Brookwood Village News
February 2007
Dear Reader, Well that’s all my New Year resolutions gone again. Perhaps
I won’t make as many next year!!! A busy newsletter this month with lots
of people needing lots of help so lets see if we can all do our bit to support
them and the village. Finally, please attend YOUR AGM and tell the Committee
what you think Comments or copy to cameoproductions@ntlworld.com
or 852410 or the little box in the Post Office. Mike Peel. Ed.
Brookwood
Children's Drama Group
will be performing
"Alice"
at Brookwood Large Memorial Hall
on Saturday 24th March
with performances at 2.30pm and 7pm.
Tickets will be on sale from beginning of March.
Contact Yvonne Craven
01483 480273 for further details
or email
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This is it - I promise
The one that you’ve been waiting for.
Brookwood Village Association’s
Annual General Meeting
Thursday 22nd February
7:30 for 8:00 pm
Brookwood Memorial Hall
See link to details...
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1st Brookwood Scout Group
welcomes everyone to a RACE NIGHT
(with a difference!)
on Saturday 24th February 2007
7pm for first race at 7.30pm until 11.30pm
in Brookwood Memorial Hall
Race Cards £6 (Adults only).
Price includes Ploughman’s supper.
Please bring your own drinks and glasses.
Further information or tickets available from
Roger James 476379 Michelle Mealin 834242
Tracey Roff 476062 or Helen Simmons 828308 |
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Cricket Players needed for Brookwoods
1st Team
Brookwood cricket club are desperately short of players and need at least 2 or 3 more allrounders
for the team. They practice in the nets on a Tuesday evening and need to get some idea
of numbers for their Summer commitments. If you fancy yourself for the next world series - and
lets face it, how difficult can it be? - then get in touch with Steve on 481532 or 07747 116192 for
more information. I think they sometimes might have a drink after practice as well!! (Ed)
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An Appeal for Bell Ringers
If you are interesting in ringing church bells, the Pirbright
bellringers are looking for a couple more members. Anyone
over 12 would be welcome. Please do drop in on a
Thursday - we practice from 8-9pm - or phone Susan Thornton 829926 for more information.
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Obituary: Alec Dew
Alec Dew who has lived in the village for 45 years died on 21st December
at Weybridge Hospice after losing his 2 1/2 years fight with cancer.
Alec was a loving husband to Joan; a brother, a father and a devoted
grandfather. He is a great loss to them all and our thoughts go out
to them all at this sad time. The family are collecting donations for
the Weybridge Hospice where Alec spent his final days and want to thank
the staff for all
of their kindness. All contributions can be given to Nisha in the post
office and Joan will pass them on.
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Brookwood Crime
Update
I have to say that it was very reassuring to see two ‘bobbies’ patrolling
down Connaught Road during
January. Lets hope that is the start of a campaign of visibility, anyway I have
had no reports
of any crime in Brookwood during the past month to pass onto you, but if you know
better then
please let me know. I do still keep reading reports of car crime nationally and
the main items
that are stolen appear to be satellite navigation systems. If you got one for
Christmas, or know
someone that did, could I remind you to remove all signs of it when you leave
your car before it
belongs to someone else and you are left with the mess to clean up. Keep safe
and remember.
If it looks suspicious - it probably is. Report it.
Fairtrade Fortnight – 6th -19th March
Lots of us
are increasingly concerned with where our food comes from. Did you know that Woking
recently became a Fairtrade Borough? Making a positive choice to buy Fairtrade
food and other Fairtrade products means that each time you shop you are making
a difference to some of the poorest farmers in the world. Woking has an active
Fairtrade group and each year, during Fairtrade Fortnight, they are looking for
local people to host coffee mornings and wine tasting among friends, or take Fairtrade
coffee to work or to their school staff room for a fortnight to give even more
people an opportunity to try some of the hundreds of great Fairtrade products
that are now available. If you’d like to get involved then give Brookwood resident
Becca Rowland a call on 472304
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New-s People for Tudors
We would like to welcome into the village
Najip and Shabana Malek who have taken
over the running of the Tudor News. We look
forward to them continuing the important
task of supplying Brookwood with newspapers,
magazines and the essentials of life
simply a short walk away from us all.
Please support our local stores.
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A Village with no Offie !!!!
Following my report about the break-in at Unwins last month
in the Crime Report, the shop closed with no notice at all. I
had been speaking to one of the owners a couple of days before
and he showed no signs of their intention. The police are
also mystified at the closure. Lets hope that we can tempt
someone else to invest some time and money in Brookwood.
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Why not consider freelance PERSONAL TRAINING
in the comfort of your home, office or garden. I provide an innovative
holistic approach to health and fitness, focused on getting results
and having fun. If you have any questions or would like a free consultation
Call Steve Keywood on 07786 513388 or email stephen_keywood@yahoo.co.uk
If you are interested in getting fitter, losing weight, toning up, or
just generally improving your health.
Fully equipped and insured. Share the Cost! Small group sessions or
partner sessions available.
As little as one session a week in your own home can provide the support
and motivation to achieve results. |
The 1st Brookwood Rainbows
had a lovely time when they visited Woking Firestation recently. Unfortunately
their Leader, Helen Simmons, has decided it is time to hand over to
someone else at the end of the summer term, due to family commitments.
Would you be interested in taking over the pack and saving it
from closure? Rainbows are girls aged between 5
and 7 years old – a wonderful
age. They love doing craft activities – so if you like sticking
and gluing this could be the job for you! We currently meet on a
Wednesday at 4:15 for an hour – but if this time doesn’t suit
you it could easily be changed! If you can help in any way please call Helen on 828308.
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Brookwood Village Association Annual
General Meeting
Neil Thomas Chair on the BVA writes: It’s that time of year again
when we in the village association, give you, the residents a review of what
happened last year and let you know about things that are planned for 2007.
Most people think that AGM’s are something to be avoided at all costs…..worse
than having to spend the afternoon drinking tea with an elderly aunt who only
remembers you at the age of 4 when you were still in short pants.
The BVA AGM aims to be slightly different. Not only do we sooth the nerves with some wine,
but we try to make the evening as interactive and engaging as possible. This
is your village and this is your chance to hear what we have planned, suggest
your own ideas and to get involved.
The BVA had a pretty successful year in
2006, notably with the “discussion” with Woking Borough Council over
the proposed building of 400+ homes on Brookwood Farm...we were only successful
because we were supported by many, many of you. OK some of the things for 2007
aren’t as fun as giving the council a bloody nose, but for example, it’d
be good to start helping some of our own village neighbours by providing transport
to local hospitals when they are unable to drive etc.
Some of the other things on the agenda are.....
Brookwood Care – Organised help for those who need transport etc
Village Twinning – Linking with a needy village in Africa or South America
Improving the village environment –
Home and personal security – following the bad year for crime in 2006
Recreation Facilities – what’s needed and what’s desired
Activities and Groups for kids in the village
It’s your village......come along and share in making it a better
place....
BVA Subscriptions...
Thanks to all those who’ve paid their subs for last year...however, there
are still some who seem to have forgotten!! Fret not, you can still pay by dropping
£5 off at the Post Office or Fulks Butchers in an envelope marked with
your name, address and email (if you have one). It’s not a lot of money
for the things it pays for such as the Newsletter, events such as the Children's
Christmas Party, or the preventing of things like the building on Brookwood
Farm.
Moving Chairs
John Crook handed over the mantle of Chairman of Sheets Heath
Residents Association at a meeting recently, after serving his community
for 10 years. Rob Weston was appointed as the new chairman and
he can be contacted at: rob_j_weston@hotmail.com
or on his work phone - 0207 827 7425. Rob has lived on Sheets Heath for
a number of years and has been a serving member on the committee. We would
like to thank John for all his hard work and support on many issues and
problems both in and around Brookwood and to congratulate Rob on his appointment.
We look forward to our continued joint working with him and with our neighbours
on Sheets Heath.
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If Looks Could Kill !!!
An avid reader sent me a letter after January’s edition, to thank me for my excellent newsletter and to
tell me how much she enjoyed reading my articles
and information BUT ….she went on, I had dropped
my standards! OK I’m sorry!! I had written ‘looks like’
instead of ‘looks as if’ in my Crime Report. I am always
happy to bow to others acquired and superior
knowledge, but in my defence that’s what you get for letting an uneducated man loose with a typewriter.
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Pirbright Arch Pedestrian Phase Update
Thank you to the villagers that have returned the cut off
slips from last months Newsletter. Unfortunately only a
few people have responded and this lack of unity is
unlikely to give Councillor Goldenberg the mandate that
he needs at the next meeting. If you feel strongly about
this problem then please contact him directly.
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and following on….
It is very reassuring to know that many of you appreciate
my hours of toil to put the Brookwood News
together, however I would like to have more input
from YOU. Many of you must have short stories or
local information that we would all like to hear about.
If anyone would like to submit anything for possible
inclusion - no matter how rough - then either send it
to me or give me a call. What about a letters page?
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An Evening
of Popular Organ Music
with Dr Alan Ireland At 7pm on Saturday 24 February 2007
Holy Trinity Church Chobham Road, Knaphill Admission Free - Retiring Collection
for the Holy Trinity Centenary Building Fund
Enquiries: church office, 01483 473489
www.knaphillchurch.co.uk Refreshments will be served in the
interval
COUNTY NEWS - from ELIZABETH COMPTON, COUNTY
COUNCILLOR for St JOHNS & BROOKWOOD
I continue to search for a solution for improving the safety of pedestrians
and cyclists using the Pirbright Arch now that the feasibility study, jointly
financed by the Guildford and Woking Local Committees has been completed and
is inconclusive about the benefits.
I continue to work closely with Surrey County Council engineers on maintenance
and improvement of Brookwood’s roads, especially where these have been
affected by flooding. At present I am particularly involved with the area
along Brookwood Lye Road. I have already pushed for a package of further improvements
in my Division, including the surface of the Connaught Road/Church Road junction.
The paperwork has now gone in for the giant planters (plant pots) for beautifying
the middle of Brookwood for which I secured Local Committee funding last year.
Given last years scorching weather should cacti be ordered from the Mojave
Desert? I am always delighted hear from and try to secure funds for sponsor
bids by local organizations for Local Committee funding – please do contact
me (tel. 01483 – 762167).
I am closely involved with the Basingstoke Canal as a member of the Management
Committee, and secured Local Committee funding for towpath restoration and
the back-pumping project to ensure sufficient water in the St John’s
and Brookwood section - despite the recent deluges, there was a drought last
summer!
I am also constantly monitoring the issue of low flying aircraft to and from
Farnborough Airport. The main operator, TAG aviation, have appealed against
Rushmoor Borough Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for weekend
an increase in flying and the hearing is now arranged for late January. I
will keep you all informed and I would like to thank Michael for the opportunity
to update you through his excellent newsletter.
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Fairtrade Fortnight
Is Fairtrade for those with a heart and Free Trade for those with a
head? This is the subject that will be hotly debated at a “Question
Time” style evening at Christ Church in Woking on Saturday 10th
March as part of Woking’s Fairtrade Fortnight events. The panel
includes Evan Davies who is BBC Economics Editor and presenter of The
Dragon’s Den, Prof Robert Booth of the Institute of Economic Affairs
in London, Paul Chandler who is Chief Executive of Traidcraft, David
Woodward of the New Economics Foundation, David McCullough who is Deputy
Director of Oxfam and Sean Rickard of the Cranfield School of Management,
formerly Chief Economist at the National Farmers Union and an adviser
on EU agricultural policy.
Woking is a Fairtrade Borough but maybe you still have questions about
whether Fairtrade or Free Trade is the answer to global poverty. If
so, come along. The evening is free but it is advisable to obtain tickets
in advance from Christ Church Bookshop or email rebecca.rowland@ntlworld.com
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Pirbright Tennis Club
All members are invited to come
along to our AGM on Wed 7th Feb
starting 7.30pm in the Clubroom
beside Lord Pirbrights Hall.
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Found - and looking
for its owner.
A villager handed over a black Nike drawstring
sports kit bag at the end of last year
which had been thrown over her fence.
She lives next to the Brookwood school,
and she thought it may have belonged to
either someone from the school or an
older child catching a bus from outside her
house. If you can tell me the contents -
some of which are valuable - I will ensure
that it is returned to its rightful owner.
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BENTLEYS
GARAGE
333 Connaught Road, Brookwood
Telephone: 01483 489100 Fax: 01483 487652
Specialists in LPG Gas Conversions Servicing, Repairs,
Welding & MOT’s
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Local problems or issues contact any of the BVA committee by email