There’s some bad news and some good news.

Whilst we can see a light at the end of the Covid tunnel, we’re also aware that there’s a way to go until we can all don our party dress and get intimate. 

So the bad news is that we’re not comfortable planning a full schedule of events for the Hambledon Midsummer Festival in 2021. To do so would require us to make some financial, and other commitments, without being confident that conditions will permit a safe event to take place. So we are postponing the three day festival to midsummer 2022. Jazz On The Green will take place on Friday 17th June 2022, the Fete and the Summer Ball will take place on Saturday 18th June 2022 and Church On The Green and the Classic Transport rally will take place on Sunday 19th June 2022.

The good news is that we do think it will be possible to host a one day, safe, outdoor village event with live music, other entertainment and plentiful food and drink on the Cricket Green on Saturday 19th June 2021.

In addition we hope to hold the annual Hambledon Village Shop BBQ on Saturday 28th August 2021.

More details will follow, in the meantime please save the dates. We all deserve a party.

After seeing tonight’s news we feel we have no option but to ensure people’s safety and to stand alongside our own and nearby local communities by asking people not to gather to worship and sing carols tomorrow (Sunday 20th).  There will be no live-congregation gathered carol singing on Sunday 20th December.

Please join us online at 10am at https://www.youtube.com/bhcgodalmingonline

We are delighted to offer everyone at traditional pre-recorded carol service on our youtube channel from 9am onwards and we will be offering a livestream family carol service at 10am, from the Old Rectory. Simon W, Simon T, Margot and others will be involved in this.  Please join us online at 10am. Not in person at 10am, 4pm or 6pm

Please watch the website for information about gathering for Christmas morning.

With our prayers this Christmas,

The two Simons
(Simon Taylor, Rector and Simon Willetts, Associate Minister)

The Government today placed large swathes of southern England under rigid Tier 3 restrictions including all of Surrey, with the exception of the Borough of Waverley.

This means that Hambledon remains in Tier 2 but many other nearby areas are now under the toughest rules aimed at combating a rising Covid-19 infection rate in the area.

The new restrictions come into force on Saturday and will remain until the next review.

Waverley includes the towns of Godalming, Haslemere, Farnham and Cranleigh and the villages around them.

Local people should consult with Government guidelines before deciding whether to visit Tier 3 areas, which now include the nearby centres of  Guildford and Woking. In these areas shops can remain open but all pubs and restaurants must shut, other than for take-aways.

It was lovely to see some of you back inside the shop last week taking advantage of the temporarily extended hours to browse our selection of Christmas goodies. 

From today the shop will be returning to outside service only. With the exception of the Christmas period which is described separately below, and with immediate effect, the shop will operate as follows:

Delivery
5 days a week
Monday to Friday
10:00 cut-off for same-day delivery
[email protected]

Personal Shopping
7 days a week
08:30-14:00
Come to the shop, tell us what you’d like and we’ll get the items for you. Sorry, we can’t allow you inside the shop at the moment.
 
Take Away & Eat At Our Picnic Tables
7 days a week
08:30-14:00 (last orders 13:30)
Hot and cold drinks, pastries, cakes, sandwiches, baps, pies and soup to consume at our picnic tables or take away.

Post Office
6 days a week
Monday to Saturday
09:30-12:30
Take cash out, pay cash and cheques in, buy stamps, send parcels, pay bills, buy gift cards etc.

Go to www.bhcgodalming.org/comfort-joy to sign up for Christmas services.

Christmas services at Hambledon Church are outdoors this year to accommodate more people, and so that you can sing carols!

However, face coverings are required, and numbers are limited by the amount of people we can accommodate on the church sites, with 2m distance between bubbles.

Churches are also required to take details from all attendees for NHS Track and Trace.

So please feel very welcome, and invite friends, but help the church to keep everyone safe by signing up in advance.

Hambledon Parish Council has welcomed a new co-opted member to its ranks.

Alison Scott-Bishop is joining to replace Mike Parry, who has stood down after almost nine years.

The next local council elections are not due to be held until 2023. No requests were received for a by-election, enabling the parish council to co-opt a replacement. The process was duly advertised and two villagers registered their interest.

Ali Scott-Bishop and Jane Moore were considered at the parish council meeting held on December 1^st on the basis of written submissions. Councillors said that it was a difficult choice as both had a proven track record of public service to the local community and were clearly suitable.

Ali, pictured below, was chosen on the basis of immediate availability and Jane was asked if she would consider putting her name forward again if a further vacancy should arise.

At the same meeting, Mike Parry was thanked for the dedication and sound judgement he has brought to the council since joining in 2012.

Chairman John Anderson has paid this tribute:

Continue reading →

Kate Walford, head teacher, writes: November saw the children at Hambledon Nursery School marking Remembrance Day, by creating poppy crafts and creating a remembrance garden in grounds of the nursery. The children considered what the word ‘remembering’ means for them. They remembered special times at the nursery, looking back on photographs of activities they had enjoyed. They remembered special times and events for their family and friends. Quite astonishingly, they all managed to sit quietly for a whole 2 minutes to mark the 11^th hour, on the 11^th day of the 11^th month, in an act of thoughtful silence.

Waverley Borough Council has entered into an online partnership which enables residents to order goods and services from a range of independent retailers in Godalming, Haslemere, Farnham and Cranleigh.

“Click it Local” is a virtual high street, with participating businesses showcasing their products which shoppers can order from the comfort and security of their own home.

This supports local retailers at a difficult time while giving shoppers who may be shielding or are reluctant to travel access to goods and services. Only a single online payment is required and deliveries will be made on the same day where possible.

The service started on December 1^st and it is expected that many more retailers will sign up to the scheme.

Details of the service can be found here – https://www.waverley.gov.uk/news/article/679/support_your_high_street_%E2%80%93_click_it_local

The Click it Local website for the Waverley district can be found here – https://www.clickitlocal.co.uk/waverley/

As we move from lockdown into Tier 2 Covid restrictions, there will be some changes to the operations at Hambledon Village Shop & Post Office.

From Wednesday 2nd December 2020:

1. The shop will be open 7 days a week from 8:30am to 2:00pm.
2. The Post Office will operate 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday, 9:30am to 12:30pm.
3. We will continue to offer a free delivery service 5 days a week, Monday to Friday with a cut-off of 10am for same-day deliveries. The shop’s product list and more information on how the delivery service operates can be found by clicking here.
4. We will offer a Personal Shopper service to walk-up customers 7 days a week, 8:30am to 2:00pm. We will pick and bag your shopping list while you wait and take payment by card outside. Cutomers are not currently allowed inside the shop.
5. Customers are now able to order food and drink for take away or to eat at the shop’s picnic tables 7 days a week from 8:30am with last orders at 1:30pm.
6. All payments should continue to be made by card, the shop is not currently accepting cash payments.

Hambledon moves back into a tiered system of restrictions from today (Wed Dec 2^nd) as the latest Covid-19 lock-down ends and the village shop, church and pub adapt to new guidance.

Waverley Borough, in common with most others in the region, will be in Tier 2 until at least December 16^th, when a review is expected.  This has tougher measures than the Tier 1 that it was in before the last lock-down, but does allow for some relaxation.

From today the village shop and post office has increased its trading hours, and is open seven days a week, from 8.30am until 2pm. Online shopping continues Monday to Friday for local home delivery. Personal shopping remains as before, with customers not allowed inside the shop but with staff taking orders from outside. Payment is by card only.

Yesterday an important decision was made (for a second time) on the proposals for oil and gas wells in Dunsfold… and maybe the potential to come West towards Hambledon. Thank-you to the multi-talented campaign team that made it happen. Press Article

You can see the meeting webstream here – the campaigners’ presentation is at 12m 40s. https://surreycc.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/515802

There are lots of exciting developments for Badger Park in the offing. One such project is looking to put an irrigation system in to help with off season pitch renovations when we are hit with droughts. We are looking for funding through the Surrey community Projects Fund.

We need to gather support online before we can move to the next stage. Please take 5 minutes to sign up and like our project.

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/people-and-community/voluntary-community-and-faith-sector/funding/community-projects-fund

Scroll to the map at the bottom and find Hambledon or type in search box. Click on the green speech bubble to bring up the project. Scroll to the bottom and hit like project. You will be asked to enter and confirm an email and enter a few details on yourself. Once finished verify your email and you are all done.

Thanks for your support. Any questions or problems reach out to [email protected]

The Church is asking for help from across the village to decorate roadside gardens, trees and verges with stars or in the theme of a Christmas carol.

In addition, it is planned to create a walking trail from the village shop to St Peter’s Church along footpaths decorated in the Christmas theme. Then, on the morning of Christmas Eve, villagers can follow the path for two nativity services at the church.

More details and information on how to enlist as a volunteer can be found on the two posters reproduced below. And, at the end of this article, please see some words from Jacqui Rook, pastoral assistant at the village church. Continue reading →

The deadline for applications for the casual vacancy on Hambledon Parish Council is 6pm tomorrow (Friday November 13th).

The procedure for filling the vacancy – which has arisen following the decision by Mike Parry to retire after almost ten years as a parish councillor – was posted on this website two weeks ago. This allowed for a period of ten working days for anyone to express their interest and then provide a 300-word submission.

Only those who have completed this process by 6pm tomorrow will be considered by the parish council at its next meeting in December.

Please follow this link for more details. https://www.hambledonsurrey.co.uk/?p=13931#more-13931