC & RNAS) were woefully short of aircraft and the factory produced the first tranche of viable aeroplanes with the BE2 & FE2 series and provided the drawings and expertise to enable the embryo British Industry to produce in greater numbers the aircraft for the RFC. Graham went on the show the innovations produced for production aeroplanes such as the airborne coupled searchlights and machine guns needed to attack the ‘Zeppelin Scourge’ and other devices intended to down the airships. The SE5 fighter plane Edward Teshemaker Busk was designed and developed at the Factory before going into full scale production as one of the outstanding RFC aeroplanes of WW1. Next, Graham moved to the Research & Development work carried out from the early aerodynamic research on the Whirling Arm and the embryo wind-tunnels (then called wind-channels) through to the structural testing of FE (1913)

2 complete aircraft to determine their actual structural strengths and the modes of failure. The R&D and flight testing of the first airborne wireless sets was covered well as some of the innovative aeroplane designs that, although flown, never reached production. FE-2A (1915) The design and development of aircraft engines was described, both those used for production and the many solely experimental types used for developing safer and more powerful engines for production. FE-2B (1915) The role of women at the Factory was significant and towards the end of the war there were 3000 women employed out of a total workforce of some 5000. The lecture finished with a round-up of the post-war situation in research and the hint of the resurgence in the 1935 re- armament surge prior to WW2.

Wind Tunnel (1917) Aeiral View of the Royal Aircraft Factory (1914)

CAN YOU HELP?

With the tragic death of Clive Andrews and the departure of Brenda Mitchell to her new home on the Isle of Wight, the Executive Committee is sadly depleted, which means that those who remain are having to take on more and more responsibility. Clearly, this is not sustainable long-term and, in any case, we need new blood and fresh ideas.

If you have some spare time and/or skills that may be of use, do please get in touch. We can be flexible towards anyone wishing to carve out a small area of responsibility, such as events organisation, promotion, writing articles or editing newsletters, for example. It may not even be necessary to join the committee, if you don’t want that kind of commitment.

Even if you feel you lack useful skills, you may still have a lot to offer in the way of ideas. We are always seeking to improve the society both in terms of efficiency of operation and in terms of providing TFS members with the kind of active engagement they expect. And someone with a fresh approach could be invaluable.

You would be welcome to come along to a meeting of the Executive Committee, to meet the team and get a feel for what we do. Contact Barbara if you would like to arrange that, or just for an informal chat: [email protected] or 01252 405149

3 The WWI Memorial in St Peter’s Church with Margaret Taylor

TFS member Margaret began by explaining that she did not intend to speak about all those commemorated on the WWI Memorial in St Peter’s Church but had selected those with particularly interesting stories, or whose connection with Farnborough was particularly strong. Margaret said she was aided in her research by the fact that those who gave their lives are listed by year. This was significant because no Christian names are provided for the 40 men listed, 30 of whom were in the Army (in 18 different regiments), 6 in the Royal Navy and 4 in the fledgling Royal Flying Corps. Their ages when they died ranged from 16 to 45, with an average age of 26.5. She began with Richard George Crossman, a sergeant in the Military Mounted Police, who was the first person to die of wounds from the war, at Fort Pitt Hospital in Chatham. Crossman was born in Islington, enlisted when he was 18 and served in South Africa and Egypt before embarking for France on 15th August 1914, leaving his wife Alice and baby daughter living in Union Street. He was injured at the Battle of Mons on 15th September and developed tetanus, dying on 23rd September with his wife at his bedside; the Army had arranged for her to be taken to him. Following his death, Alice (nee Fry) was awarded 16/- per week widow’s pension, plus her husband’s back-pay. By contrast, Lieutenant Reginald Nigel Gipps came from a very privileged background. Born in 1891, he grew up in Belgravia in a household with seven servants. The family moved to Sycamore House, now The Sycamores, in Farnborough, and when Reginald’s father, Sir Reginald Ramsey Gipps, died in 1908, the town turned out en masse for his spectacular funeral procession. Lady Gipps died in the South of France in 1914, leaving a substantial estate to Reginald’s elder brother George. But he was killed in a flying accident later in 1914. Thus, by the time Reginald Gipps embarked for France with the Scots Guards, having previously served in Egypt, he was now, as the only surviving son, the head of the household. He fought at Mons and Marne before meeting his end at Ypres. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate as well as in the Victoria Road funeral chapel in Farnborough. At 45, Frederick James Andrewartha is the oldest man listed on the memorial. Born in London, his family moved to Farnborough when he was 10. He worked as a painter and decorator in his father’s business and lived in Farnborough Street with his wife Margaret (nee Bartlett) the daughter of a local blacksmith. Frederick served in militias before enlisting in the Berkshire Regiment, where he served for 22 years and reached the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant. Frederick did not see action during WWI, however, dying before going to France in a meningitis epidemic that swept through Chelmsford, where he was based. His two daughters, Florence and Daisy, both became teachers, though in Daisy’s case not for very long, and the family lived in Elm Tree Cottage for at least 40 years. Ernest Bernard Ames is one of those from the Royal Navy to be commemorated—an air mechanic in the Royal Flying Corps. Born in 1892 in Overton, he was living in Farnborough by the age of eight, at 3 Spring Villas, which was opposite The Ship public house. He joined the Royal Navy in 1910 at the age of 18 and the Naval Air Service in 1914. By all accounts a model sailor, Ernest met his end when his airship went down in the sea off the coast of Kent with the loss of all but one of those on board. None of their bodies were ever recovered. His sister, a teacher, spent many years investigating the accident, because Ernest had shared his concern that the vessel carried insufficient fuel. Eventually, the Air Ministry told her that the lone survivor, a non-swimmer, was the only crew member to stay with the stricken airship, while the others attempted to swim ashore. Ernest’s name also appears on the Chatham war memorial. Alan Travers Chubb, whose name also appears on the Theipval memorial, was a Second Lieutenant in the Hampshire Regiment who lost his life at the Somme. Born in Sandgate, his father was a doctor who provided his son with a good private education, after which Alan went to Canada to grow fruit for several years. Meanwhile, his parents moved to Farnborough. In 1914, he enlisted in the University and Public Schools Brigade of the Royal Fusiliers and won a commission in the Special Reserve, which he cancelled so that he could join the Regulars. He went to France in February 1916 and was killed leading a charge at the Somme. Although Alan was a Roman Catholic convert, his parents were members of St Peter’s Church. Cruger Stanley Peach, a Lieutenant in the 15th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, was killed in a flying accident on Clapham Common. Born in Putney, his father was an architect who in fact designed Centre Court at Wimbledon. The family moved to Queensmead, a large house later demolished when the Farnborough shopping centre was developed. Having seen active service, Cruger returned to the UK to train as a pilot and was killed when his two-seater biplane, of a type disliked by pilots, crashed. According to a report by the Metropolitan Police, a resident was digging on his allotment when a boy brought him the remains of human feet. It was found that they belonged to the pilot whose body had been removed from the site of the crash,

4 apparently without anyone noting that the feet were missing, a fact subsequently established at an inquest. The foot remains had by then been buried by the resident in his allotment and he was unable to find them, so they were never reunited with Cruger’s body, which lies in Brookwood Cemetery. Leading Seaman William Finch died in a very unfortunate incident that was kept secret for the duration of the war because of fears that it would badly affect morale. Born in Ash Vale, William was living in Rectory Road when he joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18. He became a submariner in 1917 and his submarine was part of a battle group of 40 vessels that gathered, in thick fog, in the North Sea on 31st January 1918. Two submarines collided on the surface. Had visibility been good, this might have been little more than an inconvenience. However, in attempting to come to the aid of the stricken vessels, the group brought about a succession of further collisions, each more devastating than the last. One of the casualties was William’s submarine, which was hit by HMS Fearless and sent to the bottom. Although most of her crew managed to get off, many were killed by the other vessels milling around; some 270 men, including William, were killed in just 90 minutes, with only nine survivors. William is also commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Unlike the other men commemorated in St Peter’s Church, Captain Spencer Franks does not appear on the Rushmoor Roll of Honour because he was not listed as resident at the family home, Pinewood in High View Road, in the 1911 census, having been away at school at that time. But it is precisely that census information that makes his family interesting. His mother, Helen Louise, is listed as head of the household, even though she had a husband living. This is believed to reflect her staunch support for the suffragette movement. And it was Spencer’s mother who took probate of the estate following her son’s death. Nor was his death entirely straightforward. On 22nd March 1918 a witness reported having seen Spencer dead and the British Red Cross reported the fact, with no burial place known. It was in 1919, while the battlefields were still being searched, that information came to light that Spencer had in fact been removed from the battlefield and hospitalised by the Germans. He died six days later and was buried in a German cemetery. His id tags and a signet ring were returned to his family in 1920, and his remains subsequently disinterred and reburied at the British Cemetery in France. The youngest person named on the memorial is Alfred Edward Ferris, aged 16. He was born in Cove in 1903, the son of a cab driver, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class when he was 15. He went to join the training ship, HMS Impregnable, but died suddenly of lung disease. Alfred’s grave is in Victoria Road Cemetery. Showing us a splendid photo of St Peter’s decorated for a service of celebration of the peace, Margaret told us that everyone who is named on the memorial has now been identified and that the WWII memorial was relocated above the WWI memorial during the recent reordering of St Peters. Although the WWI memorial records terrible tragedy, Margaret’s talk was very interesting and often amusing. Her research has revealed some fascinating stories about the people behind the names.

The Stretcher Bearers of WWI With Emily Mayhew

Emily, a Historian in Residence in the Biomedical Department of Imperial College London, began by explaining that she is a military medical historian, working in the Centre for Last Injury Studies, whose particular interest is wounds, which is reflected in the title of the book on which her talk was based: Wounded: The Long Journey Back from the First World War. She regards the stretcher bearers of WWI very much as the unsung heroes of the war, whose skill and courage saved many lives but who have all but disappeared from the records. They were, in fact, the first specialist medical corps and the Weston Front saw the foundation of the medical system still in use today. Previously, stretcher bearers had been those deemed to big or too stupid to be of much use as soldiers, but by the end of the war they were recognised and valued as highly skilled paramedics. The Royal Army Medical Corps at Messine during the 1917 Offensive The mechanised warfare of WWI, together with the new By Gilbert Rogers pointed bullets, meant injuries on a scale and of a severity never

5 seen before and the British were flexible enough to recognise that the key to survival was stopping catastrophic haemorrhage in the field, rather than waiting until the patient reached hospital for treatment to begin. Although many of the Medical Officers at the front were young, they had served in South Africa, where it tended to be disease rather then injury that killed. In light of the shocking injuries now being inflicted, it was clear their skill was needed close to the action; accordingly, a Stretcher Bearers’ Corps was formed at the end of 1914. In January 1915, the Cambridge Military Hospital in Aldershot started training stretcher bearers, selected for their strength and intelligence, in emergency first aid. The six-week course placed a strong emphasis on stopping bleeding. At this point, they relied on sustained pressure because it was thought that using a tourniquet would inevitably mean the loss of a limb, and it wasn’t until 2002 that medical opinion about the tourniquet changed. Another key part of their training was in the administration of morphine, which requires very good judgement. However, this would always be a last resort since it would render the injured soldier both dead weight and unable to describe his symptoms, which is absolutely crucial for effective treatment. In the absence of pain killing medication, calm reassurance was a vital part of first aid. To build stamina, part of their training was to march up Box Hill with a 10st weight on their stretcher. Strength was paramount, not least because stretcher bearers also functioned as pall bearers, meeting trains at Aldershot to offload the dead in the early days of the war, before they were sufficiently well trained to ship to the front. Once at the front line, the stretcher bearers were assigned either to Regimental Medical Officers or to field hospitals. RMOs gave weekly lectures and manuals in first aid were provided, so that the stretchers bearers were constantly improving their skills and knowledge. In fact, the RMOs and the bearers learned together, on the job, exchanging ideas and information on a remarkably equal basis. This meant that the bearers were able to take on more and more responsibility over time. They were, for instance, given the task of carrying out inoculations, which resulted in much reduced mortality from disease. They also conducted sick parade, ran supplies and treated trench foot. The bearers conducted themselves very much like the medics of today and, although initially regarded as omens of bad luck, they very quickly established themselves as exactly the people to have behind you when you were ordered ‘over the top’. So valuable were they deemed, in fact, that the celebrated cleric ‘Woodbine Willis’ immortalised them in his Ode to Stretcher Bearers. At considerable risk, the bearers headed towards screams to find the injured, and presented an easy, slow-moving target for the enemy to pick off as they carried their patients to safety. By 1916, soldiers understood very clearly what medics could do and really valued them. The writings of MOs tell how important the bearers were to them, adept at planning and timing routes, and in setting up first aid stations, for which they dug their own trenches. They were flexible and independent, and constantly learning and improving. By contrast, the Germans relied on transporting their injured to hospitals, The Dead Stretcher Bearer (1919) where their trained MOs were stationed, by train. Such a rigid system left By Gilbert Rogers little potential to improve. With untrained MOs at the front and with supply problems such that they actually ran out of morphine, their survival rates were very much lower than the British. The French, too, relied on the injured reaching hospital and were similarly inflexible. Like the Germans, their survival rates were low. Field hospitals were remarkably well equipped, with pathology labs, radiologists, pre-op and post-op facilities, etc., all in tents. There were even mental wards for those suffering from shell shock. Emily has had to painstakingly construct the story of these remarkable men from diaries and letters because the National Archives destroyed their records of the Stretcher Bearers Corps in the mid-20th century, deeming them of insufficient interest. Sir Alfred Keogh may have started the Corps but there’s no way of knowing. But we do know that, contrary to popular conception, only 30% were conscientious objectors. Many were Quakers and in fact the Quakers set up their own training station at Didcot. Gathering information is further complicated by the fact that the trauma of WWI was such that few would talk about their experiences after the war. Many stretcher bearers suffered long-term physical problems, with their hands, backs and shoulders. Many, too, were traumatised by the experience of witnessing executions and having to deal with the bodies, which they were compelled to do. In addition, they had invariably spent much longer periods at the front than most soldiers. All this must have taken a dreadful toll but we simply don’t know: they were generally not of the class to chronicle their experiences or write poetry. In spite of everything, though, some people benefitted from being stretcher bearers. Many miners, for instance, used the opportunities it provided to improve their families position in society, by giving them entrée into the professions. There were stretcher bearers from the Commonwealth, with Australians training on board ship before Gallipoli and New Zealanders training at the Cambridge Hospital. Both countries acknowledge the part played by stretcher bearers in WWI; the UK and Canada do not. Gradually, through the work of historians like Emily, and a new appreciation of the work of war artists such as Gilbert Rogers, the role of stretcher bearers in WWI, and indeed in all wars, is coming to light.

6 Housing and Rushmoor Borough Council with Suzannah Hellicar, Hilary Smith and Sally Ravenhill To help us understand the enormous complexity of the subject of housing locally, we were delighted to welcome a trio of extremely experienced and knowledgeable officers from Rushmoor Borough Council: Suzannah Hellicar, Housing Options Manager; Hilary Smith, Private Sector Housing Manager; and Sally Ravenhill, Housing Strategy and Enabling Manager. Between them, they provided a comprehensive picture of the problems the Council faces and the measures taken to resolve them. Suzannah began by listing the issues that her team of nine officers deal with:  Preventing homelessness  Homelessness  Housing options  Housing allocations  Nominations to housing associations  Rent deposits for the private sector  Provision of temporary and permanent housing People come to the Housing Options Team for a variety of reasons, for example, if they have been asked to leave their home, or because of a breakdown in a relationship, domestic violence, debt, ill health, poor housing conditions, leaving the Armed Forces, or mortgage repossession. A great many of these people come with an expectation of social housing, which is unrealistic given the limited housing stock in Rushmoor, and managing such expectations is a vital role for the Housing Options Team. The first task is to thoroughly assess the situation and assign the client to the appropriate band in the Allocation Pool. Band One consists of those with the highest priority, who have an exceptional need. This will include individuals who are homeless or who need to be removed from life-threatening situations. Band Two is those with an urgent need to move, for example someone living in an upstairs flat who can no longer manage the stairs. The need is pressing but does not require emergency action. Band Three is medium priority, for example overcrowding, when two additional bedrooms are needed. And Band Four is low priority, where one additional bedroom is needed. Each case is judged on its own merits and allocation determined according to the specific circumstances. Housing Options Officers offer comprehensive advice on alternatives to rented social housing and can recommend private rented accommodation or shared ownership schemes, but most people want the security and affordability of social housing. To prevent homelessness, the team can negotiate repayment plans with landlords when people are in arrears with their rent, help with claiming welfare benefits they are entitled to, or refer them to support services to help them with issues such as substance abuse, which may be impacting their tenancy. Those who are already homeless can be helped with temporary accommodation, especially anyone who is deemed vulnerable due to age, illness, disability or mental health problems, or who has dependent children, is institutionalised or is leaving care. Temporary accommodation will be B&B, community houses or hostels, private rented accommodation or lodging with family or friends. Clayton Court, for example, is a recently refurbished Army mess that provides 45 self-contained units that serve as temporary accommodation. The Council can also offer financial help to secure accommodation, such as providing a bond to pay a deposit or a loan to pay rent in advance and/or any fees. There is also a small fund set aside to assist individuals for whom the Council has no statutory responsibility but who nevertheless need help. For Suzannah’s team the biggest problem is affordability, in an area where rents are relatively high. Low incomes, debt and poor housekeeping skills all deter landlords and some refuse to accept welfare claimants entirely. Therefore, the Housing Options Team work with customers to understand their financial circumstances, to help them identify non-essential expenditure and to help them develop strategies for living on a limited budget. This requires difficult conversations that have to be handled very sensitively. However, Suzannah was able to provide us with some heart-warming examples of lives that were transformed with the help of her team. Hilary began her presentation by explaining that her team consists of herself, three RBC Officers and a Family Mosaic caseworker. Together they deal with mandatory disabled facility grants, discretionary grants and loans, complaints about poor housing conditions, houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), and energy efficiency. Demand for private rental housing is rising and, in general, owner occupiers are responsible for the condition of, and repairs to, their homes. However, in cases of financial hardship, a range of discretionary grants and loans are available to cover the cost of repairs. Where a single family occupies a home, the landlord is required to ensure it is in good repair, that it is safe and that the property is not overcrowded or sub-let. The landlord of an HMO must ensure that the property is in good repair and well managed, has adequate amenities such as baths, WCs and kitchen equipment, has appropriate means of escape (and early warning system) in the event of fire, is not

7 overcrowded or sub-let and that the property is licensed, if required. Properties requiring a license are those that are three storeys or more, those occupied by five people or more, and those where the occupants are living as two or more households. Hilary’s team has a number of enforcement powers which they can utilize; for instance, they can issue Hazard Awareness Notices, Prohibition Orders, Emergency Prohibition Orders or Improvement Notices, or they can order Emergency Remedial Action, demolition or area clearance. Failure to comply with a formal notice may lead to prosecution, a fine or imprisonment. However, these measures are rarely taken in practice because the fines are low and the cost of legal action high. Sally’s small team focuses on affordable housing in Rushmoor, working closely with the other teams on a borough-wide strategy for housing, and supporting the development of new affordable housing, working with housing associations, the Planning Department and the RBC legal team. In common with most other local authorities, RBC no longer has a stock of council housing and relies on housing associations to satisfy local need for social housing. Currently, there are 20 housing associations in the borough, who between them have some 6000 properties. Housing associations own properties for rent at social rates, for rent at affordable rates, (80% market rent) and for shared ownership. Some associations also have properties at private market rent and homes for sale. They have a mix of properties ranging from one bed flats to four bed family homes, and also supported and specialist housing, e.g. sheltered and ‘extra care’ housing, and supported housing for young, single people with mental health problems or physical and learning disabilities. RBC encourages housing associations to build new affordable housing, based on the Council’s assessment of need. For the period 2011-2031, the borough needs an additional 470 new homes p.a., of which 197 should be affordable. Even if those targets are met, there will be enormous pressure on housing associations, because low median household incomes put purchasing a house out the reach of a great many families. One of the measures RBC has put in place to help meet demand is to negotiate affordable housing on all developments of more than 15 units, with a requirement for 35% of the properties to be affordable, i.e. 60% rented and 40% shared ownership. These units are secured by Section 106 agreements as part of the planning process. RBC has the right to nominate tenants and to influence the size and type of properties. They also encourage housing associations to buy sites on the open market, offering whatever support they can to help them compete against private house-builders. Sally ended by summarising some significant changes to legislation that will inevitably impact affordable housing, such as fixed term tenancies, benefits caps, rent reductions for housing association tenants, and policies to facilitate faster planning and development. Changes to rules on shared ownership and rent-to-buy schemes, along with the right to buy from housing associations, will also have an effect. In this rapidly-changing environment, Sally’s team foresees problems for those with low, insecure incomes, those on zero-hours contracts, and those with ill-health or disability. For all of the Housing Team at RBC, the next few years will bring greater pressure as they struggle to meet the challenge of increased need and limited resources. Even with the opportunities provided by significant developments such as Wellesley, Queensgate and Sun Park, there is little doubt that Suzannah, Hilary and Sally, and their teams, have a testing time ahead.

WEBSITE

We are very relieved to report that the redevelopment of the website is now in the hands of professional website designers and a fully functioning website will soon be up and running. In entrusting the project to local college students we honestly believed we were providing them an excellent opportunity to hone their skills and strengthen their CVs, but they have let us down badly, leaving our existing website in even worse condition than before. Having assured us that they had both the time and the competence for the project, they finally admitted that they had just been lazy, and we will be lodging a strong complaint with their college. This whole sorry saga has been extremely embarrassing for The Farnborough Society and we very much regret any inconvenience caused. We thank you for your patience and hope that you will find the new website helpful, informative and easy to use.

8 Planning Acting Leader: Barbara Hurst The past few months have been very quiet on the planning front, resulting in several of our scheduled meetings with RBC Planning Officers being cancelled. We took the opportunity during this lull to consider the future of the Planning Group. I arranged a meeting, which was poorly attended, and a number of decisions were taken to ease the pressure on me as Leader, a role I took on only as an interim measure until someone took it on permanently. However, these new arrangements did not work in practice and we have now decided on a completely new approach. The Planning Group will now meet on an ad hoc basis whenever a situation arises that causes concern. Issues can be raised by any TFS member and a form will be provided on the new website for this purpose. Alternatively, a phone call or email message will prompt action by the Planning Group. RBC’s Planning Department are happy to meet with us at any time to offer help and advice, and we will continue to respond to consultations as we have in the past. Thus we will continue our active engagement, as key stakeholders, to all aspects of planning, including policies and strategy. We hope that these changes will open up the subject of planning to more TFS members, regardless of how much they know about the subject, so that our responses more accurately reflect the views of our membership. Specific issues that have arisen since the last newsletter include a delay in the hearing of the appeal by Inland Homes against the decision to refuse permission for the planned 62-flat complex on the site of the Ham and Blackbird. The hearing will now take place in February. The Farnborough Society objected strongly to the proposal but will not make representation at the appeal because there were only four grounds given for refusal and three have Artist’s Impression of the Ham & Blackbird already been resolved, with considerable progress made towards resolution of the fourth. Since those are the only issues on which we could make representation, there is little point in attending simply to repeat our objections. Rio Homes won their appeal to build a small development in Fleet Road; we did not respond to the consultation because we could find no grounds for objection. We did, however, lodge an objection to the proposal for redevelopment of former Sheldon Bakery site, on the grounds of overdevelopment and inappropriate parking. The Civic Quarter Master Plan has now gone to RBC’s Planning Department for comment, after which a second draft will go out for consultation. You may remember that TFS raised a number of objections, although generally in favour of the proposed development. (If you would like a copy of our response, I’d be happy to provide it: [email protected] or 01252 405149). Aerial View of The Crescent, Southwood Several of the Planning Group attended an Open Day at The Crescent, in Southwood, to review plans to demolish the offices and build housing. Our general opinion is that this represents a good use of the site—a site that is identified as suitable for residential use in the new Local Plan—and we await the submission of a planning application with interest. Concern has been raised about the use of Section 106 funds and we have initiated an investigation into how these funds are designated. We are specifically interested in the Shopmobility scheme, which is in danger of closing down unless robust funding can be secured, leaving some of our most vulnerable residents with limited access to the town centre.

9 HERITAGE OPEN DAY: VICTORIA ROAD CHAPEL The Farnborough Society were stunned and delighted that hundreds of people turned out on Sunday 13th September to support its Heritage Open Day, and by their amazing generosity in donating £1022 towards our campaign to save the Victoria Road Cemetery Chapel for future generations. The sum raised included £65 from Clive Andrews’ Graveyard Walk the previous day and £150 donated by the staff of Hogg Robinson Group, Farnborough. This incredible achievement amply illustrates how much the people of Farnborough value this charming little building and their determination to help secure its future. It was our first foray into the area of campaigning and fundraising, so it is particularly gratifying to know how strong the support for the project is locally. The Open Day was an opportunity to look inside the chapel, which has been locked up and fenced off for many years, and to learn about some of the key individuals in Farnborough’s story whose graves lie nearby. There were activities for all ages devoted to local history and wildlife, with Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust and Friends of the Earth also in attendance. The unique experience of taking tea in the cemetery proved very popular, with plenty of lively discussion and sharing of memories. The Farnborough Society would like to thank everyone who helped make the open day such a success. Society members baked cakes, cleared the cemetery of litter, cleaned out the chapel, greeted people, collected donations, helped with the set up and clear up operations, ran quizzes, manned information stalls and helped in a variety of other ways throughout the afternoon. Everyone worked incredibly hard, not least Jo Gosney and Eileen O’Connell, whose tours of the cemetery threatened to overwhelm them, such was the level of interest. Special thanks must go to Tim Burton of Signs Express, who donated two large banners promoting the event, and for his staunch support of the project. Anyone wishing to make a donation should contact Barbara: [email protected] or 01252 405149. THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING OUR HERITAGE OPEN DAY SUCH A GREAT SUCCESS!

10 OBITUARY Dr Clive Andrews, PhD.

Our friend and colleague Clive Andrews was a familiar figure at all TFS events, where he could always be relied upon for a lively chat, and to offer a warm welcome to newcomers. He was invaluable to the Executive Committee both for his ready willingness to help wherever possible and for his unfailing cheerfulness. Born in Hampton, Middlesex, in 1943, Clive lived in Rushmoor for over 35 years, and his knowledge of the area was extensive; this was especially useful in the Planning Group, where he could be relied upon for thorough investigation and thoughtful analyses. He was particularly passionate about Cove, with its distinctive identity and traditions. Because he was not a driver, perhaps it was inevitable that he would become a fierce advocate for the pedestrian, as well as working indefatigably to promote walking for health and pleasure. Through his passionate leadership of The Rushmoor Pedestrian Forum, Clive achieved a great deal in changing attitudes at both RBC and HCC, both of whom have come to regard the forum as a key stakeholder whose opinions matter. Clive was a man with a very strong moral philosophy, especially related to the environment and those less fortunate than himself, and he strove every day to live by his own high ethical standards. Consequently, he was actively involved in a number of local groups and charities who will sorely miss him: The Farnborough Society (Vice-Chairman and member of the Planning Group) Rushmoor Pedestrian Forum (Leader) North Lane Greensteps (Leader) Farnborough Walking Group (Co-Leader) North Camp Matters Walk Group/Walking for Health (Co-Leader) Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust Cove Brook Greenway Group Blackwater Friends of the Earth Rushmoor Urban Wildlife Group Camberley Mental Health Forum The Clearstone Trust In view of the enormous contribution the Clive made to Rushmoor generally, and Farnborough particularly, The Farnborough Society will be installing a bench beside Cove Brook in his memory. This is a particularly appropriate location for his memorial bench since it is a place he loved and because he was often to be found helping pick up litter or engaging in community activity with Cove Brook Greenway Group.

11 THE EXTRA MILE AWARD GOES TO HOGG ROBINSON GROUP The Farnborough Society Executive Committee has unanimously voted HRG as the recipient of its 2015 Extra Mile Award. Ted Gardner, Chairman of the society commented, whilst presenting Joy Cross, our Business Service Support Manager, with the award: “It gives me great pleasure in making this award to HRG, in recognition both of the company’s strong ethos in supporting community volunteering and the volunteers themselves. We congratulate everyone responsible for the valuable contribution HRG is making to Farnborough.” Ian Windsor, Managing Director HRG – Europe, added: “It never ceases to amaze me just how generous HRG people are with their time, money and efforts. Everyone in the company is always willing to support good causes in our many communities around the world. I’m delighted to accept this award on behalf not only HRG but also on behalf of every one of my colleagues. Without them, this would not have been possible.” Here’s a short summary of the fantastic charity work that HRG in Farnborough has undertaken this year:  As key members of the Community Matters Partnership, HRG has made a significant contribution to their Raising Aspirations Fund, which supports youth training, skills and education initiatives in Rushmoor.  Every Friday staff are allowed to “dress down” in exchange for paying £1.00 per person for charity. Some £200 is raised each week, and much of this supports local charities.  HRG have also help local small businesses and charities with good quality office furniture that they no longer need, and by facilitating donations from their suppliers when they are unable to provide what is needed themselves.  They have been showcasing places of interest on their doorstep, with a poster campaign for the FAST Museum, lunchtime tours of Farnborough Abbey and a lunchtime walking group which now has numerous routes around Farnborough that can be walked within an hour.  HRG generously donate raffle prizes to local charity events.  Since 2011 they have had an annual collection of food and gifts for the Farnborough Food Bank.  They supported the British Heart Foundation Bag it and Beat it clothing appeal, making sure it was via the Farnborough shop.  HRG are currently trying to get it made official that all staff can do a paid volunteering day a year; informally they send staff when asked for help. (Last year a team spent a day working at the Henry Tyndale School on a sensory garden).  HRG support TechStart in Aldershot with redundant IT.  They host work experience placements for local schools, as well as three placements per year in Farnborough with the London based Business Action on Homelessness project. Local charities supported with donations ranging from £50.00 to over £1,500 in 2015: Step by Step (plus office equipment) Rushmoor Home Start Farnborough Stroke Association Parent Action Group Creating Futures (plus photocopying, raffle prizes and equipment) FPH Breast Care Appeal Henry Tyndale School (plus approx 100 man hours) Hart Wildlife Rescue Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Source Youth Cafe Farnborough Abbey (plus four volunteers for their Make a Difference Day) Victoria Road Funeral Chapel Farnborough Food Bank CMP Draw Cove Brook Greenway Group (Furniture and support of Open day) Local support for the Nepalese Earthquake appeal. By any standards, Hogg Robinson Group has made a huge contribution to Farnborough, and are thoroughly worthy recipients of Extra Mile Award 2015.

12 TFS DONATES A MEMORIAL BENCH TO THE TOWN The Farnborough Society’s donation of a bench will shortly be installed in Queen Elizabeth Park. (At the time of writing, the concrete base has been laid and has yet to dry out sufficiently for the anchor fastenings to be fitted). In line with our policy of honouring individuals who have made a significant contribution to the community, this bench commemorates Lance Corporal Paul Burns, who was a familiar figure in the park, walking his three-legged weimaraner, Fudge. Paul’s story is an inspirational tale of courage and triumph over adversity, and Farnborough benefitted enormously for his indefatigable fundraising over the many years he lived here. As a young paratrooper of 19, Paul was badly injured in the Warrenpoint massacre, the worst atrocity of the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. One leg had to be amputated immediately and the other was left so severely damaged that Paul suffered years of pain before that, too, was amputated. Far from allowing this appalling tragedy to ruin his life, Paul overcame the physical and mental trauma to achieve his dream of becoming a Red Devil, to learn how to sail and climb mountains, and to become an inspirational teacher of both activities to other disabled people. He completed the Whitbread Race, as a member of the first team comprised entirely of disabled people to complete the arduous circumnavigation of the world. Paul used these activities to raise large sums of money for a number of charities for the disabled, notably the Royal British Legion. It was primarily the British Legion who had provided the help and support he needed over the years, to rebuild his life, a debt he never felt he could adequately repay. Sadly, it was during a fundraising bicycle ride that Paul suffered the accident that eventually led to his death, at the tragically early age of 52. The brass plaque on the bench reads: The Farnborough Society honours the memory of Lance Corporal Paul Burns (1961-2013) A Fighting Spirit A Fighting Spirit is the title of Paul’s memoir, published in 2010, which won a BBC competition to find the most inspirational life story. His obituary can be found at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10203064/Lance-Corporal-Paul-Burns.html If you do not have access to a computer, I am happy to provide a printed copy.

PROMOTING THE FARNBOROUGH SOCIETY Free Financial Advice We are actively seeking opportunities Thanks to the generosity of Chief Executive Tom to promote TFS in the community. If McManners, Treetops Accountancy offers free financial you belong to an organisation or group advice to members of The Farnborough Society on the that might be interested in seeing a third Thursday of each month. Located near the Clockhouse, Treetops are members of The Institute of presentation on our activities, please Chartered Accountants and the SPA, an independent suggest it. Or if you’d prefer that we national association of professional accountants. For make contact, give us the details and your free consultation, call 01252 541 401 we’ll do the rest.

13 Your Executive Committee Chairman:

Ted Gardner 01252 511991 or [email protected] Treasurer:

Tom McManners 07966 422870 or [email protected] Secretary:

Barbara Hurst 01252 405149 or [email protected] Membership Secretary:

Jo Gosney 01252 542436 or [email protected] Planning Group Leader:

Barbara Hurst 01252 405149 or [email protected]

Committee Members:

Brian Thomas [email protected] Len Amos [email protected]

Clive Grattan [email protected]

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE FARNBOROUGH SOCIETY

Local company Linkup Ltd has made us a very generous offer. Not only are we given special rates, but for every TFS polo shirt or fleece they sell, they will donate £1 to TFS.

You can place your order at: http://stores.linkupltd.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=84&product_id=172

Anyone who does not have a computer, can call Barbara, who will be happy to make alternative arrangements: 01252 405149

14 FORTHCOMING EVENTS

DATE TIME TOPIC EVENT DESCRIPTION

2nd February 7.30pm Catering in Frimley Kevan Wallace will talk about the challenges of catering at Frimley Park Park Hospital and Hospital, with its shifting population and complex dietary requirements, the Army then Colin Alborough and SSgt Sue McFarlane will tackle catering in the Army, wherever they happen to be.

19th February 7.00pm Gone But Not A fundraising event at the Community Centre for the Victoria Road Funeral Forgotten Chapel Fund, with guest speakers Jo Gosney and Eileen O’Connell giving presentations on the colourful characters buried or commemorated in the cemetery. With refreshments during the intermission.

3rd March 7.00pm Hampshire Visit to the Archives, where a selection of material related to Farnborough Archives will be on display. No transport will be provided, so visitors will have to make their own way to Winchester.

10th March 7.00pm Legal and Financial A Joint Talk will be given by Tsyrina Tan, Solicitor from Wheelers LLP and Advice Richard Facer, Financial Consultant with Capital Planning Partners. Tsyrina will speak about wills, lasting powers of attorney and administration of estates. Richard Facer will speak about estate planning through various means. 6th April 7.00pm AGM After the formal proceedings, Jo Gosney will give a talk on domestic interiors through time.

8th April 7.00pm So You Think You A fun evening at the Community Centre where you can test your local Know Farnborough knowledge and learn some fascinating facts. Includes a fish and chip supper.

Quiz Night

13th May 12.00 Lunch at The Join us at Farnborough College of Technology for a delicious three-course Gallery Restaurant lunch, prepared and served by students under careful supervision.

19th May 7.00pm A Glorious Name Another of Paul’s popular talks, this time exploring the stories behind some with Paul Vickers local street names.

June (date to TBA Tour of the Learn about the house and gardens in the company of the Grounds Keeper be confirmed) grounds of and Jo Gosney. Farnborough Hill

SUGGESTIONS FOR EVENTS If you have any thoughts on topics for talks, places to visit or suggested routes for guided walks, please tell us. This is your society and we rely on you to let us know what we can offer you that will enhance your experience. We would also welcome constructive criticism, so please tell us if you can see room for improvement: [email protected]

01252 405149