January 2015 Published on 3 January

As we enter a New Year we often find ourselves reflecting on the past year and making resolutions for the coming year. Whether it be stop biting your nails, stop smoking, learn a foreign language, watch less television, donate more to charity, make new friends or spend more time praying, we so often start off with good intentions but within a few weeks it is forgotten or we have to resolve to start again!

I’m so glad that God does not forget or fail in his resolution to love mankind. In the bible it tells us, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is his faithfulness”, Lamentations 3 v22.

After all the hype and fun of Christmas come January we can often feel a little flat. However in the church calendar after Christmas comes Epiphany which falls on the 12th day of Christmas, January 6th.

The word Epiphany means a time of revelation, an experience of sudden and striking realisation about anything. It may be used to refer to a scientific breakthrough such as Archimedes’ discovery of a method to determine the density of an object one day in the bath, and Isaac Newton’s realisation that a falling apple and the orbiting moon are both pulled by the same force, gravity. For us it may be times such as the first time we understood subtraction at school or solved a difficult clue in a crossword.

The next issue of Hurst Green News will be published on 7 February 2015. Please send material for that issue, including items for the diary, no later than FRIDAY, 23 JANUARY 2015 to The Compiler, 3 Parklands, Oxted, RH8 9DP; e-mail: hgncompiler@gmail.com. The Compiler reserves the right to edit copy. The Hurst Green News is published by St John’s Parochial Church Council (Registered Charity 1133107) as a church and community newsletter.

It is financed by advertisements and St John’s Parochial Church Council.

New Year Revelation

I wonder how you saw in the New Year. When we lived in Germany I remember filling flasks of cups of hot chocolate and mulled wine, waking the children at 11.45pm and taking them to the top of a hill near Hameln to see the fireworks light up the town as they welcomed in the New Year. When I have stayed up to see in New Year with folk or even watched it on the television, the singing of Auld Lang Syne always brings a lump to my throat as we bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight and look forward to the new one.

HURST GREEN NEWS

EXPANSION AT GATWICK

You might wonder what the big debate about an airport for the South of England has to do with us. Well, if Gatwick is allowed to build a new runway and become bigger than Heathrow is today, it will mean a great deal. ‘Illustrative’ maps of the new flight paths to feed the new runway have just been published by the Airports Commission and show the new runway’s flightpath will include a route immediately over Hurst Green. Given the airport plan is for 300,000 more flights a year, that will result in planes continually flying right over our heads.

In November a standing-room-only meeting held in Crawley heard from communities facing this prospect across our region. We heard what a new runway at Gatwick will mean, beyond just the flight paths. More than 100,000 new employees will be needed. But in a region with relatively low unemployment that means the prospect of tens of thousands of new houses with all the associated infrastructure. It means a huge increase in commuters and passengers on the already over-capacity M25 and M23 and on the already full train lines.

This will all mean a huge increase in housing, disruption, pollution, noise and greenhouse gasses which will certainly affect us all in Hurst Green.

Several local MPs spoke against a

second runway at the meeting (not our own MP, although he did take the trouble to send an email), some of whom were promoting Heathrow as a better option. However, campaigners advised attendees not to promote Heathrow in this way, because if those communities facing the same prospect around Heathrow all push for Gatwick, they may win as there are a lot more of them. Mean time, Stanstead and Luton airports are still unable to fill their slots indicating that a new airport in either Gatwick or Heathrow Is, anyway, unnecessary.

If you think Gatwick is big enough and want to find out more, visit www.gacc.org.uk.

Matt Phillips

Perhaps this New Year we should not make Resolutions but desire Revelations. Margaret and Steven Cox, Hurst Green Evangelical Church

In Christianity it is commonly linked with the visit of the wise men to Jesus. Through the wise men Jesus, the promised messiah, saviour of the world was revealed to the world. It is also a time when we remember the baptism of Jesus by John when Jesus revealed himself as God’s own Son.

Moor House School & College Mill Lane, Hurst Green, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 9AQ

Open Morning for Prospective Parents Seeking Placement Thursday 15 January 2015 at 9.45am

Please come to Moor House School & College and see what we can offer your child

Call: 01883 712271 or Email: admissions@moorhouseschool.co.uk

!

HURST GREEN CHURCHES WELCOME YOU ST JOHN’S, CHURCH WAY 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Parish Eucharist Crèche and Children’s groups - all ages 12 noon Holy Communion, David Gresham House Other services: details in church porch Wednesday 12 noon Weekday Eucharist Vicar: Anna Eltringham, 712674, 14 Oast Road (Day off - Friday) Assistant Priest: Mary Seller - 715675, 11 Home Park Southwark Monica Fenton - 715769 Pastoral Auxiliaries: Pearl Hobson - 712366 METHODIST CHURCH, HURSTLANDS 10.30am Morning Worship and Junior Church 6.30pm Evening Service Minister: Karen Bell - 371346 (Day off - Friday)

EVANGELICAL CHURCH ON HURST GREEN 10.45am Family Worship Pastors: Steven and Margaret Cox - 717510 ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH OF OXTED & WARLINGHAM All Saints’ Church, Chichele Road, Oxted - 627762 St Ambrose Church, Warren Park, Warlingham - 622142 5.30pm Saturday First Mass of Sunday, All Saints’ Oxted 9am Sunday St Ambrose, Warlingham 11am Sunday All Saints’ Oxted OXTED UNITED REFORMED CHURCH The Church of the Peace of God 21 Bluehouse Lane, Oxted - 730406 10am Sunday Service includes story-time for children, Junior Church, and communion monthly Minister: David Skitt - 01342 837449

Please telephone any of these numbers for details of weekday worship and activities, to discuss baptism, marriage, or the arranging of a funeral, or if you want help in times of joy or sorrow.

Learning to Live

Who can say that they had a job they loved for 30 years? My work as a Nursery Teacher has always been based on my Christian Beliefs. We care; we share, and love one

another regardless of colour, creed or religion. What is very important is the relationship with the parents. When parents are happy you have happy children. A relationship based on respect and understanding of their worries will be appreciated.

The Nursery Practitioners begin work an hour before the children arrive. The classroom must be prepared for children to create a safe and secure environment which is exciting interesting and challenging, with achievable tasks for each child. Lesson planning is considered when choosing activities for the session. Children who require support are noted, and a practitioner is appointed to supply the support. The children will be given the skills that are required through life. Use of scissors, pencils, glue sticks, and paint brushes are a few of those skills that are taught.

The teacher will be a Keyworker to a group of children and will be the Nursery liaison with the family of each child. The Keyworker coordinates the child’s profile and report to parents, and may be the first point of contact if a child needs special support. An outside agency may be required to assist the child in an area of learning. So, with the permission of the parents, the teacher can provide the help required. The teacher needs to have knowledge of child protection, health and safety, food hygiene, policies. There are policies to work to and national standards to be met and of course the dreaded Ofsted inspection and all the paperwork that goes with it.

Yes, we do have fun with the children and there is a downside (dirty nappies and vomiting) but that look on a child’s face when a goal is achieved is so rewarding.

June Thompson, Panda Nursery

Can You Help LINK?

LINK is a local charity which provides a community service in the RH8 area. Although LINK has

over 150 volunteers, many are elderly and eventually have to retire. LINK is currently looking for new telephone volunteers and volunteer drivers to help those in need in the RH8 area.

The telephone volunteers man their home telephone from 9am to 5pm one weekday every 6 weeks and volunteer drivers take residents to hospitals, Oxted Health Centre, dentists, day centres, opticians and to collect prescriptions. They may claim expenses. LINK helps local doctors and nurses use their time more effectively, by reducing the number of home visits and by easing pressure on the ambulance and hospital car services.

If you can give some time to serve the local community by becoming a telephone volunteer, or a driver to the Health Centre or local hospitals, or if you need help yourself from LINK, please contact LINK between 9am and 5pm on weekdays on 713333.

Associated with LINK is the LINK Porter Trust, a charitable trust set up with a legacy in 1992. It helps people in RH8 who are facing short-term problems, and who are supported by a local organisation which knows about their circumstances. Grants are made of goods and services, not cash, to help people to get ‘back on track’. Long term debts are not normally considered. Brief details and contact name and number should be submitted by e-mail to the Trust’s Secretary, Judy Bunn: judy@ashdownview.co.uk.

Stuart Paterson

Hurst Green Gardening Club

At this time of year, the garden appears to be asleep. It is tempting to follow suit, dozing in front of a warm fire and ignoring all that is happening outside. Try to resist this temptation - or at least attempt occasional spurts of activity, as work put into the garden now will pay dividends in the summer. Now is the time to prune wisteria, rose bushes, apples and pears. Many other shrubs may also be tackled, if they flower later in the year on new wood (don’t try reducing spring flowering shrubs, which will lose their flowers if pruned now). If the weather is still warm and wet, any weeding carried out now will reduce the effort needed later in the year, although crawling on hands and knees in January does require real commitment, even from keen gardeners. If frosty and icy, however, keep off the lawn as the grass will be damaged!

Don’t forget indoor plants either - central heating will dry out pot plants very quickly, and many will benefit from misting with water, and a regular check to see if the compost is dry. It is also not too late to plan for colour by planting some bulbs in pots, to be brought inside to brighten up corners in early spring. The time to plant daffodils may be over, but you

may still be able to buy tulip bulbs, which can be potted up for the inside, or even planted outside if the soil is still warm and damp. We hold a Spring Flower Competition with entries for tulips as well as daffodils; why not come to one of our meetings and find out more. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month at St Agatha’s, and details will be on the parish boards around the village. Also try our blog: www.HGgardeningclub.blogspot.com.

We look forward to seeing you! Jeremy Ball

Dates for your Diary 2015

3 Jan Hurst Green Country Music Club Dance, 8-11.15pm Hurst Green Community Centre - first Saturday of every month. New members welcome: phone 714916 5 Jan Tandridge Club for the Visually Impaired, 2.45-4.15pm Methodist Hall, New Year Party and Present Exchange. Alan Hinton entertains. Contact: Carol Leach, 01883 382031 5 & 7 …and every Monday and Wednesday, Harry’s ACOL Rubber Bridge Club, Oxted Red Cross Centre, 1.15-4pm, 715900 or 713128 6 Jan Hurst Green Quilters Group, 10.30-12.30pm, 72 Chestnut Copse, Hilary Moore, 723207 8 Jan …and every Thursday, Oxted Country Market, 10-11.30am, Oxted Red Cross Centre From 9 Jan: The Oxted Players - Babes in the Wood, Barn Theatre, Oxted 13 Jan Carers’ Group, Community Room, Eastlands Close, Oxted, 10.30-12, B Harling 723034 13 Jan Oxted Parish Council, Oxted Community Hall, 7.35pm. Clerk: 07510 226989 14 Jan Oxted & Limpsfield Flower Society, 2pm, St Peter’s Hall, Limpsfield Demonstrator - Susan Shaw, ‘Chelsea Flower Show; competition - Abstract 14 Jan Hurst Green Gardening Club, St Agatha’s, 8pm: Talk by Jeremy Ball - The Canal Gardens of Amsterdam 20 Jan Hurst Green Quilters Group, 10.30-12.30pm, 72 Chestnut Copse, Hilary Moore, 723207 24 Jan Merry Opera - The Barber of Seville, Rossini, Barn Theatre, Oxted, 7.45pm 28 Jan Limpsfield Decorative & Fine Arts Society, St Peter’s Hall, Limpsfield 2.30 & 8pm - Recent Architectural Transformation of London. Visitors £5: hall@limpsfieldarts.org 3 Feb Hurst Green Quilters Group, 10.30-12.30pm, 72 Chestnut Copse, Hilary Moore, 723207

PAINS HILL CHAPEL, Part 1: The early years

Pains Hill Chapel arose in response to the huge social changes that befell the countryside from the end of the 18th century onwards. A population explosion combined with the enclosures of land to make bigger farms produced poverty and destitution in the countryside; our area with its thin soils was badly hit. The established church responded slowly to these changes; Nonconformist Churches flourished and filled the gaps in religious provision in a religious age.

The Surrey Mission Society had begun work in our area and appointed the Revd Dubourg in 1812. His area stretched from Bletchingley to the Kent border so his time for Oxted was limited. The Evangelical Magazine records that a ‘neat little chapel’ had been opened in 1811, which seems to be the Beadles Lane Chapel. Meanwhile another group at Pains Hill was holding religious meetings in the open air or in a farmhouse. The group grew to 90 people, so there was an urgent need for a new chapel. They bought a piece of land next to Limpsfield Common for £5, and opened a chapel seating 150 people in 1823 - the road running past it was reasonably named Chapel Road.

The building was the traditional style for Nonconformist Chapels, but the pews were constructed so that planks could be laid across them for teas on special occasions. It was lit by oil lamps, with candlesticks attached to the pulpit. There was a baptistry for full immersion baptism; this was filled with rainwater until mains water was provided in 1903. Fortunately there was a stove for heating and an open fire in the vestry with a chain and hook for boiling a kettle. The walls were painted green; verses of scripture hung on the walls were later replaced by painted texts.

As always the builders struggled with the budget; there were four blind windows to avoid the Window Tax of 1696 (abolished 1851), which left them exposed to the Brick Tax of 1784, (not repealed until 1850). A porch was added at an unknown date. On the south side of the chapel was a small stable where worshippers coming from a distance could stable their ponies.

I am grateful to Mr John Pascoe for providing information and for his kind gift of the booklet ‘Pains Hill Chapel, A Brief History’. Kath McCarthy

St Agatha’s Hall Booking Secretary

Marjorie Walker, 714492

OXTED ART GROUP

Spring Term begins on 5 January 2015 Varied programme: life drawing, lino cutting, still life and a workshop with a visiting artist

Display at Hurst Green Station - coming soon!

We meet at Hurst Green Methodist Church Hall, Mondays at 7.30pm.

Visitors and new members always welcome More details from Pauline: 01883 714724

email oxtedartgroup@yahoo.co.uk www.surreycommunity.info/oxtedartgroup

SUPER SWIMATHON

Titsey & District Rotary Club’s latest fundraising initiative is designed to give youngsters of all ages and abilities a chance to impress friends and relatives with their swimming prowess while raising funds for local charities. The Swimathon will be held during half term week commencing 16 February 2015.

The event is being hosted by Limpsfield Grange School and promises to be a lot of fun. The school’s pool offers a warm and secure environment and the Rotary Club have made sure that all necessary procedures are in place, with life safety and First Aid being provided by the Girl Guides. All funds raised by entrants will be distributed between these two organisations together with local Rotary Charities and a charity of the entrant’s choice.

For more information, an entry form and sponsorship form go to:

www.titsey.org.uk/swimathon

Hurst Green News can also be read on www.stjohnshurstgreen.org.uk

Children's Church For toddlers and children

who have just started school

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Anyone looking after your children is welcome to bring them.

Further information - 715769

PARISH REGISTERS

Funerals Our sympathy goes to all their relatives and friends: 8 December Avis Adams 9 December Gladys Bell 16 December Ilse Salter 19 December Anastasia Gibb

St John’s Book of Remembrance To have a name entered, phone 712845.

Monday, 26 January 3.30pm

St John’s Church

Tandridge Handicraft Society Every Monday at the Woodhouse

Centre, Hoskins Road car park, opp Tandridge Leisure Centre, Oxted

On 2 February 2015 at 2pm: talk by Anne Moore: ‘How Did I Get Here?’

Visitors welcome, £5 to include tea and biscuits. Further details:

www.tandridgehandicraftsociety.org.uk or Jenny Beal: 01883 620730

Oaks Martial Arts Taekwon-Do Classes

Hurst Green Community Centre Tuesdays. Ages 2½ to Adult

More information: 01732 759988 or office@oaksmartialarts.com

www.oaksmartialarts.com

APARTMENT - SLEEPS 2/3 Stunning views, near St John's church & station. Self contained, fully equipped, private balcony.

Weekend/mid week/weekly let. Ideal for visiting 712782 friends and family 07831 865530

BLAZE PAINTERS www.blaze-painters.co.uk

All decoration work, fully insured, free advice and quotations: blaze-ltd@btconnect.com

Ian Caswell: 716554 / 07854 983906

BOILER REPAIRS AND SERVICING All gas appliances repaired, serviced & installed Power flushing.Westerham Plumbing & Heating

Richard Day - Gas Safety Register 151580 Mobile: 07710 933153 712588

CAMERON BUILDING AND LANDSCAPING SERVICES LTD

All aspects of general building undertaken www.cameronservices.co.uk

Mobile 07855 894426 715856

www.CASTLE CONSTRUCTION.co.uk Building & Roofing Contractors (Est. 1978)

Extensions/Renovations/Property maintenance Mobile: 07886 033791 716384

CHIROPODIST HCPC REGISTERED Ingledale Therapy Centre

Julie Reynolds 07766 141179

CLEANING AND IRON MAIDENS Small, local, family run company

Call for a quote that will not disappoint! Lucy: 07539 829190

CLEARANCE & REMOVALS Garden, Garage & House Clearance

Collections/Deliveries/Complete Removals Paul 07850 970278 Office 713807

CRABWOOD Flats for independent senior citizens: affordable rents, bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom.

Central Oxted, gardens, resident manager. manager@crabwood.co.uk 07963 669452

CROZET ALARMS LTD Local company that installs, maintains, repairs, and services Burglar Alarms, CCTV and Door

Entry Systems. For a free survey and quotation: enquiries@crozet.co.uk or 723458

DAY'S GARAGE Car sales, MOT, Service & repairs, Bodywork 17 Hurst Green Road, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 9BS 01883 730058

DEWDNEY LANDSCAPING All landscaping/garden maintenance

Email: info@dewdneylandscaping.co.uk www.dewdneylandscaping.co.uk

Contact Robert Dewdney 01959 439818

DIAL-A-TUTOR Private tuition by qualified CRB checked

teachers. All ages, subjects, levels www.dialatutor.co.uk 712148

DOGS & MOGS PET SERVICES Dog walking, Pet Visits, Pet Taxi to vets

Pet care & advice - Pet care by the pawfessional 07788 951037

EXPERIENCED GLAZIER Windows, doors & conservatories

PVC, wood & aluminium Ring Brian Howard

Mobile 07810 145992 371044

FAIRALLS For all building materials

www.fairalls.co.uk 742256

FITNESS FOR ALL Exercise to Music, Aqua, 50+ & Chair based

Pilates Jacquie Beresford-Knox 714807

GardenING Services Regular maintenance to one-off clearance work.

Veg plots/ponds/rockeries a speciality. Friendly, reliable and tidy. References available. Simon M:07936 285032 H:01342 325176

STEPHEN GEAL Painter & Decorator

All interior & exterior decorating Fully insured

Mob. 07714403598 712727

GREENWELLS TREE SURGEONS/ GARDEN CARE: Tree Work (NPTC qualified) & Garden Maintenance: Hedges/Grass/Planting/ Tidy-Ups Jim: 07876 616006 /01883 343444

GUITAR TUITION No grades, no boring scales: play the songs

you like in a short space of time. 723311

H2O PLUMBING SERVICES General plumbing, bathroom installations, alterations, no job too small. Free quotes.

City & Guilds trained MI/RP Richard - Mobile 07876 450420 712523

STEVEN HAWKINS PLUMBING & HEATING LTD

Heating & plumbing services, bathroom installation, tiling, boiler changes, cylinder

replacements. City & Guilds Gas Safe registered Tel 01732 863183 Mob 07980 607491

HURST GREEN BUSY BEES PRE-SCHOOL AND FOREST SCHOOL

Early learning in a homely environment www.hurstgreenbusybees.com 722796

I.T. AIDE Computer services. Hardware & Software

Installation & troubleshooting. Virus removal. Wired/wireless networking. Tuition.

Mobile 07799 164993 714369

JACKSON-STOPS & STAFF National estate agents with local knowledge

www.jackson-stops.co.uk 712375

JEM HOME SERVICES General House & Garden Maintenance

Painting, Tiling, Carpentry, General DIY Pruning, Weeding, Hedge/Tree/Grass Cutting

Call Jon - Mobile 07906 029813 712905

ALEX JONES FUNERAL DIRECTORS Renowned Caring Service

Private Chapels of Rest Day & Night Attention. Monumental Masonry

A totally independent Family Concern Oxted 730383 or Lingfield 01342 832534

KAVBRO BUILD LTD Unit 100, Lambs Business Park

Tilburstow Hill, South Godstone, RH9 8LJ All Building Work Undertaken 722100

KINGSMEAD PHYSIOTHERAPY CLINIC www.kingsmeadphysio.co.uk

224 Pollards Oak Road Mrs Moses and Mrs Cave 712987

KNIGHTS GARDEN CENTRES Ivy Mill Betchworth Nags Hall www.knightsgardencentres.com 742275

PETER MAYNARD Seasoned LOGS delivered any size.

Hedges, Tree work, Grass mowed and strimmed. Fencing undertaken 717563

MGBuild Extensions, Loft Conversions, Kitchens… Big enough to cope, small enough to care

07553 264254 01732 865066 www.mgbuild.net

MR COMPUTING LTD

Local mobile computer repair and maintenance. No fix, No fee & No Call-out charge.

Virus; Internet; networks & new Dell pcs. Call Mark or Sue 730345

NICHOLLS BUILDERS LTD

Building & Roofing Contractors. General Building - Alterations - Home Extensions - Roof Repairs - New Roofs. Over 25 years experience Mobile 07850 850175 717062

OXTED DRAIN SERVICES

24 hour drainage service PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE

oxteddrainservice.com 712294

PAINTER & DECORATOR M. J. White-Howles. Over 25 years experience

Mobile 07771 632203 713251

PAINTER & DECORATOR Caroline Mee

NVQ Qualified, Fully Insured High Quality Finish

Mobile 07887 514915 717278

PAYNE & CO Independent estate agents - 11 Station Rd West 712261

PIANOS TUNED & REPAIRED Peter Franklin 716752

PLUMBING AND HEATING

Stott’s Plumbing and Heating. From tap washers to full installations. Gas safe registered.

Tim Stott Mobile 07748 614254 714707

RETIREMENT FLATS WITH SERVICES Sycamore Court, Hoskins Road, Oxted RH8 9JQ

24 hour staff, alarm call, domestic assistance, laundry and lunches if required

www.sycamorecourt.co.uk 723500

RH HEATING AND PLUMBING Highly recommended local family business offering installation, servicing and repairs

712714 or 07580 712714

SBS HEATING SERVICES Boiler Servicing/Installation/Repair Gas Safety Registration No 199283

Mobile 07801 427641 712268

SOLICITORS: HARROPS & HEPBURN Property, Family, Litigation, Wills, Probate,

Powers of Attorney, Employment www.harrops-hepburn.co.uk

12 Station Road West, Oxted 723712

STONEMANS FUNERAL SERVICE Family owned & run; private chapel;

prepaid funeral plans; home visits 740123

TOTAL DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS Drains • Treatment Plants • Septic Tanks

Trusted local family business. Free advice. No call-out charge. 24/7 Service

01883 714779 or 07899 006646

W. A. TRUELOVE & SON LTD Funeral Directors & Monumental Craftsmen

49 Station Road East, Oxted, RH8 0AX An Independent Family Firm since 1885

www.watltd.co.uk 732000 TO ADVERTISE, please ring 717473 or e-mail: rascals@rogerlugg.co.uk