Work is well underway to restore Bridleway 186, which runs from beside the Marry Harriers towards Enton and Hambledon Common.

Hambledon Parish Council, supported by residents concerned at the appalling state of this bridleway, successfully lobbied Surrey County Council which, after a visit by a rights of way officer, agreed to prioritise repairs.

Much of the route from Hambledon Road to Hambledon Common had become so waterlogged and muddy that it was almost impossible to walk.

Four years ago, village volunteers had tried, with some success, to improve the state of what otherwise would be a popular walking and riding route. However, it became clear that a lasting solution required major works beyond the skills and budget of villagers.

Surrey County Council agreed to fund this and contracted the work out, with a financial contribution from the Parish Council’s neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Hambledon Nursery School kindly agreed to allow the contactors the use of its car park for its machinery during the summer holidays. It will receive some surface repairs in return.

The Shop will be hosting its annual End of Summer BBQ on Saturday 31st August from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. 

Tickets are available online (click here) and at at the shop: £12:50 for adults and £5 for under 16s.

The ticket price includes BBQ food (with vegan option), salads and an ice-cream plus live music from the J’s (Hambledon’s own Jo Kirkland and John Canham). There will be licensed bars for you to purchase your favourite tipple and soft drinks.

Bring picnic tables and chairs or blankets (let’s hope we won’t need rain brollies)!

Please purchase your ticket by FRIDAY 23rd AUGUST so we know how many we’re catering for.

On the same day The Village Show will be in full swing at The Village Hall. The Hall will be open for setting up exhibits from 9.30am to 11.30am. After judging the show will be open to the public at 2pm to 4.30pm, entry is free. Best in Show will be awarded at 4.00pm. A full list of available categories can be found on the show web site at: http://hambledonvillageshow.co.uk.

Join us for a last summer Pimm’s at the annual village Hymns & Pimm’s service at St Peter’s Hambledon on Sunday 8th September at 6pm. Everyone welcome!

Don’t be surprised at how lifted you feel after a good sing together. The benefits for well-being, stress relief, breathing, mental clarity and building community are well documented. Hymns in particular have a unique power to touch our hearts and souls, connect with one another and convey truths and emotions beyond words. They contain some superb poetry and are (arguably) some of the greatest music ever written. So, submit your request for your favourite hymn on arrival and we’ll sing through as many as we can before the liquid refreshments are necessary! The service is free, with a collection on departure.

A familiar and much-loved landmark has disappeared from Hambledon. The magnificent, spreading oak on the edge of Cricket Green by the entrance to The Hurst has been felled.

This became necessary after a large and low branch fell onto the track below, exposing the serious decay which made the tree dangerous. The oak was so tall and with such a wide spread that it posed a danger to nearby properties, including Oakhurst National Trust cottage, as well as a risk to pedestrians and vehicles.

It has taken tree surgeons several days to fell the tree, such was the scale of the task.

Although not a native species – it was a Turkey Oak, native to south east Europe and Asia minor, and introduced into Britain in the 18^th Century – it will be missed.

The Village Shop will be holding its Annual Members’ Meeting in the Village Hall at 7.00pm on Thursday 25 July 2024.

All shareholders in the shop are very much encouraged to attend to ensure there is a quorum for the formal business, which includes approving the latest set of accounts and approving the appointment of a new member of the Shop Management Committee. 

The meeting is also an opportunity to meet the current Shop Management Committee, hear how the shop is doing and pose any questions you may have about the shop.

Non-shareholders are also welcome to attend, although you will not be able to vote on any matters under discussion. However, if you would like to be able to do so in the future, it only costs £20 to buy a share in the shop and share application forms will be available at the meeting.

As ever, the proceedings will be accompanied by a glass or two of Jon Petersen’s specially selected wine.

The meeting is not expected to last for longer than 45 to 60 minutes and the Shop Management Committee would very much like to see you there.

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 [email protected] if you’d like to attend. Include your name and phone number please.

Well that was a lot of fun in one weekend. Many thanks to all of those who organised, served, BBQ’ed, stalled, stewarded, sang, played, danced, ate, drank and spent money, a lot of money…

Early estimates are that the income from the Festival was just shy of £50,000 and after expenses (the marquee, bands, food and drink etc) around £25,000 will be available for distribution to various voluntary village organisations and the charities the Festival supports (a list can be found on the Festival web site).

All the events ran smoothly and were financially successful. The biggest financial contributor as usual was the Ball, but the biggest surprise was the fete. The weather was kind to us and the attendance was fantastic, as a result takings at the village run activities at the fete were up from £6,000 in 2022 to £11,000 this year. Almost every stall’s takings were up substantially from 2022. Particular highlights were the plant stall (up 640%!), Bric a Brac (up 110%) and the BBQ (up 83%).

More details and more photos to follow once the dust settles.

The Hambledon Festival Committee

We’re nearly there. If you are attending Jazz On The Green this evening, here are a few things you need to know.

• the event opens at 6:00pm and food and drink stalls will be open from this time (please do not bring your own refreshments), live music will start shortly after 6:00pm, the event will close at 10:00pm
• the event is for ticket holders only, when you arrive you will need to swap your email confirmation or paper ticket, or e-ticket for a wrist band (if you have not already done so)
• please come by foot or bicycle if at all possible
• free parking will be available in a field close to the Cricket Green and will be clearly signposted with parking stewards in attendance, there will be no parking alongside the Cricket Green
• there will be some seating available, but please bring picnic blankets and or deck chairs if you can
• please do not bring dogs
• food will be on sale from the Cara Gorda Cantina, they provide Turkish inspired food suitable for adults, kids and vegetarians and from a locally based Pizza van
• several bars will be selling drinks, including a kids bar, Pimms, Gin and Tonics, Ale/Lager/Cider and a wine bar, you will need to be wearing a wrist band in order to be served
• the bars are being operated by a combination of The Merry Harriers and volunteers from the village, card payments can be used
• all proceeds for the evening will be going to local charities and village community organisations

Look forward to seeing you this evening.

The Hambledon Festival Committee

Registration for the Dog Show opens when the Fête opens at 12 noon on Saturday and the Show itself will start at 2:30pm. See below for a list of all the classes.

Jazz On The Green – Friday 21st June

Heavy goods vehicles using the village’s narrow lanes as a cut through could soon be a thing of the past as Surrey County Council proposes an exclusion zone which will include all of Hambledon, Hydestile and Vann.

Hambledon Parish Council has lobbied SCC on this issue over many years, calling for measures to restrict HGV movements unless making local deliveries. In addition, Paul Osborne, a Hydestile resident living on Salt Lane, a rural route blighted by HGVs, has tirelessly campaigned on the issue, providing compelling evidence of inappropriate use by large lorries.

In recent years, Kevin Deanus, our ward county councillor, has taken the issue up at County Hall, pressing for an enforceable ban.

Finally, we have a result. SCC Highways Department has picked up on the issue and, after extensive research, has published details of the proposed exclusion zone. Hambledon Parish Council has already responded positively to the proposal and residents have the opportunity to express their own support, objection or comment. Details of how to do this can be found at the end of this article.

Over the last year Hambledon Community Fund has awarded 5 grants totalling over £7,500 to village projects.  The HCF Summer Newsletter, which also appears in the June edition of the Parish Magazine, provides a summary. Please click here to learn more.

This current financial year the HCF Panel has already awarded 2 grants and more applications are invited. 

Over the years I have noticed that there a little signs for things like the shop or Oakhurst Cottage dotted around the village. Hambledon is quite spread out for a village, and people who don’t know the village wouldn’t know where the shop or church or cricket green are.

So I’ve wondered if it would be more useful, and in keeping with the village to have fingerposts instead. Following the 1964 standardisation, most old-style signs of all shapes and sizes were ripped up and replaced. But a lot of rural areas still have fingerposts, especially Hampshire. (though a personal favourite is Buttermere in the Lake District) As you can see below, Hampshire’s are often only shoulder height, but I’ve made the images below a more standard road sign height.

Did you know that CPR and early defibrillation can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival in an emergency?

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 [email protected] if you’d like to attend. Include your name and phone number please.