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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

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62846_ISFC_SPRING inside Cover 2005 24/11/2010 16:07 Page 1

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Winter 2010

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

Distribution ManagerDavid Youd6 Riversdale Road,Thames Ditton KT7 0QL020 8398 3216

Advertisement ManagerVerity Park20 Portsmouth AvenueThames Ditton KT7 0RT020 8398 5926

ContributorsYou are welcome to submitarticles or images. Please contactthe Editor well in advance of thenext deadline on 1 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

The Big Christmas Shop ………………………………… 15

Sold out, sold on – Thames Ditton Cottage Hospital …… 19

Snow Free paths ………………………………………… 23

Know Your Residents' Councillors: Tannia ……………… 29

Thames Ditton Centre - How's it Going?………………… 31

Ring-Necked Parakeets ………………………………… 35

The Theatre in the Village (programme) ………………… 39

Winter Crossword ……………………………………… 41

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

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

By Hook or Crook ……………………………………… 46

Cover photo: Keith Evetts. Cyclamen hederifolium bloomsfrom October through the Christmas season.It does very well in the garden around here, soplant out after Christmas rather than throwingthem away. A spot shaded in summer, sunny inwinter is good.

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.

62846_Thames Ditton SPRING 2005 26/11/2010 16:32

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the next residents’ association open meeting isTUESDAY 8 FEBRUARY (AND AGM TUESDAY 22 MARCH) 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

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News From the Residents’ Association

13 September – 18 November

Home of CompassionThis important listed building has been

the target of vandalism and repeated theftof materials during the two years it hasremained unoccupied and boarded up,with garden unkempt, and the wallingclose to the river in a tumbledown state.Unsurprisingly it came to the notice of theserial squatters who last year occupiedRavens Ait and they seized possession ofit over the weekend of 16/17 October.They attempted to justify the squat by theneed for resident caretaking and byoffering use of the premises forcommunity activities, and tried to opennegotiation with the owners, CaringHomes, to regularise their position.

The squatters appear to represent amiscellany of small ideologically orspiritually-motivated groups fromanarchists to ecologists via various socialconcerns. Several of them have jobs andskills, and accommodation elsewhere,while others are said to be homeless.Their leaders presented their views withcivility and intelligence which made animpression on residents who talked tothem. However, there was widespreadlocal condemnation of the unlawfulmeans used to promote their ends, andcynicism when online squatters’ manualswere found to advocate just the sort of PRcampaigns to allay local suspicions whichtheir leadership, clearly no stranger tomedia manipulation, was pursuing. Caring

Homes went to court and obtained apossession order, and the squatters wereevicted peacefully on 18 November.Meanwhile the credibility of thesquatters as self-styled ‘caretakers’ wasput in doubt by parties at the Home thatled to complaints about noise andantisocial behaviour from residentsliving nearby.

Despite the legal position quite a fewresidents took advantage of the squat’soffer to tour the building and reported thatits interior was in a poor state. The Home,formerly Boyle Farm, is close to the heartof Thames Ditton in every sense and there


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is a clear and legitimate public interestthat these historic listed buildings beproperly cared for. The Association’soverriding concern is for the buildings’proper preservation both now and in thefuture, whoever is in ownership oroccupation, and we have impressed thatupon squatters and owners alike. Ourofficers and councillors have been inclose touch with Elmbridge BoroughCouncil whose officials have again visitedthe buildings. An excellent and robustletter has been addressed to CaringHomes by EBC’s Head of Town Planning,detailing steps that must be taken urgentlyto inspect the building and remedy defectsthat currently render it vulnerable and atrisk, and citing the local authority’spowers to enforce works, which areconsiderable.

For their part, CaringHomes have reaffirmed inpublic that it remains theirintention to develop thebuilding as a commercialcare home when financialcircumstances permit. Themost recent report andaccounts of the parentcompany, Myriad Health -care, show the company tobe very substantially in debt.

Registered covenants onthe property exercised byBoyle Farm Estate Ltd.restrict its use to a privatedwelling house or a carehome which may be eithercharitable or commercial.Elmbridge officials emphasisethat with an ageing

population in Surrey, there remains apriority need for such facilities in this partof Elmbridge.

The Association in liaison with theCouncil and with Boyle Farm residentswill remain very closely engaged with theissue.

Floods and DrainsContinued heavy lifting by the

Association’s councillors is makingmeaningful progress to resolve issuesconcerning Esher station flooding and,with Andrew Roberts our Highwaysconvenor lending pressure on ThamesWater and Network Rail, the ‘lake’ byThames Ditton Infant School.

Following great pressure from WestonGreen councillor Tannia Shipley and ourcounty councillor Peter Hickman in the

Esher station bridge


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wake of two floods within five days inearly October under Esher station bridge,Surrey Highways finally conceded thattheir remaining action point on theextensive 2-mile system of drains, ditchesand culverts that contribute to the drainingaround Esher station really had to be doneas a matter of urgency. SCC official CarolWalker found some funding, and thesubstantial culvert under the Long Archbridge – a large Victorian affaircompletely blocked for ages – was finallycleared out manually with subsequentjetting of the part under the road. We’renot saying that this “will solve theproblem,” but it is a major step that hastaken an enormous amount of effort byTannia and Peter to get officials to take.SCC have also been clearing the ditchesagain along Station Road Weston Green –it requires continuing toil to get action onregular maintenance as well as theoccasional unblocking ‘spectacular.’

As for the ‘lake’ in Speer Road by theInfants’ School: Andrew Roberts’persistent pressure on Network Rail andThames Water has resulted in both thoseorganisations agreeing to schedule worksurgently on the sewer and culvert thatform part of the onward drainage system.Thames Water scheduled the clearing oftheir sewer for Friday 12 November butas yet we have no confirmation the jobwas done. Network Rail are applying forfunding and hope to clear their culvert inJanuary. Peter reports that Carol has againmanaged to find some funding and raiseda works order to clear their part of theexisting drainage system when ThamesWater have cleared their sewer, and to digand install a new drain and gully from apoint near the end of Church Walk (the

low point where the lake forms) to thecentral sewer in Speer Road.

Our thanks to Carol for her positiveresponse on these matters and we hopethat finally the job will be done very soon.

Imber CourtThe non-profit-making Metropolitan

Police Sports Club has nurtured andserviced sports facilities at Imber Courtfor 80 years, ploughing all revenues backinto the club and grounds. It is animportant and valued sporting facility forthe local community and amateur sportsclubs in this area as well as theMetropolitan Police. However, its futureis uncertain following systematic pressurefrom the Metropolitan Police Authority toforce it to sign a short lease oncommercial terms without the right torenew. The Club’s legal advisers haveadvised against so signing away theClub’s rights established by charitablecustom and practice. The MPA hascountered by serving writs for costs onthe Club’s committee.

Some have inferred that theMetropolitan Police’s actions may stemfrom a wish to clear the way for eventualsale of lands at Imber Court. On threeoccasions in the past five years the MPAhas applied to change the status of theselands from Green Belt to land suitable forhousing development. This causesconcern both among the many users of theClub’s sporting facilities in the localcommunity and among residents whowish to preserve the Green Belt. We havetherefore been keeping a very close eyeon the position. Councillor Tannia Shipleyreports from Elmbridge’s Head ofPlanning that the Council has no plan to


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change Imber Court’s status in the draft‘Core Strategy’ paper on the Borough’shousing needs until 2026. This documentis expected to be approved by theSecretary of State in a few months.

The working conclusion is that thefuture of the Green Belt at Imber Courtremains under a potential threat, but thatthis is some years away from coming to ahead.

Parking consultationSurrey’s long-postponed statutory

consultation with the public on theirparking proposals for Thames Ditton(including areas east of the PortsmouthRoad) is now expected to take placetowards the end of December. Theproposals mainly consist of yellow linesto prevent obstruction at known choke-points; curfew parking along one side ofBasingfield Road; a passing-place in theHigh Street and another along Watts Roadat the junction with Linden Close; andeight short-term shopper bays in the HighStreet with a few more along SummerRoad. The only remaining point whichseems very controversial is Surrey’sproposal to make the shopper bays Payand Display, with ticket machines. This isunnecessary and counter-productive. Thesystem without machines at Winter’sBridge works very well. It is hoped that inresponding to the eventual consultation,residents will resist that aspect of theproposals. Keep an eye on our websiteand notice-boards for further news.

Albany ReachCouncil officials presented the results

of their second trial without litter bins atour Open Meeting of 9 November. Their

preference was for the Reach to remainwithout bins. After a wide discussion witharguments on both sides, those presentvoted by a clear majority for bins to bereinstated. This had earlier been theunanimous view of the Association’sExecutive too. The officials conceded thatbins would be replaced along the Reach.Their precise type and location would befor further consideration. There wouldalso be consideration of improvedsignage. There was discussion ofovernight camping by anglers.Representatives of the local anglinggroups made constructive suggestions andthe Council officials will look at betterenforcement of the existing by-lawforbidding the erection of tents. Arepresentative of Surbiton anglers pointedto Broadwater Lake in Godalming as anexample of a carp-fishing venue wherethis had been achieved and shelter limitedto umbrellas. Officials will investigate.

The constructive engagement ofthe Thames Angling Conservancy,representatives of which have also beenvisiting the reach in the warmer months toremove litter, flotsam and jetsam, waswelcomed. It has become clear that muchof the litter is left along the Reach byinconsiderate youths and picnickers –who with the bins removed have hadnowhere to leave their litter.

PlanningThe proposal to build on land at 15

Queens Drive was unanimously rejectedby Elmbridge’s East Area PlanningCommittee on 8 November. Amongreasons given by the Committee were thatthe building proposed was too big, out ofkeeping, and involved “garden grabbing.”

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Two residents working with the ownersof 29-31 High Street have outlinedproposals for a development of those twobuildings to provide up to four retail unitsand seven studio flats in an attractivemews-style development. They broachedthese ideas at an Open Meeting and aresubmitting plans to Elmbridge. Anelement of their thinking, which hasgenerally been welcomed by residents, isto open up a path from Ashley Road carpark to Hawkes Yard. Elmbridge’splanning officers will consider the plansagainst the previous reasons for rejectingearlier, separate plans for the twobuildings which were higher in aspect,more developed and with reduced ground-floor retail space.

The developers of the old Harrow sitehave submitted yet another applicationwhich shuffles around some proposedfeatures but still does not address the realissues of scale, mass and an overbearingaspect abutting the Green Belt of WestonGreen which led to Inspectors upholdingElmbridge’s refusal of permission.Residents are therefore maintaining theirobjections. Government Planning Policyis about to change, which will preventdevelopers constantly going to appeal totake decision making away from localneighbourhoods. The outcome for this sitewill set a precedent for future localdevelopment nearby and it is importantthat it meets legitimate planning concerns.

Following Elmbridge’s refusal of yetanother application to change use of oneof our village shops, at 71 High Street, toresidential flats, the landlord is appealingagainst the decision. The loss of the smallshops which keep alive the High Street

and prevent it becoming a soulless mix ofdormitory and offices was precipitous,until about 20 years ago a local schoolgirlwrote a seminal piece of research inThames Ditton Today. The Residents’Association and its councillors have sincetaken a very strong line of resistance tothis insidious and irretrievable loss ofretail space.

The refurbished flats in the 1970sinstitutional wing at The Newlands,formerly for the elderly, are now on themarket without similar restriction. Cllr.Tannia Shipley, who over the past severalmonths has thoroughly delved into theplanning and other history of thebuildings at The Newlands, reports thatthe planning permission granted in 1970for the erection of 2 extensions to thelisted building, to provide 38 flatlets forthe elderly, was subject to a number ofconditions. The second condition waspersonal to the applicant – Esher RotaryHousing Association – and stated that‘this permission shall endure solely forthe benefit of the present applicants’. Thematter was not re-examined nor was anew permission issued, personal orotherwise, by the Planning Staff of theday when the Rosemary SimmonsMemorial Housing Association Ltd tookon the buildings with continuingprovision for the elderly some 34 yearsago. The original condition, having beentechnically breached for such a longperiod, has thus become defunct andElmbridge Borough Council cannotenforce it.

Plans to overdevelop land behind theoff-licence at 96 Thorkhill Road havemet with considerable resistance. The

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Association supports the manylocal residents objecting toproposals judged inappropriate andout of keeping with the situation.

Christmas LightsApproved by members at our

Open Meeting, the Associationwill match some funding fromSurrey in the shape of PeterHickman’s local SCC allowancefor minor works, and makeavailable an interest-free loan, sothat power can be supplied toThames Ditton’s Octagon andproper lights installed on the limetree for the festive season. The all-up cost is likely to be of the orderof £4,000. The aim is to brightenthe place up and support our smallshops who keep the heart of thevillage beating.

With retailers, the Associationis mounting a fundraisingcampaign to repay the loan. You’llsee posters and collecting tins inthe shops for your change, andwe’re planning a series of funevents in the village starting withthe Fair and continuing throughout nextSpring and Summer. We hope thatresidents will get involved and be asgenerous as they can be in donating to theappeal. Let’s light up the tree!

The Christmas Fair will be at 6 p.m.on Wednesday 8 December.

The Friends of Thames Ditton Hospitalare putting on Charles Court Opera’sChristmas Pantomime “Robin Hood”on Saturday 15 January at the VeraFletcher Hall in aid of the Thames Ditton

Hospital Appeal. Young professionalsingers described as a “spunky littletroupe” by Opera Now return withanother smash hit which Time Out Criticsrated as four star entertainment. Ticketsincluding a 3 course dinner are £32 fromKaren Randolph on 020 8398 5005.

And finally: a Merry Christmas to allour readers. May the New Year usher inbrighter times ahead for the nation, and inparticular for this delightful corner ofEngland.


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Alice, Tricia and Heidi Bland rattle tins outside theGeorge to raise money for the lights. Who could resist!

(photo by Blands).


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The Big Christmas Shop– in little Thames Ditton

We’ve all been there. You’rein the car drumming your fingerson the wheel as you sit waiting inthe queue that stretches for thewhole three miles from ThamesDitton to Kingston. Or you’restruggling through centralLondon futilely trying to forceyour way through the Christmascrowds towards Harrods to buygoodies for your family andfriends, only to return on theTube crushed between otherfraying shoppers, giving up thehunt for the perfect gift, defeatedwithout the slightest hint of awarm, festive feeling.

What people don’t realise is that thesewinter-time traumas could be avoidedsimply by doing their shopping locallyand that actually, the local high-street isabundant in gift opportunities, as well asproffering a much more pleasant shoppingexperience overall. Why wait around intraffic jams, only to give up after an hourand return home, when you could do it alllocally, so that instead of being stuck inthe jams, you can walk past them andlaugh?

Believe it or not, this cosy little villageand the closely surrounding areas canprove particularly fruitful in the lead up toChristmas. The high-street Christmas hotspots include Stitchery, which sells allmanner of trinkets and gifts perfect for

Christmas, including individual gourmetchocolates which you can choose yourselfto create a personal box of chocolates forsomebody. A gift much more appreciatedthan just a box of your standard brandedchocolates you could pick up in anysupermarket.

Bradley and Brown, with a shop inThames Ditton and another in BridgeRoad, Hampton Court, is also a brilliantplace for buying imaginative and artisticgifts ideal for Christmas. This is perhapsthe most wonderful thing about shoppingfor presents locally: the individuality ofall the shops and the gifts you can find inthem, whereas just opting for one of thelarger shopping centres and towns doesnot leave much room for creativity in

time to put my feet up… (photo by Claudia)


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your gift-giving, and everybody ends upjust buying the same generic presentsfrom chain stores. Don’t forget too thatbuying all of your presents from thosechains means that your money is onlygoing to the larger companies with theirexpensive displays and advertising, andnot to smaller businesses which keep yourlocal high-street alive.

For presents with character and a storybehind them, Ember Antiques boastssome beautiful antiques of all varieties,which would make a change from theusual book or DVD. The jewellers,Assimi, also on Thames Ditton high-streetis a rather obvious go-to for Christmaspresents if you’re buying for a femalerelative or friend. It has a beautiful arrayof fine, hand-crafted jewellery from asilversmith who’s made things for theQueen. So you don’t need to go furtherthan the village to buy top jewellery for

your special someone. Or even…yourself!

The gift shops and the jewellers are theobvious places to buy presents, andrightly so; however don’t be tempted tojust opt for the obvious, as there are manyshops which would not typically be seenas great Christmas shoppingopportunities. In fact, you’d be surprised.Take the Thames Ditton Boots pharmacyfor example, not an obvious one, butactually it’s a great place to buy girlystocking fillers and small gifts like hairand skin-care products and make-up.There are also great deals on items likethese, especially around Christmas, sodon’t be fooled into thinking that yourlocal pharmacy is only good for pickingup cold and flu remedies at this time ofthe year!

Adiva, the Thames Ditton boutique,sells some lovely clothes and accessories

that would earn some browniepoints from a wife or femalefamily member – and take note ofthis one, because it’s one of thevery, very few clothes shops inthe area without venturing intoKingston.Aside from presents for familyand friends, the non-humanfamily members must not beforgotten, and Thames Dittonanimal lovers can treat theirpampered pets to a Christmas giftfrom Beech House VeterinaryCentre in Weston Green. If we’re talking Christmasshopping, this doesn’t just covergifts, but also Christmasprovisions: food and drink. Afterphoto by Claudia


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all, what would Christmas be withoutthem?

A great place for Christmas essentialsis Bachmann’s Patisserie in PortsmouthRoad. Bachmann’s is brilliant all yearround, but at Christmas it really issomething special. Indulgent chocolatecreations and one-of-a-kind seasonalcakes…absolutely essential to Christmasand I doubt anyone would deny it! Notonly is this wonderful Christmas food toshare with your family on the Big Day,but again, this is a fine place to buy reallyspecial chocolates to give as gourmet giftswhich will be greatly appreciated bya lucky someone – more so than youraverage supermarket brand of chocolatestoo, because average, these dessertsare not.

You can get fine cheeses and othertreats in the Lime Tree deli, and you

won’t be buying green and unripeChristmas fruit and veg from thesupermarket, will you?! Justphone the Secret Garden, andthey will put up a box of goodstuff from the market anddeliver it.If you can’t meet your needs inThames Ditton or Weston Green,then Hampton Court, only a 15minute walk, can provide shopssuch as a butchers and more high-class boutiques, while if you wantto buy a bicycle for youroffspring there is the new cycleshop at the Marina on PortsmouthRoad.And there you have it. You don’tneed to travel far and wide to getall of your Christmas gifts.

Obviously, there are some things we lacksuch as shops selling media products andof course toy shops. So sadly, there willstill be some fighting your way throughChristmas crowds in the city centre orwaiting in queues driving to larger towns.

You really can get so much more herethan you’d think. If you take the time tolook in some of the smaller, moreinconspicuous shops around you, andshow a little imagination, you will findexcellent gift opportunities. Just thinkhow sad the village would be if there wereno shops in it! You can fix that. Havemore fun, get less fraught - and help tokeep local shops alive.

Merry Christmas!Claudia Woolley

Claudia lives in Thames Ditton and is in her gapyear between Esher College and readingEnglish and Philosophy at University.

divine treats from Bachmanns


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Thames Ditton’s former CottageHospital, forlorn and shuttered for thepast two years, is up for sale. It wasfounded and funded by these villages,nationalised as part of the new NationalHealth Service in 1948, and in the heart ofmany residents it belongs to thiscommunity. Its ownership is in the handsof the Kingston Primary Care Trust.There’s little we can do to influence itssale, but the Residents’ Association willpress for any authorised development toinclude at least some provision for localcommunity use.

Victorian times saw great progress insetting up proper local administration,public health services and health care. Here,between 1877 and 1885 villagers collected£500 to rent a small cottage near The Elmson Weston Green Road, which became ourcottage hospital. When the lease expired anew hospital was build at its presentlocation on the same road for twice thatamount. Hannibal Speer granted the land,local architect Arthur Style designed thebuilding and local builder E J Callinghambuilt it. Officially opened in 1893, newwards and rooms for nurses were addedover the next thirty years as adjoiningcottages were acquired. All this dependedon public-spirited fundraising by residents.They also raised money to pay for theinstallation of a wireless for patients and,by 1939, X-ray equipment.

Meanwhile Esher and The DittonsUrban District Council was established in

1895. Its first Public Health Officer wasThames Ditton resident Dr. Arthur Senior,who retained the post for forty years.During that period Thames Ditton CottageHospital prospered in the service of thelocal community. Patients came fromEsher, Long Ditton and Claygate as wellas Thames Ditton and Weston Green. Inthe war the hospital was very busy –notably when a flying bomb fell on ImberCourt during a sports event, killing fortyand wounding another hundred. It waswell staffed and there were excellentsurgeons and physicians available,including a good anaesthetist who livedconveniently nearby – Dr. George Tickler.After the war it was carrying out 300-400operations a year and was still very much‘our’ hospital.

When the National Health Service wasestablished in 1948 the cottage hospital wasnationalised. Local people remainedcommitted to support their local hospital;but from that time on, then as now, thecentralised NHS bureaucracy failed to dolikewise. In the early 1950s the oldoperating theatre needed replacing. TheRegional Board wouldn’t fund it, becausethe hospital was small and close toKingston Hospital. The redoubtable Matrongot the Brownies to start an appeal, andthen in 1955 the Friends of Thames DittonHospital were established, raised £4000,and with services volunteered by a localarchitect and surveyor the new operatingtheatre was up and running three years later.

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21

The Friends bought an ECG machine and atop heart specialist was available locally.

By 1962 the fight to save our hospitalhad begun, after it became clear that theNHS had no long term intention to fund it.In 1968 the local community offered£20,000 to pay for an additional 16 bedsbut the Regional Board rejected the offer.1974 saw assurances that our cottagehospital would not be closed and denialsthat there had ever been any official plansto do so. In 1976, the Community HealthCouncil (on which three residents’representatives served) voted that thehospital should continue to practise generalsurgery. Sandra Lewis, a resident and aqualified nurse, recalls that “the hospitalwas extremely good and the standard ofcare was outstanding. The anaesthetistcould be called out at two minutes’ noticeto enable operations. There were severalgood surgeons and GPs who centred theirwork on the hospital.”

In 1978 the Chairman of the Area HealthAuthority, Dorothy Barrett, gave acategorical assurance that there was “nointention whatever within the foreseeablefuture of closing Thames Ditton Hospital.”However, as you will have foreseen, a fewyears later the Authority planned to close it,despite the pleas of GPs who wereunanimous that the Cottage Hospitaloffered very high standards of care, andfulfilled a function that would not bereplaced by new arrangements.

The Residents’ Association raised £2000towards a campaign fund. In the ensuingcampaign the village team fielded 8members with a budget of £5000 involuntary donations, against an organisationwith an annual budget of £3m and thousands

of civil servants. In 1985 the battle for thehospital was lost on the casting vote of theEsher Community Health Council ChairmanJennifer Butterworth. A resident whoattended wrote in Thames Ditton Today: “Itwas a disgrace.”

The NHS finally closed the hospital in1986. A year later it opened as thecarefully-named Weston Green ResourceCentre, for the mentally handicapped in thedistrict with learning or social difficulties.And the rest you know. We managed to getSurrey’s health authorities to support a newcommunity hospital on the former MilkMarketing Board site and in 1997Emberbrook opened, with the GeorgeTickler wing equipped and staffed toprovide up to 14 beds for short-termintermediate care to be funded by the NHS.But by 2001 the NHS were funding only 4of those beds and in the past three years,they have funded none – and this at a timewhen we are being told that acute hospitalbeds are being occupied by patients whoought to be in local community hospitals.

We won’t get our cottage hospital back,nor will the proceeds of its sale bring directadvantage to the community that paid for it;but we’ll certainly see whether planningpermission can be contingent on somecommunity use. And we will ensure thatlocal history faithfully records not only thegood who gave their time and money to setup and support this fine village institution,but those who sold it short.

Karen RandolphOne of our hard-working councillors, Karen isalso Chair of the Hospital Friends, theAssociation ʼs Convenor on Health andCommunity, and heads the cross-party groupSave Our Surrey Hospitals. Keith Evettsfurnished some historical background.


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23

The Metropolitan Paving Act 1817(repealed in 1891) required householdersto clear snow outside their frontage. Inseveral European countries you’rerequired by law to do this, and people do.It was also the custom in the UK, but theBritish public stopped doing it after thesixties. Many people end up in A&E as aconsequence. Perhaps I should notcomplain as a Doctor of Chiropractic, but

last year I started campaigning to getpeople to clear snow from their footpaths,with the help of the ResidentsAssociation.

One reason people weren’t clearingsnow was worry that they might be suedin some way if others had accidents. Icontacted Surrey County Council, whoconfirmed there was no legal reason for

Snow-free Paths

Watts Road in the snow


24

concern. They have now putdetailed information on theirwebsite about what people canand should do in the event ofsnow. They note: “It is veryunlikely that you would faceany legal liability, as long asyou are careful, and usecommon sense to ensure thatyou do not make the pavementor pathway clearly moredangerous than before. Peopleusing areas affected by snowand ice also have responsibilityto be careful themselves.”

Earlier this year I suggestedsetting up self-help groups forclearing pavements. Eachwould have a coordinating ‘Snowman’who would hold a proper snow shovel forgroup use. I’ve established such a groupin my road, Lime Tree Avenue, where allresidents have committed to keep ourfootpath clear of snow and ice this winter.The Residents’ Association has contactedresidents and shop-owners in the mosttrodden roads of Thames Ditton &Weston Green to establish Snowman-ledgroups. The response has been generallypositive, and several groups each up to 12households covering 200 yards ofpavement have been set up.

The Association has funded thepurchase of a robust snow-shovel for eachSnowman to hold. As we extend thescheme to other roads we would need tofind funds for more. Contact me or PeterHaynes, the Association’s MembershipSecretary, if you’d be prepared to help -see end of this article. When it snows,other parts of these villages will see the

benefits to our community and supportthis simple neighbourly initiative and,well, it should snowball.

If you’re not in a group, then pleaseclear snow from your frontage anyway. Itis not difficult to remove it while it’sfresh: a coarse brush is all you need toclear an inch of snow. I was not in thecountry when the first snow fell this yearand my partner Janette and six year olddaughter Isabelle easily cleared the snowand spread rock salt on our path. The keyis to get to it before it’s been troddendown. Don’t use hot water! It will turn toice very quickly. Ideally you would putrock salt on the area you have cleared as itwill melt ice and prevent it refreezing fora few days. Table salt will do fine but it’san expensive way of doing it.

Which leads us to the question of salt-grit. There are just three Council bins inour area, from which residents may takegrit to keep the public paths clear:

if Isabelle can do it so can you– photo by Richard


25

◆ Summer Road east of the levelcrossing

◆ Weston Green Road outside EsherCollege

◆ Lynwood Road, near the roundaboutat the entrance to the Lynwood estate.

When I contacted Surrey CountyCouncil in February, they said they wouldsupply more official salt bins. But latelythey have said they will do this only if wepay £2,500 up front per bin, for ten years,one fill a year! They also forbid us to putany bins we might buy anywhere on thepublic highway. So you can see thatdespite their public relations statements

about snow-clearing and engagingresidents, they’re not really going to bemuch help to us. I was able to purchase a200 litre grit bin myself for £89 (a bintwice that size costs £124). To fill it oncecosts around £40. For ten years, the all-upretail cost would be roughly £550 per binwhile Surrey want five times as much fortheir contractors – which won’t surpriseany of you who follow how Surrey spendsour taxes. If you don’t want to buy a bin,you can get a 25kg bag of salt-grit locally(for example, from Halls in HinchleyWood) for about a fiver if you see thatheavy snow is forecast. It will do forabout 50 yards of a six feet wide pathyou’ve cleared.

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If things go well, we’ll be looking totap funds from the “Big Society”initiative, and we’ll see whether thegovernment puts its money where itsmouth is.

Young children do not understand whyadults can’t have fun while clearing snowoff paths. As one of the Parent Governors atThames Ditton Infants School, I wasdelighted when this campaign was adoptedfor their “Community Cohesion” policy,and I look forward to visiting the schooland explaining to the children how they andtheir parents can keep their foot path clearof snow and ice this winter and helpneighbours who may not be able to do itthemselves. So to avoid being reproachedby your six-year-old, get out there!

Richard LaniganPeter adds:

In addition to the groups, we’reenlisting some dedicated ‘FlyingSnowmen’ to deal with the areas ofpavement where there are no adjacenthouses. The idea is to lend them a manualsnowplough (we have one to try out).Volunteers for this duty are welcome.

The emphasis in all this is self-help andneighbourhood pride. The Residents’Association and its volunteers are happy

to act as a framework and assist in gettingit off the ground. Ultimately it’s up togroups of neighbours to keep theirpavements accessible and safe during thewinter. It can also be sociable: perhapssome mulled restorative after the job?

Neighbourliness is not only aboutclearing snow. If snow and ice linger, yourelderly, infirm or other vulnerableneighbours may not be able to get to theshops, or pharmacies. Spare a thought forthem, check that they’re all right, and see ifyou can help in small but essential ways.

Peter HaynesContact:Richard Lanigan 020 8398 0091 Peter Haynes 020 8398 6019 (Residents’Association Membership Secretary)

Facebook group:Snow Free Footpath For Surrey

Surrey County Council website:www.surreycc.gov.uk (search for“Frequently asked questions aboutpavements”)

When there’s snow imminent ourwebsite carries information on things likesalt availability and official driving tips:



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28


Know Your Residents’ Councillors– Tannia Shipley

When Tannia Shipley first stood forelection as RA Councillor in 1999 shenarrowly won by 60 votes. In 2007, thelast time she stood, she swept in with amajority of 339. You can see why: Tanniais a ‘doer.’ She cuts an elegant figure, butshe isn’t afraid of rolling up her sleevesand getting her hands dirty,metaphorically speaking, if that’s what ittakes to get a community job done.

Take the drains for example: we’re allaware of the flooding problems whichaffect Esher Station and elsewhere in theward. There’s a reason why Tannia hasbeen described as the ‘drains lady:’ she’sone of the first to get her Wellington bootson when needed. “We have to beextremely vigilant about keeping theculverts open – many people don’t realisethat our forefathers built ditches all overWeston Green, many in back gardens, tokeep flooding at bay. The area was knownas Ditton Marsh in those days. As thestrain on the drains continues, weconstantly have to keep an eye on thesituation and be ready to act, alerting theappropriate services whenever there’s aserious downpour.”

When asked how she sees her role asCouncillor, Tannia’s answer isuncompromising: “to do my best torepresent everyone in the ward. As aResidents’ Councillor I’m independent,and not confined by the dogma of nationalpolitics – there’s no place for that at a

local level – it’s all about providing localsolutions to local problems.” Tannia is aclassic ‘people person.’ She makes herselfavailable to residents, day and night,always on the end of a phone and ‘on call’at weekends in times of emergency, andloves talking to them. It’s how she keepstabs on what’s really happening in theward – and not just at election times. Oneyear she and her shipbroker husbandNigel were hosting a New Year’s Eveparty when she got a call around half pastten about flooding. Without hesitation shemade apologies to her guests, pulled hermac over her party frock and disappeared

29

at Remembrance Sunday 2010, All Saints


30

into the night to investigate. The problemwas resolved in the New Year aftersuccessful meetings with officials andlocal residents.

Tannia, a former teacher and Head ofHouse at a comprehensive, has lived inWeston Green for 25 years and loves everyinch of the place. But it’s a constant fight topreserve this beautiful corner of Elmbridgewith its commons, woodland and ancientponds. Planning takes up a lot of her time.She stresses she’s not against developmentper se: ‘We have to be forward thinking,but development must be appropriate andwe have to preserve our special places.’

Conserving the environment is crucialto this. Tannia takes very seriously herrole as a custodian of the Commons,

particularly Ditton Common: theyneed careful managing. She alsotakes a special interest in Marney’sand Milbourne Ponds which needregular TLC. But it’s in the care ofthe vulnerable and elderly thatTannia’s real strength lies. “BecauseI’ve been a Councillor for manyyears I know what doors to knockon, being a conduit, knowing who tocall upon to get things done. This isthe part of the job that I love,making contact with people. Themost important lesson I’ve learnedin my 11 years as Councillor is thatit’s important to listen to people, tohave an open mind.”

Tannia estimates she spends 25-30hours a week on Council duties whichalso embrace her role as Chairman ofthe R.C. Sherriff Trust, being aTrustee of the Elmbridge Trust forOlder People which links in to herrole on Elmbridge Older People’s

Advisory Body, plus an active role withinCHEER (Concern and Help for EastElbridge Retired). It all adds up to around120 meetings a year to add to the manydays she spends out there on the ground.

She’s well aware that the future islikely to prove even more challenging.“In these uncertain times my mission is tofight as hard as I can to preserve frontline services, especially for the elderlyand the vulnerable, and to preserve ourspecial places. But it’s a battle I’m gearedup for.” Spoken like a sterling Residents’Councillor, and not a politician. From herrecord and from the light in her eye, youknow that Tannia means it.

Tricia Bland

youʼll often find Tannia working on the commons withother volunteers


31

Thames Ditton Centre– how’s it going?

In April, we were all a littleanxious about our move, aftereighteen years, from the VeraFletcher Hall to the newlyrefurbished Thames Ditton Hall.It’s now nearly six months sinceour launch party and we’reenjoying the new building verymuch. Our objective is to keepmembers happy, healthy andinvolved, for a very low charge.Here are a few thoughts to ponderif you’re retired, or care for anolder person.

Use it or lose it – whetheryou’re 95 or 25 if you don’t useyour full range of movements,you’ll quickly stiffen up. Youwon’t notice until you need toreach that vase on a high shelf orhave to do up a tricky zip in a newdress. At the centre we’re offeringa chair-based exercise class for £1. NickyWills, our trainer is specially trained topromote mobility and build strength in thebodies of all levels of fitness. The classesare particularly useful if you’ve recentlyhad surgery or have been ill – you’ll soonfeel the benefits. We also run multilevelyoga lessons on Thursday afternoons andTai Chi on Monday afternoons, for a fiver.

Laughter really is the best medicineand whatever the activity, boy we have alot of fun! Last month Nathan attemptedto teach the members how to make

balloon models . Marjorie came close tomaking a very presentable poodle beforeit was sabotaged, while Rhoda was verydisappointed with a swan which lookedmore like a coat hanger – no one will begiving up their day job, but everyone wentaway smiling.

Learn something new – stimulatingthe grey cells helps to keep you alert andgives you something to talk about. TheCentre offers one – to – one computerlessons on Mondays. The Art and Bridgeclasses have been expanding lately, and

“Gramps,” model for the Art Class & darlin ̓of the ladies.


32

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we’ve all learned new skills fromspeakers at the Centre. Back inSeptember, Premier Wines came in toteach the members the basics of wineappreciation. Their expert brought thesubject to life and, after sampling somereally excellent New World reds andwhites, members went home with thatrosy glow which comes from – I mustemphasise – the satisfaction of a new skilllearnt.

Stay social – results of a recent studythat followed a group of older people overa thirty year period showed that having nofriends was more damaging to your healthand longevity than obesity or physicalinactivity. Last year, “Pam” came to thecentre for the first time with her daughter,who’d come to visit from Australia andwas really shocked by how isolated herMum had become. For the next threeweeks the two ladies came to the centretogether and quickly realised that two ofPam’s cousins were members. Before herdaughter left, Pam was going on shoppingtrips with them and was being welcomedinto a whole new circle of friends andfamily. She hasn’t looked back.

Eat well, drink well – sometimes themore elderly and the single don’t cookproper meals for themselves. We offer anice (and sociable) three course meal for£3.25 and a packed tea to take away for£2.50. We’re also constantly remindingthe members to drink plenty. It’s veryeasy for older people to get dehydrated,which can cause temporary memory loss,falls and confusion. Once dehydrated, weare more susceptible to kidney andurinary tract infections which can lead to– guest what – more temporary memory

loss, falls and confusion. We try to drink aglass of water with each meal, and there’sfree tea or coffee.

So if you or your nearest might thinkabout joining, do drop by the Centre on aMonday or Thursday and see for yourself.Bring this magazine for a free tea orcoffee. It’s in Thames Ditton Hall just bythe Library off Watts Road, and we’d loveto see you there.

Helen Hewitt

The Centre is for the over 50ʼs. Membership (ifyouʼre an Elmbridge resident) is only £8 peryear. If you ʼre not old enough yet, be avolunteer! An active group of volunteersarranges interesting outings. Tel: 0208 3985921 (Mon & Thurs only). Thereʼs also aChildren ʼs Centre there on Tuesday,Wednesday and Friday mornings.

Monday Activities: Gentle Chair Based Yoga 11-11.45pm£2 per session. Beginners Computer Club 11-1pm £24 Bridge Club 1.45-4pm £1 includes tea andbiscuits. Friendly!Tai Chi 2.45-4pm Cost: £5 gentle orientaldiscipline, core strength and balance.

Games 1.30-2.30pm:Bingo (First Monday of each month) Boccia (Second Monday of each month) –A cross between Indoor Bowls and Boule –game of strategy and skill can be played byanyone on a chair. Team Quiz (Third Monday of each month)

Thursday Activities: Art Class 10.30am-12pm Cost: £2.50 Gentle Yoga 2.45-4pm Cost £5 Hand Care 10.30am-2.30pm Cost: £1 Thursday Afternoon Entertainment: singers,musicians, speakers, outings and activities

33


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Indian Ring-necked Parakeets– which side of the divide?

35

We all (if we are of a certain age)remember the Monty Python dead parrotjoke. Parrots used to be only the subjectof jokes or perhaps the bird in a cage athome which repeated to visitors all thethings you wished it hadn’t heard.Parakeets, as members of the parrotfamily, were seen as exotic birds withtheir homes far away in the East but aslong ago as 1857 in Dorking a localstationmaster (yes – they used to havethese in those days) saw and shot a ring-necked parakeet.

They are bright, alert and can learn totalk to some extent but even those bred incaptivity need “ongoing obedience-training” to remain tame. In Victoriantimes they were popular cage birds butmany escaped or were released into thewild. In recent years they have spreadfrom their native Himalayas to Surrey andfurther afield. There is a story that ourown Surrey parakeets descend from birdswho escaped from the film-set of TheAfrican Queen at Isleworth.

The local papers a few years ago werefull of the Esher Rugby Club colony butthe thousands of parakeets which nestedthere soon got tired of watching rugbyeach week-end and moved off when thepoplars were cut back – probably to agarden near you, where there are plenty ofseeds, berries, fruits and nuts. They havenow reached Wales and the Scottishborders and bird lovers are divided onwhether they are a good thing or simply apest, taking over other birds’ nests.Described by the London Wildlife Trustas “as British as curry,” they are the UK’sonly naturalised parrot, large, long-tailedand green with a red beak. Males have aprominent pink and black ring aroundface and neck, which in females is paleror absent.

In flight they are beautiful birds withtheir long streaming tails, but their noisychattering and annoying partiality to horsechestnut and camellia buds has not

native of Thames Ditton – whoʼs a pretty boy?


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endeared them to gardeners. Parakeets canlive to 15 years, touchingly mate for lifeand are prolific breeders so we will haveto get used to them. They were protectedin the wild under the Wildlife andCountryside Act, but from this year theymay be shot without a licence if they are apest. Fruit farmers especially are worried,since the birds love raiding ripening cropsand parakeets have few predators – really

only sparrowhawks and goshawks; andtheir gregarious habit gives themprotection through safety in numbers.

Opinions therefore are divided and Iwonder what readers of Thames DittonToday think – are they a welcome exoticaddition to our bird population or simplya menace?

John Lyon

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THE THEATRE IN THAMES DITTON

Friday 14 January 7.30 pm

Charles Court Opera presents

ROBIN HOOD

Charles Court Opera return with another smash-hitpanto – Time Out Critics Choice: Four Stars.

Tight as tights can be, this brand new version offerstoe-tapping numbers from pop to opera delivered by

the impressive cast of singers, actors, opera starsand theatre moonlighters, accompanied by the

Eaton-Young Piano Duo

Tickets £12.50

Saturday 15 January 7.00 for 7.30pm

ROBIN HOOD

Panto and supper, sponsored by Dairy Crest.

Charles Court Opera return in style with someof the UK’s best young operatic talent.

Tickets including 3 course supper in aid of theThames Ditton Hospital Appeal £32

from Karen Randolph 020 8398 5005.

Saturday 19 February 8.00 pm

THE LONDON MOZART TRIO

Colin Stone (piano), Krzystof Smietana (violin)and Sagi Hartov (cello).

Three outstanding world class musicians playRachmaninov’s Elegiaque Trio No.l, Schubert’s

Piano Trio No. 1 and Martinu’s Piano Trio No. 2

Tickets £11 (under 16 years free)

Sunday 13 March 7.30 pm

ASTRAEUS SAXOPHONE QUARTET

Francesca Reich Yasmin OgilvieBen Capon Emma Cross

Prize winning young musicians play classicand modern works including Jonathan Dove,

Nigel Wood and Eugene BozzaTickets £9 (under 16 years free)

Box Office 0844 884 8832

Friday 18 March 8.00 pm

Cabaret Now presents Andrew Brewis inCOCKTAILS AND LAUGHTER

Andrew Brewis from the Ritz, the Savoy,the Ivy celebrates with words and

music the bitter sweet worldof Noel Coward.

Tickets £10

Friday 25th March 8.00 pmChamber Concert

MARK BEBBINGTON (piano) and THE CAVALERI QUARTET

(formerly the Harpham Quartet)Anna Harpham (violin) Ciaran McCabe (violin)Ann Beilby (viola) and Rowena Calvert (cello).

Rising stars in the music world play piano quintetsincluding the lovely Elgar Piano Quintet.

The Cavaleri Quartet are formidable talent, withrecent performances at the Wigmore Hall and theRachmaninov Hall, Moscow. Mark Bebbington is

“truly a remarkable pianist” – The TimesTickets £11 children under 16 free

YOUNG PEOPLE’S THEATRESaturday 12 February 2.30 pm

The People’s Theatre Company presentsHOW THE KOALA LEARNT TO HUG

A charming musical about the magic of familywith a host of wild characters includingNatascha the Witch, the Reggae Beavers

and Karen the Koala.Great stories, sing along songs, superb games.“By turns funny, charming and off the wall”

– Bristol GuideTickets £6

Tickets for all shows from Joan LeiferTel: 0844 884 8832, and The Pro Shop,52 High Street, Thames Ditton.

To hire the Vera Fletcher Hall contact managerHelen Mason Tel: 08456 528 529

www.verafletcherhall.co.uk

AT THE VERA FLETCHER HALL


40

Our exciting new Early Years building

opens Spring Term 2011


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 of14 February 2011.

The completed puzzle (orphotocopy) enclosing yourname and address, with theenvelope clearly marked‘Crossword Competition,’should be sent to:

Thames Ditton TodayCrossword Competition6 Church WalkThames Ditton

ACROSS1. Come to grips, the balancing pole in hand,

when on these (10)7. I broke a rib in Apulia (4)

10. You won’t do this if oats very badly cookedby hotel chef (8)

11. Airman wandering in yacht basin (6)12. To transfer property (6)13. Am in city for friendship (8)15. Just a sip and its tower leans (4)16. Our tax seen as not essential (10)18. Man let love turn to evil (10)21. …making him swear on this (4)22. No meal is complete without this pudding (8)24. Walk a plank to get on ship (6)25. Whale yielding isinglass (6)26. …and it won't be found here (2,1,5)27. …nor this fish aunt cooked (4)28. Brain cell in test of minds (10)

DOWN2. Teasing vet I seek the facts (11)3. Art Museum where a man lives alone? (9)4. A French rite performed by retainers for the

V.I.P. (7)5. To restore parity, those hips need

manipulation by me (15)6. On this island I sat, a rum in hand (7)8. A car I can find in Chile (5)9. What a state 7 is in! (5)

14. It's fun to recite about an invitation (11)17. To control Olympic monies, Coe must avoid

extravagance (9)19. Going into Riga mill I saw them paper

modelling (7)20. “I have had my labour for my…”

(Troilus & Cressida) (7)22. As boot loses circlet it becomes a shoe (5)23. It's in Salami land (5)

41


P r o f e s s i o n a l K i t c h e n D e s i g n

By Design

Hersham (opp Waitrose) Walton on Thames Leatherhead

T: 01932 379076 T: 01932 254224 T: 01372 388389

moorebydesign.co.uk

New showroom now open in Hersham

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.

Mrs. Ann Palfrey6 Sheaf CottagesWeston Green KT7 0JR

Jo Dunstone57 Warwick GardensThames Ditton KT7 0RB

Lesley Haynes6 Onslow GardensThames Ditton KT7 0JJ

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 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]

43

Modern Folk TalesThe old fortune-teller said: “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just be blunt: prepareyourself to be a widow. Your husband will die a violent and horrible death this year.”Shaken, the wife stared at the woman’s lined face, then at the flickering candle, then downat her hands. She took a few deep breaths to compose herself. She simply had to know. She met the fortune teller’s gaze, steadied her voice, and asked her question…“Will I be acquitted?”


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 474553 Esher 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 8334

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 Mrs. Julie Cohen 020 8943 2017Friends of Walsingham Care Miss Valerie Chicken 020 8398 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 4528Ember Sports Club Mrs. Pauline Wareham 020 8979 8977

SERVICES, CLUBS, SOCIETIES AND GROUPS

44


Ember Sports Club: Bowls Sylvia Jones 01932 788701Ember 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 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) 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 4358 Yoga for Health Club Mrs. Celia Rowe 020 8398 2700

SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

Ember Choral Society Linda Bridges 020 8399 5402 Esher Recorded Music Society Miss S. M. Garrat 020 8398 8541Esher and Molesey Garden Society Chris Walker (Sec) 020 8398 6651Hampton 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 8615Esher & District Amnesty International Secretary [email protected]

OTHER

Cancer Research UK Mrs. Vivienne Harris 020 8398 6787University of the Third Age (U3A) HonSec Anne Brown 01932 881 633Vera Fletcher Hall Lettings: Helen Mason 08456 528 529

Membership: Sue Morris 020 8224 2536

Please contact the Editor to amend these listings

45


46

Following up stories of huge ‘escape’tunnels for Henry VIII under the riverfrom Hampton Court, I arranged for theHighest Authority on the subject atHistoric Royal Palaces to be consulted.The reply was that there are no tunnelsknown. The authority doubtedengineering capability and priorities ofthat order at the time.

“But,” he added, “we could bewrong…” And in this way evenimplausible stories are kept alive. Pubslike to add colour, even when they haveplenty of authentic history. The formerAlma Inn, now Marney’s, claims to havebeen the site of a hunting lodge for Henryin his deer-chase. That can’t be excluded,but where's the evidence? The presentbuildings date from 200 years afterHenry’s death. It is likely that when itbecame a pub in the latter half of the19thC it was on land connected with theLamberts, a significant family for threegenerations in Weston Green. Major-General John Arthur Lambert, buried in1887 in our churchyard, served in theGrenadier Guards at the Battle of theAlma in 1854. Maureen Sheldrick writes:“The Alma was a private house andsometime or other the front room wasturned into a beer/cider house – and nothey did not need planning permission!I believe it did not have a liquor licenceuntil somewhere around 1950/60’s!”

The Angel is another historic Inn withoodles of authentic history (not tomention scurrilous stories!). Previouslandlords coloured in stories of ghosts,linked with speculation that there was agibbet on the triangle of grass byPortsmouth Road there, for hanginghighwaymen. No evidence of the latterhas been forthcoming; though former pub

dog Harvey told me his canine sixth sensehad confirmed the presence of ghosts!

I can be wrong too, as Mrs. E oftenreminds me. Gerry Mitchell writes tocorrect errata in the last issue (page 8):“Although John and I ran the WestonGreen Over 60s with the help of manyvolunteers from 1965 to 1991, we did notstart the Club. Mrs Bernice Bennett ofNewlands started the Thames DittonFellowship and then the Weston GreenOver 60’s Club. Much as I would haveliked to receive the MBE (as my friendGrace Goy of Summer Road did) mymedal was the BEM (British EmpireMedal).” She adds: “At the ThamesDitton Centre we are all enjoying our newpremises. The joy now is that it is all onthe ground floor, and has a patio so whenit is not raining we can sit outside.”

The Curse Of The Editor strikes again.No sooner had the article on HewettWatson appeared than I learned that nextyear the Botanical Society of the BritishIsles will change the hallowed name of itsjournal, ‘Watsonia,’ to ‘New Journal ofBotany’ – a characterless title that seemsdestined to age quickly.

Lastly, sincere thanks to the many whogive their time freely to this magazine.Verity Park for her utterly dependable andcrucial organisation of the advertising;Guy Holman who raises the standard ofthe covers; former distribution managerGeorge Cammack and successors Davidand Dee Youd, whose dining table isburdened with the magazine for a wholeweekend before bundles are passed on toall those volunteers who in rain, shine orsnow trudge round to deliver it. And toreaders, whose praise and interest make itworthwhile. Merry Christmas to you all.

Editor


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

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Tel: 020 8941 9191Mobile: 07836 608086www.ariesconstruction.co.uk

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GENERAL BUILDING

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ROOFING : PLUMBING : ELECTRICAL

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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

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