Hambledon Parish Council has begun the formal process to fill the vacancy resulting from the resignation of long-serving councillor and chairman John Anderson.

It has notified Waverley Borough Council, the electoral authority for the area, and its has posted notification of the vacancy on its website. It is also posted on this website on the parish council pages.

The process begins with a 14-working-day period during which ten or more electors from the within the Parish may request in writing for an election be held. If no such request is received by June 25^th Waverley Borough Council then allows for Hambledon Parish Council to fill the vacancy by co-option.

This process takes into account the fact that the next local council elections are not due to be held until May 2023. The cost of a mid-term election has to be met by the parish council.

Hambledon Parish Council will publicise the casual vacancy, assuming no election has been called, and will ask for candidates to put their names forward. More details will follow in this event.

To see the Waverley Borough Council notice please visit the parish council pages on this website found on the top menu or by following this link.

https://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?page_id=166

John Anderson has stood down after 38 years as a councillor, the last 17 as chairman. A presentation marking his public service to Hambledon is to be held this Sunday, outside the village shop, during the tea interval of the Mary Caroe Cup cricket match. This is expected to be at around 3pm, and the presentation will take place even if the match is rained off.

All are welcome to attend. A card can be signed at the village shop and there is as collection box there for donations towards his leaving gift. Donations can also be made by bank transfer and full details can be found by following this link.

https://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?p=14930

We are running a Raffle for Sponsor for a New Kit for our Vets team.

Our Vets team had a very successful season winning the Division 2 Title in the Farnham and Sunday District League and getting to the Semi Final of the Runwick Cup. They will now compete in the top division for the 2021/22 season.

We are looking to get them a new kit so they can look the part for the upcoming season but appreciate times are hard for everyone so instead of one main sponsor. We have decided to do a Raffle draw to make it more affordable for local businesses to support an FA Charter Standard team and promote their business.

Tickets are £30 and select a Premiership Team once sold out the draw will be made. Hopefully at the End of Season Awards on the 2nd July.

We will post regular updates on teams sold. To secure your favourite team please email [email protected] to arrange payment.

Many thanks for your Support

Come On You Dons

As many in the village will be aware, The Merry Harriers recently closed to all except their residents due to staff shortages. They’re now pleased to announce that from Friday 11th June they will be open to all once again and look forward to welcoming back the locals.

Hambledon Parish Council is marking John Anderson’s departure after 38 years as a councillor – 17 as its chairman – by organising a presentation celebration to be held on Sunday June 20^th.

The council has commissioned local artist John Coleman to undertake a painting of John’s family home, Goodbrook House, and is asking villagers to sign a card and make a donation if they wish to express their gratitude for all that John has done for Hambledon over many years.

There is a collection box at the village shop where cash donations can be left. As the shop is currently only serving customers from outside the premises, please ask a member of staff for the box. 

Money can also be donated by bank transfer to the parish council account with Lloyds. The account name is Hambledon Parish Council, the sort code is 30-93-49 and the account number is 00155928. Please reference the donation with your name. The money will be ring-fenced and will be supervised in confidence by council clerk Julie Flenley.

A personalised card is currently under preparation and well-wishers are asked to sign an insert which is available at the shop.

John stood down from the council at its annual meeting last month. He said: “I have been honoured and privileged to be elected and to serve on the parish council since 1983, and as Chairman since 2004. I shall miss the challenge, but mostly I shall miss the people, whose help and support have been invaluable”.

John is pictured above at the unveiling of the new wooden village signs to commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012

The suggestion of a painting of their Hambledon home as a gift for John came from his wife Tucker. She said it was something they would both love to have, and would be a personal and lasting reminder for John of his years on the parish council. They have lived at Goodbrook House since 1978 and John’s mother lived in Beech Hill  in the 1960s and early 70s.

Continue reading →

This is to let everyone know that a cycling event will be passing through the village tomorrow morning and stopping for refreshments at the village hall car park.

There will be 180 cyclists in groups of six leaving from Cranleigh at organised intervals between 9am and 11am riding through the village.

Hambledon will see a further easing of lockdown rules this week after the Government confirmed changes that allow pubs and restaurants to serve customers indoors, as long as there are no more than six in each group, or they are from two separate households.

This same condition applies to indoor visits to other people’s homes, where overnight stays will be allowed. People in groups of up to 30 can meet outdoors.

These, and a number of other relaxations to Covid-19 rules, take place on Monday (May 17^th). Please see here for full details: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

The country now faces an anxious wait to see if the worrying increase of the Indian variant in parts of the UK, will delay the planned lifting of all distancing restrictions in England on June 21^st.

Here in Hambledon, the latest lifting means that customers can be served inside the Merry Harriers instead of just outside in the garden. As a result, the pub has announced an extension to its opening hours.

The pub opening times are: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am until 11pm and Sunday 11am to 8pm.

Food service times are: Tuesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm and Sunday 12 noon to 3pm.

The pub is closed on Mondays. More details here: https://merryharriers.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/merryharriershambledon/

For the time being, the village shop hours remain unchanged, but it is planned to allow shoppers back inside from June 21^st, as long as restrictions are lifted that day. Its home delivery service ceases on Friday May 28^th, and full details of all the changes can be found here: https://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?p=14866

At St Peter’s Church, worshipper may assemble inside, subject to certain restrictions, and services remain available by Zoom. Details can be found here:

https://www.bhcgodalming.org/sunday-services

The Reserves are one point away from winning the league. And welcome Lightwater to Badger Park this Saturday for a 2pm KO. Their last game of the season. If they fail to win, there will be a nervous wait to see if Hersham win their last two games.

Come and help cheer the lads home at Badger Park. The Bar will be open and serving outside.

Come On You Dons

Last month Karen Barbato and Martin Thompson were regularly spotted around the village, taking part in a charity challenge to raise funds for the Guildford branch of the bereavement charity SoBS.

They undertook to walk from their home each day to total 30 miles in 30 days as part of a fund-raising campaign to mark the 30^th anniversary of SoBs – Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide.

Many of their Hambledon friends will know that Karen lost her son Ben in very sad circumstances two years ago. Martin is a familiar face at the village shop. Villagers took the cause to their hearts and gave to the Just Giving link that appeared on this website to publicise their endeavour.

At the last count the appeal had raised £3.323, far exceeding the target figure of £1,000.  With Gift Aid added in, the total comes close to £4,000. And although money came from across the greater Guildford area, it is clear that Martin and Karen played a significant role in attracting donations.

They said: “We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of our friends, neighbours and colleagues in and around Hambledon. 

Continue reading →

John Anderson has stepped down as chairman of Hambledon Parish Council and will leave at the end of the month. He has been a member for 38 years and has chaired the council for the last 17.

This makes him the third longest serving member since the council was formed in 1884, overtaking Ron Vickery who retired in 2011 after 35 years.

John will be replaced by Stewart Payne, his current deputy, with Mary Grove taking on the deputy role. He congratulated them both and said he was confident they will do a good job. But they have a tough act to follow!

John made his announcement at the council’s AGM last night (May 4^th) when the election of chairman and vice chairman for 2021/22 was considered as the first item on the agenda.

John told his colleagues: “My year as Chairman comes to an end today, May 4^th 2021.  I have decided to resign from the Parish Council as a Councillor, effective May 31^st 2021.

It is time for a change, and, somehow, I am getting even busier at home and in business.

Continue reading →

Hambledon’s Parish Assembly takes place this evening (Thursday April 22^nd) and all villagers are welcome to attend virtually.

Because of Coronavirus pandemic restrictions, this annual opportunity to catch up on what village groups, organisations, clubs and societies have been doing will take place by video conferencing using the Zoom platform.

The assembly will start at 7.30 but those wishing to attend are asked to join the Zoom meeting up to 10 minutes before to allow for admittance. Details of how to join and a copy of the evening’s agenda can be found at the end of this article.

(NOTE: This article was revised on April 23rd to include more specific information on opening hours and time of Saturday meat draw)

Villagers will be able to look in at their local from today as the Merry Harriers reopens after three months of lockdown closure.

General manager Jake Andreou and chef Nick Ash said they were looking forward to seeing familiar faces for outdoor drinks and food. The pub reopened at 11am today following the recent relaxing of Coronavirus restrictions that allows for six people in a socially distanced group or members of two households to meet in open spaces.

If you spot Karen Barbato and Martin Thompson, a familiar face at the village shop, wandering around the village over the next few weeks, they are not just out for an idle stroll.

There is a good cause behind their new daily routine and one that Hambledon residents may wish to support.