Brookwood Village News
Volume 22 Issue 10 July 2002
Firstly, a great big "Thank you" to FOBS for their tremendous
efforts in bringing the Fete to such a great climax! When we remember that in
the early days, we thought there would be no fete in this the Jubilee year,
the success of the event marks a lot of hard work in front of and behind the
scenes by the Committee led by Chris Hunt and Kate Lopez. We should also thank
all the organisations who turned up trumps and not only attended but joined
in the spirit of the Jubilee occasion and "dressed overall". The Queen would
have been proud of you! We were blessed with good weather and although it seemed
a slow start, it perked up nicely and didn’t we all have a good time?! And weren’t
the Karen Clarke Dancers superb. Same again next year please! (Financial details
next time) (The Brookwood Children's Drama Group weren't bad either!)
Well,
that’s it! The World Cup is over but will return to dominate our TV screens in
4 years time. But we shall have to wait 10 years for another excuse for a celebration
and a couple of days off – the Diamond Jubilee! How nice to see so many St. George’s
flags on display during all this excitement and no great hurry to take them down!
HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW?
We didn’t draw your attention to the annual front garden
competition, did we? Well, it has been a busy time one way or another and we knew
that you would still be seeing to your version of Wisley, Kew or the Chelsea Flower
Show without our encouragement. None the less, we shall still be doing our secret
rounds in the Summer to see what you’ve been up to and awarding prizes for the
best fronts, tubs or hanging baskets and a prize for the best shop or business
display. Of course, the great mystery is – who put up the hanging baskets on the
posts in the Village? Was it WBC despite their saying they wouldn’t? Did Eunice
Roberts persuade them or another source to do them (Eunice was pressing for these
some time ago but it looked hopeless)? Perhaps it was the fairies!
TALES FROM THE CANAL BANK
A resident came home one day and found another resident helping
herself to cuttings from shrubs in her garden. A simple misunderstanding as to
whose shrubs they were might have been plausible except that claims were made
that permission had been granted by yet another resident who in fact denied giving
that consent. After all, it wasn’t her garden was it?! (Wisley has the same trouble
with enthusiastic members who help themselves to cuttings, seeds etc).The moral
of this tale is that theft doesn’t only apply to objets d’art and if it recurs,
it could be more than a public embarrassment for someone. The sad thing about
it is that if the resident was so smitten with the shrub, a polite request to
the OWNER would probably have been well received and cuttings provided with compliments.
See Neighbourhood Watch below!
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
We can expect some strangers in these here parts in July. The shooters from all
over the Commonwealth will be at Bisley competing in the Games and will no doubt
be advancing on the Village shops and facilities during the couple of weeks
that the Games take place. Make them welcome! Bisley are looking for assistance
up at the ranges during this time and if you are interested, see the poster
in the Village notice board and ring the number for more details. If you are
accepted as a volunteer, you will get the uniform as worn by Norris in Coronation Street! You’re kidding?! You’d better believe me!
CROSSROADS
Good days, bad days, seems to be the story of the crossroads development.
They lost touch with the rush hour on one occasion and kept the TTL going into
the evening but generally, it continues to be an acceptable irritation. However,
it seems the ban on a right turn out of Cemetery Pales towards Guildford has already
been brought into force. This could lead to more traffic coming down Connaught
Road to turn at the crossroads. Having installed traffic lights at the junction
of Cemetery Pales and the A322, one might have imagined that a right turn could
be accommodated, especially as anyone who doesn’t know the restriction will have
a long detour to get back on track! We also understand that an island may be introduced
opposite the Golf Club to deter motorists using their car park to turnaround!
The crossroads work will temporarily halt during the two weeks of the Commonwealth Games, so we are told.
A mixed blessing perhaps as it seems to indicate more traffic around and about!
BROOKWOOD MEMORIAL HALLS
Are there actually people in the Village who are unaware that
the Halls are there and available for use by residents and that various activities
take place there regularly? They are ideal for Birthday parties, anniversary
celebrations, weddings or whatever. Contact Janet Stone on 489699 for more details
or Mac Fryatt on 473246. That’s the plug now the request!
The Management Committee are looking for a "handyman" who could
do odd jobs around the hall (not gardening as we have a excellent fellow doing
that already!). Replacing tap washers, touching up paintwork, bits of carpentry
and that sort of thing that is not worth a builder doing but might earn a few
bob for a local tradesman or skilled resident in their spare time. Mac Fryatt
is again the person to contact. They are looking for someone who will turn out
quickly when required. There won’t be a lot to do but it’s an as and when a
problem comes up that help is needed and quickly.
NADINE BAILEY
Last month we reported the death
of John Bailey and very sadly, this month we report the death of his wife. Nadine
was also an active participant in Village life. Nadine was a member of the W.I.
and the Scout Group, indeed, she was Scout Leader for a while. Nadine contracted
Alzheimer’s Disease a few years back and spent the last year or so of her life
in a nursing home. Such a shame to see someone struck down who was so cheerful,
good humoured, great fun to be with, generous and, well, a really nice person.
Our memories of her will keep us cheerful.
SAWASDEE
Not long now before our 1st Brookwood Scout sets off for his adventure
of a lifetime! Alex would like to thank all those people, most of them anonymous,
who have sent, given or posted Scout and Guide badges to him. These will help
him swap them for other countries models and thus build a fine record and remembrance
of all those other Scouts he meets at the Jamboree. Fund-raising is going well
and he is on target!
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
Crime figures for Woking are showing a decline year on year but
hiccups do occur. Latest fashion, mainly in the Goldsworth Park area, is tyre
slashing. Thefts from cars have fallen as we learn to leave nothing on show
and violent crimes also are down. There is also an increase in theft from gardens,
not only of equipment but also objets d’art and we don’t just mean garden gnomes!
That Aphrodite statue or Venus or sundial or bird bath or even a Norwegian Troll
look-alike may find an admirer. All we can say is try to make sure these are
firmly based and everyone keep an eye out for strangers with vans who turn up
unexpectedly next door, especially if the occupants are out. Rules of evidence
being what they are, if you see something suspicious, 1) call the Police, 2)
take down any vehicle number and details if you can and 3) as soon as possible
write down a description of the people involved. If you can get another person
to observe what you are observing, get them to do likewise.
Surrey Police will also be switching the emphasis from punishment
to education for some classes of road offences and accidents. The idea is to
bring home to offenders the dangers of their driving habits. This will include
showing them pictures of accidents with the obvious message "It could be you".
Certainly worth a try.
Stop press! A car was stolen from Church Close in the small
hours of 1st July and later found wrapped round a tree in Guildford
area. Did anyone see or hear anything? If so, tell the Police. Take extra care
if you don’t garage your car – it could be you!
CHRISTIAN AID
You lovely people! The Christian Aid Week appeal in Brookwood
raised £928, an excellent figure that will give great help to those whose lives
are constantly under threat from hunger and disease. The local organisers of
the collection offer their thanks to everyone who so kindly donated. Well done
Brookwood!
Here’s some news! The Editor and the team of distributors will
be taking a break in August and there will be no Newsletter! Did we hear sounds
of crying?! When we restart in September we will catch up on all the gossip
and let you know what plans there are for the rest of the year. Meantime, if
you are going on holiday, have a great time and come back knowing that the crossroads
will still be with us
We are still open to offers for sponsors for this monthly insight
to Brookwood life. Contac Mac Fryatt on 473246 if you are interested. Here is
this month’s sponsorship offering;
TUDOR NEWS
The Brookwood Convenience Store!
All main items that you are likely to run out of unexpectedly are available
and will save you a trip to Sainsbury's in the early morning or when the crossroads
are playing up!
There are some special offers and a 10% discount on a number of items.
A good range of groceries, vegetables, cigarettes and confectionery are there.
Magazines for all interests, cards for all occasions, Lotto and scratch cards,
photocopying,
Dilip and Varsha Patel welcome all customers and if you can't see what you want
- ask!