Post on 23-Jul-2016
description
SUMMER 2015
Hinchley Wood’sYouTube star
A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE BRINGING YOU THE NEWS & VIEWS FROM AROUND THE VILLAGE
WALK THE WALKTake your kids on asummer adventure
MEET BOB FILBYA magnificent man.A magnificent life.
ADVERTORIAL
ADVERTORIAL
04 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
KNOW A HINCHLEY WOOD HERO?Whether they’ve done something noteworthy like broken a world record or gone above and beyond to help the community, they could feature in our magazine. Simply email us with your nomination at office@stchristopherschurch.org.uk. Your name will also be entered into a prize draw for this amazing Spiral & Slice worth £20 kindly donated by Anne Morgan of Pampered Chef!!
The Team
Editor: Suzie Pepperell • Features Editor: Neville Thurlbeck • Bussy Izzy Columnist: Isobel Ash • History Columnist: Roger Thompson • Art Director: Jon Usher • Design Consultant: Yawming Wong • Photographer: Darren Salanson • Illustrator: Lucinda Kidney • Production & Distribution Manager: Mandy Ali • Advertising & Marketing: Rachel Herbert • Revenue & Marketing: Imina Wylde
CONTRIBUTORS
Isobel AshBusy Izzy ColumnistI used to be a project
manager in an ad-
vertising agency until
I had children. Now I
project manage the
husband, house and
kids whilst fitting in
freelance work.
Darren SalansonPhotographerI’ve been a
professional
photographer for 22
years. I set up my own
photography business
in 2009 where I focus
on family photos and
weddings. I’m married
with 3 children.
Lucinda KidneyIllustratorHello! I’m a freelance
Illustrator/Designer
with a passion for Art.
Also Mum to two busy
and active boys.
Imina WyldeRevenue & MarketingAfter 12 years in Hotel
Marketing I ran my own
Child-minding Business
before returning to full
time employment earli-
er this year. I am mar-
ried with two children
and an active member
of St Christopher’s.
WELCOME
Jo James and Zoe Bennett, two locally based Pilates and Fitness instructors have combined their extensive expertise and experience to offer:
www.ultimatewell-being.co.uk info@ultimatewell-being.co.uk
07764 685197 07986 659959or
Ultimate Wellbeing
WellbeingRetreats
Pilates Workshops &
Summer Day Retreat. Experience Ultimate Wellbeing
followed by a delicious, nutritional lunch and advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Wednesday 17th June, 9:30am – 2:30pm in Long Ditton, £75 per person. Spaces are limited so book early.
Monthly Workshops. 1.5 hour sessions of different approaches to Pilates. Fun and informative, these workshops are an ideal
opportunity to try out Pilates in a relaxed environment with no long term commitment.
Sunday, 10:00am – 11:30am in Hinchley Wood.
Weekend Retreat. How about three days away to achieve your Ultimate Wellbeing? Our October retreat will give you two
suitable for all ability levels.
06 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
Out ‘N’ AboutSPOTLIGHT
SUMMER BALLHinchley Wood Primary School
Las Vegas was the theme
and Las Vegas was the scene!
Parents turned out in their glamour and
sparkle to enjoy an evening of fine food, a
fantastic auction, casino and live music by
Eddie Cullen plus DJ and dancing.
Domenic
Versace,
Sam Butt
& Ed Kevin
Sarah &
Richard Gibbs
Lynne Johnson
& Lisa Cabrera Kirstin Holland
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 07
SPOTLIGHT
THE DITTONS FAIRGiggs Hill Green
It wasn’t only the sunshine
that turned up! Thousands
of you came along to enjoy
the Tombola, legendary Pig
Racing, Crazy Golf, Dog
Gymkhana, a hearty BBQ
and much much more.
COCKTAILS & CANAPESThe Vicarage
A very civilised evening
shared by Hinchley Wood
folk, sipping homemade
Pina Coladas and
Cosmopolitans and dipping
strawberries into the
chocolate fountain.
Penny & Melina Savvas
Emily &
Niamh
Alix Avory &
Karen Wakefield
Rachel & Ryan HerbertMandy Ali Jon Usher
Molly, Caitlin, Caitlin & Sophie
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 09
Spotlight
BOB FILBYTHE WAR HERO IN OUR MIDST
Bob Filby is one of many Hinchley Wood residents with an interesting tale to tell. Neville Thurlbeck, the bell-ringer at St Christopher’s Church, profiles this
extraordinary man.
The more I learn about Bob Filby’s
long and fascinating life, the more
I am struck by numbers. Some
of these numbers are heroic and
some are tragic. Others are romantic and
some are downright bewildering. But all of
them have a poignant tale to tell.
For behind these numbers is Bob’s life story.
A war hero decorated with the Military Cross
and the Croix de Guerre by Field Marshall
Montgomery and Charles de Gaulle.
Chairman of Gordon’s Gin. One of the longest
marriages you are likely to hear of. And he’s
even got a cocktail named after him.
First off, Bob is 91. And quite probably
the fittest 91-year-old in Hinchley Wood.
His handshake is famously a hearty bone-
cruncher – the firmest at St Christopher’s
by a long way. Men 20 years younger with
arthritis are advised to steer well clear during
the Sharing of the Peace. There’s never been
anything half-hearted about Bob.
Bob was the youngest of 7 children in a
family of Licensed Victuallers. His father
died when he was nine and his mother
was left financially very badly off, but thanks
to a Masonic connection, he was sent to
the Royal Masonic School as a boarder. He
loved it: playing rugby, hockey and water
polo.
Upon leaving school, Bob worked for the
Licensed Victualler’s Protection Society. He
had to collect the mail every morning from
the local Post Office where a very pretty
young lady called Joyce told him he had to
pay a collection fee of 3 old pennies. Later,
he found out that this charge was partly
subsidising the cost of penny buns for the
girls in the back office! Bob suggested that
the punishment for this crime was that Joyce
would have to come to the cinema with him.
Courtship followed, and in February 1945,
returning home on leave from the bloody
fighting in Europe, he popped the question,
believing his days were numbered. They
weren’t, and the decision led to 69 years
of happiness together. You could pick up
the local newspaper for 20 years and never
read of such a rare and wonderful personal
milestone. Bob always says that one of his
FEATURE
10 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
proudest achievements was that long and
happy marriage.
Joyce died in December last year, just a
few weeks short of what would have been
their platinum wedding anniversary. Joyce’s
funeral took place at St Christopher’s
and since then, Bob has renewed his
acquaintance with his church and has been
a regular and highly popular member of the
congregation.
The recent commemoration of the 70th
anniversary of VE Day saw Bob dust off
his row of medals for his usual round of
functions. One of them, the Military Cross,
was awarded “with immediate effect” by
Montgomery for an act of outstanding
bravery. The Croix de Guerre nestles
discretely by its side. A rare combination
awarded to the rarest of men. More of that
later.
After the war, Bob took a temporary post
as a junior clerk with Gordon’s Gin. It led
to a meteoric rise through the ranks, a
distinguished 40 year career, finishing as
Chairman. I imagine he was a tough and
determined boss. But several secretaries
from down the decades still gather around
him during their occasional lunchtime get-
togethers, which I think says rather a lot
about the quality of his leadership.
One of Bob’s top career highlights was when
Gordon’s Gin sponsored the Laurence Olivier
Awards. He played host to a galaxy of stage
and screen stars, including Judi Dench, Mary
Martin, Hinge and Bracket, Charlton Heston
and Sir Michael Horden to name just a few.
Part of his role as Chairman was to make
a speech live on BBC2 at prime viewing
time - he said it was more nerve-wracking
than D-Day!
A lifetime in the gin industry saw Bob receive
another rare accolade – a cocktail named
after him. The Filby was invented in 1978
by Peter Brennan, a bartender at the Mayfair
Hotel in London, and it was the winner of an
international cocktail competition in Paris.
You can find the recipe on page 12. However,
a word of warning here. I asked the bar
steward at The Travellers Club to make me
one recently. Rather like Bob’s handshake,
two would be too many.
On retirement, Bob took over Chairmanship
of the Licensed Victualler’s National Homes,
following in the footsteps of HRH Prince
Philip and HRH The Duke of Kent. Supported
by a wonderful team, and especially by Joyce,
who was a tower of strength throughout, they
raised £1.46 million in a single year - an
unbeaten record!
Finally, back to the war and those
telling numbers again. During the D-Day
landings, Bob arrived as part of an 800
strong battalion. He was the only platoon
commander to survive.
Occasionally, war calls upon ordinary men
to do extraordinary things and Bob stepped
forward to do just that. Finding himself
and his platoon pinned down by murderous
gunfire in Holland and with his comrades
being slaughtered around him, Bob picked
up his gun and charged. By the time he
put it down, 10 Germans lay dead, saving
the remaining section of his platoon and
capturing the heart of the German defence.
Bob was recommended for an “immediate”
Military Cross by Montgomery.
Like many of his generation, Bob is too
modest to speak of the event. So we will
let the citation do the talking. I asked my
close friend Rob Paxman, an SAS veteran, to
cast his eye over the MC citation. He said,
“It is an extraordinary feat of bravery. It is
very borderline Victoria Cross. The closest
I’ve ever seen.”
“During the attack on the most closely
built up and most heavily defended part of
Zetten on 20 January 1945 the commander
of the assaulting company (‘A’ Company)
was wounded during extremely fierce close
quarter fighting and had to be evacuated.
At this time the attack was held up by the
very stubborn resistance of the enemy which
FEATURE
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 11
had caused heavy casualties to ‘A’ Company.
Despite the confused nature of the fighting
and the enemy’s close range accurate
shooting, Captain Filby ran from Section to
Section reorganising the company.
“At least four men were hit accompanying
Captain Filby on this most dangerous task
but he carried on until his task was complete.
“Captain Filby then organised a fresh attack
with the remainder of ‘A’ Company on a
strongpoint of well-defended houses.
“He personally led the attack carrying a Bren
[light machine] gun with which he killed at
least 10 Germans during the assault. His
fifth runner was carrying a PIAT [Projector
Infantry Anti Tank] and throughout the action
Captain Filby whilst commanding and leading
his Company used with deadly effect either
his Bren or PIAT.
“Throughout the action which was most
hotly contested, his example was an
inspiration to the whole Company and it
is certain that his courage, determination
and skill were instrumental in the Company
eventually capturing the heart of the
defences of Zetten.
“On completing the capture of the objective,
Captain Filby again personally dashed from
house to house reorganising the position
during which time he was narrowly missed
by enemy snipers, bazookas and Spandaus
[rapid fire machine guns] several times. The
enemy counter-attacked fiercely and one of
the houses previously held by ‘A’ Company
was retaken by them. Captain Filby led his
runner [bodyguard and messenger] and the
remainder (3 men) of a Section and broke
into the house killing or capturing the 9
German inside.”
Throughout this very fierce and bloody
fighting in houses and streets, Captain
Filby’s inspired leadership set an example
of courage, and determination, and skill
which NOT only brought his Company to their
objective but finally broke the crust of the
enemy’s defence and his will to fight for the
remainder of Zetten.”
That citation is dotted with numbers which
tell a tale of rare courage and sacrifice. But
most of all, they tell us there’s only one Bob
Filby. And we are fortunate now, as then, to
have him among us.
FEATURE
A class actThe Filby was created by Peter Brennan, a bartender from England, and won a Paris bartending competition in 1978. The name of “The Filby” was Peter’s way of honouring a great supporter of the United Kingdom Bartenders Guild and of the IBA, Bob Filby.
INSPIRATION
FOOD & DRINK
THE FILBY COCKTAIL
INGREDIENTS
2 Parts Gin
1 Part Dry Vermouth
1 Part Amaretto
1 Part Campari
1 Shake all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker
2 Strain into a chilled cocktail glass
3 Garnish with an orange peel and serve
DIRECTIONS
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 13
10% OFF
INSPIRATION
The Good Wine Shop11 Esher High Street
Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Use by end of August 2015
Kingston Distillers first began to
develop the recipe for Beckett’s Gin
around two years ago. The aim was to
create a classic London dry gin with a
subtle twist and unique provenance. For
the twist they infuse the gin with locally-
grown mint, which had surprisingly not
been used in gin before, particularly
as they found it combines with juniper
wonderfully.
Beckett’s Gin is unique in that it’s
the only one in the world infused with
English juniper berries which they
handpick from Box Hill in Surrey with
kind permission of the National Trust.
In return they are undertaking a long-
term conservation programme to help
save juniper from local extinction.
Out of the BoxFOOD & DRINK
A BOTTLE OF BECKETT’S
14 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
Pimm’s O’ClockHosts and guests have been having a lot of fun at my Pampered Chef parties this summer and one of my favourites is the Cocktails ‘N’ Canapes themed parties which are perfect for this time of year! Here’s a lovely summery recipe for you to try out at home.
INSPIRATION
FOOD & DRINK
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 15
PIMM’S CUPCAKESThese Pimm’s cupcakes have a lovely surprise filling which is fruity ‘n’ fresh and are perfect
to enjoy on a sunny afternoon!
INGREDIENTSCupcakes
125g unsalted butter
125g caster sugar
3 tbsp Pimm’s No. 1
2 eggs
125g self raising flour
½ tsp baking powder
3 tbsp skimmed milk
Buttercream Icing
125g unsalted butter
2 tbsp Pimm’s No 1
250g icing sugar
2 tbsp skimmed milk
Fruit Filling
3 strawberries
6 raspberries
½ slice peeled orange
3 slices peeled cucumber
5-6 mint leaves
1 To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to
180c/160c fan/4. Line a muffin pan with cupcake
cases.
Cream the butter, caster sugar and Pimm’s together in
a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Whisk the eggs
together separately and add gradually to mixture. Add
flour and baking powder and mix until fully combined.
Place one level scoop into each case and bake for 20-
25 minutes. Remove cupcakes from tin and place on
cooling rack.
2 To make the icing, cream the butter, Pimm’s and icing
sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the milk and
whisk again. Set aside.
3 To make the filling, remove the seeds from the
cucumber with the Core ‘n’More. Place all the
ingredients into the Manual Food Processor and pump
handle until blended.
4 To assemble the cupcakes, remove the centre of
each cupcake and fill with fruit filling then replace with
the cake piece. Pipe the buttercream icing onto each
cupcake and decorate with orange segment, raspberry
or strawberry and mint sprig. Enjoy!
INSPIRATION
DIRECTIONS
GET IN TOUCH WITH ANNENever heard of Pampered Chef? We offer great quality kitchen tools which are practical
and lovely to cook with. These are available through our in-home cooking parties or you
can order direct from me. Hosting a party is really easy. They’re a good fun social, our
recipes are simple but spectacular and of course we all get to eat what we’ve cooked! Plus
Pampered Chef are very generous to hosts! So if you’d like to host your own party, coffee
morning or Fundraiser, or if you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you:
Anne Morgan, 07950 290535, Annie’s Pampered Chef Corner on facebook or
www.pamperedchef/biz/annemorgan
We also offer a very successful business opportunity where you can earn an extra
£300–500 per month! Do call if you’d like to find out more.
16 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
It’s been a great start to the Pick-Your-Own
season. At Garsons in Esher, the summer
PYO crops include juicy strawberries,
raspberries and cherries, French beans and
carrots. New this season are PYO flowers
that attract butterflies to the Farm. Some
crops have a brief picking season, so do
check online at garsons.co.uk for what’s
currently available to pick.
Pick your favourites while they’re bursting
with freshness. Children love picking fruit,
vegetables and flowers in the 150 acre
fields. It’s a great family day out, and your
hand-picked produce will taste delicious.
Garsons has been growing since 1871. As
well as being the biggest PYO farm in the
country, it’s been judged PYO of the Year
several times over. The PYO Farm, Garden
Centre and Farm Shop are at Winterdown
Road, West End, Esher. It’s open seven days
a week and there’s free parking.
Register online for PYO updates, offers and
family-friendly events at garsons.co.uk. The
PYO Farm is open from the first strawberries
through to pumpkin picking in October.
Picking tips
• Wear old clothes so you needn’t worry
about staining or snagging them.
• Only pick ripe, plump fruit to enjoy at
its best.
• Handle the fruit carefully to avoid
damage, especially raspberries
and strawberries. When picking
strawberries, cup your palm under the
fruit and pinch it off from the stem.
Cherries can also be picked from the
stalks.
• Delay washing the fruit and removing
the stems until you’re ready to eat.
Pick-Your-OwnINSPIRATION
HOME & GARDEN
INSPIRATION
Garden careHOME & GARDEN
There are some quick and easy ways to
keep your garden looking at its best. Follow
our tips to keep your garden beautiful and
in bloom all summer long.
Flowers and fruitFor abundant flowers, water on a liquid
fertiliser and deadhead regularly. Feed
tomatoes weekly, once the first fruits
appear, for more tomatoes and better
flavour.
Love your lawnTop up your lawn’s nutrients with a summer
feed to keep it green and lush. Many lawns
will green up within days, so apply it a few
days before you entertain at the weekend!
Eradicate pesky weedsHand weeding can be a chore, especially
when it’s hot. Use a spray weedkiller
instead to kill weeds down to the roots.
Summer is the time to sit back and enjoy the fruits of all your hard work in spring.
20 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
What’s happened...
COMMUNITY
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH & THE COMMUNITY HUB
Throughout 2015 there have been various events at St. Christopher’s Church & Community
Hub. The Quiz Night on 18th April was, as usual, a sell-out. The new Quiz Master was deemed
a success and some £1,000 was raised. A family BBQ took place at the Vicarage on 17th
May, with fun and games for all the family. Later that week a Cocktails & Canapes event
was also held at the Vicarage. Both events were blessed with good weather, despite May’s
changeability, and everyone enjoyed themselves. The chocolate fountain was a particular
success - thankfully nobody was tempted to jump into it á la Dawn French so it was enjoyed by
us all! You can see pictures from some of these events in the ‘Spotlight’ feature.
Every dog has his day...…For Otto Kronenberg that day was
Friday, 12th June, when John and Philippa
Kronenberg held their Talent Challenge
event, a Pimms & Strawberries evening,
at the Vicarage. The evening was a great
success, raising over £400 from their initial
outlay of £20. Everyone had a fun time, with
luscious strawberries covered in cream and
everylasting jugs of Pimms served personally
by Revd. Kronenberg, who kept all our
glasses filled. The highlight of the evening
was the auction of a beautifully-decorated
popcorn cake donated by Celia Francis. A
pitched battle between Revd. Kronenberg
and Bob Filby was ultimately won by Bob
who, magnanimous in his victory, donated
the cake to be served after Sunday’s church
service so that everyone could enjoy it.
Sadly, Otto had other ideas! One can only
imagine John and Philippa’s horror on
discovering the cake with a huge bite taken
out of it… and Otto, tail wagging, with cake
around his mouth, trying to look innocent…
John’s confession in church was met with
laughter, and the replacement chocolate
cake enjoyed by all… but I’m sure I wasn’t
the only one thinking wistfully about the cake
that got away…
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 21
COMMUNITY
Although the Hustings did not appear to
make a difference nationally, with Dominic
Raab returned once again, the turnout of
73.1% of the electorate bucked the national
trend. The local Council elections, which
were held at the same time, showed a
significant level of support for the local
Residents’ Association candidate, Janet
Turner, who stood on a platform of opposition
to the Boundary Commission’s plans. She
achieved a stunning 77.7% of the vote
against the local Conservative candidate –
some 2,208 votes out of a total of 3,901
eligible voters.
The Boundary Commission has now
published it’s recommendations, which can
be viewed at https://consultation.lgbce.
org.uk/node/4438. The current eight-
week consultation period finishes on 24th
August 2015. The Boundary Commission
is proposing to conjoin Hinchley Wood with
Weston Green with the loss of Lynwood Road
development. Hinchley Wood residents are
urged to look at their proposals and send
any comments to the Boundary Commission
before 24th August.
The candidates from all the main parties
attended – Andrew Davis for the Liberal
Democrats; Francis Eldergill for Labour;
Olivia Palmer for the Green Party; Nicholas
Wood from UKIP and, of course, Dominic
Raab for the Conservative Party. Della
Reynolds, standing as an Independent
Citizen, also attended.
The Forum followed a ‘Question Time’
format, with local historian Roger Thompson
channelling Sir Robin Day in his role as
Chairman. Each candidate gave a brief
(or not so brief!) introduction to his/her
background and the policies of their own
party, after which questions were invited from
the floor. Roger Thompson was an excellent
Chair, ensuring that none of the candidates
strayed from the point. Questions were
asked on subjects varying from childcare,
cycling and housing to the NHS and the
proposed changes to Hinchley Wood Ward
boundaries. There is very strong opposition
to the Boundary Commission’s plans to split
Hinchley Wood between Weston Green and
Long Ditton Wards and this appeared to take
some of the candidates by surprise.
HustingsIn an effort to engage more voters, given the importance of this year’s General Election, an Election Forum was held at St. Christopher’s Church on Friday, 17th April.
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH & THE COMMUNITY HUB
22 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
Going GreenExciting plans to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and embrace cleaner renewable energy are some of the ideas gathering pace at St Christopher’s Community Hub.
COMMUNITY
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH & THE COMMUNITY HUB
The Community Hub Eco Fund was launched
in 2014 and has so far raised £14,500
towards a range of major improvements.
These include generating solar power,
upgrading to more efficient heating systems,
better quality lighting using less energy, and
quantities of thermal insulation to reduce
heat loss through external surfaces.
Says Mark Schuringa, who is responsible
for overseeing the financial aspects of the
Community Hub, “The new technologies are
better for the environment, reducing harmful
carbon dioxide emissions. They help reduce
the running costs of the buildings and we
will be better able to respond to the different
temperatures and ambiences required by
the variety of hirers who use the buildings.”
Tim Blair, Project Co-ordinator for the
forthcoming building works is delighted
by the response so far to the Eco Fund
Capital Appeal. “We appeal to everyone
in the village to continue to help us raise
the additional £12,000 we need, which
would be a brilliant achievement! We are
hugely thankful to Surrey County Council and
Elmbridge Borough Council (and others) who
have agreed to provide significant funding for
the Community Hub, so we are nearly there!
Just one more big push this summer will
do it.”
26 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
railings and in Hinchley Wood village. The
results of our fundraising efforts will be
brought to the Harvest Festival service on
4th October.
Among the fundraising activities to look
forward to will be the unmissable Salsa
Ball taking place on Saturday, 19th
September. Dust off your dancing shoes
for a night of Latino music, dancing, food
and drink. Tickets can be booked through
the St. Christopher’s Church website (www.
stchristopherschurch.org.uk) or by ringing
Mandy Ali in the Parish Office (020 8398
9095). Tickets are £25 per person but we
offer an Early Bird discount of £5 if you book
before September.
Last year’s Talent Challenge, which was
an amazing success, is being repeated
again this year. Once again members of
the congregation have been given £10 and
challenged to use their talents to ‘grow’ it –
this time primarily to enable the replacement
of the old, inefficient and eco-unfriendly
boilers with a new, more efficient and
ecologically-friendly heating system. Anyone
who has shivered in church during a sudden
cold snap will appreciate the need for an
‘intelligent’ system which recognises the
need to switch on automatically when the
temperature plunges! This year’s brief is to
work collaboratively and various groups are
planning activities throughout the summer
and early Autumn. Look out for posters
advertising the various events on the church
Talent ChallengeMembers of St. Christopher’s Church congregation will again be helping to raise funds for the Eco project.
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH & THE COMMUNITY HUB
Coming up...There are several exciting events coming
up in the church, such as the Patronal
celebrations on Sunday, 26th July which
include a celebratory service in the church
followed by a BBQ at the Vicarage. November
will be a busy month, with the ever-popular
Quiz Night on Saturday, 7th November;
Reading Phoenix Choir are returning on
Saturday, 14th November for a concert and
on Saturday, 21st November the church will
be hosting a ‘Shopping Event’. Details of
all these events will be on St. Christopher’s
Church website (www.stchristopherschurch.
org.uk), or by contacting Mandy Ali in the
Parish Office on: 020 8398 9095.
In addition, St. Christopher’s Church
and Community Hub hosts many events
throughout the week in both the Church and
Hall. Two exciting new events have recently
begun in the church and are open to all pre-
school children. The Creation Station on
Tuesday mornings is a craft-led activity for
babies and toddlers; Ballet Bugs on Friday
mornings is a fun, informal dance class
using songs and nursery rhymes for pre-
school children. We also have Film Matinees
on the 2nd Friday of each month, where
children can come and enjoy films such as
‘Open Season’, ‘Frozen’ and ‘Stuart Little 2’.
An added bonus for parents is the option of
hot dogs for tea! From September ‘Elevate
Eleven’, who specialise in tutoring older
children, will be joining the list of weekly
activities in the church.
COMMUNITY
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 27
COMMUNITY
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH & THE COMMUNITY HUB
Take a look at all the great activities that are happening every day at the Hinchley Wood Community Hub.
Weekdays during term time:Christopher Robin Nursery School (Hall)
Mondays:9:15am: Zumba with Maria Mitchell (Church)
7:30pm: Broadway Sequence Dance (Hall)
1st Monday each month: Theology at The Angel (8:00pm at The Angel Pub)
Tuesdays:10:00am: The Creation Station – babies (church)
11:00am: The Creation Station – toddlers (church)
3:45pm: Yoga with Judith Richards (Hall)
5:30pm: Yoga with Judith Richards (Hall)
7:30pm: Yoga with Jane Howard (Hall)
7:30pm: Line Dancing (Church)
Wednesdays:9:30am: Stay & Play (Church)
1:00pm: Yoga with Judith Richards (Hall)
3:00pm: Yoga with Judith Richards (Hall)
7:30pm: Pilates with Jo James (Hall)
8:00pm: Kung Fu with Andy King (Hall)
1st Wednesday each month: Girls@Georgie’s (8:00pm at Georgie’s Coffee Shop)
2nd Wednesday each month: Mother’s Union Monthly Meeting (7:30pm Church)
4th Wednesday each month: Women’s Wednesday Fellowship (7:30pm at
Hinchley Wood School) Please note: the September
meeting has been swapped from 23rd to the 30th
Thursdays:9:15am: Zumba with Maria Mitchell (Church)
6:00pm: Weight Watchers (Hall)
7:30pm: Music Practice (Church)
Fridays:9:30am: Ballet Bugs (Church)
1st Friday each month: Messy Church (3:30pm in the Church)
2nd/3rd Friday each month: Family Film Matinee (3:30pm in the Hall)
Saturdays:8:30am: Yoga with Nicola Pritchard (Hall)
Sundays: 3rd Sunday each month: Mustard Seeds service at 3:00pm (Church)
The church is also regularly used by the National Blood Transfusion Service and as
a Polling Station for Elmbridge.
What’s on...
28 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
the new Vicar arrives. So, now is exactly
the right time, when things are on the up,
to hand over to someone with new ideas
and skills to lead St Christopher’s through
the next stage of its development “Forging
Community and Sharing God’s Love”, as our
mission statement says.
I’m full of confidence for St Christopher’s
future and it will be with mixed feelings and
a little sadness that Philippa and I say “au
revoir” to our many friends in Hinchley Wood.
My last Sunday at St Christopher’s will be
Sunday 20th September, the day after the
Salsa Ball – which seems like a good way
to bow out! My Induction by the Bishop of
Southwark at St John the Evangelist, Redhill
will be at 7.30pm on Wednesday 18th
November and all are welcome.
It’s been a very difficult decision to move
on from Hinchley Wood, but I have felt for
a while that it’s the right time to hand on
the baton. Why? Well, simply because I see
people doing so many good things!
The Congregation is growing and increasingly
varied. People are contributing new initiatives
- this new magazine is a great example.
There are exciting grant funded projects
about to begin including photovoltaic panels,
fire alarm systems and new car parking. The
new web site is about to go live, children’s
film matinees, Sunday lunches at Georgie’s
and Summer Balls all show that the Church
is full of life and the Community Hub a great
success.
St Christopher’s Church has excellent
Churchwardens, Tracey Warren and Mark
Schuringa, an enthusiastic Parochial Church
Council, an experienced Curate, Caroline
Mullins, a very busy Parish Administrator,
Mandy Ali and an active congregation to
ensure the church continues to flourish until
Moving onAfter nearly 10 years at St Christopher’s, Revd John Kronenberg reflects on leaving Hinchley Wood.
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH & THE COMMUNITY HUB
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
Regular servicesST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH & THE COMMUNITY HUB
Sunday Mornings at 10:00amFamily Communion Service 1st & 3rd Sundays
Communion Service with Sunday School 2nd & 4th Sundays
Sunday Afternoons and EveningsSunday afternoon and evening services are currently changing and will be as advertised on
St. Christopher’s Church website.
For further details call Mandy Ali in the Parish Office on: 020 8398 9095
Wednesday Mornings at 11:30am: Midweek Communion
1st Friday of the Month at 3.30pm: Messy Church
3rd Sunday of the Month at 3.00pm: Mustard Seeds
Here’s a list of all the regular services that are held at St. Christopher’s Church.
WANT TO ADVERTISE IN THE MAGAZINE?Whether it’s a quarter, half, full or double page, if you want your business to reach over 2000 homes in Hinchley Wood, please contact the Parish Office on 020 8398 9095 or email office@stchristopherschurch.org.uk
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 31
VicarReverend John Kronenberg
The Vicarage, 98 Manor Road North
vicar@stchristophershinchleywood.org.uk
020 8786 6391 (Day Off : Tuesday)
CurateReverend Caroline Mullins
1 Chesterfield Drive, Hinchley Wood
Rev.carolinemullins@gmail.com
020 8224 3334 (Day Off: Monday)
Pastoral Assistant Margaret Thompson 020 8398 4156
Parish Administrator Mandy Ali
Parish OfficeOpen 9:00-13:00pm, Monday-Friday
020 8398 9095
office@stchristopherschurch.org.uk
ChurchwardensMark Schuringa 020 8339 8841
mark@dittonwinetraders.co.uk
Tracey Warren 020 8398 3624
tracey124@ntlworld.com
Deputy Churchwardens Celia Francis 020 8398 0657
Eileen Griffiths 020 8398 6168
Suzie Pepperell 07980665427
Parochial Church CouncilHeather Allen, Moira Beardshall, Tim Blair,
Ann Ellis, Celia Francis, Eileen Griffiths,
Liz Hammond, Suzie Pepperell, Margaret
Thompson, Neville Thurlbeck, Rachel
Herbert
Deanery Synod RepresentativesLiz Hammond & Suzie Pepperell
PCC SecretaryHeather Allen 020 8339 0850
Gift Aid AdministratorMoira Bearshall 020 8398 9095
Servers TeamIvan Burnside, Sean Warren
Sacristy TeamHilda Highley, John Kronenberg, Caroline
Mullins
Band and Choir Leader Philippa Kronenberg
GodZone Sunday School Jane Barnett 020 8398 4082
Stay & PlayWednesday mornings 9:30am-11:15am
For pre-school children and parents,
grandparents and all carers.
Mothers’ UnionBranch Contact:
Philippa Kronenberg 020 8786 6391,
pcf.kronenberg@btinternet.com
Contact Parish Office
Branch Secretary: Suzie Pepperell
Branch Treasurer: Moira Beardshall
Women’s Wednesday FellowshipJean Hayes 020 8398 1914
Maureen Price 020 8398 2561
Church & Hall BookingsMandy Ali in the Parish Office
Or Email:
office@stchristopherschurch.org.uk
Parish Magazine TeamAdvertising: Imina Wylde/Rachel Herbert
Editorial: Suzie Pepperell
Production & Distribution: Mandy Ali
Email: office@stchristopherschurch.org.uk
www.stchristopherschurch.org.uk
COMMUNITY
ST. CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH & THE COMMUNITY HUB
Sharing God’s work
32 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
Busy busy busyCOMMUNITY
MOTHER’S UNION
The Hinchley Wood MU have been
busy! In March we collected hundreds
of easter eggs for the refuges in the
Guildford Diocese, which were very
well received. We also gave three
entire ‘new baby’ kits to ladies who
were in dire need: and we mean entire:
everything from baby-grows to prams!
An amazing response to our appeals is
always guaranteed from the community
in Hinchley Wood so thank you to
everyone who helped!!
At Easter we enrolled two new members;
Christa Peasey and Rachel Herbert. In
March, Beth Shutt, who co-ordinates
our donations to the womens’ refuges
came and spoke to us about how they
operate and where out donations go.
In April we held a discussion on the
influence of the internet and increased
commercialisation in all of our lives,
and in May we had another of our
popular ‘desert island’ nights, where
people brought along favourite pieces
of music, poems or pictures and shared
what they love about them.
The Mothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that aims to demonstrate
the Christian faith in action through the transformation of communities worldwide.
Working with people of all faiths and none in 83 countries,we promote stable
marriage, family life and the protection of children through praying, enabling and
campaigning.
The Hinchley Wood branch meets on the second Wednesday evening of the
month for social events, talks, discussion groups and activities. Contact Philippa
Kronenberg if you’d like to join us on 020 8786 6391.
A BIT ABOUT US....
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 33
COMMUNITY
From Mr Darcy to The Chocolate Man
WOMEN’S WEDNESDAY FELLOWSHIP
We too have had a busy time. In
February we heard from Maureen Stiller
from the ‘Jane Austen Society’: she
read us extracts from Jane’s letters,
describing the time she spent travelling
though our area - she was of the opinion
that Kingston was more pleasant than
Battersea or Clapham. Following on
from that very enjoyable talk, we went
to see ‘Pride and Prejudice’ performed
at the Vera Fletcher Hall.
In March, we heard from the two Pastoral
Assistants at St Christopher’s Church,
Margaret Thompson and Liz Hammond,
who talked about their work within the
community. Margaret has just finished
her training and Liz has moved to
Hinchley Wood from Southwark Diocese
where she has worked as a PA for
many years.
And finally, just after Easter,
Chris Bachmann, from Bachmann’s
Patisserie, aka ‘The Chocolate Man’
came along to talk to us about the
patisserie, now in it’s 25th year at
Winter’s Bridge. Chris gave a talk
about the history of chocolate and
the art of the chocolatier, and brought
along a huge array of different types of
chocolate to touch, smell and taste! He
also donated a large decorated easter
Egg for us to raffle for our 2015 charity,
which is Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY
for short).
The Womens’ Wednesday Fellowship
was set up in 1958 and meets on the
4th Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm
at Hinchley Wood School. We have
interesting talks from outside speakers,
hold discussions on the issues of the
day and go on occasional outings. If
you would like to join us, please call
020 8398 1914 or 020 8398 2561.
GET IN TOUCH....
34 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
James HeptonstallThe environmental consultant, 30, on running and conquering YouTube
FEATURE
60 SECONDS WITH...
How did you get into running?I have been into running
since I can first remember,
with some of my earliest
memories being of my
school sports days at
Thames Ditton Infants
School. I really got into
athletics when I joined
Kingston Athletics Club and
Polytechnic Harriers when
I was 10. I trained with the
club and competed for my
school, club, university,
Surrey and the South of
England in a variety of track
and field events, eventually
focussing on Long Jump as
my main event.
How often and how long (distance and time) do you train?Recently I have been
training with the England
team for the Touch Rugby
World Cup. I train up to 6
times a week and there are
a mixture of gym, track, and
skills sessions. One of our
running sessions will be
4x1km with 1:1 rest and my
times for the 1kms would
be around 3.15 minutes.
It’s great running these
sessions with the team as
you push each other to get
your times down.
What other sports do you participate in?As I mentioned my main
sport is now Touch Rugby.
I switched from Long Jump
and started playing touch
in 2010 for a club and
was fortunate enough to
be selected for England
in 2012, making my
international debut at the
European Championships in
Treviso, Italy.
Have you travelled with the sports you participate in?Yes, with my athletics I
have been to numerous
athletics tracks across the
UK, but a stand-out tour
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 35
FEATURE
was when I travelled to the
USA with the University of
Birmingham Athletics Team
to compete against some of
the Ivy League universities,
including Harvard and Yale.
More recently I travelled
with the England Touch
Rugby team to Treviso, Italy
for the 2012 European
Championships; to Dublin,
Ireland for the 2013 Home
Nation Championships; and
to Coffs Harbour, Australia
for the 2015 World Cup,
where we finished 10th in
the world.
What made you decide to race the tube?It was a conversation I
had over a beer with my
friend, Noel Carroll, who
I went to University with.
We had both recently got
GoPro cameras and were
keen to film some sort of
sporting challenge. We
were partly inspired by
the Top Gear challenges
where a car races public
transport, and it got us
thinking about whether
we could outrun a form of
public transport. I started
studying the London
Underground map and
came up with some
potential stations to
race between.
How often did you have to attempt race the tube until it was film perfect? A lot of people ask me
this. The film on YouTube
is actually my first
attempt! I didn’t do any
practice runs.
How do you rate YouTube as a media platform? YouTube is great. It’s very
user friendly. I set up my
YouTube channel Epic
Challenges and my Race
The Tube video is the first
video I uploaded, so I was
pretty chuffed and amazed
to get 6 million views for
the video.
What has YouTube notoriety brought with it? (Interviews? Sponsorship? Payment per view?)When the video went viral
I was contacted by lots
of journalists including
BBC, Sky News, The
Times, Daily Mail and
many more, including
Network 9 in
Australia for
whom I did
a live
video link
interview
on their
morning news
show. Some of
the best people
who have got in
contact with us
are those via
social media whio’ve said
the video has inspired
them to start running or
set themselves their own
challenges. Since Race
The Tube we’ve continued
to launch further videos
on our YouTube channel,
Epic Challenges. Our best
experience by far was
going to New York. Adidas
got in contact with us
as they loved the video,
and they invited us out to
New York for three days
for the launch of their
latest trainer. We used the
opportunity to film ‘Race
The Subway’ where I took
on the NYC subway in a
similar one-stop race.
What’s next?Noel and I are continuing
to grow our YouTube
channel and will be
launching some new
videos soon. We are
currently in planning but
also love to hear people’s
suggestions for potential
challenges so please
contact us via Twitter (@
jhepto) and YouTube (Epic
Challenges) with your
ideas!
36 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
Girl powerGirlguiding enables girls and young women to develop their potential and to make a difference to the world.
COMMUNITY
GIRLGUIDING
In Hinchley Wood we provide for the following
groups of girls:
RainbowsRainbows are girls aged 5 to 7 who can take
part in lots of different activities when they
follow the Rainbow Jigsaw programme.
BrowniesBrownies are girls aged seven to ten who
follow a programme called the Brownie
Adventure. Brownies opens up a world of
exciting challenges and the opportunity to
try new things.
GuidesGuides are girls aged 10 to 14 who are given
the chance to explore their individual skills
and abilities and try new challenges as part
of a team. Girls can get involved in anything
from adventure sports to performing arts.
The Senior SectionThe Senior Section offers young women
aged 14 to 25 the opportunity to develop
their skills and abilities through a flexible
and inspiring programme which offers a
huge variety of challenges, activities and
opportunities for personal development.
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 37
COMMUNITY
The aim of guiding is to help girls and
young women develop emotionally, mentally,
physically and spiritually, so that they
can make a positive contribution to their
community and the wider world.
The core values of Girlguiding:
• We are for all girls
• We give girls their own space
• We give girls a voice
• We change as the lives of girls change
The Girl Guide Association was formed in
1910. Guides was the first section for girls
aged 10-14. In 1914 the Brownies was
formed for 8-11 year olds
Over the next century many changes took
place as the Guiding movement adjusted to
changes in society. The Senior Section for
girls aged over 14 started in 1916 and in
2002 Girlguiding UK became the new name.
In 2010 we celebrated the Girlguiding
Centenary with a Division event at Hampton
Court Palace where we all renewed our
promises.
Throughout the country more than 100,000
volunteers contribute over ten million hours
to guiding every year. In return, Girlguiding
offers training and the opportunity to
develop new skills.
We need volunteers to give their time
as Leaders or Assistant Leaders for our
guiding units. Volunteering with Girlguiding
is about more than just giving something
back to our community. By volunteering with
us you’ll work closely with girls and young
women, offering them support and guidance
at crucial stages in their lives.
All kinds of people volunteer with
Girlguiding, so it’s a great opportunity
to meet new people where you live,
while making a real contribution to your
community.
If you’re someone with a sense of
adventure looking for a rewarding challenge,
Girlguiding could be for you. You’ll enjoy
different activities, have great fun and
help girls build their confidence and try
something new at the same time – what
could be better?
To find out more, visit www.girlguiding.org.uk
GET IN TOUCH...Hinchley Wood is part of the Dittons District. Our Joint District Commissioners are Sue Rodger
and Lesley Sullivan who can also be contacted for information about units in Hinchley Wood,
Thames Ditton, Long Ditton and Weston Green.
Sue’s email is: sue_c_rodger@hotmail.com
Lesley’s email is: lesleysullivan@hotmail.co.uk
Our aimABOUT US...
A bit of history
Join the team
38 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
Going for goldThe Scouts took on local rivals as they set off on the Surrey County Expedition Challenge as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award.
COMMUNITY
1st HINCHLEY WOOD SCOUT GROUP
Our Duke of Edinburgh expedition was like
no other! To our surprise, we were in a
competition against an abundance of other
Scout Groups.
So as well as completing the expedition
in good time, you also had to impress the
various scout leaders sauntering around the
campsite with your: cooking, washing-up,
team morale, team equipment, your route
plan and much more!
Easier said than done, especially after
getting up too early each morning and eating
packaged food for several days!
There were seven of us making up 1st
Hinchley Wood’s Scout team: Thomas,
Sebastian, Callum, Nissan, Stewart, Luke
and Albert. It was really good fun especially
the fact that we had to do it all by ourselves
and it gave us confidence in ourselves to
complete such a challenge.
During the expedition we had to complete
checkpoints and we were marked for various
competencies. Overall our team came third
out of 20+ teams and we won a Gold award.
What a great result.
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 39
Back in March 1st Hinchley Wood entered
6 teams for the challenging 4-Inns Walk, a
tough competitive 65k hike across the Peak
District. This hike, which has to be completed
within 24 hours, is entered by teams from
all over the UK and even some from abroad.
This year there were just under 100 teams
competing. Despite the competition our
Explorers managed to retain the trophy for
the fastest team with all team members
under 25 years, beating their previous year’s
time by 20 minutes; coming in after exactly
15 hours of continuous walking.
At the end of July two members of our Scout
Group will be off to Japan to represent the
UK at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree with a
third member going in a leadership capacity,
helping out as part of the International
Service Team. Besides spending 10 days
at the Jamboree they will also be taking
part in Ho-Ho (Home Hopitality), staying with
Japanese Scout Families and having the
chance to see Tokyo. More details about
their visit will be in the next edition of this
magazine.
Thank you to everyone who came and
supported our May Fair in the Memorial
Gardens. This was a great success and
raised over £2000 for our Group funds.
These funds help us to put on a huge variety
of activities and enable us to purchase new
equipment as well as train our Leaders to
deliver these activities.
GET IN TOUCH...For more details about 1st Hinchley Wood Scout Group visit our website
www.1stHWScouts.org.uk or call Chris Beaney on 020 8224 0981.You could also follow us
on Twitter – @1stHWScouts
COMMUNITY
Explorers win National Trophy
IN BRIEF...
Go East
May Fair
42 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
SUMMER SUN SAFETY
COMMUNITY
Young children’s skin is very delicate
and can easily be damaged by the
sun. It is therefore important to apply
a high factor sunscreen regularly when
outside. Even sunscreens that are
‘waterproof’ should be reapplied after
swimming or playing in water.
People with lots of moles or freckles
are also at higher risk of sun damage.
High factor sunscreens, clothing and
shade should be used to prevent
direct exposure to the sun. If you do
notice any changes with moles such
as increasing size, changing colour or
itching or bleeding, you should report
this to your doctor straight away.
Higher temperatures during the
summer months can increase risks
of dehydration and heat exhaustion.
Young babies, people over the age of
75 and those with chronic conditions
are most at risk. Tips to reduce the
risk of overheating include avoiding the
sun between 11am and 3pm, drinking
plenty of cool fluids, avoiding alcohol
and wearing loose clothing and a hat
outdoors.
If you are aware of any elderly
neighbours or friends who are less able
to look after themselves, please check
on them during periods of hot weather
to ensure that they are kept cool and
well hydrated.
More information about summer safety
can be found on the NHS Choices
website www.nhs.uk
Lantern Surgery is regrettably no longer
viable on its own. Following consultations
with The Grove Medical Practice, Dr Susan
Kearsey is delighted to announce plans to
join forces with her friend and colleague of
over 25 years, Dr Jeremy Harris. This will
enable all services currently provided to
continue in Hinchley Wood with additional
doctors and nurses. We are excited about
the additional benefits that this will provide
for our patients and would like to take this
opportunity to thank them for their continued
loyalty and support.
DID YOU KNOW...
LANTERN SURGERY
T H E F A M I LY YO U C A N T U R N T O... Seven generations of our family have been helping and advising local
families in their time of need. For over 230 years we have been providing funerals, both modest and traditional, with care and compassion.
ESHER:
EAST MOLESEY:
THAMES DITTON:
78 High Street
156 Walton Road
37 High Street
01372 463903
020 8941 1412
020 8398 4586
FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND MEMORIAL STONEMASONS
Custodian Trustee: HSBC Trust Co. (UK) Ltd.
ASK ABOUT OUR PRE-PAYMENT FUNERAL PLANS
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 47
THE RAILWAY COMETH
Roger Thompson looks at local history and the evolution of the trains and stations of the area
I was lucky enough when young to be
taught by Professor Jack Simmons
the well-known industrial and railway
historian. He was strongly of the view
that we could divide the development of
railways in the nineteenth century into two
phases. Phase one during the 1830’s and
40’s was based largely on local and national
interests such as mines, factories and links
between cities and followed immediately
on from the technological developments by
Stephenson, Brunel and others. The second
phase from the 1860’s onwards was based
upon a surfeit of disposable income in the
English middle classes who had too few
opportunities to invest their wealth and
welcomed any new development. The arrival
of the railway in our area reflects the division
of dates, if not the motives.
During the Napoleonic Wars concerns
had been expressed about the wisdom of
transporting goods landed at Southampton
by water, through the English Channel. It
was thought that this method was far too
vulnerable to sea-borne attack in times
of trouble. Consequently when a line was
proposed from Southampton to Nine Elms
in London via Woking it received significant
parliamentary support and a bill enabling
its establishment was passed in 1834.
Despite a number of troubles, mainly due
to an underestimate of costs (not a new
phenomenon) the line was finished by 1840.
There were two stations in our area: Kingston
station, which was actually sited in Surbiton,
nowhere near today’s Kingston and Surbiton
stations, and Ditton Marsh, which was to
become Esher station. Waterloo became the
terminus when the line was extended to a
site near Waterloo Bridge.
In 1849 an extension was built to Hampton
Court. This, like most of the lines in our
area, was raised on an embankment as at
that time much of the area was marshland;
hence the name Ditton Marsh. Another line
was built to connect Guildford to Woking.
This provided a link, albeit a long one,
between Guildford and London.
In the 1880s the Metropolitan Railway
Company put forward a proposal to build
a direct line from London to Guildford via
Kingston. The then London and South-
western Company responded with a
successful plan to use the existing line from
Waterloo through Wimbledon and then on
to Guildford. The Waterloo to Guildford via
Cobham line had begun.
In order to build the line, an enormous
amount of work had to be done at the point
where the line branched off to Hampton
Court. This became the Hampton Court
Junction and involved the construction of a
series of viaducts as most of the lines were
raised. To this day the junction deals with a
significant quantity of rail traffic.
In 1916 the line was electrified from
Waterloo to Claygate and in 1925 all the
way to Guildford. So far there has been
no mention of Hinchley Wood station. This
was not to be built until 1930 but that’s
another story.
FEATURE
48 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
School valuesPupils at Hinchley Wood Primary School (HWPS) worked in partnership with Kerry Greene, of Magpie Makes, to create an exhibition of artwork based ontheir school values.
EDUCATION
HINCHLEY WOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL
One of the leading examples of a values
based school in the UK, HWPS has held the
Quality Mark for Values Based Education
since 2009 and they renewed this in Autumn
last year. The values, which were chosen
by staff, parents, pupils and governors, are
embraced by the whole school community
and central to the life of the school.
Last year pupils demonstrated the values of
cooperation and friendship, working within
their classes to produce large-scale collages
and paintings depicting some of their school
values. Whilst these continue to decorate
the corridors, pupils were eager to bring
to life the remaining school values using
a range of mediums, and to display these
works in a more prominent position so that
they could be enjoyed and celebrated by all.
As a result of this, the pupils at HWPS spent
a week working with Kerry on a range of
projects including fashion design, sewing
and book illustration. For example: Year Two
received inspiration and advice from the
Head of Design at a children’s publishing
house and demonstrated the values of
understanding and knowledge by creating
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 49
EDUCATION
book covers and 3D sculptures using paper
mache. Throughout the school, pupils were
given the opportunity to work independently
and collaboratively with their peers, teachers
and parent helpers, therefore demonstrating
many of the school values.
The pupils’ hard work culminated in an art
exhibition, curated by Year Five, which was
well-attended by parents and the Surrey
Advertiser; Cass Art store also subsidised
prizes for outstanding pieces. Following
the exhibition, the pieces were displayed in
the reception area of the school, providing
visitors with a warm welcome and a
wonderful illustration of the inclusive ethos
of the school.
50 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
ALL PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
EDUCATION
HINCHLEY WOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION
Welcome to Hinchley Wood Primary School
Association. Throughout the school year, the
HWPSA volunteer committee organises a
diverse and wide range of activities, some
internal to the school such as children’s
discos and fashion shows, but also larger
events such as our Fireworks night and the
Summer Fair (pictured) which are open to the
wider community. Recently we held a spring
ball where circa 200 parents, dressed up in
black tie and gowns, were able to let their
hair down and dance the night away.
Through such events, the funds raised are
used to enable the school to buy equipment
and services that directly benefit our children
and enhance their learning environment but
would otherwise be out of reach. Over the
years we have introduced new computers
and a new after-school club facility, which
included a fully equipped music room and a
kitchen in order that food could be supplied.
The old school pond, which had become
overrun, was cleared out and a new pump
and plants introduced. Now the pond has
become part of the curriculum as it is used
to watch how wildlife such as tadpoles grow.
Beside the pond, a new Eco plot has been
opened where the children can plant and
watch things grow before picking them to
take home.
Having a sense of being part of the local
community is key, and that is why we are
keen to involve local businesses and the
wider community in our activities. We always
try to use local suppliers as we believe the
produce is of the highest quality. These
relationships are important as they allow us
to involve the community in all we do.
Hopefully we will see some of you at our
events and if you do, please come and say
hello to the volunteers.
52 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
Sporting successHinchley Wood School has kicked off the summer sporting season with some excellent results
EDUCATION
HINCHLEY WOOD SCHOOL
On the tennis court the boys have been
racking up some great results, particularly as
the school only took up competitive tennis in
the last couple of years. The Year 7 and 8s
(aged 11-13 years) recently secured back to
back wins against Reeds School and went
on to a narrow 7-6 victory over Lingfield Notre
Dame and a resounding 12-0 win against
Trinity. In the older age group, with the Year
9 and 10 team, the fortunes were reversed,
winning 12-0 at Lingfield Notre Dame and
taking a narrow loss, 7-6, to Trinity.
More recently, two of Hinchley Wood’s most
talented athletes, Sophie and Sam Mace,
continued their winning ways at the recent
Surrey County Championships.
Sophie, aged 16 years, won both the
discus and the hammer events; her throw
of 53.54 metres in the hammer achieved
Championship Best Performance and set
a new Surrey Record! Brother Sam, aged
14 years, also set Championship Best
Performances for the hammer and discus on
top of which he took silver in the shot put;
Sam’s discus distance of 43.41 metres puts
him at number one in the UK rankings!
In the Central Surrey Athletics tournament at
the Kingsmeadow Athletic Stadium, the Year
8 and 9 boys achieved a very respectable
second place out of 11 teams on a rain
shortened day, with notable individual
performances from Sam Shaw, Seb Collins,
Max Parkinson, Ashley Ram, Alex Burrows,
Josh Smith, Johnny Haynes, Sam Fanning,
Dom Williams and Max Heasman.
UK No.1: Sam Mace (centre)
SUMMER 2015 HINCHLEY WOOD 53
EDUCATION
Fundraisingfor othersThe school community, including students,
staff and governors, has raised an incredible
£1,670 for the Nepal Disaster Fund. When
combined with other fundraising for link
schools in Gulu, Uganda and over £3000
raised by 20 staff cycling from London
to Brighton on 21st June in aid of the
British Heart Foundation, total funds raised
for charity this year will be well in excess
of £10,000!!
Hinchley Wood is one of four secondary
schools working with Surrey County Council
and the National Autistic Society to provide
a specialist centre which will allow high
functioning students with autism to stay in
mainstream education. Thanks to funding
from the Cullum Family Trust the school is
hoping to establish an “NAS Cullum Centre”
within the existing building footprint.
A planning application has been submitted
to Elmbridge Borough Council with a
decision expected before the end of the
academic year.
DID YOU KNOW...
Thanks to another great all-round effort,
Hinchley Wood has secured its third Eco
Schools Green Flag, the highest award
attainable in the international award
programme that promotes sustainability
within schools – the actual green flag
can be seen flying proudly outside the
school building.
54 HINCHLEY WOOD SUMMER 2015
Yes the summer holidays are nearly
upon us. In the past, I have made
the mistake of over-organising
the holidays with almost every
day booked up with playdates, day-trips
and other activities. I’ve since realised
it’s much better to chill out and not try to
do too much, although spontaneity is not
one of my stronger points, I’m more of an
organisational robot.
I’m a big fan of walking and that doesn’t take
too much organising! All kids love walking.
Well ok, it’s not necessarily my four year
old’s favourite pastime. Instead of a guided
walk, it can end up more like a bribed walk,
Hansel and Gretel style. No I don’t mean
leaving them in the woods, but sweetie trails
are involved. So here are a few ideas of
walks I have dragged the kids on.
For me it’s not necessarily about the walk,
but about where you end up… the pub of
course! One of my favourite walks is up over
Telegraph Hill, down into Claygate, to the
Hare & Hounds. This is a great place as they
do a good kids menu and have a fab outside
play area. According to my ‘Fitbit’ it’s 1.7
miles from the bottom of Telegraph Hill to the
Hare & Hounds! Hopefully it should be nice
and dry unlike the quagmire I tried to steer
Granny and Grandad through in February half
term. I thought I was going to have to call
the emergency services to rescue them off
the steep muddy banks.
We are lucky to have numerous other walks
nearby, from Littleworth Common (ending up
at Café Rouge), to Arbrook Common (ending
up at the Fairmile), or simply the paths
through the woods on Portsmouth Road
either side of the railway bridge (ending up
at The Greyhound).
Obviously we have Bushy Park, with numerous
different areas to explore. It’s also great for
taking the kids’ scooters or bikes, as there
are lots of safe paths to follow. The best bits
of Bushy, for me, are the beautiful Woodland
Gardens, the Pheasantry Cafe and the walk
around Heron Pond (near the playground car
park).
Last, but not least, it’s easy to forget that
we live so close to the River Thames and a
Royal Palace. You can simply enjoy walks up
and down the towpaths, from Hampton Court
Bridge down towards Kingston or up towards
Hurst Park and the cafes and restaurants
on Bridge Road are fabulous. Although you
have to pay to go into the Palace gardens
in season, The Wilderness (meadows) just
within the walls are free to access and they
really are beautiful.
WALKTHE WALK
Busy Izzy
FEATURE