Fishmongers Now Open at 39...Fishmongers Now Open at 39 Bridge Road, Hampton Court, East Molesey, KT8 9ER..... and a free local home delivery service is still available. Fishman Direct,

Fishmongers Now Open at 39 Bridge Road, Hampton Court, East Molesey, KT8 9ER...

... and a free local home delivery service is

still available. Fishman Direct, Alan the

Fishman from the village, has recently opened

a fishmongers in East Molesey. Opening

hours are Mon to Sat, 9am to 6pm with late

night opening on Thurs and early opening on

Sat. Alan hopes he can continue bringing a

selection of fresh seafood to Thames Ditton on

Saturday mornings. We wish you all a merry

Christmas and a happy New Year and we look

forward to your continued support.

Call 020 8127 0252 or01372 461 741Visit www.fishmandirect.co.uk

56363_ISFC.qxd:SPRING inside Cover 2005 30/11/09 10:36 Page 1

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WINTER 2009

The Magazine of the Thames Ditton and Weston GreenResidents’ Association

Published quarterly since Spring 1970

EditorKeith Evetts6 Church WalkThames Ditton KT7 0NW020 8398 [email protected]

Magazine DesignGuy Holman24 Angel Road,Thames Ditton020 8398 1770

DistributionGeorge Cammack19 Riversdale Road,Thames Ditton020 8398 8727

Advertisement ManagerVerity Park20 Portsmouth AvenueThames Ditton KT7 0RT020 8398 5926

ContributorsYou are welcome to submitarticles or images. Please contactthe Editor in advance. Next deadline 7 February.

AdvertisersThames Ditton Today isdelivered to an influential4000 households throughoutThames Ditton and Weston Green.Call for rates for full page, half andquarter page advertising.

In this Issue:News from the Residents’ Association ………………… 7

Fringes of Thames Ditton………………………………… 15

O Happy Days …………………………………………… 17

A Hundred Years of Guiding …………………………… 21

We See What We Want to See …………………………… 24

St. Nicholas’ Restoration ………………………………… 31

Embers Blaze into Life Again …………………………… 33

The New Charity in Thames Ditton……………………… 35

The Theatre in the Village ……………………………… 39

Winter Crossword ……………………………………… 41

Solution to Autumn Crossword ………………………… 43

Services, Groups, Clubs and Societies…………………… 44

By Hook or Crook ……………………………………… 46

Cover photo: Church Walk in the Winter – taken in lastFebruary’s snow - Editor.

www.residents-association.com

Officers and staff of the Association are volunteers, but we must fund costs of this magazine,administrative and election expenses, and other expenses such as spring bulb-planting and thevillage Christmas tree. The subscription is only £3 per household. If you can contribute more,please do so. Subscriptions (in an envelope please) may be left at Boots Chemist, 14 High Street,or Thorkill Road Pharmacy, 94 Thorkill Road, Thames Ditton. Or mail to Membership SecretaryPeter Haynes at 6 Onslow Gardens, Thames Ditton KT7 0JJ. Thank you.

56363.qxd:Thames Ditton SPRING 2005 30/11/09 12:07 Page 3

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the next residents’ association open meetings are

TUESDAY 9 FEBRUARY AND TUESDAY 16 MARCH (AGM), AT 8.00PM

AT THE VERA FLETCHER HALL, 4 EMBERCOURT ROAD, THAMES DITTON

ALL WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THAMES DITTON AND WESTON GREEN ARE WELCOME

Thames Ditton & Weston Green

Residents’ Association

About the Association

Founded in 1934 our Association is astrong, locally based non-party-politicalorganisation concerned with protecting theamenities and furthering the interests of theinhabitants of Thames Ditton and WestonGreen. We work to preserve and enhance thebest in our attractive environment and thequality of life of everyone in our community.

Through regular meetings, social activities,our magazine and website we keep in touchwith residents’ views and we raise and spendfunds for the benefit of the community, fromtree and bulb planting to contestingunacceptable development projects.

With five Residents’ Councillors we have astrong voice on Elmbridge Council workingwith other residents’ councillors to ensure thatdecisions are based on the needs of localcommunities and on good management ratherthan on party politics.

Our Residents’ County Councillor PeterHickman represents our views at SurreyCounty Council.

President: Ann Levick,8 Basing Close, Thames DittonVice-President: Edward Rowe,23 Portsmouth Avenue, Thames DittonVice-President: Maureen Sheldrick,34 The Woodlands, Esher

Thames Ditton Councillors

David Lowe,8 Embercourt Road, Thames Ditton 020 8398 4957

Ruth Lyon,11 Riversdale Road, Thames Ditton 020 8398 3396

Karen Randolph, Deepfield, Giggs Hill Road,Thames Ditton 020 8398 5005

Weston Green Councillors

Lorraine Sharp,168 Ember Lane, Esher 07970 874 925

Tannia Shipley, ‘Clinton House’27 Lower Green Road, Esher 020 8398 2484

Surrey County Councillor:

Peter Hickman, Little Lodge,Watts Road, Thames Ditton 020 8339 0931

Officers:

Chairman: Libby MacIntyre,24, High Street, Thames Ditton 020 8398 5534

Vice-Chairman: Martin Wilberforce,7 River Avenue, Thames Ditton 020 8398 4732

Hon. Treasurer: Bob Huxster,5 Station Rd, Thames Ditton 020 8398 3489

Hon. Secretary: Tricia Bland,29 Station Rd., Thames Ditton 020 8339 0485

Membership Secretary: Peter Haynes6 Onslow Gardens, Thames Ditton 020 8398 6019

Conveners of Sub-Committees:

Health and Community: Karen Randolph (see above for details)

Planning: Graham Cooke 23 Ashley Road, Thames Ditton 020 8398 8509

Highways, Drainage: Andrew Roberts1 Boyle Farm Road, Thames Ditton 020 8786 6882

5


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7

News From the Residents’ Association

18 September to 18 November

There are signs that the recession isbeginning to bite in Thames Ditton. Theoff-licence in the High Street has closedand the fate of the one in Thorkill Road isuncertain. Membership of Colets ismarkedly down. The contentious HighStreet buildings failed to sell at auction,and other offices remain unlet. Shops innearby towns report less footfall. Please,wherever you can, support the smallshops in these villages that save the placefrom being mere dormitories and offices.There are perfectly good Christmas giftsto be had here!

Dog Control OrdersElmbridge are considering legislation

to require dogs to be put on leads incertain areas of all Elmbridge’s publicly-owned green spaces; to exclude themfrom play areas and sports fields; torequire owners to clear up their dog’smess from these green areas; and toprevent anyone from walking more thanthree dogs at a time. It appears that thisfollows a handful of complaints aboutdogs from members of the public. Twosenior EBC officials, Ian Gayton andHamish White, generously gave up theirevening to explain the proposals at ourOpen Meeting of 17 November. It is goodthat EBC engage in consultation on theseissues: some eighty per cent of the 3000or more responses received so far fromthe public to their survey (ended 30November) are opposed to the proposed

control orders, and there was not one votefor the measures from some 65 livelyresidents attending our meeting. Apropos,we already have bye-laws against dog-fouling of our streets but they are not fullyenforced: although dog faeces on ourpavements exist, there has been not oneprosecution or fine for dog mess in thewhole of Elmbridge during the past fiveyears. The officials reassured thosepresent that the Council would be boundby the results of the public consultation,which they estimate to have cost some£5,000 and not, as stated at the meeting,5000 officer hours.

Save our SurreyCommunity Hospitals

The trail of misleading statements,broken promises and decisions taken

dogs may have to be kept on lead


8

behind closed doors by regional NHSauthorities since the early 1970scontinues, with Surrey Primary Care Trustcutting or closing beds at Cobham andMolesey without consultation, to go withcuts at community hospitals alreadyapparent in Thames Ditton andWeybridge. The PCT is moving towardstreatment in expensive major hospitalbeds then (often early) discharge topatients’ homes with no intermediate carein lower-cost community beds closer tohome, and no extra funding for nursing orother help in the home either. A group ofconcerned community representativesfrom Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge, andThames Ditton has been established tocampaign. Under the Chairmanship ofResidents’ Councillor Karen Randolph,Save Our Surrey Community Hospitals(SOS) will act as a focal point for thiscampaign to stop what appears to be asystematic closure of all communityhospitals in Surrey.

CountyResidents’ councillor Peter Hickman

reports that there is a strong likelihood ofbudget cuts of the order of 20% over thecoming year or two. Meanwhile recentaudits at Surrey County Council showedareas where the Council is failing to meetthe Audit Commission’s minimumrequirements. Debate on the Frater reportcontinues to be suppressed by theConservative leadership.

Surrey is proposing to withdraw the514 bus. This will seriously reduce theservice from Thames Ditton to Kingston.Please make your views known to SCC –there is an online survey onwww.surreycc.gov.uk

At long last Surrey are no longerprepared to defend the highwayscontract with Carillion and Ringway. Itexpires in 2010 and will be put out tofresh tender. Meanwhile please let ourHighways Convenor, Andrew Roberts,know of potholes in your roads – wefound that the county response was betterwhen during the summer we put somethirty cases to them at once, and keptpressure on.

Surrey have now adopted reciprocalexclusion measures against residentsoutside Surrey using Surrey’s recyclingcentres. Since 2008 Thames Dittonresidents have been excluded by KingstonBorough from using nearby Villiers Road.You now have to show suitable proof ofresidence to use the centre at CharltonLane at Shepperton (Leatherhead does notappear to be on the list of tips whereidentification is required).

Peter Hickman reports that SCCHighways Dept wish to reduce theamount of signage along our streets. Thismay be a welcome reorientation, but iscounting against a request he had relayedfor a roadside sign to the Catholic Church.

ParkingThe Thames Ditton parking con sultation

has recommenced with an initial tour of theroads by two officers of Surrey CountyCouncil with Peter Hickman and AndrewRoberts. The officers are also visitingunannounced at various times of day to seethe parking situation for themselves. Theyare looking first at measures to protectjunctions and roundabouts fromobstructive parking. They will then factorin some short term parking in the HighStreet and an element of curfew parking in


9

a few streets, particularly around therailway station. We have stressed the needfor a simple uncomplicated scheme that iseasy to enforce. The last attempt at ascheme was beset by intractablecomplications, and the more extensive thescheme the fewer parking spaces would beavailable overall, to an unacceptabledegree. There will be public consultation,both informal and then the required formalstage, before any implementation.

Meanwhile our Elmbridge Residents’councillors together with Andrew Robertsand representatives from the High Streetbusiness community have continued topress the case for more sensible pricing inAshley Road car park, meeting with theleader of the Council and the Executive

member for Highways and Transport. It istoo early to predict whether, pending theoutcome of Surrey’s parking consultation,the outcome will be the common-sensesolution or whether the Elmbridge cabinetwill remain inflexible.

PondYour Weston Green Councillors Lorraine

Sharp and Tannia Shipley argued strongly atthe EBC Countryside Committee fordefinitive action to restore Milbourne Pond.Officials have cut (but not removed)damaging bullrushes and will repuddle theclay lining over the next few days. Otheroptions are being explored for the future.

PlanningAlways a great deal of work for our

Planning Convenor Graham Cooke andfor our councillors, the following are themain developments:

There is a new planning application forthe Olde Harrow site. This appears to beof similar mass to the earlier applicationrejected by Elmbridge’s planners and by thePlanning Inspector on appeal, who said thatthe unsympathetic nature of the frontagebuildings would harm the visual amenitiesof the immediately adjacent Green Belt.Residents accept the case for residential useof this site which is now in a sorry state, butproposals should take proper account of itssituation and respect the locality in terms ofsize and design of buildings.

Permission to light another court at theEmber Sports Club was refused as theintrusion of light would adversely affectthe reasonable amenities of adjoiningresidents.

Lower Green Residents collected over3000 signatures on the petition to NetworkRail seeking to prevent Vodafone from

no place for shoppers


10

Evening classes at Esher College

Telephone 020 8335 2544 for more information or to book a place. All courses are on site at Weston Green Road, Thames Ditton, with ample free parking.

Courses starting in January include Apple Mac & iLife, Photoshop for the Apple Mac, dSLR, and Digital

Photography . Visit www.esher.ac.uk/Adult Learners for details

Courses for 2010 Writing for Children Wednesday 13 January for 10 Weeks 19.00 21.00 £100

Flower Arranging Wednesday 13 January for 10 Weeks 19.00 21.00 £100 Wedding Workshops Saturdays 24 April & 15 May 09.30 15.30 £35 per session

Card Making Tuesday 12 January for 10 weeks 19.00 21.00 £115

Need to shape-up then try Dance & Tone Wednesday 6 January for 10 weeks 18.00 19.00 £40

Languages Survival courses in French, Italian and Spanish starting in April 2010

Computer courses We offer a range of IT courses on 2 levels including Word 2007, Excel 2007, Powerpoint and

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11

erecting a phone mast next to the paththat runs from Lower Green Road to Esherrailway station. There is an alternative siteon the roof of the grandstand at SandownPark that would be acceptable to residents(and to Sandown) if Vodafone can bepersuaded to opt for it.

Street cleaningThis is getting much better following

representations by Residents’ Cllr. DavidLowe. Despite the problems of Autumnand wet leaves, the Elmbridge streetcleaning team now manually sweep underparked cars.

Crime Burglaries are up over last year. Better

security measures at the former Home ofCompassion and increased coordinationbetween the security company and ourresponsive neighbourhood police seem tohave been effective in deterring intrudersand vandals.

In mid-October, Adrian McCrae ofHarvest Lane, described as a“professional thug” who was caught at theend of last year by Southampton police(on bicycles!) with a sawn-off shotgunand a pot of sulphuric acid apparentlyacting as a drugs enforcer, was sentencedto 10 years imprisonment bySouthampton Crown Court. A securityvan outside HSBC’s branch bank atWinter’s Bridge was robbed by two youngmen on foot at lunchtime on Friday 23October. A 17 year old from London waslater arrested and charged. At 13.35 on 3November police, acting promptly androbustly, arrived in Thames Ditton HighStreet to execute a warrant underDangerous Dogs legislation and enter theflat above 31 High Street whence they

removed two Rottweilers, leaving fourpuppies there. This followed reports ofaggression by the dogs, said to have bittenat least two residents.

On the afternoon of 30 October a whitemale flasher age 25-27, height 5’6”approx, medium build, mousey hair ofaverage length, smartly dressed, navyblue overcoat was spotted lurking inbushes in the Dell close to the slope thatleads up to Ash Path. Police were calledbut the man had left when they arrivedpromptly. He was seen again flashing atthe same place a few days later, in themorning. Call 999 straight away if yousee another instance.

DoingsWe have a new lollipop person at the

school crossing by Thames Ditton railwaystation. Andrew James, who lives in thevillage, started his duties on 3 Novemberand was acclaimed with universalpleasure by parents of young children atthe Infants’ and Junior Schools.

The Autumn Good-As-New sale atEsher College attracted over 400 people


and raised more than £3,500 for CancerResearch. Well done Alison Derrick, PatFarmiloe and team.

On Remembrance Sunday LorraineSharp and Tannia Shipley laid wreaths at thewar memorial in Weston Green on behalf ofthe Association and the Council respectively,and Martin Wilberforce and Ruth Lyon didlikewise at the memorial on Giggs HillGreen where several hundred gathered forthe occasion organised by Dittons Scouts.

On Sunday 27 September ourAssociation celebrated 75 years since itsfounding, with a garden party for 120volunteers, officers, and councillors pastand present admirably hosted by HonSecTricia Bland. We were delighted to see pastChairmen including Brian Moore whotrekked up from Dorset for the occasion,with Audrey; and the sun shone on abeautiful day.

Seiko Ashida Wakefield, who has beenteaching the Kumon approach toMathematics (and Japanese) to children

from three years of age upwards, is retiringafter 26 years. During the past nine, classeshave been held at St. Nicholas’ ChurchHall. An article on her appeared in TDToday of Autumn 1993. Seiko has notmanaged to find anyone to take over herpupils in April next year: if you areinterested, please call her on 01372 465381.

DatesVillage Christmas Fair – Wednesday 9th

December 6.pm onwards. The High Streetwill be closed to traffic. The Residents’Association will again provide a Christmastree in the High Street.

Residents’ Christmas party – Saturday12th December at the Vera Fletcher Hall –tickets £29 from Lorraine Sharp on 07970874 925.

Ember Centre members’ Christmaslunch – 17 December. With singer andkeyboard artiste Victor Hook and the EmberCentre dance team.

During the Autumn there was a stiramong residents when Elmbridge removedthe litter bins along Albany Reach. Theyexplained that this was a trial: the idea beingthat if there were no bins, people would taketheir litter away. The bins were reinstated atthe Association’s request. On 9 Februaryour next Open Meeting will consider theissue and possible further trials. Elmbridgeofficials Ian Gayton and Jenny James ofLeisure and Cultural services will explainthe thinking and invite discussion andfeedback on this beautiful stretch of bank.

It remains to wish you all a MerryChristmas and a recession-proof 2010. Andto commend to you the Christmas panto –see overleaf. Keep an eye on our website forcurrent news and events.www.residents-association.com

12

Isabella, one of our younger membersat the 75th anniversary party


The Friends of Thames DittonHospital are putting on Charles CourtOpera’s Christmas Pantomime “DickWhittington” on Saturday 16th January atthe Vera Fletcher Hall in aid of theThames Ditton Hospital Appeal. Youngprofessional singers, with guest artistSimon Masterton-Smith from English

National Opera and D’Oyly Carte asAlderman Fitzwarren, scour the streets ofOlde London town in search of gold (fatchance) in a terrifically funny productionwith toe tapping routines and musicaltreats from pop to opera. Ticketsincluding a 3 course dinner are £32 fromKaren Randolph on 020 8398 5005.

13


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Fringes of Thames Ditton

It’s a long time since student dayswhen I did the Christmas Post paired withElgar’s lovely great-grandniece. She wentoff to a different university, alas; but thatfaint bell is rung whenever our statelycomposer is in the news. And so he was inearly November, when a new recording of‘The Fringes of the Fleet’ was ClassicFM’s CD of the week and merited a spoton BBC 4’s Today programme. I wouldn’tbe troubling you with this but for the factthat the recording company is seated righthere in Thames Ditton, and, as one hascome to expect in this village, top qualityit is too. SOMM Recordings (Siva OkeMusic Management) is its name,Riversdale Road its headquarters.

Siva Oke, born in Cyprus of a Greekfather keen on mythology, trained as apianist at London’s Royal Academy whereshe received her performer’s diploma, thenstudied with the famous British pianistCyril Smith. But the life of a performer onthe road had less appeal than hearth andhome. She settled in Thames Ditton in1977, marrying Keith Oke – a goodDevonian name – where, in addition tobringing up children while Siva taughtpiano and worked for recording companyUnicorn, they founded SOMM in 1995.Keith handles the administration whileSiva puts her musical flair to theimmensely enjoyable and satisfying taskof selecting and recording a classicalrepertoire of scholarship and distinction.“Living and working together requires a

sense of humour that fortunately we bothhave!” – says Siva, while her husbandchuckles darkly in the background.

Managing a recording company thatcompetes with the majors requires a finesense of what the latter have missed,which will have appeal. SOMM has beenvery successful in identifying goodoriginal material and artists of talent and

15

the 1917 performance


finesse to perform it, recording itsympathetically and with meticulousquality. Consequently, SOMM’s outputmeets with huzzahs from a seriousmusical establishment that can be highlydemanding. Only last year, a recording ofVaughan Williams’s Fifth Symphonyconducted by the composer at the RoyalAlbert Hall back in 1952, tracked downand remastered by SOMM, won theHistoric Archive Award of Classic FM.There have been other fine recordings,including some of Weston Green’sinternational tenor Justin Lavender (TDTSummer 2007).

Elgar’s forgotten ‘Fringes of the Fleet’was based on short verses by RudyardKipling published in the newspapers inlate 1915, when the Royal Navy’spopularity was ebbing in the absence ofthe expected battle between our expensiveDreadnoughts and the German Fleet.Kipling underlined the contribution of thepeople’s navy – the less glamorous navalauxiliaries: submarines, minesweepers,and fishing boats conscripted as coastaldefence vessels. The Admiralty in theshape of Adm. Charles Beresford (famedfor a vast fox-hunting tattoo on his back)asked Elgar to set Kipling’s verses tomusic, and in 1917 the first publicperformances in the wartime music hallswere an instant popular success. Elgarhimself conducted the work at theColiseum, and it went on tour.

But in November that year, Kiplingasked that the performances be stopped. Itis supposed that Kipling, made tender byhis son John’s death at Loos, was irked athis poems being used for popular warentertainment. Elgar was reportedlyfurious – but the work was performed

no more, and languished for ninety yearsuntil conductor Tom Higgins, a Surbitonresident, together with Siva, took aninterest. Higgins prepared a newperforming edition, basing it onmanuscript copies and on Elgar’s ownrecordings of 1917. Among music thatElgar wrote to popularise the war effort,Higgins considers ‘The Fringes of theFleet’ to be his best work, albeit of agenre rare for him.

Now, it has to be said that Kipling’sverses are not his best; nor is the Elgar,though mature and instantly recognisable,at the composer’s sublimest heights. Itwas for music hall, after all. But Kiplingwrites that ‘The game is more than theplayer of the game And the ship is morethan the crew’ and so it is here.Moreover, the recording, with Higginsconducting the Guildford Philharmonic, isimpeccable as we expect from SOMM,Roderick Williams’ baritone is very fineindeed, and on the CD there is anengaging miscellany of other periodpieces too. Among which, a beautiful,restrained rendition of Elgar’s infinitelysweet and poignant Elegy for Strings willbring a tear to the eye of the mosthardened. You have a very worthwhilerecording to fill an interesting and uniquehole in your Elgar collection, a good storyto go with it, and another peek behind theunassuming front doors of ThamesDitton’s villas where so much qualityresides.

Keith Evetts

See: somm-recordings.comFringes of the Fleet is available from

Amazon

16


Some years not much happens. TheBryan Adams’ song ‘Summer of 69’ wasactually released in 1984, a year that hadbecome famous long before as the title ofa novel by George Orwell. But cananyone recall any major events in 1984?Compare that with 1969. Led Zeppelinreleased their first album and the Beatlesplayed their last concert. The firstConcorde took to the air. British troopsarrived in Northern Ireland at the start of‘the troubles’. Robin Knox-Johnston wasthe first person to sail round the worldsolo and non-stop. Richard Nixon becamethe 37th US President, De Gaulle resignedand retired to the countryside whileEdward Kennedy took a wrong turn off abridge at Chappaquiddick. TheWoodstock Festival took place at a farmin upstate New York.

Need I go on? Oh yes – a couple morethings. In June 1969 I sat my ‘O’ levels ina muggy school hall in Thames Dittonand while I was waiting for the results, aman stood on the Moon for the first time.The school hall in Weston Green Road isnow part of Esher College but then it waspart of Surbiton County Grammar Schoolfor Boys. Why was a school with Surbitonin the title in Thames Ditton? The answerlies in boundary changes that occurred inthe early 1960’s whereby Surbitonbecame part of Kingston, a LondonBorough, while the Surbiton Grammarwas a Surrey school. Until 1965 itoccupied the premises where Hollyfield

School is now, on the corner of St Mark’sHill and Surbiton Hill Road.

The premises to which the schoolrelocated were newly built. Whilst EsherCollege has expanded considerably sincethe first buildings, anyone who knew theGrammar School would still be quitefamiliar with much of the layout. Whenmy daughter Jenny attended EsherCollege in the late 1990’s, I discoveredthat a number of the teachers who hadtaught me, were still there. But teaching

17

O Happy DaysGraham Cooke runs up the flagfor Surbiton Grammar

1969 – this could have been Graham; if heʼdbeen born earlier, and in the USA; instead he

was waiting for his O level results.


18

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methods have changed a little. Corporalpunishment was quite common andalthough I narrowly avoided being canedon a number of occasions, being‘slippered’ was a fairly frequentoccurrence. Until the sixth form, leavingthe premises during the day was strictlyagainst the rules. However quite a few ofus felt the need and in free periods ourusual haunt was ‘The Ferry Tea Rooms’, acafé in Summer Road run by Aggie andSis and known to us as ‘the Spoon,’ wherethe Alpona is now. Frequented by workersfrom Rola Celestion opposite, a bacon rollwas 9d, that’s under 4p in today’s money.Burger and chips 1s 6d, that’s 7.5p; notbad eh?

If there wasn’t time for a trip to ‘TheSpoon’, then the Dell was a popular spot.I like to think that we were a tidy bunchand never left our empty cigarettepackets behind. Getting around thevillage required good local knowledgeof footpaths and byways, to avoidrunning into a member of staff. Oneplace to avoid in the fifth form was theOlde Harrow pub, this being the hauntof the sixth formers including theprefects. By schoolboy convention, onlythe sixth form could use the Harrow. Ifanyone suggests that under age drinkingis a new phenomenon they are talkingthrough their hat! On one occasion, anumber of masters from the schoolraided the pub and a few of us had toescape through a back window. So sad tosee the old haunt boarded up anddecrepit.

In the late 1970s the School converteditself into the present college, went co-educational and briefly styled itselfEsher Grammar. The crest and motto ofSurbiton Grammar lives on as CobhamRugby Club’s which was formerlyknown as ‘Old Surbitonians’ and carrieson its great rugby tradition. The oldschool badge features the ‘Lion of StMark’, presumably an association withSt Mark’s Church close to the originalschool location in Surbiton. Thetranslation of the motto ‘Animo et fidepergite’ is, I think, ‘With Courage andFaith Persist’ but I’m quite prepared tobe corrected, as whatever the school didachieve, it never managed to teach memuch Latin!

Graham CookeGraham is paying his debt to society as

Residents ̓Association Planning Convenor.fond memories of a youth well spent


20

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In 1909 a group of girls gate-crashed thefirst Scout Rally at Crystal Palace – if boyscould have an organisation then girlswanted one, too. With some reluctanceRobert Baden-Powell let them tag on to theend of the parade. A year later, however, heformed the Girl Guides under his sisterAgnes to give girls a ‘Voice in Society.’Angry critics denounced ‘girl scouting’ asa ‘mischievous new development’, a‘foolish and pernicious movement’ and an‘idiotic sport’. This was a time when girlswere not expected to run, jump, shout, oreven lift their arms over their heads, stillless to camp and hike. They do all of thatnow – And Much More!!

But as young men went off to fightduring the First World War, skills that hadbeen considered ‘unseemly’ and ‘boyish’by those who were ‘anti-Guides’ becamevery useful to the nation, earning respectfor women. The girls worked in hospitalsand nursing institutions, and on farms,they made clothes and helped the wareffort in any way that they could, e.g.collecting horse chestnuts for munitionsfactories, for they could be used to makeacetone for the manufacture of cordite. Inthe Second World War, The GuideInternational Service (GIS) was formedand from 1944 some of the older Rangersand Guiders worked in refugee camps. In1945 a team were among the first to enterBelsen concentration camp. They helpedin the camp clinic and children’s hospital– their work in Germany continued until

1952. There are stories of Guide andBrownie companies being set up inwartime prison camps in China and Japan– in appalling conditions, Guiding gavethe girls a focus and a way to cope withtheir everyday existence. In Britain, theRAF needed 15,000 cotton reels for asecret job – they asked the Guides to help,and within a week they had 42,000 reels!

Guides still work towards gaining newskills and acquiring badges, and havecome a long way since those pre-1920badges which included Electrician,Farmer, Air Mechanic, Rifle Shot,Cobbler, and Poultry Farmer. Now Guideshave ‘Go For Its’ – and they choose whatto do – there is something for everyone,whether it be Chocolate or HealthyEating, Party Planning or OutdoorPursuits such as abseiling, sailing, orskiing, World Issues or Science.

Baden Powell’s vision was to bringyoungsters together regardless of class,race or background. The need to includeand adapt was evident at the beginning.The first ‘inclusive’ group was formed atQueen Mary’s Hospital – it was sopopular that it grew to be five Guidescompanies, six Brownie packs and aRanger company. In 1910, a period whenthose with disabilities were generallyshunned by society, a Guide group wasformed for children with hearing andspeech problems, followed a few yearslater by a group for blind children and agroup for children with other disabilities.

21

A Hundred Years of Guiding


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In Surrey now there is Woodlarkscampsite – 12 acres – which providesaccessible camping for people with allkinds of disabilities, and there a‘Disability Awareness Challenge Badge’ –for Brownies and Guides to imagine lifefrom a different perspective.

Guiding has always been involved withNational projects e.g. the ‘Keep BritainTidy’ campaign of 1981, and withenvironmental issues such as recycling. Inwar years it was ‘Make do and mend’;collecting herbs for hospitals, milk bottletops, jam jars and aluminium cans. Now‘re-cycling’ is something we are allencouraged to do. The latest challenge hasbeen the ‘Changing the World’ projects.Girls have chosen which projects tosupport and in what way, whether it beraising funds for Railway Children (acharity to help runaway children),National Deaf Children’s Society,Woodland Trust, Help the Hospices,UNICEF or WWF.

Guiding reaches out beyond our owncountry and there are trips overseas tomeet guides from other countries andcultures. Some Guides have worked withchildren in South Africa orphaned byAIDS, or Street Children in SouthAmerica, and for younger Guides, theirfirst international experience may be ajamboree.

Very much thriving, in 2009GirlGuiding UK is the largest YouthOrganisation in the UK, and, with 10million members in 145 countries, thebiggest organisation for girls and youngwomen in the world. The CentenaryCelebrations in Surrey started at ImberCourt where over 3000 Rainbows,Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Leaders and

Trefoil Members gathered. There will becentenary events all over England until 20October 2010. Famous Guides mayparticipate: H.M. The Queen, LesleyGarrett, Sally Gunnell, Dame KellyHolmes, Natasha Kaplinsky, AngelaRippon, J K Rowling, Jayne Torvill andCarol Vorderman.

Baden-Powell handed the GuideMovement to his determined wife Olavewho dedicated her working life to it. Afterhe died, Lady Baden-Powell lived bygrace-and-favour in apartment 18 atHampton Court Palace from 1942 to1974. It was known as ‘Hampers Hotel’because of the number of visitors andguests – especially members of theGuiding and Scouting movements whovisited the palace in uniform, and wereinvited to tea. She also visited ThamesDitton Guides in our Guide Hut onChurch Walk.

Brownies, Guides and Rainbows inThames Ditton have raised funds towards anew eye hospital in Ghana and for theShooting Star Hospice, they have donesponsored walks and swims, picked uplitter in the village and green spaces, soldcakes and organised tombolas, taken part inlocal fairs and fun runs. Over the last threeyears most of their fund-raising efforts havebeen directed at refurbishing the Hut, andwhen that is ‘sorted’, the girls will be ableto raise funds for other projects. A sense ofadventure and determination prevails. Theycamp here and internationally. Oh – andthey have a lot of fun as girls together! ACentenary, yes; but Guides are far from ahundred years old…

Lesley EvettsLesley, a keen Guider, is part of the

Memories team at Hampton Court Palace.

23


We See What We Want To See

It would be jolly useful to have aresident magician in the village. And, fora while, there was one. Then – hedisappeared.

The delightfully named JasperMaskelyne (b. 1902) was of the thirdgeneration of a family of magicians. Afterstarting in the provinces, his grandfatherJohn Nevil Maskelyne, with friendGeorge Cooke, established their‘entertainment of pure trickery’ inPiccadilly in 1873. When Cooke died in1905 John Maskelyne partnered DavidDevant, now said by the Magic Circle –

of which the pair were founders – to bethe greatest of all magicians. The famedand immensely popular ‘Maskelyne andDevant’s Mysteries’ lasted at St. George’sHall in London until 1915. This ingeniousMaskelyne also patented the coin-operated lock for public lavatories,magical in its own way in time of need,from which the phrase ‘to spend a penny’derives. On his death the show was takenon by his magician son Nevil, who in turnbecame the first editor of ‘The MagicCircular’ and eventually President of theMagic Circle, and, with his own sons

24

Jasper does it again


Clive, Noel, and Jasper, kept the familyentertainment going in London.

When Nevil died in 1924 Jasper’s elderbrother Clive became managing directorof Maskelyne’s as well as President of theMagic Circle. A history of the Circle,however, notes that theatre was notClive’s forté and in 1926 his brothersforced him to resign: he died two yearslater. Young, tall, debonair and handsomeJasper, although not a full member of theCircle until 1938, seems to have beenmore successful as a stage magician andwas included in the Royal VarietyPerformance in May 1932 at the LondonPalladium.

In the mid 1930s Jasper quitMaskelyne’s after a family argument andembarked upon a solo career. After initialacclaim his touring show ran out of steamand he appears to have got into financialdifficulties. As part of the solution, helooked around for a convenient cottagewithin easy reach of London. ThamesDitton, with its tradition of homes forpopular entertainers, was ideal. In 1936,with his wife and two children he rentedLittle Lodge in Watts Road and became aresident: but I cannot confirm that hejoined our Association.

With the outbreak of war Jasper tried toget a commission that would make use ofhis rare skills as a magician. Initially themilitary were sceptical and he was notsuccessful. However, in 1940 hesucceeded in getting an interview withChurchill’s scientific adviser through afamily friend, Hendley Lenton, of ‘ShowBoat’ at the Green in nearby HamptonCourt. Call-up to the Royal Engineers’Camouflage Section ensued, whichsomewhat ironically has led to more

fame, if of questionable foundation, thanhis previous eminence on the stage! Hiswife and children were packed off to livein the Antipodes while Jasper, after atraining course at Farnham, was posted toEgypt. Here, Capt. Maskelyne’s task wasto head the Camouflage ExperimentalSection under the overall command of theHead of Camouflage, Middle East,Geoffrey Barkas. In a wonderful exampleof British creative amateurism, a motleycollection of painters, sculptors,cartoonists, and film people (Barkas hadbeen a film producer between the wars)was set to reinvent the arts ofconcealment and deception deployed bythe military since Troy. Barkas was amember of the Residents’ Association, bythe way – and a stalwart one too: heplayed a significant role in defeating the1966 Joviel Plan to demolish half ofThames Ditton’s High Street and replaceit with a boxy brick shopping precinct. Nowands were used in that campaign.

Our secret weapon was blown to theGermans by the Daily Mail of 13 April1941: “A famous illusionist, member ofthe world’s best-known family ofillusionists, has been sent to Egypt – tohelp make the British Army disappear.”But the enemy was far from overawed byhis pedigree. With field grey humour,their next publications scoffed at thisnews, quipping that “the German armytopped it all last year by making theBritish army disappear from Europe.”

Now, Maskelyne’s post-war famestems from his authorship of a book underthe irresistibly appealing title “Magic –Top Secret,” which he published in 1949.In it he compares himself, as a fightingwizard, with Moses parting the waves and

25


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Joshua making the sun and moon standstill. He goes on colourfully to conveyhow ‘Maskelyne magic’ deluded enemybombers of Alexandria and the Suez canalon a vast scale, and enabled many otherwonders to be performed by way ofillusion. There is a duel with a leadingDervish to gain political advantage toenable a retreat, and a string ofastonishing if Pythonesque concealingdevices for special operations, escape andevasion. Jasper was always keen on hisillusionist’s workshop (he had one in theback garden of Little Lodge). The wholeis salted with endearingly gauchepersonal observations. A few pages afterMaskelyne writes that it is a pity childrengrow into “snobbish, race-consciousthings” we read that “Wops are born liars”and just after, that “Native evidence is sounreliable” with “hundreds of Wogs ready

and willing” to say whatever one expected(Wops being a derogatory term forItalians, and Wogs for natives of aswarthy complexion).

His story was subsequently muchromanced by David Fisher, an Americanauthor, in a further book on our ‘WarMagician,’ and in 2002, Channel 4broadcast a TV programme on JasperMaskelyne. A film was mooted. Butmeanwhile an Australian military historian,also a magician, has been painstakinglyresearching our man with help fromsurviving Maskelynes. In his publishedarticles, Richard Stokes convincinglydebunks the greater part of Maskelyne’sclaims and plausibly argues, with evidence,that the war wizard’s book was ‘creatively’ghost-written with the main aim of earningpost-war cash in somewhat strappedcircumstances. On reading Maskelyne and

27

hey presto! painted canvas tanks flummoxed Rommel


28

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Fisher, one’s incredulity bubbles over; butStokes’ systematic deflation is so deadlyand contemptuous that some sympathy forMaskelyne is restored.

Where does the truth lie? For this reader,Maskelyne was just one of several talentedmen who brought their ingenuity andspecialisms to camouflage and illusionunder team-builder and organiser, Barkas.No doubt it was harder for a stagemagician’s ego to be submerged in a teamthat, once Maskelyne’s wilder claims arediscounted, did a thoroughly good job ofcamouflage – particularly at the battle of ElAlamein, where my own father led a tankunit in the 7th Armoured Division. In theimmediate aftermath of that victory,Churchill told Parliament: “By a marvelloussystem of camouflage, complete tacticalsurprise was achieved in the desert. Theenemy suspected – indeed knew – that anattack was coming, but when and where andhow it was coming was hidden from him.”

Maskelyne’s showmanship was alsoused by the military both for educationalpurposes – teaching officers and the rankshow best to use their camouflage kit – andof course for forces’ welfare in the formof magic shows. But our man preferrednot to emphasise these aspects of hiswartime exploits.

After the war, Maskelyne tried toresuscitate his touring show but with patchysuccess. It became seedier; his wife diedand he remarried to the displeasure of hischildren; he reportedly accumulated largetax bills and sought solace in drink. Notlong after his book issued, he emigrated toKenya where, after some association withthe police and the national theatre inNairobi, he died in 1973. In 2002 – the yearof the Channel 4 broadcast – the Guardian

of June 28 said: “Maskelyne received noofficial recognition. For a vain man thiswas intolerable and he died an embittereddrunk. It gives his story a poignancywithout which it would be mere chest-beating.“ The Magic Circle’s Magician ofthe Year award, first presented in 1970, isnow called ‘the Maskelyne’ in honour ofthis amazing family of magicians.

Jasper Maskelyne wrote of the art ofmagic that it hinged upon engaging theaudience’s perceptions thus to manipulatethem. We see what we expect to see, whatwe want to see. His greatest illusion mayhave been to induce so many, not least theentertainment people who came after, tobelieve his version of wartime events.

But then, aren’t all our lives anillusion? At any rate, yours…

Keith Evetts Footnote: this subject arose from an old issueof Thames Ditton Today in which PeterHickman, current owner of Litt le Lodge,mentioned Maskelyne as a former occupant.While researching, I found that MaskelyneʼsCommanding Officer and ResidentsʼAssociation stalwart Colonel Geoffrey Barkasspent his later years in the very apartment atDitton Close where Margaret Briggs lives today.She edited this magazine for eight years. Now93, she remembers being taken to a Maskelyneshow as a young girl: “Rather good!” And, astimeʼs carousel swings around once more, itturns out that one of her talented sons under hisnom-de-plume is contemplating a film on…Jasper Maskelyne.Sources include: Magic – Top Secret: Jasper Maskelyne. 1949The Camouflage Story: Geoffrey and NatalieBarkas 1952The War Magician: David Fisher 1983 Circle Without End: Edwin Dawes, MichaelBailey 2005Articles 1993-95 in Geniis Magic and atwww.maskelynemagic.com : Richard StokesOxford Dictionary of National BiographyBBC War Memories project

29


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We are very grateful for all the supportand encouragement so far received for ourRestoration Appeal. It is touching andencouraging to see how much StNicholas’ means to so many people. Thereis still a long way to go but we havestarted well, with over £45,000 indonations and the promise of a generousgrant of up to £25,000 from SITA Trust,which provides funding through theLandfill Communities Fund. Funding isavailable for community and environmental groups to carry out a rangeof improvement projects. Items within thescheme can be sponsored by individualsor organisations. Details are availablefrom the parish office

This generosity has enabled us nearlyto complete the first phase of restoration –do visit the church to view the newlighting. We now move to the nextpriorities: replacement of our unreliableheating boiler, and renewal of ourelectronic organ. Beyond that comes thechurchyard, where for aesthetic andsecurity reasons we wish to open up theview of the church, obscured mostly byfast-growing yews planted in moderntimes, and to improve footpaths andlighting. We shall preserve slow–growingancient yews and conserve historicmonuments within the churchyard, someof which are listed in their own right. Wealso want to remodel the area around thechurch porch to make it more accessibleand more welcoming.

How fast we can proceed depends onour fund-raising and the necessaryplanning procedures. Further fund-raisingactivities include a carol sing-along at4.30 pm on 12 December, and a fashionshow after Easter. Meanwhile a generousanonymous donor has offered to matchother individual donations to the appeal,up to a certain limit. To take advantage ofthis, we need to raise a further £2,000-£3,000 in donations. If you would likeyour gift to be doubled by matching,please mark your gift “Match Funding”,and return it to the Parish Office as soonas possible. You can still Gift Aid yourdonation as well, so that we may reclaimtax.

John Silk, Vicar

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St. Nicholas’ Restoration Appeal

the new lights – photo by Derek Potts


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Modern technology has arrived at theEmber Centre. The donated laptops haveentered active service and the first trancheof members are taking their first tentativesteps to send emails, surf the web, storeand edit their photos and explore thewonders of on-line auctions at eBay. Theinternet is a terrific resource for theelderly and less mobile – once they arehelped to learn how to use a computer.

Trainees work at their own pace andeach Monday morning have a half hourpersonal session in the quiet upstairs roomwith a designated trainer (led by KathyGregory) in a programme which has beenindividually tailored to them. For eachstudent there is time to take stock of whatthey have just learned and to “takebreath” before involving themselves inslightly less arduous brain exerciseselsewhere within the Ember Centre.

This approach is particularly suited tomany senior citizens, who are more thancapable of absorbing the principles of on-line information and mail but feel thatmodern technology is all of the TVrecorder “leave it to the grandchildren”complexity and requires an acute level ofmanual dexterity! Yet those who havealready taken the plunge are rapidlyrealising that once mouse buttons havebeen mastered and keyboards understood,all the other learning steps are quitestraightforward and make sense. Kathyand her colleagues must be congratulatedon hiding much of the underlying

complexity and making the system easy tolearn.

Thus far the training has concentratedon browsing the Web and email. All ofthose who have plucked up courage havebeen assigned email addresses so they arealready able to communicateelectronically with their wider circle offamily and friends. In the next few weeksas trainees become more familiar andconfident with their newly learned skills,some laptops will be located in the mainhall so Ember Centre members canbrowse the web, and email, wheneverthey feel so inclined.

The initial generous funding camefrom the Friends of the Vera FletcherHall, the Residents’ Association and aTDGWRA officer who prefers anonymity.But I’m glad to say that after abandoningtheir misguided plan to close the EmberCentre, Elmbridge Council decided that

33

Embers Blaze Into Life Again

Maddy gets to grips


they would make a contribution at theCentre along the lines of other day centresin the borough. So Elmbridge has fundedthe first four laptops, a printer and thetraining staff while the broadband andWiFi facilities have come from the VeraFletcher Hall Association.

That has freed funds to pay for morelaptops as usage grows. And HelenHewitt, the Ember Centre Manager, withJoy Woodhead for the Friends of theCentre are considering some otherintriguing technology training plans. Oneof which – with the assistance of studentsfrom Esher College – will cover thewonders of mobile phones, texting andbecoming a bit more familiar with themyriad features of modern phones…

who’s got two left thumbs then?! Thefunding overall will also contribute to thearts and crafts and other lessons wherephysical co-ordination and fun has nowbeen extended from Tai Chi to Linedancing and Tap dancing (titillatinglymisread a couple of weeks ago as Lapdancing!) which, along with the AmericanSmooth, the Ember Dancers will performat the members’ Christmas Party.

With over a hundred active membersand an enterprising community in support,this worthwhile Centre is making a realdifference to the productive lives of somany of our older residents. Long may itcontinue!

David LoweChairman of the Vera Fletcher Hall

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Hannah, Sarah and Sophie – Esher College volunteers at the Ember Centre


Walsingham CareThe new charity in Thames Ditton

As a local charitable ChurchFoundation the trustees of the Home ofCompassion ran the nursing home by theriver in Thames Ditton from 1981 untilthe building was sold to Caring Homes inSeptember 2008. It was a Nursing Homefor over 100 years after Anglican Nunsbrought their work with the poor andelderly from the East End of London toThames Ditton. The Church took over theadministration following the demise ofthe Nuns and appointed local trustees torun the Charity.

The Home was adapted with up to 50beds for the frail elderly but the trustees,despite a long struggle, were unable toraise the capital to modernize it to thelatest care standards. The CharityCommission agreed that the trusteesshould sell the Home to a private carecompany and use the proceeds to set upa new local charitable fund. TheHome’s façade hid a much older housebuilt in 1792 by Charlotte BoyleWalsingham and the name WalsinghamCare was chosen for the new charity

35

the sale of the Home of Compassion has funded a new charity independent of its former Home.


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established to give grants:

� To assist elderly people in particular byproviding care residential and healthservices.

� To make grants or provide otherassistance to poor elderly people or toorganizations providing assistance tosuch people.

The Charity provides financial supportto people who are suffering from long-term ill health or disability, or in cases ofterminal illness. It also aims to improvethe quality of life for retired people andhelps by providing grants in somecircumstances. People living inresidential or nursing homes can receiveregular top-up grants towards shortfalls intheir fees. Assistance can be given withthe costs of care at home, or respite carein an approved Care Home, or in meetingcosts allowing a rest or a short break tohome helpers. We may also be able tohelp with the cost of equipment to enablepeople to stay in their own homes.

Who can apply?Persons or relatives of persons who

need financial help and live within a 5mile radius of any point within EmlyDeanery, Diocese of Guildford (theparishes of Claygate, East Molesey,Esher, Hersham, Hinchley Wood,Oatlands, Long Ditton, Thames Ditton,Walton on Thames, West Molesey,Weston Green, and Weybridge); or within5 miles of the Boyle Farm roundabout inThames Ditton; or if there is a familyconnection with the former Home ofCompassion Charity nursing home duringthe years 1905-2008.

Most of the Charity’s beneficiarieshave limited means and we have deviseda very fair system of calculating who iseligible for our assistance. Details aregiven on our website atwww.walsinghamcare.org.uk where anapplication form can be downloaded.We sometimes accept applicants abovethe limits (which are reviewed annually)where there is a special need or a strongcase for support can be made. Ourcriteria are reviewed to ensure that theymeet both the needs of applicants andthe resources of the Charity.

Supporting Walsingham Care

The Charity ran a Charity Shop at theHome for the last 10 years and this isnow at 68 Bridge Road, Hampton Court,where further details and applicationforms for grants can also be found. Theshop opens every day except Sundaysand Mondays to raise funds for thecharity by selling good quality donatedgoods and clothes.

In its new form Walsingham Care hasgiven help and advice with grants to anumber of local beneficiaries, formerresidents of the Home Of Compassionand eligible people. We have providedhome nursing care, helped purchaseequipment and supported the costs ofcare of local people through PrincessAlice Hospice. As the formerAdministrator of the Home OfCompassion, I am providing continuityby administering Walsingham Care andyou may contact me for help and adviceon 020 8398 6774

John Jennings


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THE THEATRE IN THAMES DITTON

Friday 15 January 7.30 pm Charles Court Opera presents

DICK WHITTINGTONA traditional family panto – mind zapping, toe

tapping, terrifically funny production with musicaltreats from pop to opera.

Tickets £12.50

Saturday 16 January 7 for 7.30 pm DICK WHITTINGTON

Panto and supper. Supported by Dairy Crest.Charles Court Opera return in style with some of

the UK’s best young operatic talent.Tickets including three course supper £32 in aid of

the Thames Ditton Hospital Appealfrom Karen Randolph Tel: 020 8398 5005

Friday 26 February 8.00 pmCONCERT: La Mariette Trio

Amy Tress (violin) Adam Crowther (piano)Sophie Jagodzinska (cello)

Prize winning young musicians play solo andchamber works including Beethoven’s Kreutzer

Sonata and Schumann’s Piano Trio No. 2. Tickets £10 (under 16 years free)

Friday 5 March 8.00 pm Michael Lunts in

THE LAST BALLADEA drama about the stormy end to the great love

affair between Chopin and the writer George Sand.The F major Ballade, Mazurkas, Nocturnesand the lovely Berceuse are performed live

as part of the action.“Spellbinding” – The Independent.

Tickets £10

Friday 19 March 8.00pmMichael Friend Productions presents

ARMS AND THE MANBernard Shaw’s classic 1894 play set against thebackground of war between Bulgaria and Serbia.This ‘anti-romantic’ comedy about the chocolatecream soldier was an original, witty attack on the

popular heroic view of war.Tickets £12.50

Friday 23 April 8.00 pmRodney Bewes in

THREE MEN IN A BOAT(To Say Nothing of the Dog)

The star of “The Likely Lads” brings Jerome K.Jerome’s classic story of three friends’ trip up the

Thames – how Harris got 40 strangers lost inHampton Court Maze and other adventures.

Highlight of the Edinburgh Festival. Tickets £12.50

YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRE

Saturday 13 February 2.30pmIdolrich Theatre presents

CRIC THE CROCA West African story about Cric, the exceedingly

greedy Croc, who likes to keep the river all tohimself. Captivating music, puppets and song.

A puppet show with bite!For ages 4 – 9 years.

Tickets £6

Saturday 20 March 2.30pmNoisy Oyster presentsDANGEROUS DAVE

Dangerous Dave and sidekick puppet “HerbertLemon” present some of the most mind-bendingly

silly stunts ever performed. Marvel as the super heroclimbs the slippery pole of Peril, becomes the

fearless inhuman Cannon Ball… Inimitable street theatre with unsuspectingaudience participation. For 5 – 10 years.

Tickets £6

Tickets for all shows from Joan LeiferTel: 0844 884 8832 and

The Pro Shop, 52 High Street,Thames Ditton.

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Winter CrosswordBy Michael Jackson

A £5 Voucher for spendingin any Thames Ditton orWeston Green shop will beawarded to each of the firstthree correct entries openedafter the closing date of7 February 2010

The completed puzzle(or photocopy) enclosingyour name and address,with the envelope clearlymarked ‘CrosswordCompetition,’should be sent to:

Thames Ditton TodayCrossword Competition6 Church WalkThames DittonKT7 0NW

ACROSS91. Respighi’s toyshop is… (9)

99. Big Ben is one I hear regularly (6)

10. Many a 5 down can – extempore (9)

11. Lobby or open-air room (6)

12. Experts in machinery, often civil (9)

13. A slipway ceremony (6)

17. Bus passing one at 60 or 65 (3,3,9)

18. Napoleon was to St. Helena (6)

22. I shall nip down the A3 to here (9)

23. A composer of Hungarian dances (6)

24. Tricked as a diversion (9)

25. Film-making here on Broadway? (6)

26. I try chest for treasures in ThamesDitton High Street (9)

DOWN92. A nut from Maldon (6)

93. Butcher, smuggler, robber, hangedat York (6)

94. A Russian council (6)

95. As a practice stint, I must learn variationsfor me to perform (15)

96. …and a scale with accidentals (9)

97. Dreaming I’m having a double gin (9)

98. A cone to be eaten, not played (9)

14. They swarm about for our well-being (9)

15. Crichton was praiseworthy (9)

16. The Green team are in accord (9)

19. Engrossed under canvas (6)

20. Sanctuary for ex P.M. off sick (6)

21. Cutter was a relics makeover (6)


42

R P BrownEst. 1968 – Traditional, reliable

and conscientious local plumber

Registered with the Institute of Plumbing

and Heating Engineers

Approved member of

Surrey C.C.Trading Standards

ʻBuy with Confidence ̓Scheme

No call out chargeand no minimum charge,

free written estimates, one year partsand labour guarantee,

full public liability insurance.

Tel: 020 8398 0207 Mobile: 07973 636672

56 Speer Road, Thames Ditton,Surrey KT7 0PW

www.plumb-master.co.uk

e-mail [email protected]

David Pointer

Traditional

upholsterers

Re-upholstery of

sofas & chairs

*

Specialists in

victorian & antique

chairs

*

Formerly of

Teddington High St

01372 842111Cobham


4343

Solution to the Autumn Crosswordby Margaret Briggs

There were many entries with justone mistake, each for a differentclue. Congratulations to thosewho sent in the first three correctones opened after the deadline.Each wins a £5 Voucher forspending in any Thames Ditton orWeston Green shop.

Ralph Drayton21 Angel RoadThames Ditton KT7 0AZ

Mr. T. Eddy46 Grove WayEsher KT10 8HL

Mrs. Enid Gray10 Camm GardensThames Ditton KT7 0JA

M.P.B. LANDSCAPES

Fully Qualified-Merrist Wood TrainedOver 9 Years Experience

All aspects of work undertaken

Paving – Fencing – Decking – Brickwork – Turfing – etc.

Professional & Reliable

Tel: 020 8398 3509Mobile: 07957 281748

Email: [email protected] Blunden


Services

Cheer (Concern and Help for East Elmbridge Retired) Trudy O Keefe 01372 474555Dittons and Weston Green Neighbourcare Sue Mayes 020 8398 6714Elmbridge Borough Council Community Support ServicesInformation, Meals Services, CommunityTransport, Bus Permits 01372 474552/4Elmbridge Community Alarm Service 01372 474560Elmbridge Relief Carers Scheme 01372 474547Ember Centre for the Retired Mon & Thurs 020 8398 9870

At other times 01372 474553Esher and District Stroke Club Ann Pollock 020 8398 6132Voluntary Action Elmbridge Mrs Carole Roycroft 01372 463587M.D.H.S. Household Services (& garden tidying) Carolyn Smart (Manager) 01932 248533Surrey Mobile Library Service 01483 517402Surrey Youth and Adult Education Service Elmbridge Area 020 8979 8334Groups

Girl Guiding in TD & WG Mrs K Williams 020 8398 13001st Thames Ditton Brownies Mrs. Bronach Hughes 020 8398 16283rd Thames Ditton Brownies Mrs Heather Horler 020 8398 03642nd Thames Ditton Rainbows Nicki Sutherland 020 8398 42021st Weston Green (All Saints) Scout Group Alan Nolan-Davies 0844 414 28261st Weston Green Guides (All Saints) Mrs. Louise Lewis 020 8398 48432nd Thames Ditton Guides Mrs. Bronach Hughes 020 8398 16281st Weston Green Brownies (All Saints) Mrs K Williams 020 8398 13002nd Weston Green Brownies Linda Hall 020 8941 49131st Weston Green Rainbows Mrs Helen Hill 020 8398 31354th Thames Ditton Ajax Sea Scouts Alison Derrick 020 8398 0041Dittons Scout Group Keith Berry 020 8398 3447Coffee and chat (United Reformed Church) Mrs. E. Barker 01372 467491Emberbrook Trefoil Guild Mrs. Adrienne Nealing 020 8398 5582Esher Floral Art Group Mrs. M. Dingle 020 8398 3943Friends of Bushey and Home Parks Mrs. Julie Cohen 020 8943 2017Friends of Walsingham Care Miss Valerie Chicken 0208 398 2932Molesey and Dittons Neighbourhood Watch Chairman: Pat Farmiloe 020 8398 2787Parents and Toddlers(St Nicholas church) Information 020 8398 7211Ripieno Choir Nick Harris 020 8399 7231Surrey Bell-ringers Nick Pattenden [email protected]

Albany Motor Yacht Club Secretary 01784466651Arts and Heritage Club Carol Butcher 01932 867511Claremont PROBUS Club Mr. P. Collins 020 8398 3125Claygate Bridge Club Hon. Secretary 020 8398 1710Colets Health & Fitness Giordano Orsini 020 8398 7108Dittons Skiff and Punting Club Hon Secretary 020 8398 1642Dittons & Hinchley Wood Royal British Legion Hon Secretary 020 8398 6263Ember Players (Drama) Ember Sports Club Anne Segall 020 8941 4528

SERVICES, CLUBS, SOCIETIES AND GROUPS

44


Ember Sports Club Mrs. Pauline Wareham 020 8979 8977Ember Sports Club: Bowls John Garland 01932 220221Ember Sports Club: Croquet Dr. David Cooke 01932 862841Ember Sports Club: Tennis Margaret Robinson 01372 842401Esher Bowling Club Roger Cooper 01372 468109Esher Bridge Centre Paul Whicker 01372 460157Esher Camera Club Billy Buchanan 020 8398 3169Folk Dance Club Pam Phillips 01372 373745Hinchley Wood / Dittons PROBUS Club Ken Thomas 020 8398 0526Long Ditton Cricket Club Nigel Hardy 020 8398 8361Long Ditton Garden Club Mrs. Ann Allen 020 8398 1718Model Railway Society (Hampton Court) Secretary 01932 241224Mothers Union (All Saints) Val Lomax 01932 860344Old Cranleighan Rugby Club Tony Price 07801 837129Old Cranleighan Hockey Club Eds Copleston (Men) 07775 940703

Helen Hawes (Ladies) 07771 557900River Club (BMYC) David Walker 0870 460 3586Rotary Club, Esher Geoff Morris 01932 868454Rubber Bridge TD Lawn Tennis Club Val 020 8399 9972Surbiton Croquet Club Alec Thomas 020 8398 2391Surbiton Golf Club Secretary 020 8398 3101Surbiton Hockey Club Secretary 020 8398 2401Thames Ditton Lawn Tennis Club Chris Lewis 07770 562569Thames Ditton & Esher Golf Club Mark Rodbard 020 8398 1551Thames Ditton Squash Club (Colets) Dave Peck 020 8398 7108Thames Ditton Cricket Club Howard Frish (Secretary) 07947 561449Thames Ditton Marquetry Group Jasmine Berry 020 8398 4358Yoga for Health Club Mrs. Celia Rowe 020 8398 2700

SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

Ember Choral Society Linda Bridges 020 8399 5402Esher Recorded Music Society Miss S. M. Garrat 020 8398 8541Esher and Molesey Garden Society Julia Presland (Sec) [email protected] Court Way Allotment Association Lettings: John Morgan 020 8398 3049Lynwood Allotment Society Barry Jordan 0776 282 5041Molesey and District Antiques Society Linda Lambert 020 8398 1476NADFAS (Decorative & Fine Arts) Kingston Mrs. Valerie Windsor 020 8549 9967National Trust: Richmond Association Membership Secretary 020 8894 2972Soroptimist International (Kingston District ) Secretary: Pat Harman 020 8390 3507Thames Ditton Women’s Institute (W.I.) Secretary 020 8398 8615Thames Valley Amateur Radio Transmitters Society Chairman 01483 284279

OTHER

Cancer Research UK Mrs. Vivienne Harris 020 8398 6787University of the Third Age (U3A) Ken Kingham 020 8979 8053Vera Fletcher Hall Lettings: Helen Mason 08456 528 529

Membership: Sue Morris 020 8224 2536

Please contact the Editor to amend these listings

45


46

The origin of the phrase “by hook orcrook” is that in days of yore, citizens wereallowed on the lord’s demesne to collectfirewood from the small stuff that could becut with a billhook or dragged down with acrook; and it came to mean “by one meansor another”. Later, our school scrapbooksalmost inevitably contained someunoriginal friend’s signature with “by hookor by crook, I’ll be last in this book,” andso the phrase has also acquiredconnotations of last-minute expediency.

Despite my efforts to gather in piecesfrom readers for this last page by hook orcrook, particularly rants couched incivilised, literate and good-humouredterms, there have been almost none sent insince the egregious Fortescue-Smythewrote on parking (I must goad him again).You are evidently contented villagers all,with no grumbles...

So I’ll use the page. Firstly to apologisefor some errata between proof and printerin the potted history of the Association inthe last issue. If you want to write incorrections: the page transition from p18 top19 should have read “The Association hasalways been eager to retain a mixedeconomy as part of the character ofThames Ditton…” The page transitionfrom p29 to p31 should have read “As of2009, at least forty other Residents’Associations around the country are nowregistered with the Commission.” Theseand other minor errata have been correctedin the version that may be downloaded infull from our web site’s ‘about’ page. Itwill be updated from time to time as moredetail of the history of the Associationbecomes available.

When I was coerced by You-Know-Whointo editing this organ I resolved that it

should be rather more about these villagestoday, than about Thames Ditton ofyesteryear. So you’ve had more currentnews and features. Many readers, however,have asked for some articles on localhistory like those that featured in themagazine in the 1970s and 80s. Over thepast three years I’ve approached severalpeople with knowledge of local history, andsuggested they write for the magazine, butnone of them did. The invitation stands.

I’m no historian. As a schoolboy I wasgrabbed more by the present than by thepast. But now I have more history myself,the subject has become rather moreinteresting! Researching the civic historyof the area has fired me up and so, fautede mieux, henceforth I’ll inflict localhistory stories on you myself. I don’t wantsimply to regurgitate work that’s beenpublished here in the past. Happily thereare quite a few stories that even properhistorians like C.R.S. Saunders, T.S.Mercer and P. Burchett missed becausethey did not have the advantage of digitalarchival material online.

And finally, a Merry Christmas to allfrom your volunteer editorial team: VerityPark (advertising), Guy Holman(designer), George Cammack(distribution) and me. A particular tributeto our wizard crossword-setters, whoseaverage age is 89. They continue to be ofnational class – one winning another prizefrom the Daily Telegraph only last month.And our thanks to the many who help uswith advertising, stories and distribution.It’s a good deal of work, but we hope youagree it’s worth doing.

Editor


wow!Two waysto treatyour Pet

www.beechhousevets.com

Beech House Veterinary Centre,Milbourne Stores, Weston Green,

Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0JX

Consulting Hours 11am-1pm 4pm-6pm

Monday - Friday

To keep them happy, play with them,exercise them, give them loads ofpraise and cuddles and spoil them

with some special treats and toys. Sopop into the “Beech House Pet Stop”for a wide selection of the very best.(All the products and food we sell have been carefully

chosen with your pet’s best well-being in mind.)

Beech House Veterinary Centre -Passionate about Healthy, Happy Pets

To keep them healthy, pets should be seenat least once every 12-months by a vet. Sowhy not bring them along to Beech House,Thames Ditton for their regular healthchecks. This way, we can detect potentialillnesses early and nip them in the bud.

Our easy parking, fresh, modern & involvingpremises and professional engaging team willgreet you each visit, making your wholeexperience more enjoyable.

Prevention, we think, is better than Cure.

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Ring now to book 020 8398 4752

A307 Portsm

outh Road

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Weston Green

Weston Rd

HAMPTON CT

THAMES DITTON

KINGSTON

ESHER

HINCHLEYWOOD

Well-Pet Centres also at:Hersham01932 220768Cobham01932 868688Shepperton01932 222257HERSHAM

51380_ISFC:SPRING inside Cover 2005 25/2/09 14:55 Page 2

ARIES CONSTRUCTION LLP(formerly Ditton Construction)

Tel: 020 8941 9191Fax: 020 8941 6664

Mobile: 07836 608086Email: [email protected]

GENERAL BUILDING

EXTENSIONS & LOFT CONVERSIONS

FULL PLANNING & DRAWING SERVICES

ROOFING : PLUMBING : ELECTRICAL

BATHROOM & KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT

CARPENTRY & JOINERY

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL REDECORATION

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS & DOORS

INSURANCE CLAIMS : FIRE, FLOOD, STORM DAMAGE

SUBSIDENCE AND UNDERPINNING

PLASTERING & RENDERING

GROUNDWORKS & DRAINAGE

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

13 Thames Court, Victoria Avenue

West Molesey, Surrey KT8 1TP

Free Estimates – Fast, Efficient, Friendly Service

Local References Available

Published by the Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents ̓AssociationPrinted by Impress Print Services Ltd., Unit 10, 19 Lyon Road, Hersham, Walton on Thames, Surrey KT12 3PU

56363_BC:SPRING Cover 2005 26/11/09 12:18 Page 1

Documents

Fishmongers Now Open at 39...Fishmongers Now Open at 39 Bridge Road, Hampton Court, East Molesey, KT8 9ER..... and a free local home delivery service is still available. Fishman Direct,