The Hambledon Ukraine Appeal has now raised more than £6,000, thanks to the outstanding efforts of villagers who have responded with such generosity.

A JustGiving page set up on March 7 in response to the unfolding tragedy in Ukraine has received donations in excess of £4,500. Another £1,000 has been raised on the card reader at the Village Shop and cash has been collected in boxes at various locations, including the pub, football club and nursery school, as well as on the shop counter. The Merry Harriers alone raised around £600 from a quiz and collection box.

We are hoping to decorate the church in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee.  Can you help us?

Any flower/foliage arrangement, big or small would be welcome so that we can dress up the church. Please let me know if you are interested then the project can be taken forward.

Contact Mary Parker on 01428 682545  or  email [email protected]

In Hambledon, as elsewhere, there is a clear desire to do whatever we can to support the people of Ukraine.

Sometimes our expectations of what we can do cannot be matched by the harsh realities of getting aid to where it is needed.

So, in an attempt to focus our efforts into a practical and achievable response, several village organisations and individuals have come together to consider what can be done. The outcome of this is the establishment of the Hambledon Ukraine Appeal.

For the time being the Appeal will collect money for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). The DEC brings together 15 leading UK charities to distribute aid quickly and efficiently at times of crisis overseas.

 There are 3 ways in which you can give:

1. Online using the Hambledon Ukraine Appeal JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hambledonukraineappeal
2. Cash collection boxes at the shop, Merry Harriers and Nursery School
3. Using the church’s card reader at the shop

Cash and card donations will be transferred to the Hambledon Ukraine Appeal JustGiving account.

It is hoped that by using JustGiving we will all be able to share in the spirit of kindness and togetherness for which our village is known. People should feel free to make donations anonymously or post personal messages of support for the people of Ukraine. Updates will be posted here, on social media, and in the parish magazine.

We in Hambledon can make a real contribution. Let’s do it. Let’s be generous.  

The Merry Harriers will be hosting a quiz night on Wednesday 9th March from 8pm to 10pm. Teams of a maximum size of 6, entry fee £1 per team member, winning team takes all (or gives it to charity). The quiz masters will be Andy Hinde and Jon Petersen, but don’t let that put you off.

Curry and a pint will be available for £15. Please call the pub on 01428 682883 if you’d like to reserve a table.

With no new Covid restrictions added – but with the variant still prevalent- Hambledonians will celebrate the arrival of 2022 with caution, but surely with optimism that the New Year will be better then the last.

Many will no doubt celebrate quietly at home or visit friends and neighbours. Others will meet at the Merry Harriers to see in the New Year where measures are in place to ensure that the evening can be enjoyed outside in the garden as well as inside.

Villagers have loaned fire pits and gazebos following an appeal from manager Mikey Coleman. These will supplement the pub’s own fire pits and marquee to add to the party atmosphere and to ensure that all may celebrate safely.

A small bar is being set up in the rear garden and a band will play by the doors leading from the dining area to the rear patio, so that music can be heard outside as well as in.

The garden is large, so there is plenty of space, and masks should be worn when entering the pub.

Our picture shows manager Mikey Coleman and Richard Payne taking a tea break from setting up.

The pub is open all evening until beyond midnight. The forecast is for a dry and mild night.

However and wherever you celebrate, we wish you all a Happy New Year.

For the second year running Hambledon, as elsewhere, is facing a disrupted Christmas as a result of Covid-related restrictions. Nevertheless, our little village will do its best, and there is no reason not to wish everyone a Happy Christmas on behalf of the village website team.

Sadly, as you may have read in the previous post, the Church has made the difficult decision to cancel the traditional Christmas Eve 11pm service at St Peter’s. Given the late hour, this service was to have taken place inside the church but this was considered unwise in the current situation.

Happily, the Christmas Eve Crib Service will go ahead at 4pm, as will the Christmas Day family service and Communion at 10am. Both will be held outside so wrap up warm and remember to wear your protective face mask.

Fortunately the Carol Service did go ahead last Sunday in the church yard and our photograph shows some of the hardy souls, of all ages, who gathered under the glow of the Chancel windows to share carols, readings and some mulled wine and mince pies.

The village pub, the Merry Harriers, will be monitoring the situation throughout the Festive period, adapting to any new rules that the Government may announce over the coming days.

As things stand, the pub will be open until 11pm on Christmas Eve and between 11am and 6pm on Christmas Day. Manager Mikey Coleman has said he will have fire pits blazing away in the back garden for those who prefer to be outside. Boxing Day hours are 12 noon to 8pm, and curry meals are on offer until 6pm, including vegetarian.

A band is booked to play on New Year’s Eve and it is intended it will perform from the dining area and with space for dancing, but this is under constant review and there is an option for the band to play outside, with additional lighting and more fire pits.

The Village Shop is open today until 3pm and tomorrow, Christmas Eve, it opens at 8.30am and closes at 2pm. Sadly the shop carols singing, scheduled for noon tomorrow, has been cancelled.

After Christmas its hours are: 

The traditional Sunday before Christmas Carol Service at St Peter’s will now take place outside in the church yard due to current concerns over the new Covid-19 variant.

All else remains the same. The service will start at 7pm tomorrow (December 19th) with familiar carols, bible readings from villagers and a chance to share a special time with family and friends. All are very welcome… although we cannot promise a snowy scene like the one below, taken in December 2010.

The following is from Simon Willetts:

“Please be advised that due to the increased risk posed by the Omicron covid variant, the St. Peter’s Church Hambledon 7pm Carol Service tomorrow night (19^th December 2021) is now going to be held outside in the church yard. We are hoping to live stream it too – please follow this link 
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bhc+godalming

Please can you also remember to bring a mask, a torch and a chair if possible. Don’t forget to wrap up warm!

The nursery school car park is available for parking for this service.

Thank you in advance for your understanding 

Rev. Simon Willetts”

Caroline and family warmly welcome everyone to Edna’s funeral at St Peter’s Church on Thursday 25^th November at 11am and afterwards in the church rooms.

Wear something red!

The Cricket Club won the earlier fixture this season between these two teams, taking the Mary Caroe Cup by 1 run. On Sunday 12 Sept at 1pm the two teams meet again in what should be an entertaining match. Come along and watch, bring a picnic and a blanket, the club bar will be open and the Village Shop is open until 3pm with suitable refreshments available.

When the dust settles from the Hambledon Fete there is Jo Kirkland and David Kirby’s music festival “Rejoice the Voice” to look forward to next Saturday September 4th 12-10pm. A festival in a day with all proceeds going to MND and Alzheimers. Tickets available in advance only at thelittleboxoffice.com/rejoicethevoice.
With three stages including a Main Stage, Woodland Stage and Grotto Stage it promises to be a day full of music to suit all tastes, plus delicious locally produced food and drink including our very own Vann Lane Gin. Please do buy tickets, support the charities and this fabulous one off local venture.

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Raffle tickets for the Village Fete prize draw on Saturday 28th August are now available in the Village Shop. £1 a ticket or £5 for a book of tickets if you’re paying by card. Tickets will also be sold on the day with the draw being made at the end off the fete and the beginning of the Shop BBQ at 5pm.

Lots of great prizes:

• 2 nights B&B at The Merry Harriers
• 2 tickets for the 4th day of England v India in the Oval Test Match
• A handmade bracelet made by local artist Carol Ann Dickson
• £50 Waitrose Voucher
• A Hambledon Village Shop hamper
• 2 tour-for-two vouchers for Hog’s Back Brewery
• A voucher for a fitness class with Carron Wellings
• A Gin tour and tasting at The Village Spirit Collective Distillery
• A handmade Silver Bubble Necklace Pendant from Jewelled
• A handmade pot from Froyle Tiles
• A late Summer Posy from Cherfold Flowers
• An electric bike tour for 2 with Surrey Hills Cycle Hire
• A case of 6 wines kindly donated by Stuart and Ursula Cook

It finally looks like we have some settled weather, just in time. Next weekends festivities kick off with the Village fete starting at 2:30pm on Saturday, the Village Show goes on during the same afternoon, followed by the Shop BBQ at 5:00pm and on Sunday the Church service will take place on the Cricket Green.

Fete preparations are ongoing, we could do with more cakes for the cake stall and bottles for the hoopla, if anyone can offer either, please drop them in at the Village Shop.
Prize draw tickets are now on sale at the Shop, lots of excellent prizes, £1 a ticket.

The second Mary Caroe Cup match took place between Hambledon Cricket Club and Hambledon Village Shop on Sunday 20 June. With a deluge of rain in previous days the groundsmen had managed to keep the wicket covered and rolled in time for the clouds to break and play commence.

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