The Planet Reigate Podcast
41: The Light’s first birthday, a look back at Reigate’s Summer Festival and Horley carnival… and more.
Fri, 21 Jun 2024
Episode 41 for Saturday 22nd June 2024The Light’s first birthday, a look back at Reigate’s Summer Festival and Horley carnival… and more.00:00What’s in this episode04:15The Good Time Guide: Local places to go and things to do this weekend.12:15GUEST: The first anniversary of The Light in Redhill. Aaron Leggett, their Business Manager17:15The Planet Reigate area news32:50Planet Reigate area travel news: we give you a heads-up so you can avoid the hold-ups.35:30Planet Reigate area sport37:50GUESTS: Our interviews from The Reigate Summer Festival51:15The Good Time Guide: Local things to do and places to go this coming week.1:01:25GUESTS: Our interviews from the Horley Carnival1:12:30 Planet Reigate Stars - thanking local heroes. This week from Redhill …1:13:35Hidden Treasure: this week’s top bargain from Julie at The Children’s Trust, Bell Street in Reigate. 1:1 8:20The 60-second Soundscape: This week, at the water’s edge in Reigate’s Priory Park lake – with coot, mallard, robin, woodpigeon and gull CREDITS:The seven-note Planet Reigate Theme is ©Peter StewartOther music www.Pond5.com:GTG - inspiringaudio Item ID: 116855857NEWS - ThomPie Item ID: 75456323STARS - jwsaudio Item ID: 073206386 TRAVEL - FrauMuller Item ID: 102031400TREASURE - georgepauley, Item ID: 098068331SOUNDSCAPE PolkadotFlowersMusic Item ID: 136304431DRAGON fx https://soundbible.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is the Planet Reigate podcast.
And this is Peter Stewart. Hello, welcome to this week's episode, episode 41 for Saturday the 22nd of June. Hope you're well. And what's in this episode? Well, this is how we're reflecting and celebrating our love of life around here. My guests, well, I've been to the Light Entertainment Complex in Redhill. It's one year old.
And I've been along to their celebrations and to reflect on the first 12 months of... Bowling, eating, viewing, golfing, axe throwing, all sorts of things going on there. Hear me talk with our business manager in the next 10 minutes or so. Plus, we look back at a big and busy weekend last weekend, wasn't it?
First of all, at the Reigate Summer Festival, and also our reporter was at the Hawley Carnival as well. Hear a whole series of interviews from both of those events a little bit later on in the show. In the news, local recipients mentioned in the King's Birthday Honours the latest on the sale of Redhill-based Sutton and East Surrey Water.
A shop in the Belfry has closed after just a few months trading. We have a well-deserved boost for a local ice cream shop. Probably not the one you may think of, though. Hear about a new cocktail company going national but based locally. I'll give you details of how you could get free money from two grant organisations. Caught on camera. Vandalism in Charlewood. Do you like playing board games?
A local enthusiast is setting up a new group and booking ahead for a big food festival in Redhill. In travel news, long-awaited roadworks outside the Angel Pub. I have the details. Plus, did you hear the latest dates for the M25 being closed? If you haven't, you will if you stay listening. In sports, RGS are represented in the London Cup T20. Reigate Rose's netball club appealing for new members.
Plus, we've got much more as well. We've got the good time guide of events across the area across the week ahead. Planet Reigate stars are for a lady in Redhill who let a little girl stroke her dog. hear the story later and of course before we go at the end of the show natural sounds from a place you know our 60 second soundscape this is the planet reigate podcast with peter stewart
And you'll find the time that each of those features are on in our show notes, so you can scooch straight through to that point. And I also put out social media posts during the week with links that take you straight to the specific parts of the show. So you can follow us on TwitterX, Facebook and Insta to get those. Just search for The Planet Reigate Podcast.
podcast I'm Peter Stewart got so much more in our archive shows as well for example in episode 31 Wayne and Beth from Reigate Volleyball Club on their love of the sport and why it's growing really fast across Surrey so if you want to hear more about one of our local volleyball clubs then episode 31 is for you from our Planet Rygate postbag this week. Hi, Peter.
Thank you so much for sharing about our meeting. It's very much appreciated. We'll make sure we share it across our socials from your page as well. Thank you. That was from Ellery from NHS Surrey Heartlands. So you can support our supporters as well. Hello at theplanetrigatepodcast.com
Now let's find out what's going on across the planet Reigate area of Reigate, Redhill and Merstrum, Buckland, Betchworth and Brockham over the course of this coming weekend, Saturday and Sunday in part one of our Good Time Guide.
The Good Time Guide. Things to do and places to go on the Planet Reigate podcast.
And please remember to subscribe to the show so you don't miss an episode. And if you want to mention for your event, charity, non-profit, whatever it happens to be, fill out the form you'll find on theplanetreigatepodcast.com or write to hello at theplanetreigatepodcast.com.
And get a mention seven days before the event or get more mentions and early mentions to get those early ticket sales with one of our Planet Reigate supporters packages. Ask me for more information. Hello at theplanetreigatepodcast.com. OK, so this is what's happening Saturday 22nd of June.
Reigate Wanderers FC said, Hi, we're running a charity football match to raise money for Shooting Stars Children's Hospices. We managed to raise just under £1,000 last year and we're keen to raise more. We're wondering whether you'd be able to give us a shout out or something. Of course, that's what we're here for. So that event on Saturday, location Reigate School, kick off at 3 o'clock.
They're being sponsored by Pilgrim Brewery, British Land and Madison's Barbers. And the match is composed of players who've played for Reigate Wanderers or the local leisure league, Sixer Side League, and employees of Pilgrims as well. And they're raising money for the charity Shooting Stars Hospices, who work as a children's hospice for children around Surrey and London.
So that's the place to go. It's the Reigate School from three o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Let's turn our attention to the Archway Theatre in Hawley. And, of course, we are media partners with the Archway Theatre in Hawley, the Planet Rygate podcast. Pleased and proud to be that. For more information and booking details, go to archwaytheatre.com or phone 0333 666 3366.
So what am I telling you about this week? Well, it's a Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. And it's happening June 22nd and 23rd. So this weekend and also next weekend as well, June 29th and 30th. And it's not based locally or it's not happening locally at the Archway Theatre in Hawley itself. But stage the beautiful gardens of the Royal Botanic Gardens queue at Wakehurst.
Yeah, they've started an exciting new collaboration with them. Three weekends of open-air theatre, matinees only, in the beautiful gardens. So they say bring a picnic, wallow in the beauty of nature and the sparkling humour of the classic play, which goes by the name A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Future Gymnastics are holding a summer party at their Merston venue and they're welcoming everyone who wants to go along to see their fantastic schools, excuse me, stalls. Face painting, hair braiding, penalty shootout, bouncy castle, raffles, small business stalls, glitter tattoos, face painting, food and drink and much, much more as well. It's Saturday 22nd between 2 and 5 o'clock.
All sorts of things going on there. And if you want to know some more information, then you can get that via Annabelle, A-N-N-A-B-E-L-L-E. There are several different ways of spelling Annabelle, aren't there, I think. That's why I've spelled that one out. At futuregymnastics.co.uk. Merston Park School between 2 and 5 Saturday. Also, there is a dance-off house, funky house, garage and bass line.
DJs Corky, Dan Rock, Russell Kay, Precinct and Regan Bowes as well. That's happening Saturday. Oh, there's also a silent auction and great food all day at the Marquess at Red Hill. Doors open 2 p.m., goes through to 11 p.m., Free entry all night, but donations for the charity greatly appreciated. And children welcome until 6pm. That charity, the Lucy Rayner Foundation.
Indian dance classes are being held every Saturday at 10am at the Harlequin Pop-Up in the upper level of the Belfry. Classes are open to everyone who's got an interest in Indian art and culture. There'll be five plus. More details, 07531 567 390. Do you fancy a bit of jazz? Well, Buckland and Betchworth Choral Society have got some for you. Cool music, tea and fizz in the afternoon, they say.
It's happening at St Michael's Church in Betchworth on Saturday at 4 o'clock. Tickets £10, under-16s are free. Moving on to Sunday, and this is something I'm going to be involved with. Earlswood and Redhill Kittical Mass is back. They meet at Memorial Park, 10am on Sunday, and I'm going to be starting off the ride. I've got my green flag to start that off.
And then they're going to be cycling as a massive group around the streets of Earlswood and Redhill, ending at Earlswood Infant School, where the Friends of Earlswood team will be on hand today. to serve nibbles and refreshments. So save the date, tell a friend, share the love. There are over 500 people joined in the two Earlswood and Redhill Mass family cycle rides last year.
So obviously they want plenty of people to go along this year as well. So what is Kittical Mass? It's a global movement that campaigns for better cycling infrastructure. where you live. For example, National Cycle Route 21, it actually runs down Earlsbrook Road, but it doesn't actually have a cycle lane, which is a little bit odd.
Or maybe you think to yourself, it would be really good to cycle to school with my child. It doesn't matter what age you are at all, but they want a massive group to promote safer cycling for children and families in the community. How much does it cost? Absolutely nothing. It's all free of charge and it's open to you. Even if you don't have a family, you can go along.
And there will be adults acting as ride safety marshals as well. Now, all children have got to be accompanied by an adult, also on a bike.
running alongside you can't be doing that and obviously you've got to be responsible for the child who you're supposed to be responsible for it's all organized by eco earlswood and the team it's supported by the friends of earlswood here at the planet reigate podcast as well and also earlswood recycling center as well so let me give you those details again all of them
But the bare bones, Earlswood and Redhill, critical mass. Go along with your bike. Memorial Park in Redhill, 10 o'clock Sunday morning. And then you start the ride. You cycle around the streets of Earlswood and Redhill. And then you finish up with nibbles and refreshments as well. Hope to see you there. Really looking forward to that. Really pleased I've been asked to go along.
Hawley & Bloom competition including residential front and back gardens, flats, allotment plots, local schools, community organisations, wildflower planting, business premises, pubs and restaurants in and around Hawley. And the closing date is Sunday. So that's why I'm telling you about this. Hawleyandbloom at gmail.com if you want to enter. As I say, the closing date is this Sunday the 23rd.
There's a charity bake sale, East Surrey Twins Club fundraiser and a social at Brockham Teas on the Green. It's Sunday between 2.30 and 5 at Christchurch at Brockham Green. Bring along your family and friends for a freshly baked cake and a cup of tea as well and free entry. There's loads of parking nearby as you will know if you're familiar with Brockham.
So there are a whole load of events going on for Saturday and Sunday, courtesy of the Good Time Guide on the Planet Rygate podcast. I'm Peter Stewart. Loads more to come. In a few moments' time, we're going to be hearing about the first anniversary of...
the light in red hill which is i have not heard a bad word about the light in red hill and i know it's increased the footfall to the to the town center as well and loads of shops and the belfry really pleased about the number of people who are going and really brightening up the economy across the weekend to the nighttime economy as well let's hear more about it right now the planet reigate podcast great stories from red hill
My name's Aaron. I'm the business manager for Redhill.
So happy birthday, Aaron.
Thanks very much. We're really excited. We've had one year so far. Everything's been great. Felt really supported by the local community. Everyone's given us great feedback and hoping we carry on.
You know what? I haven't heard a bad word said about it, apart from one person who was about 80. And it's a story I've said a few times. And she said, oh, I don't think it's for me. I haven't been in there. And I said, do you watch films? And she said, yes. And I said, do you eat? And she said, yes. And I said, do you know shuffleboard? And she said, yes. I said, well, it's for you then.
I think we've got something for everyone. If you like cinema, we've got lots of different events, all the new blockbusters coming up. We do some dementia friendly screening. So all your old favourites. So we had summer holiday on.
last year with Cliff Richards which was really great obviously got lots of new stuff coming up so Deadpool and Wolverine's looking particularly good for the summer and if you don't like cinema we've still got all the climbing wall and all the leisure the bowling and everything so yeah there's loads going on absolutely and it's been a real boost to the town as well hasn't it having the light here
Yeah, I haven't heard anything but good things. Lots of people coming in. The footfall into the site is massive. The whole of the town centre is pretty busy as a result. And you're working really well with the Business Guild and also the Belfry as well. Yeah, definitely. The Belfry have been fantastic. Business Guild as well.
We meet up regularly and constantly talking to each other on how we can get different things working.
And what's been the response from people who are coming here?
What have they been telling you? That it was desperately needed in the area. They're really pleased they don't need to travel outside of Redhill and Reigate to get everything that they want that we've got here.
Otherwise they're going to, what, Croydon or Crawley, isn't it?
Yeah, I think Crawley for the cinema, it's a massive cinema there. I think a lot of people have been travelling all the way there. So we're managing to keep them a bit closer.
Much more local as well, which is good, because then it means that the rest of the town gets a bit of a boost as well, doesn't it, with other eateries and other shops and so on too?
Yeah, definitely. I mean, anything that we can do to work with other local businesses to bring football into Redhill is... it's definitely something we're looking to do. Okay, so what are your plans for year two? More of the same, hopefully. Some great films, more events for the community. We do some local board game nights and we're looking at coffee mornings, that kind of stuff.
So we can use the site as a central hub for the community. And I'm guessing you really want to thank the people who've been supporting you for the first 12 months? Definitely. We couldn't do it without them. I think that everything's been really positive and I can only thank them for using our site, and hopefully we'll see them again in the second and third years.
And it was great to be part of the first anniversary celebrations of The Light in Redhill. Now, to celebrate their first birthday, they've got a whole load of events and giveaways lined up. This weekend, Saturday 22nd, Sunday 23rd of June, so if you're watching a film with them, you could be in with a chance of winning one of their golden tickets.
very Willy Wonka, are giving you the opportunity to win cinema tickets, leisure sessions, food and drink, including free popcorn and ice blasts. The team's going to be surprising guests across the weekend, so if you're thinking of going to the light, you may be surprised and get something for free while you are there.
Other things to keep the kids entertained as well face painters balloon modelers and kids crafting as well and they've also got the rock choir joining them on Saturday from four in the afternoon and on Friday and Saturday evenings they've got a live DJ booked from eight till eleven at night.
And they're offering two for £12 on a fantastic range of cocktails all weekend and four for £12 on shots as well. So there's plenty of things going on there, aren't there, at The Light in Redhill. So really pleased to give them our support as they have given support to our great town of Redhill.
Still to come in sport, we feature RGS cricket and Reigate Roses netball, our 60-second soundscape before we go at the end of the show. And have you ever wondered about the building that Donata's school is in? Well, the history of that school building, who it was built for, and what they actually did in the town is all explained in episode 31 of the Planet Reigate podcast.
OK, let's move on to our new sequence this week. And the Supreme Court ruled this week that Surrey County Council should have considered the full climate impact of burning oil from new wells before they gave permission for drilling at a Horse Hill oil well. So where is Horse Hill?
Well, if you're coming from Tesco Hookwood towards Reigate, you've got the Black Horse pub on the right hand side here. And opposite that, there's a road just veers off to the left. Up there is Horse Hill. Now, there's plenty about this story across the national news, but just to highlight that it is said to be a landmark decision which could put future UK oil and gas projects in question.
Now, under planning law, the assumption has always been that only the impacts from constructing the wells... and not the use of the final oil products should be considered. The case was brought against Surrey County Council by Sarah Finch on behalf of campaigners, and it could threaten new UK fossil fuels projects.
Surrey County Council, based at Woodhatch of course, said it believed at the time it had followed planning law. And UK Oil and Gas PLC, that's the company behind the Horse Hill project, say the court's ruling is perplexing. Well, the site at Horse Hill was given planning permission to expand its operations in 2019. There are six wells there.
They're expected to produce 3.3 million tonnes of crude oil over the next 20 years. Those drills go to a total depth of 8,770 feet deep. And there are similar sites at Brockham and Holmwood as well. A Redhill couple have been awarded MBEs for helping raise more than £2 million to support children with cancer. That is fantastic news, isn't it?
For Vicky and James Woodall, who've been recognised in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours list for their giant pledge to help beat childhood cancer campaign. They actually launched it, I don't know whether you know this, after their son, who was four at the time, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive tumour back in 2017. George is now 11, he's cancer-free, cancer-free!
And underwent 14 drawling rounds of chemotherapy, 30 rounds of proton therapy, and a part of his spine and three muscles from his back removed. And he's getting ready to start secondary school with his brother, Alex. They're fundraising the supported projects at the Royal Marsden Hospital, including trials, studies and specialist staff as well.
And the Giant Pledge families, because they've got other families and groups involved as well, have now raised more than £2.2 million. So congratulations to Vicky and James Woodall, who've both been awarded MBEs for helping raise that money to support children with cancer. Got some more on that on the BBC website if you want to read more.
And also locally, an Order of the British Empire for Lucas Maxwell. Now, he's a school librarian at Glen Thorne High School, which is in Sutton, for services to education. But Lucas actually lives in Betchworth, so congratulations to him. And also Peter Gordon Schofield, who's the Permanent Secretary for the Department of Work and Pensions.
And he's got a Knight's Commander of the Order of the Bath for public service. And Peter actually lives in Redhill. So congratulations to them as well. Now we've got an update on a story from a couple of weeks ago. The sale of Redhill Bay, Sutton and East Surrey water has been given the green light by a watchdog after its concerns were addressed. Penon already owns three UK water companies.
It bought SES Water as part of a £380 million deal back in January. And in May, the Competition and Markets Authority said the deal could make it more difficult for the water regulator Ofwat to analyse and compare data. But the CMA now says it will accept the sale after Pennant agreed to give separate reporting information for SES from the rest of its water businesses.
Again, more on that on the BBC website. Police are appealing for witnesses after a pedestrian was assaulted in Reigate back on Monday the 27th of May. So a couple of three weeks ago now. The victim was walking along Wood Hatch Road around 8.30 at night when a cyclist approached him, yelled at him to move out of the way and then...
grabbed the pedestrian from behind, spun him round and punched him and knocked him to the floor. The victim got a broken arm and was treated in the hospital. If you saw what happened there, then get in touch with local police. A critical incident this past week affecting radiology patients at East Surrey Hospital. It actually started at the Royal Surrey in Guildford.
Affecting their radiotherapy department there, which was said to be due to a telecoms issue, but also affected was the radiotherapy unit at East Surrey, which is managed by the Royal Surrey. The incident affected cancer patients and people at both of those hospitals had cancer a number of times. had to cancel a number of planned appointments.
All patients affected were contacted and they're going to have their appointments rescheduled as soon as possible. Both hospitals apologising for the disruption. Any patients concerned about their treatment should contact the radiotherapy department at whichever hospital they usually go to. So obviously in our neck of the woods that's likely to be the East Surrey. Some sad news out of the belfry.
The bear making workshop Ariana has closed after just a few months. It was a family run business offering teddy bear making, pottery, painting, sand, arts and birthday parties. A post on Facebook simply saying we are now permanently closed. Thank you to everyone who's visited us. Anyone that had a booking with us has already been contacted and refunded.
This page will shortly be closed and messages will not be monitored. No word on the reason behind the closure, although a further post saying thank you to everyone that's taken time to write to us here or in private. It is much appreciated. Well, obviously here from the Planet Reigate podcast, we wish the owners of that family run business and all of their staff the very, very best.
Their page has understandably already been removed from the Belfry's website. There's been a few mentions on socials over the last couple of three weeks about the opening, delayed, of Creams, the ice cream and dessert shop in Red Hill.
Well, I was reminded that as well as that, or maybe instead of that chain, we've got our very own Sunday Scoop shop in South Earlswood, who sell milkshakes and sundaes and... ice cream sandwiches all made with premium locally sourced ice cream so sunday scoop 10 station approach west any flavor now look at this each sunday includes three scoops of locally made ice cream
You can have any flavour, three scoops for £7, which I think is pretty reasonable. Unicorn Sparkle is unicorn vanilla flavour ice cream, white chocolate stars, cream, sauce, sprinkles and glitter. You can have Chocolate Heaven, which is chocolate and vanilla ice cream, brownies, cream, sauce and sprinkles.
Caramel Toffee, salted caramel ice cream, Cadbury Crunchy Pieces, fudge pieces, cream, sauce and sprinkles. Biscoff Obsession, Lotus Biscoff Biscuits, Cream Sauce and Sprinkles, Cookie Dream, Cookies and Cream Ice Cream, Oreos, Cream Sauce and Sprinkles and Mint Madness. mint ice cream, after eights, cream sauce and sprinkles as well.
And you can also choose three scoops of ice cream and add brownies or Oreos or millionaire shortbread as well. Sunday Scoop. That sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Sunday Scoop. Let's give them another mention. 10 Station Approach West. Still with business, Urban Sips is a new canned cocktail company based in the Redhill-Rygate area.
They say we base our cocktails on cities around the world instead of your classic espresso martini or old fashions. We've got three different types of cocktail. The London Earl, which is gin-based cocktail with vanilla, lavender and elderflower tonic. the New York Crush vodka-based cocktail with mixes for berries and apple, and the Rio Breeze rum-based cocktail with mango and lime.
They say we also offer personalised cans to make your wedding day that extra special or impress your colleagues at your corporate events. More at urbansips.co.uk. Let's move on and talk about a few other events and pieces of information that you may be interested in. Voluntary Action Rygate and Bandstead, commonly known as VARB. They've got some small grants which are available.
So if you are interested in making a difference to your community, perhaps you're part of a local charity or whatever, then you can apply for these grants. They offer financial support of up to £2,000. to help your organisation turn ideas into reality. They're passionate about empowering initiatives that bring positive change to the area.
So if you are interested in getting up to £2,000 to help your community initiative, you can go to varb.org.uk. So essentially, varb.org.uk. Another grand appeal now. Nominations are open for the latest Benefact Group's special draw. Ten charities will receive £5,000 each. But you've got to fill out their short nomination form by midnight tonight, Friday the 21st.
So if you're listening to this, obviously after that time, you can't help either your group or some of our other local groups... who are up to get that £5,000. So quick sticks. The more nominations a group gets, the greater their chances of winning. So spread the word. Up for the vote locally. I know Stripey Stalker in there. They've been posting about it during the course of the week.
And also Fifth Reigate Scout Group in Merston. So if you want some money for your group, or if you want to nominate those groups to get money, Stripey Stalk and Fifth Reigate Scouts, you can go to youth.com. But it's got to be done by, well, 2359 on Friday the 21st. Charlewood Parish Council say they're really sad to have to report there's been an incident of vandalism at the pavilion.
One of their CCTV cameras was smashed and two of the flower troughs, which were planted up for parishes in bloom competition, were badly damaged. The incident happened just about half past seven on the 10th of June. They say we've got CCTV footage of the culprits, but they can't actually put it on social media because...
the people responsible seem to be quite young and also due to general data protection regulations as well, I should imagine.
But if you've got an idea that your kids might be involved, they say, quote, if the parents of the young scoundrels are aware of their misbehaviour and would like to donate funds for the replacement of the CCTV camera, then do get in contact with the clerk in confidence at CLERK, C-L-E-R-K, obviously, CLERK, at charlwoodparishcouncil.gov.uk.
Derek Cox says he's a board game enthusiast and is looking to bring people together to play board games in the Gatwick area. Now, we don't usually mention Gatwick, but it is the Gatwick area. So if you're willing to travel to the Gatwick area to play board games, then you may want to get in touch with Derek. He says the facilities we can use has got free parking on site
as well as bus stops and train station within easy walking distance as well. And he's looking to see if he can get a group together of any size to go along. Plenty of space, nice big tables. Do let me know if that's of any interest, says Derek. So if you're interested in getting in touch with Derek, Eric's his brother, then give me an email and I'll pass on the details to you.
Email hello at theplanetrigatepodcast.com
And a bit of advance notice for your diary that Saturday, the 6th of July, it is Rayfest at Ray Common School. And we are official media partners with that great event. All sorts of fantastic things going on there. There's a main stage with a DJ on from 12 o'clock. There's a choir. There's a taekwondo. There's unison choir as well. There's a cheer squad. There's a musical theatre.
There's the Reigate School of Dance and so on. There's a feel-good arena with Manor Farm Petting Zoo, Punch and Judy, the outdoor project, football fun and a craft area, a maker's market featuring Bats Hill Gin. Also, let's have a little look down here. There's a crafting corner.
There's a food village with cookies and coffee and ice cream and candy floss and a bar and also a family fun zone as well. Inflatables, face paintings, splatter rat, finding knee
I wonder what that is bean bag toss teddy tombola beat the goalie sweet jars bottle tombola hooker duck and raffle and loads more as well and of course all the money raised will help to enhance children's learning at Ray Common School so tons of stuff going on there at Ray Common School Ray Fest Saturday the 6th of July and we're really pleased and proud to be associated with that helping publicise events for the local community
Food Rocks Red Hill. Join us on Red Hill High Street, Sunday the 22nd of September. Yes, it's away in advance, isn't it? But it's a day of sensational street food, market produce, pop-up bars, and live music. So that's Sunday the 22nd of September between 11 and 4. That's what's happening there.
So maybe that you want to get involved either as somebody goes along and takes advantage and buys some food and
listen to the local bands and groups and so on or maybe you've got a some street food maybe you want you you run one of those street food trucks that we see across the area and you want to be involved as well so if you do want to be involved then look up food rocks red hill it's going to be happening on the high street sunday 22nd of september and you heard about it on the planet reggae podcast
Still to come before we go at the end of the show, our 60-second soundscape. Also, we've got Hidden Treasure from Julie Beams at the Children's Trust on Bell Street in Reigate. Here are interviews from the Reigate Summer Festival and also the Hawley Carnival as well. And Planet Reigate stars on the way coming soon too. First of all, let's check out the travel news.
As I've mentioned over the past several weeks, the road outside the Angel pub in Woodhatch is said to be re-tarmacked. Some of that work started this week and continues this coming week. Yes, we've got some details here that between Monday the 24th and the 29th of June, Cockshot Hill will be closed from outside the Angel cottage to the junction with Woodhatch Road.
Woodhatch Road will be closed from the junction with Cockshot Hill for approximately 10 metres. Dovers Green Road will be closed from the junction with Cockshot Hill for approximately 30 metres to just before the BP Garage. And Prices Lane will be closed from the junction with Dovers Green Road to outside of Townsend Pharmacy.
As I say, we've been predicting that for the last several weeks on the programme. Also, I can tell you that part of the M25 is due to close again next month for a full weekend to allow for more works. It's the motorway between junctions 10 and 11, which will be closed from 9pm Friday 12th July to 6am on Monday 15th for the construction and installation of a bridge on the roundabout at junction 10.
And it's the third of five full weekend closures of the M25 to take place with the further two due later on this year. So obviously it's a little bit outside the Planet Reigate area directly, but if you're going over perhaps to the West Country or to West London, or going clockwise around the M25 to go up into the Midlands or further north over to Wales and so on, you know the route.
Obviously, best to be fully advised. Now, there is a diversion route from our direction. Exit the M25 at Junction 10 and then take the third exit to the northbound A3. to the A245 Paines Hill Junction and then go towards Woking and Byfleet and at the six crossroads roundabout take the fifth exit to the A320. Picturing this, continuing to the M25 Junction 11 where the diversion will end.
The Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill. Ditch the click for hassle-free local shopping in a welcoming environment. See, touch, smell and try before you buy and speak to real people who can advise you. The Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill. Woodlands Lettings. Connecting landlords with tenants for over 20 years.
If you have a property to let, pop into our office on Station Road by the Belfry main entrance for a coffee and a chat. Or call 01737 372797.
In our sports news this week, Boom Tennis and Redhill Lawn Tennis Club have got together. They're putting on a free session on Monday, which will get everyone hitting some balls and having some fun on court, they say. So if you go along, they'll give you a discount code for a further three group lessons. The club's offering 20% off membership and buying the drinks after as well.
So don't rush off. There's an inducement. I've not heard of that before. They're standing around. Well, at 7 to 8.30 at Redhill Lawn Tennis Club. And that's on Monday. If you want some more details on that, get in touch with me and I'll pass on the details to you. So you can get in touch with them and find out those details, the answers to the questions that you're after.
Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com.
Well, let's move on to some other sports. Last week, RGS upper sixth former Emily Bee played in the London Cup T20 for Surrey against Middlesex at the Kia Oval. Emily's teammate and captain for the match, RGS's Amy Gordon. who lifted the cup for the victorious Surrey team. And to top it all off, the team was coached by RGS head of girls' cricket, Sophie Pout. So congratulations to all of them.
And a reminder, it's an open invitation to any school in the Planet Reigate area to send in their news for a mention. So hello at theplanetreigatepodcast.com.
Rygate Rosebuds is one of our local netball clubs and they've got some fun netball training for years 2 and 3 their autumn term training dates 15th of September 29th of September and so on 2 to 3.30 including the all important snack break as well the training will take place at the Hawthorne School Bletchingly £80 and you can email rygaterosesnetball at gmail.com to confirm your place
Metic here, come and give Touch Rugby a try. It's got all the fun and skills of rugby without the tackles. Got a range of sessions for all abilities including women's, mixed and juniors with a friendly group of regular players. That'll make you feel really welcome. For experienced players there's a chance to play alongside local international rep level players as well.
Summer sessions run Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And for more information, then you can contact touch at oldrigation.com. The Planet Rigate podcast.
Great stories from Rigate.
And wasn't it a big weekend last weekend? Not only the Hawley Carnival, one of the big dates in their calendar during the course of the year, but also the very first Reigate Summer Festival as well. Now, we've got our reports from the carnival a little bit later on in the show, and also we've got our report from Reigate Summer Festival coming up right now.
But whichever event you went along to and braved the weather, congratulations. I'm sure your attendance was really, really appreciated. So... thanks to everyone who supported either of those events, or maybe another event across the Planet Reigate area over the course of the weekend. The rain did not put so many people off. Now, I was in Reigate on Saturday and Sunday.
It was really good to see such a variety of events. I went to the exhibition upstairs at the Old Town Hall, across to music at Cage Yard, the history show at the library, short films at the Everyman, to each of the three main stages and at the community centre as well.
So, yeah, it was a celebration, of course, of music and singing, but also dance and photography and filmmaking, writing, ceramics, poetry and art, as I found out when I spoke with Chantelle, Head of Art at Reigate College.
We're showcasing students' work from last year, whose work will be on sale on the website. And we've also got a showcase of this year's students' work to celebrate how well they've done this year. So we have photography, graphic design, fine art and textile art in the exhibition. And also the staff are also exhibiting their work.
So we're all artists in the department, so we thought we'd get involved as well.
What are you particularly impressed with in the last couple of years from your students?
It's less about being able to do it, more about actually having the resilience and taking the time out to do it. So all of these artworks take hours and hours and hours and hours of students' time. And really for them to persevere and actually get a good artwork at the end, that's what makes you an artist. So that's what I'm most impressed about.
Is it fair to ask you what your favourite is or what the most impressive one was or what one took the most amount of work or dedication?
I'm a printmaker, so I always love it when students also do printmaking. But some of the fine art oil paintings that we have on show are absolutely outstanding. Take me through to some of those. We've got one here from Hannah Miller Forkin. Very popper-esque work.
This looks like an underground car park.
It is. So her project was about showing really places that had no personality and kind of making them really beautiful.
And that's what I thought, because actually what we've got here is showing off the different techniques of light and shade, isn't it?
Absolutely, yeah. It's got really great depth. This is actually a smaller version of a really big painting she did. So, you know, hours and hours of beautiful oil painting, really saturated colours, just divine.
And show me something which kind of contrasts with that. Maybe a different use of colours or paint or textures.
Well, I mean, why don't we look at one of the drawings? Oh, actually, this one's really good. So we've got a lovely drawing here, architectural drawing.
Again, quite industrial.
Yeah, absolutely. So we do, I mean, they're always quite popular as well, aren't they? Lloyds of London, thank you very much. But yeah, working with mixed media also is quite exciting. So we're quite often getting students to work on watercoloured backgrounds and kind of adding more depth and richness to their work.
OK, there seems to be a really high quality of your students.
Absolutely, yeah. Their work is really, really high standard. We've had so many good comments this weekend and we've sold quite a lot of work as well. That's fantastic.
And it must give them a boost to know that people are looking at their work rather than just the lecturers or someone that examines their work and judges it.
Absolutely and actually the best thing about the whole weekend is because the students work who's for sale is ex-students from last year so the best thing has been them coming back and seeing how they're getting on at Art College and just seeing them again it's been really really nice to see them and then next year it will be the current students work that's for sale so it will kind of be a rolling yearly thing that we do.
That's fantastic and what do students typically go on to do from Reigate College?
So a lot of them go off to do foundation courses or they'll go straight on to degree to study things like architecture, fine art, and some of them don't even do art again. They might go and do degrees in history or English, you know, it really depends on the student.
OK, and what it shows is that there's more to the Rygate Summer Festival than music and singing.
Absolutely, yes, and literally we've had hundreds of people through the door who've been blown away by the art. It's been such a huge success that we will definitely be doing it again next year.
Ian Rowland is the band which has just come off the Clock Tower stage here at the Reigate Summer Festival on Sunday afternoon. Ian and Dave are with me from that band. Ian, tell me, what kind of music it is that you've been playing?
I call it roots folk pop. So it's a mixture, really, of lots of different influences. A bit of country in there, a bit of Americana, a bit of folk and a bit of pop.
I was thinking Sunshine on Leith, that kind of thing.
No, great. We'll go for that.
Yeah, thank you. Now, it's a sunny Sunday afternoon, so you've had the best day, haven't you?
Very lucky, yeah. We were driving up this morning, it looked a bit cloudy, but yeah, it's been sun and bright blue skies at the moment and while we were playing, so that's brilliant.
And Dave, tell me about the response that you've had. It was lovely, it was really nice. I think it was pretty much full, everyone was sort of enjoying it, got some good applause. There's so much music going on around the town, it's brilliant. Everywhere you go there's loads of stuff going on, so... What do you make of the end of the festival? How much have you got to see? Quite a lot.
There's still quite a lot to go, but hopefully we'll get round and see some more of it, you know? I mean, it kind of goes to what we do, which is about community and musicians and trying to keep music live and keep real people doing it and not AI and algorithms and keep the little clubs and little venues open and that's how all music...
comes through you have to start somewhere so you can't have all big it's got to have local grassroots things as well so it's brilliant what they're doing it's fantastic and i know you've played at the new music nights before which happened on the first friday of the month locally here in reigate which was kind of what what has powered the reigate summer festival new in the title new music nights
That's essential for us because we write original stuff pretty much. We put a few covers in on longer sets, but it's about keeping music live, keeping it original in that we're trying to write, you know, reflecting what's currently happening in the world. truly in it together in a community fashion.
And there is a lot happening in the world at the moment. How can you reflect the politics, the environmental concerns, the aggression and so on? How can you reflect that in music?
Well, I went down to the Eden Project about ten years ago, took my two daughters down there, and we learned all about how plants and trees communicate. with each other through a mycorrhizal fungal system, network they call it, and they call it the wood wide web. I started to research that and read lots of books around that area including Merlin Sheldrake's Entangled Life and
I wrote an album a couple of years ago called The Wood White Web, and we're playing songs from that. And that's kind of an underlying theme of ours is environmental concern and community actions that we can take.
You have to comment on it, you know, and you can only comment on it from your perspective. But it doesn't matter how far the comment goes. You have to at least try because if you don't say anything.
no one hears it just bring people's attention to these things in a way that hopefully gets them they think that's a nice tune but then actually listen to it and go actually it's about something like a nice breezy pop song and then slip a message in at the side you know and non-aggressive yeah absolutely absolutely yeah you've got to do it non-aggressively how tempted you might be to throw eggs you can't throw songs you've got to throw songs instead
I love that. I love that. Tell us a little bit more, finally, about the band. How can people find out more about you, websites and so on?
IanRoland.com. That's I-A-N-R-O-L-A-N-D. There's loads of links to our music videos up on YouTube. And we've got our latest single called Living in Sound. out on Spotify or iTunes or actually any digital store you care to take.
Finally, Dave, how important has it been for you to appear here, to appear locally, to appear in front of people where you can see the whites of their eyes?
Well, we actually have one of the songs on our set that Ian wrote. It was about that, wasn't it? There was someone in our local team, very much like Tim...
who died recently the song has come to sort of honour him and the memory of the people who he had to have a linchpin everything revolves around and those people are so important people like Tim these scenes don't happen without people like that who are committed to doing it they may not even play instruments but they love music enough and they're committed to the whole scene of getting people together and putting on events quite often with very little play if any and a lot of their time and those are the people that it's very important like that's what all it all builds from these little things
Tim is with me, one of the organisers of the Reigate Summer Festival, also one of the guys behind the new Music Nights, which has kind of powered this through. Sunday afternoon, how's it been going?
It's been going incredibly well. Everyone's seen what the weather was doing. It hasn't been particularly kind, but people have just stuck out. We've been very British about it. We've had some brilliant acts. I've been around the two stages in the middle of town and been really pleased with the crowds that we've had down. People have really supported it.
And the evenings, which have both been dry, thankfully, have been really atmospheric and superb.
And just looking around us now on Sunday afternoon, it's kind of what you wanted, isn't it? One band has just finished on the clock tower stage here. Another one is going to be coming on in about 20 minutes. But people sitting around, they've got their coffees, they've got their burgers, they've got their pastries. They're just enjoying. It is a sunny afternoon. It's great.
Exactly. I mean, this is what we hope for. So the music that we've sort of planned for today, the Sunday, Father's Day, is kind of in keeping with that mood, I think. It's a bit more mellow, and I think people are really enjoying it. And what's interesting is that everyone who starts playing might have a small crowd there, and by the time they're into the second song, a crowd's gathered.
You know, people are stopping and paying attention and really supporting it.
And the attention to detail as well. Someone just pointed out to me, and I had noticed it myself before, But the flags up and down the high street as well.
Yeah, well, we got Rygate Business Guild to thank for that. They paid for it and they organised it and they've been fantastically supportive. So we're really grateful to them and to the council, actually, I have to say. I was going to say, it is a lot of people kind of pulling together for something like this. Absolutely. And everyone has got behind it.
When we first had the idea and set about getting permission, we thought there'd be all sorts of obstacles involved. that we'd have to get past. There haven't been any. It's just been support all the way. And I think it just shows that people love this sort of thing. And it's really good for the town. The screening in the cinema, I hear, was really well attended and went down really well.
All the stuff that's gone on in the Methodist Church and the community centre has been fantastic. Even down in Summers Hall, which is out on a limb a little bit, people have turned up and attended the ukulele show. The handbells, yeah. Which is brilliant. Everybody's had an audience and has had support. It's been superb.
I made a comment to you just before I pressed record and you said, oh, well, think about that for next year.
Next year? Absolutely next year. Yeah, I mean, what we hoped was that this would prove the concept and people would think, yeah, we like having this sort of festival in town. So I think we've done that and I think next year people will know that it works. They'll be more aware of it when we're planning it and hopefully everyone will get behind it. We'll be able to expand it over the years.
And everyone who wants to be involved can be involved. It's an open door. And do you know what? When you're talking to me, I don't know whether you realise, you do have a smile on your face. Do I? I've just about got enough energy to smile.
It's a lot of work, isn't it?
It is a lot of work. You mentioned me and New Music Nights driving this, but there have been a lot of other people. Reigate College and Karen Gerrard, who's in marketing there, has done an amazing job. with the help of Denise assisting her, and Raluca, who's been the poster girl of all the social media stuff, done a fantastic job putting it all together.
You know, it's way bigger than what New Music Nights has done here. We're really proud to be part of it, but it's just fun working with people who are all so positive.
When it's kind of an arts event, it would be a little embarrassing, wouldn't it, if your social media, if your video, if the graphics weren't up to speed. LAUGHTER
yeah and I'm happy to say I have nothing to do with that but whoever is putting that together has done a fantastic job memory also I should mention he's been doing a lot of videoing and and you of course Peter with your support and you know putting out on the podcast it just gives the whole thing a sort of an air of authenticity and I think everyone's bought into that
Well, I really appreciate that and thank you for putting it on for the town because I know that no one's getting paid for all of this. It is stuff that people are doing out of the goodness of their heart because they love where we live, which is all fantastic. What do you want to say finally to the people that have come down and supported you?
Big thanks for believing in it and coming down and just seeing what it's like. People have come out to check it out and give it a go and that's what we wanted. They've really made it work, so thank you.
And thanks to Tim and his loyal band of sponsors and supporters and volunteers and to you if you went along as well. We're looking forward to next year now, aren't you? I think so.
The Good Time Guide. Things to do and places to go on the Planet Reigate podcast.
We've got our report from the Hawley Carnival in a few moments' time. Also, Planet Reigate stars, our hidden treasure and our 60-second soundscape still to come before we go at the end of the show. But first of all, here's some things which are happening across the area across the coming week.
Tuesday, June the 25th, first of all, Tamsin Kerslake wrote to me and said, when the Harlequin Theatre was sadly closed at the end of last year, East Surrey Performing Arts, a company that had been performing for over 100 years, lost their home and our shows were put on hiatus.
Finally, after a major mission and contacting almost every venue in the local area, we're finally proud to announce that the show will go on, which is absolutely fantastic. Jason Robert Brown's Tony Award winning show Parade is going to be performed June 25th to the 29th. And where are they going to be performing?
Well, bear with me and also bear with the East Surrey Performing Arts because they are going to be performing outside the area.
duck and dodge those dragons because they're actually going to be over at the Nomad Theatre in East Horsley kind of rather fitting name isn't it the Nomad Theatre for a group which used to be at the the Harlequin and they've had to trudge with some knapsacks on their back to go all the way over to East Horsley but give them all of the support that you possibly can because I know they're
They're really going to need it. And Tamsin says the cast and creative team are exceptionally talented. She says alumni of ESPA, so that'll be East Surrey Performing Arts, and YESPA, I'm guessing that's the youth of East Surrey Performing Arts, have trodden the boards of the West End And Britain's Got Talent, so it's no surprise this will be a moving and polished performance.
So those details again. East Surrey Performing Arts presents Tony Award-winning musical Parade at the Nomad Theatre in East Horsley from the 25th to the 29th of June. It's a musical exploring the power of hope in the face of adversity in the backdrop of America's powerful history. Tickets £19, available at espaproductions.org. Wednesday the 26th, and Rygate Business Guild.
They've got their next meeting on the 26th, so on Wednesday at 6.30 at Priory Llamas. Registration is available on their website, and they say they look forward to seeing you on the evening. These things are always really well worth going along to. It's going to be difficult for me to get along to that one. But I'm supportive of a couple of the other business groups in the area.
And you get to know what is going on in the area. You get to have a little chat with other people, find out if you can help them and possibly if they can help you as well. You swap help, you swap ideas and so on. So it's really good to be part of those local business groups. There's another one in Redhill and also our friends over there.
at RH Networking as well, which has a slightly wider catchment area too. Talking of which, on Thursday, members of RH Networking meet between 7 and 9 at the Red Lion and Cellar Rooms there. It's Donna Matthews is going to be speaking. Donna, hello. Yeah, Donna. Yeah, friend of the show. Honeybee Mortgage Solutions is what Donna is going to be talking about.
And also Rachel Thornhill from the eponymous. Is that the right word? That just sprung into my mind. It's eponymous, isn't it? When something is named after you. That's right. Rachel Thornhill from Rachel Thornhill Photography. It's the group for face-to-face and online networking for business owners, directors, managers, and anyone who wants to meet other professional people.
Go along to rhnetworking.co.uk. Also, I can tell you about this happening on Thursday, and that is the Art Society at Reigate says they bring people together through a shared curiosity in the arts. Meetings begin at 2pm promptly at Reigate Park Church on Park Lane East. They've got some superb facilities there, haven't they?
theartsocietyrigate.org.uk, and this month they're going to be talking about limewood sculpture. Yeah, too often the sculpture of Central Europe is ignored, and yet some of the most important pieces of Renaissance sculpture was produced in northern cities and towns, often small parish churches off the beaten track, as well as the large cathedrals.
So that's what they're going to be talking about this month's topic. Friday the 28th, Marta wrote to me. She said we're a local PTA charity, Friends of Sandcross, and we're hosting the amazing summer events on the 28th of June. Would it be possible for you to advertise it? Yes, of course it would be, Marta. Free entry to the summer fair from 1 till 3.
The highlights include stalls run by pupils and teachers. Please do support them. It's all part of their enterprise learning experience. Bouncy Castle, food stalls, ice cream and many, many more as well. Plus, they've got an outdoor cinema experience between five and nine. So they still have the stalls and the food and the bar as well.
But also, as I say, they've got that outdoor movie experience and it's going to be the greatest showman. Well, that's going to be good, isn't it? Outdoor. So take along a rug or a seat to sit on. Don't worry about the food and refreshments because they're going to be selling those for you. Also, there's going to be a bouncy castle and face painting as well.
Don't know what the kids are going to be doing. Friday the 28th of June, doors open at 5. The show starts at 6.30 and it's a community event, but it is to raise money for Sandcross School. Sandcross Lane in Reigate, of course, as you know, RH28HH. So a couple of things going on there.
They kind of got the fair bit between 1 and 3 and then they got the cinema bit with doors opening at 5 and the show starting at 6.30. We always look ahead to the following Saturday as well. Friends of Earlswood Summer Fair, Saturday the 29th between 12 and 3 at the Junior School Field. They say join us for lots of fun. Inflatable donkey rides. Sorry, there should have been a comma in there.
That was totally my fault. Inflatables. donkey right not inflatable donkeys though of course you could have that and that could be quite fun ice cream barbecue food but i'm watching myself now i'm intonation because it could have been ice cream barbecue couldn't it don't think that's going to work although baked alaska works doesn't it
Fire engine, tractor, stalls, music and live performance, games, tombola, raffle and more. £1 for adults, 50p for children, under threes go free. And that's Friends of Earlswood Summer Fair on the junior school field. Salford's and Sidlow Parish Council are celebrating 50 years, so congratulations to them. It's at Salford Social Club, 12 till 5. They've got a disco from 6 as well.
Live music from Something Like That. Sounds like it's going to be a Take That tribute band, doesn't it? Cash BBQ.
cash barbecue no it's a cash barbecue now i'm doing it the other way ice creams and craft stalls community group involvement fun and enjoyment for all of the family there's also going to be a scarecrow competition going on as well midday through till five parish council will be judging the best scarecrows and giving some prizes as well i say that we're really looking forward to seeing what our younger generations can create
Got another message here from Thua. Mentioned this a couple of weeks ago. She says, I was listening to your podcast. I've been binge listening. That's what we like to hear. I'm going to give you a round of applause for that. She says, I was wondering if you could mention our summer fate. It's Saturday the 29th of June between 12... and three o'clock.
This year is extra special because it's the school's 60th anniversary. We've organised a really big event, barbecue, live band, pony rides and also we've got a 60th anniversary themed cake competition and that cake's going to be sold towards the fundraiser as well. She says we've so far raised enough funds for Chromebooks, playground markings, new bike sheds so far this year. We've also spent
£2,500 to restock the school library with copies of books, which are featured in our 100 Books to Read Before Leaving Yattenden School Challenge. And the books have been carefully curated and the challenge set up to encourage reading among the students. Some publicity would be great because the community is welcome to attend, particularly past and future students as well.
So that's Thua mentioning that, and that's the Friends of Yattenden. So Yattenden School, if you can go along there, Saturday week, the 29th, between 12pm And three. Also, Bats Hill Surrey Distillers and Reigate Ladies Joggers have got together. That sounds like a match made in heaven, doesn't it? Ladies, jogging and a bit of gin. I love that. As I'm sure they will as well.
Invite you to enjoy a trail run or power walk and gin tasting. on Saturday the 29th at 9.30 in the morning at Brightleaf Farm, Millers Lane outward, RH1 5PY. So if you want some more information on that, check out Bats Hill Distillers. I must get down there and have a chat with them about their distillery.
And also Reigate Ladies Joggers as well, joining forces for a bit of gin tasting at Bas 9 on a Saturday morning. MUSIC
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So, a big weekend last weekend, not just the Rygate Summer Festival across both days, but also on Saturday, the Hawley Carnival, both events supported by us here at the Planet Rygate podcast, of course. Despite a medieval theme, the procession had a rather more traditional carnival vibe. Here's Brazilian percussion band Bloco do Sol.
Planet Reigate reporter David King spoke with Councillor Eddie Humphries, the Mayor of Reigate and Banstead.
I haven't been to a carnival since I was in my teens. Really looking forward to it this year. and seeing all the traders and the walkers and the events. Thank you to all the people who have put it on. The Holy Lions have supported it.
But also it's fabulous to see all the schools and the different groups, the beavers, and also the adult groups, the football and the business guild, coming out and making such an effort. And we're looking forward to seeing the procession with all the walkers as well. It just seems like a great community spirit here, definitely.
Now, obviously, last weekend didn't give us the conditions that we'd hoped for. Hawley Town Mayor Martin Saunders and his deputy, Tom Turner.
Yeah, unfortunately, we don't always get the sunshine we want in the middle of British summer. But everyone seems to be quite happy. It's just a lovely event to have. And so many people put so much effort in. It's one of the things I think in Hawley we do really well. We've got a really strong community of volunteers.
We love to do this kind of thing and get out and, you know, show what the town can do. So it's great to be part of it. I don't know what it is about Hawley, but there's something about the community. There's a very strong volunteer group here. People want to get involved. And when one group gets involved, more get involved in it, kind of. snowballs in a very positive way.
So, yeah, despite the weather, we are going to have a wonderful time.
And the sun's coming out now, so... Yeah, exactly.
I'm not sure for how long, but never mind. We were just looking at the rain radar, maybe for a few hours, so we'll take that. Fingers crossed. Good to see a lot of schools taking part in the event this year. The schools have always been a really strong...
part of of the carnival they always put a great effort in we also have a number of care homes for sheltered accommodation and for young adults as well they always put a fantastic effort in And then there's a number of businesses, people like the Ball Pub, the Orly Business Guild and dance schools like Connect.
So, yeah, it's a great mix of different community groups, businesses and schools and community groups.
It's good to see also that you've got a lot of farmers from around the area lending their tractors and transport, you know, their vehicles.
Yeah, and there's a number of, there's a few haulage firms that have very kindly donated their vans and trailers and what have you. And a lot of walking groups as well. I mean, I mustn't forget the walking groups. They're not in a big van, but they've all put great effort in as well.
So I've just come up to the Medieval Combat Society, and I am talking to... Morning, I am Alan the Paul.
We are a medieval re-enactment society. We've been active for over 50 years. We are people of all different trades... Coming together to reenact the period of the Hundred Years' War, so mid-1300s. And we do a whole variety of things, from actual combat with swords, shields, armour. We do archery. You may see in the arena soon we do some dance.
We also have members of a group who dress up as royalty, people who do cooking, various blacksmithing, and have a very good fun time doing it as well.
I saw some battles going on a little bit earlier. Anybody ever get hurt?
We always try to do it in a safe environment. You can see from my sword here, it is real steel. You can hear it, especially from this ting. Oh, yes. Because no sharp points, of course. So we try and be as authentic as possible. We always get new people coming in every year. On the whole, we will train mostly during the winter months.
Then when the show season starts, which is roughly end of March, beginning of April, everyone comes together, does a show, does a display, pack down, and everyone has a good time. Some of us have been used for film work as well at the time. Oh, right, yes, of course.
Whenever they say, we need people who are trained in medieval combat, who have their own armour, who know how to use them in a safe environment, they'll ask.
Where do you get the tools from and the weaponry? I can see there's a variety of swords and knives and shields.
The majority of weaponry is made by an actual expert. That being said, there are members who make their own leather craft, used to get an actual anvil, make things out. A lot of the armour we wear does tend to have to be adapted or modified to fit the wearer. Thank you very much. Have a good day. Thank you.
One of the stands here today at the Hawley Carnival belongs to Huxley's Birds of Prey Centre and Garden. Karen, good to see you here despite the rain.
So we have approximately 100 birds at the centre and they range from falcons, we have hawks, we've got eagles, owls, which are my personal favourites. So we have a selection with us today. We have Harris hawk, we've got a Chilean blue eagle and then obviously a few falcons in the tent next to us. We train them from a young age.
The one we've got in the tent here, Caesar, is a few weeks old now and obviously already in training to fly. They do pick it up quite quickly. Caesar is a lugger falcon. They are used as bait in some countries to catch bigger falcons.
And that noise you can hear in the background is actually, it is Caesar, isn't it?
It is Caesar, and he's talking to us. He's been imprinted, so when he opened his eyes for the first time, he saw us as humans, and he thinks he's the same as us, or we're the same as him. So we're basically mum and dad.
We're just going to talk to Debbie...
The Saker falcons are worth a lot of money. And for a poor family in the Middle East, one Saker falcon that they can take out of the wild will feed their family for the year. They were endangered in the wild, but there are a number of big breeding projects going on. One's in the UK.
So if people wanted to find out more about Huxleys, how would they do that?
Huxleysbop.co.uk. We are currently open Wednesday through to Sundays, right up until the end of October, with two flying displays a day at 12 and 2. We also do experiences, which people can book. Yeah, come down and see us. We've got about 100 birds, as they say. We've also got meerkats, believe it or not. Oh, right, OK. So, yeah, something different.
We're behind Hillier's Garden Centre on the Brighton Road in Horsham. Yeah, yeah. BIRDS CHIRP
Walking around the Hordy Carnival in the rain and I've come across the stand that belongs to the Greyhound Trust. I'm talking to Johnny and to Sam as well.
Greyhound Trust is a non-profit organisation that looks after greyhounds after they retire from racing and they try to find homes for them.
So the headquarters of the Greyhound Trust Charity are in Peaksport Lane, Hawley, since 2022. And at any one time, we've got up to 20 dogs looking for a home. And we'll try and match to an interested family's circumstances. And we also welcome people to volunteer at events such as today, where Johnny and I are at the carnival. Foster families are often needed as well.
They make absolutely amazing pets. This is Robin, one of my greyhounds. She's been with us for over four years now. She is very chill. She's a therapy dog. She's good with children. She goes to senior homes to meet elderly people. She's got a very calming and chill...
effect on everyone I've got three other dogs which are a bit more anxious and she's the calming one they don't require a lot of training they don't require a lot of exercise they're sprinters they have bursts of energy so that energy goes in a quick run and then they lie down and sleep 20 hours a day they're very healthy breed so they don't require high insurance premiums or high vet bills they're easy to groom mostly if trained well and looked after well they can be good with other animals children and even sometimes cats
So they race between two and four. After four, they will need a home. So they spend the majority of their life looking for a home. And this is where the small part of the time, like the beginning, where the Greyhound Trust prepared them, because they've been in the racing industry, they haven't necessarily got introduced to a family home. They don't know what a TV is, what a doorbell is.
So the Greyhound Trust spends all the time and effort to get them prepared to get into a home, a proper home.
The two I have at home run around the front room for five minutes but then they're exhausted, mad moment and then they'll fall asleep and you don't hear from them again. They do want to see who comes into the house but they are not in any way aggressive to visitors to the house. The Greyhound Trust have a website which is greyhoundtrust.org.uk
The next show will be the Bletchley Fair and afterwards we'll do the Gotham Park Fair. It's a beautiful event as well. And then we're doing Surrey Sight Hound Show. We are doing Rygate Fire Service Open Day in August. And then around Christmas we do a lot of local events. We try to be at as many events as we can. to show people the greyhounds and how they behave. My lifestyle fits greyhounds.
I work from home, I work a lot, and they don't require too much attention. They changed my life since we had them. My wife now has a dog business right next door to us. It's because of them, since we adopted one, and I volunteer with the Greyhound Trust because of Robin since I met her and adopted her.
I know a lot of our people who adopted dogs from our centre, they would come and tell you that greyhounds have changed our lives. Johnny, Sam, thank you very much indeed.
Thank you very much, David.
And our thanks to Planet Reigate reporter David King, who braved the weather conditions at the Hawley Carnival 2024. And thank you to everyone who spoke with David. Gave us a bit of a flavour of what went on there last weekend. And thanks to you. If you turned up, hopefully you had a good time and contributed to the local causes who were there.
We'll finish off with some more traditional medieval music. Here's the Panache Steel Band. MUSIC PLAYS
Planet Reigate Stars. Thanking local heroes who are out of this world.
And don't forget, you can skip to your favourite part of the show. Just go to our show notes and you'll be able to find the timeline of where your favourite bit is and you can skip directly to it. Hello, this is Peter Stewart, Planet Reigate Podcast. And our really successful and popular Planet Reigate Star Award this week goes to... An amazing lady called Laura and her dog.
She was an absolute hero today. She immediately recognised that my autistic daughter was distressed and invited her to stroke her gorgeous little dog called Rocket. I've no doubt that this kindness and understanding saved an almighty meltdown. Sitting on the ground with us in the rain for such a long time. Well, that was totally above and beyond. So Laura and Rocket...
You get this week's sprinkle of stardust from the Planet Rygate podcast, Planet Rygate Star Awards.
Hidden treasure on the Planet Rygate podcast.
This week's item was first manufactured between 1962 and 1968 and it's from the Mattel Incorporated Company. The brand name on this is Fisher Price. So yes, it's a toy, but not just any toy. It's a music box teaching clock. So there's quite a lot going on here, but it's described as no flashy lights, no buttons to press, no fancy bits to get lost or broken.
You simply wind it up, listen to the music, watch for the little pictures on the clock face and turn the clock hands to learn the different times. So this might be very reminiscent for people. That's joyous, isn't it? The imagery across the teaching clock has a school scene, a teacher greeting children at the school entrance door, a child walking up to the school.
Around the side there's lots of little windows with different children in, one dressed as a cowboy, one with frost and snow seeping from the window. And on the back there's images actually which indicate the different hours of the day. So the different things that might be taking place at that point. So bath time apparently is 5pm. 6pm looks like parents sitting down and eating their tea.
And 7 o'clock is bedtime. This item retails new for about £50. I've seen them new boxed. The pre-owned variety such as this are retailing for around about £20. We're asking £12.50 for this item so you can pick it up locally at the Children's Trust Bell Street.
And as always, we have so many other pre-owned items and due to the generosity of our donors and a huge toy department, it must be the biggest one in the county for sure. Come along and see us, find your hidden treasure and support children with brain injury.
And our thanks, as always, to Julie there at the Children's Trust, Belt Street and Reigate. Did you know that actually there are so many Children's Trust shops right across the southeast, across Surrey, into Kent, into Sussex as well? And what Julie does, she's kind of a regional manager, and she's got her staff to identify the very best restaurants.
or unusual, or items which can perhaps get a little bit more money, and brings them to the Reigate store specifically so she can talk about them on the Planet Reigate podcast. So you really do get the pick of the bunch here by listening to the podcast. One more thing which has literally caught my eye in the last few moments as I was listening to Julie and doing a bit of scouting around and so on,
and catching up on on a few bits and pieces and that is something which has been posted by debbie on one of the local social media sites and she says this beautiful lime tree is in full flower at the moment and the scent is absolutely amazing it's well worth crossing the road for a sniff So this is the lime tree, which is just inside the Bell Street car park for Priory Park, in Reigate.
It's right in the corner. It's opposite the bike shop, and it's just alongside the wall, and it's just behind one of the big blue kind of notice boards there. So if you're up Bell Street, or if you've been shopping at Morrison's or something like that, and you think to yourself, OK, I've got two minutes...
and it's within a couple of days of Peter mentioning this on the podcast, I'm going to nip up there and have a whiff of, quote, the beautiful lime tree, which is in full flower at the moment. If you've got something which is worth telling other people about, yeah, post it on social media, on the various We Love sites and so on, and others by similar names.
Contact me directly as well, because I'd love to mention it so other people can hear about it. Not everyone is necessarily on your socials. Some people aren't too keen on them, but we'll get another audience. It could be an event, or it could be just something you've spotted and you'd like other people to know about. Hello at theplanetrigatepodcast.com.
The 60-second soundscape. Local natural sounds uninterrupted.
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The Planet Reigate podcast was produced and presented by Peter Stewart.