PARISH MAGAZINE Tatsfield

THIS ISSUE

IRENE OWEN & ARNIE ARNOLD REMEMBERED EASTER HOLIDAY IN FRANCE ? CAROL & JOHN PEARSON PROFILED TATSFIELD IN 1914 RICKETTS HILL & PAYNESFIELD ROAD PROGRESS BANANAS BONANZA IN FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT

PAT DEAN’S VILLAGE MEMORIES £1 One copy FREE to each household

1 2 DP Bespoke Carpentry & Building Kitchens Storage Solutions Bespoke Wardrobes Wall Panelling Bathrooms Flooring Doors Testimonials available Based in Tatsfield Daniel Pascal Tel: 01959 577301 Mobile: 07984 016301 Email: [email protected]

3 4 THE OLD SHIP Westmore Green, Tatsfield, TN16 2AG

01959 577315 Family friendly pub in the heart of Tatsfield

2 MAIN MEALS Sunday £12.00 Roasts Mon-Fri £9.95 12-8pm

FREE Bouncy Castle Throughout the summer

Howard Cundey are now the largest independent firm of Chartered Surveyors and Estate Agents in the area with 11 offices offering a wide geographical coverage and depth of expertise and experience that few other firms can equal.

Contact our local office at Biggin Hill 01959 572177 www.howardcundey.com

HOWARD CUNDEY CONTINUE TO SPONSOR TATSFIELD’S ENTRY IN SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST IN BLOOM

5 JAYCY

Painting, Decorating and Property Services Interior and Exterior Free Estimates All Work Undertaken Friendly and reliable service at competitive prices Nick Walsh 01959 577684 or mobile 07887 528264

6 Beechwood Riding School JCG BUILDERS Hillboxes Farm, Marden Park Brickwork Specialists Woldingham, CR3 7JD Tel 01883 342266 All aspects of brick- Email: [email protected] work undertaken www.beechwoodridingschool.co.uk Patios,block paving, Beechwood is situated in the beautiful Surrey Hills retaining walls in the North Downs. All our horses and ponies used decorative brickwork in the school have been carefully chosen for their and much more suitable temperament to achieve a happy, harmoni- ous relationship between horse and rider resulting Reasonable rates in every rider reaching their own personal goal. References available Adults and children from 4 years old welcome. Clean tidy worker

• Separate Children and Adult Groups Call: Jamie on • Private and semi-private lessons • Pony Parties 07921 219287 • Corporate Days • Hacks • Pony Days email: • and lots more [email protected]

& KITCHENS OLD or NEW We have a style for you!

Call in at our showroom Mon-Fri 8.30 - 5.00pm Sat 8.30 - 4.45pm CJT Bathrooms Unit 41d Hobbs Industrial Estate Eastbourne Road (A22) Newchapel nr Lingfield RH7 6HL

Tel: 01342 832624 Fax: 01342 832279

7 Telephone A W Carpentry 01959 577010 & general building services Alan Waite • Interior & Exterior Carpentry • Kitchens/Bathrooms fitted • Renovations/ Alterations • Guttering & Fascia • City & Guilds qualified • Free estimates Mobile 07984 810966

8 Village Hall, Tatsfield NEW BREAKFAST CLUB Monday to Friday ~ 7.30am to 8.45am for 2 to 11 year olds (includes walking school children to Tatsfield School) PRE-SCHOOL Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9.00am to 3.00pm Wednesday & Friday 9.00am to 12.00pm

Two years to school age have fun and learn through play Individual attention with a broad curriculum in a caring, fun and supportive environment Funding for 3 & 4 year olds and one - to - one teaching

For more information see our website www.littleacornstatsfield.co.uk or email us on [email protected] To register your interest please call Julie Barlow on 01959 541103 Registered Charity No. 1024480 Pre-school Learning Alliance Member

IQ Wealth Management is a trading name of Philip Clarke who is an appointed representative of Paradigm Financial Advisers Ltd. Paradigm House, Brooke Court, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 3ND which is authorised and regulated by by the Financial Services Authority. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage. •The FSA does not regulate tax planning. ‘Equity Release - this is a lifetime mortgage to understand the features and risks ask for a personalised illustration’.

9 lingerie Kim and Jane provide a complete bra fitting service and can help with all your lingerie needs! We stock a variety of quality lingerie to suit every price range.

BEAUTIFUL LINGERIE RANGES AND GIFTS NOW IN!

Entre Nous is owned and run by Tatsfield girls and you’ll be assured of a warm welcome. Opening times Mon –Sat 10.a.m – 5.00p.m 01959 563975 22a Market Square, Westerham, Kent TN16 2AT

AAddiiee’’ss AArrtt

Art Classes Private Lessons Commissions Watercolour, Oil Pastel Pencil

Contact Adrienne 07500 955355

10 COMMERCIAL • Full central heating system & boiler exchanges and carried out for gas, LPG and oil DOMESTIC • Servicing of boilers, saving on heating costs PLUMBING • Full bathroom design & installation and • Monarch Water Softeners with 7 year guarantee HEATING • Free 7 year guarantee with gas boilers ENGINEER • Systems power flushed • All types of plumbing & heating • Installation & servicing of unvented hot water systems • OFTEC registered engineer & Gas Safe Register • Established 40 years Tel: 01959 577072 Mobile: 07831 641664 and SON MCIPHE,RPP

11 • Free estimates, advice and • Pruning information • Lifting and reducing • Tree Surgery • Removal of dead wood and • Tree Safety damaged branches • Complete tree and stump • Crown thinning and reductions removal • Repair of weather damaged trees • Preservation and maintenance • Land clearance • Felling, including the skilled • Logs and chippings dismantling of dangerous trees • 24-hour emergency callout • Thinning Acacia House, Approach Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2JT Tel: 01959 577718 Mobile: 07831 132333 Email: [email protected] www.acaciatreesurgeons.com

LADY PAINTER AND DECORATOR

CAROLINE MEE

Fully qualified Fully Insured

Local reference available

12 TATSFIELD PARISH MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2014 CONTENTS

Cover 1 Advertisements 2 Contents 13 Directory 14 Editorial 15 Forum 16-19 Council Reports 20-22 Village News 23-46 Tatsfield Primary School 47 Events Calendar 48-49 St. Mary’s Matters 50-52 The ‘Great War’ and Tatsfield 53 Nigel’s Nature Notes by Nigel Shaw 54-55 Tatsfield People: A Profile of John and Carol Pearson by Sue White 56-58 Village Memories: Pat Dean nee Lucas Reflects on Life in Tatsfield as told to Kim Waite 59-61 Village Memories: A Village Emporium by John Andrews 62 Debater by Dave Bishop 63 The Night Sky in Tatsfield by Brian Mills 64 Puzzle Page 65 Club News 66-70 Sports Round Up 71 The Tatsfield Gardener by Jon Allbutt 72 Advertisements 73-96 13 TATSFIELD PARISH MAGAZINE

Produced for the Village by the Parish Magazine Committee under the authority of Tatsfield Church. Managing Editor • Gerald South (577598) Editor • Bob David (577357) Treasurer • Madie Langford (577114) Distribution Manager • Terry Cartwright (577749) Advertising Manager • Maureen Perrin (577679) Photographer • Ray Collins Production Team Hazel Cartwright • Tom Chorley • Jenny Lewis • Ian Mitchell • Phil Stokes • Margaret Watson CHURCH CONTACTS ST MARY’S CHURCH, Church Lane, Tatsfield Anglican • Team Vicar: Revd Louise Ellis (577289) email: [email protected] The Rectory, Ricketts Hill Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2NA Hon. Curate - Revd Dr Gerald South (577598) Wardens • Mary Smith (577661) and Jennie South (577598) Roman Catholic • Fr John Olliver (01883 713776) COUNCIL CONTACTS Parish Council - Parish Clerk • Mrs Ana Hughes, 102a Sunningvale Avenue, Biggin Hill, TN16 3TT (701820) Chairman • Mrs Sue Smale, 21 Paynesfield Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2AT (577660) Parish Council website www.surreycommunity.info/tatsfield • email [email protected] Tandridge District Councillor • Bob David, The Briars, Ninehams Road, Tatsfield TN16 2AN (577357) Surrey County Councillor • David Hodge, 30 Harestone Valley Road, Caterham CR3 6HD (01883 337881) OTHER CONTACTS St. Mary’s Church Hall - Bookings • Sheila Cook (577443) Village Hall - Bookings Secretary • Helena Garcia (tatsfieldvillage [email protected]) (07983 011028) W.I. Hall - Bookings • Sheila Cook (577443) Parish Room - Bookings • Ana Hughes (701820) Tatsfield Primary School - Head • Kevin Bellinger (577356) Tatsfield Village Club - (577330) Furze Corner Sports Pavilion - Bookings (07533 033325) Doctors • Stock Hill Surgery (580011) • Westerham Surgery (564949) Surrey Police - (101) Tatsfield Helpline - (577524) • Pet Register - Val Moore (574810) Village Website www.tatsfield.org.uk MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTIONS We welcome contributions from village organisations and individual residents but reserve all editorial rights. Copy date for the Magazine is 16th of the preceding month. Contributions should be sent directly to the Editor at The Briars, Ninehams Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2AN (Fax: 01959 577357 Email: [email protected]) or drop it into Linda’s Stores. Advertising Enquiries should be made to our Advertising Manager Maureen Perrin (Tel: 577679 Email: [email protected]) Small Ads These are only accepted from Tatsfield or Titsey residents (No Trade) and are free (Max 10 words plus phone No.) We will include them in the next issue space permitting. Calendar Dates Our rolling Calendar usually covers 6 weeks from publication so please give us your dates in good time. If you don’t want your event to clash with others why not check with us early. Ideas/Opinions/Articles We are always looking for items of interest - have a word with the Editor. Correspondence We welcome letters commenting on items in previous issues or on anything else. Advertisements We take no responsibility for the goods and services advertised in the Magazine. 14 EDITORIAL

Dear All,

I think it is a privilege to live in a village where we are regularly given a well organised opportunity to express our views about many aspects of life here – and then are able to see the results, which show how the demographics and opinions within the village are looking and how they are evolving with time. The most recent of our village appraisal reports should have been delivered to you with this magazine. Very few villages across the country have the opportunity to take part in such appraisals and we should be grateful to those who make it possible. Many of the initiatives emerging from the village appraisal of twenty years ago are still going strong, not least the format of the Parish Magazine.

The report highlights some of the inevitable tensions within a community such as ours, including that between the wish to retain rural features and the need for housing and facilities. It can be rather disconcerting, when we have been asked for our view, to find that the final decision has gone the other way. It is tempting to say “my opinion has been ignored”. However, those who have the responsibility for such decisions, for example our voluntary Parish, District or County Councillors, have to weigh things up, look at all sides of the situation and come to the best judgement they can. It is after all, we, the electorate, who have put them in these positions using our hard won vote, and for women that right came less than 100 years ago. This is bound to mean that some suggestions are not followed. Living in a democratic community inevitably involves corporate decisions that some of us will consider less than satisfactory. A local community may well be judged by how well it continues to work together in these circumstances. We hope that Tatsfield will continue to flourish and that this appraisal will help it to do so, even if that will call for some tolerance and understanding from us all.

There is also a somewhat concerning feature of our village that is beginning to emerge. Many of those who have helped to produce this new appraisal were also involved in the previous one, and even the one before that. The appraisal returns were predominantly from the older members of our community. The organising committees of some of our much valued village organisations have reduced in size, often through a lack of younger people being willing or able to join them. We cannot take all the good things about Tatsfield life for granted. As you read your appraisal report you might have in mind the well-being of our community in the future and your role within it.

Jennie South

COVER The cover illustration this month is of the cover of the Village Appraisal Report, a copy of which is being delivered to all households in the village with this magazine. There is more about the appraisal on page 30.

15 FORUM

Dear Editor, A Right Royal Oak? I am grateful to Sue Smale for responding to my previ- ous letter in these pages. Rather disappointingly, how- ever, Sue did not mention my hope that “the Parish Council, or whoever was responsible for this operation, will respond with a suitable plan of action to put this right.” The comment that “the Parish Council tries very hard to consult” was also a little shy of the mark.

If I were planning on putting an 8 foot, green structure in the middle of an open space, I might consider talking to those directly affected before doing so. Given that there are only 7 houses directly overlooking our new carbuncle, it did not take long. I managed to get the thoughts of 6 – and their comments included the words “joke”, “atrocious”, “disappointing” and “eye-sore”. Several commented that it was not the tree itself, or even the stockade, but more so the incongruous placement.

Sue said that only one site had been suggested – up by the school and village hall car park. A number of residents to whom I spoke suggested that the area above the “yellow brick road” – between Rag Hill and Ricketts Hill Road would be better. It does seem to have a number of advantages – it is not directly in the sightline of any houses, is already surrounded by trees, features a number of bushes, and the grass is cut infrequently.

If we are going to make an effort to plant native species like Oak (and I think we should) then let’s plant a few, and make a feature of them. Assuming, that is, that the local residents are happy with the idea!

Guy Deterding, Ricketts Hill Road

Dear Editor, Country Music Memories Reading Babs Heffernon’s Not So Young Club report in the January magazine reminded me that I worked with her husband Terry at the BBC station at Tatsfield. Terry introduced me to AFN Frankfurt 872Khz on the medium waveband. This station opened at 0500 hours GMTwith a 5 minute news bulletin followed by 25 minutes of Country and Western music on weekdays. Saturday was ‘Weekly Stateside Hit Parade’. I was an avid fan, hooked for life, thanks to Terry.When I moved to BBC Crowsley Park I made myself in charge of recordings of Country Music USA and still have them. I play some every morning.

Dennis Tapsell, West Wickham

16 FORUM

Dear Editor,

Greetings From Somerset

Just before we left Tatsfield last year we purchased a narrow boat called Serenity. We have always wanted a narrow boat and now our dreams had come true. She is moored in a marina in Cheshire. Last summer we had eleven continuous weeks on her while we were completing the purchase of our new home here in Somerset and to our astonishment we had a heat wave for the eleven weeks (well nearly every day). Our dog Chudlee just could not believe his luck. He’s a very lucky dog to have so much fun. We would like to wish all our friends, dog walking friends, Barry and Mary Bull and all the In Bloom team a big hello - we miss you all.

We now live in Cheddar in a small rural village with lots of cows and sheep. We have a large garden that backs onto fields with rhynes (I call them dykes) to the front and rear of us. These are very common and are managed by Bristol Water - in other words, when they are full they are emptied automatically into the sea (we think). We are also only five miles from the sea, which is very nice - very different from Tatsfield - but we are adapting.

The wildlife around us is breathtaking. There are birds everywhere including birds of prey - I saw a Hobby just after we moved in, chasing Emperor Dragonflies. In fact, hundreds of dragonflies were emerging from the rhynes. There are lots of deer and a couple of neighbours have Alpacas (small Llamas).

We would like to wish the In Bloom team every success for 2014. We really do hope that the wonderful people of Tatsfield will volunteer their services as the In Bloom team do a fantastic job.

Julie and Dave Wood, Somerset

Dear Editor,

Inconsiderate Parking by Parents in the Village Hall Car Park

Readers may like to know that I have written to Tatsfield School’s Headteacher as follows:

“ I understand that the school children’s parents are allowed to park their cars in the Village Hall car park. However this surely does not override others wishing to park when using the Village hall.

Unfortunately school parents park with total disregard for other users and jamb the area full of illegally parked vehicles in unmarked places.

17 FORUM

I regularly play bowls in the Village Hall, but due to health problems I have to leave early. Every week I find my car ‘boxed in’ and have to go around groups of parents to find the car owner.

I find it hard to accept that relatively young and fit parents can be so inconsiderate to spoil the innocent pleasures of other people by refusing to walk a short distance from the village centre.”

Derek Gibbons, Paynesfield Road

Dear Editor,

Not So Young Club and Pop In Parlour

I have recently moved into the village, knowing no-one but my daughter and her family. I had lived in Hayes for 45 years and was daunted by the move. However, I have been in Rose Cottage for the past three months and have attended both the ‘Pop In Parlour’ and the ‘Not So Young Club’, both at the WI Hall.

The people are second to none - so welcoming and friendly. Sometimes being a newcomer can be uncomfortable and there can be a clique with groups and clubs but I can honestly say everyone has welcomed me with open arms and I am extremely happy.

Jean Guyver, Westmore Green

Dear Editor,

Christingle Service

Christmas may now seem a long way off but I am replying to Alizon Mooney's letter in the December magazine in which she invited comments.

After 42 years in Tatsfield and having attended about 90% of Christingle Services held in various places since then, we can honestly say we felt the 2013 one was the best ever performance. The much increased number of children being involved either taking part in the orchestra or excellent children's choir made for a very memorable experience. Surely the building alone is not the real reason for being there (or not!) - the occasion is far more important than that and it really doesn't matter where it is held if the numbers of people wishing to attend are larger than the space available. The decorated School Hall, lit Christingles and fairy lights made their own special atmosphere together with the increased number of people attending.

I know after years of experience that these occasions don't "just happen" - people work very hard at this busy time of year and changes occur after much

18 FORUM consideration for the best possible reasons. Whilst I agree the church is a very special place but it is that not only for a Christingle service but also for all the rest of the year.

Well done to Louise and all those who worked so hard to make all the Christmas services so well attended and enjoyed by so many. Thank you.

Sheila Cook, Greenway

MAGAZINE MATTERS Inserts: There are two inserts this month. The first is the Village Appraisal Report, which is a large document and will not actually be inserted in your magazine but will be put through your letter box separately. The second is the slip in which the magazine invites readers to make donations to its funds. We do this each year and we have always had a generous response, which has helped us to keep providing a free magazine for every household in the parish each month and has enabled us to achieve a sound financial position and to continue to improve the magazine.

Donations from village organisations:: We also invite village organisations to make donations to the magazine’s funds each year and we are very grateful for the generous donations received so far from the Art Group, Parish Council, Not So Young Club, Short Mat Bowls Club, Tatsfield School, Tatsfield School PTA, Village Club and Village Hall Management Committee.

Advertisements: We have nearly 100 advertisers, who adver- tise for a year at a time from April to March. Our Advertising Manager, Maureen Perrin, has written to all our advertisers asking them if they would like to continue advertising for another year. We hope that they do as this is the main source of our income enabling us to produce a free magazine each month. A few advertisers usually drop out each year, creating space for new advertisers. Anyone interested in advertising in the maga- zine from April should contact Maureen for details (Tel: 577679 Email: [email protected]). We hope too that readers will look through the advertising pages: all the businesses are local ones and they cover a wide range of goods and services.

Next issue: Contributions for the March magazine should be with the editor by 16 February. If you know of something which may be of interest to other villagers or if you want to comment on what you’ve read in the magazine, write to the editor. It will be printed!

19 COUNCIL REPORTS

TATSFIELD PARISH COUNCIL The Village Appraisal report was presented to the Council last month - January 14th was our first meeting of 2014 – hard to believe we are already in another new year. It will give us useful information on priorities for action over the next year or so. You should have received your copy with this magazine. Please read it and let us know your views. The future of Tatsfield and how you see it developing will be the subject of the Annual Parish Meeting to be held in May (date to be fixed). Please look out for the notices and join in this vital consultation. We should ensure we have maximum influence on decisions made by outside bodes. The Tandridge Local Plan is now being reviewed, followed by an assessment of housing needs and land availability. If we register our priorities and preferences formally, we will have done our best to safeguard our community. Road works - Surrey County Councillor David Hodge updated us on the work in Paynesfield Road, planned to start this month. He reports on plans for Ricketts Hill Road and the made up part of Old Lane on a subsequent page. Overgrown hedges – Some residents have spoken to me about the many hedges that are making it hard to walk safely along some pavements. I urge landowners to trim their hedges back to the boundary of their property as soon as possible. I am advised that deciduous hedges can be cut now whilst dormant, but it is probably better to wait a couple of months in the case of evergreens. If you want advice on how and when to cut hedges then let me know and experts from the Green Spaces Committee are willing to talk this through with you. If the actual job is difficult there are local people (some advertise in this magazine) who can do the work. I am told that £10 - £15 per hour is a reasonable charge. And you need to be aware that if a hedge is considered to obstruct the highway (including a pavement) Surrey can issue an order for it to be cut back. If this is not done the County has powers to do the work itself and charge the landowner. 4x4s - I was taken aback after saying last month: “We have full grit bins for use on the public footpaths and willing volunteers ready to wield snow shovels and drive 4x4 vehicles in an emergency. Please keep a watchful eye on vulnerable neigh- bours and let us know if you have problems.” I then saw some notices posted in the village centre complaining about the impact of the very vehicles that I had claimed as being of great use to the community in bad winter weather. Maybe I am wrong so if the anonymous author of the notices really feels there is a problem then please come forward and talk to the Parish Council to try to resolve the issue. If we don’t know about it we cannot deal with it.

The next Parish Council meeting will be held at the Aileen McHugo Building at 8.00pm on Monday 10th February. Agenda at www.surreycommunity.info/tatsfield/

Sue Smale, Chairman (Tel: 577660; Email: [email protected])

20 COUNCIL REPORTS

TANDRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Tandridge committees: Tandridge has 42 councillors. I am one of two independent members (there are 34 Conservatives and 6 LibDems). We have formed an independent group and have certain rights as a group, including a right to our proportion of committee places (you may think it odd to have a group of two, as I do, but that’s the way the system works). I am a member of the Housing committee. I attend other committee meetings too whenever matters affecting Tatsfield or Titsey are on the agenda; I can take part in debates at these other committees but I cannot vote.

Tandridge to start building council houses: Because of the way the funding system works, it’s a long time since Tandridge built any council houses; all the social house building has been done by housing associations. The stock of council houses in Tandridge as elsewhere has gone down as tenants have bought their houses under the “right to buy” policy. However, now that the funding system has changed, we decided in the Housing Committee last year to start building council houses again and the budget plans for 2014/15 which are about to be settled include funds for building four 2-bedroom houses on land owned by Tandridge as a pilot so that the council can get first hand experience of managing a house building project. Hooray I say, and I believe most other people too – one of our most pressing needs is for more affordable houses, as we know only too well.

Cllr Bob David (Tel: 577357 Email [email protected])

SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Resurfacing of Ricketts Hill Road: I met the Project Hori- zon SCC Highway Officer and the contractor on site for an exploratory discussion on Friday 17 January. This was the first assessment of what works are required in the bigger picture for Ricketts Hill Road during the financial year 2014/15. We discussed the following:

· The extent of the possible road works. Depending on overall costs it is planned to start in Church Lane at the brow of the hill where the 30 mph sign is. The work will continue towards the crossroads of Ship Hill and then down the first part of Old Lane, continuing along Ricketts Hill Road to the Bromley boundary. This will be a major project. Initial discussions indicate that the works will take two to three weeks. 21 COUNCIL REPORTS

· Centre white line: After detailed discussion I am advised this is not possible because of the width of the road but I have asked SCC to confirm the costs of white lines for both edges of Ricketts Hill Road. · When is the best time to undertake this project? At this stage SCC and the contractor are looking into the feasibility of working at night. Work on Hillbury Road in Warlingham was done at night and was highly successful. I believe that a night time programme would be best for Tatsfield. · The next stage is what is called “walking the road” – with all parties, including the utility companies assessing all the issues. · SCC will also need to talk to the bus company about the impact on its service. It is possible that bus services will end earlier. · Access to private houses: I will work with the Highway team to draw up daily schedules as it is likely that for one or two nights there will be no access (apart from emergency vehicles) to private houses. So my sug- gestion is that, by providing guidance about when and where the work is taking place you can either make arrangements to be home before the works close a section or arrange with friends to leave your car with them. · If a night programme is agreed then there will be full access during the day. · Generally night working is from 10 pm through to 6 am. · I will continue to keep the Tatsfield community up to date through this magazine. SCC Project Horizon will advise residents of details of the programme once a timeframe and all necessary details have been finalised.

Paynesfield Road Update: · The scheme design has now been decided. · Tests have had to be carried out. Some residents know the history of this road - there is real concern about it and the water company is stating that the water leaks are not its responsibility. · The tests to establish what is under the surface are now being analysed by County Highways in Guildford. Because of concerns that Highways have over this road, a contract has been issued to test all gullies and soakaways in the area for clearing etc. next month. Once those gully/soakaway tests have been completed work on the road will start.

Surrey County Council funding for Tatsfield organisations: I am very glad to say that, as Leader of the County Council, I have approved funding of £14,554 from the Community Improvements Fund for Tatsfield Community Composting for a new shredder. I have also been pleased to approve grants from my Members Allocation to the Art Group (£200), the Cricket Club (£500), Tatsfield in Bloom (£1,000) and the Community Composting scheme (£500).

Cllr David Hodge (Tel: 020 8541 8003 Email: [email protected])

22 VILLAGE NEWS

This Easter a fabulous trip to the Loire Valley awaits you! Come along with friends and family or make new friends from Tatsfield, as your Twinning Association spends the Easter weekend in Vern d’Anjou.

The hospitality received from our French hosts is always warm and fun, with entertainment and great food and the chance to brush up on your French if you wish!

A trip to the spectacular Puy du Fou historical theme park is included in the trip this Easter. Take a look on-line at www.puydufou.com Transport, accommodation, food and drink are all includ- ed for around £100 each, with a discount for children.

To find out more come along to The Village Club on Fri- day 31t January or The Bakery on Friday 7 February, from 7.30pm or contact John White on 01959 570097 e-mail [email protected]

And for a glimpse of the fun to be had look here http://youtu.be/GWxVX5hCvfw

23 VILLAGE NEWS

REMEMBERING KEVIN ‘ARNIE’ ARNOLD 30 July 1967 – 27 December 2013

This Christmas we said goodbye to a very dear friend. Some of you may already know, particular- ly if you were connected to Tatsfield School, that Kevin ‘Arnie’ Arnold sadly lost his battle with can- cer on the day after Boxing Day. He died peace- fully with his family around him at St Christopher’s Hospice and we were very honoured to be with him right to the end.

Many people reading this may have known Arnie through his charity work in the village. He was an exceptional character who had real spirit, courage and a passion for life. He moved to Biggin Hill eight years ago with his wife Tina and their new born daughter, Venice, and I got to know Tina and Arnie through a baby massage class when our first children were just six months old. Tragically, Arnie was diagnosed with cancer whilst Tina was pregnant with their second daughter, Vienna-Bay, and he fought a long and courageous six year battle before finally succumbing to his illness. During this time he was so proud to be able to see his girls start at Little Acorns Pre-School and then Tatsfield Primary School, and to celebrate the many milestones we all as parents have experienced and hold close to our hearts.

Despite the many challenges and setbacks Arnie’s illness brought, he never lost his fighting spirit, even on his darkest days, and I think this is what people will remember him for. In the face of extreme adversity, he refused to give in.

Arnie lived in Biggin Hill but he loved Tatsfield just as much, and became a real part of the local communi- ty. He had a smile for everyone and a ‘get stuck in and get it done’ attitude – no doubt something to do with the 12 years he spent in the Royal Navy! Most will remember him for his efforts in spearheading the Westmore Green playground project, working with the PARROT team and Tandridge District Council – the result being a fantastic new playground and a legacy we know will be enjoyed by local children for many years to come. Arnie was also chair of Little Acorns Pre-School for three years, working with

24 VILLAGE NEWS Jackie Apps, Julie Barlow and the team, which has given so many of our children, mine included, a fantastic start on their school journey.

After leaving the Navy, Arnie retrained as a Police Officer, which was to become one of his proudest moments. We attended his Passing Out Parade at Hendon Barracks in December 2007 and what a dapper ‘boy in blue’ he made.

But it’s not just the bigger achievements we’ll remember. I bought my sister a wooden sign at Christmas that carried the message ‘Enjoy the little things in life because one day you will look back and realise they were the big things’. How true this is and how true it became as we rode this six year rollercoaster with Arnie and Tina. The big things were great but the little things were even greater. The visits to Costa Coffee to take Arnie his favourite Latte, the trips with the children to our favourite Brighton playground, dropping by with his favourite Big Mac Meal or just walking and taking in the air on West Wittering beach. All of these little things have become the big things and we’ll never forget them.

Above all, we remember Arnie for being a great and trustworthy friend, a wonderful husband to Tina and an inspirational Dad to Venice, Vienna-Bay and older daugh- ter, Lyric. He lived for his family and we were lucky to have known him for eight fantastic years, during which time our children have grown up together and spent many happy moments that we’ll treasure forever.

Arnie’s funeral took place on Friday 17 January. Instead of flowers, he had asked that donations be made to St Christopher’s Bromley, the place which became a huge support and refuge for him and his family during his illness. His Tuesday visits to the day care and therapy centre in Orpington really lifted his spirits and the team there gave him such a boost.

God bless you Arnie. You will be greatly missed by everyone who knew you. We may not have had you for long in this world but boy did you enjoy the ride and we were lucky to have had you as a friend.

Sarah Turrell

If anyone would like to make a donation to St Christopher’s Bromley, please visit the charity’s website http://www.stchristophers.org.uk/fundraising/bromley.

25 VILLAGE NEWS

BETHLEHEM AND THE 8 METRE HIGH WALL

What do you think about when you hear the word Bethlehem? If you’re anything like me, I expect an 8 metre high wall wouldn’t enter your head. But this was what St James’s church, Piccadilly had as the central installation during its recent controversial festival ‘Bethlehem Unwrapped’. The aim of the festival was to go behind the romanticised Christmas card images of the ancient city and show what life is like for people in Bethlehem today through the mediums of music, food, art, poetry and debate.

And the Wall – a life size replica section of the 8 metre high ‘Separation Wall’ that surrounds Bethlehem.

Having learnt about this event through the involvement of Zaytoun-CIC (the Fair- tradeolive oil people) my youngest daughter, Meg and I went to visit St James’s as they were preparing for a feast early in the New Year. Inside the church, ‘All they draw is the Wall’ was an exhibition of children’s paintings from a school in Bethle- hem, as well as music from the region. There was literature from the Amos Trust and ICAHDUK and visitors were encouraged to write something on The Wall.

Wall facts: In 2002, the government began building what was described as a Security Fence in Occupied Palestinian Territory. The stated purpose was the security of Israeli citizens. In 2004 the International Court of Justice at The Hague declared the barrier illegal and called on Israel to dismantle it. The Wall stretches 708km and consists of many things including fences, ditches, razor wire and groomed sand paths. Around 61km consists of 8-9 metre high concrete slab segments. *Source: Bethlehem Unwrapped literature.

www.bethlehem-unwrapped.org www.amostrust.org www.holylandtrust.org www.icahduk.org

Barbara Hester 26 VILLAGE NEWS

VILLAGE WEBSITE NEWS www. tatsfield.org.uk

CRIME ADVICE

If you're a regular visitor to the Village website, you'll be aware there's been a recent focus on crime for one reason or another. Although the police are very keen on crime prevention, when it does happen, there's plenty of help available on the internet for victims of crime. In order to make access to both kinds of advice easily available, a new webpage has been created showing links to various aspects of prevention, and organisations which can help if you have been affected in any way by a crime. The webpage is called CRIME ADVICE and you can access it by clicking on the link in the left hand column of the Village website, so click away.

If you're aware of any other websites that are not listed that could be helpful, then please drop us an email and we'll add them.

Village Web Team - Email [email protected]

EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER AVAILABLE Hi - I’m Alex Watkins and I am trying to raise money to go and help on a community project in Costa Rica and Nicaragua in the summer of 2015. I am a reliable and responsible 15 year old who has lots of experience of looking after children and I work as a Young Leader at Tatsfield Beaver Scouts. I can babysit during the week and at weekends.

Please contact me if you need my help on 577178 (references available).

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP RUN TATSFIELD SCOUTS AND BROWNIES - See pages 67 and 41.

27 VILLAGE NEWS

IRENE OWEN 29 November 1919 – 18 December 2013

Our Mum Irene was born in Tisbury, Wiltshire just after the end of the First World War. She moved to SE London where she met our Father Tom. They married just before the start of the Second World War in September 1939. Whilst we were children and teenagers Mum had various jobs to help the family. Her most reward- ing job was daily minding and fostering children. One special girl came with Veronica, Ted and Irene them in 1980 to Tatsfield and stayed with them until she married.

Mum loved the village life and joined in many activities and especially loved the Bingo at the Village Club. She was helped by so many villagers when my dear dad died in 1992. She made so many friends and her outgoing nature helped. She was lucky to have special neighbours who have been such a help to us both, checking on Mum and making sure that in between our visits she was ok. In her later years she loved waving to people as they went by especially the children next door.

Two dear friends were Veronica and Ted who have now passed away. They used to spend every Christmas together. Mum refused to stay with us as she said “They have no family they need me”. Ted and Veronica shopped for Christmas, Veronica always cooked and Mum always did the washing up. We supplied table presents, Christmas cake and crackers and they always had a great time. Within 18 months these three have passed away and we like to think they spent Christmas together again.

Mum’s celebration of her life was at St Mary’s Tatsfield on the 9 January followed by the wake at the Ship. It was a lovely sunny day and was so well attended. Mum would have been so pleased.

Wendy and Peter (Daughter and Son)

28 VILLAGE NEWS IRENE OWEN

We knew Irene for just over 15 years. She was our immediate neighbour, then becoming a very special friend. On a cold November day in 1988 when we moved in, she rushed round to see if she could help looking after baby Max, then 5 months old, and older sister Corrie. Right from the word go she was always there for us and vice versa.

Irene had a special love of animals especially cats, which was fortunate for us as we had four, who she would encourage with special treats. In time, the sad day came when ‘Lady’, her cat, was hit by a car, and is now asleep in our garden.

Irene and I had special connections which we shared. She adored watching tennis, and we would chat for ages about who should have gone through or been knocked out. She had a crush on Federer and hoped one day he would knock on her door (so did I)! We also enjoyed ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and put the show to rights on more than one occasion.

She was keen on puzzle books and quiz shows, keeping her mind active right to the end. Once when her son visited he was most impressed with her knowledge answering so many questions in a quiz show. She later told me it was only because it was a repeat from earlier in the day – but did not tell him! This was the amusing side of her.

Irene will be long remembered and greatly missed for different reasons by Tatsfield villagers. Her family did her proud and gave her a wonderful send off. We will miss you, but will cherish special memories.

Chris, Martin, Corrie, and Max

ST. MARY’S CHURCH Saturday Lunches in Lent St. Mary’s Millennium Hall 12.30 to 1.30 pm on March 8, 15,22,29 and April 5, 12 MENU Soup Cheese Ploughman’s Tea/Coffee Adults £4 Children £2.50 Raffle

In support of the Bishop’s Lent Call to raise money for charities at home and abroad. Please come and do spread the word among your friends and neighbours!

29 VILLAGE NEWS

TATSFIELD VILLAGE APPRAISAL REPORT IS PUBLISHED

You should have received with your Parish Magazine your personal copy of the Tatsfield Village Appraisal 2013 – Report.

This report has been produced by a group of Tatsfield villagers independently of Tatsfield Parish Council. It attempts to summarise the results of a questionnaire distributed to every household in the village in July 2013. The results were analysed during the period August to December.

The report has been distributed to every household in the parish of Tatsfield. There will be an opportunity for villagers to comment on the report at the Annual Parish Meeting in May.

There are many recommended actions in the report which we hope will be acted upon by the Parish Council and other organisations. We need volunteers to help monitor the progress of the implementation and if you would like to help please get in touch with me.

We have also highlighted “How you can help” as an individual to improve and support the Tatsfield community.

To keep costs to a minimum we have printed the bulk of the report in black and white but the report is available on the village website in colour.

The Appraisal Steering Group would like to thank the people of Tatsfield who have responded in such large numbers to this appraisal.

Roger Pearce, Chairman of the Steering Group (Tel: 577767)

TATSFIELD SUPERFAST BROADBAND

Last summer high speed broadband arrived in Tatsfield – quietly and unannounced.

This has enabled speeds of over 30 MBits to be available. With the good reliability, services such as BBC iPlayer are now a pleasure to use. Whilst this uses BT lines, it is possible that your existing broadband supplier may be able to provide the service for you.

Amongst this good news, it now appears that there is a hole in the provision of this service. This appears to primarily affect Ricketts Hill Road and the surrounding roads. If you wish to see if you could have this improved broadband check out this link to the BT website – www.tinyurl.com/Tatsfield-BB.

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The areas currently uncovered are scheduled to be provided under the Surrey SuperFast Broadband scheme by June 2014. Check this out at www.superfastsurrey.org.uk.

Naturally with Tatsfield being on the London/Kent/Surrey borders there is a concern that there may be pockets of Tatsfield that inadvertently slip between the cracks with the provision of broadband services. Should you find that your home is not scheduled for provision, please inform the Parish Council.

Peter Kerry

BIGGIN HILL AIRPORT NEWS

The airport is introducing sanctions to encourage light aircraft pilots to keep to designated flight paths and avoid flying low over places such as Tatsfield. Pilots who repeatedly ignore instructions to avoid sensitive areas are liable to be charged a fee, with proceeds going to community projects supported by the airport. Meanwhile, airport users are being consulted about possible changes to these so-called ‘noise routings’.

There were three noise complaints to the airport’s ‘comments line’ – 01959 578580 - during the last three months of 2013, two of which were about aircraft using Biggin Hill. If you have cause to leave a comment on that line, you should ensure that you leave clear and full details of the date, place and time of the incident, and as much detail about the aircraft, such as the direction it was travelling, as you can. You should also give clear details of how you can be contacted.

On the morning of 14 December, a caller from Tatsfield complained about an incident but failed to leave a full telephone number. If it was you, please ring the airport again to get a full explanation of what went wrong!

The number of flights in and out of Biggin Hill continues to decline. There were fewer than 42,000 movements last year, compared with a peak – in 1998 – of 100,000. Bromley Borough Council allows the airport 125,000 movements a year.

Ian Mitchell

FOUND In Kemsley Road just before Christmas, a photo album with lots of loose black/white photos, some of a wedding and some of men in military uniform. Also a single sheet headed ‘Facts (to say in presentation)’, which might have been written by a youngster. Please phone Bob David on 577357 to retrieve.

31 VILLAGE NEWS

LITTLE ACORNS PRE-SCHOOL

It has been a very sad start to the year for Little Acorns.

On 27 December, Kevin ‘Arnie’ Arnold, who was a previous chair of Little Acorns for a number of years, passed away peacefully after a six year battle with cancer. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. You will read more about Arnie elsewhere in the magazine but I wanted to focus on what Arnie did for Little Acorns.

I first met Arnie in 2009 at a Little Acorns event. I remember him telling my husband and me how he was suffering from terminal cancer and that some of the profits from the event were to go to Harris HospisCare, a charity close to Arnie’s heart. I was always struck by the way in which Arnie immersed himself in the life of Little Acorns. At the time I was just a parent who dropped their child off at pre-school and picked them up at the end. It is only now that I appreciate what the role of a chair of a pre-school entails and how hard he worked behind the scenes. He led Little Acorns through some difficult and challenging times and if it were not for his hard work and determination, Little Acorns may not be here today.

Arnie was always at the forefront of fundraising for Little Acorns. Highlights included a race night, Mr and Mrs Christmas disco, World Cup comes to Tatsfield, quiz nights, an auction night and many more. This fundraising effort meant that Little Acorns was able to flourish under his leadership and hence the children benefited from additional toys and resources.

Throughout Arnie’s leadership of the pre-school, his main focus was always the children. As Roz Hilditch, who was the chair after Arnie and before me, quoted him in her last report “Let us remember the one reason we do this for, and that is for the children in our community, to provide a safe, happy environment for them to learn, develop and grow”. It is something I will frequently remind myself of as the pre-school continues to flourish.

At New Year, we were also very saddened to learn of the passing of Katie Apps. Katie was the daughter of Jackie, the supervisor at Little Acorns. Katie was just 24 and died after a brave fight against cancer. Our thoughts are with Jackie and her family at this time.

Given all this sadness, the staff have continued to work tirelessly with the children this term and I would like to thank them for getting the term off to a great start for the children under difficult circumstances.

Rest in peace Arnie and Katie – you will both be greatly missed.

Rebecca Veale, Chair

32 VILLAGE NEWS

The Thrill of Love Bromley Little Theatre North Street, Bromley

Thursday 6th February 2014 – 7.45pm Bromley Little Theatre Amateur Dramatic Company has generously donated the first preview production of this new, acclaimed play about Ruth Ellis, the last person to be hanged in Britain, to The Chartwell Cancer Trust.

If you would like to come along, tickets are £15. Every ticket sale is treated as a donation to the Chartwell Cancer Trust. Places are limited so please call the office 01959 570322 or email: [email protected] as soon as possible to secure tickets.

BARN THEATRE AT OXTED ERIC AND THE CLAPTONES

A charitable gig in aid of St. Mary’s, Oxted, Heritage Trust 7.45 pm on Saturday 8 February Tickets from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01959 561811

SOUTHERN COUNTIES DRAMA FESTIVAL A first round of the All-England Theatre Festival 7.30 pm Monday 24 February to Saturday 1 March (7.00 pm on the Thursday and Friday) Tickets from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01959 561811

GOING FREE Selection of old bound volumes of Masses and Cantatas by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc, mostly for alto voice plus miscellaneous sheet music for cello, piano, books of songs, etc. Free to good home. Please phone Ann Hayes on 577593.

33 VILLAGE NEWS

This year’s campaign is focussing on making bananas fair! To help understand the effect that the unfair banana has on the growers you will hear a lot about one of them: Alberto Alfonso ‘Foncho’ Cantillo, a 43 year old banana farmer from Colum- bia who is visiting the UK in Fairtrade Fortnight. He is ‘a man with a plan! He works hard, putting in long hours to make his business work. His livelihood depends on bananas. He knows that without them he would struggle to find another job to provide for his family. He is fuming that the majority of the bananas munched in the UK are sold so cheaply that his fellow growers often do not earn enough from what they sell here in the UK.

So let’s stick with Foncho and make bananas fair this Fairtrade Fortnight. Stay tuned for the latest policy analysis and details of the campaign call to action. Details below.

WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN TATSFIELD?

Working with Tatsfield School There will be a Fairtrade day at Tatsfield School when, through a range of activities organised throughout the school children, we aim to raise the children’s awareness of Fairtrade and its role in ensuring a fair price and sustainability for farmers and workers in the developing world. Children and parents will have an opportunity to see and buy from a wide selection of Fairtrade goods too. This will be supported by members of the Tatsfield Fairtrade Village Group and pupils from Oxted School.

Saturday 8 March 10.00 am Fairtrade Tea Tent outside the shops Come and meet Mr or Mrs Fairtrade Banana There will be free Fairtrade tea, coffee and tasters, with Fairtrade goods on sale. There will be a chance to meet Mr or Mrs Fairtrade Banana, who will invite you to sign an inflatable banana and a petition card to abolish unfair bananas. This petition will also be online during Fairtrade Fortnight at www.fairtrade.org.uk.

34 VILLAGE NEWS

Our Village Shops Always look out for Fairtrade products in Linda’s Stores and in Tony and Di’s Greengrocers but even more so during Fairtrade Fortnight!

Local businesses We will be approaching other local businesses and village organisations to encour- age them to join us in promoting Fairtrade.

How you can show your support? Here are some ideas: Watch the video on www.stickwithfoncho.org.uk Add a #twibbon now to your twitter page http://twb.ly/RxI1ts Make your Facebook profile picture a ba- nana smile

Follow us on facebook and twitter and keep checking out our website www.tatsfieldfairtradevillage.weebly.com, www.fairtrade.org.uk and twitter.com/TatsfieldFT. Find us on Facebook, locally: Tatsfield Fairtrade Group or nationally: Fairtrade Foundation Let’s see if together we can help: Transform the banana industry Stop putting pressure on banana farmers Stick with Foncho and all the people who grow bananas Let’s remember 'The Power of You'!

Jennie South, Tatsfield Village Fairtrade Group

TATSFIELD PLAYING FIELD ASSOCIATION 100 CLUB Congratulations to the 100 Club winners for December 2013 1st prize: K. Budgen £43.50 2nd prize: Dave King £29.00 3rd prize Dave Eames £14.50

TATSFIELD 100 YEARS AGO What was happening in the village in 1914, the year World War 1 began ? See page 53 for the first of a new monthly series.

35 VILLAGE NEWS

TATSFIELD HELPLINE: A USEFUL AND FRIENDLY SERVICE, BY AND FOR TATSFIELD RESIDENTS. Now in its 19th year, the Helpline enables over one hundred ‘emergency lifts’ a year. Any Tatsfield resident in need of a lift, say to the doctors or for a hospital appointment, can just phone the Helpline and where possible, a driver will turn up at the required time. The service is provided by a network of Tatsfield volunteer drivers. New drivers are always welcome – so do consider joining if you have a car and would be able to free up some spare time to help. You would not only be joining a friendly group and providing a worthwhile and much appreciated service to our community but would find it interesting and enriching. I have been in the team for three years now and have found it an excellent way to make new acquaintances. Some of the people we give lifts to are new to Tatsfield and it is always interesting to hear their perceptions of the village and how they were received as newcomers. Many are old timers glad to share their fascinating stories of “The Old Days” and the changes they’ve seen. Joining the driver team does not require a fixed commitment of time – arrangements are kept flexible. On receiving a request for a lift, the Helpline Coordinator calls around to find a driver for whom the time is convenient. An added bonus for the drivers is the Annual General Meeting, usually held in early December, the highlight of which is an always excellent and fulsome spread of home made cake and mince pies! If interested in joining the driver team, why not give Sylvia Waters (Helpline Coordinator) a call on 577524. Finally, for anyone who some- times has need of a lift - you are most welcome to give Sylvia a call and she will do her best to arrange. She will also explain the process which includes paying a mileage charge towards the cost of fuel. Postscript: My family and I will shortly be leaving Tatsfield for new pastures, downsizing now all the children have left the nest. We have very much enjoyed our 17 years here, appreciating Tatsfield’s excellent location, combining pic- turesque hill scenery and views Myrna, Robin and their youngest son, Matthew

36 VILLAGE NEWS with easy access to London and the M25. Three of our children went to Tatsfield Primary, getting an excellent educational grounding (all went on to straight As at Oxted School then university and good professions). Speaking mainly for myself we have not been the most sociable of participants in the community (although Myrna was a Community Responder and member of the Bridge Club!). But a nice thing about Tatsfield is that although a wide range of activities, clubs and events are available, there is no pressure; one can freely choose how much to get involved – and new participants are always made to feel welcome. The only big disappointment - the continued absence of ducks from the pond! Robin Jones

Hazel Cartwright, the Helpline’s Secretary, adds: The Helpline would like to thank Robin for his ever- friendly service as a volunteer driver and for the many journeys he has willingly undertaken – not a few to the more distant destinations requiring driving to and through London. All our good wishes go to him and Myrna in their move to a new home.

THE NEW BBC ‘SKY AT NIGHT’ PRESENTER – DR. MAGGIE ADERIN-POCOCK

Many people, and not all of them astronomers, were saddened when the death of Sir Patrick Moore was announced towards the end of 2012. He had pre- sented ‘The Sky At Night’ since it began on April 24 1957 and had missed only one episode when he was laid low with food poisoning from a duck egg. What would happen to the world’s longest running television series, with the same presenter, when its star (pardon the pun) was no longer around? In the interim a group of the show’s previous guests shared the honours, although this gave it a rather disjointed feel. Now the BBC have announced that Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock will take over when it returns this month to a new slot on BBC4. Maggie is already a well known TV face after presenting a programme about the Moon and appearing on the ‘One Show’ on several occasions.

Born in 1968 to Nigerian parents she received her Physics BSc in 1990 and her PhD in Mechanical Engineering during 1994 despite being dyslexic. She worked for the Ministry of Defence on missile warning systems and land mine detection before changing direction to work on some of the instrumentation for one of the large telescopes based in the Chilean desert. She currently divides her time between designing instruments that are carried on satellites and promoting sci- ence, with an emphasis on space, to school children in the hope that they will be enthused enough to forge a career in that field for themselves.

37 VILLAGE NEWS

It remains to be seen how Maggie adjusts to her new role given that, despite her qualifications and enthusiasm, she is not an astronomer. Patrick, on the other hand, was an astronomer through and through and had the happy knack of being able to ask the experts of the day the sort of questions that the man in the street wanted answers to. That said, he was also able to present the programme in such a way that those with some knowledge already were still catered for. This is the difficult tightrope that the new incumbent must walk.

I have to say that, personally, I find her delivery a little stilted with many unneces- sary pauses which is, in many ways, reminiscent of the style of annoying sound bites that Tony Blair used to use. I hope her presentation changes for the better because undoubtedly she does radiate enthusiasm for her subject, which is cer- tainly half the battle.

My own personal choice would have been to dispense with the original title and start from scratch so that there was no ‘baggage’ from the original programme. Patrick could never be replaced so I think it would have been better not to try and fill his shoes - best to start again with a clean sheet.

However, I do most certainly wish Dr Aderin-Pocock the very best of luck. As to whether she will do the title justice, one of Patrick’s favourite sayings seems to answer the question succinctly - “Frankly, we just don’t know!”

Brian Mills, FRAS

Editor: I asked Brian, who writes our ‘Night Sky in Tatsfield’ articles each month, for his comments on the new ‘Sky at Night’ presenter. Look out for the first programme on BBC4 this month and see what you think.

FOR SALE Buffet E11 wooden clarinet about eight years old. £500. Please phone Ann Hayes on 577593.

WANTED Baggage or general purpose trailer. Please phone Geoff on 577585.

ROBIN TAPSELL

We are sad to report that Robin Tapsell of Lusted Hall Lane died on 18 January.

38 VILLAGE NEWS

TATSFIELD IN BLOOM – LATEST NEWS

Our twin themes this summer of encouraging more pollinating insects and remembering the beginning of the First World War are progressing well. Our main scheme for flower beds, baskets and the other containers around the village will be Antirrhinums and other plants which attract pollinating insects. The plant order is now with our supplier Barnsfold Nurseries and we are finalising our budget for 2014. Every year we appeal to Tatsfielders and invite them to support our efforts that make our village look lovely each year. Even though we are having a ‘year out’ of the South and South East in Bloom competition this year, we will be keeping up the standards of our floral displays and a tidy village.

We need more volunteers to help with all the jobs we do; don’t think that you need to give us a lot of your time - we are grateful for whatever time you can spend either at the weekend or mid-week. Not all jobs involve a lot of bending, kneeling or lifting and we can fit lots of small tasks around your abilities, so why not give Jon Allbutt on 577100 or Bob David on 577357 a call or meet us in the village centre any Saturday morning at 10.00 for more information.

Jon Allbutt

THANKS FROM GEOFF KING

I would like to thank everyone who contributed towards my retire- ment gift. I wish all my friends and customers a very happy and prosperous new year. I have really enjoyed my time delivering your mail and getting to know you. All the best.

Geoff (the Postman)

WANTED

SINGLE GARAGE TO RENT IN TATSFIELD VILLAGE

WEEKLY RENTAL RATE NEGOTIABLE

REQUIRED FOR SINGLE CAR USE ONLY, NOT AS GENERAL STORAGE USE

PLEASE CONTACT GARY ON 570788 (TATSFIELD RESIDENT)

39 VILLAGE NEWS

FOR SALE

Space saver stairs – solid pine - £350 o.n.o.

Space saver stairs with alternate tread steps and banisters. Made from solid pine with clear varnish coating. Previously used for access to a converted loft room. Buyer to collect, cash only on pick up.

Please phone 577402

FEBRUARY SHOPPING IN TATSFIELD

Tony and Di’s Greengrocers (Tel: 07563 478960) ] Fresh fruit and vegetables. Check what specials we have. Last month it was mangoes, blueberries and lychees ] Frozen food ] Pet food and wild bird seed ] Cut flowers ] SELECTION OF FAIRTRADE PRODUCE DURING FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT – 24TH FEBRUARY TO 9TH MARCH ] Free delivery to your home – just ask ] Keep recycling your unwanted mobile phones, used printer cartridges (all makes except Epson), CDs, DVDs and digital cameras here. Proceeds to charity.

Linda’s Stores (Tel: 577152) ] All your Post Office needs, including foreign currency ] Have a look at our wide selection of magazines ] Pick up a leaflet for current bargains. The selection will change on 19th February ] LOOK OUT FOR THE FAIRTRADE ITEMS we will be stocking in Fairtrade Fortnight 24th February to 9th March

ARE YOU PLANNING A FAMILY HOLIDAY IN FRANCE IN 2014?

Why not stay in our lovely five bedroom house with over two acres of garden and a large swimming pool in south west France? We are in a country village on a hill with lovely views near the town of Riberac. Just an hour’s drive north of Bergerac airport or a comfortable day’s drive from Calais. For more information why not have a look at our website www.lepaillere.co.uk or give Sandy a call on 577100.

40 VILLAGE NEWS

TATSFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY GARDENING CLUB

8 pm on Tuesday, 11th February at the WI Hall TURNING YOUR LAWN INTO A MEADOW A talk by John Allbutt

Fed up mowing the lawn? Not impressed with a blotchy green sward? Would you prefer to look at an area full of wild flowers from early spring to late autumn? Come and learn how to change your lawn to a flowering meadow.

ALL WELCOME

1st TATSFIELD BROWNIES

Please take note of our 1st Tatsfield Brownies poster which you will find on page 45. You will see that we are looking for a new young leader or Tawny Owl with lots of energetic ideas and the capability of sharing the load with the other leader. We are also looking for someone who would take over the simple bookkeeping and invoices of fees. Don’t be afraid to make enquiries. As you see we are wanting to enlarge our pack and we will take people from outside the Tatsfield area. All enquiries welcome. Please text or phone 07860 938839 or most evenings after 8 pm you will find me on 01342 893742. We need YOU to keep our voluntary organisation going for our children!

Brown Owl

ST MARY’S ANNUAL DINNER 2014, 1 PM ON SUNDAY 2ND MARCH IN CHURCH HALL

Three course dinner, coffee, mints, raffle

£8.50 for adults and £5 for under 12s

Tickets available from Sheila Cook on 577443

BYO drink. Fruit juice provided

41 VILLAGE NEWS TATTY KNITTERS

Over the last year our numbers have increased steadily and still are. I have had several enquiries from ladies about the club but they have been unable to attend due to other clubs also being held on the same evening. For this reason and after lengthy discussion at January's get together, and with Andrew’s approval, we have decided to meet on the 2nd (as normal) and 4th Tuesday of each month. This gives those who at present are unable to attend the opportunity to pop along if they wish, and the rest of us the excuse to go out and knit/craft more often with like-minded people.

We also decided to pay £1 each a meeting towards the cost of cakes and little extras at Christmas or at other times during the year. After December’s superb Christmas meal we came to the conclusion we should do this more often, so a meal is planned for Easter time.

Our Christmas meal at the Bakery

So on that note February's get togethers will be on the 11th and the 25th in the Bakery from 7.30 until 9.30ish. £1 per person, cakes supplied, buy your own drinks. Be lovely to see you.

Val Quick (Tel: 576264 Mobile: 07761 571071)

STEEL FILING CABINET - FREE TO COLLECT

Sturdy steel four drawer filing cabinet - free to collect. Call 577100.

42 VILLAGE NEWS

FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT 24 FEBRUARY - 9 MARCH

43 VILLAGE NEWS

ALLOTMENTS NEWS

Anyone who has been up at the allotment site since Christmas will know that it looks more like the Somme. A desolate land of mud and sludge, tattered windsocks blowing in the wind, broken arte- facts rolling around, fences down...... But do not despair, a bit of TLC and it will all be back blooming again, peas will flourish, potatoes will grow, vegetables will sprout. That is the nature of nature! Everything goes in cycles, everything will grow again, spring will come, the sun will shine! A few dry days and it will all seem like a bad dream, and our little haven of peace will once more echo with the sound of digging, hoeing (and ho-ho-ho-ing?), bees will be buzzing, birds will be nesting and we shall be planting.

We have been unlucky so far with a grant application for a project to improve drainage on the site but this is now a high priority and we will keep trying. On the plus side - the water storage tank is full - and the grass community area is looking good.

By the time you read this we will have had our AGM and new ventures will have been discussed and maybe even agreed!

Anne Chapman's wonderfully innovative Christmas wreath is shown here - made from vegetables - carrots, onions, sprouts...... and ivy. Let this be an inspiration to us all for next year! Isn't she a clever girl?

Liz Armitage NOT A LOT CHANGES!

So says David McMullan from Spain, where he now lives! Over 40 years ago, his son Sean as a small boy was hammering around Crayford House (now The Chest- nuts) in Ship Hill on a midget motorcycle. Last month, Sean’s son, Seamus, aged only 5 rode out behind his dad in the Californian desert on his first motorbike outing, as in the photo.

Car enthusiasts will remember when in the 1960s David McMullan and his friend Jeff Smith developed the world’s first Mini convertible here in Tatsfield, followed by Ford Cortina and Corsair convertibles. Their company, Cray- ford Auto Developments Ltd, developed into a world- renowned car conversion specialist. 44 VILLAGE NEWS

45 VILLAGE NEWS

46 TATSFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL

YEAR 1 ARTISTS

In Robin Class (Year 1) we have started to learn about the artist L.S. Lowry. We have had a go at drawing our own matchstalk men in the style of Lowry and below are a few examples:

47 EVENTS CALENDAR

FEBRUARY

1 Sat 11am-12noon PC Café - Bakery

2 Sun 10am Open the Book - All Age Service- StM 11.30am Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) - StM 3 Mon 9.30am Tots on Top - CH • 1.30pm Bridge Club - WIH • 6pm Beavers - SH 7.30pm Art Group - VH • 7.30pm Yoga - TPS • 8.15pm Bingo -TVC 4 Tues 7pm Scouts - SH • 7.30pm WI Meeting - WIH 5 Wed 10am-12noon WI Pop In - WIH • 6pm Cubs - SH • 8pm Yoga - VH 6 Thur 9.15am Morning Prayer - StM • 10am Over 50s Yoga - WIH 2pm Scrabble Group - Scrumdoone, Greenway • 3pm WI Darts - WIH 5.30pm Brownies - CH • 6.15-7.15pm Vets Football - VH 7.30pm Duplicate Bridge - WIH • 8pm Table Tennis - VH 7 Fri 2pm Short Mat Bowls - VH • 5pm Badminton Juniors - VH 7.30pm ALL ABOUT THE VERN EASTER TRIP - The Bakery 8pm Badminton Club - VH 8 Sat 11am-12noon PC Café - The Bakery

9 Sun 10am Sung Eucharist - StM • 10.15am Ramblers Walk - Westerham Green 10 Mon 9.30am Tots on Top - CH • 1.30pm Bridge Club - WIH • 6pm Beavers - SH 7.30pm Art Group - VH • 7.30pm Yoga - TPS 8pm Parish Council Meeting - AMB • 8.15pm Bingo -TVC 11 Tues 2pm Not So Young Club - WIH • 7pm Scouts - SH 7.30pm Tatty Knitters - The Bakery • 8pm Gardening Club - WIH 12 Wed 10am-12noon WI Pop In - WIH • 2.30-3.30pm PCSO Terry Pearson Surgery - AMB 6pm Cubs - SH • 8pm Yoga - VH 13 Thur 9.15am Morning Prayer - StM • 10am Over 50s Yoga - WIH 3pm WI Darts - WIH • 5.30pm Brownies - CH 6.15-7.15pm Vets Football - VH • 7.30 pm Duplicate Bridge - WIH 8pm Table Tennis - VH 14 Fri 2pm Short Mat Bowls - VH • 5pm Badminton Juniors - VH 8pm Badminton Club - VH 15 Sat 11am-12noon PC Café - The Bakery

16 Sun 10am Sung Eucharist - StM TATSFIELD SCHOOL HALF TERM - 17 TO 21FEBRUARY 17 Mon 9.30am Tots on Top - CH • 1.30pm Bridge Club - WIH 7.30pm Yoga - TPS • 8.15pm Bingo -TVC 18 Tues 19 Wed 10am-12noon WI Pop In - WIH • 8pm Yoga - VH 20 Thur 9.15am Said Eucharist - StM • 10am Over 50s Yoga - WIH 3pm WI Darts - WIH • 6.15-7.15pm Vets Football - VH 7.30pm Duplicate Bridge - WIH • 7.30pm Tatsfield Singers - TPS 8pm Table Tennis - VH 21 Fri 2pm Short Mat Bowls - VH • 5pm Badminton Juniors - VH 8pm Badminton Club - VH 22 Sat 11am-12noon PC Café - The Bakery

48 EVENTS CALENDAR

23 Sun 10am Open the Book - All Age Service - StM 10.30am Ramblers Walk - Westerham Green 11.30am Holy Communion - StM 7-9pm St.Mary’s Youth Group - CH FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT - 24 FEBRUARY - 9 MARCH 24 Mon 9.30am Tots on Top - CH • 1.30pm Bridge Club - WIH 6pm Beavers - SH • 7.30pm Yoga - TPS • 7.30pm Art Group - VH 8.15pm Bingo -TVC 25 Tues 1.30pm Whist - WIH • 7pm Scouts - SH • 7.30pm Tatty Knitters - The Bakery 26 Wed 10am-12noon WI Pop In - WIH • 2.15pm Tea Dance Social - VH 2.30-3.30pm PCSO Terry Pearson Surgery - AMB • 6pm Cubs - SH 8pm Yoga - VH 27 Thur 9.15am Morning Prayer - StM • 10am Over 50s Yoga - WIH 3pm WI Darts - WIH • 5.30pm Brownies - CH 6.15-7.15pm Vets Football - VH • 7.30pm Duplicate Bridge - WIH 7.30pm Tatsfield Singers - TPS • 8pm Table Tennis - VH 28 Fri 2pm Short Mat Bowls - VH • 5pm Badminton Juniors - VH 8pm Badminton Club - VH

MARCH

1 Sat 11am-12noon PC Café - The Bakery 2 Sun 10am Sung Eucharist - StM • 1pm ST.MARY’S ANNUAL DINNER - CH 3 Mon 9.30am Tots on Top - CH • 1.30pm Bridge Club - WIH 6pm Beavers - SH • 7.30pm WI Meeting - WIH • 7.30pm Yoga - TPS 7.30pm Art Group - VH • 8.15pm Bingo -TVC 4 Tues 7pm Scouts - SH • 7.30pm WI Meeting - WIH 5 Wed 10am-12noon WI Pop In - WIH • 6pm Cubs - SH • 8pm Yoga - VH 8pm Ash Wednesday Service at St.Peter’s 6 Thur 9.15am Morning Prayer - StM • 10am Over 50s Yoga - WIH 2pm Scrabble Group - Scrumdoone, Greenway • 3pm WI Darts - WIH 5.30pm Brownies - CH • 6.15-7.15pm Vets Football - VH 7.30pm Duplicate Bridge - WIH • 7.30pm Tatsfield Singers - TPS 8pm Table Tennis - VH 7 Fri 2pm Short Mat Bowls - VH • 5pm Badminton Juniors-VH 8pm Badminton Club - VH 8 Sat 11am-12noon PC Café - The Bakery • 12.20-1.30pm Lent Lunch - CH 9 Sun 10am Sung Eucharist - StM 10 Mon 9.30am Tots on Top - CH • 1.30pm Bridge Club - WIH • 6pm Beavers - SH 7.30pm Art Group - VH • 7.30pm Yoga - TPS 8pm Parish Council Meeting - AMB • 8.15pm Bingo -TVC 11 Tues 2pm Not So Young Club - WIH • 7pm Scouts - SH 12 Wed 10am-12noon WI Pop In - WIH • 6pm Cubs - SH • 8pm Yoga - VH

Venues AMB - Aileen McHugo Building • CGA - Community Games Area • CH - Church Hall • FC - Furze Corner SH - Scout Hut • StM - St. Mary’s Church • TPS - Tatsfield Primary School • TVC - Tatsfield Village Club VH - Village Hall • WIH - Women’s Institute Hall

49 ST MARY’S MATTERS

Christmas at St Mary’s Christmas was a joyous celebration at St Mary’s (despite no electricity at Midnight Mass and on Christmas Day!). A big thank you to everybody who contributed their time and ener- gies in so many different ways over the Christmas period. It is, as ever, very much appreciated.

Christmas Tableau Once again Sauro Gabelli, and helpers produced an amazing tableau of the Nativity in the church entrance area. The fine detail and innovative touches have been admired by many, including a fellow Italian living on Limpsfield Chart who heard about it and came up specially with his young children to see it.

50 ST MARY’S MATTERS Christmas Collections for the Children’s Society All the collections from the Christmas services have been sent to the Children’s Society, a charity that does so much to rescue youngsters who have experienced a dreadful start to their lives. Added to this money were the donations from the wall safe given in response to the marvellous tableau. As a result of all these donations we have been able to send over £1015 to the Children’s Society

Singing in the rain (Carol Singing for Shelter!) On the front cover of the January Magazine you will have seen the group of twenty or so adults and children assem- bled in front of the Ship on 19th December and about to set off carol singing for Shelter. We started off at Crossways Court where we were warmly welcomed by residents including Alice Freeland and Bill Tyler who came and listened, contributed to our collection and speeded us on our way. It was all very different from then on! Torrential rain, hail, thunder and lightning, the latter a bit too close for comfort by the time we reached The Square. We speeded up, arriving earlier than arranged at The Bakery and The Village Club and then dashing to Barbara Piggott’s for warmth, mulled wine and mince pies. Thank you to those who braved opening their door to listen, to Andrew and Jo at the bakery and Club respectively for letting us drowned rats over the threshold and to all who gave so generously to Shelter. We collected £122.96 and some further donations brought this up to £170, which has been forwarded to this very worthwhile charity. We hope for better weather next year! Open the Book At the January OTB we remembered the journey of the Magi to visit the infant Jesus and thought about our own life journeys. We also collected food for the two food banks we support……. …. What’s for dinner tonight? January marked the start of a new initiative at St Mary's which Hilary Vale is organising. There will be an on-going collection of non- perishable food items here for local food banks. At the moment we are collecting on Sunday mornings at church but we are exploring ways of having a more central collection point throughout the week in due course, if we can find a simple and convenient way to do this. Ideas welcome! These gifts will be divided between our link church, Christ Church Brixton Road, for their ‘store cupboard’ which opens once a week and provides the makings of a simple meal for those in immediate need and for the Food Bank at East Grinstead. Churches Together in Oxted and District (CTOD) are working with Oxted CAB and the Hurst Green Children’s Centre to provide emergency food for local people in crisis. The East Grinstead Foodbank (currently our nearest food- bank) is supplying the food and values donations to replenish their food stocks.

51 ST MARY’S MATTERS Youth Group The group continues to meet on the last Sunday of each month. The last meeting included making Pizzas, table tennis, air hockey, Jenga and of course the tuck shop. The Youth Group is open to all young people in school years 7-11. If you would like more informa- tion or registration forms please contact Louise on 577289 or email [email protected] . St Mary’s Annual Dinner 2014, 1 pm on Sunday 2nd March in Church Hall This is always a popular occasion and if you would like to come details are on page 41.

Ash Wednesday, 5th March We will join the people of Limpsfield at St Peter’s for a Eucharist service with optional imposition of ashes at 8pm. Lunches in St Mary’s Millennium Hall 12.30pm til 1.30pm on Saturdays during Lent Enjoy delicious home made soup and, bread, cheese, drink and accompaniments, all for £4.00. Lent lunches start on 8th March and continue on each Saturday up to and including April 12th, and are served between 12.30pm and 1.30 pm. All proceeds go to the Bishop of South- wark’s Lent Appeal. There will be further details of this year’s nominated charities in next month’s magazine Flowers Although Christmas seems a long time ago now, I would like to say a very big thank you to Mr. Guy Innes and his gardening team, headed by Mr Steve Tett from the Titsey Estate, for providing the Church with such a won- derful variety of holly which was used in the decorations. The quality of the holly was second to none with such an abundance of berries, and it certainly made a wonderful show in the arrangements which lasted well into January. Very many thanks also to all those who helped with the decorating of the Church: Tina Boys, Pam Draper, Lorna Tory, Sylvia Hyett, Wendy Maddison, Shirley Murgatroyd, Christine Rosenbaum, Kay Roberts and Sue Warren. Thank you to Brenda Fairclough, who was unfortu- nately unable to join us on the day, for providing the delicious mince pies and to Jennie South for the coffee. Rota for February:. 2nd and 9th Christine Rosenbaum 16th and 23rd Sylvia Hyett Jan Maynard (Tel 577659) Records 9th January Funeral of Irene Owen

52 THE ‘GREAT WAR’ AND TATSFIELD

As the one-hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War approaches, delving into Tatsfield’s archives is one way of trying to obtain an impression of what life was like in the parish in 1914.

At that time just over 800 people lived in Tatsfield, less than half of today’s population. A quarter of the males were recorded in the 1911 census as having agricultural occupations. The Working Men’s Club, the Parish Institute, the Chil- dren’s Guild, the Dramatic Club and the Gardening Society, among others, catered for villagers’ leisure interests. The Post Office in Paynesfield Road was open from 8 in the morning until 8 at night, six days a week. There were other shops in Westmore Road and Ship Hill.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO THIS MONTH

At the beginning of the year, the preoccupation of people living in Paynesfield Road, Emily (now Westmore) Road and Louisa Road (now Crossways) was settling the bill for giving those roads a modern tarmac surface! Residents had been served notices of ‘Provisional Apportionment of Expenses of Private Street Works’ which had been carried out in 1912. The cost to each household was about £20 – more than £2,000 in today’s money.

An event of some importance in February was the wedding of Mr William Lugton, shopkeeper, churchwarden and Secretary of the Conservative Association and Miss Ada Harvey, a teacher at the village school. The ceremony was followed by a reception at the bride’s home – Rosebank in Hillside Road. It was a wedding of ‘exceptional interest’ according to the Westerham Herald.

The only, albeit oblique, reference to a looming conflict came during discussion of this report on plans for a new road from Clarks Lane at White Lane to the top of Westerham Hill via Westmore Green, Ship Hill, Tatsfield Green and Rag Hill:

The Parish Council noted that “It is difficult to maintain a proper state of repair especially at Rag Hill which is a source of increasing annoyance, more especially to motor traffic owning to narrowness and many concealed corners it is a source of danger to fast going traffic and to pedestrians”. How things have changed!

Ian Mitchell, Tatsfield History Project (Email: [email protected] Tel: 577376) 53 NIGEL’S NATURE NOTES Correspondence: You may remember that Julie Wood was one of our regular reporters before moving away from our village. She got in touch at the end of last year and seems to be enjoying the wildlife observed near her new home (16/12/13): ‘Our garden is large and backs onto fields. Also we have many rhynes (I call them dykes) as we are situated on the Somerset Levels five miles from the coast, approximately 6 miles from Cheddar Gorge. From my garden I have observed hundreds of birds. We get flocks of Starlings, hundreds at a time, Goldfinches in there twenty's and Chaffinches maybe thirty at one time. Birds of prey include Buzzards, Kestrels, Sparrow Hawks and a Hobby, seen last July hunting for dragonflies. Near the rhynes I have seen a Kingfisher, six swans and a few Mallard ducks, Fieldfares and Red Wings. But my biggest thrill was on Friday the 13th of December when, although it was raining hard, we decided to go for a walk at Cheddar Gorge. This time of year you can park easily, do a little shopping then admire the beauty of the Gorge at ones leisure. It was when we were walking back to our car and stopped to look at the crystal clear waters of the river Yeo (which runs through the Gorge) that we noticed three Dippers feeding in the water. You cannot mistake a Dipper because of their white throat and chest and the way they bob up and down. I felt honoured to be in the right place at the right time and did not mind getting wet at all. I have only seen one Dipper before, in Devon a few years ago, but to see three at once must be a rarity.’ Sounds glorious, Julie! I’m sure our readers would appreciate an update as we pass through the coming seasons. But, be warned; if your report is too exciting I may have to edit you out on health and safety grounds! (Editor: You will see a more general letter about Julie’s new home on page 17.) Trawling through old books: I’ve mentioned previously my thoughts on our friends on foreign shores who habitually shoot or trap anything that moves. But at least they have the decency to eat their kill. Thrushes, Larks, Martins, squirrels, deer, whatever; all goes in the pot and is enjoyed by Mr. Dontagiveadamn and his family. We Brits, however, have evolved and generally shoot and consume game that has either been bred for the purpose, is damaging to our agricultural output or has been ‘introduced’ and subsequently allowed to over-populate particular habitats. Fortunately, the vast majority of our native species are protected by law. This is because many British people now value the declining variety of wildlife found across the very varied landscapes of our homeland. Either that or they have no desire to muddy their fashionable wellies or leave their cosy sofas to go bagging in the rain. Whichever the case, this benevolence has not always been so prevalent, a fact I was sharply reminded of when coming across a copy of ‘The Birds of Surrey’ (Bucknill, J.A., 1900).This was an enlightening read. It offers a fascinating account of not only the species recorded in Surrey during the 19th century, but also the attitudes of people living at that time. Although some accounts show that there were genuine bird 54 NIGEL’S NATURE NOTES watchers in existence, the overall impression gained is that just about every male adult used to wander around with a shotgun over their shoulder, freely blasting away at anything that took flight. How very … foreign. Of course, the protection of birds isn’t a new idea. The ‘Wild Birds Protection Act’, 1880-1896, more or less offered protection during the period of March 1st to August 31st. I say ‘more or less’ because individual counties could write their own list of species considered worthy of protection. Furthermore, within Surrey, the law varied depending on the area of policing. The County of London, the Metropolitan Police District and the remainder of the county each had their own list of protected species to safeguard. Were these early laws helpful in protecting our native or visiting species? It would seem not: ‘The Protection Acts are to a great extent ignored and not strictly enforced, and a bird, unless capable of showing that confidence which excites both interest and compassion, (or) which displays any curious feature, is in most cases at once shot or captured.’ (Bucknill, xxxvi.) Here are a series of extraordinary incidents recorded by Mr. Bucknill. Firstly relating to a Nutcracker, a very irregular visitor to our shores: ‘() this example, which (was seen) in the possession of the gardener at West Horsley Place, was shot by a labouring man on the roof of his cottage on Clandon Common, about the autumn of 1847. The labourer took it and sold it to the gardener, who was a ‘bit of a bird-stuffer’, and the latter kept it in ignorance of its rarity until noticed by a gentleman from the neighbourhood, who informed him what it was.’ (Bucknill, p.72.) And secondly, the Hoopoe, described by Bucknill as a beauti- ful ‘summer visitor to this county of somewhat rare occurrence’. Unfortunately, due to its ‘handsome appearance and scarcity’, ‘it is killed as a rule almost immediately it arrives ()’. Specimens have been shot on several occasions near Godalming as well as near Farnham, at Esher, at Dulwich, within a mile of Guildford, on Streatham, Barnes, Tooting, Epsom and Wimbledon Commons, at Tandridge, at Dorking, at Camberley, Shackleford, and a specimen was seen, ‘near the village of Oxted’, on June 26th, 1892. What’s amazing about the Oxted sighting is that the specimen was not shot – well done the Oxted folk! There are many more records of interest that I hope to bring you in the coming months, when I have the luxury of space. In the meantime, let us be grateful for the variety of living (and protected) wildlife to be found in and around our village! The Bird Register, 2014:

The 2014 Register formed the centre pages of last month’s magazine, so I hope you all remembered to pull it out before it was lost in the recycling bin! Let me know if you would like another copy.

Any news, views or observational reports? Contact: [email protected] Alternatively, drop a note in to ‘Linda’s Stores’ or ‘Primrose Ridge’, Greenway.

55 TATSFIELD PEOPLE ONE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN YEARS IN TATSFIELD! A PROFILE OF JOHN AND CAROL PEARSON by Sue White

The most recent subjects of my interrogations are John and Carol Pearson, who between them have clocked up 111 years of life in Tatsfield! John was born in 9 Whitewood Cottages in 1950 and Carol moved from Lytham St. Anne’s to Tolhurst in Paynesfield Road in 1956. They both attended Tatsfield School but were in different class- es and unaware of each other.

Tatsfield School was of course set in its original lo- cation on Church Lane when John and Carol at- tended the school in the 1950s and was a very dif- ferent place – children aged John and Carol five to eleven attended school and were spread across four classes, originally in the main building, where room partitions were used to separate the classes. The canteen was in the grounds but the lunches were wheeled down the drive on trolleys, with pupils car- rying the plates! Girls and boys toi- lets were catered for in two outside brick blocks and a row of air raid shelters remained for a time in what is now the car park. The school bell (now hanging in the new school’s reception) was rung at 8.50am and could be heard on the walk to school, resulting in a dash along the road so as not to be late! School uniform was maroon and also included a tie.

Walking home from school may have been more exciting then, as it meant walking past, and stopping of course at, one of the many sweet shops: Outside Fitzgerald’s Paul (Rip Streets), Miss Knight’s at the corner of Ship Vincent Luck (Lucky), John Pearson (Wig) Hill and Old Lane (the made up sec- Chris Tilman (Twig) and Kim Austin tion) for a home-made penny ice-lolly,

56 TATSFIELD PEOPLE followed by Lugton’s at the end of Maesmaur Road for a couple of sweets and if you continued to the village centre, perhaps another mouthful in Fitzgerald’s (now Lin- da’s). Here not only could you stock up on sweets, chocolate and ice- cream but the shop was split in two, with a café serving tea, toast and bacon butties on the other side. Later, two pinball machines and a one-arm bandit were installed pro- viding entertainment too. As Carol notes, it’s a wonder the children of Carol’s school photo. Tatsfield didn’t all have decaying She is bottom left- 3 pupils in the photo teeth! now live in Maesmaur Road! Carol and John’s paths eventually crossed as teenagers – both continued on to Oxted School and attended the Youth Club run by Charlie Day and Tony Fisher in the Village Hall. In the early/mid 1960s this was a popular place to meet up with friends to play table tennis, cards and listen to music, often on John’s record player which he took to play all those popular hits of the 60s! Carol and John recall the Youth Club as always being packed out with local teenagers, and even a trip to Amsterdam was organised and well at- tended. This wasn’t the only place to gather socially – there was Fitzgerald’s, popular when alighting from the bus after school, and the Wooden Spoon tea shop on Westmore Road, run by Mrs Bellatti, who also made the couple’s wedding cake, plus a coffee club held in the WI Hall, where teenagers were able to meet, chat and listen to their music. All in all, plenty to do for the young people in the village. However, leaving the village to socialise was also possible by taking the half hourly bus down to Westerham and meeting friends in the La Ronda coffee bar to play pinball and The cover of Carol’s listen to music on the jukebox. John Tatsfield school report 1963 describes The Ship pub as also being the hub of village life but, as the landlord knew your age and your dad, there was definitely no chance of being served alcohol under age!

John remembers that by using this regular bus service it was actually possible to jump on public transport to pick up fish and chips in Westerham and return within

57 TATSFIELD PEOPLE the hour - certainly not possible today! Tatsfield appears more isolated than ever in the modern twenty first century, as there once were also regular bus services to Redhill, Bromley and Croydon, with a Green Line service to take you all the way to London and on to Aylesbury! Therefore no pressing need for a car in the 60s and 70s, when Carol travelled to Carshalton College to study hairdressing, followed by employment in Croydon and John journeyed to Croydon College to study electronics.

1973 saw John and Carol married in St Mary’s Church with many village busi- nesses involved in their wedding: Mrs Bellatti making their wedding cake, Chas Crane allowing them the use of his Rolls Royce, and actually acting as the chauf- feur on the day (he was Carol’s friend’s dad), one of the Kitchener boys and his camera doing the photography and a lady on Ricketts Hill provided Carol’s flowers – a real village affair! A brief time away from Tatsfield followed as they set up home in Warlingham, then Caterham but a house in Maesmaur Road lured them back, where they have remained ever since, raising three lovely daugh- ters. The couple celebrated forty years of marriage last September and now have one grandson.

John was involved at the beginning of the twinning with Vern d’Anjou, primarily as a member of the football team, who he recalls beat the French team on the very first trip to Vern! John remembers Tatsfield football team spending many hours digging up flints from the new pitch at Furze Corner (yet still many nasty injuries occurred despite this hard work!) and a season teaching football to the youngsters after - school football at the primary school. He currently works for a fire alarm company. Carol helped at the playgroup in the United Reform Church and went on to run the group when it moved to the WI Hall. She is the longest serving Teaching Assistant at Tatsfield School, joining in 1995, and has been chairperson of Tatsfield Art Group for some time. John and Carol enjoy walking and spend at least one week each year on a walking holiday with friends, often in the Lake District.

Tatsfield was no doubt a very different place growing up in the 50s and 60s, with many more open spaces, better public transport, entertainment for teenagers, more shops and businesses and yet less people. But that’s progress … or is it?

58 VILLAGE MEMORIES PAT DEAN NEE LUCAS REFLECTS ON A LIFE IN TATSFIELD as told to Kim Waite

Pat, daughter of May and Len Lucas, moved to no. 21 Lusted Hall Lane in 1940. Len was in the RAF and had been transferred from Dunmore in Essex to Biggin Hill aerodrome when Pat was 8 years old. On arrival in Tatsfield the family consisted of Pat and two brothers Bryan and Michael. Twin brothers Barry and Bruce were yet to arrive, making Pat very outnumbered by boys! Neighbours in Lusted Hall Lane at that time included the Coopers, Cutbushs and Smiths.

Revd Bywater, Bryan (who gave Pat away), Pat, Pearl, Barry, Rosemary and Bruce at Pat and Derek’s wedding

Pat’s mother loved her gas stove and insisted on bringing it with her from Essex but where was the gas point, Pat recalls her mum asking. There was no gas in the village in the forties! Also on arrival in Tatsfield, Pat remembers her mother remarking on there being no heating and that the stove would have to be lit each morning in order for everyone to get dressed. One major room missing was the bathroom, much to Pat’s mother’s dismay. The bath was later found with a lid covering it which turned out to be multifunctional as it served as an ironing board as well as a shelf and the toilet was located at the entrance to the kitchen. Pat remembers one of her first errands was to fetch milk. Being new to the village Pat didn’t know where to get the milk from Luckily, walking across the green was a young girl called Josephine Roberts who said she’d show Pat where to go, but first she was to go home and get a jug. Little did Pat know that this errand would take over an hour to complete and there wouldn’t be a lot

59 VILLAGE MEMORIES of milk left to show for it! Josephine led Pat all the way to Robinsons Farm (in Rag Hill Road). Mother didn’t rely on Pat to get the milk after this; a more convenient method was found in the form of local milkman Dick Higgs, who made deliveries of fresh milk on his horse and cart.

Pat remembers growing vegetables was part of the learning at Tatsfield school. Pat and her brother Bryan grew all essential vegetables such as potatoes, cabbages, carrots, beans and strawberries. Dinner time play was overseen by Mrs Tapsell and Mrs Jackson.

When the war started there would often be air raids and Pat and her siblings would often take shelter in neighbour Tom Cooper’s shelter. Mr Cooper would bang on the door shouting “May, get the kids and get to the shelter”. One such day Pat recalls Mr Cooper asking mother if Mrs Smith, another neighbour, was in as he had knocked but got no reply. Everybody got in the shelter and Tom Cooper stood at the door with a gun just in case the enemy advanced nearer, when footsteps were heard on the path. Tom Cooper shouted out “Friend or foe?” brandishing the gun at the approaching steps. It was Mrs Smith! She had heard Tom knocking but wouldn’t leave her house until she had finished baking her cake and it had nicely risen!

In a later raid, Pat and her family were not so fortunate. A bomb landed two fields over from their house and Mr and Mrs Lucas lost the ceiling and staircase in their house. This resulted in Mrs Lucas and the children being evacuated, which was to be for nearly three years. Another local lady, Hazel Baker, and her son Robin were also to be evacuated at the same time and to the same area. Colonel Kerrison of Ricketts Hill Road kindly took the family to Sevenoaks train station. The Lucas family were to spend the next years in Dunsford, Exeter with Dr Jackson (who happened to be the Chief Medical Officer of Bombay). Pat has very fond memories of her time in Dunsford and would go for summer holidays there after the war was over until Dr Jackson and family moved to London. Pat’s father died from pneumonia soon after the war.

Pat left school at 16 and worked for Singers in Croydon where she was taught dress making. Getting to work was a mission in itself as buses hadn’t come to Tatsfield village yet - they only came as near as the top of the Approach Road. A hike it was each morning, come rain or shine! Sometimes Pat would then walk back up the Approach Road to catch the bus of an evening with her girlfriends Gladys Cooper and Peggy Gibbs to go dancing and there was always a welcoming committee on their return in the form of mother, Mrs Cooper and Mrs Rumley, and woe betide them if they were late as a telling-off and a clout would be given out! Mother had a habit of turning up wherever Pat had gone.

It was Pat’s passion for dancing which was to lead her into the arms of Derek, her future husband, one evening at a dance at Biggin Hill aerodrome. Derek’s work at the time found him based at Biggin Hill and in the years of 1952 and 1953 Pat and Derek courted each other until Derek had to return to his home town of Sheffield. However, within a year Derek returned and moved in with the Lucas family, sharing a room with Pat’s brothers Bryan and Michael. Pat and Derek were to be married and local friends

60 VILLAGE MEMORIES Rosemary Tapsell (now Brown) and Pearl Cooper were the bridesmaids. The reception was to be held at Dick’s (now The Bakery) and all the food was prepared at home and carted across the green in a pram the night before the celebration. Many a trip it took. Relatives from near and far came to the wedding and all stayed the night at Tangland Castle in Goatsfield Road which at the time was a Bed and Breakfast. In years to come Derek’s family would stay at Tangland Castle during the summer on vacation. Tangland was later sold and Pat recalls it being an antique shop for a while. Pat and Derek honeymooned in Dunsford where Dr Jackson and family were very pleased to welcome and see them. On return home they continued to live with Pat’s mother until they moved to 4 Whitewood Cottages with their baby daughter Jane aged 2. This is still home to Pat and Derek to this day.

Following on from Jane came another daughter, Sally, in 1958 and a son, Nigel, in 1964. With this family it was a necessity to be able to drive in a village like Tatsfield, so with Nigel in the back and sometimes the girls also, Derek would patiently take Pat out for driving lessons. To keep Nigel amused Derek would give his son wood, hammer and nails for the duration of the lesson and Pat would be desperately trying to listen for the sounds of the engine as ordered to by Derek above the din coming from the back seat. On Pat’s second test she was to get her wings out of the village.

Pat laughs at one of her more quirky hobbies - collecting bottles. This sounds quite tame but the bottles were buried in the once open fields on Ship Hill which had been a bottle tip years before. Pat would be so engrossed looking for her bottles that she would often be unaware of the audience of cows watching her. Among her collection Pat has many medicine bottles and beer bottles. Time would be irrelevant and Derek would have to call her to go home as he was on his way to badminton in the Village Hall. Pat’s hobby had become an obsession!

Pat also has fond memories of the family drive to Spain each summer where they would spend three weeks camping at Tosse de Mar. It was always a leisurely drive down, Derek taking three days to get to their destination in the family car. Going over the Pyrenees Pat recalls putting a bag over her head so that she was unaware of the sheer drop as Derek navigated across.

Thankful for all these memories, some good some bad, Pat is still glad to live here in Tatsfield as she has done for the majority of her life. In Pat’s own words “there is nothing quite like Tatsfield”.

61 VILLAGE MEMORIES

A VILLAGE EMPORIUM by John Andrews Shopping in Tatsfield in the early 1950s was a totally different experience from today’s supermarkets. I remember with clarity the large general stores in the centre of the village which was quite an emporium.

As you opened the shop door the old rusty corrugated iron roof shook and sighed with the wind, enamelled pots and pans hanging from the rafters jostled and jousted for position with scythes and sickles. No need for a bell - the sound would have awoken the dead. Polished aluminium kettles gleamed out of the darkness begging you to buy them, a regiment of hurricane lamps stood to attention in rows anxiously waiting to give light. The warm glow of a paraffin fire invited you further into the shop. All you required could be purchased here – there was no need to travel to Westerham or Oxted or, heaven forbid, Croydon. Bottles and jars, tins and packets of all shapes and sizes cluttered the shelves. I remember the earthy smell of boiled beetroot mingled with the vapour from cans of paraffin and creosote. It had the smell of a shop which had anything and everything. One amusing incident I can recall while waiting to be served one day. I noticed out of the corner of my eye a movement. The next thing I saw was a large mouse sitting on top of a slab of cheese on the counter, his beady eyes fixed on me to see what I would do next. I called to the shopkeeper "Sir, there is a mouse sitting on top of your cheese" to which he replied “Don't you worry about that young lad, they don't eat a lot" and carried on serving his customer! Now you wouldn't get that experience in Sainsbury's or Tesco's would you. Another time the shop roof had leaked badly during a storm and hundreds of tins were left with labels washed off. Undaunted, these were offered for sale as 'pot luck' for two shillings and sixpence a bag (25p in today’s money) - you might get dog food, peas or spaghetti or the best marmalade you ever tasted. Great fun. Of course in those days 'best before' and 'use by' dates didn't exist. Happy days, when one used your common sense and did not have to be told what was good or bad for you. What a wonderful old shop this was! I am sure that in some dark and dusty corner a magician’s wand remained unsold or maybe even a witch’s broom stood waiting for an owner. Harry Potter would have loved it, as did I. Editor: The shop was owned by the Goodchilds and was in Westmore Road where the pedestrian entrance to Wedgwoods now is (as in the photo).

62 DEBATER TAKEN FOR GRANTED Just before Christmas, I was sitting in Marks & Sparks’ restaurant in Croydon and on the next table to me was a lady accompanied by a young girl. The girl had a mobile telephone in her hand and she was concentrating on the screen whilst she was working the keyboard with her thumbs at great speed. The lady was looking around the place, taking in everything and nothing. I leaned across to her and put the question to her "Do you remember the time when children used to talk to their relations?" The lady smiled and replied "Not nowadays I'm afraid". Scroll back to 1952 when I joined the BBC as a young engineer at Tatsfield and on my first day was allocated the second lunchtime meal break from 1.30 - 2.30pm. I didn't know anyone there and much to my surprise not one person spoke to anyone during the whole 40 minutes. As a child, our mealtimes were for a catch-up chat with all of the daily happenings and our family talked to each other from start to finish. So back to the female pair in Marks & Sparks and the youngster who was having no conversation with her mother. How have we grownups gone wrong, or have we? When did "normal" conversation between people stop? Am I on my own thinking that this is rude? The "highlight" of my day is the evening mealtime and in my days of when my children were living at home, I would never have allowed such electronic implements into this highlight time. It was communication time as far as I was concerned and if any one of my family wasn't talking, something was obviously wrong and it was sorted out. I also saw this girl take her delivered food without saying thank you and stuff it down, still finger keying of course. For her the whole event was all taken for granted and I presume that the mother would pay for such food without any thanks at all. When the girl had finished her food she got up and walked off. Her mother was left behind and I asked if anything was wrong". "Oh yes" she said, "she's gone huffy because you were speaking to me!" I asked how she knew that and the reply was "I just know her!" How on earth could that mother tell that this uneducated kid was upset after not one word of conversation happened between them? It reminds me of the time when in 1954 I was installing a lighting point in a house here in the village. The lady of the house told me that her husband would be home at 12.30 for his dinner. Right on time he walked in and with a nod to me he sat down. He then spoke one word, "Dinner". His wife placed a plate of delicious food for him to eat and she then with her arms folded stood by his side whilst he chewed his way through it. Having emptied his plate he pushed it away and said, "Pudding". His wife duly put it in front of him and he silently demolished it. The next instruction was "tea" and she gave him a mug of tea. Finishing that he stood up, nodded to me and said goodbye to me and off he went. I gathered that this was normal. Well, to me it wasn’t and I still to this day think that it isn’t! Surely it is time to stop everyone being taken for granted, and what is wrong with “How are you then?” and “Please” and “Thank you” for goodness sake? Dave Bishop 63 THE NIGHT SKY IN TATSFIELD FEBRUARY 2014

If you are an early riser, you may wonder what the brilliant object is low down in the south eastern sky at dawn. It is the planet Venus that will achieve its maximum brightness on the 12th of this month. On the morning of the 26th the Moon is just south of the planet, and in fact, as seen from Africa, it will occult Venus. An occultation occurs when an apparently larger body passes in front of another body that is apparently smaller. As we know Venus is in fact much bigger than the Moon but appears as a point of light only because it is more distant. These events are fairly rare but not unduly so. The Moon occults Mercury on June 26th and Saturn on October 25th, although the bad news is that the Sun is still above the horizon for both of these events so a telescope will almost certainly be needed.

Jupiter is extremely well placed being high up towards the south throughout the month. If you have binoculars you will be able to see the four largest moons.

The night sky in the south is still dominated by the brilliant winter constellations of Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Auriga and the two hunting dogs of Canis Major and Canis Minor. Orion is easily identified due to the brightness of the stars and the fact that the shape is so well known, particularly the three stars close together that form the “belt”. Once The Hunter has been found he can be used as a signpost to all the other neighbouring constellations as shown by the dotted lines on the map.

Brian Mills FRAS 64 PUZZLE PAGE FEBRUARY PUZZLE : Identify these village doors. 1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

RESULTS OF THE CHRISTMAS CROSSWORD IN THE DECEMBER MAGAZINE The winner of the £10 token for Tatsfield shopping is Jim Yeeles of Old Lane who submitted a perfect solution together with this excellent cryptic clue to one of the answers: Performing groups start attending church this Sunday (Can you see the answer?) The answers are: Across: 1 Lewisham ; 5 asking; 9. Nazareth; 10 Posada; 12 afraid; 13 shepherd; 15 Concert; 16 Band; 20 hall; 21 Stephen; 25 mince pie; 26 school; 28 etched; 29 balloons; 30 salary; 31 disaster Down: 1 Linda’s; 2 wizard; 3 survivor; 4 Acts; 6 sloppy; 7 I dare say; 8 grandads; 11 therapy; 14 scottie; 17 chimneys; 18 clinical; 19 mea culpa; 22 meteor; 23 col- our; 24 classy; 27 magi

ANSWERS TO JANUARY PUZZLES – from the National Primary Mathematics Challenge 2013 a) On each of the 6 faces of the big cube there are 8X8 = 64 cubes with just one face showing to the paint brush i.e. 6X64 = 384 small cubes have just one face painted. b) Writing 1 to 9 requires 9 digits. Then we want the 91st digit after the 9. As the remaining numbers have 2 digits each, we want the first digit of the 46th number after 9. This number is in the fifties, so the answer is 5.

Set by Doug Halters 65 CLUB NEWS

TATSFIELD HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Projects for the New Year? How are your resolutions coming along? Most, apparently, get broken in the first few days of January, some in the first few hours! I can’t imagine there are many still hanging on in there! February is of course a great time for planning what to do with the garden. I know I bang on about it a bit, but wildlife needs every bit of help we can provide. I almost ran over a roe deer the other morning in Ricketts Hill. Luckily my reactions are pretty good at 5:30am and I managed to get away with tapping it on the bottom with my headlight – no harm done to car or beast. It was lovely to see them in full flight – even though they will be eating someone’s prize roses in a few months time.

Some help for wildlife is relatively straightforward but if we really want to encourage wildlife to use our gardens (it’s a two way street – we get to see or hear them in return) then a bit of longer term planning is required. There are several groups we can help out, including birds, bees, butterflies and moths, other insects, bats, native plants and mammals - especially deer!

Gardening club meetings in January and February are right on the spot for helping you plan – gardening sustainably from Jon Allbutt in January (you have already missed but there is a report on pages 68 and 69) and how to create a meadow (also by Jon) on Tuesday 11th February (WI Hall). These are relatively short sessions, focused on how to make a difference in the garden in our local conditions. If you don’t already attend, give it a go! See the Parish Magazine and the THS website (http://tatsfieldhorticulturalsociety.weebly.com/) for details on events during the year.

In this column, apart from covering Horticultural Society events through the year, I will try to cover off a wildlife related topic each month with practical tips for how to make small (and occasionally medium sized) changes in the garden, aimed at tipping the balance in favour of our furry and feathered friends. There will even be something in there for our allotmenteers – so keep your eyes peeled!

Remember – some time in February if it has not already happened – opportunity may knock on your door, in the form of your local THS representative seeking your 2014 membership. So before you turn back to the TV and ignore it – think what you might be missing out on! £5 doesn’t buy you much nowadays – and that‘s all a family membership costs for the year (free for senior citizens). What’s more you can get your money back, and some, if you shop at Knights at any time during the year as you will get 10% off (by using the voucher printed in the Society’s yearbook). If you have missed seeing the THS representative, ring Martin Allen on 577201 or email him on [email protected] to join. WE LOVE TATSFIELD (AND WILDLIFE) – SO JOIN US IN 2014!

Guy Deterding

66 CLUB NEWS

1st TATSFIELD SCOUTS Christmas now seems a distant memory and the Scout Group is well into its spring programme. The Beaver Colony has had a great month under the leadership of Sam and Karen. The Beavers are working towards completing a number of badges and have a fabulous programme planned.

The Cub Pack are working towards their Cooking badge. They also have a Pack Holiday booked in Downe and a District Cub Camp to look forward too.

The Scouts are bringing out their creative sides with evenings spent on the Writers Badge. Key skills in life saving will also be taught as well as traditional Scout skills such as navigation and pioneering. The patrols will also face challenges as they compete to gain points towards the best Patrol Award.

This year also has Scoutabout in June where 2000 Scouts and Guides from Surrey descend onto one site. A massive range of activities are laid on and this is sure to be an amazing weekend. The Scout troop has also booked this year’s camp in the Isle of Wight.

We are extremely grateful that a number of parents have stepped forward to help and the leadership team is now supported by a strong executive committee. However, we still are looking for more volunteers. Could you give up some of your time to help support your local troop in any of the following:

1. Quartermaster and group equipment stores 2. Uniformed Leaders 3. Section assistants (non uniformed helpers) 4. Fund-raising 5. Admin

If you are able to spare some time please get in touch.

If you would like to contact the group, the email addresses are as follows:

General Enquiries, Group Scout Leader, Executive committee & treasurer: [email protected]

Beaver Colony: [email protected]

Cub Pack: [email protected]

Scout Troop: [email protected]

Nick Ellis, Scout Leader

67 CLUB NEWS

THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY’S GARDENING CLUB Another interesting and varied talk, on sustainable gardening, was given by Jon Albutt to an audience of nearly 20 at the WI Hall on 14th January.

He started off by explaining what biodiversity is – all the plants, animals and microbes in a given area, which might be as small as a garden, or as large as the UK, or Tatsfield, and all their interactions. He always used to be a tidy gardener, but now encouraged us all to leave some areas for wildlife. A closely mown lawn, for example, is a desert as far as most wildlife is concerned, but from his own experience (at his house in France) he knew that wildlife was just itching to take over, if only it was given a chance. He explained that all County Councils must have a Biodiversity Action Plan, but this did not have to be very detailed – the Surrey plan did not even mention Tatsfield, or indeed the Hill Park Estate (off Chestnut Avenue).

He gave us a lot of tips for gardening to increase biodiversity. When he originally came to Tatsfield, he was disappointed with the number of birds that came to his garden but now, after expelling the squirrels – or tree rats, as he called them – there was a great number, and a great variety, of birds.

Hedges are very valuable as ‘green corridors’, but they must be managed. This might involve laying the hedge (a very skilled job) which would initially have a negative impact, but in a few years would be very positive for wildlife.

Ponds are a very complex subject. They need to be sited correctly, and to be maintained properly, but are a very valuable resource for all kinds of wildlife.

Nest boxes – for both bats and birds – are also very valuable, although (as Jon explained) some are just not liked by the birds despite being sited correctly. They must have the correct diameter hole for some birds, although others (eg robins) prefer an open-fronted box. Almost as important as nest boxes is somewhere to drink and bathe.

Bees can be encouraged by planting pollinating plants, eg antirrhinums, and even in winter – when most bees are hibernating – primroses, daphne and mahonia perform a valuable task in feeding early bumblebees.

Grass snakes and slowworms are commonly found in compost heaps, so these must be turned or emptied carefully.

Mice and shrews like long grass, so leave a longer area in your lawn. This will also encourage many other plants like orchids.

Trees are an undervalued resource. The common oak is home to up to 350 species of mini beasts, so (if your garden is large enough) why not plant one? Or possibly grow small native trees as a hedge. Jon was very encouraged to see many Leylandii

68 CLUB NEWS hedges failing, as these were very poor habitat, and hoped that they would be replaced by bullace, sloes, spindle and similar local species that grow so well in the wild.

As usual, Jon answered all questions as they arose from those present. I am sure he could have gone on for another couple of hours, as he is so interested in sustainable gardening, which is a real and positive change from when he was trained. Everyone can do it! It is no more onerous than ‘traditional’ gardening, but gives much more pleasure.

Peter Maynard

WI

At our meeting last month, we kicked the year off with something a bit different this time. We had a quick meeting when we read through the W.I. Resolutions again, which we had all had time to think about. We voted on the one we thought most important and likely to make a difference and the votes now go forward to join everyone else’s. They were (briefly and in my own words) to make people more aware of the need for organ donation; to legislate against female genital mutilation and carry it through; the question of an equal playing field for women prisoners; extra NHS beds and more outside recovery facilities.

We have sent off a donation to Denman College in memory of our own much loved Eileen Pearce. Denman is the WI’s own college where any member can go for a few days and take one of the many and varied courses on offer. It was a place dear to Eileen’s heart. To reinforce the Denman idea, one of our members told us all about the course she took recently and she gave it rapturous praise, enthusing us all to take another look at the prospectus.

Jennie South told us about the course she is taking where she is learning all about pastoral care. There is often a hidden need in the community – people suffer from loneliness and depression, some need just a little help with day to day things, many carers need a little help themselves. She would like to hear from anyone who would like to talk about their concerns.

Afterwards we were joined by members of the Not So Young Club. It was lovely to meet up with them and I am sure we will be doing so again. We had lunch together of a delicious vegetable soup with bread and butter followed by cheese and biscuits. Then came cake and a quiz. It was a very nice meeting.

We have all the usual activities at the hall, so don’t forget to Pop-In for a cuppa on a Wednesday morning at the W.I. Hall (10-12). It is a lovely way to meet people especially if you are feeling blue or are new to the village.

69 CLUB NEWS Our next meeting is on 4th February. Our speaker will be Janet Barrett, who will tell us all about Prison Visiting.

Toni Holley

NOT SO YOUNG CLUB

Last month we were very fortunate in being invited to join up with the WI for a light lunch. We were treated to lovely vegetable soup, with crusty bread, then cheese and biscuits. There was a short break for notices etc., then a couple of Quizzes, which were great fun! By this time we were all rather dry, so along came a welcome cup of tea and a delicious assortment of cakes. I'm sure I speak for everyone in the NSY Club when I say what a lovely afternoon we had. Many thanks ladies of the WI.

Our meeting on the 11th February is the Club's birthday party. Members will learn what has been arranged when they arrive!

Babs Heffernon (Tel: 540602)

RAMBLERS

Two very local walks this month, both starting at nearby Westerham. Details of the walks are below. All welcome, including dogs and their owners. Just turn up or phone one of us if you would like to know more.

Date: Sunday, 9th February Meet 10.15 am Westerham Green or 10.30 am Hosey Common (Map ref: TQ446540 or TQ453531) Walk 6½ miles from Westerham Green. Hosey Common, Gilhams, Pipers Green, Toys Hill, Puddledock, Chartwell and Hosey Common Leader Dudley Turner

Date Sunday, 23rd February Meet 10.30 am Westerham Green or 10.45 am Round Pond, Mill Lane, Westerham (NOT Mill Street) (Map ref: TQ446540 or TQ444536) Walk 7 miles. Limpsfield Chart. Pub stop at The Grasshopper, Moorhouse Leader Jean Turner and Carol Vening

Angela and Roger Sawyers (Tel: 577434)

70 SPORTS ROUND UP

TATSFIELD BADMINTON CLUB On Sunday 12th January the club held its annual “drawn pairs” tournament. Ten pairs compete in two groups of five, one group in the dreaded 9 o’clock group first thing in the morning and the other at 1 pm. The winners of each group then play in the final in the late afternoon. The morning group saw Helen Walker and Paul Burgess (both of Biggin Hill, but we can forgive them that) triumphing, dropping just two points. The afternoon group saw the wily Gordon White and his honorary (for the day) Tatsfield girl Sandra Trott coming out on top.

Paul Burgess, Helen Walker, Ollie Carr, Sandra Trott and Gordon White

The final was a good one. Initially Gordon and Sandra raced into the lead but Paul (oh to be 6ft 4 inches) and Helen did manage to claw it back somewhat. However, the experience of Gordon and Sandra came through in the end and they eventually won 25-20. I have to say it was great to see an ex-junior member (Paul) in the final and a special mention also to Helen, who only started playing the game a year ago when she attended our beginners coaching sessions on Tuesday evenings.

Special mention also to Julie Barlow, who played in both group sessions (I hope husband Paul’s roast dinner was not too late!).

Ollie Carr, Club Captain

71 THE TATSFIELD GARDENER FEBRUARY NOTES I read a comment by a very well known gardening journalist a couple of weeks ago that now was a very good time to plant shallots and onion sets. She clearly lives in that special place where it never rains and the soil falls into a ready tilth at the touch of a fork! Please do not try this in Tatsfield until the end of the month at the earliest! Our heavy clay should be dry enough by the end of the month for light cultivation; trying to ‘hurry it up’ won’t work and will result in a real mess, so please be patient! When conditions improve you can start pruning some shrubs such as roses, Buddleia, Spiraea, Caryopteris and Hypericum. How many fragrant flowers do you have in your garden right now? What a lovely thing to be able to enjoy flower and fra- grance in late winter – Mahonia, Hamamellis, Daphne, Lonicera fragrantissima, Sarcococca and many more – buy them now in flower and enjoy them for many years to come! When pruning and tidying up, make sure to check your larger shrubs to see if they have been moved by the high winds. Re-firming them by treading around before applying a mulch can make a big difference to their recovery after a tough winter. Trying to find out how much rain we have had and comparing that against the so called average rainfall is a bit of a tricky business. Sadly my own weather station is no longer working so I would be very interested to hear if anyone has captured our monthly totals from October to January. The Environment Agency tells us that a total of 14” of rain fell from October to December with 4” of rain falling so far this January already – these figures compare with an average of 9” for this period but this is not a reliable figure especially for our particular area – more on this anon! The series of winter storms combined with the heavy rain took its toll of our trees, fences and roof tiles. It is possible that evergreen trees and shrubs have yet to show symptoms of damage in the form of the characteristic ‘scorching’ effect. The wind was mainly from a southerly direction so the damage should be minimal. It is when it blows strongly from the east to north east that the damage can occur. If February is not a drier month and we have more wind, I fear that more trees and fences will come down as the ground is very wet around roots and foundations.

Jon Allbutt (Tel: 577100 Email: [email protected])

JOIN THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY! * The Society is one of the most active organisations in the village, running shows and other events and the Community Composting Scheme. * Members get 10% off purchases at Knights Garden Centres at Chelsham and Woldingham. * How much to join? Just £5 a year per household. Someone will be knocking at your door soon.

72 Private Tuition

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• Double glazed units made in 24hrs • Misted and broken units • Handles, hinges and locks replaced • Glass table tops cut and polished • Patio door wheels/runners • Burglary damage repairs • All insurance work • Contract glazing • Trade counter • Large selection of framed mirrors • Double glazed windows and doors Bob Carlile 12 Rosehill Road, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent TN16 3NF Mobile: 07899 995218 Website www.rstglazing.co.uk

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76 BEAVER WATER WORLD ANIMAL & REPTILE RESCUE Waylands Farm, Approach Road, Tatsfield,TN16 2JT Tel: 01959 577747 Fax: 01959 577444 Web: www. beaverwaterworld.com Email: [email protected]

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SEE Beavers, Parrots, Owls, ring tailed Lemurs and lots more in our landscaped grounds * Indoors - Burmese python and various other snakes, green Iguanas, Bearded dragon, 9ft Asian water monitor, 6ft Caiman crocodile, Cuban red Iguana * Art gallery

WE DO Birthday parties, photographic days, keeper for a day, see our website for details or pop in and pick up a leaflet. * Café and Aquatic shop on site Look forward to seeing you soon Charity No: 1063373/0

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• Complete Gas heating systems installed • Systems Updated • Heating systems flushed and cleaned • All gas appliances fitted •Hot water cylinders replaced • Cold water storage tanks • From Kitchen taps to a complete new bath room suite

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Conversions, Extensions, Driveways, Groundwork Bathrooms, Kitchens, Plumbing, Heating, Bricklaying Plastering, Electrics, Decorating

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79 Gutter Repairs & Cleaning Patio & Driveway Cleaning Window Cleaning Facias, Soffets & Conservatory Cleaning Waites Windows

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81 PARK HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES St Davids Cottage, Johns Road, Tatsfield, Westerham, TN16 2AP

For help and independent advice on: Investment Planning your Retirement School Fees Planning Inheritance Tax Planning Life Assurance

Telephone: 01959 570699 Email: [email protected]

H Lilley & Co Ltd.

For all your Electrical, Plumbing and Heating requirements, come and see us. We will be pleased to give you a quotation and as much helpful advice as possible.

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82 Having a Party or a Function?

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85 KESTRELS CHILDREN’S CENTRE Would like to say a BIG HELLO To All The Parents OF Under 5’s Who Live in TATSF IELD (Do you know there are currently 76 of y ou !) Kestrel is based in Caterham, but our Outreach Team are happy to visit you at home to help with any family hiccups that may be troubling you: In the past we have helped families to work through issues such as: · HEALTH: Breast feeding & weaning advice, baby massage, toilet training, c hild development & individual needs of children, smoking cessation & healthy eating · FINANCE: Including guidance on benefits , tax credits, budgeting & dealing with Loan Sharks · EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT: Including literacy, numeracy, language, access to Job Centre Plus & WEA · RELATIONSHIP ISSUES: Parenting, Separation & Divorce and the effect on the family We can also be contacted via Tatsfield school or Tots on Top. Join us on Fac ebook, by typing Kestrels Children’s Centre into the group s earch facility or alternatively view our web site for more information www.kestrelschildrensc entre.c o.uk To arrange to speak to us call Tara on: 01883 348641

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ALL TYPES OF MAINTENANCE AND DECORATING No job too small 01959 577340 07774 651166

86 PROPERTY RESOURCE LTD MIKE COSGROVE PAINTING DECORATING We are an independent letting agent based in GARDENING Tatsfield covering a wide area in the South East. We have extensive experience in all aspects of property management and offer an exceptional service to both landlord's and tenants with compet- itive fees for both landlord's and tenants. For more details please call 01959 574237 mobile 07900 696871 email [email protected] or write Tel:01959 564081 Roland House, Borough Road, Tatsfield, Kent TN16 2LA. M: 07789 190774

M.J. Cannon Construction specialising in NEW BUILD - Extensions - Screw Piled Foundations REMEDIAL - Underpinning - Crack Repair - Structural Reinforcement Systems Associated building works undertaken 40 years experience in construction industry. References available. Martin Cannon Tel: 020 8657 1067 Mob: 07885 743699

87 SURREY’S LARGEST TIMBER & FENCING CENTRE RYALL & EDWARDS LTD Established 1922 GREEN LANE SAWMILLS OUTWOOD SURREY RH1 5QP TEL: 01342 842288 FAX: 01342 843312 www.ryall-edwards.co.uk Fencing Specialists

Oak and softwood fencing and gates. Lap closeboard, willow and trellis panels, concrete posts and gravel boards, chainlink, wire, agricultural fencing, acorn and ball finials, hardware stocked. Timber Merchants

Carcassing (pressure treated dry graded), shed grade, standard and top quality joinery imported timbers - sawn & par mouldings - architraves, skirting, window sections, door linings, matching shiplap and flooring, sheet materials. Oak beams & quality air dried oak cut to your own specification. Home grown & imported hardwoods. Home & Garden

Variety of trellis, arches, rustic (chestnut and softwood) and machine round poles, logs (collection only), bark, woodland mulch and surface woodchip, 'log roll' and willow border edging, grooved decking, newel posts, handrail and spindles.

MONDAY TO FRIDAY 8AM – 5PM * SATURDAY 8AM – 2PM TRADE & RETAIL / DIY WELCOME *

88 “Busy little bees come to Honeys Nursery”

Ÿ Centrally located in Church Road, Biggin Hill, Safe secure enclosed building and grounds

Ÿ Established in 1995, Accredited and Ofsted rated “Outstanding”

Ÿ Flexible hours between 7.30 am and 5.55pm

Ÿ From Birth to 11 years in our Nursery, Pre School and Kids club settings

Ÿ Term time or all year options, 15 hours free government funding for 3 year olds

Ÿ Small friendly, long standing fully qualified and CRB checked staff team

Ÿ Freshly cooked lunches. Traditional values, stimulating environment

Ÿ Large outdoor play area and its very own Forest School sessions

Telephone: 01959 540366 Email: [email protected] Website: www.honeysnursery.co.uk

89 B.A.L. LEECH

ALL TYPES OF WOODSTONE CERAMIC TILING LANDSCAPING

LANDSCAPING DESIGN, ESTABLISHED CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE 40 YEARS

All aspects of hard landscaping and garden REASONABLE maintenance provided. RATES 07879 028 988 01883 722 589 TELEPHONE [email protected] 01959 577628 www.woodstonelandscaping.co.uk 07802 445518

90 Mobile Chiropodist

Chiropody undertaken in the comfort of your own home

Mandy Gifford M.Inst.Ch.P, H.P.C. registered

Registered Member of the Institute of Chiropody and Podiatry

Tel: 01959 540715 Mob: 07944 763045

91 01959 541511 www.bigginhillcarrental.co.uk We offer a reliable, friendly service for competitive car, van and self-drive minibus hire, so if you are looking for a quality vehicle then look no further, you have found the right place. We also have motorhomes on fleet for you to hire for your holiday!

92 DAVID WAITE Private & commercial Tel: 01959 541083 Mobile: 07949 307906 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Grass Mowed.Tree Work Hedges Cut/Turfing Overgrown Gardens Winter Tidy Ups Snow Cleared Patios. Sheds Erected Fencing & Repairs Brickwork Repairs Gutters Cleaned & Repaired External & Internal Painting

Fully insured

93 DAVE JEFFERY

Complete Decorating and Property Maintenance Service Domestic and Residential Electrical Services Full or part re-wire (NAPIT Registered and Part P approved)

UPVC/Aluminium Windows, Doors & replacement glass units supplied, fitted and serviced

•• FOC quotations and advice •• all work considered •• fully insured••

Tel: 07776 025404 or 01732 863726 ** Email: [email protected]

DRAIN MAN DIRECT COLIN RADFORD 24 hours – 365 days Blocked Drains Toilets – Sinks PLUMBING AND Baths – Showers HEATING Soak Aways ENGINEER CCTV Surveys Guttering

“Normandale” Drainage Installations Paynesfield Road Tatsfield ALL AREAS COVERED Phone: 01959 577525 FREEPHONE: 0800 731 2365

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95 Localised smart repairs Bumper scuffs

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