ThisChristmas… · remind you of the Christmas Fair (evening of 7 December) and the Christmas Party (10 December). Details were in the Autumn issue – call or look at our website

Holiday Inn London – Kingston SouthPortsmouth Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 [email protected]

This Christmas…leave the washing-up to us!Enjoy Christmas Day without any stress or worries about cookingthe lunch or the washing-up… leave it all to us and you can enjoy atreat by relaxing with family and friends on this special day.

On arrival, you can enjoy a champagne reception prior to a deliciousfour-course lunch including a chocolate fountain!

After lunch, younger guests will be delighted by a special visit fromFather Christmas bearing gifts.

£59.95 per guest

£29.95 per child (aged 6-12 years). Children under 5 eat for free.

Two sittings available:12:00 Champagne Reception, followed by Lunch at 12:30OR 14:30 Champagne Reception, followed by Lunch at 15:00

Call us on 020 8786 6556 to find out more.

70944_ISFC_SPRING inside Cover 2005 24/11/2011 07:21 Page 1

3

Winter 2011

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] DesignGuy Holman24 Angel Road,Thames Ditton020 8398 1770Distribution ManagerDavid Youd6 Riversdale Road,Thames Ditton KT7 0QL020 8398 3216Advertisement ManagerVerity Park20 Portsmouth AvenueThames Ditton KT7 0RT020 8398 5926ContributorsYou are welcome to submit articles or images. Please contactthe Editor well in advance of thenext deadline on 1 February.

AdvertisersThames Ditton Today is deliveredto an influential 4000 householdsthroughout Thames Ditton andWeston Green. Call for rates forfull page, half and quarter pageadvertising.

In this Issue:

News from the Residents’ Association ………………… 7

Planning Reforms – the Threats ………………………… 17

The Scandal part 3 ……………………………………… 23

Twinkle, Twinkle ………………………………………… 31

Long Ago and Far Away ………………………………… 33

Neutering the Language ………………………………… 35

Winter Crossword ……………………………………… 41

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

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

By Hook or Crook ……………………………………… 46

Cover photo: All Saints Weston in last Winter's snows.Photo by Keith Evetts

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.

70944_Thames Ditton SPRING 2005 25/11/2011 13:23 Page 3

4

29 High Street, Thames DittonSurrey KT7 0SD

T: 020 8398 2500F: 020 8398 9990E: [email protected]

Just a click away

Buying or selling a home in South West London or Surrey?Then what are you waiting for?

Not only does our constantly updated website feature media presentationsof all our properties, including slide shows and floorplans, but so do ALL of

these top property sites! This means that Hawes & Co really can boastmore coverage than any other agent in the area.

remember – we really are just a click away.

www.hawesandco.co.uk


THE NEXT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION OPEN MEETINGS ARE Tuesday 31 January and Tuesday 20 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 GreenResidents’ Association

About the AssociationFounded in 1934 our Association is a

strong, locally based non-party-politicalorganisation concerned with protectingthe amenities and furthering the interestsof the inhabitants of Thames Ditton andWeston Green. We work to preserve andenhance the best in our attractiveenvironment and the quality of life ofeveryone in our community.

Through regular meetings, socialactivities, our magazine and website wekeep in touch with residents’ views andwe raise and spend funds for the benefitof the community, from tree and bulbplanting to contesting unacceptabledevelopment projects.

With five Residents’ Councillors wehave a strong voice on Elmbridge Councilworking with other residents’ councillorsto ensure that decisions are based on theneeds of local communities and on goodmanagement rather than on party politics.

Our Residents’ County CouncillorPeter Hickman represents our views atSurrey County Council.President: Maureen Sheldrick,34 The Woodlands, Esher

Surrey County Councillor:Peter Hickman, Little Lodge,Watts Road, Thames Ditton 020 8339 0931

Thames Ditton CouncillorsSandra Dennis,Little Bradley, Thames Ditton 020 8873 2936Ruth Lyon,11 Riversdale Road, Thames Ditton 020 8398 3396Karen Randolph,Deepfield, Giggs Hill Road,Thames Ditton 020 8398 5005

Weston Green CouncillorsLorraine Sharp,168 Ember Lane, Esher 07970 874 925Tannia Shipley, ’Clinton House’27 Lower Green Road, Esher 020 8398 2484

Officers:Chairman: Libby MacIntyre,24, High Street, Thames Ditton 020 8398 5534Vice-Chairman: Martin Wilberforce,7 River Avenue, Thames Ditton 020 8398 4732Vice-Chairman: David Lowe,8 Embercourt Road, Thames Ditton 020 8398 4957Hon. Treasurer: Bob Huxster,5 Station Rd, Thames Ditton 020 8398 3489Hon. Secretary: Tricia Bland,29 Station Rd., Thames Ditton 020 8339 0485Membership Secretary: Peter Haynes6 Onslow Gardens, Thames Ditton 02 8398 6019

Conveners of Sub-Committees:Health and Community:Karen Randolph (see above for details)Planning: Graham Cooke23 Ashley Road, Thames Ditton 020 8398 8509Highways, Drainage:Andrew Roberts, 1 Boyle Farm Road,Thames Ditton 020 8786 6882

5


020 8398 7108St Nicholas Road • Thames Ditton

Surrey • KT7 0PW

www.coletshealthclub.co.uk

Situated in the heart of the Thames Ditton community, we’re a local, independent health club where the focus really is on you. By re-investing our profits back into the club, we’ve not only got a club to be proud of, but happy members too!

• Impressive gym with great views • 25m UV-filtered pool• Over 70 studio classes each week • Sauna, Steam & Spa• Fun kids’ activities, crèche & nursery • 6 squash courts• Rejuvenate - luxury treatment rooms • Bright, welcoming café and bar• NEW! After school kids’ meals, Friday night menu and Sunday carvery

Call now, or come in for a chat, and see what we have to offer.You’ll love Colets!

CALL NOWFor details of our great

joining offers!

Colets gym is now...

BIGGER! BRIGHTER! BETTER!• More space & light

• New Technogym resistance kit and free weights Plus...• Les Mills Body Pump & Body Attack

7

News From the Residents’ Association

22 August – 17 November

Proposed Boundary change Our thanks to all those residents and

organisations who wrote to the LocalGovernment Boundary Commissionconcerning their proposal to split WestonGreen down the middle for county votingpurposes. The results of the publicconsultation are unequivocal. ALL theone hundred and thirty-five submissionsconcerning Weston Green (from 149individuals) objected to the proposal.Objectors included all the boroughcouncillors for Weston Green and forThames Ditton, among whom two formerMayors of Elmbridge; a Hinchley Woodcouncillor and our County councillor.Both the Anglican and the Catholicchurches objected to the proposals, as didWeston Green school and the Chair of theConservation Area Advisory Committeefor Weston Green.

There were NO local submissions infavour of the LGBCE proposal. Themajority of respondents supported analternative, viable proposal from theAssociation which meets the Com -mission’s criteria without dividing thecommunity. We now look to theCommission to honour their statementthat local people know best: their decisionis expected in mid-January.

ParkingThames Ditton residents may be weary

of this subject. After five years of

consultation and argument that at timesbitterly split the community, fairlyminimal proposals were adopted. Nobodyis entirely satisfied and everybody has adifferent, strongly-held view on whatmight be better. Following theAssociation’s Open Meeting in Novemberthere is to be a renewed look at thequestion of restricted parking bays in theHigh Street (along the lines of Winter’sBridge), proposed by Residents’Councillor Ruth Lyon, who with HonsecTricia Bland, Highways ConvenorAndrew Roberts and County CouncillorPeter Hickman will again sound out HighStreet retailers in the first instance. Ifretailers agree to pursue parking bays,then others, particularly residents andoffices in the High Street, will be fullyconsulted in turn.

The problem is that despite our successin halving charges in the car park, anddespite improved signage to it arrangedby our councillors in October, it is rarelymore than one-third full; while the HighStreet is fully parked up by all-dayparkers. Casual shoppers, who like someother categories of user would prefer toavoid the slight inconvenience of the verycheap car park, can find no easy place.

The risk is that as parking bays needapproval by Surrey, who require them tobe enforceable, then once established theywill make the High Street further prey totraffic wardens and an eventual


8

resurgence of pay-and-display. We weresuccessful in seeing off pay and displaythis year. But though it may be dead forthe present, it does not have a stakethrough the heart.

A further consideration as we go topress is that the yellow lines in and nearthe High Street which the council’scontractors were supposed to haveimplemented, but haven’t, will in effectremove at least a dozen spaces wheredrivers currently park, but shouldn’t. Thatwill increase pressure on remaining HighStreet spaces.

Meanwhile Basingfield Road residentsstill await the promised curfew parkingalong one side; and in Weston Greenfrustrated residents await the long-delayedyellow lines across the Commons, aroundthe danger spots in the Woodlands,outside Imber Close and opposite atCarleton Close.

Surrey coupsDisarray in Surrey’s parking strategy

illuminated an extraordinary week inSeptember when first, Deputy CouncilLeader David Hodge (Conservative,Warlingham) resigned, then Ian Lake(Conservative, Weybridge), the architectof the pay and display fiasco, was ousted.When the party acts it is noted for doingso with ruthlessness and in the sameweek, Cllr. Hodge was chosen by theparty caucus as Leader, and CouncilLeader Andrew Povey (Conservative,Waverley Eastern Villages) was in turnousted. Cllr. Hodge then announced a newCabinet – with Cllr Lake restored withinit – and the deposed Povey commentedpublicly that it comprised “six men, four

women, one known gay and no PhD” andwouldn’t have been his choice. He laterapologised. The electorate has no directsay in the appointment of the county’sLeader.

Cllr Hodge immediately announced theend of the pay and display policy. Whathappens to the £2m of taxpayers’ moneyin the contract for the meters is not yetknown. We wish the new leadership well,and hope that from now on they will trulyconsult residents before adopting policiesin their small caucus.

Street lightsOutside the Conservation Areas,

installation of the new lights continues infits and starts. Inside our ConservationAreas, Surrey as expected proposed a mixof standard ‘modern’ lamps, and theswan-necked variant dubbed by observantresidents ‘The Triffid’.

the “Triffid” may be an object of affectionin 30 years time…


9

Elmbridge’s Heritage team hasresponded that in the Giggs Hill Greenarea modern lights are acceptablethroughout. In the Thames Ditton villageCA there should be 22 modern lights inChurch Lane, High Street, and WattsRoad, while the proposed 17 replacementswan necks in Ashley Road and ChurchWalk must be of a better design. In theWeston Green CA the 5 replacement swannecks in Weston Green must be betterdesigned, and SCC must add Alma Roadand Chestnut Avenue, which they hadomitted altogether! There is a pause inbureaucratic and budgetary skirmishingwhile Surrey’s contractors look atimprovements to the ‘Triffid’ design –basically, this is understood to bemounting a smaller, less top-heavyluminary on the swan neck.

PlanningThe Association is deeply concerned

by the implications of the governmentdraft planning reforms – see Ruth Lyon’sarticle on p. 17. We are in good company.Meanwhile our officers and councillorshave continued to put in many hours insupport of residents who object tooverdevelopment.

An application for demolition of Taggsboatyard and a house on RiversdaleRoad, to be replaced by a very large andinappropriate four-storey building ofboatyard, offices and seven flats, wasmade by PRC Group Surbiton acting fora partnership called New Thames DittonDevelopments Llp.

Although it has a UK address the latteris wholly run by two individuals

Taggs – resident Craig Williams superimposed the outline plan on the present scene to give you anidea of the overscale development proposed


Simon SimpsonMSc MAREBT BABCP UKCP

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

07801 450 477www.cbt-surrey.co.uk

Practical, effective therapy for;

and many other conditions

Registered Cognitive Behavioural PsychotherapistClinics in Esher and East Molesey

Depression Anxiety Confidence Stress Insomnia Relationships IBS Panic

Trauma Phobias Habits OCD

10


ordinarily resident outside the UK each ofwhom has registered a company in theMarshall Islands, a Pacific tax haven,which companies make up the remainingpart of “New Thames Ditton Develop -ments”. Following several objections, theapplication was with drawn. A furtherapplication is likely.

There were 30 objectors to the latestapplication to develop the Harrow.Elmbridge refused permission as theproposal had not overcome previousreasons for refusal and would result inharm to the character of the area and thestreet scene, including the adjacent GreenBelt, due to the bulk, scale, and crampedform of development, inappropriate andout of keeping with the area.

The developers of the CottageHospital site in Weston Green Road losttheir appeal against Elmbridge’s decisionto refuse planning permission. Indismissing the appeal, the Planninginspector noted that “there may be otherdesign solutions for the site which bettermeet the density requirements withoutharming the local character.”

A second application for six houses toreplace one at 31 Embercourt Road wasrefused on the grounds that its scale,massing, design and inadequate reargarden space made for a crampeddevelopment out of keeping with the areaand would prejudice the value of the openspace previously known as ‘the paddock’and views from Hampton Court Way,against several of Elmbridge’s planningguidelines.

The Association is in favour of avariety of housing in the village includingsmaller units – but we will supportresidents who object to overscale or high-

density overdevelopment irreversiblythreatening a road’s character.

High Street improvementsPlease see Tricia Bland’s article on

page 31 for the latest on Christmas lights.By the time this issue appears, the newlights should have been ceremoniallyswitched on by TV’s “Downton Abbey”cast member Lesley Nicol, who plays MrsPatmore.

Our thanks go to Francine Brooks andPaula Tennant at Maison Bleu for thewonderful display of blue, white andyellow winter pansies at the Boyle Farmroundabout to follow the summergeraniums; and to John Lyon who hasplanted another 500 spring bulbs aroundThames Ditton and Weston Green. AndrewRoberts will shortly be erecting theChristmas Tree, which is this year suppliedcourtesy of Mike Dandy of the Swan.

More can be done to make the HighStreet prettier, particularly during thesummer months. The new ElmbridgeCore Strategy contains the line: “AtThames Ditton and Hinchley Woodshopping centres, measures will besupported that improve their environ -ments and their individual roles as valuedlocal centres.” It has lately becomeapparent that of some £600,000 oftaxpayers’ money which Elmbridge hasspent on sprucing up High Streets in theborough, none has been spent on ThamesDitton or Weston Green (another£400,000 is apparently available). It maywell be that requests have to come fromlocal businesses. Funding has includedempty shop front improvements andsignage for businesses in Walton andWeybridge, Esher and Molesey, plants

11


JEWELLERYMADE REPAIRED DESIGNED

RE-MODELLEDBARBARA WOLFF

PLATINUM, GOLD AND SILVERJEWELLERY REPAIRS

SPECIAL DESIGNS TO ORDER – YOUR OWN STONES AND BROKEN

JEWELLERY RE-USEDSTONES SUPPLIED AND SET –

RE-STRINGINGVALUATIONS

OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCEPRIVATE CUSTOMERS,

by appointment onlyTELEPHONE 01932 228274

OR 07976 233850www.barbarawolff.co.uk

Antique Clock Restoration & RepairSpecialising in Grandfather, Dial, Bracket and Carriage Clocks

Contact: Mark Rowe M.B.H.IBADA Diploma. Member of the Watch & Clockmakers Guild

West Dean Diploma.Tel: 020 8605 0331

www.theclockgallery.co.ukAdditional Restoration services available for Watches, Books,

Ceramics and Fine Furniture.Antique Clocks also bought and sold.

12

SCIENCE TUITION

A Level & GCSE TuitionBiology, Chemistry

& Physics

Tel: 020 8398 7365Alan Tucker:

2 Gainsborough Close,Esher KT10 8JR

[email protected] CRB


and planting in Hersham and Cobham andstreet furniture in Walton and Claygate.

One candidate for ‘sprucing up’ couldbe the Post Office, about which severalresidents have expressed concern for itsappearance and future.

Further, while the council funds andmaintains planters and hanging baskets inmost other areas – including 40 hangingbaskets and 10 troughs in Walton, 60baskets and 6 troughs in Cobham, and 53baskets, 10 troughs in Weybridge – nobaskets or planters are funded andmaintained by the council in ThamesDitton or Weston Green. At the OpenMeeting in November our councillorswere asked to investigate and report onhow we should go about getting our share.

High Street premises with wheeliebins are asked kindly to make sure thatthey are removed from the High Street towithin the curtilage of the propertiesconcerned, within a day of emptying by

the contractors. At present, several binsare being left for days where they areunsightly and obstructive. Also, shoppersare asked not to put live fag-ends in litterbins not equipped for them – retailers havehad to put out an occasional fire started inthe bins that way. Thank you.

LibrariesSurrey intends to close several smaller

libraries in the county unless volunteerstake over their staffing: this is ‘BigSociety’ at work. The spin is breathtakingbut one ironic soul managed to describe thepolicy as “cutting edge” in a PR document!There is an online petition to oppose this athttp://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/libraries/

For the present, our well-used DittonsLibrary does not seem to be under threat.But it will surprise few if the countyleadership reverts in a year or two withthe line that the policy has been ‘sosuccessful’ that it will be extended toother libraries.

13

several derelict planters in the High Street


SnowOur ‘Snowman’ scheme continues to

grow. With funding from Residents’Councillors Sandra Dennis’ and TanniaShipley’s local allowances for communityschemes, membership secretary and HeadSnowman Peter Haynes has acquired 12more snow shovels and is setting upadditional road groups. There are newgroups in Church Walk and Ashley Road(two through routes for pedestrians insnow) and in Weston Green, with fourshovels for future deployment or as spares.

Doings and DatesCongratulations to the staff and

volunteers of Thames Ditton Centre for

the Community which has won an awardpresented at the House of Lords for its‘all ages’ approach. It is wonderful to seethe Hall and the Centre thriving andhonoured after long years in which wehad to defend their continued existenceagainst the Conservative leaders inSurrey, who tried to sell the Hall todevelopers, and in Elmbridge, who triedto close the Centre.

On Remembrance Sunday CouncillorRuth Lyon and Martin Wilberforcelaid wreaths for Elmbridge and theAssociation respectively at the warmemorial at Giggs Hill Green, whileCouncillors Tannia Shipley (for

14

Christmas shopping in the High Street


15

Elmbridge) and Lorraine Sharp (for theAssociation) laid wreaths at the warmemorial at Weston Green.

Back issues of Thames Ditton Todayfrom its beginning in Spring 1970 havenow been bound and made available inthe reference section of Dittons Library asa permanent local historical resource forall. The binding was eighty percentfunded by a grant from Surrey CountyCouncil. The Association has fundedelectronic scanning of back issues whichis three-quarters complete. When finished,the files will be made available to theSurrey History Centre and will bedownloadable from our website.

The Friends of Thames Ditton Hospitalare putting on Charles Court Opera’s

Christmas Panto -mime “Beowulf”sponsored by DairyCrest on Saturday14th January at theVera Fletcher Hallin aid of the ThamesDitton HospitalAppeal. A smash hitwhich Time Outrated as four stare n t e r t a i n m e n t .Tickets including a3 course dinner are£33 from KarenRandolph on 0208398 5005.

This issue mayarrive too late toremind you ofthe Christmas Fair(evening of 7December) and the

Christmas Party (10 December). Detailswere in the Autumn issue – call or look atour website if you need last minuteinformation.

And lastly: we may be living through afinancial Blitz, but it should draw uscloser together. Do try to do some of yourChristmas shopping in the village – fromwonderful cakes, via jewellery and manygifts, to subscriptions to Colets andexcellent fresh deliveries from Paulls.With thanks to all our advertisers, ourdistribution team, and the many whocontribute positively to life in thiscommunity, we wish you all a happyChristmas – and good luck in 2012.

www.residents-association.com

Beowulf as never before


16

knightjames

www.knightjames.com

www.pension-review.com

Independent Financial Advice

(t) 0208 398 6677

l

l

l

l

l

l

Mortgages

Equity Release

Pensions

Investments

Personal Insurance

Commercial Insurance

6 Station Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0NR

Concerned about the performance

of your Personal Pension or

Stocks & Shares ISA?

Ask about our

pension and fund review

FREE

A friendly, local and professional service


17

Why the Gov -ernment’s NationalP lanning Po l i cyFrame work is a threatto our Thames Dittonand Weston Greenenvironment.

This Septemberyour Thames Ditton& Weston GreenResidents’ Associationjoined the NationalTrust, the Campaign toProtect Rural England,the Royal Society forthe Protection of Birds,the Daily Telegraphand Simon Jenkinswriting in the Guardianand the Times toobject to the govern -ment’s proposals tochange the presentplanning system tomake it more favour -able to “economicdevelopment” – a plan described byConservative Waverley Council as a“developers’ charter”. Joining theseaugust bodies, we opposed the draftdocument replacing the present systemwhich has grown up over 50 years andwhich through its planning policyguidelines provides clarity and checks andbalances to planning development.

The draft National Planning PolicyFramework (NPPF) and the removal ofPlanning Policy Guidance and PlanningPolicy Statements will remove the presentprotection for vulnerable sites inElmbridge – not just in the Green Belt butin our towns, villages, urban open land,playing fields, flooding, heritage andconservation areas and High Street shopsconverted to residential use.

Planning Reforms – The Threats

protection for this attractive shop would be lost


18

MICHAEL MOULE ANTIQUESCONSTANTLY REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS

All Furniture Pre 1920, Silver and Silver Plate,Brass and Copper, All Clocks, Porcelain, Bronze

and Marble Statues, All Paintings, Gold Jewellery,Old Dolls, Books, Pewter, Swords, Curios.

ANYTHING OLD AND UNUSUALFor a fast and friendly service do not hesitate to

telephone any time, with absolutely no obligation.

IMMEDIATE CASH SETTLEMENT

020 8398 807226 Basing Way, Thames Ditton

Seven generations of our family havebeen helping and advising localfamilies in their time of need.

For over 225 years we have providedboth modest and traditional funeralswith understanding and compassion,

when you need it most.

Thames Ditton: 37 High Street (020) 8398 4586Serving:The Dittons, Claygate, Esher, Molesey andWalton

www.lodgebrothers.co.uk

the family youcan turn to Funeral Directors &

Memorial Stonemasons

Ask about ourPre-PaymentFuneral PlansCustodian Trustee:HSBC Trust Co. (UK) Ltd.


19

The Green Belt is at risk –eg land at Sandown Park

The present planning policies provideclear guidance on Green Belts – less opento question than the more generalstatements in the NPPF. Contrary to theGovernment’s claims that the Green Beltis safe, the omission from the draftNPPF of any reference to the fact that“the quality of the landscape is notrelevant to the inclusion of land within aGreen Belt or to i ts continuedprotection” is typical. Instead of thepresent “general presumption againstinappropriate development” in the GreenBelt the NPPF states that “inappropriatedevelopment is harmful” but does notdefine what “inappropriate” or“harmful” means. The use in the draft ofthe words “building” and “engineeringoperations” open up development in theGreen Belt in ways that would berestricted under the present system. Wehave been warned.

Threats to Urban Open Land –Protection of Open Spaceseg Thames Ditton Tennis Club

The approach of the NPPF toprotection of open space includesprovision for development if the “needfor and benefits of the developmentclearly outweigh the loss”. This is verymuch weaker than the present policywhich states that open spaces of value toa local community should be protectedand the loss of such open space couldonly be allowed if it can be exchangedfor other land of the same quality andaccessibil i ty. In the batt le to saveThames Ditton Tennis Club from being

sold to developers for housing theprotection afforded by the present policywas critical and this protection is nowlost.

Historic Environmenteg Picton House, High Street,a listed building

In relation to the historic environmentthere is a change from “preserve andenhance” to a situation where applicationsare only deemed unacceptable if theycause “substantial harm”. It is usually thecumulative impact of development whichcause minor or moderate harm thatirretrievably damages the historicenvironment. Your Residents’ Associationsuccessfully opposed plans to build ahouse in the garden of Picton House whichinvolved a new entrance breaching the oldlisted wall. It is by no means certain thatthe new rules would provide thisprotection.

Retail shops in High Streeteg 30 High Street now Adiva

The NPPF undermines the protectionfor land for business and employment. Inareas like Elmbridge where residentialdevelopment is much more lucrative, weneed policies to protect shops, businessesand employment in our shopping areas.When the Inspector dismissed the appealfor a change of use from shop toresidential at 30 High Street, he said theproposal would adversely affect thevitality and viability of the Thames Dittonvillage centre contrary to Governmentplanning guidance advice. This protectionwould be removed under theGovernment’s proposals.


20

L. SMEE PLUMBING

SPECIALIST IN COMPLETEBATHROOM INSTALLATIONS

• Tiling • General Plumbing • Maintenance • RepairsFor a friendly, reliable service

Call: 07989 303 808

272 EASTCOTE AVENUE

WEST MOLESEY

SURREY KT8 2EZ

THAMES DITTON UNITED REFORMED CHURCHSpeer Road – close to Thames Ditton StationMinister: The Rev’d Bruce Stuart, A.B., M.Div.

30 Charles Babbage Close, Chessington KT9 2SBTel: 020 8397 2745 Email: [email protected]

Secretary: Mrs Linda LambertTel: 020 8398 1476 Email: [email protected]

Services: 10.45 on SundaysCommunion Service 1st Sunday of each month

WELCOME TO ALLHall Bookings telephone: 020 8224 3578


21

Flood Risk eg flood plainbetween Summer Road andRiversdale Road

The present policies have beensuccessful in delivering the necessaryguidance required for flood management inplanning. The NPPF provides little strongguidance on where to build or how tomitigate flood risk. There are no definitionsfor flood risk. Many parts of Thames Dittonand Weston Green lie in areas of flood riskand present policies protect residents fromnew building in the flood plain which couldcause flooding elsewhere -throughdisplacement – into homes whichpreviously did not suffer flooding.

Town Centres eg Esherand Walton

The need to maintain and regeneratetown centres is a consistent and widelysupported aspect of planning policy. Out-of-town retail parks undermine theeconomic viability of town centres. TheNPPF fails to include clear andunambiguous guidance to ensure that towncentres remain the first choice for retail,leisure and offices and that the sequentialtest should continue to require applicantsto give priority to town centre sites.

Brownfield Development, eg theformer Inland Revenue Offices,Lynwood Road

The loss of the brownfield target willlead to a dispersal of development to“easy to develop” greenfield sites. Thiswill prejudice the regeneration of siteswithin urban areas which combine thebenefits of improving the local

environment and maximising theutilisation of existing infrastructure.

Housing shortagesThe proposed Bill will do nothing to

alleviate the real need in housing – theprovision of affordable houses.Developers will always seek the cheapestland on which to build high value housesand it is primarily the lack of financewhich is the cause of the lack of newhouses and not any shortcomings in theplanning system, as the Governmentclaims. Nationally, developers haveplanning permission for around 300,000houses which they are not implementing.

ConclusionThe National Planning Policy

Framework needs to be redrafted tobalance the interests of the community andthe environment with the needs foreconomic development. The draft NPPFwill compromise not only the countrysideenvironment but that of our towns,villages and suburbs. Unlike neighbouringConservative councils the response ofElmbridge Council to the Government’sconsultation was frighteningly complacentand they seem to think that there is little toworry about. Your Residents councillorsattempted to stiffen the Council’s responsebut with little success. Let us hope theGovernment takes on board theconstructive comments made by so manyorganisations across the country.

Councillor Ruth LyonRuth has 38 years of invaluable Councilexperience defending the interests of ThamesDitton and Weston Green in the arcane but vitalmatter of planning.


22

Before the summer is completely forgotten think about

HOMEOPATHIC HAY FEVER TREATMENT IN WINTER!Many people have discovered that homeopathic remedies work well

ften the susceptibility to hay fever, and other allergic responses, is a

or more information on help with this and other chronic conditions visit the Homeopathy page on

in summer to alleviate the miserable symptoms of hay fever and thereare some excellent combination remedies available for over thecounter purchase. But did you know that a course of properlyprescribed remedies taken over the winter months may help tosignificantly reduce hay fever symptoms next season?

Othread running through the family health and some deeper homeopathic treatment can help tostrengthen your resistance season after season so that those, sometimes rare, sunny days can bewholeheartedly welcomed and enjoyed! An initial full consultation is necessary to tailor theremedies to you and then you can take away your personal winter programme.

Fwww.clinicofnaturalmedicine.com or call Judith von Bradsky MLC HomMARH for an informal chaton 020 8398 6389.

www.claremont-school.co.uk

For further informationTel: 01372 473624or email: [email protected]

An independent co-educational school for pupils aged 3 to 18 years


23

After a trial in excoriating detail, thecharge against Rev. Wilfred Speer ofhabitual drunkenness, to the great scandaland reduction of his congregation, hadbeen proved. In June 1841, Sir HerbertJenner, presiding over the Court ofArches, sentenced Wilfred to suspensionfrom office without benefit of the livingfor a minimum of three years. To resumeoffice, he had to produce a certificatefrom three beneficed clergymen, that hehad been of good conduct during thattime. He never did so.

The sentence was ordered to bedisplayed on the church door. The publichumiliation of Wilfred Speer, and byextension his powerful father and patronWilliam, was complete. The village wouldnever be the same again.

Schism with ClaygateOnce it became apparent to me just

how very serious and divisive this scandalwas, I looked at what else was happeningat the time. Now, the new church of HolyTrinity at Claygate was consecrated inDecember 1840. Hitherto, the history ofthis has been written from the perspectiveof Claygate. The formal story goes thatthe church at St. Nicholas was full,Claygate was growing, and its 300inhabitants wanted a church nearby. It issummarised in a good monograph bylocal historian Howard Mallinson, whomI contacted before his untimely death thissummer. He had concluded perceptively

that “The full story of how this cameabout is still not entirely transparent…With a population of only 300 the case fora new church without some other factorlooks thin.”

The scandal supplies the other factor.We know from the court case that RevWilfred was habitually drunk in officefrom the time his incumbency began inMarch 1835, and while in 1836 St.Nicholas church was extended, Wilfredsolved the overcrowding problem in anidiosyncratic way.

The court Articles tell us that in 1839services at St Nicholas had more or lessground to a halt as soon as the Rural Deanbegan investigations, following theoccasion in March when Wilfred againpassed out during the Sunday service, andSir Charles Sullivan and Leonard Seeleymade a formal complaint to the Bishop.Wilfred of his own accord then ceasedofficiating, presumably because he wouldbe under close observation. He probablyhired stand-ins.

Seeley, one of the two mainprotagonists in the prosecution of WilfredSpeer, was equally a prime mover in theestablishment of Holy Trinity Claygatealthough not a resident of that hamlet. Ayear after complaints had been filedagainst Wilfred, a half-acre of ground inClaygate was purchased (March 1840).Holy Trinity was then erected withremarkable speed. The financial

The ScandalPart 3: the aftermath


24

contributions of the Buxton family, ofRuxley Lodge in Claygate, to the cost ofthe church are well documented; but ofcourse we will now pay particularattention to who was going to officiatethere! For it is quite clear that at the timethe new church was built, the inhabitantsof Claygate would not want WilfredSpeer to do the job. The foundation of asmall benefice of two thousand poundsenabled a curate to be appointedindependently. This money was providedby Rev Frederick Bevan, Rector of AllSaints at Carleton Rode in Norfolk, thenature of whose connection has hithertoremained a mystery. I can now reveal thathe was married to Sir John JacobBuxton’s sister Anne, and owed his richliving to their father Sir Robert Buxton,patron of Carleton Rode. Frederick andAnne had no children. A press report in1840 shows that Frederick had becomeaware of the situation in Claygate whilevisiting his brother-in-law. The Buxtonand Bevan families were to contribute, inall, about three-quarters of the overallcost of the new church plus benefice inClaygate.

The Bishop declared Claygate aParticular District just before the trialcame to a head. Its first independentincumbent, Rev David Baker, wasinstalled in January 1841 two monthsbefore the final court hearings opened,and its separation from Thames Dittonbegan – although as late as 1888 thevestry at St Nicholas still included theinhabitants of Claygate in localgovernment matters; and Claygate’sseparate status as a parish, rejected by theHigh Court in 1924, was not fullyresolved until 1943.

A cover-up?Now you would expect the matter of

the new church in Claygate, and indeedthe court case, to be reflected in theVestry minutes of the time. I tried to trackthem down. It turns out that the minutesfor several years from around 1837, twoyears into Wilfred’s incumbency… aremissing! Moreover, I noted that localhistorian C R S Saunders, writing aeulogistic piece about the Speers in theParish magazine as late as January 1959,made no mention of Wilfred’s suspension,merely stating that he “was Incumbent atSt Nicholas Church from 1835 until 1856,the year he died.” Had the matter beencovered up?

It was not until the energetic T S Mercermentioned Wilfred’s sentence in an EsherNews article of 1966 that the case surfacedtangentially. Mercer had been researchingSpeer graves (it had struck him as odd thatWilfred was not buried in the graveyard ofhis church). He came across the sole paperon the matter that was in parish records –the transcript of the sentence which had tobe displayed on the church door. Mercermade no mention of the scandal in his‘Tales and Scandals’ books, from which Ideduce that he found nothing more, andhad not realised the depth, duration andgravity of the case, for Mercer was not aman to duck a good scandal.

I began to wonder whether somefilleting of the parish records had beendone; and, if so, just when! For Peebles inhis ‘Book of Claygate’ (published in1983) writes on p.31: “According to theminutes of Thames Ditton VestryMeetings, the proposal to establish achurch in Claygate caused considerable


25

and heated debate before the decision wasfinally taken to go ahead with theproject.”

I visited Surrey History Centre to lookat the original Minute book. I could findno such debate in it. Neither I nor, beforeme, Howard Mallinson managed to trackany other such papers down, whether hereor with the church authorities inWinchester, Guildford or Lambeth. Withthe admirable help of local churchstalwart Dennis Evans, papers remainingin the chest at St Nicholas were checkedand found to have no relation to thematter.

The parish records were handed over toSurrey in 1981. Were they ‘sanitised’first? I don’t think so. The Vestry minutebook from 1810-1837 was kept by thefaithful and long-serving parish clerk,Merser. We know from the court case thathe was still in that post in 1841. One cansee from the minute book that no pageshave been excised, and that there areblank pages at the end of it where minutescould have continued. For the present Iconclude that the unhappy clerk, facedwith a distasteful situation, simplystopped recording the proceedings – ifindeed meaningful meetings continued atall with Rev Wilfred as Chairman of theVestry ex officio, particularly after someof his Vestry had complained to theBishop.

However, it does seem likely that theaffair was regarded for years as toodreadful to mention let alone write down.Particularly so, as it was the Speer familywho remained in the parish, while theother players subsequently disconnectedfrom it.

What became of them?The Speers:

Wilfred Speer never resumed office atSt Nicholas after his suspension, althoughon paper he remained ‘perpetual curate’until he died. For fifteen years twotemporary curates held office. His fatherWilliam died in April 1844, and the burialservice was at Thames Ditton. Wilfredinherited the Lordship of the Manor ofWeston that his father had bought, andheld court. He and wife Sarah continuedto live in Thames Ditton at West EndLodge, which eventually became theManor House. On his own death in 1856his son Capt. Wilfred Dakin Speerinherited. In 1867 he was shot dead by anAmerican soldier aboard the Octavia, apaddle steamer on the Missouri River.Another son of Rev. Wilfred, William,died a year after his brother, then theSpeer estates passed via Rev. Wilfred’sspinster sister Maria Speer, to his nephew(son of his sister Cecilia) HannibalSandys, In 1871 Hannibal changed hissurname to Speer by royal warrant, tosatisfy the controlling terms of WilliamSpeer’s will. Hannibal rehabilitated thename of Speer by much publicbenevolence around Thames Ditton andWeston Green, and he is perhaps thesubject of a future article.

On Wilfred’s death, the patronage of StNicholas church was exercised by King’sCollege, the glebe lands were mortgagedand a vicarage was built, and after theshort incumbency of Rev. WilliamTalman, Rev. E H Rogers, a Fellow ofKing’s, was installed in 1860. It was asuccessful, healing and enduringappointment (and saw the eventual


26

Winter is upon us and evidence from

ARLA shows that demand for rental property

continues to soar and the number of agents

reporting more tenants than properties has reached

the highest level since records began. For tenants,

this can mean huge competition for every

property and it is vital they take steps to ensure

they are able to find a property that suits their

needs.

Be prepared to make a prompt decision With the best properties often being let quickly, it

is important to be able to make a swift and

informed decision. However, it's even more

important not to feel pressured into accepting a

property that does not fit your agreed standards -

quick decisions are different to rushed decisions.

Don't go it alone As the saying goes, a problem shared is a problem

halved, which is why it can be useful to bring a

friend or family member along to viewings for

that crucial second opinion.

Get some knowledge of the local market If you are moving to a new part of town, check it

out on foot to get a feel for the area before you

begin your search. It is also a good idea to

conduct online research into average rents for the

area to build up a picture of likely prices and

adjust your own expectations - or budget.-

Get your house in order If possible, try to get your references and deposit

ready before beginning your search to minimise

delays once you have found the property you wish

to rent.

Edgars is a SAFEagent. SAFE – “Safe

Agent Fully Endorsed” – is a mark denoting

firms that protect landlords and tenants

money through a client money protection

scheme.

• All round honest & trustworthy service

• Skilled maintenance & refurbishment team

• Thorough referencing & Rent guarantees

• Prompt feedback

• 24/7 advertising updated daily

• All inclusive & competitive fees

• Prominent location

• Good manners, courtesy and respect

• Friendly and professional service

• Licensed members of NALS: Property

Ombudsman: SAFEagent: Tenancy

Deposit Scheme My Deposits Ltd

Shelletts House

51 Portsmouth Road

Thames Ditton KT7 0SY

020 8398 8088

[email protected]

www.edgarsproperty.com

Residential Lettings

Management

Overseas Sales

Investments

Free Valuations

Honest & Professional Service

Competitive fees/ no hidden

extras

Fully Licensed and accredited


27

resumption – or retention – of vestryminutes).

The instigators:After the trial Capt. Sir Charles

Sullivan, 3rd Baronet of Thames Ditton,perhaps not feeling entirely comfortable,asked for a ship. He had been twelveyears ashore. Six months after the case hewas back at sea as captain of second-raterHMS Formidable, 84 guns. She ranaground near Barcelona and he was court-martialled in 1843. Sullivan wasadmonished, urged to be more careful infuture and acquitted. In 1844 he wasstand-in captain of HMS Queen for threemonths, then again without a commandand remained ashore for good. Moving upthe seniority list, he was promoted Rear-Admiral in 1850, Vice-Admiral in 1857and full Admiral just before his death. In1860 he announced that he was leavingthe parish, and after the sale of ImberCourt removed to Hurst House in WestMolesey where he died in 1862. Hiseldest son, named after him, succeeded tothe baronetcy, ran through the money withastonishing speed, was imprisoned fordebt a year later and died in 1865, aged 45and unmarried, just off Belgrave Square.

Of the others who joined with SirCharles in the case against Wilfred Speer,Lord William Lennox LascellesFitzgerald de Ros, a descendant ofCharles II, Captain in the Life Guards andbriefly Gentleman Usher to QueenVictoria, had inherited the barony in 1839on the death of his eldest brother Henry, ahigh-living fellow and a cheat for highstakes at cards. Born and brought up inThames Ditton, as matters came to a headhe also left the parish, moving just across

the border to Long Ditton and presumablyworshipping thereafter at St Mary’s. Ayoung member of the Duke ofWellington’s coterie, de Ros waspromoted colonel in 1846, serving brieflyas Quartermaster-General for the BritishArmy in Turkey, but for health reasonsreturned home as the army embarked forthe Crimea. He ended with the rank ofGeneral. In the Earl of Derby’s firstadministration de Ros was appointedDeputy Lieutenant of the Tower ofLondon, Captain of the Yeomen of theGuard, and made a Privy Councillor. Ifyou can find records that he saw actionunder shot and shell, I’d be glad to havethem. De Ros died in 1874 on hisFitzgerald family estate at Strangford,County Down, where he was well liked.

Capt. George Lambert, whosetestimony at the trial strikes me aspractical and fair minded, had adistinguished – and operational – navalcareer ending as a full Admiral andknighted GCB. He went back to sea inearly 1845 and when posted homethereafter he also moved out of the parish,eventually renting what remained ofNorbiton Place. He died in 1869, leavinga third generation of naval and militaryLamberts who served their country welland played a fine part in the life of thecommunity. It will be a pleasure to writeabout them. Leonard Seeley remained inWeston Green for at least another decade,but later removed to Torquay where hehad a bookshop on the Parade. When hedied there in 1876 his estate was worthless than £100.

Captain Rowland Williams of theDragoons, who with his butler memorably


28

FOR EVERYTHING

IN LUXURY

BATHROOMS & SHOWERS

• Full fi tting service available

• All heating & plumbing requirements

• Full central heating systems

• Boiler services & repairs

• Burst pipes, washing machines & dishwashers

New ShowroomNOW OPEN

122 SUMMER ROADTHAMES DITTON

SURREY KT7 0QP

020 8398 4324

FREEDESIGN&

PLANNING

SERVICE

121 ANYARDS ROAD, COBHAM, SURREY KT11 2LJTEL: 01932 866471 / 868523

Open: Monday to

Friday 8am to 5pm

Saturday 9.30amto 3pm


29

testified to drunken Wilfred mounting hishorse, only to fall over the other side, leftfor the West Indies during the trial. Herented out to General Sir John Lamberthis house in Weston Green – TheNewlands, built by his ancestors in thelate 1600s from the proceeds ofplantations in Antigua. With the abolitionof slavery, family business had taken adive. I don’t think he returned here,ending five generations’ direct associationwith Weston Green.

ConclusionsA cleric addicted to alcohol today

would meet with forgiveness from theChristian church. From society therewould be sympathy, understanding andtreatment rather than retribution. Ourtimes are less religious, more humane.

Although clearly something had to bedone about a hopelessly alcoholic vicar,the way in which Rev. Wilfred Speer waspursued to court seems hostile andmerciless, particularly in a village thathad regarded with great affection anearlier vicar said to be a toper, Rev.George Harvest, after whom Harvest Laneis named. It seems likely that not weakWilfred, but his father, William, hadexcited animosity and was the target ofspite.

In this scandal drink was not the onlydemon. Port and brandy was mixed withpower and prejudice, status and snobbery,riches, resentment, religion and revenge.A chilling and potent cocktail. With a nodto Sir Herbert Jenner ’s opinion, onresearching the years that led up to thecourt case I could find a good deal ofcircumstance to support the defence’s

contention that there was malice behindthe prosecution. The standout wasWilliam Speer’s crafty purchase of theManor of Weston (a story in itself) and hisprotracted legal dispute with the Lords ofImber over territory and rights; but theretoo are signs that he had crossed theFitzgeralds and others as well as theTaylors and Sullivans of Imber Court.Wily William had also wangled thechurch’s living – which contained a fairbit of land – for his son Wilfred. Theappointment was not greeted withunanimous support.

It may be that the witnesses in courtspoke nothing but what they believed tobe the truth. But of the fourteen whotestified against Wilfred, I can find adozen who from circumstance seemalienated by his father, else favouring theinterests of Imber Court. And of thefourteen who testified in Wilfred’ssupport, all but a couple seem to havebeen either friends of the family or insome way beholden to (or dependent on)landowner William Speer.

The scandal divided Thames Ditton,and ruptured the parish. Its cloud lastedfor years: its memory was suppressed thenforgotten for well over a century. Youmay well imagine what ordinary villagersthought as it unfolded above them and –horrors! – they were asked to take sides.And as I wandered among theirheadstones piecing events together, Icould almost see them nodding, hear themsaying: “Yes, my boy, that’s just how itwas. We thought it would never be told.”

Keith Evetts

(sources on application – run out of space)


30

The Childrenʼs Bouncy Castle Company • Family focused • Fully Insured • Reliable and trustworthy • Free local delivery and collection • Overnight hire available • Discount rates for mid week hire and multiple bookings

• Emergency call out service available • Member of BIHA Bouncy castles Ball ponds Bubble machines Garden Games & much much more t: 020 8873 6889

The Childrenʼs Bouncy Castle Company20 Boleyn Drive, West Molesey, Surrey KT8 1RD

www.thecbcc.co.uk email: [email protected]

020 8391 2662

Orthodonticsfor Children & AdultsJane Eden BDS(Lon), MSc(Lon), MOrth, RCS(Eng)Fraser McDonald BDS(Lon), MSc(Lon), PhD, MOrth, RCS(Eng)

•• Gentle and Caring Environment•• Private and NHS Practices•• Evening and Saturday Appointments

Available Privately

PRIVATE and NHS Practices:Yewhurst Weston Green Thames Ditton Surrey KT7 0JZ

NHS Practice:Oak Lane Twickenham TW1 3PH

www.weston-green-orthodontics.co.uk E-mail: [email protected]

020 8398 602724 Hour Answerphone


Twinkle Twinkle…The story behind the campaignto light up the High Street

What a difference ayear makes. Last winterSCC workmen movedin to dig up the road, tolay the cable, to powerthe lights to our historicLime Tree, swiftlyfollowed by contractorsto wind 43 strings oflights on the branches.The exercise took undera week, but cameafter years of lobbyingby the Residents’Association.

We’d have to findnearly 6K to fundthe project. OurSCC Councillor, PeterHickman, secured asmall grant, while mostof the rest was loanedby the RA in orderto achieve ‘switch on’by Christmas and Ivolunteered to organisea fund raising campaignto pay back theadvance.The communityquickly got behind me. High Streetresident Caroline James and JeremyHamilton from The Stitchery came onboard as fellow fund raisers, whilecountless more rallied round in otherways. The ‘Lights Appeal’ launched at

The Stitchery Christmas Fair at the VeraFletcher Hall and I dressed as Santa witha crown of fairy lights. This was swiftlyfollowed by fund raising posters andcollecting tins in the shop plus AndyWarhol style limited edition Lime Tree tea

31

Santa launches the Christmas lights appeal


32

towels on sale at the High StreetChristmas Fair.

But the Appeal really got going in theSpring with a series of ‘pop up’ teaparties – guests were treated to a RitzHotel style menu of finger sandwichesand home made cakes at my housetransformed into tea rooms. AndyAnderson baked delicious scones whileRA Chairman, Libby donned a lace apronalong with Lynne Sinclair, myself andCaroline playing waitresses. DavidPascoe sourced much needed teapotswhile Jeremy played dashing sommelierand Marie Poulter took charge of raffletickets.

The Secret Gardens of Thames Dittoncame next masterminded by Carolinewho sourced 10 hidden gardens,revealing the best of Thames Ditton’sgreen and pleasant land along and aroundthe High Street. On Father’s Day over300 people followed the scented trailaided by Lisa Tolley’s exquisitely drawnmap. Everyone was justly proud of oursecret gardeners.

We were on a roll. A Garden Partyheld on Wimbledon Men’s Final Day, onone of the sunniest days of the year, wasanother sell-out. We erected a big screenfor tennis and guests were entertained bythe Mariette string quartet as they tuckedinto afternoon tea, plus Pimms,strawberries and cream at thisquintessentially English event.

Joe and Evelyn McCann sponsored ournext fixture, Race Night at the George &Dragon – the pub packed with locals andvisitors, eager to place their bets. We alsostaged the raffle draw, distributing 16

fabulous prizes, generously donated bylocal High Street shops.

By Autumn, not only was the initialLime Tree Lights loan repaid, but thefund was in surplus. This Christmas mostof the High Street will be ‘switched on’with trees adorning the majority of shops,businesses and residences. The aim: Tomake Thames Ditton High Street THEdestination in Elmbridge to take thefamily to view the Christmas Lights. Ourfinal fund raiser in early December is aQuiz Night at the Vera Fletcher Hall.Here we are raffling an exquisite paintingof the Lime Tree lit up at night bycelebrated artist, Alan Hepburn, paintedespecially for the Lights Appeal, with thefinal draw taking place at The High StreetChristmas Fair.

Lighting up our High Street isn’t justabout brightening our village, it has aserious message too. Thames Ditton hasfantastic independent retailers whichneed our support and this magnificentshow of lights will act as a beacon now,and in the future, of what can be achievedwhen a community pulls together.

This initiative is just the beginning.Next year we plan to deck the street withflags to celebrate the Queen’s GoldenJubilee and The Olympics. We want tosee Thames Ditton High Street as a ‘mustvisit’ destination to enjoy the shops, thecafes, the post office and the pubs. Wewant to attract more like minded retailersand businesses to put our village well andtruly on the map. This isn’t just anotherstreet. It is the heart of our community.

Tricia W. Bland


33

Long Ago and Far Away

A friend recently sent to me inAustralia a cutting from ‘S’ Magazine. Itfeatured a report by Tricia Bland aboutThames Ditton and the Residents’Association. Reading it triggeredmemories: I was involved with theTDRA over forty years ago.

What struck me about her article washow similar, between then and now, havebeen the battles to retain the desirablecharacter and integrity of the village.Traffic and parking problems, the threatof unsympathetic building development,and the curse of graffiti… we weredealing with the same issues then. To

give an idea of the period, I once spentmost of one Saturday helping to scrub‘US out of Vietnam’ off the bridge onStation Road!

I became Chairman of the Associationand amongst the many events that cometo mind were the fight to stop yellowlines along the High Street, our “Plant aTree in 73” efforts, cleaning rubbish fromthe ponds at Weston Green and the greatparties we held.

The campaign against yellow lines waswaged because the High Street was beingused increasingly as a rat run, morningsand evenings, and the Association argued

April 1973: cleaning out Marney's Pond are David Hilbury, Ruth Lyon, Christopher Beavis,Brian Stacey and young helpers


34

that to introduce a no-stopping clearwaywould allow vehicles through at moredangerous speeds.

To back our concern, we mounted atraffic survey and volunteers countedvehicles at every entry and exit point.Our argument to Surrey County Councilwas that the slower traffic had to move,the more of a deterrent it would be tomotorists and safer for pedestrians. Theonly time I remember the sound of trafficbeing silenced was when the River Moleburst its banks and flooded the HighStreet!

The tree planting we undertook wasour response to the Dutch Elm diseasethat changed the landscape. It was sad,for example, to watch the lovely oldtree at the entrance to Boyle Farmgradually succumb. Nothing could bedone to save it.

A main, on-going effort for theAssociation was, as now, keeping closetabs on building applications. Back thenwe had some serious matters to confront:the Milk Marketing Board offices stillloomed over Giggs Hill Green and ACCars was still a factory in the middle ofthe village – two large sites ripe forredevelopment.

I look back fondly on those days.What brought us all together was a senseof belonging to a place clearly definedby its boundaries. And with thatcommunity spirit we certainly knew howto enjoy ourselves! From the late ‘60sa Christmas party was held, with home-made food and decorations. Eighthouseholds took on the roasting of theturkeys.

In 1974 we also held a Summer Ballto celebrate the Association’s 40thbirthday. That fun evening sticks in mymind because the friend who drew theraffle announced winning ticket coloursas ‘ecru’ and ‘aqua’, and called outimaginary prizes such as “A Weekend inParis!” And with a final flourish sheoffered to kiss all the men who had notwon anything. A long queue quicklyformed.

Another activity was the Magazine,produced by a printing method verydifferent from today’s advancedtechnology. As its editor for a couple ofyears it was gratifying to receivecomment from readers. My largestpostbag was in response to my “DearRover” letter about fouling thepavements.

In her magazine article, Triciamentioned the lights on the lime tree onthe roundabout (I can remember when itwas quite small!). The first Christmastree we set up was planted in a dustbinoutside Fern Cottage Antiques. Thecoloured lights went out every time agust of wind blew the tree over and itbecame disconnected.

Happy days! And I hope that everyonenow living in Thames Ditton loves theirneighbourhood as much as we did then.

Merry Christmas to you all from

Christopher BeavisSydney, Australia


Neutering the Language

35

The BBC faces revolt from leadingpresenters over suggestions that theyshould use religiously neutral termsinstead of “BC” or “AD,” to avoidcausing offence to non-Christians, orheathens as they used to be known. BCE(Before Common Era) and ACE arekosher approved substitutes. The BBCdenies that there has been officialminuting, but there’s no smoke withoutfire…

I lunched a young contact in the Beebto find out what’s going on. “It’s one ofour exciting, imaginative and innovativeoutreach focus themes partnering with thecitizen,” she yawned over a pot noodle,“and no manager was ever promoted forkeeping something that has workedperfectly well for a millennium or two.”

Other terms of date and time will besimilarly treated to placate the godless.‘January’, provocatively named after thetwo-faced Roman god Janus, will become‘Jobbery,’ which has received approvalfrom No. 10. ‘February’, aptly from theRoman god of the dead, Februus, will bechanged to the irreligious ‘Mortuary’.‘March’ is named after Mars, the god ofwar, and should be changed both onreligious grounds and for incitement toviolence, “But there’s been fierce fightingin the Corporation over candidates toreplace it.”

‘May’ may stem from Maiesta, theRoman goddess of reverence and majesty.

“That seems to wind the Druids up noend.” ‘June’, after the goddess Juno,protector and special advisor of the state,is another problem. “We consideredderiving something from the Office forBudgetary Responsibility,” admitted mycompanion, “but failed amid generallaughter.”

‘July’, formerly the old Roman‘Quintilis’, is the month in which JuliusCaesar was born, and was named afterhim in the year of his assassination.“Military dictators are unfashionable. Itneeds updating – perhaps, retaining theItalian theme, to ‘Capello’.” ‘August’,formerly Sextilis and renamed forEmperor Augustus, is another monthcausing the BBC call centre to leave youon hold while they handle a deluge ofcomplaints, albeit mostly about theweather. As it is now the eighth month itshould probably be renamed ‘October.’

Television Centre – the oracle


3636

R U S S E L L - C O O K E || SOL IC I TORS

Specialist services for companies & individuals

including wills & estate planning, conveyancing,

family law, criminal litigation, tax advice,

employment and personal injury

www.russell-cooke.co.uk

Bishop’s Palace House

Kingston Bridge

Kingston-upon-Thames

Surrey KT11QN

T 020 8546 6111


37

September through December were theseventh, eighth, ninth and tenth months inthe old Roman calendar. Really confusingto modern Gregorians. LogicallySeptember should become November,October becomes December, Novembergoes to Undecember and December willnow be Duodecember. That should clearthings up.

The days of the week cause a gooddeal of religious controversy. “Take‘Sunday’ – the Sun god, for example. Lessoffensive and more descriptive would be‘Rainday’ or ‘Hangover’.” But ‘Monday’,celebrating the goddess of the moon, isthe day most complained about. “Themenstrual cycle’s ruled out as inspirationbecause half the population don’tunderstand it. Nick Clegg suggestedsomething based on alarm clocks or work,possibly ‘Trainday’.” Then we have‘Tuesday.’ Tiw (Tyr) is the Norse god ofsingle combat: “How offensive is that?!He is generally portrayed as a one-handed man, however, so any change willhave to preserve the disability.”

‘Wednesday’ or Woden’s-day is for theNorse Father of the Gods. Along with‘Thursday’ (Thor, the god of thunder andDIY engineering), that will have to bechanged. As for ‘Friday’ – named forFreya, wife of Woden and the goddess ofmarried love, “the management worriesthat the name may offend non-Nordicreligions and the vast number of licenseeswho perform unmarried love.” Saturdayis Saturn’s day, god of seed-time andfertility (the One Night Stand), and rulerof the Titans, a celestial football team.“The public will be consulted aboutsuitable changes, and then ignored.”

“Easter is, well, a thorny problem,which has the telephone humming withoffended heathens and Christians alike.”The Bede says it is derived from Eostre,the goddess whose festival of fertility atthe vernal equinox was celebrated by thepagan Anglo-Saxons in appropriate – nowwholly inappropriate – style. “‘Eunuch’has been suggested by feminists as aneutral replacement.”

And that brings us to ‘Christmas.’“Reversion to the Nordic Yule or theRoman Saturnalia has been ruled out,obviously” she said. “This protracted andoffensive festival, with its connotations ofdarkness, taxation, extramaritalrelationships and illegitimacy, sleepingrough in stables, rich business donorsseeking favour, and the massacre of theinnocents, not to mention the socialbaggage it has acquired of drink, duty,debt, disputes, divorce and even death,will be renamed ‘Giftmas.’ All referencesto Christmas on telly will be scrupulouslyneutralised.” Hard hit is the broadcastFestival of Nine Lessons and Carols fromKing’s College with its in-your-facepolemic of peace and goodwill, seen asextremely provocative by certainreligions.

“So now you know the full story,”ended my helpful friend over thecappuccino. “This year, Giftmas falls onHangover 25th Duodecember 2011 ACEand Everyone Will Be Happy.

Don’t forget my present!”

Tom Bowdler


TREE SURGERYLOYNTON & CO

TREE SURGEONS

FULLY QUALIFIED FULLY INSURED(Royal Forestry Society)

ALL TREE WORK UNDERTAKEN INCLUDING:-• STUMP GRINDING • FELLING • CROWN REDUCTION •

• THINNING • HEDGEROWS • PLANTING•FOR A FREE QUOTE PLEASE CALL

Office: 01276 855211Mobile: 07796 548 437

WE ALSO OFFER A GARDEN CLEARANCE SERVICE

38

BIRCH RIDDLE & CO. LTD.

Chartered Accountants

A personal local practice in Weston Green offeringfriendly service at competitive rates

* Tax Returns * Accounts Preparation* Tax Advice * Company Formations & Accounts* Executorship * Payroll* VAT Returns * Budgets & Cash Flow

Please call Brian Riddle or Graham Birch with no obligationfor a free first interview on 020 8398 3122 or 020 8398 6303

or visit our website at www.birchriddle.co.ukRegulated for a range of investment business activities by

the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.


39

THE THEATRE IN THAMES DITTON

Friday 13 January 7.30 pmCharles Court Opera:

BEOWULF – the pantomimeA riotous pantomime turning the Olde Englishlegend on its head. Toe tapping routines and

musical treats from pop to opera, with some of theUK’s best young opera talent.

Time Out Critics Choice Four Stars ****.Tickets £12.50

andSaturday 14 January 7.00 for 7.30 pm

Charles Court Opera:BEOWULF panto and supper

sponsored by Dairy Crest.Tickets £33 including 3 course supper in aid of the

Thames Ditton Hospital Appeal.from Karen Randolph 020 8398 5005

Friday 3 February 8.00 pmCONCERT

Katalin Csillagh (piano) Nicola Smedley (flute) SagiHartov (cello)

Three outstanding world class musicians play triosand solos including works by Haydn, Liszt

and Chopin.Tickets £11 (under 16 years free)

Friday 10 February 8.00 pmOpera Playhouse

Pippa Longworth and Karl DaymondBUM NOTES AND SLIDING SCALES

High Art with Low Comedy! International operasingers Pippa Longworth and Karl Daymond

present an hilarious programme of your favouritearias, duets and sketches from the world of opera.

Tickets £11

Sunday 26 February 7.30 pm Strictly SundayThe Linden Wind Orchestra

FAVOURITES OF STAGE AND SCREENThe South East’s premier concert band with the

music of Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Eric Coates plusBroadway showstoppers, Ron Goodwin’s 633

Squadron…Tickets £9 (under 16 years free)

www.verafletcherhall.co.uk

Saturday 3 March 8.00 pmCONCERT

Benjamin Frith (piano) Sagi Hartov (cello)World class prize winning musicians play works

including Beethoven’s 12 Variations on“See the conqu’ring hero comes” from Handel’sJudas Maccabaeus and Chopin’s Cello Sonata

in G minor Op. 65.Tickets £12 (under 16 years free)

Sunday 11 March 7.30 pm Strictly SundayTHE NEW FOXTROT SERENADERS

Dance Band Music from the 1920s to 1940s –Bessie Smith, George Gershwin, Jelly Roll Morton,

Hoagy Carmichael, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin…Tickets £9 (under 16 years free)

Friday 23 March 7.30 pmThe Award-Winning Rosemary Branch Theatre

in association with Tennison’s Quirkand Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

SENSE AND SENSIBILITYJane Austen’s classic story of two sisters and their

search for love in a society bound by financialfortune. Elinor keeps her head, Marianne loses herheart in this comedy of manners and marriage, with

beautiful imagery, original music, humour andheartbreak.

Tickets £12.50

YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRESaturday 4 February 2.30 pm

Cornelius & JonesTHE VICTORIAN TOY THEATRE

The paper puppets of a Victorian theatre set off onan adventure in bustling London streets meeting

hawkers and traders with puppetry, magic lanterns,music and dance.For 5—11 years

Tickets £6

Tickets for all shows fromJoan Leifer Tel: 0844 884 8832

and Bradley + Brown, 50 High Street,Thames Ditton

AT THE VERA FLETCHER HALL


40

Winter CrosswordBy Michael Jackson

The first three correctentries randomly openedafter the closing date of7 February 2012 will win a£5 voucher to spend in localshops.

Please send the completedpuzzle (or photocopy)enclosing your name andaddress, with the envelopeclearly marked ‘CrosswordCompetition’, to:

Thames Ditton TodayCrossword Competition6 Church WalkThames DittonKT7 0NW

ACROSS6. ‘Welcome’ – Table set, ginger rum punch

warming (9)8. He’ll get the sack at Christmas (5)9. A good host dislikes seeing these… (5)

10. Fruit sauce and jelly (9)13. Foods that sustain (8)14. Dad hears cork going… (3)17. Spaniel with red and white coat (5,8)18. Bird in the music school (3)19. …learning this dance after the allemande? (8)22. You look real cute in hat and dress (9)23. John … Italian navigator (5)25. Falstaff's drink? (5)26. Instrument on board Earl’s boat at sea (9)

DOWN1. Sweet smell of spices (5)2. How the house is heated inside (9)3. Trap of Dutch origin (3)4. …and ale, a pleasure of life (5)5. It’s all right at sea (9)7. From Spain great red wines enliven ‘get

togethers’ (6,7)11. Promoting growth (8)12. Describing H.R.H on big elephant’s howdah?

(8)15. You can see a butterfly crawl back in these (9)16. Pleasing to the mind (9)20. Plant found in the brush (5)21. An exploding Meringue, sponge and cream?

(5)24. Attempt to finish (3)


41


,daoRmahsrrseH141 ahTnonotlaW

,ertneCmahsrrseHehT mahsrrseH

4--34 ,tnecserreCehT24 daehrehtaeL

LANOISSEFORP CTIK

bdnaseidutsesaC

sedyberoom.www

sem 2442252 9301:T

7690372 9301:T

8983382 3701:T

NGISEDNEHC

...eruhcorb

ku.oc.ngis

42

G A R D E N M A I N T E N A N C E , C L E A R A N C E &

D E S I G N A T A F F O R D A B L E

R A T E S

We can provide total garden clearances’,

regular garden maintenance, garden

design, fencing & paving, to help create…..

(and keep) the garden you’ve always

wanted.

Why not give us a call or drop us an e-mail

to see what we can do for you?

Phone: 020-8398-7219 Mobile: 07867-590-450

E-mail: [email protected]


43

Solution to the Autumn Crosswordby Maureen Willcox

Congratulations to the first threecontestants whose correct entrieswere opened after the deadline.Each wins a £5 Voucher forspending in any Thames Ditton orWeston Green shop.

R. Dayton51 Angel RoadThames Ditton KT7 0AZ

Madeline Pawell91 Speer RoadThames Ditton KT7 0PT

Ms. Jo Dunstone57 Warwick GardensThames Ditton KT7 0RB

43


SERVICES

Cheer (Concern and Help for East Elmbridge Retired) Harry Livesey 01372 474555Dittons and Weston Green Neighbourcare Avril Ashworth 020 8398 5161Elmbridge Borough Council Community Support ServicesInformation, Meals Services, CommunityTransport, Bus Permits 01372 474552/4Elmbridge Community Alarm Service 01372 474560Elmbridge Relief Carers Scheme 01372 474547Thames Ditton Centre for the Retired Mon & Thurs 020 8398 5921

Tues Wed Fri 020 8398 3772Esher and District Stroke Club Ann Pollock 020 8398 6132Voluntary Action Elmbridge Mrs Carole Roycroft 01372 463587Surrey Youth and Adult Education Service Elmbridge Area 020 8979 8334M.D.H.S. Household Services (& garden tidying) Carolyn Smart (Manager) 01932 248533

GROUPS

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 Mrs J Epps 020 8395 05951st Weston Green Rainbows Mrs Helen Hill 020 8398 31354th Thames Ditton Ajax Sea Scouts Alison Derrick 020 8398 0041Dittons Scout Group Laura Clarke 0208 398 3447Coffee and chat (United Reformed Church) Mrs. E. Barker 01372 467491Emberbrook Trefoil Guild Mrs. Adrienne Nealing 020 8398 5582Friends of Bushey and Home Parks Jean Smith 020 8977 9391Friends 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]

CLUBS

Albany Motor Yacht Club Secretary 01784 466651Arts 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 07710 139417Dittons & 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


45

Ember Sports Club Mrs. Pauline Wareham 020 8979 8977Ember Sports Club: Bowls Sylvia Jones 01932 788701Ember Sports Club: Croquet Dr. David Cooke 01932 862841Ember Sports Club: Tennis Annabel Duncan 0208 786 6318Esher Bowling Club Roger Cooper 01372 468109Esher Bridge Centre Paul Whicker 01372 460157Esher Camera Club Billy Buchanan 020 8398 3169Esher 41 and Ex-Round Tablers' Club Dr. R. Tudor-Williams 020 8398 0108Folk Dance Club Pam Phillips 01372 373745Hinchley Wood / Dittons PROBUS Club Geoff Francis 01932 867771Long 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) Jill Cotter 020 8398 4598Old 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 0208 398 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 4358

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 Chris Walker (Sec) 0208 398 6651Esher and District Amnesty International Secretary [email protected] Court Way Allotment Association Lettings: John Morgan 020 8398 3049Lynwood Allotment Society Louise Flaig 020 8398 7704Molesey 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 8615

OTHER

Cancer Research UK Mrs. Vivienne Harris 020 8398 6787Elmbridge Fairtrade Network Judy Porter 020 8398 6401University of the Third Age (U3A) Hon Sec Anne Brown 01932 881633Vera Fletcher Hall Lettings: Helen Mason 08456 528 529

Membership: Sue Morris 020 8224 0980

Please contact the Editor to amend these listings


46

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 ʼBuy with Confidence ̓Scheme

No call out charge and no minimum charge, free written estimates,

one year parts and 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]

If you’re online then you'll have plentyof information about scams, distractionburglaries and mis-selling. If you do nothave a computer, you may be less wellbriefed. Rogues are targeting the moreelderly offline and doing so in moresophisticated ways. It’s getting worse.

It’s impossible to cover all scams asthere is boundless scope for evil creativity –watch those programmes on the TV. Butthere are some general principles whichwill reduce the likelihood that they’ll makea mug of you.

Only deal with people you call or writeto: don’t accept initiatives out of the blue.If they phone you, immediately ask fortheir name and number to call back (90% ofdubious callers won’t give these details).Even if they pretend to be your bank or theCouncil (and some do), then ask phonecallers or callers at your door to write toyou with their proposition. If they aren’tgenuine, they are unlikely to write. If theydo write, it still doesn’t mean they aregenuine!

Check them out before you allow thingsto go any further. If you don’t have acomputer, get a friend to look them up onthe internet.

Don’t take ‘emergencies’ at face value(unless you can see for yourself that it

really is one). Don’t allow unknown peopleinto your home and out of your sight.Check their credentials and phone theiroffice. Be wary of distractions by burglars.Never give out bank or other financialinformation, or information that can beused by another to validate their posing asyou. There’s a scam where “your bank”telephones you and sends a courier to collectyour bank card. Another where the “InlandRevenue” contacts you to ask for your bankdetails, to make a small “refund.” Be alert ifyou are asked to front up a small payment.

Signal that you don’t accept cold callers:get a sticker for the door (call 03456626520). Register free with the TelephonePreference Service on 0845 070 0707 toreduce (but not eliminate) cold calling.Register with the Mailing PreferenceService on 0845 703 4599 to reduce junkmailshots. Opt out of the public version ofthe electoral register. If you have questions,call Elmbridge council and ask to speak tothe Community Safety team. If approachedby alarm or security salesmen, ask them towrite, then you should contact the localCrime Prevention Officer for advice.

We’ll have some day-to-day stories in afuture issue. Meanwhile, try not to feed thewolves – it’s you they are after!

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.

Regular health checks willensure a longer, healthier

and happier life.

Ring now to book 020 8398 4752

A307 Portsm

outh Road

Hampton Court Way

Weston Green

Weston Park

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 9191Mobile: 07836 608086www.ariesconstruction.co.uk

Email: [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

62846_BC_SPRING Cover 2005 23/11/2010 15:00 Page 1

Documents

ThisChristmas… · remind you of the Christmas Fair (evening of 7 December) and the Christmas Party (10 December). Details were in the Autumn issue – call or look at our website