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.

As Hambledon’s 503 bus service enters its final months of operation, more details have been announced about its on-demand replacement.

Over the past year, Surrey County Council has been rolling out “Surrey Connect”. It will arrive in Godalming in September, when the Hambledon to Milford, Godalming and Guildford timetabled route will cease.

Instead of Hambledon’s scheduled service, which operates just three days a week, passengers can instead request an accessible electric mini-bus to collect them from designated pick-up points in the village to anywhere in the Godalming zone.

It is already available for journeys to and from Cranleigh.

The new service will operate Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm and on Saturdays between 8am and 6pm. Proposed pick-up point include the village shop, Malthouse Lane, Merry Harriers and the Hydestile Crossroads.

This type of bus operation is known as Digital Demand Responsive Transport (DDRT). Passengers need to registered for an account, and then can use either a call centre number, a mobile phone app or go online to book a single or return journey.

All journeys must be within the greater Godalming area (boundaries yet to be announced) with an adult single fare ranging from £2 to £6, depending on the distance travelled. For onward journeys, passengers would need to request a DDRT from a neighbouring zone.

Saturday 22^nd June – 12 noon to 4pm

WE NEED YOUR KIND DONATIONS OF PLANTS, BRIC-À-BRAC, BOTTLES & CAKES!

All contributions greatly appreciated. See below for details on how to donate. 

PLANTS – Get Growing!

Nick Root is busily growing lots of lovely things but also needs your donations for the Plant Stall. So, if you’ve got green fingers or love to potter round the garden centre picking up bargains, please see get in touch with him at [email protected].

BRIC-À-BRAC – Get Spring Cleaning!

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure so Carole Jones is hoping that your spring cleaning will unearth some treasures or unwanted gifts that need to find a new home. Please contact Carole from mid-May at [email protected].

BOTTLES – Get Into The Cellar!

Please have a rummage for bottle donations – any kind of bottle from vintage brandy to those weird liqueurs you were gifted or even fancy shampoo! Please get in touch with Andy Hinde at [email protected].

CAKES – Get Practising Your Signature Bakes!

Calling all Star Bakers! In the week preceding the fête and on the morning itself, Sally Falk would love to receive your delicious home bakes (or shop bought cakes!) for the Cake Stall. Sally can be reached at [email protected].

Hambledon Parish Council will be hosting the annual Parish Assembly on Thursday 25th April from 7.30pm in the Village Hall. It is a great evening to hear about all the latest news from the wide variety of groups and organisations in the village. It is an informal event and all are welcome.

The doors open at 7.30pm with an opportunity to have a drink and chat with neighbours. The meeting starts at 8pm when the Chairman, Cllr Stewart Payne, will give a brief update on the Parish Council’s last 12 months. Representatives of each of the many different organisations will then give a short report on their last 12 months.

There will also be an opportunity to sign up to the Community Litter pick taking place on the following Saturday 27th April from 10am. Hi viz jackets and litter pickers will be provided. The litter pick finishes with a barbeque for volunteers at 12pm outside the village shop.

The agenda for the evening is below.