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Winter Weather Precautions

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Last winter Hambledon suffered from extensive power cuts when high winds brought down power lines.

In a rural and heavily wooded village it was trees and branches falling onto electricity supply cables that caused most of the problems.

SSE, the power supplier, has embarked on an extensive programme of tree cutting around high, and some low, voltage lines to clear them of overhanging branches that pose a threat to power distribution. It has also pledged to improve communications at its emergency call centre. A lack of up-to-date information was one of the major frustrations last winter.

In the event of a power failure customers should, in the first instance, contact SSE on 08000 727 282 to report the problem.

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Storm Brings Down Trees And Power Lines in Hambledon

Hambledon echoed to the sound of chain saws today as local volunteers cleared trees blocking the villages’s roads.

Parts of Hambledon were left without power this morning, particularly along Vann Lane beyond the cricket green. An oak has been brought down by last night’s storm and is lying acoss the road beside the track to Oakhurst Cottage. It is blocking the road and has brought down electricity cables.

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It is a large tree and it will need to be cleared by contractors.  Surrey County Council highways department has been informed, but with hundreds of trees down across the county it is likely to be some while before it is dealt with.

People should use Woodlands Road to gain access to Vann Lane.

Two beech trees blocked Malthouse Lane between the village hall and the Cricket Green turning. Tim Coleman, Arthur Frearson and Stewart Payne used chainsaws to clear the road which was reopened by 9 am.

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Water Main Burst

During the early morning of Saturday,14th.Sept. a large hole appeared in the centre of Lane End,near the entrance to the small car park on Hambledon Common.This was caused by a significant fracture in the water main.The Water Board were on the scene by 7am and immediately closed the road.By Sunday, repairs had been carried out  and the road was passable for light traffic.This is about the fourth time in recent years that the water main has burst.No doubt this is due to the pounding the road takes from heavy lorries and 4X4’s.  P.J.Underwood water spout 001 2water spout 004 2

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Plans on show for new homes on Hospital site

The developer appointed to build more than 100 new homes on redundant land around Milford Hospital is previewing its proposals at a public exhibition and online.

David Wilson Homes, part of the Barratt Group, is displaying the scheme to local residents between 2.30pm and 8pm tomorrow (Thursday 12th September) at Clock Barn Hall, Hambledon Road. It is available online at www.dwhmilfordhospital.co.uk

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Press feature local residents

A reporter and photographer from the Haslemere Herald visited Hambledon recently to speak to residents who regularly use the 503 bus route.

The newspaper carried an article about the re-vamped service, which had been under threat, and published a photograph of villagers at the newly-erected bus stop sign at the Village Hall. The photograph is reproduced below with the kind permission of the Haslemere Herald.

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For more details about how villagers and Hambledon Parish Council campaigned to keep the village bus service and subsequent efforts to increase its usage, please see earlier stories on this website.

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Bus Stops return to Hambledon Road

Bus stop signs and timetables have been reinstated along the route of Hambledon’s 503 bus service.

Only long-standing residents knew where the village bus stops were located following removal of the post and flags over the years. Earlier this year Hambledon Parish Council requested that the signs be reinstated as part of an initiative to raise the profile of the 503 service that links the village with Milford, Godalming and Guildford.

After a visit by Surrey County Council engineers it was agreed that three posts and flags would be re-erected; outside the Village Hall, beside the Merry Harriers and at the bus shelter at the Hydestile Crossroads (pictured below).

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Milford Hospital Unveils Plaque – Galton & Simpson

June 1st saw a significant event for the history of Milford Hospital.  Two former patients returned to see a plague unveiled to mark their meeting in 1948.  Ray Galton & Alan Simpson met as 19 year olds suffering from TB.  They stayed for many years receiving treatment – but their time was well spent.  The started to write comedy sketches together, which were performed on the rudimentary hospital radio service.     They went on to become the foremost comedy scriptwriters – creating Hancock and Steptoe and Sons, and a huge catalogue of shows over the following decades.    The plaque was unveiled by their friend and performer Paul Merton.

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I had the privilege to meet the guys a few years ago, as part of my research for the Milford Hospital History Website.   They described to me in detail their years at Milford, and most interestingly, the location of the original laundry cupboard in which they built their radio studio – arguably the “Birthplace of the British Sit-Com.

You can find the story here.

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See the HCF Video & Presentation

WRITTEN BY KATHERINE EVANS

Last week, the HCF were asked to be guest speakers at the annual Parish Council meeting and we had the pleasure of rounding the evening off with a presentation and video update about our progress and latest news.

Hats off and many thanks to the talented Llewelyn family who put the whole thing together. James Llewelyn took time out from his busy A-level study schedule, to film local stars and numerous Hambledon sites. He then produced a superb Hambledon montage for all to enjoy!  His equally talented sister, Tash Llewelyn, helped create a wonderfully informative presentation for proud Mum, Julie Llewelyn to deliver to the audience.

To see the presentation and watch the wonderful video footage, please follow the following link – it may take a few minutes to download because it contains some large graphics and video clips (the video footage comes at the end of the presentation slides), but it’s well worth the wait!

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June 8th – 'A Night at the Opera'

Night at the Opera Poster‘A Night at the Opera’ , an HCF fund-raising event, will be held on the evening of June 8th and promises to be a really special night!

Gather your friends and family and come and enjoy some of the most famous Opera arias and West End musical hits, sung live in beautiful Hambledon gardens on Feathercombe Lane.

Tickets are on sale now in the village shop and selling fast – don’t miss out!

 

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Philip Underwood's Butterfly Supper – a wonderfully informative event!

HCF Butterflies - PU with audience - size adjustedWe wish to thank Philip profusely for treating us to such a splendid evening.

The proceedings got off to a super start with Philip’s generous supply of local sparkling cider, flowing freely with the pre-talk nibbles! Philip then shared his in-depth knowledge with an audience of nearly 50 people – delivering his light-hearted, yet extremely informative speech with alacrity, being the seasoned and expert speaker that he is. We learned of butterflies both near and far, of the history of butterfly collection, and of works in the Chiddingfold Forest to conserve local woodland species.

We all certainly now know how to recognise our Skippers from our Swallowtails, and left the village hall feeling not only more knowledgeable, but well sated, after a hearty meal of Julie’s delicious lamb shank shepherd’s pie!

With ticket sales and donations, the evening raised £750 for the Hambledon Community Fund. When matched by 50% under the government’s current charity scheme, this means that £1125 was put
into the HCF account, ready to be fed back into the community where it is needed.

Congratulations and thanks again to Philip for such a special evening. Our thanks must also go to Jon Tidmarsh for beavering away with chairs and trestle tables as we set-up and dismantled the hall after the event. The jovial audience who gave us their support also deserve a special mention – may you all have a wonderful spring, spotting (and identifying!) beautiful butterflies, with your newly learned skills as amature lepidopterists!HCF Butterflies - PU - size adjusted

 

 

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HCF reaches £100,000 target!

Generous Hambledonians help us reach our initial target of £100,000!

Hambledonians were certainly in good spirits over the festive season and responded generously to our fund-raising pleas by raising over £35,000 in one month!

A huge thank you to those who helped us raise such large amounts – donations of all sizes were made by many, and together you made it possible for us to reach this first target.  Hambledon now has a sizeable nest egg and permanent, sustainable supply of dividends for grant-making.  This should go a long way to help us continue to support its many groups and residents, both now and in the future.

How you did it!

You may remember that in our last magazine article, we announced the start of an exciting new government scheme called the Community First Programme. This programme allows any donation to local, permanent funds like the HCF, to be government matched with a further 50% of funding.  In addition, we had an offer from an extremely generous, anonymous donor, to match (like-for-like), the first £8,000 worth of any donations received whilst the Community First matching programme was in effect – for us, this is until the end of June 2013.  On top of all that, the usual Gift Aid would give us a further 25% of any pre-matched amount.

It was therefore an extremely good time to donate. Locals responded rapidly with donations of around £12,000 and this grew quickly (when matched, and matched again), in to the £30k+ we needed to reach our first target.

Thank you to everyone for all your support. For your donations, your purchase of second-hand books and HCF merchandise, and your attendance at HCF fund-raising events. It all helps. Together we will work to keep Hambledon and its community strong and in good shape!  

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Fibre Broadband… not here yet

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The Surrey Superfast Broadband Team have a website.  It has a Postcode Checker so you can see if your line is going to be upgraded.  Beware, the system is a little clunky, and it seems to me that the Wormley Exchange (01428) is part of the Surrey CC Project BUT I can’t find any information that indicates that those village residents on the Godalming Exchange (01483) are part of the project.     My deduction is that 01483 lines will have to wait for the BT commercial roll-out of fibre. The cabinet at Milford Station, for example, that serves Salt Lane is not due to be upgraded until March 2014.

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Football Club Grant Presentation

Hambledon Football Club has received a cheque for £99,999 from the Football Foundation at a presentation attended by officials, villagers and local MP Jeremy Hunt.

The presentation was made to Matt Kiley, club secretary, who also gratefully received another cheque of £1,000 from the Hambledon Community Fund.

The two grants have helped Hambledon FC take a significant step forward in realising its dream of replacing its delapidated “hut” with a modern club house. Both recognise the efforts the club has made in its own fund raising over the last few years. Planning permission has already been granted for the new facilities and it is hoped work can start in the New Year.

The Football Foundation grant was made under its “Grow The Game” scheme. The limited facilities at Hambledon’s Badger Park ground restricted the club’s development, with some younger players prefering to play elsewhere and the club having no prospect of promotion to higher leagues until improvements were made. It is hoped that the new clubhouse will be ready for the 2013-14 season.

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Winter Weather Arrangements For Hambledon

The current cold spell and today’s light dusting of snow provide a timely reminder of the arrangments in place in the event of severe weather.

Hambledon has an agreed emergency plan, prepared by the parish council, and linked to arrangements at both Waverley Borough and Surrey County Councils.

The parish has been assured that if snow is forecast Hambledon Road, from Lane End to Hydestile and beyond, will be gritted by Surrey County Council. This same stretch of road is also listed as a priority route for snow clearance.

Once again Peter Knight of Burgate Farm has agreed to use a plough blade provided by the county council, fitted to one of his tractors, to clear roads that will not be swept by SCC. These include Salt Lane, Vann Lane, Roundals Lane and Cricket Green.

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