The recent Hambledon Village Shop AGM at the Village Hall, reviewing 2021/2022, produced some interesting information and the highlights are reproduced here for a wider audience.

Moving out of Covid restrictions was more challenging than being under them. Emma Dunn, part of the management committee, said that shutting the shop in 2020 and only doing home deliveries was a hard decision for the heart, but in practical terms was relatively easy.

Managing risks coming out of lockdown, keeping customers, staff and volunteers safe, and adhering to ever-changing guidelines, was much more difficult.

A shop WhatsApp group proved useful to exchange information, from issues arising from a broken- down fridge to how many sausage rolls to order. It was not until April last year that the shop was able to serve “eat-in” food and drinks on the terrace, with QR codes and track and trace in operation.

“It is hard to remember just how difficult life was back then”, Emma said. In July 2021, when the shop featured in the TV programme “Escape to the Country”, customers were allowed back inside, and Carole Davies was the first customer. “For some of the more vulnerable, the shop was their first experience since lockdown of walking into a shop once again”.

Autumn 2021 saw restrictions re-introduced and, following a very successful scaled-down fete and BBQ, with the shop playing a central role, there was a return to mask wearing, limitations on gatherings, and the Christmas singalong was called off.

Contrary to as reported in this month’s Parish Magazine, Hambledon Village Ball 2024 is not sold out. An innocent mistake by the festival webbers led to a misunderstanding. The date is set, Saturday 22nd June 2024, but tables aren’t available yet, they will be available to reserve sometime in winter 2023.

In the meantime, tickets can be booked for the Hambledon Village Shop BBQ on Saturday 27th August. This summer’s BBQ is special as it’s a celebration of 30 years of the shop being community owned and run. 

Tickets can be purchased here: https://hambledonfestival.co.uk

Hydestile Resident Animals were called out on Wednesday evening to help rescue an injured deer at the junction of the A283 (Petworth Road) and Lane End. Unfortunately the animal had to be put down.

Based on the injured deer’s condition it is highly likely that there is a fawn somewhere in the local vicinity. Please keep a look out and if you see any sign of the fawn please contact Graham or Lyn at Hydestile Resident Animals on 01483 860313.

Congratulations to our Groundsteam of Martyn Grove and Matt Kiley who were crowned FA Groundsteam of the Year at a star studded event at the Community Shield Final on Saturday between Liverpool and Man City. A fantastic achievement and reconition for the work they do at Badger Park. They were presented to the crowd at half time on the pitch.

A big thanks from all at the club for their hard work on the pitch. Giving the players one of the best pitches in the area to enjoy playing football. What an achievemnet for a little village football club.

Come on You Dons 

New steps have been taken to drive forward the initiative to prevent large and unsuitable heavy goods vehicles from using Salt and Markwick Lanes.

Kevin Deanus, Hambledon’s Surrey County Council Ward member, has given an undertaking that action will be taken in an attempt to resolve the problem.

The inappropriate use of Station Lane, Hydestile Crossroads, Salt Lane and Markwick Lane by heavy goods vehicles has become a growing menace. This narrow country route is used as a cut-through between the A3 at Milford and the A281 Guildford to Horsham Road near Cranleigh. It is classified as a “D” road and therefore not designated or suitable for HGV use.

Nevertheless, lorries use this route on a daily basis, causing damage to trees, verges and banks, and causing congestion, as in many sections there is insufficient room for large vehicles to pass in opposite directions. There are signs stating the road is unsuitable for HGVs, but these are routinely ignored and are only advisory, and not enforceable in law.

Hambledon resident Paul Osborne, who lives on Salt Lane, has been pressing Surrey County Council, as the highways authority responsible, to take action and has gathered much evidence in support of measures to stop this menace. He has been supported by Hambledon Parish Council and other neighbouring parishes.

He has proposed red signs, enforceable in law, barring HGV from using these lanes, but SCC has resisted. The subject did make it on to the agenda of the Waverley/SCC Local Committee and a “destination survey” was carried out to seek data on whether lorries were making local deliveries or mainly using the route as a cut-through. The evidence showed the latter was the case.

Dear Friends of Hambledon;

You are all most welcome to join us at Vann in the Gardens for some exceptional (and really accessible) out-door Shakespeare. The weather is set fair; the gardens are idyllic at this time of year. Come with a blanket (or a picnic with an early entry ticket) and revel in the serenity of a unique place and unique experience. Here are the reviews!

Last chance for tickets!

Shakespeare in the Gardens of Vann House, 29/30th July

Twelfth Night on 29th July (Friday) at 6pm

Much Ado About Nothing 30th July (Saturday) 1pm and 6pm

Tickets available here: https://www.troubadourstageworks.com/store?tag=Vann

Listen to us on Radio Surrey here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2611753188970155

REVIEWS!!

“It was one of the most enjoyable open air Shakespeare’s I have ever been to (and I have been to dozens!!)… such a joy in this otherwise midsummer madness.” Linda Jones, University Lecturer of English Literature

Returning from its original run during August 2020, our production of Twelfth Night is bombastic, playful, musical and comic. With a running time of only 2 hours (including the interval) this speedy adaptation focuses on the turbulence of household politics, the claustrophobia of passionate emotion and the comic nature of self-deceived infatuation.

The show features original music, troublesome twins, and a whole lot of character confusion!

“It really lifted my spirits… my heartfelt congratulations to you all.” Hugh Bonneville, Actor

Much Ado About Nothing is a play about war in all its forms; the gentlemen of Don Pedro’s company, though veterans of the battlefield, are ill prepared for the incoming romantic combat. With a plot that includes courtly love, dastardly villains, original songs and ‘sportive tricks’, our adaptation is quick, funny, moving and vibrant. 

“Saw a great production of Much Ado last night thanks to the excellent @troubadourstage.” Dan Snow, @thehistoryguy

About Staging

The joy of our productions is the ability to stage in any space. We pride ourselves on enhancing a space: on creating a marriage of environment and text that complements both equally.

“It was remarkable… in so little time you made the church a character within the show, rather than just a simple backdrop.” Rev Stephen Baxter, St Stephen Walbrook, London

About Troubadour Stageworks, Charity No. 1193809

Troubadour Stageworks was founded in 2017, with the aim of creating a stage in any space. We achieved charitable status last year, in March 2021. Our field of action is the intersection of community, heritage and culture: we bring new people and new communities to forgotten spaces through theatrical performance and creative enterprise.

Within the last 5 years our venues have included 18th century formal gardens, a 14th century crypt in Bristol, London’s West End, Powderham Castle and a Privy Council Chamber of Elizabeth I. As we have grown more of our vision can be established, and we recently expanded our community involvement work to include tailored school visits, talks, workshops and community participation within our shows.

“The purpose of the visit was always kept in mind and the teachers ensured every single pupil felt valued and had opportunities to engage fully… the group clearly had the expertise to deliver the workshop, making it fun, educational and memorable.” Colin Snook, Deputy Head, Godolphin Cross

TWO fully-loaded articulated lorries brought Hambledon Road to a standstill this afternoon as they reversed at a snail’s pace back to the Hydestile Crossroads, unable to negotiate the turn into West Surrey Golf Course at Potters Hill.

The tractor and trailer units damaged trees and had to take great care to avoid overhead cables as they reversed under supervision. It took them approximately 45 minutes to undertake the manoeuvre, and no other traffic could pass while they did so.

The lorries were delivering piping to the course, which has a secondary entrance off the Hambledon Road leading to its maintenance yard as well as several private houses.

One roll of piping caught on branches and a section was bent back, lifting it above the previous load-level and making the operation of avoiding cables even more hazardous. (see photograph)

To reach the Hambledon Road the lorries would have passed advisory signs warning that the narrow lanes in and around the village are not appropriate for HGV use.

Several dozen motorists were caught up in the delays and expressed their frustration at the hold-up and anger that lorries of such size were attempting to use such unsuitable lanes.

Hambledon Parish Council contacted West Surrey Golf Course following the incident. Club secretary James Newman apologised for the inconvenience and said he would investigate the matter.

“We do have large deliveries from time-to-time that need to use the Potters Hill entrance. But our suppliers know this route well and it is up to them to ensure they use the appropriate size of vehicle. I expect them to make sure they have the correct lorry capable of delivering the load as well as negotiating the route”.

Among the vehicles held up was another HGV, which had already passed through the very narrow Malthouse Lane and which should not have been on Hambledon Road in the first place.

The incident highlights the continued concern of Hambledon residents that roads in the village are being used by HGVs as a cut-through, particularly across the Hydestile Crossroads, Salt Lane and Markwick Lane, a route that connects the A3 at Milford and the A281 near Cranleigh.

Hambledon Parish Council is currently engaged in measures to try and stop this menace and, along with affected residents and other local parishes, is trying to get Surrey Council Council’s highways engineers to introduce enforceable measures to force HGVs to use designated A and B roads.

* Hambledon Road will be closed, potentially for three days, from tomorrow (July 27th) between 8am until 6pm, between Clock Barn Lane and Home Farm Road, Busbridge, to enable the replacement of a decayed pole. The section of Hambledon Road through the village from Lane End to Hydestile Crossroads should remain open.

Executive Summary for Hambledon