WITH Properties from the area’s IN top sales & lettings agents LIVING A Bigger, Better, Brighter Read From Page 13 Vol. 10 Issue 6 February 2015 www.livingwithin.com Elizabeth Meatyard meets for tea Elmbridge residents urged to with Samantha Cameron at No.10 remain vigilant to stop fraud The police are warning residents in victim's bank cards have been stolen or Elmbridge to remain vigilant following used fraudulently and will ask them to a number of recent fraud offences phone their bank to cancel the card and needs. where elderly and vulnerable residents will offer to send a courier to collect the “We are always looking for more have been targeted. card or a sum of money. help and if anyone has an hour to In recent weeks Surrey Police has The fraudster then stays on the line spare at least once in a 3 week period received a number of reports from and obtains the victim's bank details I would love to hear from them,” residents who have received telephone whilst they think they are phoning Elizabeth said. calls from someone claiming to be their bank. A courier then calls at the a police offi cer or similar who then victim's address saying they have been The contact details for anyone attempted to convince them to hand sent by the police to collect a parcel - the interested in getting involved are: over large amounts of cash and bank envelope containing the card or money. Richard Coxon, Volunteer Service Manager cards. Detective Constable Ben Kirby said: [email protected] The offenders often claim that a "We have seen an increase in reports of Telephone 020 8934 3620 fraud offences across north Surrey since the start of 2015 and we are deploying additional offi cers and carrying out Increase in Surrey primary further patrols to tackle this issue. "These offences are a particularly James Berry, Elizabeth Meatyard, Samantha Cameron and Elaine Miller despicable as the offenders often school applications target innocent elderly and vulnerable Thames Ditton’s Elizabeth Meatyard Elizabeth said she was inspired members of our communities. recently visited No.10 Downing Street to set up the scheme after visiting a The increase in the number of applications Since 2012, the council has created "I can assure north Surrey residents for a reception hosted by Samantha friend in hospital who struggled to eat for primary school places in Surrey adds more than 8,500 school places. Surrey is that a lot of work is also going on behind Cameron. at meal times. up to enough pupils for a multi-million facing a £215 million funding gap for the the scenes involving offi cers from our Elizabeth Meatyard - who is well Kingston has since undertaken an pound school. 13,000 places needed over the next fi ve CID, the Local Proactive Unit and the known as a Living Within contributor intensive recruitment of more than Surrey County Council has received years. Action Fraud Team to establish who is - was invited to attend No.10 by 385 Dining Companion Volunteers 466 more primary applications for next Linda Kemeny, Surrey County responsible for these offences and bring James Berry, the Conservative Party’s comprised of public volunteers, non- September than a year ago. Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools them to justice." Prospective Parliamentary Candidate clinical hospital staff and community That is the equivalent of fi lling a new two- and Learning, said: “These fi gures Since the beginning of 2015, there for Kingston and Surbiton. groups who provide practical support form entry primary that would cost at least show the continued strain being put on have been four offences of this nature James was impressed with and companionship to encourage £6 million to build. education in Surrey at a time when many reported in Elmbridge. Elizabeth’s inspirational work in the older patients at mealtimes. More than 13,600 applications for places of our schools are already full to bursting. Anyone who can assist offi cers with voluntary sector at Kingston Hospital. The aim is to enable older patients were submitted by last week’s closing date "We need to fi nd 13,000 extra places in their investigation is urged to contact Two years ago she set up an initiative to eat well and as independently as compared to just under 13,140 a year ago, our primaries and secondaries in the next Surrey Police on 101 or 999 if a crime is for volunteers to provide practical they are able to. early analysis of admissions fi gures reveal. fi ve years to meet unprecedented demand currently in progress. Information can support and companionship at As it is a volunteer led effort, it frees The latest news comes after a record but without adequate funding we’ll no be passed to the independent charity Kingston Hospital for older patients up clinical nursing staff to focus on number of applications were submitted longer be able to guarantee every pupil Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 at mealtimes. the patients with the most complex for Surrey secondary places in September. will get one." 555 111. INSIDE THIS ISSUE 102 - 3 8 - 9 5 - 7 12 Travel Make A Will Fortnight Food & DrinkSchools Special Report Gardening WWW.LIVINGWITHIN.COM – Email [email protected] – Telephone 01276 858750 2 LIVING WITHIN February 2015 Make a will and support your Andy & Son chip up Christmas trees local hospice this February and raise cash for Born Too Soon Princess Alice Hospice is encouraging people Julia Russell, Individual Giving Manager at living in Surrey, Middlesex and South West Princess Alice Hospice said: "This is the 5th year London to get their wills up to date for free during that we have run Make a Will Fortnight and it is its Make a Will Fortnight, which runs from 16 to always very popular. 27 February. "We are very grateful to all the solicitors who Thanks to the generosity of local solicitors, who kindly donate their time; last year 67 people used are waiving their usual legal fees, people will be the service, raising £14,000 of essential funds for able to make or amend a will by simply making a the Hospice - a target that we hope to beat this year. donation to the Hospice. "Although the solicitors are providing their The suggested donation for the solicitor's time services free from charge we hope that people will and expertise is £100. Participating solicitors can be generous in their donations to the Hospice. be found by visiting www.pah.org.uk/makeawill "You are under no obligation to leave a legacy Howell Jones Solicitors will be taking part in the to the Hospice in your will, but any gifts would be campaign again this year. Senior Solicitor Jess received with grateful thanks." Buttaci said: "We are delighted to, once again, Princess Alice Hospice's Make a Will Fortnight be supporting Princess Alice Hospice with Make runs from 16 to 27 February 2014. To take part, a Will Fortnight. A will makes it much easier for simply contact a participating solicitor listed your family or friends to sort everything out when on www.pah.org.uk/makeawill and make an you die - without a will the process can be more appointment to meet with them during the time consuming and stressful. fortnight. "If you don't write a will, everything you own will be shared out in a standard way defi ned by the law - which isn't always the way you might want. It can also help reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax Andy and son Thomas 9 chipping up the Christmas trees in Claygate. that may be payable on the value of the property Andy Baldwin was kept busy last month when over £700 to Born Too Soon at Kingston and money you leave behind and can also be used he chipped up Claygate's old Christmas Trees at Hospital. for planning for long-term care. the Scout HQ in Oaken Lane. Together with his "All the woodchip from the day has been left for "Writing a will is especially important if you team from Andy's Gardening Services, which 1st Claygate Scouts to spread on their woodland have children or other family who depend on you included nine year old son Thomas, more than pathways and we thank them for the use of their fi nancially, or if you want to leave something to 100 trees were collected on the day and some car park again this year. Thank you again for people outside your immediate family. Preparing people brought their trees along to the centre. your kind generosity and to Born Too Soon for a will is something that you should not delay and It was all for a good cause. Andy's wife Emma all the work they do which we know all too well given its importance is something you should trust said: "Thank you so much to the kind residents as both our sons were born early; Joshua at 28 to a specialist solicitor to get right." of Claygate and surrounding areas who donated weeks and Thomas at 34 weeks." Record number apply for 2015 Prudential RideLondon ballot Local law firm Taylor Fordyce has since its start in 2010 always aimed to provide a first class legal A record number of cyclists have registered ballot entry has set another record. "We think service to its range of clients from private individuals and small businesses to large enterprises, their interest in this year’s mass-participation this is the biggest number of people to apply for developers, government institutions, international corporations and investors.