Anyone walking along the bridleway across Burgate Farm will encounter a most unexpected feature  – one that pays tribute to a fascinating but largely unknown aspect of Hambledon’s history.

Approaching the Loxhill end of the path the walker will already have enjoyed beautiful Surrey Hills scenery, a tranquil landscape of rolling countryside, woodlands and fields. For those familiar with the area, that much would be expected.

What would not be expected is the steam locomotive, recently installed on a length of railway track, underneath spreading oak trees and against a backdrop of oilseed rape crops. In this sylvan setting, nothing could be more incongruous.

And yet, given the history of this location, it is entirely appropriate. The nearby barn buildings housed a large collection of narrow-gauge locomotives, locked away and hidden by the farm’s owner Peter Rampton.

The charity meat raffle that takes place every Saturday afternoon at the Merry Harriers has raised many thousands of pounds for local good causes and has become a popular event for villagers.

Starting tomorrow (Sept 27), and for the next eight weeks, it is supporting a newly-launched charity called PROGRESS which provides support for those diagnosed with oesophago-gastric cancers and are being treated at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, a specialist centre for this particularly challenging condition.

I hope villagers will understand why I am keen to promote this fund-raising raffle. In 2017 I was diagnosed with stage 3 oesophageal cancer. A tumour was discovered at the junction of my oesophagus and stomach and I underwent almost 12-hours of surgery at the RSCH. It is one of the biggest and most complex operations performed in hospitals.

It is good to see the return of the cricket fixture between a Hambledon CC XI and a Merry Harriers pub XI, the game taking place this Sunday (July 27^th) played in a Twenty20 format. The match starts on the Cricket Green at 1pm and all villagers, family and friends are welcome. Please make a noise!

This fixture has a long and glorious history. According to Arthur “Ginge” Blackman, Hambledon CC’s long serving president, it goes back until at least the 1960s and possibly earlier.

Ginge’s wife Sue grew up in the Merry Harriers and it was her father, David Pearson, landlord at the time, who is known to have arranged games with the village side.

I would like to use our village website to thank all those villagers who contributed to a generous leaving gift and signed card following my departure as a Hambledon Parish councillor after 24 years, the last four as Chair.

As many will know, I decided a year ago that it was time to step down, knowing that we have a strong and well-organised parish council with dedicated councillors and an extremely capable clerk.

My resignation took effect at the May AGM earlier this month, when the card and wine vouchers wine were presented to me by deputy Alison Scott-Bishop.

Following my departure, Alison was voted in as the new chair and Robin McKeith as deputy. A vacancy now exists to replace me as a councillor and Clerk Catherine Russell has started the necessary legal process with Waverley Borough Council. If any villager is interested in applying, please contact Catherine at [email protected] and she can explain what to do.

The photographs show Alison presenting me with my gift and card (above) and my final meeting at the village hall with parish council colleagues, from left to right Andy Hinde, Alison, Robin, myself, Simon Rhodes, Catherine, and Sean Sinnott, with our Ward County Councillor Kevin Deanus and Ward Waverley councillor Michael Goodridge. Missing from the line-up is parish councillor Jude Milan and Waverley Ward councillor Jane Austin.

It has been really rewarding to have been a parish councillor and I have reflected on this in more detail in a short article in the June edition of Hambledon Parish Magazine. If you are not a subscriber, copies are available in the village shop. Details of council, Agendas and Minutes etc, can be found on the Parish Council pages on this website

Thank you to the people of Hambledon for supporting the parish council over the years and making my time there so fulfilling.

He was, quite literally, the spy who came in from the cold.

Not the fictional one created by John le Carré in his novel of the same name, later turned in to an award-winning film starring Richard Burton and Claire Bloom.

The one sitting huddled by the inglenook fireplace at the Merry Harriers on a chilly winter’s day was a genuine Cold War spy whose escape to the West was as daring as any espionage book plot – a Russian KGB colonel turned double agent.

Village residents joined with many others from across the Godalming, Busbridge and Hambledon Minster to say farewell to its rector, Rev Simon Taylor, as he and his family leave after almost 15 years.

At a packed service at Godalming Minster on Sunday (Jan 5^th), Simon spoke with great fondness of his time serving the local church community, while others spoke of his achievements and challenges. He was given a big round of applause, and cakes, coffees and sparkling wine were served. Among other pieces of music, the Minster Choir gave a rendition of Handel’s Zadok the Priest.

As the Hambledon Festival Committee announces a record amount raised for good causes over this year’s fete and ball weekend, it is timely to remember a very special village resident who helped start it all.

Many will have been deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sue Blackman who, along with husband Arthur (Ginge), has done so much for the benefit our village and its many activities. Her funeral service will be at St Peter’s Church next Tuesday (Sept 10^th) at 2pm.

It was Sue and Ginge who, in 2006, came up with the idea of making greater use of the fete marquee by organising the first-ever Hambledon Gala Ball, to take place in the evening once the biennial fete had been packed away.

Hambledon’s scheduled bus service comes to an end this Friday, with the final departure leaving Lane End at 9.15am. It will then take its route through the village – with stops at the hall, Woodlands Road, the Merry Harriers and Hydestile Crossroads – for the very last time.

It brings to end a service which, in various forms, has been in operation since before the Second World War. It will be replaced by an on-demand service beginning next Monday (Sept 2).

Up until the late 1970s the service was a mainstay for workers, shoppers and schoolchildren, an often-crowded bus travelling through the village eight times a day in each direction.

The axing of the 503 also brings to end a long campaign by Hambledon Parish Council to keep the route going. In recent years the service, operated by Stagecoach but heavily subsidised by Surrey County Council, was much reduced in frequency, just three times a week, twice in each direction. However, it was still used by villagers who didn’t drive or who had given up driving.

A good friend to Hambledon Shop and its customers has completed his final stint behind the Post Office counter and is preparing to leave for pastures new.

Alan Brien, a qualified post master, helped out at the shop in its earlier days, assisting Jane Woolley who had trained to become its first Post Mistress along with John Tidmarsh, who trained as a volunteer.

Then, eleven years ago, Alan was appointed to be a part of a new management team. They were known as the “Three As” – Alan, along with Amanda Wright and Alison Wilson.

He stayed in this role for two years followed by a gradual hand-over of his duties to a new manager. However, he has always remained “on-call”, driving up from his Storrington, West Sussex, home when needed and has been a highly valued member of the shop staff.

He was part of the Post Office team, headed by Alison Wilson, who jointly received the Post Office Community Service Award in 2015.

Last Saturday was his last shift. A friendly and much-liked man, his good nature and efficiency will be missed.

He is moving with his wife to the small market town of Malton in North Yorkshire, where her family come from.

“I have really enjoyed working in the shop and will miss the many people I have got to know”, said Alan. “It is a job I have loved, but the time is right for us to consider where we need to be in retirement. We are regular visitors to Malton because of our family connections and we are looking forward to it”.

Alan departs with the thanks and best wishes from the people of Hambledon.

Hambledon will go to the polls next month and residents have an opportunity to vote for their parish councillors.

This vital role for our village and its administration requires seven members. Two current councillors are standing down and five are standing again.

Two more candidates are needed for the parish council to be at full strength, and at least three if there is to be a contested election.

Nominations close at 4pm on Tuesday (April 4th) when signed and witnessed forms must be submitted by appointment at Waverley council officers.

This is the final call for people to come forward. All details and assistance can be provided by Hambledon Parish Clerk Catherine Russell at [email protected]

Hambledon admirably demonstrated its community spirit with a range of seasonal events in the build-up to Christmas 2022.

It also bade a sad but fond farewell to Martin Thompson, who completed his final day at the village shop on Christmas Eve. His knowledge, experience, commitment and friendship has been invaluable and he and Karen Barbato will be greatly missed.

Festivities began with Carols at The Merry Harriers on December 15th, where regular customers, families and friends were joined by members of the congregation of St Peter’s Church for rousing renditions of festive favourites. Associate vicar Simon Willetts featured on keyboard with Lisa Olsworth-Peter leading the singing.

If you are wondering who is responsible for the latest village road closure – this time on Hambledon Road at Hydestile – do not blame the usual suspects. Blame a badger.

The road is completely closed in both directions, preventing any through traffic and causing a lengthy diversion through Witley and Milford.

Mary Grove, deputy chair of Hambledon Parish Council, helps administer and maintain the various defibrillators available for public use in the village.

Having the knowledge of how to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) greatly increases the chances of someone surviving cardiac arrest. Mary has arranged for free training sessions on the evenings of November 2^nd and 9^th. Please consider taking part and help save lives. To register please contact Mary on 01483 415815 or email Sarah Stuckey at [email protected].

Mary also runs the village Community Speedwatch and campaigns on behalf of the council for speed restrictions.

New volunteers for the speedwatch are urgently required. This involves villagers being equipped with speed monitoring equipment to record the speed of vehicles driving through our village, which has a limit of 30mph in the centre and 40mph on the approaches. Speedwatch does not impose fines but offenders are sent a cautionary letter and evidence suggests that the existence of visible monitoring does encourage drivers to slow down.

The local group is at risk of folding unless new recruits can be found. Please contact Mary or Sarah using the contact details above.

Finally, many villagers are asking if a 20mph limit could be introduced in the centre of Hambledon and if you support this idea please sign a petition available at the village shop.

The National Trust has announced that Oakhurst Cottage, the preserved 16th Century farm labourer’s cottage on the lower corner of Cricket Green, will be closed for the rest of the year with immediate effect.

Hambledon villagers have played a vital role in keeping the little timber-framed cottage open to the public by volunteering as guides to show pre-booked visitors around the house and cottage garden. Inside it fittings and furnishings reflect how a simple land-workers cottage would have looked in the mid-19th Century.

It is one of the NT’s smallest properties and is a popular and unique attraction. However, recently NT staff discovered cracks caused by subsidence and investigatory work has been undertaken. It was considered safe to remain open while an engineers’ report was prepared. It is thought that underpinning is required.

It was due to be open on Thursdays and on Heritage Days later this month, with free entry and no booking required. It was hoped that more volunteers would be recruited to enable the cottage to remain open to booked visitors into October, so it is disappointing that it has been closed at short notice. The NT states the closure is because of “emergency works”.

Hambledon Parish Council and villagers involved in volunteering will be seeking further information and reassurances concerning its future from the National Trust.

For more information please visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oakhurst-cottage

A lorry – possibly taking a diversion due to the road closure referred to in the previous news item – has caused extensive damage as it passed through the village this lunchtime (Tues Sept 6th), ripping down phone lines and tree branches and leaving a trail of debris behind.

The lorry photographed below was seen driving through the village at this time and a resident caught it on camera, apparently colliding with branches and overhead cables.