In an informal, outdoor, socially distanced event at the Shop last Thursday 10th June, a core group of shop volunteers were presented with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service pins by Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux. The event was also attended by Julie Llewelyn, High Sheriff of Surrey

The presentation recognised the volunteers who worked so hard to serve the village during lockdown, by transforming the shop into an on-line delivery service. During the first coronavirus lockdown between late March 2020 and the end of June 2020, the shop picked, packed and delivered almost 2500 grocery orders, at times doing over 60 a day. This allowed customers to safely and responsibly do their grocery shopping from home at a time when the supermarkets were struggling to cope with demand.

The shop volunteers have previously received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2015. Equivalent to an MBE, QAVS are the highest awards given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life. As the award could not be given again, it was decided to recognise the individuals involved during the pandemic by presenting them with QAVS pins.

The event, on a beautiful sunny day, was covered by both Radio Surrey and BBC South Today. The BBC South Today piece is available below for those who missed it.

Hambledon Parish Council has begun the formal process to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of long-serving councillor and chairman John Anderson.

It has notified Waverley Borough Council, the electoral authority for the area, and its has posted notification of the vacancy on its website. It is also posted on this website on the parish council pages.

The process begins with a 14-working-day period during which ten or more electors from the within the Parish may request in writing for an election be held. If no such request is received by June 25^th Waverley Borough Council then allows for Hambledon Parish Council to fill the vacancy by co-option.

This process takes into account the fact that the next local council elections are not due to be held until May 2023. The cost of a mid-term election has to be met by the parish council.

Hambledon Parish Council will publicise the casual vacancy, assuming no election has been called, and will ask for candidates to put their names forward. More details will follow in this event.

To see the Waverley Borough Council notice please visit the parish council pages on this website found on the top menu or by following this link.

http://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?page_id=166

John Anderson has stood down after 38 years as a councillor, the last 17 as chairman. A presentation marking his public service to Hambledon is to be held this Sunday, outside the village shop, during the tea interval of the Mary Caroe Cup cricket match. This is expected to be at around 3pm, and the presentation will take place even if the match is rained off.

All are welcome to attend. A card can be signed at the village shop and there is as collection box there for donations towards his leaving gift. Donations can also be made by bank transfer and full details can be found by following this link.

http://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?p=14930

We are running a Raffle for Sponsor for a New Kit for our Vets team.

Our Vets team had a very successful season winning the Division 2 Title in the Farnham and Sunday District League and getting to the Semi Final of the Runwick Cup. They will now compete in the top division for the 2021/22 season.

We are looking to get them a new kit so they can look the part for the upcoming season but appreciate times are hard for everyone so instead of one main sponsor. We have decided to do a Raffle draw to make it more affordable for local businesses to support an FA Charter Standard team and promote their business.

Tickets are £30 and select a Premiership Team once sold out the draw will be made. Hopefully at the End of Season Awards on the 2nd July.

We will post regular updates on teams sold. To secure your favourite team please email Hambledonfc@gmail.com to arrange payment.

Many thanks for your Support

Come On You Dons

As many in the village will be aware, The Merry Harriers recently closed to all except their residents due to staff shortages. They’re now pleased to announce that from Friday 11th June they will be open to all once again and look forward to welcoming back the locals.

Hambledon Parish Council is marking John Anderson’s departure after 38 years as a councillor – 17 as its chairman – by organising a presentation celebration to be held on Sunday June 20^th.

The council has commissioned local artist John Coleman to undertake a painting of John’s family home, Goodbrook House, and is asking villagers to sign a card and make a donation if they wish to express their gratitude for all that John has done for Hambledon over many years.

There is a collection box at the village shop where cash donations can be left. As the shop is currently only serving customers from outside the premises, please ask a member of staff for the box. 

Money can also be donated by bank transfer to the parish council account with Lloyds. The account name is Hambledon Parish Council, the sort code is 30-93-49 and the account number is 00155928. Please reference the donation with your name. The money will be ring-fenced and will be supervised in confidence by council clerk Julie Flenley.

A personalised card is currently under preparation and well-wishers are asked to sign an insert which is available at the shop.

John stood down from the council at its annual meeting last month. He said: “I have been honoured and privileged to be elected and to serve on the parish council since 1983, and as Chairman since 2004. I shall miss the challenge, but mostly I shall miss the people, whose help and support have been invaluable”.

John is pictured above at the unveiling of the new wooden village signs to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012

The suggestion of a painting of their Hambledon home as a gift for John came from his wife Tucker. She said it was something they would both love to have, and would be a personal and lasting reminder for John of his years on the parish council. They have lived at Goodbrook House since 1978 and John’s mother lived in Beech Hill  in the 1960s and early 70s.

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The last easing of lockdown restrictions in April, when pub gardens opened for customers, was greeted by unseasonably late snow.

The further lifting last week was heralded by periods of heavy rain which continued all week – “April showers” in mid-May  – so we can be grateful that we can now venture inside pubs, cafes and restaurants in groups of six or as two households, or meet inside other people’s homes in similar numbers.

At least the bluebells in and around the village have been splendid, and our photograph is taken near The Tolt on the edge of Hydon Ball

Last Monday’s easing of Covid-19 pandemic measures also saw the reopening of indoor entertainment such as museums, cinemas, theatres and concert halls, sports venues, hotels and guest houses, exercise classes and play areas.

We must still wait to see if the Government’s planned lifting of all social distancing measures can go ahead on June 21^st amid concern at the current rise in the Indian variant of the Covid virus in parts of north west England.

But it is to be hoped that summer will bring a welcome return to normality and here the Hambledon Village Website considers what we can look forward to locally, including a summer fete on the green and a Rejoice the Voice Music Festival.

But first we look back on the loss of a village stalwart, Judy Leeper, who was held in great affection by many Hambledon residents and will be especially remembered for her long-term involvement in the village shop, as a former chair of its committee and as a regular volunteer.

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This is to let everyone know that a cycling event will be passing through the village tomorrow morning and stopping for refreshments at the village hall car park.

There will be 180 cyclists in groups of six leaving from Cranleigh at organised intervals between 9am and 11am riding through the village.

Hambledon will see a further easing of lockdown rules this week after the Government confirmed changes that allow pubs and restaurants to serve customers indoors, as long as there are no more than six in each group, or they are from two separate households.

This same condition applies to indoor visits to other people’s homes, where overnight stays will be allowed. People in groups of up to 30 can meet outdoors.

These, and a number of other relaxations to Covid-19 rules, take place on Monday (May 17^th). Please see here for full details: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

The country now faces an anxious wait to see if the worrying increase of the Indian variant in parts of the UK, will delay the planned lifting of all distancing restrictions in England on June 21^st.

Here in Hambledon, the latest lifting means that customers can be served inside the Merry Harriers instead of just outside in the garden. As a result, the pub has announced an extension to its opening hours.

The pub opening times are: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am until 11pm and Sunday 11am to 8pm.

Food service times are: Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm and Sunday 12 noon to 3pm.

The pub is closed on Mondays. More details here: https://merryharriers.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/merryharriershambledon/

For the time being, the village shop hours remain unchanged, but it is planned to allow shoppers back inside from June 21^st, as long as restrictions are lifted that day. Its home delivery service ceases on Friday May 28^th, and full details of all the changes can be found here: http://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?p=14866

At St Peter’s Church, worshipper may assemble inside, subject to certain restrictions, and services remain available by Zoom. Details can be found here:

https://www.bhcgodalming.org/sunday-services