The Coffee Morning held last Saturday (26th September) at Hambledon Village Shop in aid of MacMillan raised £630, a substantial increase on last years total of £410. Congratulations to the organisers Christie McIntyre, Eliza Weller and Ellie Kitt and thanks to all who gave and purchased cake.
So far MacMillan have raised just over £4.5m from the various Coffee Mornings held around the country and are aiming to beat last years total of £25m.
http://coffee.macmillan.org.uk
The annual MacMillian Coffee morning held at the Village Shop by Christie McIntyre and her friends will take place tomorrow (Saturday 26th) morning from 9am. The girls have been baking up a storm and would love you to come and support this worthy cause. Last year they raised over £400 for MacMillian and they are keen to beat that this year.
A few more details can be found here: http://coffee.macmillan.org.uk/events/6drnw03j
Sunday, 20th September saw the finalisation of this project with the opening of the second almshouse. The project was started over two years ago by Andy Falk and his appeal for donations. The funds were found and we now have two modernised dwellings for the benefit of Hambledon residents. This was celebrated with a party and the ribbon was cut by Audrey Monk.
The Merry Book Club meets monthly on a Thursday night at 7pm at the Merry Harriers pub. We are a friendly group and welcome any new members. Combining the book discussion with a meal, we usually have a general chat when we arrive and then eat about 7.30pm. We aim to discuss the most recent book at about 8pm and then discuss other books we are reading. We also try to choose the next few books in advance to enable members to buy, order from the library or borrow. Usually we finish about 9.30pm. There are about 20 members on the circulation list but we generally have about 6-8 people attend. It’s very relaxed and informal – more ‘a supper club that talks about books’ than your more serious book club!
We are very grateful to the Merry Harriers for ‘hosting’ the Merry Book Club and always looking after us so well.
Our next meeting is on 21 May 2026.
If you are interested in joining, please contact Camilla Edmiston at [email protected]
Future books:
Dates of meetings in 2026:
Previous books read:
2026:
2025:
2024:
2023:
2022:
2021:
2020:
2019:
2018:
2017:
2016:
2015:
2014:
2013:
2012:
2011:
2010:
2009:
Cynthia Miller, who has volunteered at Hambledon Village Shop since it reopened as a community-run venture in 1992, was presented with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a ceremony on Saturday morning (Sept 19th).
She received the award on behalf of all the volunteers whose efforts have kept the shop at the heart of village life. The presentation was made by Gordon Lee-Steere DL, chairman of the county’s Queen’s Award panel who is pictured (left) with Tim Parker, chairman of the shop management committee. (Photo courtesy of the Surrey Advertiser)
Tim thanked the many volunteers who have helped over the years for their “magnificent community effort” and in particular Cynthia and John and Annie Tidmarsh, who volunteered when the shop was reopened and continue to this day.
For further details please see the earlier news item.
Photos from Stewart Payne:
The Hambledon Village Show, held on Saturday 5th September, proved very popular with almost all 60 categories being hotly contested. Congratulations to the prize winners listed below and many thanks to Andy Falk and Nessie Alexander for all their hard work in organising the show.
This years Best in Show prize went to Katherine Frogley for her scrumptious carrot cake.
Photos of most of the prize winning exhibits are on the Village Facebook Page.
Full List of winners:
This Saturday (September 19th), at a ceremony beginning at 11.30am, volunteers who have helped run Hambledon Village Shop and Post Office for the past 23 years will be presented with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Cynthia Miller, who has been a stalwart helper throughout this period, will receive the award on behalf of all volunteers from Gordon Lee-Steere DL, chairman of the county’s Queen’s Award panel. Other guests include the chairman of Surrey County Council, the Mayor of Waverley Borough Council, the High Sheriff of Surrey and the chairman of Hambledon Parish Council.
The shop was rescued from closure by villagers in 1992 and is now one of the longest-running community stores in the country, vital to the wellbeing of Hambledon.
In recognition of this achievement, and of the hard work put in by volunteers over the years, the Queen’s award, which has an equivalent status for groups as the MBE has for individuals, was announced earlier this year. It is the highest honour given to volunteer groups.
For security reasons attendance at the ceremony is by invite but villagers are welcome to gather outside to help celebrate an important occasion.
Hambledon residents who use concessionary passes to travel free on the Park and Ride service when visiting Guildford may like to know that there is a proposal to start charging a £1 return fare.
Surrey County Council which operates the service is inviting comments on the proposed changes as part of a consultation process. This ends on September 1.
The proposal will only affect passengers who use an older or disabled persons concessionary pass.
The council has put out the following statement: “Surrey County Council is under enormous financial pressure, due to reduced government funding and extra demand for vital services. This has meant the council has had to review all the services it provides for its residents.
The Hambledon Village Show will be held at the Village Hall on Saturday 5th September.
The hall will be open for setting up exhibits from 9.30am to 11.30am. Entry fee 20p per exhibit. First and second prizes will be awarded when merited. Please bring your own vases and plates where required to display your exhibit. Baked items may be covered with cling film to prevent the exhibit from drying out.
After judging the show will be OPEN TO THE PUBLIC at 2pm to 4.30pm, free entry. Refreshments available. The silver tray for Best In Show will be awarded at 4pm. Exhibits must not be removed before 4.30pm. Continue reading
Hambledon Village Shop has received a second award, this time for the team that runs the Post Office Counter.
A month after shop volunteers were honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (see earlier news story), comes the Post Office’s Community Service Award.
In a citation thanking all staff whose contributions have helped keep the crucial service open during the past 20 years, Paula Vennells, chief executive of Post Office Ltd said: “The Post Office holds a proud and unique place in communities across the UK as a trusted company with a social purpose. We have an enviable reputation that we could not hope to attain without the work of outstanding branches like yours and I can assure you that your efforts are appreciated by the whole business. Thank you.”
There is no presentation but a handsome plaque will go on display once the shop refurbishment has been completed. Congratulations go to Guy Lemieux and successive shop managers who have provided Post Office services as well as running the shop; to Alison Wilson who has in practice been in charge ever since she joined the team; to Michelle Abbott who does so much of the day-to-day counter work; to Alan Brien who provides vital back-up support; to Jane Woolley who became the first Post Mistress when the shop reopened as a community venture and last but by no means least to John Tidmarsh, the one remaining Post Office volunteer.
Hambledon Village Shop volunteers are celebrating winning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service as they await a presentation ceremony as guests of the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey.
The award is the highest given to volunteer groups throughout the UK and recognises their outstanding contribution to local communities. It was created by the Queen to mark her Golden Jubilee in 2002 and has an equivalent status for groups as the MBE has for individuals
For Hambledon it acknowledges the hard work and dedication of many villagers since the shop reopened as a community-run venture in 1992.
The award will be presented by Dame Sarah Goad, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, the Queen’s representative in the county, at a ceremony later this year.
Congratulations to all the Hambledon Village Shop volunteers on receiving The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their communities.
According to GOV.UK, winners get a certificate signed by the Queen and a domed glass crystal. Representatives from the group may also be invited to attend a royal garden party.
Hambledon Village Shop is converting to a “Community Benefit Society” (rather than a Company Limited by Guarantee). This means that anyone in the community can become a shareholder by participating in the Share Offer.
There will be an open meeting at the Village Hall at 6.30pm on Wednesday 17th June to launch the offer. The offer period ends on 17th July 2015.
The Prospectus, which explains the terms and the process, and an Application Form are available here for download.
Hard copies of the Prospectus and Application Form available at the Shop.
Hambledon Village Shop Community Share Offer Application Form
John Anderson was re-elected Chairman and Philip Underwood re-elected as Vice-Chairman at the annual meeting on 26 May 2015.
The Houses of Parliament have asked our Parish Council to organise an event at 3pm on Sunday 14th June to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta and the Montfort Parliament. This event is to hear the church bells being rung and to drink a cup of tea at this time,and to reflect on what difference the Magna Carta has made to our lives.
Our event is known as LiberTea at the Top.In other words we invite the people of Hambledon to join us at the top of the Common at the viewpoint and drink a cup of tea with us and hopefully cake will also be provided.
I would also be grateful for knowledgeable persons to come and explain what the Magna Carta was all about.
If the weather is poor we shall hold the event in the Village Hall.
Remember,Sunday June 14th at the top of the Common at 3pm.
Any queries or for offering help please contact me at [email protected] or 07771 633599.
P.J.Underwood
The 503 bus service, which connects Hambledon with Milford, Godalming and Guildford is safe – for the time being at least.
Earlier this year Surrey County Council conducted a wide-ranging review of the routes it subsidises, many of them in rural areas. Hambledon Parish Council and many of its residents responded to this, stressing how important the 503 is to the village.
SCC is now proposing specific reductions and cuts to some services in the county, beginning with routes operated by Abellio, Arriva and Metrobus companies. These changes are now being consulted on, with SCC due to make a final decision on June 23 and the revised services coming into affect on August 29.
None of these services are in the Waverley Borough Council area. Our turn will come.
If you want to see details of the current proposals, or comment on them, please click the following link:
https://www.surreysays.co.uk/e-i-directorate-programme-group/closed-copy-of-ltr
Over the next two years Surrey CC will look at other bus operators as their contracts come up for renewal, including Stagecoach which operates many of the services in the Waverley area, including the 503. Further localised consultation is expected and proposals for cuts and/or reductions are likely to follow.
Surrey CC is looking to reduce the £8.9 million it spends each year subsidising bus services.
The 503 is Hambledon’s only public transport service, operating twice in each direction on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It provides a vital link for those without cars, often the elderly or infirm, to reach supermarket, banks and surgeries.
Hambledon Parish Council will continue to press for the retention of the 503 and will make sure that residents are aware of any future public consultation.
