Number 15 Gallery’s late night shopping event is this Thursday 19th June… and many of the Old Coal Yard businesses will be open donating a portion of their takings from the whole day to the Prostate Project.

Visit the Man Van!

From 4pm till 8pm the charity will be providing simple finger prick blood tests (for £40) plus advice and support in their Man Van.

If you have a prostate you should test from the age of 50, and if you have a family history of prostate, ovarian, or breast cancer, or you are black, you should test from 45 as you are at higher risk.

If picked up early, it is much easier to treat and manage so early diagnosis is key. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.

For more info visit: https://www.pth.org.uk/news-and-events/events/upcoming-events/bramley-open-gardens*/

Wednesday 7th May at 7.30pm

Katherine Mills, National Trust manager of Munstead Wood, is speaking at the Hascombe Village Hall AGM to explain the history and future of Munstead Wood.

Munstead Wood was designed by Edwin Lutyens, built by Messrs Underwood of Dunsfold 1896/97 for Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932). She revolutionised the art, theory and practice of gardening and pioneered many principles which underpin gardening today. Gertrude Jekyll democratised gardening, sharing ideas, advice and inspiration through the popular media of the day reaching every level of society and giving birth to a national obsession.

The National Trust bought the property a couple of years ago and are preparing it for opening to the public. Katherine Mills of the National Trust is attending the Hascombe Village Hall AGM and will be giving an insight into Munstead Wood, its history and Jekyll’s rich legacy which is helping to shape plans for the property’s future.

Free entry Wednesday 7th May, 7.30pm. Please note this is at Hascombe Village Hall

The Old Coal Yard start-up businesses welcomed five new tenants in the past month. The latest to arrive are Julia and Lucy of Number 15 Gallery. Julia, a Hambledon resident for nearly 30 years, and her friend Lucy, from Godalming, are opening a small Artists’ studio and gallery space at The Old Coal Yard, next to the Merry Harriers.

They met at Changing Perceptions in Godalming, a now, sadly, closed social enterprise for The Meath Epilepsy Charity (where Lucy was the assistant manager and Julia a volunteer). The days spent upcycling furniture and laughing (a lot) with the Meath residents are missed by everyone who spent time there.

Both of them have art backgrounds and wanted to be able to work and show their wares in a dedicated light and airy space. In 2022 they held a pop-up art exhibition in one of the, then, empty units (at the Old Coal Yard) in aid of The Fountain Centre Charity at the Royal Surrey County Hospital. It was such a great success and a lovely experience that they decided to take on a new unit when one became available – 2 years later and here they are.

Not only will they be creating and selling their own work in Hambledon, they will also have the work of 5 other local artists on display in the space – ceramics, stained glass, reupholstered and painted furniture, photography and paintings will all be available.

After much back and forth trying to choose a name for the gallery – they hit upon “Number 15” (a remarkable coincidence as they are in unit 15 at The Old Coal Yard).

Julia is excited about their opening day. “It is on Saturday 15th March (15th?!) at 3pm (15:00 hours?!) and everyone is most welcome to come and say hello. We are both delighted to be joining the gang at The Coal Yard and happy to finally have a studio space that we don’t have to clear up in time for dinner!”

Lucy added “Number 15 is scheduled to be open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, but if you see us in there at any other time, just pop in!”. www.Number15.net

https://www.coalyardcreatives.com

The excellent first aid training of Hambledon residents conducted this week in the village hall was hosted by our local Community First Responders. They have asked us to publicise that they are looking for more volunteers. Guildford & District Community First Responders are recruiting new Community First Responders. They’re especially interested in applications from rural and semi-rural locations, including Cranleigh and Haslemere, and the villages around Guildford and Godalming.

If you want more information and a no-obligation chat send them a direct Facebook message . A full formal role description and link to the application form is here. The closing date is 21st July but applications may close early if there is a high volume of response.

Also – our First Responders Teresa and Marietta asked for donations of discarded bras. These are used by them on dummies to practice cutting them off! Mary Grove has offered to accumulate them and forward if left on her doorstep or maybe left at the shop?

Our 6th July training session has a few places left, so sign up now for the free CPR and early defibrillation training. One day you could save a life.

So join us for a hands-on training session to equip yourself with the skills to make a difference.

Use of defibrillators and CPR will be covered, and also any other first aid emergencies you might be concerned about. The session is free, but a donation would be appreciated. It is being run by our local NHS Ambulance Volunteers, Guildford and District Community First Responders, who respond to 999 ambulance emergencies to start treatment while the ambulance is on its way.

The session will take place 10:30am Sat 6July in Hambledon Village Hall. It will last about 1.5/2hrs. Please  contact Sarah Stuckey on sarah@stuckey.org.uk if you’d like to attend. Include your name and phone number please.