On Thursday 7 May 2026, elections for the new West Surrey Shadow Unitary Authority will be held. Registered local government electors will be able to vote for two candidates representing Waverley Eastern Villages.

Those elected will go on to form the new Unitary Authority (West Surrey Council). The new council will replace Surrey County Council and the Boroughs of Waverley, Guildford, Woking, Surrey Heath, Runnymede and Spelthorne. These county and borough councils will cease to exist on 1 April 2027.

Do you want to know what used to happen at sunrise on top of Hydon’s Ball, or why so many people used to gather for an uproarious event held in the field behind the Merry Harriers?

Do you want to know why Father Christmas arrived in Hambledon in an Austin Allegro?

Do you want to know how Hambledon, faced with the loss of so many things that enrich village life, fought back to become a place that is “fully alive” and acclaimed by judges in a national competition a “community that has almost done the impossible?”

If so, then please come along to the Hambledon Heritage Society AGM in the Village Hall this evening (Thursday March 19^th), starting at 7.30 with drinks and photo slide show followed by a presentation from Stewart Payne – “Hambledon – the Last 40 Years”. All welcome.

Many thanks to those who took the time to complete the survey about your Village Hall. We received 138 responses (from circa 450 copies delivered to village residents). A huge thank you to those people who kindly delivered all the copies and to the Village Shop for hosting a survey drop box.

‘No Surprises’
As a committee, we wanted to understand how the residents of Hambledon felt about the hall before we made financial commitments to renovation projects. The survey results show that the views of the committee do largely reflect the views of the village as a whole.

Hambledon Village Hall Committee 2026

This year, Hambledon Heritage Society has invited a long-standing villager to deliver the presentation that follows the brief official business of its AGM.

Stewart Payne and his wife Mary Burrows arrived in Hambledon during the Great Storm of 1987. The village was cut off for days and had no power for weeks. A tree had crashed down beside their new home, just missing the house. Welcome to life in a small rural village.

His talk will embrace the almost 40 years they have lived at Hydestile and have been involved in community life across Hambledon parish, recalling the people and events that have made life so colourful and rewarding. It will be illustrated with film footage and a wealth of photographs. You may even be in it!

Make a note of the date – Thursday March 19th, 2026.

The Cricket Club AGM will be taking place on Tuesday 3rd March @ 8.00pm at the HCC Pavilion.

This is a great opportunity to have a say in how the club is run, so please come along if you can.

The true story of John Davidson, a boy growing up in the 1980s with Tourette’s. Diagnosed at fifteen, targeted as ‘insane’ by his peers, he struggled with a condition few had witnessed. Campaigning for better understanding and acceptance of the condition of as an adult, he finds his life’s purpose and accepted an MBE from the Queen in 2019.

Starring Robert Aramayo and Maxine Peake. Aramayo has just been awarded the Best Actor BAFTA for his role in this, despite being up against strong competition from Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Described by reviewers as ‘masterpiece’, ‘must-see’ and ‘simply the best movie I have seen in years’

Due to the nature of the subject matter there is explicit swearing throughout. Certificate 15

Bar opens at 7pm and the film starts at 7.30. Tickets are £5 and will be available from the Village Shop from March 1st and online here right now by clicking this link.

Anyone interested in being part of a new green woodwork group at The Garden House in Hydestile? We have some green wood bodging lathes, shaving horses and benches. A weekday slot – such as on Wednesday afternoon would work at our end.  If anyone in the area has a wood, trees or contact(s) for sourcing wood to be used by the project that would also be very useful and we will need to source some suitable tools. Typical projects might range from simple spoons and light pulls, through to stools or chairs and anything in-between.

In the first instance all that is needed is enthusiasm to help get the ball rolling.  For an informal chat, please call Andy Holdaway 07557554261 or email:  [email protected]. www.thegardenhousesurrey.org 

The Hambledon Village webteam wish all our villagers a Happy New Year and an enjoyable 2026.

We will continue to update residents and others with an interest in Hambledon throughout 2026, keeping everyone abreast of the many community events and activities, news of parish matters, and much else. If you have not already done so, please take a quick scroll around our website and look at the many features it has to offer.

The website belongs to the village, not to any one organisation, and anyone is free to post. If you need help, just message the webteam using the contact link in the top menu.

And to sign off for 2025, we finish with a lovely photograph courtesy of Alice Servaes, of a late December sunset over the Merry Harriers, taken from a high point on Feathercombe Farm. The village local will, no doubt, host many villagers tonight as we toast in 2026.

Please come along and celebrate a much-loved village tradition as we mark the 10th Hambledon Village Shop Christmas Eve Mulled Wine, Mince Pies & Sing-Along, with live music from our band and choir.

What’s happening

• Mulled wine from 11:15
• Christmas singing from 12:00

The Shop and Post Office will be open during normal hours.

To allow our staff and volunteers to join in the celebrations, the Deli will close at 11:00 and will be offering a limited festive menu, including:

• Mulled drinks
• French pastries
• Cakes
• Sausage rolls
• Breakfast baps

A Heartfelt Thank You This event is also a celebration of the 100+ incredible staff members and volunteers who keep our shop thriving. We are always looking for new “Elves” to join our team—if you’d like to get involved, please come chat with us!

We look forward to welcoming you on Christmas Eve there is no charge, but donations are welcome to cover the cost of the event🎄