GU27 - Haslemere - February 2011

I can’t believe it, as I write we have not only retained the Ashes, we have given our Aussie friends a right good thumping to boot. Still, mustn’t gloat, it can all go pear shaped very quickly. On the weather front things have calmed down considerably for the moment; just hope the same is true by the time you read this issue. Have you noticed the days getting longer? Before we know it spring will be on our doorstep. Hooray!

The Haslemere Musical Society has a special event on Saturday, 12th February. It is holding a ‘Come and Sing’ in St Christopher’s Church,Weyhill starting with registration at 2 pm, rehearsing until 6 pm with two breaks for tea and then a final run through to which anyone who is interested is invited to come at no cost. The works to be rehearsed are John Rutter’s Requiem and Gloria. I know John Rutter’s Requiem quite well and it is a beautiful piece of work. The cost of the afternoon including tea and music hire is £10. The singers will be directed by Michael Veazey and accompanist will be Clive Osgood. If you’re interested in coming to join in this very special afternoon of singing go to the Haslemere Musical Society website www.hmsconcerts.org.uk and follow the link ‘Come and Sing 12th February 2011’. You will find further details and a booking form. Alternatively, you can ring the Secretary on 01428 605612.

Polsden Lacey is a beautiful Edwardian country estate situated at Great Bookham, near Dorking in Surrey. On every weekend in February the National Trust is holding ‘Sneak Peek House Tours’ where you will be able to discover the secrets behind life at Polsden Lacey, past and present, and learn about Mrs Greville’s famous collection, featuring Mrs Greville’s private apartments for the first time. The tours run at 11:30 am, 1 pm and 2:30 pm and can be booked on arrival at the house. Normal admission prices apply. King George V1 and our late Queen Mother spent their honeymoon at Polsden Lacey and this year you’ll be able to recreate a fine sense of romance with a sumptuous dinner for two in the Courtyard Restaurant. A St Valentine’s dinner dance is taking place on the 12th February from 8 pm till midnight. Tickets are £40 each but booking is essential, call the info line on 01372 458203. Finally, they are holding special half term trails (19th- 27th February) which run from 10 am to 5 pm. Again, normal admission prices apply plus an extra £1 charge per trail. You will be able to follow in the footsteps of Kings, Queens and Maharajas who used to be guests at lavish weekend parties held in this beautiful house.

The Rotary Club of Haslemere will be promoting a Charity Black Tie Ball and Auction in support of their chosen charity of the year, Midhurst based, Macmillan Palliative Specialist Care Service which happens to coincide with their Centenary year. The event will take place at the Crown Inn, Chiddingfold on Saturday 12th of March, starting at 7 pm with a drinks reception followed by a five-star four course dinner. Following the meal the auction will take place with some great prizes including a week’s accommodation in Spain, tickets to Twickenham, a Deluxe Spa Day for two at Grayshott Spa and tickets to the final of the British Open Polo Championships at Cowdrey Park plus much more. To find out more you can visit the dedicated website www.charityblack-tieball.co.uk where you can look at all the auction items, the dinner menu, place online bids and purchase tickets to the ball at a price of £50 per person. There’s a local live band playing after the auction for dancing into the night. You can contact Rachel on 07967 259513 for more information.

Walking is really a great way to get back into shape after the winter festive season. So if you think that you might benefit from a short weekly organised walk of up to an hour why not try a Walk for Health in Haslemere. You can just go along or perhaps visit the National WFH website  www.wfhnaturalengland.org.uk. There you can use their ‘walk finder’ to locate a scheme near you. Haslemere offers three weekly walks leaving from Haselwey (opposite Tesco) at 2:30 pm on Tuesdays, High Lane Community Centre (Weycombe Road) at 1 pm on Thursdays and Herons Leisure Centre (Kings Road) at 11 am on Saturdays. All are welcome, just come 10 minutes before the walk to register, with suitable footwear and dressed for the weather!

Apparently, a lot of people have been dusting off their old sewing machines, or borrowing them from their mothers, and are starting to be creative. This must be true as one of my granddaughters got a sewing machine for Christmas. Anyway, whether it’s as a result of the current economic problem or there is just a surge in creativity, there is a definite demand for anything to do with dressmaking needlework etc. Two full-time mums, who live in Haslemere and have lots of dressmaking skills, have formed a small business called ‘See what I Made’. They do craft parties for children and adults as well as adult education workshops and courses. In the run-up to Christmas they ran a series of workshops teaching how to make quality handmade decorations and Christmas presents and held them in Mirabelle Cupcakery in Haslemere. Apparently they went really well and they had lots of positive feedback. They have now organised a number of workshops in February and March and you can find out details by going to their website www.seewhatimade.net. They are also running a Beginners Dressmaking course that starts on 2nd March and runs through to 30th March. It is held on five successive Wednesday evenings and takes place from 8 to 10 pm. It’s held at St Stevens, Shottermill and the total cost is £125. On this five-week course you will learn to use a pattern, pin and cut your fabric and learn all the sewing skills necessary to make a complete garment of your choice (skirt/trousers?). Some experience with the sewing machine is needed. Apart from visiting their website you can also call Emma on 07879 442025 or Emily on 07597 874008. Either will be able to give you lots more information.

Grayshott Pottery is holding a Making Day with Myra McDonnell on Saturday, 12th February. You will be able to make your own clay creation at Grayshott clay coiling and hand building event. The day runs from 10 am to 4 pm and costs £45. Unfortunately it is for adults only and you need to book by calling 01428 604404. Visit the Grayshott Pottery website www.grayshottpottery.com for further details.

The Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary have asked me to clarify their new service for Carers called ‘Time For You’. Their carers support group will commence on Monday 7th February 2011 and will take place on the first Monday and last Friday each month from 11 am to 1 pm at the Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary. There is no charge for carers for attending the ‘Time For You’ Carer Support Group at this time. However, the sanctuary is a registered charity and any donations will be greatly welcomed. In addition they are currently offering one-day retreats for Carers which will be available at a concessionary rate for those that attend the Support Group and for attendees of their Bluebells Cancer Support Group. The first retreat day is Wednesday, 30th March and continues on the last Wednesday of each month. For more information call 01483 202054. You can also visit the website www.sanctuary-burrowslea.org.uk

‘Crazy Whist’ is taking place on Saturday 26th February at 7:30 pm in the Link (next to St Bartholomew’s Church). It’s basically a fun evening and you don’t have to be a regular bridge or whist player to join in. The cost is £15 per person to include supper and to reserve a place either individually or in pairs apply to Christopher Scholfield on 01428 643966 or the parish office on 01428 644578. The evening is being held in aid of ‘FROG’ (fundraising for outward giving) for good causes which the parish supports.

The Fintry Trust is putting on a talk by Ken Rees entitled “An introduction to Celtic Mythology”. It takes place at Fintry Retreat House, Fintry, Church Lane, Brook, near Godalming and is on Saturday, 12th February at 2 pm. Entrance is £6, tea included. For more details and to book call 01428 682621.

Rehearsals for the next concert of the Haslemere Musical Society are in progress on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm in the Haslemere Hall. The Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will be performing Brahms German Requiem on Saturday, 5th March and the Orchestra will perform Schubert’s Symphony No8 (unfinished). New instrumentalists and singers are always welcome. Just turn up on any Monday or telephone Sue Ecclestone on 01428 605612 if you are a singer or Marion Bagshaw on 01428 656129 if you are thinking of joining an orchestra.

I understand that quite a number of our readers have discovered the delights of ‘Circle Dancing’ which I’ve mentioned a number of times in Ramblings. So a reminder, now that exercise might be in the forefront of our minds, that Circle Dancing classes take place in various locations throughout the area. These are Pirrie Hall in Brook where classes take place on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, St Catherine’s Hall in Guildford where classes take place on the third Tuesday of the month from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, Lindford Village Hall on the third Tuesday of the month from 1:30 to 3:30 pm and finally the WI Hall in Hartley Wintney on the second Wednesday of the month from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. For more information contact Lynn Frances on 01420 474881. For those who don’t know, Circle Dancing is a great way to shed the stresses of the day and relax into the beautiful music and movement of Circle Dance. As the name implies, you dance in a circle and all attempt to do the same steps at the same time! Beginners are very welcome and it is suitable for men and women of all ages. It is a great way to keep fit and at the same time meet new people.

There’s still time to get tickets for the MAD Company’s production of Cinderella. MAD (Methodist Amateur Dramatic) was formed in 1991 and its productions have gone from strength to strength. This production of Cinderella promises to be a right rollicking affair. The pantomime takes place at Bohunt School, Liphook and there is a charity performance on Thursday, 24th February with further performances on Friday 25th at 7:30 pm, a matinee on Saturday 26th  at 3 pm and an evening performance on Saturday 26th at 7:30. Tickets are available at Bohunt School Reception from Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5 pm or from Joe on 01730 263152.

Help is needed to save the church roof at St Mary’s, Bramshott. In fact they need to raise over £100,000. Following successful dinners to celebrate Burn’s Night, St Andrew’s Day and St George’s Day, the parish are putting on a St David’s Day dinner on Saturday, 5th March at 7 pm at the Church Centre, Liphook. Tickets are £22.50 and can be obtained from the Church Office, Portsmouth Road, Liphook or by calling 01428 725390. Don’t forget to wear your daffodils!

More creativity - this time knitting. On Tuesday 22nd February (during half term) the Fernhurst Centre is holding a ‘Children’s Knit-in’. You can drop in any time between 10 am and 3 pm for a fun knitting/crochet day. If you’re not sure how to knit/crochet they will show you and needles and wool can be provided if required. It is suitable for children of 7 upwards and there is no charge but a small donation to the Fernhurst Centre would be appreciated. They are also holding a Crafty Kids Club session. It’s a fun craft session for pre-schoolers with activities provided for older and younger children as well. It takes place on Thursday 24th from 10 am to 12 noon. It costs £4 per child or £6 for a family per session. Places must be booked in advance at the Centre as space is limited and they cannot guarantee places on the day. You can e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   for more information. The Fernhurst Centre is situated at the centre of Fernhurst Village with a free car park behind. For more information check out their website www.fernhurstcentre.org.uk .

Susannah Wilson was a professional performer in the West End playing leading roles in many hits musicals and plays. She now lives in Grayshott and is a co-founder of Susie Songtime. A new Susie Song Time School is opening in Beacon Hill running on Thursdays from February 2011. In Susie’s words, “she wanted something that would become the cornerstone of the community that was a structured but fun music experience that purposely mixed age groups at preschool level”. She believes that rhythm and musical pleasure are gained in the early years by role-play and by subliminal learning (with puppets, props and a variety of instruments), babies and children can begin their lifelong love of music, song and verse. She was also wanted to run a group that didn’t follow school term time so Susie Songtime runs 50 weeks a year. It’s held at the British Legion in Beacon Hill Road and you can find out more by calling 01428 608422 or visit the website www.suziesongime.co.uk .

The Haslemere Natural History Society in conjunction with Haslemere Museum is holding a talk on Saturday, 12th February at 2:15 pm at the Haslemere Educational Museum. The talk is given by Professor Maurice Moss and is entitled Patterns and Colours in Moths and Butterflies. Maurice has talked to the society on several occasions about butterflies and moths and makes a welcome return to describe his studies of the nature and structure of the scales which give rise to their patterns and colours. Non-members are very welcome to attend but are invited to contribute £2 towards costs. For more information about the Society visit their website
www.haslemerenaturalhistorysociety.org.uk

Surrey Artists Open Studios is now offering a new and exciting resource on its website -‘Find a Surrey Artist’. Here Surrey Artists can promote their studios and creative practice throughout the year, each with their own dedicated webpages of images, contact details and calendar of events. Find a Surrey Artist is now live. Visit www.surreyopenstudios.org.uk  and take advantage of this unique resource. Any artist or craftsperson based in Surrey or on our Surrey Borders can sign up for SAOS membership and become a part of Find a Surrey Artist at any point throughout the year. The Surrey Open Studio event has been running for 11 years and is due to be run this year from the 11th to 26th June. We will give more details nearer the time.

Haslemere Decorative and Fine Arts Society have published their 2011 programme of events and quite a programme it is. There are art lectures, study days and outings to places of historic and artistic interest, not to mention their 40th anniversary celebration which takes place on July 14th.Coming up is a lecture by Fenella Billington on February 22nd entitled ‘The Great Twelve’. It’s an introduction to the Senior Livery Companies of the City of London and takes place at Haslemere Hall starting at 2.00 for 2:15 pm Then on Thursday, 3rd March, by popular demand, there’s another chance to visit Bletchley Park. New members to the society are always welcome and you can contact 01428 642720 for more information about joining. The website is www.haslemeredfas.org.uk where more detailed descriptions of all events are given and from where a membership application form can be downloaded. Being their 40th anniversary year this is a great time to join this thriving Society.

Whilst talking about great local societies, Liphook WI is holding its next meeting on Wednesday the 16th February in Liphook Village Hall at 7:30 pm. The talk will be given by one of the members called Anne Wright. She is a professional gardener and her talk is called ‘Gardening for 2011’. They are also the usual interest groups added to which is the skittles group which is already well supported and proving to be lots of fun. They are busy planning their 90th birthday celebrations, the main item being a garden party in July. I’ll keep you posted. Further information can be obtained by calling Gwenda Pate on 01428 729180.

Five outstanding local young musicians, all winners of the prestigious Jellinek award, will be performing concerto movements with the Guildford Symphony Orchestra in this year’s Una Clarke Young Artists Concert on Saturday, 19th February. It takes place in the Royal Grammar School Studio and starts at 12:30 pm. Apparently the standard of the soloists, the youngest of whom is only 13, is quite outstanding. Past winners include the BBC Symphony Orchestra leader Andrew Haveron and many recent finalists such as last year’s Dorothea Herbert have been invited back by the GSO as guest soloists as their professional careers flourish. Tickets are £10, seniors £8 and under 25’s £5 and can be obtained from the Box Office on 01483 415847 and Guildford TIC on 01483 444334.

Don’t forget that there are always a number of exhibitions going on at UCA Farnham’s James Hockey and Foyer Galleries. Showing at the moment and  continuing to 5th March, is Marco Dulka’s new work ‘Baroque & Roll’ which takes its inspiration from the Baroque or misshapen pearl. His stunning new portraits are from an ongoing project exploring, documenting and celebrating individuals in all walks of life who add colour, richness and diversity to our culture. Find out what’s on by visiting the website www.ycreative.ac.uk/galleries .

Surrey Air Ambulance is appealing for runners to raise vital funds for the lifesaving charity by taking part in this year’s Brighton Marathon. If there is anyone out there who might be interested I’m afraid you will have to get a move on as the closing date for registration is 4th February. Ring Julie Jenkinson on 07843 336720 as soon as possible. Last year more than 50 runners ran for the Air Ambulance in the inaugural event and they raised more than £20,000, a great contribution to help fund this hugely worthwhile service.

The award-winning Guildford Shakespeare Company is returning for its second winter season with Hamlet in February 2011. The venue for Hamlet will once again be the evocative 18th century Holy Trinity Church on Guildford High Street. Those of you who saw last year’s production of Romeo and Juliet will know how the company’s trademark style of site specific invention places the audience right at the heart of the action, which means that the audience is in for a theatrical experience like no other. The production runs from 11th to 26th February and the running time is 2 hrs 40 mins (approx). Hamlet coincides with the company’s 5th Anniversary of producing professional site specific interpretations of Shakespeare which have been seen by over 16,500 people. Tickets are £18.50/£16.00, Family £60 (2 adults 2 children under 16), all matinee tickets £14. You can order by calling the Box Office on 01483 304384 or by going online to www.guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk .

On Saturday, 12th February there is a ‘Local Skills Day’ being held at Chiddingfold Village Hall. The event is being run by Chidgreen which is a group that supports sustainable living in Chiddingfold. Demonstrations and displays will include a wide variety of skills such as holistic therapies (taster sessions will be available), bicycle maintenance (bring your bike along for minor repairs and adjustments), first aid, cookery, arts and crafts, basket weaving, beekeeping, computer skills, photography etc. There will also be local produce for sale and the whole day is in aid of the Mango Tree Orphanage in Haiti. If you would like further information or would just like to register your interest please call Lucy Hatcher on 07707 997667.

Les Amities Francaises will have two lectures in February, both on French attitudes to life. On Thursday 17th, at 7:30 pm, John Rogister will talk about Watteau, not only his frivolous and aristocratic pictures but also his pioneer use of colour and landscape. Then on Monday 28th, at 2:30 pm you’ll be able to hear all about café life, its history and diversity. Both meetings are to be held at the Godalming Baptist Church Hall, Queen Street, Godalming. For more information call Claude Kauffmann on 01483 300225.

The Fintry Trust is putting on a talk by Ken Rees entitled “An introduction to Celtic Mythology”. It takes place at Fintry Retreat House, Fintry, Church Lane, Brook, near Godalming and is on Saturday, 12th February at 2 pm. Entrance is £6, tea included. For more details and to book call 01428 682621.

The Bramshott, Liphook and District Horticultural Society was founded in 1876 and has been thriving ever since. It has a full schedule of events lined up for 2011and the next event is on 17th February when Carol Grubier will give a talk on ‘how to get the best from your fuchsia cuttings’. After the talk there will be a plant sale. The talk takes place as usual in the Church Centre, Portsmouth Road, Liphook and starts at 7:45pm. Annual membership of the society costs just £8 p.a. or £14 for family membership. With membership, you’ll be able to obtain discounts on several nurseries in the area. The cost to non members for attending any of their talks is £3. If you have any queries you can e-mail Katy Clarke on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call her on 07779 103180.

A reminder, that from the 22nd to 26th February, Godalming Operatic Society will be lighting up the stage at the Borough Hall with electrifying performances of Gilbert and Sullivan’s satirical opera Patience or Bunthorne’s Bride. Patience is one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most acclaimed comic operas satirising the aesthetic movement in England in the 1870s and 80s. Lovesick maidens, resplendent Dragoon Guards and the odd poet or two all combine to provide a delightfully humorous story of love and rejection. In addition to the Godalming performances, Patience will be performed at the Leatherhead Theatre on 4th and 5th of March. All evening performances are at 7:30 pm and Saturday matinees at 2:30 pm. Call the Society Box Office on 01252 703376 and for Leatherhead tickets call 01372 365141. You can also visit the websites www.godalmingoperatic.org  or www.the-theatre.org . Oh, I have to explain that the ‘electrical references’ are because Patience was first performed in 1881 at the newly built Savoy theatre which was the first in the world to be illuminated by electricity. In the same year Godalming became the first town in the world to have a public electricity supply. Interesting Eh!

Opera South is proudly presenting a fully staged production of Peter the Great by Albert Lortzing (1801 - 1851) at the Haslemere Hall, Haslemere. Performances take place on February 22nd, 23rd and 25th and start at 7:30 pm. There is a final performance on Saturday the 26th which starts at 5:30 pm. Apparently it is a comic opera set in a shipyard in Holland where a Russian Czar has disguised himself as a worker. It tells the tale of courtship and international intrigue and much of the operator’s appeal lies in its charming flow of infectious melody. Among the tunes to treasure is the Act 2 tenor aria sung as a tribute to local feminine beauty. Peter the Great is sung in English in a new performing edition, with orchestration by Tom Higgins, conducting the Guildford Philharmonic.  Translation is by Guy Davenport and Ian Gledhill directs. Tickets cost £20-£35 with concessions available to pensioners, children under 16 and groups of 10 or more for the Tuesday Wednesday and Friday performances. Call the Box Office on 01428 642161 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Alternatively you can book online at www.haslemerehall.co.uk. If you’d like to find out more about Opera South visit the website on www.operasouth.co.uk

‘Unravel’, Farnham Maltings’ hugely successful festival of knitting is returning on Saturday 26th and Sunday, 27th February. A weekend full of talks, demonstrations and workshops, plus a thriving marketplace to buy yarn, buttons and other accessories. You can solve all your knitting quandries at the knitting surgery and even enter your favourite item into the ‘Best in Show’ competition. It’s a veritable woollen wonderland!

Guildford Choral Society’s next concert is on 12th March at Guildford Cathedral starting at 7.30pm. Joining them will be The Brighton Festival Youth Choir and The London Gala Orchestra and singing Soprano will be Laurie Ashworth. The programme consists of some beautiful music. Rutter’s Magnificat, Chilcott’s Canticles of Light and Elgar’s Serenade for Strings. Tickets £19 - £25 (Concessions £5) are available from The Electric Theatre on 01484 444789 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Alternatively from the Choir on 01494 675571 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . 

Three Counties Association of National Trust Members are putting on a lecture on Wednesday 16th February at 2.30pm. Alan Bott talks on The Silk Road from China to the Mediterranean. The association organises outings, walks, lectures, and occasional holidays for National Trust members and volunteers. They are a friendly group of like-minded people of all ages, and most members come from Haslemere, Liphook, or Petersfield. Through their activities they also raise money for worthwhile projects for the local National Trust. For membership details, please contact us on 01428-656 255 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Finally, for car buffs, the Goodwood Breakfast starts again in March. Since it was introduced in March 2006, the free to enter, and open-to-all Breakfast Club – based at Goodwood Motor Circuit in West Sussex – has become one of the country’s most popular motoring events, an admission-free monthly gathering of drivers and riders united by their petrol-head passion. Admission to all Breakfast Club gatherings is free, with the gates to the circuit opening at 8:00am for early bird arrivals, and the morning comes to a close at noon. A programme of dates will appear next month…