As of today we are once again able to allow seating at the shop’s picnic benches. Once the weather warmed up a bit today they were well used and it was nice to hear a bit of hubbub back in the village.

Let them eat cake…

Customers using the benches need to check in using the NHS Covid 19 app or a form provided by the shop and observe the other Covid 19 regulations currently in place.

The shop hours remain 8:30am to 2:00pm seven days a week. The deli now operates seven days a week from 8:30am to 1:30pm. The shop will continue to provide a delivery service Monday to Friday for the time being.

The bell at St Peter’s Church, Hambledon, tolled 99 times yesterday in remembrance of the life of the Duke of Edinburgh, who died on Friday.

Today (Sunday April 11th) prayers were said for the Royal Family at the 9am service, which ended with the congregation assembling outside to sing the National Anthem.

Derek Miller was the bell ringer at midday yesterday as Hambledon associate vicar Simon Willetts and a small number of villagers gathered outside to witness the occasion. 

Hambledon will mourn the death of Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, today, joining in the tributes by tolling the bell at St Peter’s Church. 

The bell in the village church will be rung 99 times, beginning at midday, in recognition of the Duke’s age at the time of his death yesterday morning at Windsor Castle.

Across the nation tributes are being paid to the long life of service and dedication the Duke brought to his role as consort to Queen Elizabeth II.

The flag at St Peter’s – as elsewhere – has been flying at half-mast since the news of the Prince’s death was announced by Buckingham Palace.

It had been planned to open a Book of Condolence at the church, but under current Coronavirus restrictions this is is not allowed. Instead, people are encouraged to pay their respects on line at https://www.royal.uk/ or https://www.churchofengland.org/remembering-his-royal-highness-prince-philip

If villagers would like to be present when the bell is rung, they are reminded that they should only do so outside and by keeping a 2-metre distance from others.

Please read the previous news story on this website for more details and to read local tributes.

Buckingham Palace today announced the death of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II.

In a statement issued shortly after midday, the Palace said: “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle”. He was aged 99. Continue reading →

As the Easter holidays approach and Coronavirus lockdown measures ease, several warnings have been issued regarding unsocial and irresponsible behaviour in and around Hambledon. Continue reading →

Hambledon and Busbridge Ecclesiastical Parish unification proposal

Hambledon Church deeply values its strong relationships with the Hambledon village community and the parish of Busbridge. It is for this reason that we would like to inform you of some possible developments concerning the future of the church.

Continue reading →

Each April, Hambledon Parish Council hosts an “assembly” at the Village Hall where it updates residents on its activities over the previous 12 months, as do representatives of the many organisations, clubs and activities.

It is a largely informal occasion, shared over a glass of wine and refreshments at the start, and sometimes a guest speaker. Continue reading →

Many in Hambledon will wish to pay their last respects to John Tidmarsh but will be unable to attend his funeral because of the current Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

Instead, villagers may choose to wave him off as his funeral cortege travels from St Mary’s Church, Chiddingfold, passing the turn off to Lane End, Hambledon, close to his family home at Meadow Cottage. This will take place on Tuesday March 30th.

Rosie and Jo, John’s daughters, have shared their memories of their father, a respected and popular character who contributed so much to community life in Hambledon, particularly at the village shop.

John spent much of his childhood in Chiddingfold. He played cricket there for many years and worshiped at St Mary’s, the parish church. 

The hearse will leave the church at 12.45pm and travel along Petworth Road, passing Chiddingfold cricket ground, and on towards Hambledon where, at the junction with Lane End, it will turn left into New Road at approximately 12.50pm. It will then take the country lanes to Grayshott, for a service at the Heatherley Wood memorial ground.

Rosie said: “If you would like to pay your respects and wave John off, we invite you to safely position yourself somewhere on the side of the road, along the route of the hearse.”

She pointed out that the hearse will not be entering Hambledon, but can be seen as it reaches the Lane End junction with the A283. As for John’s send off, she said that those paying their respects can do so with “flag, daffodil, cricket bat or football scarf”, and that “waving and cheering is encouraged”.

Continue reading →

The Easter holidays are drawing close, and St Peter’s is marking this special time in the Church year with an egg hunt around the village.

Timed to coincide with the school break, families are invited to take part in The Great Hambledon Easter Egg Hunt, which will run from Saturday April 3^rd through to Sunday April 25^th. Continue reading →

The Lane End gas road works have now progressed and the road is now open. Friday 19th.

The parish council has been advised that three-way traffic lights will be in operation at the junction of Lane End, Malthouse Lane and Vann Lane to allow engineers to complete installing new gas mains to the entrance of St Dominic’s School. It is hoped that this work will be concluded by Wednesday March 31st and the temporary lights will remain in use until then. Engineers will return at a later date to complete the connection up to the school buildings.

UPDATE Friday March 19th : Lane End has reopened. This was to have happened tomorrow  (see story below) but has been brought forward as work has progressed well.

The parish council has been advised that three-way traffic lights will be in operation at the junction of Lane End, Malthouse Lane and Vann Lane to allow engineers to complete installing new gas mains to the entrance of St Dominic’s School.

It is hoped that this work will be concluded by Wednesday March 31st and the temporary lights will remain in use until then. Engineers will return at a later date to complete the connection up to the school buildings.

Hambledon Parish Council has received the following notice from English Rural, a specialist provider of community-led affordable homes.

• Although English Rural has specified an initial deadline for applications of March 30th, it is likely that this may be extended if no suitable purchaser is found by that time. Priority is given to applicants with Hambledon connections. For more about English Rural please open this link: https://englishrural.org.uk/ or https://englishrural.org.uk/property/1-duncombs-cottages-hambledon-shared-ownership/

Hambledon Cricket Club has reported a repeated act of vandalism to the police after the rope that protects the square and batting crease was cut yet again.

This senseless criminal damage has occurred at least four times in the last 12 months and first occurred more than four years ago.  The blue polypropylene rope does not prevent access to the cricket green outfield but simply protects the playing surface of the square in the middle.

This surface requires careful preparation and maintenance and all cricket clubs take similar measures to protect this surface from people walking or cycling across it. Ground staff, as well as players, pay great attention to the condition and characteristics of the square, which have a fundamental impact on a match and its outcome.

Continue reading →

A new parish noticeboard has been installed close to the Hydestile Crossroads, clearly visible to people entering the village and replacing the old one on the bus shelter wall.

The board is made of oak and has a lockable cabinet. It was manufactured by the Norbury Park Sawmill, which is operated by the Surrey Wildlife Trust within the Norbury Park conservation area on the North Downs, which the Trust manages on behalf of Surrey County Council*.